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The Luminara Series: Box Set Volume 1: Lussuria – L’amore – Lucca’s Lust by SJ Molloy. – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Luminara Series: Box Set Volume 1: Lussuria - L'amore -Lucca's LustThe Luminara Series: Box Set Volume 1: Lussuria – L’amore -Lucca’s Lust by S.J. Molloy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is only suitable for those over 18 as it contains adult themes and content which could trigger some readers.

Lexi is a woman who has been to Hell and back again, but the things she experienced there have broken her in more ways than one and she is mired in darkness, but she is also afraid of her own shadow, afraid that she will be dragged back to Hell and she is terrified of what will happen if she is. At night when she sleeps, she has nightmares where she relives everything she has been through, she is closed off and anxious about everything and uses her medication and therapy to try and just survive her everyday life, but when Lucca walks into her life out of the blue, things will never be the same again.

Lexi is preparing for a girls holiday away with her best friend, but before she can get home to pack, she has to finish unpacking the moving boxes in her new physiotherapy office in a leisure centre, the lease has just been agreed and she needs to prepare everything for her business partner when he opens up while she is away. She is also trying to field messages and phone calls from her other friends and family, but she hasn’t got the time or energy to deal with all that drama as well as everything else, however when she does acknowledge them, it leads her into a panic attack and just as she is going full pelt into it there is a knock at the door. She jumps up in shock and turns her back on the Italian voice she hears, but he ignores the request to give her a moment and comes straight over, lifting her chin up to look at him and asks again if she is ok. As she slowly raises her eyes, she cannot help but admire his physique, he is tall, muscly, domineering and very masculine, but the moment that their eyes meet she cannot look away, he is gorgeous and has a warm aura, but the intensity is off the charts, never mind the sex appeal.

After he introduces himself as Lucca, it turns out that he is there for a consultation as his back is hurting him, but she is finding it so hard to concentrate, as she hasn’t been affected in this way by anyone in this way before, however, she manages to get through the consultation, despite trying to ignore the fact that he is most definitely aroused and that it is affecting her in the same way and it terrifies her, especially when he asks her to dinner, but she refuses and just about maintains her professionalism until he leaves. When she eventually finishes work and she goes home and discusses it with her girls, they are all happy that this has happened and help her to get to grips with the feelings, she also deals with her family and the news they have for her, then she focuses on her girls night in and preparing for her holiday the next day.

The next day dawns early and she finialises her preparation, she is looking forward to the three weeks away she has planned, when she does set off on the journey, she is nervous, but excited, especially when they are traveling through the countryside and see the hotel for the first time. They are warmly welcomed with food and drinks and given time to freshen up before heading down for dinner with the other people who are staying there, however, when she entered the room and sees Lucca, her brain goes into panic mode, fight or flight sets in and she does what she always does and runs away. She feels like she is being stalked and just wants to go straight home, however she finds out that it is an accident and that it is actually the hotel owner’s grandson. It turns out that he wants to see her and apologise for the shock, she reluctantly agrees and is happy when her friend supports her with the decision, but when she finds that she finds comfort in his touch and is not acting in her usual way she is shocked, but when she starts to open up and agrees to spend some time with him to get to know him because he is persistent in his requests and this is the start of something neither of them is prepared for.

Will Lexi be able to spend time with Lucca and feel comfortable doing it, will she spurn his advances or will she let her walls down and allow him to see her and everything which she is holding behind those walls and will Lucca be able to accept her as she is, baggage and all, or will this just be something to break out of her shell? This is a story of trauma, emotions, love, acceptance and finding light in the darkness which will pull you into their lives and keep you there as you go on their journey with them.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Spiteful Punks: dolls and douchebags part one by Madeline Fay – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Spiteful Punks: dolls and douchebags part oneSpiteful Punks: dolls and douchebags part one by Madeline Fay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is only for those over 18 due to its adult nature and possibly triggering themes.

Tillie is seventeen and she has only known darkness in her life, apart from when her Uncle was still alive, he treated her better than anyone else, but the abuse she has suffered at the hands of said “family” is horrific and has caused her every kind of pain imaginable. Her father is the President of an motorcycle club and he is the one which has instigated most of her pain and created the nightmares of her abuse which relives at night, that is until someone who cares about her helps her to escape, so she crashes her bike, hitches a ride to the nearest city and heads to an address where she is told she will be safe. She has to do this in disguise and fabricate a story to go with her actions, but she finally feels free and the day after she turns eighteen and makes it to the address, her life is about to change.

Her arrival is unexpected and unknowingly she causes a bit of upset, but she is told to make herself at home and help herself to anything she needs, she decides the first thing is going to be to get something to eat, but just as she is about to eat it, she hears footsteps in the hallway and fearing the worst, she grabs a kitchen knife and confronts the person, however, the young man she finds isn’t anyone she knows, but he is just as dangerous. Even as he is being threatened by Tillie, he has the same tinge of darkness and madness as she sees in her own eyes and as he brandishes his own knife hidden in his boot, she is confused by the fact that she is aroused by the whole scene and even more confused when a second young man approaches from behind and just increases the sensations in his own way, a light to the other’s darkness. They introduce themselves as Logan and Trey and these confused feelings come to a head when the next morning she realises that the suite she has slept in isn’t as secure as she hoped when Logan enters the shower with her and they end up in a passionate embrace, but as a meeting is called with the household and another young man, her world is about to be turned upside down.

Once the truth of where she has escaped to comes to the fore and she is told that she will be attending the local school and that the young men are told that she is not to be let out of their sight, they must escort her everywhere and that she will be meeting the fourth member of the young men’s group and he will have her schedule ready for her to collect, after this revelation, the names of the mysterious third and fourth young man are revealed as Nicholas and Dalton. Will Tillie be able to figure out her feelings about the four young men and whether she will be accepted into thes new life despite feeling like an outcast? Will she be able to keep her sanity in this new type of cage, or will her darkness break through and destroy her once and for all? This is a thrillingly dark romance which is unpredictable, hard hitting and keeps you guessing until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Savage: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 10) by Meghan O’Flynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Savage: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 10)Savage: An Ash Park Novel by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Detective Edward Petrosky returns and he is even more of a mess than last time, his sobriety is practically non-existent and although he hasn’t been caught with the alcohol yet, only time will tell as to whether he is, but he and his partner are still solving crimes despite it. He is woken too early as usual by the buzzing of his phone combined with his dogs terrible breath and slobber and as he goes to answer it, it is his partner on the other end, again as usual, however, today she is calling from somewhere all to familiar, the diner where he picks up his laced coffee most mornings because there has been a kidnapping . When he gets to the diner and realises just who is missing, and it his favourite waitress who doses up the coffee who is the victim, she is pregnant and due any day, but the thing which makes matters even worse is that the witness who called it in doesn’t have that much information to give them, so they have no leads and no idea who has taken her, but they have an idea where to start looking, those who were closest to her.

As they start to look into the case more, speak to people to try and find something, they just keep coming across dead end after dead end, the only lead they have is a truck, but with no make, model or even colour to go on, they are starting to lose hope of finding her alive. When he gets home, Petrosky wants nothing more than a drink, but instead he is faced with a family meal with his family and the girls who live next door, as well as his dog, he is trying to keep up appearances, but he is struggling, even though he loves them all dearly, he feels responsible for all that has befallen them. The next day Petrosky and his partner head to a house in the suburbs where a member of the public reported that a truck which could match the one they are looking for pulled up to the house, honked its horn and left, although they say that they didn’t see anyone going in, it isn’t guaranteed that they didn’t, but when they arrive and find that a newborn baby has been left in the basement surrounded by empty, but sealed cardboard boxes, it is clean and healthy, but has been abandoned, however, Petrosky realises that the scene has been set up and is almost identical to one he worked years before.

Later on at the diner, Petrosky and his partner meet with another detective and this is where the deja vu in the basement really hits home when the confirmation is made that it is connected to the past case which Petrosky wishes he could forget, but the similarities and connection to another homicide make it undeniable that there is a copycat on the loose, but there are differences as well and that is what Petrosky is trying to focus on. As Petrosky tries to hold things together and investigate what he can, but after the waitresses body is found, he has to come face to face with an old adversary to get some answers, but while he is there, one of the worst things that could happen does when one of the ladies next door is kidnapped. Will Petrosky be able to follow the trails of breadcrumbs which are the only leads he has, or will he be too late to save his friend, lie all the others he has failed before and will he be able to stop his drinking before it leads him to oblivion? This is another thrilling chase to solve a crime where everything points to a killer who should be dead, but you will be hooked into the investigation as much as the detectives as time passes by.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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In Plain Sight (The Broken Bow Book 3) by Ashley A. Quinn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

In Plain Sight (Broken Bow Book #3)In Plain Sight by Ashley A Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rayna Nydert is a beautiful woman with a successful business growing and selling produce to the locals and in nearby farmers markets, but recently has been full of regret and shame over her part in putting a close friend in danger and Thomas Archer is not letting her forget it easily, and although they once dated, those feelings are well in their past and neither one knows how to deal with that, so they just push each other away, but for different reasons, that is until Rayna finds a young man in one of her fields, he is injured and terrified, but agrees to her help, although he refuses to go to a hospital and this is when she calls in Thomas who albeit is a veterinarian, he has had some medical training on humans as well and this is where everything changes.

As Rayna brings the young man into her home, she tries to talk to him while she is apprehensive waiting for Thomas to arrive and take a look at him and she can tell when he does that this is the last thing that he wants. As he starts to talk to them, he tells them his name and that he has been running with his wounds for three days and that he would rather die than go back to where he was, he has tried to leave before, but he always ended up back with the Smiths. This shocks the two of them and as he takes a look at the injuries, but when the kid announces that he doesn’t know how old he is or even what year it is, it is almost more than Rayna can bear, but the three sit down and eat something while they figure out what to do. Rayna insists that the kid should stay with her, but Thomas isn’t keen on the idea and decides that he will stay as well, but as he hasn’t anything prepared and the kid has nothing but the dirty clothes on his back, Thomas makes a couple of pit stops at home and the local bog name chain store to get supplies. While Rayna unpacks the shopping in the kitchen Thomas takes the clothes and toiletries up to Rayna’s spare room where the kid is just coming out of the shower and when he offers to “pay” for the clothes, the reality hits home of exactly what this kid has been through.

The next morning, the three of them start to have more of a conversation over breakfast and it is apparent just how much this kid has missed out on, but Rayna and Thomas are determined to keep him safe, but in the end they agree that in the end, the decision is up to him, albeit with a few notes of encouragement from Rayna. After a few days where he starts to settle in, the secret comes out and their families find out what has happened and this is where a very quiet investigation is begun into where the kid was being kept, who was doing it and why, but this brings danger to their front doorsteps and things start to go wrong, but things also start to go right as Rayna and Thomas finally start to open up to each other as they grown to know the kid as well. Will Thomas and Rayna be able to keep the kid safe while trying to figure out how to bring down those who hurt him, or will the trail run deeper than anyone expects? This is a thrilling race against time as the group has to find out who is behind everything before the danger comes calling, all the while some of the relationships are strengthened throughout the trying time.

Reviewd by @roxsannel

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In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 2) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety (The Cecily Taylor Series #2)In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cecily Taylor returns in this second installment of the series about her life and she is on top of the world, her dream crush Andrew Holiday is now her boyfriend, it is looking like a career in acting could be on the horizon and she has two best friends she tells everything to, well apart from that she has a boyfriend because they have agreed to keep things private at the moment. As the day dawns, Cecily is already up to say goodbye to Andrew which is a shock to those around her, she isn’t normally an early riser in the slightest, but she is already missing him, so when one of her best friends Lila comes over for a visit, she is more than happy about it. As they go shopping and talk about the things happening at school, Cecily gets the feeling that she is distracted by something and that feeling is increased when she doesn’t ask Cecily’s opinions about anything, then rushes out of the store and when they stop for a drink, she is constantly on her phone until a beaming smile appears on her face and she rushes to stop the afternoon and Cecily has a feeling it is because she is talking to her ex again, who treated her badly and that she is ditching her to spend time with him.

When she is unceremoniously dropped off home, Cecily goes up to her room, checks in with her other best friend and finally watches an old tv programme she enjoyed and when Andrew checks in with her, they end up watching it together, even though they aren’t next to each other. The next day she heads to school as if everything is normal again, but there is still a distance between her and Lila, even her other best friend notices and over the next few days it is a pattern which keeps repeating and Andrew is working hard so can’t talk to her as much as she would like, but when she does get to talk to him, it makes up for it and they start to confide in each other more and more. When Andrew gets a gap in his schedule he comes back home for a few days and introduces Cecily to a couple of his friends, but things are a bit weird and Cecily cannot understand why until she talks to Lila, on one of the days when she isn’t ditching her for her boyfriend, but amid all the anxiety, they talk it out and get back on good terms. Meanwhile, Andrew tells Cecily that someone in his management team has spoken to a magazine who saw her in his music video and want her to go to New York and model for them, but Cecily has to convince her parents that this is a good idea and she has no idea whether they will let her, however, they relent when her grandma agrees to go with her.

Cecily meets her grandma at the airport for their flights and the break starts off with a beautiful hotel, upmarket treats and a little bit of shopping, but when it becomes close to the time for the shoot, things start to go wrong, there is a protest and she is late, the staff are rude and this leads to a huge anxiety attack, however, despite it all, when she gets on set they are really impressed and she makes friends with the other models. Andrew is really proud, but also breaks the news that he has to go on a retreat with his brother, his brothers girlfriend and her sister, Cecily is nervous about it, but accepts that things like that are out of her control, however, when a photo of Andrew and the sister come out on social media, the way it looks sends Cecily on an anxiety trip like no other and she immediately fears the worst, but with Lila on another period of not talking to her and her other best friend busy, she struggles to handle it all. Will this be the first major hurdle to get over, or will the past repeat itself and be the end of her and Andrew’s fledgling relationship? This sweet romance whirls you along with Cecily as she deals with life, dating a star and everything which goes along with it, but also teaches you a lot about anxiety at the same time, well worth a read for anyone of any age.

Review by @roxsannel

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Jinxed (Hell on Heels Book 2) by Maggie Adams – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Jinxed (Hell on Heels, #2)Jinxed by Maggie Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sadie Beauchamp is a crystal loving, holistic medicine performing, bangle and caftan wearing woman who is one of a group of friends who mean the world to each other, she also believes in spirituality and the life of a hippie, herbal teas and divining the future, however, when she goes to a palm reader to get a reading to do with the dreams and anxiety she has been having recently, however, when the reading is not a good one and she is given a warning and practically pushed out of the door, she finds that she cannot hide her fears from her friends anymore, especially when she announces she has to leave because of parts of herself she has kept secret for years.

As she talks about how she thinks her house is haunted and that she has demons chasing her, but practical as they are, the group immediately put a plan into action where they will take her to see a reputable doctor for a full health check, calling on Mitchell, the brother of one of the ladies as he has experience in investigations and solving problems. After eating and drinking, they finally convince her to spill the secrets she is so insistent on keeping close to her chest and the result is not what they expected in the slightest and they struggle to see how this information could be so dangerous to them, let alone Sadie herself, but she eventually agrees to Mitchell helping her out, despite the fact that he broke her heart the last time she saw him and they have no idea it even happened. Two days later and Sadie is at the airport picking Mitchell up, she is a bag of nerves and cannot deny that she is still attracted to him and that he makes her heart and boy do things she doesn’t want to and he insists on driving as she fills him in on the current situation.

When they get to her apartment, Mitchell insists on staying and investigating the things causing her anxiety, but much to Sadie’s horror, he moves the furniture out of place and proceeds to tell her that he will be sleeping in the same bed as her as well so that he can protect her. Will Mitchell be able to solve the mystery of her present, the conundrum of her past while she tries not to get her heart broken again? This is a romance with a dark twist which is as unpredictable as it is romantic, but will keep you hooked as you travel along Sadie’s path with her.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Minx by Maggie Adams – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

MinxMinx by Maggie Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Miranda Blake is in her fifties and thought she had her life all sorted out, apart from being a bit klutzy, that is until her husband suddenly wants a divorce, her out of his life and their house within a couple of weeks while he is on a cruise they were meant to be going on together, talk about a bombshell! As he prepares to leave the house, she is equally panicked and angry, she hasn’t worked since she got married, she gave up things for him and he repays her by having an affair, but she does give him a piece of her mind, which he doesn’t expect, but the satisfaction for Miranda is just what she needed, until exhausted she collapses into the spare bed. The next morning, she wakes up feeling worse for wear, but better after a shower, until one of her best friends comes in, gun in hand and nearly shoots her when Miranda attacks her with a hairdryer, both are as surprised as the other but when Miranda explains the situation amid floods of tears and collapses into another exhausted sleep and wakes up with her other friends rallied around her and ready to help out any way that they can, including talking her through why they love her and giving her soon to be ex-husband the nickname of “Rat Bastard”.

As the deadline to leave her home advances, she gets some advice and more help from her friends as they talk about what needs to happen for the divorce to happen and then after packing up her belongings, they discover that they need to take her shopping as he owns everything, including the clothes on her back. As the impromptu shopping trip starts to slow down and the ladies hit Starbucks, they insist that she does a catwalk strut, but when she tries, her klutzy nature comes to the fore and her new heels get stuck in a hole in the sidewalk and she stumbles face first into the lap of an extremely handsome man, much to her embarrassment., but it proceeded to become a horror show when she used his sensitive parts as leverage when she tried to get up which led to her falling back on her rear end all over again. This incident doesn’t stop him from introducing himself, asking for her number and promptly asking her out to dinner the next day and yet again her friends rally round and help her to get ready for her first date in years. As the drink and conversation flow, they get on well and when she blurts out that she needs a job, he says he will see what he can do when he casually name drops that he has a brother who owns the company he also works for and when his brother goes past them and introduces himself, she is a little lost for words and at the end of the night, she doesn’t know which of the two she would prefer.

As the ladies gossip and demand the details from the date as they work on her resume so it is ready when he calls her a few days later and says that a position has opened up as an executive secretary and has set up an interview for her as he thinks that she will be perfect for the position and she does get it, as the lady she is replacing is about to give birth. As she is settling in to her new role, she overhears some conversation she isn’t overly happy about, but she isn’t in any position to challenge, or change, however, when the boss steps in and helps her out with it, she realises that she is going to have to figure out what shape the future is going to take and is asked to move to be his assistant when the one she has stepped in for returns after her maternity leave, this leads to her helping to organise an important fundraiser and while she is at the mall looking at things in person, she has to pop to the bathroom to avoid being caught while overhearing another conversation, however, when she comes out and tries to ignore the sales assistant hailing her, she runs into the boss whom she was just listening to, but her inability not to embarrass herself comes crashing in when she realises that she has been mooning the entire mall and while trying to put her clothing back into place, another unfortunate incident involving her underwear happens. Will Miranda ever be able to get through a situation without embarrassing or injuring herself, or will this nature be her undoing? Will she be able to get through the divorce without anything else getting in the way, or will disaster strike again and her choices be taken out of her hands? This is a romance in an unusual generation which makes it even more humorous as it is romantic and will keep you entertained all the way through and wanting to know more about the adventures of this group of friends at the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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In Plain Sight ( The Broken Bow Book 3) by Ashley A Quinn – Review by stephanie dulac

In Plain Sight (The Broken Bow Book 3)In Plain Sight by Ashley A. Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Plain Sight by Ashely Quinn is book 3 in the Broken bow series. I absolutely love this Romance- suspense series and the characters in it. I loved reading about Rayna and Thomas I really enjoyed following them through there journey together. There is something about Rayna that I could just relate to. The way Ashley Quinn writes keeps you reading, Once I got stared I was not able to put the book down. What I liked most about this series was I was not able to predict what was going to happen next. I look forward to reading more books by Ashley Quinn and thanks for another great read.

 

@stephaniedulac25

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Wolf’s Beautiful Beast: The Big Bad Wolf and Red Riding Hood, join Rapunzel to battle a beast. (The Untold Stories Book 3) by Suzanna Lynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Wolf's Beautiful Beast (The Untold Stories, #3)Wolf’s Beautiful Beast by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lycus is a werewolf, he was cursed to live  this life by a witch and for 18 years he was a man by day and a wolf by night, all to protect the girl in the tower called Rapunzel, but all that changed the day that Red, a girl living near the cursed woods and the only one brave enough to hunt in there despite the woods, came along and rescued Rapunzel and vows to help her return to her home in Oz.

This is how the three unlikely allies and friends end up leaving all they have known all or most of their lives and Red leaving her last living relative behind to board a ship heading to Brackengulch, however the journey is not going smoothly when they are hit by a terrible storm and shipwrecked. Fortunately Lycus is able to transform into his wolf and swim to safety with the two girls in his back, but although they are back on land, they’re not safe as they are told that they have landed in the Kingdom of Bruen, the ones who cut off the cursed Blakx forest in order to save themselves.

They are politely questioned by a soldier who knows about the shipwreck and as they try to warm up in a local tavern, it is announced that they have been invited up to the castle as the King and Queen’s guests, this is not wholly welcomed, but it is grudgingly accepted. While they are travelling in the horse drawn covered wagon, they briefly look out of the wagon to see what the Kingdom is like and all they see are wary subjects and threats are given freely to anyone when things are discussed which should not be, but try as they might they get no more answers apart from there is a curfew at sunset because the dark is dangerous. They eventually arrive at the castle and are offered rooms to freshen up in, clean clothes and an invitation to dine with the King and Queen that evening, but Lycus manages to upset the King with a careless question, which is unexpected as it is normally Red who would do something that, especially with her grave dislike of the royalty and kingdom in question. After dinner they return to their rooms where Lycus talk with his serving boy and asks him for more information about why the villagers are scared and what of and although he gets answers, they just being more question, but manages to get some time with Red and Rapunzel so they can discuss these facts in relative secrecy, followed by Lycus slipping out of the castle to see what he can find out on his own, but he runs into more trouble and ends up having to join in a hunt for this “Beast” everyone is scared of, or his sisters as they have been assumed to be, will be imprisoned.

Will Lycus be able to play his part in the hunt and ensure that Red and Rapunzel are allowed to remain free, or will he find that his inner beast finds a kindred spirit when he is captured by the beast and will this make his choice between his friends and a princess be his downfall? This is another fantastic retelling of an untold story which keeps you just as interested in finding out the differences between them.

Review by @roxsannel

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Kissing the Kavalier by Annette Nauraine – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur .

Kissing the KavalierKissing the Kavalier by Annette Nauraine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zdenka Waldner is a Countess, her family live on a farm in the country, but unfortunately they are about to lose it all because of her father’s gambling debts, so the family decide to go to Vienna where her sister Arabella can début into society and hopefully find a handsome and rich husband who will help to solve all their problems. Matteo Von Ritter is Lieutenant with the Kavalier Regiment in the Austrian army and has just come back from the Battle of Königgratz where he and his regiment have been injured in a brutal battle and he is still recovering from his injuries when he attends his Aunts social event, he is only there to support her, but when he is introduced the the belle of the ball, suddenly things don’t seem as bad.

As Zdenka and Arabella prepare for another event in the social butterfly’s calendar, Zdenka is as usual dressed in men’s clothing and acting as Arabella’s chaperone as her younger brother, although maybe she is enjoying her freedom a little too much despite the pressure on them to find Arabella a good match before the final event of the season. As they approach their destination, they pass an elderly man on the stairs who trips, but they also see that a handsome soldier helps him back to his feet, at least there are some good people still in the world, unlike some of the suitors who are arrogant and only wanting of a pretty trophy to marry rather than a woman who has her own mind. That is until the hostess introduces the pair to her nephew who just happens to be the soldier from the staircase, Zdenka is quite taken with him, but it appears he is also quite taken, but not with her, much to her disappointment, with her sister. Meanwhile Matteo is trying his hardest to get through the event with his sanity in place, but the people are loud and obnoxious and albeit the music is pleasant, he feels the need to soothe himself with alcohol, that is until he meets the fair Arabella and makes her acquaintance. As the evening passes and he gets to know her a bit more, he is slightly annoyed at how her brother is always hovering, although he isn’t unpleasant to look at either which is disturbing to Matteo as he has never felt like that towards another male and this makes him even more uncomfortable, if that is even possible.

Later on Matteo speaks with his cousin and together they devise an elaborate plan for Matteo to show his interest in Arabella via her brother and so a scheme is started where Matteo will bond with Zdenka, in order to gain favour with her sister, however, as a friendship begins to blossom and they learn more about each other and what they want out of life, Zdenka to run her families farm and Matteo to help the veterans of war when nobody else will, Zdenka is realising that it is becoming harder to hide that she is not in fact male and add that to the fact that Matteo cannot abide lies and liars and she is both, but as letters begin to be exchanged, little does Matteo realise that he is actually conversing and falling in love with Zdenka and not Arabella.

Will Arabella and Zdenka’s elaborate hoax be discovered and what will this mean for them and the family farm, will they be able to save it, or will they lose the only home they have ever known? What will Matteo do when he finds out about the deception, will he accept the truth, or will this finally be the final straw which breaks his heart forever? This is a fabulous retelling of a famous opera, but with an alternate storyline which is as compelling as the original one.

Review by @roxsannel

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To be a Fae Queen (Realm Chronicles Book 1) by Tricia Copeland – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

To be a Fae Queen (Realm Chronicles #1)To be a Fae Queen by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Titania is Princess of Aubren in the realm of Middle Earth, she is fifteen years old and for the last three years and since the death of her brothers, she has been in training to take over the throne from her father. She has a fulfilling life between her studies, learning about weaponry and fighting techniques, plus music and sewing as benefits a lady, although she has no friends and there is only one person she is close to, apart from her parents with whom she spends time every evening after dinner, talking with her father and trying to talk to her unresponsive mother. One evening, however, all this changes when Titania learns from her father that the crystals which power the faerie ring and link between theirs and the world above is weakening because an old enemy has returned and is stealing the crystals which power it. She struggles to fall asleep as questions whirl round her head as to what the enemy is planning, how they are getting into their kingdom, so she decides to go and get some books from the library to research and hopefully answer her questions. When she wakes up the next day and notices that it has dawned differently and she has a feeling of unease which she cannot place until she asks whether more crystals have been stolen, when the answer is an affirmative, she is even more determined to find out why.

As there is nothing she can do, Titania carries on with her normal routine of walking in the castle grounds with her mother until it is time for her midday meal, as she ate late, Titania carries on with her walk until she senses that she isn’t alone and confronts the person following her, it turns out to be a young soldier barely older than her who has been assigned to watch over her and although it feels smothering, she just carries on as usual. The next day, that feeling of unease and that something is wrong increases, especially when she discovers that some of her own crystals have disappeared as well, however, when she comes up with a plan to figure out where the enemies are and a way to defeat them, her father acknowledges the worth of it, but assigns the soldiers to carry it out rather than her, despite knowing her skills. As more crystals are stolen and her father still stonewalls Titania from carrying out a search and her plan to find the enemies alternative entrance point when it is clear that they are not using the most obvious one, she devises a plan and the young guard to help her, however, as they search, they do finally uncover where the enemy is hiding.

As she shoots arrows across the entryway, she begins to take down the enemies and knowing this, they summon the rest of the army to come and help to destroy them, in the end the King arrives and heads the forces going into the cave system they two have discovered, but he is injured by the enemy and at that point, Titania takes over and takes the lead in the charge. When they enter the cave system, Titania recovers the stolen crystals and enables the escape of the troops as the caves are hit by tremors and sending the guard ahead with the crystals, she remains to finish off the enemy troops and ensure the safety of as many of her fathers troops as possible. When they all return, the King abdicates his throne and elects Titania to become Queen in his stead, however, this isn’t to everyone’s taste and an uprising begins on the point that a female fae should not be on the throne as they are unsuitable, as her court is split between the two factions, a smear campaign against her begins, this leads to her being arrested for treason before a trial can be convened to decide the ruler.

Will Titania be able to prove her innocence in the matter of treason and be able to compete in the trials for the crown, or should she hand over to a distant male cousin so that he can rule in her place instead? There are more questions than answers for Titania as she tries to keep her head above water in this thrilling fantasy adventure which spans accross realms.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Twisted Throttle: Satan’s Devils MC Second Generation #3 by Manda Mellett – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Twisted Throttle (Satan's Devils MC Second Generation #3)Twisted Throttle by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is for those over 18 due to adult content and possible triggers.

Throttle is the Sergeant At Arms in the Satan’s Devils MC and he lives and breathes the club, the life and the women which he propositions and he wants nothing else, he is the happiest he has ever been and change is the last thing he wants, despite his parents best efforts at requesting it.

Today he is dealing with a slight to the club, someone has stolen a Prospects motorbike and that is something which is a sin, a mans bike is sacrosanct and nobody should touch it without their permission, but to let their bike be stolen is just as bad, even if they were only away from it for a few minutes, but as usual the clubs resident technical wizz has trawled through endless amounts of CCTV and actually found it, now they just have to pay a visit to the scrapyard when it has been traced to. Throttle is more than ready for this type of action, it has been to quiet for him as of late, so getting the opportunity to grab the guys who stole it, find out what they were planning to do with it and take them to task while telling them the mistake they have made and the consequences which go along with it, none of which is pleasant, for them at least. After the warning has been given and the people of interest have been returned to their workplace in a much worse state than when they left it, Throttle’s dad asks him for a word and they talk about what his parents wanted for him and how he only ever wanted to be in the MC when he didn’t sign up to the armed forces, much to his parents’ relief, they also discuss the fellow member who has had mental health issues and making sure that Throttle isn’t heading the same way and whether his is happy, as well as says that he is not altogether appreciative of his lifestyle of one night stands and carousel of women he knows his son consorts with.

After the heated discussion, he is needing some space as his emotions are running high, Throttle heads to the bar/ restaurant the Devil’s own where he can get something to eat and a drink, but he doesn’t expect to see a girl he knew as a kid and hasn’t seen for years working there. As they catch up, it is like those years disappear and she seems to have her life sorted out which makes Throttle happy to hear, but as she is working, the conversation peters out and he instead goes on the prowl and sees someone he thinks may be the next to ride his carousel, however, the chance disappears until the manager of the restaurant asks him to come back the next day to help manage a bachelorette party, to which he agrees. The next day he returns to help out, but ends up following the group to the next venue, which happens to be a strip club also owned by the Devils, much to his annoyance, but the same woman who caught his eye propositions him at the end of the night and he agrees to go back to her place, but when he sets out the rules, he assumes she will follow them, that is until the next day when she tries to get him to go out with her, he refuses and thinks no more of it.

When he returns to the clubhouse later that evening, he hears that one of the waitresses has been hurt and when he realises that it is his childhood friend, he rushes to her side at the hospital after stopping at the bar to see what happened. The next day he receives an expensive gift from a mystery person and as he tries to follow up on this, he is still checking in on his friend, but he is starting to think about her more and more and this has him worried, especially when he finds out that her house has also been ransacked. As time passes and his friend heals, he is tailed by a mystery car multiple times as he checks on her, followed by a further gift and silent phone calls, this mystery deepens and he gets involved with someone else,
but cannot see how they are all connected and neither can anyone else, is it a jilted lover, someone with it in for the MC, or something else entirely? This fast paced romp is a romance with a mysterious and dangerous twist as things out of Throttle’s control keep happening until he has no idea what is happening and you are pulled along on the journey with him you are just as mystified until the ending is revealed.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Hawk’s Cry : Satan’s Devils MC (Second Generation #2) by Manda Mellett – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Hawk's Cry (Satan's Devils MC Second Generation #2)Hawk’s Cry by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a story for those over 18 as it deals with adult content and possible triggers.

Hawk is the VP of the Satan’s Devils MC mother chapter and he is in love with a beautiful woman who he has known all his life, he is married to her and has their first child on the way, he is the son of the old Prez and is following in his footsteps by living and breathing the MC life, but it is not the life he wants anymore and he wants out, but it is only when one of the other members comes to find him and find out what is wrong that he opens up and says what has been on his mind, they can’t understand it though and end up storming away in disbelief and leaving him to his thoughts and what he is going to tell his wife. As he approaches her, she knows something is off and has known for a while, but she is astonished when he tells her about his decision and then heads off to the weeks meeting with the other members before they have time to properly talk about it, but as he enters the room, he realises that his talk wasn’t as in confidence as he thought and that he has told the other member, so as he goes through the motions of the meeting, he is hoping it is over soon so that he can find out the ramifications of his decision.

As most of the members leave the room, they are told to stay close as they might end up being needed again and this is when the discussion about Hawk’s choice is brought up and nobody likes it one but it is unprecedented and nobody is really sure of how to proceed, but nevertheless, the conversation starts. As Hawk is trying to explain his decision, he is struggling to find the words he needs ro explain himself, so he just outright states he wants to leave the club, the compound and this life, but that he wants to take his wife with him, as expected, tempers fray and emotions are running high, but reality starts to hit as his options are laid on the table. This is when the other members are invited back in and the cards are laid on the table as they each take a vote, the decision ends up being a close call, but a beatdown and immediate expulsion are chosen, the next thing he knows, he is being escorted to the storeroom and after his dad takes the first hit, he sees him leave while the other members show him exactly what they think of the situation. As he regains consciousness, he is on the floor, in a world of pain and his house is being packed up around him as his wife cries, they are then taken to another place to live until they can find their own feet, he hadn’t realised how hard this would be on his wife, especially when their mums have to explain what decision was made and what the other option was.

As he has now left the club, he has to give up his road name as well and live life as Eli, but as he and Amy try and settle into a new life, he is unable to do anything while he heals and his moods deteriorate and he starts to spiral even more, Amy has no idea how to handle his distance and what to do about it as it is all new to her, but she ends up making a friend, albeit a male one, but one day things take a turn for the worse for both Eli and Amy when one feels unable to cope and the other has no idea how bad things have gotten. What will happen to the not so happy couple when the truth is revealed and things out of their control start to happen around them? This is a romance with a dark undercurrent which sweeps you along as you watch events unfurl and see the decisions which have to be made and the consequences of the actions which follow.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Amy’s Santa: Satan’s Devils MC (Second Generation #1) by Manda Mellet – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Amy's Santa: Satan's Devils MC (Second Generation) #1Amy’s Santa: Satan’s Devils MC (Second Generation) #1 by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is only for those over 18 with adult content and may contain triggers within.

Amy is a 27 year old woman who has grown up with the Satan’s Devils and branched out on her own to attend college and get a degree in nursing, albeit to the frustration and worry of her parents, but she is successful and knows what she wants out of life and one thing is to return home every Christmas and see her parents, sibling and the extended family of those living around her, but this year she is dreading it, she is worried that they will see right through her and want to deal with her problem’s the only way she knows how, but she might just manage it with Xander by her side.

As they drive towards the compound, Xander asks her how she is feeling as they get nearer to Tucson and her home, she replied honestly that she is worried and is tempted to go back, but she knows that if she isn’t there, then her family will definitely suspect something and that is the last thing she wants, but even though Xander is trying to convince her that she needs to open up to them about what happened, she is more worried about what their reaction is going to be. It is her fault the event happened and they will all just blame her and agree that she was at fault, but she is so glad that he is there with her so he can help her as he has done for the last three months. As they approach the compound, they stop at the gate so they can be let in and Xander admires the area as it is not what he expected at all, but everything is as she expects and hopes they have waited so that their traditions can be kept up where she puts the last decoration up on the tree. After this has been completed, Amy introduces her friend to everyone, but she awkwardly tries to avoid hugs from the men around her, although she doesn’t hesitate with her dad or the ladies and kids and she is more than thankful that Xander helps her to do that, using wanting to freshen up and unpack as their excuse.

As they unpack, she fills Xander in when he asks about the Club and the people in it, but understands that he can only know so much, but he also knows when to push and when not to, meanwhile her dad is talking to her mum and is worried about her and a little bit about the man she is with, albeit the usual checks have been done, then they reminisce about her childhood and how she had grown into exactly what she wanted to be. As they go back to the clubhouse, they meet up with another member and talk about her and get his view on the situation and he feels the same way that they do, that something isn’t right, but to wait and see what it is. Later on as preparations for the family meal are going on Xander goes straight in and helps where needed as Amy spends time catching up with the family, this is appreciated, but as she talks to her dad, he is watching for her reactions to his questions and the feeling that something isn’t right is solidified, especially as he notices more little things as the evening progresses and he is determined to find out what it is and so asks Xander to have a chat in the morning.

As Xander reassures Amy that nobody noticed anything was amiss, they go about their normal nightly routine, including helping her deal with her nightmares, which she appreciates more than she can tell him and to help calm her, he asks how Christmas works so he knows what to expect later on in the day. The next morning, they exchange gifts and head down to the clubhouse for breakfast and although she is worried, Amy goes along too, but when someone puts his arm around her she goes into a full blown panic attack and has to be taken outside, but just as Xander is talking to her, her dad comes out and overhears them talking, this is where Xander ends up telling him everything. Will Amy be able to handle the rest of Christmas day and be able to relax around her family, or will what they find out tarnish their view of her forever? This is another fantastic installment which deals with some heavy topics, but is engrossing as you ride along with the Devils.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Peaceful Slumber (Soul Connection Book 1) by Nikki Lynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Peaceful Slumber (Soul Connection, #1)Peaceful Slumber by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scott is a teenager and a bit of a recluse, he is jaded and sarcastic and pushes people away and keeps his own council, he doesn’t get along with his parents, or at least he doesn’t now, not since he died and was brought back, but the only problem with that is that now he can see the dead when nobody else can and that is why he is how he is. She is a ghost, she is wearing a wedding dress covered in blood and has no memories of who she is or what has happened, apart from that she is dead and nobody can see her, that is until she locks eyes with someone at a funeral and that all changes.

I have woken up in a dark place with fog swirling around my feet, I can’t feel anything and I can’t see anybody else around me, but I’m shivering and can feel a cold wind swirling around me, but as I start to panic, I can hear voices, someone sobbing and others trying to comfort them, but when I try to make contact, they can’t hear me. Scott is at the funeral of his Uncle, they are gathered around the grave while the ceremony is conducted, he is there for his Aunt and nobody else, but the dead are all around him and trying to get his attention, so far he has managed to ignore them all, if not, then they will swarm him and ask for his help, that is until one female ghost catches his attention, she is wearing a bloody wedding dress and for some reason he can’t look away and she notices and looks relieved. After he has finished avoiding his parents, he goes over to talk to her, and albeit he is short with her, she doesn’t back off and he is surprised to find that he invites her back to his house so he can help her.

Why did I have to find the one sarcastic guy in the world who can see me, even worse, I’m slightly attracted to him, as I ask him question and he does in return, how little memories I have are worrying and I don’t know what to do, but as Scott seems to be my only ally and we seem to get on well, I’ll take a chance. I get annoyed with Scott when he keeps calling me Ghost Bride, so I ask him to give me a different name and one he likes, he comes up with Zelda, apparently a character from a video game, but I like it, so that is one thing, as he suggests getting the laptop out to start on the research, I realise that I am happy that he will help me when nobody else can. Scott meanwhile is realising that this ghost is attractive, funny and can give the sarcasm as much as he can, so he decides that helping her could be fun, until she leaves, but still he cannot stop himself from noticing how attractive she is and how even though he knows she is dead, he still can’t ignore the fact that she makes him feel alive again.

Will Scott and Zelda be able to figure out who she is and how she died and how will this affect them both of the mystery can be solved? This is a romance with a very paranormal twist, with a mystery you will want to solve as well.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Forged by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops Book 3) by Amy McKinley – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Forged by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops, #3)Forged by Secrets by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Malina Johansson is an ordinary woman working as an analyst for a team of Navy SEALs, but she has secrets in her past which nobody can know about and Tyler Hale is one of three brothers and is on the Navy SEAL team which Malina is the analyst for, they have known each other since high school, but Malina has walls around her heart because of her past and Tyler wants to know the woman behind them because they have an attraction which is off the charts. That all changes when they go to Las Vegas for the birthday of a mutual friend and everyone knows that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, so the alcohol flows and inhibitions lower and Malina and Tyler end up in bed together for the second time, but when she wakes up, Malina slams her walls back up and flees the room with no memories of the night before, but she thinks no more about it and goes back to ignoring Tyler as best she can while Tyler is determined to get under her skin, again as usual.

Five weeks later and Tyler is still pushing her buttons while she tries to ignore it, but she knows he is about to go on a mission which means she’ll have some breathing room while he is away, but things don’t go as planned and Tyler ends up being detained overseas longer than planned when his mission goes awry and this makes him realise that he can’t keep playing games with Malina any longer and is determined to win her over as soon as he returns to Pearl Harbour and debriefed. A few days into Tyler’s mission, Malina heads to the office after a disturbed night and an early morning dealing with the aftermath of it, all the while, she is reminiscing about a time in her life she would rather forget and sees an old friend at the harbour and stops for a quick chat which helps. It is hot, humid and she isn’t feeling her best when she approaches the front door, but she is shocked when she is waylaid by a coworker before she even gets through and what she is told shakes her to the core, she is suspected of treason and if she is seen, she will be arrested. Malina knows what she has to do and returns home to pack a few things, followed by a bus ride to the harbour via a corner shop and ATM for supplies, she stays as hidden as possible and asks her friend for their help to get to her destination. As she is about to leave, she sees a familiar face in the crowd and hopes that they are not there for her, so although she has only been there once, she heads to Tyler’s place, it is the only place she can think of to hide and hope that he will help her when he returns.

Over the next couple of days, Malina settles in and waits for Tyler while hoping that the conversation they will have will not deter him from helping her, even though it will mean danger for him, but when they do have that conversation, it is sober and over cards, this leads to truths being laid out on the table as they each reveal something which will affect the rest of their lives. Will Malina and Tyler be able to find out who has framed her for treason and the reason why, or will all the secrets of their past destroy them before they can? This is a thrilling ride as revelations occur and danger lies around every corner, it hooks you in and pulls you along as you follow the path and untangle the web of intrigue which surrounds the main characters.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Evil Sushi by C.A. King – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Evil Sushi (Evil Sushi #1)Evil Sushi by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Two fishermen are down on their luck, as are most of the others with the same livelihood all over the world since people started to blame the meat industry for global warming and which led to a huge increase in demand for fish and the opening of the international fishing routes, since then, the seas have been overfished and not replenished, even the vegetation on the sea bed is dead and people are fighting over any meat they can get a hold of. Rod and Ned live in the town of Treacle, it is a typical small community which centres around the fishing industry and traditions passed down through the generations which has kept it alive, albeit now the boats are all in need of repair but are having to wait until finances allow.

One day, Rod and Ned decide to go out and see if there is anything left after the big corporation’s boats scoured the area and used charges to get as much out of the sea as physically possible, but when they go out and use one of Rod’s homemade gadgets to see the state of play under the water, they find something unexpected, something which could well change their fortunes, so they decide to take a sample back with them to take a closer look. What they discover when they get home is nothing short of breathtaking and when someone accidentally tries to remedy a mistake, the consequences are miraculous, while Rod cautiously decides to do some research, Ned tries something a bit more drastic and when he says that they have tried it and nothing bad has come of it, they decide to try and sell it.

Early the next morning, they go to market to sell their find, but anger the locals when they accidentally start an auction and when Ned hears the amount of money offered by a businessman who doesn’t belong, he takes it upon himself to accept before Rod can do anything about it. This business man then asks for a repeat order a few days later and thinking that this is the end of it and that their luck maybe turning round, they try and pack up while avoiding the rest of the shoppers, it is only when a few days later and the mysterious businessman hires someone to take the rest of the stock by force and pay them for the privilege of staying silent, that they begin to think that they made a mistake.

Rod and Ned try to forget about the whole thing and get on with their lives until strange things start happening in Treacle and that feeling of unease is reinforced by hearing news reports of other strange events. Will Rod and Ned come clean about what they found and try to defend the reasoning behind it, or will the whole thing backfire and end up affecting the world in the opposite way they hoped? This is a horror story which makes you think about whether something similar could actually come to pass while keeping you hooked until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Daisy’s Darkness (Wheels & Hogs Book 6) by D.M. Earl – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Daisy's Darkness (Wheels & Hogs #6)Daisy’s Darkness by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book contains graphic descriptions of experiences which could be emotional triggers, read with caution.

Daisy in a teenager with a loving family and a circle of friends she is close to, but she is also being bullied by a group of girls and it is made even worse when her older brother starts to date on of them over the summer holidays, when school starts again, she is struggling with everything and because of all this stress, lack of feeling safe, feeling like she has no control of her life and the mountain of school work she has to do for her advanced classes, she is spiralling and she can’t seem to reach out, no matter how hard she tries, she believes that only she can deal with her demons, alone.

When she returns from her winter school break, she is trying to regain some control, she is restricting her food intake to keep the weight loss going which she started over summer, she is also trying different things to release the thoughts, stresses and demons in her head, but as she prepares for the first day back, she knows that it is going to be hell and that the bullies are just going to get worse. The one thing she is looking forward to is seeing her friends, her queens, although she still feels alone despite all of the people she has around her, however, her worst fears come to pass when she is intentionally hurt by the bullies who blame her for her brother breaking up with one of them, as she is held down, she is in pain, but there is nothing she can do about it and she knows that if she tells someone about what really happened, it will only get worse for her. Eventually she has to go to the hospital, the injuries she sustained are so bad she passes out and wakes up there with no idea how ill she has been, but she still cannot open up to her parents.

As Daisy continues to spiral, she begins to hurt herself more and more, her parents and brother are worried about her as they don’t know what’s going on, she keeps everything to herself and just clams up when they ask her about it all, she knows she is doing things which are especially risky and that hiding them isn’t helping, but she can’t stop herself. She feels so alone and disconnected from everyone and everything that she can’t see what is happening around her, but it is when someone finds what she is doing when she is caught in the act that things finally come to a head.

Will Daisy be able to reach out to those around her to help her to battle her inner demons, or will she continue in this downward spiral and become even more of a danger to herself than she already is? This book is dark, yet enlightening and makes you think as you look through the eyes of a troubled girl and those around her, it is not for the faint of heart and it is not an easy read, but it is well worth the time you take to go along Daisy’s journey with her.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Red’s Tangled Tale: Captain Hook and Red Riding Hood discover the Big Bad Wolf, and Rapunzel too! (The Untold Stories Book 2) by Suzanna Lynn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Red's Tangled Tale (The Untold Stories, #2)Red’s Tangled Tale by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Red Riding Hood is the little girl who skips through the woods to visit her grandmother and bring her treats, but who is also scared of the Big Bad Wolf, but this is not necessarily true, she actually lives with her grandmother and Red is the name the villagers who who shun her have given her because of her red cloak she wears and she isn’t scared of the Big Bad Wolf, she hunts him.

Red lives in Ravenmore in an area known as Timbergard by the Blakx forest where huge wolves prowl on a night, it is said to have been cursed by a sorceress and cut off from the rest of the kingdom by another who used a fire to burn a border, which it is said to be still burning, but out of all who live there, only Red’s father was brave enough to go hunting in those woods, now it is up to Red to do since he was killed by the wolves a year before. When Red kills a wolf the merchants are always trying to short change her from everything from the meat to the pelt, despite the fact that they would be cold and starving if she didn’t hunt, but when she brings the latest prepared kill, an old friend, Captain Hook helps her out with the pelt, but he has changed and Red is determined to find out why. After Hook tells Red his tale, she agrees to help him to through the forest and collect some of the ash he needs from the border, so they prepare what they need, albeit the pirates think that Red is just a girl, the Captain soon puts them right and they agree that they will meet at Red’s grandmother’s house and set off at first light the next day

As Red and the pirates set off, much to the dismay of her grandmother, Red explains that she will lead the way and that they must listen to her, but the pirates aren’t used to long treks in the forest and after a few hours, they stop to eat, drink and rest, this is were one of the pirates sees his first wolf print and the size of it scares him. Later on, as it starts to get dark, Red insists that they find somewhere to camp for the night, the best place she finds is a cave at the source of the river, it means they have to wade through the cold water to it, but it will be safe and somewhere they can light a fire to dry off. The next day the pirates start to complain about being tired and hungry, so they rest before they get the ash, however, because of this, they are still a ways away from the cave when night starts to fall and the wolves start to hunt them, so Red has to make a drastic decision and she decides to run and lead the wolves away from the pirates. As she does it, she falls down a hill and when she gets to the bottom, she sees a white wolf chasing her, it reminds her of the one who chased her out of the woods the night of her father’s death, but soon she sees a place ahead of her which is far from ordinary, but it is something which could save her life.

Will Red be able to lead the wolves away from the pirates and will this mysterious place be the saving grace she hopes it is, or will there be something inside which could spell the end of her existence? This is a story of secrets, revelations, bravery and magic, it is another untold story which will change your view of Red and fairy tales in general while leaving you wanting more.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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City of Whispers: Imperial Assassin Book 1 by Katt Powers – Reiew by Roxsanne Lesieur.

City of Whispers (Imperial Assassin, #1)City of Whispers by Katt Powers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dhani Karim is a trained assassin, her weapons of choice are throwing knives, a metal baton, hair accessories which double as lethal spikes, a bracelet which can be used as a garotte and a set of lock picking tools in her brassiere, but in a land of magic, she is one of the few people who cannot wield it. However, due to an accusation of a murder she didn’t commit, she has now been demoted from Imperial Assassins to a lowly covert operative for a year until a judgement can be made as to whether she can rejoin the ranks and as such has been sent to the smallest town which is at the furthest point possible from the capital city.

Dhani has just arrived in the Imperial Colony of Tizrak Yirda to report to her superior, it is a hot, dry place with insects galore, but the thing she is least happy about is the touchy feely guard who took it upon himself to frisk her at the entrance of the Regional Command building with the excuse that it was to find her weapons, although he did get a cracked rib courtesy of her elbow for the inconvenience. Repeating the Imperial Assassin’s mantra she enters the office and faces the music, amid the veiled and outright insults she is told that she is not wanted and that it is only because it has been ordered that she is allowed to be there, she will also have to work with a partner, who isn’t wanted either and that their assignment is to find an individual of interest. The two of them are handed a file and told they have three days to find this person, but that they don’t need to know why they are looking for them and after they are dismissed, they go to find their office which is tiny and full of dust where her partner asks her why she hasn’t kept to protocol and isn’t impressed with her answers, or her attitude, however, she isn’t impressed with his attitude either, but they come to an understanding and an agreement eventually and come up with a plan of action, but albeit reluctantly.

When they go to the archives to pull the files they need, they find that one of the people who should have a file doesn’t and others who don’t need a file do, but they put it to the back of their minds and decide who they are going to talk to first, but it isn’t as easy and straightforward when the people on the list are less than enthusiastic to talk to them, one of them is even dead, but they are sure that at least one of them is lying about what they know. As they make their way through the other names of the list, they find that they are being tailed and are eventually attacked, but when three others join in, they realise that they are outnumbered, but they prevail and Dhani is dropped off outside her lodgings as her partner goes to find some much needed medical help, she finds that one of the people is wearing a bracelet with a religious symbol on it, which looks familiar. The evening is not over for Dhani though as she finds that her apartment has been ransacked while they were out, she gathers what is left of her belongings and goes to find one of her stashes to replenish them, the next thing she does is to go to another place where she knows she will receive a warm welcome and have a place to stay.

Over breakfast the next morning, she talks to the people she is staying with and finds out some interesting information , but when she goes on the search for her partner, she realises that he is not going to be of any help to her, so she decides to draft a message to send the the General to tell him of the developments in the case. As the days progress and this simple search for a missing person becomes a lot more complicated and every time Dhani thinks she has a handle on things, something else happens, but will she be able to solve the mystery of this person of interest and why it ties into the religious imagery she has seen popping up everywhere before it is too late to do anything about it? This is an adventure with more twists and turns than a maze and is just as entertaining, it is a book which pulls you in and keeps you hooked until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Ocean’s Light (Blood of the Pirate Book 1) by Mina Chara – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Ocean's LightThe Ocean’s Light by Mina Chara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Ocean’s Light is a gift from the sea to mankind, it can grant any wish to the one chosen to wield it, but it comes with a price, as all magic does, but it is a temptation to those who haven’t been chosen as well. When first gifted the light, the girl chosen wants to use the wish for good, but she also knows that it is a great responsibility on her shoulders, however, the more she argues with herself over what to wish for, the more she realises that she doesn;t want any part of this gift after all, so she decides to return it to the sea and into the arms of guardian who takes into the depths.

Many years later and The Ocean’s Light has become a myth, but there are still a few who believe in its existence and one who holds the key to it, although they don’t know they do, only that it is the only thing linking them to a family lost so they decide to take destiny into their own hands when they have to choose between staying where they have grown up or finding a crew to take them to where this key leads. Things do not go quite to plan and instead of finding and leading a crew, they are kidnapped by one, however, there is another crew who want to help them escape from their captivity, meanwhile in the background there is a third crew who want this key for themselves and will do anything to get it.

Will the person who holds the key find out the secret it opens and what will they do with the information? Which of the three crews will help and which ones will hinder the exploration and will the prize be worth the price in the end? This is a fantasy adventure across unknown seas to far away lands, with a fair amount of thievery and swashbuckling along the way, it is a book anyone and everyone can enjoy from start to finish as secrets are revealed and truths are uncovered.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Love Between the Lines by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Bailey Stiles

Love Between the LinesLove Between the Lines by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marlowe Bennet is an author who has become used to her hermit existence. She wants to stay home in her sweats with her cats and eat junk food while she writes. Heath is a model who is ready to stop traveling and settle down. After steamy kiss a year ago, Marlowe’s best friend Iris arranges a date for the two of them.

I really enjoyed this book. A.D. Brazeau did a nice job of going into how anxiety can take over your life. I thought the chemistry between Heath and Marlowe was wonderful. Heath was truly a perfect book boyfriend. He was so patient and understanding. I loved how the book focused on their relationship, but I was sad there was no steamy sex scenes.

The friendship between Iris, Marlowe and Marlowe’s sister Lucy was really fun to read about. I liked how they were all so supportive of each other. This was a heartwarming story that was funny and light. A great book to read on a rainy weekend in.

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Jordan’s Shadow by T.R. Cupak – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Jordan's ShadowJordan’s Shadow by T.R. Cupak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is not advised for anyone one under the age of 18 due to the graphic content.

Jordan is a woman with a whole heap of problems, she is an addict, she uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain of her past and the demons which haunt her, especially when the nightmares hit of the night her life changed forever, she also writes in her journal to help her process her dreams and let out all the pain and the hurt inside. The Shadow is a man obsessed with a woman and that woman is Jordan, all he wants is to keep her by his side, but she isn’t aware of this, their shared past or his commitment to avenge her.
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She has tried to get a normal job and keep her head down, but that didn’t work out, so when the opportunity to become an escort came up, she decided to give it a go and here she is several years later and still doing it, she has her regular clients, but only a couple who she actually sleeps with. One of her main clients is a man she has named The Shadow, she sees him once a month and is always blindfolded while she is with him, he gives her gifts and his bodyguard is always professional and polite when he comes to collect her. She knows that he is just a client, but she can’t help but hope that he could be something more, he knows how to play her body like an instrument and she can’t help but give in to his every demand, but this time, something happens and she goes into a full blown panic attack.

The next morning she wakes up in an unfamiliar place with a pounding head and no idea why until flashbacks of the night before make her want to throw up, but instead she explores the room and it’s contents, she finds notes dotted around to make her comfortable and after The Shadow’s bodyguard gives her something to change into, she gets ready to leave, however, when she is dropped off at home, she is surprised when she is told he will be visiting her tonight and she is told to wear nothing but her blindfold when he gets there.

The Shadow is informed that Jordan is safely back at home, he is thinking about his current business path, as well as the past events that have led him to her, but that is nothing compared to his plan for the night to come and the first step in his plan for revenge, but he is worrying about how she will react to what he will tell her.

When the time comes for Jordan and The Shadow to meet, she is spiralling, the cocktail of booze and drudge she has taken are sending her mind into a tailspin and she can’t stop thinking about escaping, even though his bodyguard has put a stop to that straight away already. Meanwhile The Shadow is just as flighty as she is, but he takes a few swigs of liquid courage and goes to her flat, things do not go quite to plan and the things he wants to say are forgotten once he allows her to look at him. That night, there is passion, an argument, a betrayal of trust and exhaustion, but Jordan goes to see him the next day anyway and when he reveals one more part of himself to her, will she be able to accept his words like he wants her to, or will she run when she realises that his demons and darkness are almost as deep as hers? Will these two broken people come together, or are past events going to be too large a barrier to overcome? This is not a romance for the faint of heart, it is a tidal wave of emotion, betrayal and revelations which will pull you under into their world of darkness and wanting to know how the story ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Secure Her (Chase Security Series Book 4) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Secure Her (Chase Security #4)Secure Her by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book contains scenes of a graphic and sexual nature, only those over 18’s only should read this.

Zachary “Ice” Wentworth is the head of the Domestic Law Enforcement Unit within Chase Security, he has worked his way there from being an ex Navy SEAL, all the way up, but he is still recovering from the loss of a female operative who was also his submissive partner. Saoirse Kennedy is an US Attorney and is extremely good at her job, she is brave, determined and beautiful, but she is also naive in matters of the heart.

Zachary is travelling back home after visiting San Diego for an operation, as he approaches the airport departures ready to check in his luggage and his firearm, he notices a woman ahead of him in the line who is also checking in a weapon, but she is having a lot more problems than he is doing it, so he steps in and then asks to speak to the supervisor about it. This leads to them introducing themselves and parting ways, that is until she ends up sitting next to him on his flight, she is easy to talk to and conversation flows easily between them, but she is guarded, but nevertheless, Zachary can’t deny his attraction to her. He offers her a ride to her destination in the city, but unbeknownst to either of them, she is attending a course in undercover work which Zachary just happens to be running. As the course proceeds, there is one person who Zaxhary realises is underqualified and although she is allowed to finish the course, his dissatisfaction is reported back to her supervisor.

Thinking no more of the situation and a few months pass until Saoirse turns up at the Unit headquarters asking for a meeting with Zachary with a conference call with Martin Bailey at the same time, but what he hears is not what he expected, it turns out that an undercover female officer has been murdered while on assignment to infiltrate a trafficking ring and the woman in question was the same one who was on the same course as Saoirse. As the conversation deepens it turns out that they want Zachary as a dominant to train Saoirse as a submissive to enable her to try and infiltrate the same ring, but he is uncomfortable and unsure as to how to proceed given his past and when it turns out that Saoirse wasn’t given the full details of what would be happening, he isn’t so sure that either of them will be able to do it.

As Zachary digs deeper into the files associated with the case, he can see that there is more than meets the eye and that the target for the investigation is a rich businessman with a lot of connections, plus that there have been ten other undercover female operatives who have died as well. As Saoirse is trying to decide whether to take this case on, Zachary throws her in at the deep end and takes her to observe exactly what being dominant and submissive entails, she is shocked and as things get more serious, she opens up to him and agrees to try. Will Zachary and Saoirse be able to get her trained up and ready in time to carry out the infiltration, or will they become too drawn into their roles to distinguish between their reality and their personas? Will their feelings come between them and the mission, or will they be able to trust each other enough to get over the barriers in their way? This is a suspenseful thriller which draws you into another world as you follow the investigation and infiltration until the end to see how the story concludes.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Secure Boxset (Chase Security Series Books 1-3) by R.L Dunn – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Secure Boxed Set (Chase Security #1-3)Secure Boxed Set by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secure Desire.

Cassie Modine is an FBI agent working in the Art and Cultural Property Crime Division where she helps to recover and return stolen artwork to its rightful owners, she is successful in her career and has friends she is close to as well as an adopted family who mean the world for her, however Cassie holds secrets which even she can’t remember fully of a time in her past where she experienced something she would never wish on anyone, not even her worst enemy. Ian Chase is out of the military and now is the successful CEO of Chase Security and his teams work like a well oiled machine working in the background on cases where government forces have too much red tape to get through, as well as personal security for those who need it.

Six years ago Cassie and Ian met at an art gallery where she showed him round and introduced him to one of her favourite pieces, now six years later, they have bumped into each other again st Cassie’s uncle’s house where she has just arrived after experiencing something disconcerting while grabbing coffee with a friend, all the feelings she felt about Ian the first time round are coming back to her and it seems it is the same for him as well, but Cassie is not interested in a relationship, not after what happened. As she talks to her Uncle about what happened in the coffee shop, but she is determined that she isn’t going to give up her current assignment because of it, even if her boss is making her feel uncomfortable, so at the briefing the next day, she makes it clear to all in the meeting that she will not accept any behaviour towards her which is not strictly professional and if it does happen that it will be reported. Meanwhile Ian is running a security check on her as she has intrigued him, as well as organising the teams current operations, after he has done this, Cassie returns his call and he asks her to dinner to help him out with something and to get to know each other a bit better, she agrees and when he picks her up later on, they have a lovely time, but this upsets Cassie as she doesn’t feel that she is deserving of him, but this only makes him more determined to find out why.

As the night of her mission approaches, Cassie is ready to protect the target and dresses for the part, however, when she arrives at the table she will be dining at she is blindsided when she is confronted with people both from her past and her present, she manages to hold her own throughout despite the challenges she faces, but when things start to turn sour, will Cassie be able to protect her charge and herself, or will someone from her past harm her while she is in the line of duty? How will Ian react when the cards are down and things happen which are beyond his control? This is a fast paced thriller with a romantic twist which will keep you guessing what will happen until the conclusion presents itself.

Secure Again.
Martin Bailey is the new CEO of Chase Security, he is an ex Navy SEAL and excellent at his job and Elizabeth Reed is a trauma surgeon at the local hospital in Silverton Iowa and she does everything she possible can to save the patients who cross her surgical table, no matter how bad the damage is, she does her very best with more successes than losses.

As Elizabeth is doing her rounds she notices that there has been a pattern emerging in admissions, when she checks it out in the hospitals records department, her hunch is confirmed that the inmates from the local prison are showing identical signs of bruising and injuries. It is after she has finished that an emergency call to a young girl being brought in with serious injuries comes in and after four hours and an amputation later, the girl is out of surgery, but she is still in a critical condition due the the extent of her injuries, but she hasn’t got time to deal with her emotions before another emergency call comes in. The next day is one of tragedy when she loses a patient and has to break the news to their family, but when another surgeon makes comments which are unprofessional and derogatory towards her and in front of her students, she struggles to keep her cool. As she checks in on the other patients on her ward, she sees another patient in the same pattern as before, she immediately knows what to do and orders further tests and surgery for the patient, contrary to the primary surgeons report and the primary report by the jail.

Out on patrol Sergeant Austin Bailey has come across another child who needs medical attention in the middle of nowhere, as well as another unidentified male, however, as he is calling for aid, the call is cut off, the next thing that happens is he is rushed into the OR where Elizabeth is the on call surgeon and she rushes him into surgery. Meanwhile, Martin is checking on the operation his teams are working on and finds that one involving illicit pornography and the stealing of identification to sell it, as well as the danger for his teams is showing that there is something deeper going on which they need to investigate, next on his list is a teleconference, however when he finds out that his brother Austin has been injured while on duty, he immediately flies out there to be with his family. As Elizabeth is working on Austin in the theater, Martin sends his own people out to go to the scene and start to liaise with the local officers there and start an investigation of their own when they are roadblocked as soon as they start asking questions. When an update on his brother’s condition comes in and he finds out that Elizabeth is the surgeon, memories of when they were younger come flooding back to him and he is hoping that it isn’t her, however, when it is, he struggles to maintain his anger towards her when she is so professional with him.

As the days pass and Elizabeth carries out more of her duties, she reports her thoughts about the pattern to the inmates injuries while also fending off the comments her coworker keeps throwing at her, especially when she has to attend his patients when he is unreachable and when one unfortunately passed away due to complications, her coworker is on the warpath. However, when Martin reads the background report on Elizabeth he knows he needs to see her, but when he does, she is immediately taken into custody and marched to the police station under mysterious circumstances, so Martin calls in his team to help her, but when he comes across information about what happened after he left, he knows that he needs to talk to her about what happened and see if they can they rekindle their romance, or will the investigation into her being carried out by the police put her in harm’s way? This is another thrilling mystery with telling consequences and an undercurrent of romance which will keep you enthralled until its conclusion.

Secure Heart.
Julian “Smooth” Dupart an ex Navy SEAL widower who is still coming to terms with the loss of his wife five years before and has been given a promotion to become the new head of the Chase Group’s San Diego branch where he can use his skills and stay close to the family he loves. Holly Dupree Morrison is a singer with the world at her feet, she is beautiful, talented and has a young daughter Sadie whom she adores and is her silver lining after a past fraught with abuse and hardship.

As Julian heads to San Diego to meet his new coworkers and try to figure out what is happening in the office which has his bosses worried, but first he pays a well overdue visit to his family after getting settled in at his brothers house, but when he finds out that the situation isn’t as all happy as he thought, he starts to make plans and tell them what he has already started to do for them in the last five years. Meanwhile Holly is going through the soundchecks for her next performance when a light falls down from the rigging, however, her manager is also making her feel uncomfortable as he is far too familiar for comfort, despite her protestations. When she returns home after the show, she has no idea that her manager had other plans while she was performing and when he drives her home, he invites himself in and proceeds to drug her and have his way with her while her daughter is sleeping next door.

Julian starts his next day in San Diego picking up his company car and meeting the realtor and look around the properties they have arranged for him to see, at the third property, he finds what he is looking for and puts an offer in before heading into the office. Across the city, Holly wakes up feeling groggy, naked and with a pounding headache, she finds that it is late and is concerned when she finds her daughter in the bathroom and in the middle of an asthma attack, as she screams for her manager to call for an ambulance, she starts the treatment she can until they get her to the hospital. At the same time, Julian gets a call that his nephew is in the same hospital after being hit by a car, he heads over there while his brother is called out to investigate a horrific crime scene and this is where he sees Holly and Sadie for the first time while he is helping to keep his nephew calm, but she makes an immediate impression on him.

As Julian starts to dig deeper into the branch and is finding problems, from staff committing fraud to counterfeit or diluted medications, it is also spreading to other external places as well and as he visits them, he comes into contact with Holly more and more often and one of these times, a case is discussed which reminds him of his past. As all of this is unfolding Holly receives some threatening letters from a stalker who will not leave her alone. Will he be able to sort out the Sand Diego branch’s issues in time, or will the amount of issues cause him to fail and will he be able to make something of the connection he feels with Holly, or will her stalker get to her first? This is a whirlwind of a thriller which keeps you unbalanced and guessing the whole way through to the conclusion.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Granted: Curse of the Emerald Jinn by Rachel Huffmire – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Granted: Curse of the Emerald JinnGranted: Curse of the Emerald Jinn by Rachel Huffmire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liam Covington is a typical teenager, he goes to high school and has a close friend group, but as hard as he tries to keep a low profile while he is there, the other kids are always messing with him, bullying him and generally making his life awkward, but what they don’t know is that he can see colours all around him, not just normal colours, they are attached to people and they get brighter when he is going to be messed around with, but even if he did tell someone, they wouldn’t believe him anyway.

As usual his day starts with someone pushing him over on the way to school, but today, he is going on the school field trip to the desert and he is hoping that it won’t get much worse, however, when he gets on the bus, he can see the colours everywhere and tries to mind his own business. When they get there and the ranger starts talking about the desert, it’s geological features and the life which teams within it, all the kids are just waiting until they can go and play on the dunes, but Liam is enjoying the tour and talk just as much, he is also reminiscing about the family holiday he used to have as well. He crests one of the sand dunes and breathes in the air, thoroughly enjoying himself until he is drawn to a midnight blue colour smoke which is making patterns in the sand below him, this is when danger strikes and he steps into a sinkhole just as a dust devil appears and mixes in with the smoke and swirls towards him but he cannot move or- avoid the sand swirling around him, he tries to dig into the sand and find some kind of purchase to get away from it all. The next thing he knows is Kenna, a girl he has been trying to avoid comes to his rescue, pulls him out of the sand and offers him some water, his head hurts and he feels exhausted and gritty, but still he picks up the unusual shell and walks back to the bus with his friend supporting him.

Things start to go from bad to worse when his brother and mother find out what happened and are mad at him for not telling them as soon as he saw them, but it gets worse when the colours start getting brighter and start to appear in people’s eyes, not to mention the school gossip which is making his life worse, especially when it comes to Kenna, someone who he swore not to talk to again after their families had a disagreement years ago. Meanwhile, he begins to see what he thinks are hallucinations and the shell he picked up in the desert is either burning hot or covered in the blue designs he can see in his hallucinations, but what happens next shocks him into realising that maybe his hallucinations are real and that they may be able to give him some answers as to why he sees the colours and nobody else does. This is a fantasy adventure which will have you speeding along with Liam while he tries to work out the mystery of why he experiences what he does, while trying to live a life as normally as he can.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Can Dreams Come True? (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 1) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Can Dreams Come True? (The Cecily Taylor Series Book 1)Can Dreams Come True? by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cecily Taylor is your typical seventeen year old girl, she has a close group of friends and a cute boyfriend who she loves, she also has a crush on the popstar Andrew Holiday and has for years, but it isn’t all sunshine and she has had people close to her leave and then not talk to her again, so she has some insecurities around it and a bit of a lack of self esteem, but which teenagers don’t have something like that?

Her boyfriend is in love with her, but he isn’t very romantic, but her best friend helps him out when needed and although it is sweet, Cecily would rather he thinks of these things himself on occasion, but he likes to spend time with her, be that on a coffee date at the library, or watching sports with her at home, even if she does fall asleep and misses the whole thing. However, when one of her friends gets an audition to be in the music video which is being filmed in their home town and Andrew Holiday is the one whose video it will be, Cecily is shocked when she asks her to go as moral support and her parents let her, as long as there is an adult chaperone there as well, but if not, then she would have asked to go to the open auditions with her friends anyway, it would be good practice if she wanted to pursue her career as an actress after all.

The next day, Cecily gets ready for school after she finds out that the private audition with her friend has been moved up, the video said they were looking for the “Girl next door” and that is how she looked normally, then she shows up at school and sees what her friend is wearing and she is not so sure what exactly that means anymore, but hopefully her anxiety wouldn’t get the better of her. As the day goes on all the school is talking about is the auditions, all too soon the day was over and they were heading to the playhouse where the audition was going to be held, her friends mum filled out the paperwork and then her name is called, but as she is going through the door, Andrew himself walks out asking about getting some coffee, walks straight past her and makes a beeline for Cecily, much to her amazement and asks he if she is auditioning too, when she replies in the negative, he asks her to reconsider and come in onto the set anyway. All of a sudden Cecily is being asked to be an extra by the director, saying that she has the “ethereal” look he is going for, he then hands her some forms to fill in and asks her and her friend to come back at 4am on Saturday for the shoot.

As she fills in her family, best friend and boyfriend about the turn of events, they are all surprised but really happy for her, however, her boyfriend starts to act weirdly, but blames it on his mum’s health and says nothing is wrong. The next day Cecily asks his what is going on when she eventually sees him, but he is talking to his ex and seems distracted, this continues the next couple of days, it turns out that he has been seeing more of his ex than normal, although the reason is because she has just broken up with her boyfriend and was upset, but Cecily can’t understand it and feels a little upset and betrayed herself, this feeling continues when the same thing happens and they end up arguing. As Saturday turns up and the filming day arrives, Cecily hasn’t slept well and has no idea what to expect, but Andrew puts her at ease and seems to be as nice as he projects, there is something there and their connection seems more than just superficial, but will Cecily follow her dreams of being with Andrew, or will she stick to her loving boyfriend and the small town familiarity he exudes? This is a sweet romance which will pull you along with Cecily as she figures out what her heart desires and makes the choices she needs to.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Executive’s Decision (The Keller Family Series Book 1) by Bernadette Marie – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Executive's Decision (Keller Family, #1)The Executive’s Decision by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Regan Keller is a woman who has been hurt and survived it all and when she gets a new job as a personal secretary, she is determined not to make the same mistakes again. Zachary Benson is a man who heads up a successful empire and is known for his attention to details and ability to get things done, but he hasn’t got anyone but his parents to share his success with.

It is Regan’s first day in her new job and things are not going to plan, her car didn’t start and if she got a ride then she would be late, so she decides to take the bus, but of course it is raining and she forgot her umbrella. When she gets on the bus, she realises that it is going to be one crowded journey and if the old woman taking up two seats between her and her large bag, it is going to be standing room only all the way, that is until the bus jerks and she ends up sat in a strange mans lap, she is terrified, but just about keeps her cool when he engages her in conversation and wraps his arms around her to keep her right where she is. She does enjoy the conversation and despite her misgivings, she agrees to meet the man for lunch, even though she has no idea who he is, but she doesn’t have any time to think on it when she heads into the office where she is due to take over from the current secretary to the CEO who is heavily pregnant.

As she finds her way round the office and learns her new duties, she realises that it is already lunch time and heads to the hot dog stand and surprisingly has a fantastic time until her mystery companion takes a call and leaves her, again without her asking his name, however, that is all about to change when she goes into his office to bob something on her bosses desk only to find that it is actually the man from the bus. She is startled and immediately panics and starts to leave, but just as she is convinced by him to return to the office, his current assistant goes into labour and they have to rush her to the hospital. When a mystery man comes in and envelops Regan in a hug, Zachary has no idea how to react, apart from a twinge of jealousy, the same thing happens when he drives her home to see another man waiting for her at the house, he has no idea why he feels so strongly about her, even though he has only known her part of a day. As time goes on and Regan settles into her role at the firm, she cannot deny that there is an attraction to Zachary and as much as she tries to ignore it and remain professional, she can feel her walls starting to crumble, but she denies his advances as best she can and tries to remain professional, she is a natural at the job though and as she builds rapports with his team and helps him to run the contracts he has been building, he is off to L.A. to try and win a new contract for a company and man he has worked with before, albeit the secrecy he employs until the deal is completed is not something that he enjoys doing, but all he can think about is getting back to Regan and helping her overcome her worries and fears.

Will Regan be able to open her heart to the man who is trying so hard to win her over, or will the past come back to haunt her and make any decisions she makes into a life or death situation again? This is a whirlwind romance with an undercurrent of malice which pulls you along until its conclusion.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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World Beyond The Walls (Natural Forces Book 3) by Jean Gill – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The World Beyond the WallsThe World Beyond the Walls by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mielitta Queen Of The Warrior Bees and Mage-Smith Kermon are back living in the Forest and the Citadel respectively, Kermon is trying to teach the children magecraft while also keeping his dual role as a spy between the two parties, as he is carrying out his plans for the transition test where the children go into the world beyond the walls, the children he is testing are also trying to push the boundaries set by their genders, but they don’t fully know why those boundaries are there, in fact, only two people know that at all and Mage-Smith Kermon is one of them.

When Mage Smith Kermon is disturbed in his forge with news that one of his students has gone into the world beyond the walls and not returned, he is frustrated and annoyed, but he is also worried because of the evil which lies within them, he sends the young student away and has to attend a Council meeting to request permission to do this, however as they took the time to listen to all the opposing viewpoints and make a decision which appeals to all, he finds out afterwards that the other student has gone ahead alone, so now he has to go after both of the students with another mage at his side to be his anchor.

Mage-Smith Kermon gathers the children who have spoken to the two missing students to find out any information about what they had gone into the wall to decide, based on the little he is able to gather, he has a starting point for when he takes his turn to enter the mysterious world, he takes the time to gather provisions and goes to the water gate to connect with Mielitta to inform her of the situation and what he is about to do, including that the student was possibly following the story of Mielitta, however, he speaks to someone unknown instead and they say that they will pass on the message to her, when the connection is cut off, Mage-Smith Kermon is surprised to find where he had thrown some boots containing seeds into the mud at the base of the gate, now there are plants forcing their way through to the Forest, with this new knowledge, he sets off to find his students. Meanwhile, Mielitta and her two friends are being woken up after a long winter hibernation, but the news they receive on awakening is not what they had hoped and it means they need to return to aid another of their friends and the bees who rely on them, in this Mielitta shifts from bee to human and back to help the bees and the humans to communicate while the others help her, while the one with the nature of a bear replenishes his reserves in the way he needs to, but while he is resting in the cave, he has a vision which leads to a way to get back into the Citadel to help Mage-Smith Kermon.

When they follow the vision, two of them can enter the walls, however, Mielitta is not able to, so she decides to find another way in which she can help, but is distracted by her heart and the hurt the walls just caused her, she is prompted by her bees to think of and return to the homestead, however, her steps lead her to the water gate instead and she goes in to help the others in bee form, but she has no idea of the danger leaving the Citadel and heading in the opposite direction to her.

Will the four friends be able to solve the mystery of Mielitta’s history, find and protect the missing students from the evil within the walls and come out of the other end unscathed, or will the duplicity within the Citadel lead to their demise? This is a thrilling final installment to the series and you will not be able to put the book down until it is finished and you know how it ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Arrows Tipped With Honey (Natural Forces Book 2) by Jean Gill – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Arrows Tipped with Honey (Natural Forces #2)Arrows Tipped with Honey by Jean Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mielitta is now the Queen of the Warrior bees after the battle for the Forest and she and her bees are settling to their new life with two of her friends as the other settles back into life in the Citadel, meanwhile the Council are reporting what happened to the rest of those living within it, while also spinning it in the light of their victory and the fact that those they paint as traitors are still alive, as well as the noble sacrifice of their Chief Mage, what they don’t say is how he died Mage-Smith Kermon is adjusting to life back within the Citadel and he is missing it and his friends greatly, but he spends his first few days back creating the system he needs to connect with them again and while he is completing this task, he learns about the old transition test from childhood to adulthood as he does this.

When Mage-Smith Kermon successfully contacts Mielitta, he is feeling a barrage of emotions and finds it hard to concentrate on the words being said, even though there isn’t much to report this first time, so when a messenger announces that his presence has been requested at a meeting, they cut off the call and he agrees to contact them again when he has more news. Life in the forest continues as they learn the ways of the Forest and its inhabitants, they decide what tasks they need to complete first with guidance from the bees and go out to forage and hunt before finding somewhere they will feel safe as a home base, that is until Mielitta is summoned by her bees to help the hive, but when she arrives, she realises that it is her that needs the helps and so she experiences life as a worker bee to help her to recover from the battle. As the Council meet to replenish their numbers and choose those to replace the ones they lost, they have to adhere to the blood made in the Forest with Mielitta, even though they don’t necessarily agree with it, so they elect people who they feel will fit with the demands, yet still bend to their will, as well as how to commemorate the Chief Mage’s father with an award for going into the walls and helping Perfection to continue with what they find. After that has all been decided, the Chief Mage announces that Mage-Smith Kermon will devise the new transition test and that to do this, he will be going into the walls and at the same time, be the first recipient of the newly created award.

As their lives continue and they all adjust to their new roles, Mage-Smith Kermon enters the wall, but as well as finding the information needed for the new test, he also discovers the more malevolent side to them and when he returns to complete his reports, both for the Council and for Mielitta, something has changed, even though he cannot put his finger on what it is. Will Mage-Smith Kermon be able to continue his double life and still keep his sanity and loyalty intact, or will the web of lies, subterfuge and this mysterious malevolence destroy everything that he, Mielitta and the rest of their group have worked for? This is another journey of secrets, discovery and balance, which propels you along as the revelations come in thick and fast.

Reviewed by @roxsannel
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