Maura Harper – Page 11 – Itsy Bitsy Book Bits

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Shattered (The Torzial Affair Book 1) by Via Mari – Review by Maura Harper

February 5, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Shattered by Via Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Five words I would use to describe this book:

Layered
Complex
Sexy
Intriguing
Grandiose

SHATTERED is a spinoff of The Prestian Series and I enjoyed the continuing threads from the first series. I’m not sure I would have been as understanding of it and the complex world surrounding the main characters if I hadn’t read the first series.

The story is written in such a way that I found myself questioning what was going on. I started to side with outsiders for a few minutes because they made a great case (I know this doesn’t make sense, but you will understand it when you read the book). THAT IS THE SIGN OF A GOOD STORY… My wavering faith in the “truth” kept me turning the pages.

There are a lot of characters in this story, both main and secondary, and at times I had to remember who was who and who worked for which company. There is a briskness about the story that made it feel like it was constantly in motion. The story moved along in a way that the end always seemed just around the next corner. This story actually goes to unexpected places.

I look forward to reading the next story in this trilogy.

Review by @mauraharper

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Penny For Your Thoughts: A Sweet Romance (Sand Dollar Series Book 1) by JD Boudreaux – Review by Maura Harper

February 5, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Penny For Your Thoughts by J.D. Boudreaux
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS is a “sweet romance”. A sweet romance as defined by Cathy McDavid: “sweet romances emphasize the developing romantic relationship, focusing on the emotional conflicts standing between the couple and their struggle to overcome those conflicts. Love scenes have no more physical intimacy than kissing. They can be tender or a bit more intense but always with undeniable sexual undercurrents which are gently stated rather than explicit. The characters can have ugly or traumatic pasts, such as abuse or rape or addiction, but none of that takes place in the here and now. Mild curses like damn are acceptable if used in moderation and not gratuitously.”

The typical sweet romances that I’ve read are shorter than full length novels and have a complete beginning, middle and end in its brevity. That is not the case with PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. This is an extremely detailed telling of a story and, at times, it is so detailed that I found myself a little frustrated wanting the story to move quicker.

I really enjoyed how the story started out. I think it’s a great look at the human condition of how people help others in distress. There is a lot good about both of the main characters, I think the point sometimes got buried in all of the details. There are some really cute and funny moments while this relationship develops. It was all just too much.

I always appreciate an author’s hard work when putting “pen to paper” and you can see the effort that this author put into the story and I will keep an eye out for future books this author writes.

Review by @mauraharper

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Pandora’s Poison (Hart & Cole Book 2) by Sacha T. Y. Fortuné – Review by Maura Harper

February 4, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Pandora’s Poison by Sacha T. Y. Fortuné
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

PANDORA’S POISON is book 2 in the Hart & Cole Series and I strongly recommend reading the first before diving into this story. I don’t recommend this as a stand-alone. I went into this series blind, based on the cover image alone and it has not been what I thought it would be.

This is such a complex story. It is multi-dimensional and complex, just like life, and as we see both sides of the story (it’s told in dual pov) it gave me insight as to what made them tick and be who they are.

This is not a light and fluffy series. It’s detailed and dark as well as refreshing that it’s not the same old “meet-cute, first kiss, HEA” kind of story. This series doesn’t necessarily follow a formula which makes it interesting. I wasn’t sure what to expect and I’m glad I didn’t have any preconceived notions.

I recommend this story, this series and this author.

Review by @mauraharper

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Nothing But Trouble (Irresistible Billionaires Book 1) by Ashley Bostock – Review by Maura Harper

February 4, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Nothing But Trouble by Ashley Bostock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have enjoyed all of this author’s stories and this was no exception. NOTHING BUT TROUBLE was quick and witty and the relationship between the H and his grandmother made me smile. “Yes, Mr. Vilander?” Michael smiled. “You don’t have to call me that. I know you mean well, but it still sounds weird coming from you.”… When he offered to hire his grandmother, she had agreed only on the condition of professionalism – down to her calling him Mr. Vilander and he calling her Regina. It didn’t make it any less weird, still.

This story is a classic romance; super sweet moments, moments that pack a little heat, redemption, revenge (light hearted, of course) and swoon worthy romantic moments. There are also feelings – oh the feels. There are so many things I have highlighted as good quotes for a review, but I now realize that I would just be telling you the whole story, and that’s NOT the point of a review.

I recommend this book and I very much enjoyed listening to the playlist. I always enjoy books come with a playlist – it’s a great way to revisit favorites or find new music.

I look forward to reading more in this series in the future.

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Less You Know: gripping suspense (Ashes to Ashes Book 2) by Rowena Holloway – Review by Maura Harper

February 1, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Less You Know by Rowena Holloway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

LESS YOU KNOW is book 2 in the “Ashes to Ashes” Series and I’m not really sure it should be read as a stand-alone. There are a lot of references to book 1 AND if you aren’t used to the writing style AND lost on plot points, I think it would be a less enjoyable reading experience for you – and let’s face it… the point of reading is to have the best experience possible.

This is a multi-layered story with different threads that run throughout. It’s a mystery/suspense with twists and turns along the way. It’s one of those stories that I thought I had a handle on and then *poof* oh wait, there is something I missed. The story is fluid and, like with book 1, the timeline is well defined and told from multiple POV. Several times, I had to look back at the chapter headings to figure out what time it was and whose POV I was reading.

I’ve enjoyed watching the MC grow and find her voice and I would recommend this series (read in order, of course).

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Move Star (21st Century Courtesan Book 2) by Pamela Dumond – Review by Maura Harper

January 31, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Movie Star by Pamela DuMond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the “21st Century Courtesan” series and I think it’s important to read book one first. There are a few common threads that are vital to understand in order to move the story forward.

I FLOVED this book. I don’t know how many stories there will be in this series, but book two was amazing. I read it in one sitting from beginning to end. It moves quietly along packing punch after punch, from beginning to end I was entranced by the story.

MOVIE STAR is written with a sleakness that I cannot describe. There is ALOT going on yet it was easy to follow along. I would classify this as a story with misdirections to make you look this way while something is happening that way. A story with characters that pulled on my heartstrings while building up to something even bigger.

This is one of those books that I would give more than 5 stars to if I could.

I absolutely recommend this story and this series (read in order, of course).

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Best Foot Forward (The Liberty Lawrence Series Book 1) by Bea Stevens – Review by Maura Harper

January 30, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Best Foot Forward by Bea Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read book 2 before book 1 and even knowing how delightfully quirky Liberty is, it was like reading her for the first time. There is just something about her that makes me want to be her friend.

BEST FOOT FORWARD is a quick and funny read with a bit of mystery, a bit of delusional thinking and a lot of humor. The characters are fully developed, the settings are well described and the story flows smoothly from beginning to end.

I’m struggling with not giving this book 5 stars, but there is just something about it. Maybe it’s that my new bestie is so quirky that I want to dig a bit deeper into what makes her tick. I’m not sure. (It could also be the mood I’m in today)

I will absolutely continue to read this series.

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Caught in the Spin (the Caught Series Book 2) by Sharleen Scott – Review by Maura Harper

January 29, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Caught in the Spin by Sharleen Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

CAUGHT IN THE SPIN is the second book in the “Caught Series” and it can be read as a stand-alone.

This is a story about healing from the past both physically and emotionally and learning how strong one really is. Tallie and Tom have a “meet-cute” and we get to see their relationship develop over events that take place.

This was a well written story that I read in one sitting. I was at the 50% point before I even realized that I had stopped “adulting” for a little while. It has a very solid beginning, middle, and end and I appreciate the author’s story telling style. It isn’t dragged out or superfluous to increase a word count.

It was also nice to see the characters from the first book and catch up with them.

This is a series I will continue to read.

Review by @mauraharper
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Eight Steps to Alpha by Taylor Sullivan – Review by Maura Harper

January 29, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Eight Steps to Alpha by Taylor Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As mentioned in the title – EIGHT STEPS: A FRIEND TO LOVERS ROMANCE, this is the story of a two besties/roomies who enter into an agreement to make the H into an alpha male to “get the girl of his dreams”. Elliot and Fe follow EIGHT STEPS to get him to be a man to be desired. This is a cute story that moves rather quickly as they only have four weeks to do this make-over. The good news is that Elliot was already halfway there because he is a “hot nerd” and not an “awkward nerd”. If there is a moral to this story it is DON’T IGNORE THE NERDS!!!! The geeky nerd you are scoffing at today is the hot dude you want tomorrow.

This is a cute and classic rom-com. The story flowed well and I feel it was written in a realistic (almost too realistic at times) style that was easy to read.

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Rainy Day Lovers (The Rocklyns Book 3) by Alicia Street – Review by Maura Harper

January 27, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Rainy Day Lovers by Alicia Street
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was able to get into the series with no problem as other characters are explained well. I love ongoing series and I am going to add the other stories to my “wish list”.

This is a very quick novella that seems to be a background story to other main characters. I enjoyed the style of writing and the fact that even though this is a short story, it held a lot of action with the H/h. While some of it moved too quickly and was too convenient, it was a decent read.

I recommend this story.

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A Talent for Trouble (Bad Boys of Space Book 1) by Landra Graf – Review by Maura Harper

January 26, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

A Talent for Trouble by Landra Graf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in a new series, A TALENT FOR TROUBLE is a sci fi space story. The male protagonist reminded me of a cross between Hans Solo, Buck Rogers and Starlord.

This was a quick and detailed read that has space travel, suspense, good old fashioned scum baggery, romance and humor.

The action moved swiftly, the story is told with a particular cadence that was easy to read and it held my interest .

This is the first story I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

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Killer Lawyer (Jake Wolfe Book 3) by Mark Nolan – Review by Maura Harper

January 25, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Killer Lawyer by Mark Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Jake Wolfe series and while story threads and characters are carried over from the previous books, I think everything is pretty well explained as they are introduced. Even though it could be read as a stand-alone, I think it’s a better reading experience to read in order.

This story is told in multiple POVs (yes, I count the dog’s thoughts as a POV) and there are several things going on at the same time. There are lots of characters in this mystery/suspense and the story kept me engaged from the very beginning.

I definitely recommend this story and this author. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

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An Italian Adventure (The Italian Saga Book 1) by Gaia B. Amman – Review by Maura Harper

January 24, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

An Italian Adventure by Gaia B. Amman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An extremely detailed story about a young group of friends and the things they go through. It’s watching a “tomboy” struggle with gender normatives and figuring out what life and family is all about.

There are some very funny observations in this story ” …the priest in charge most of the time turned the wine into the blood of Jesus and then the host -a thin, white wafer- into his flesh in front it everyone’s eyes. Yet grown ups don’t believe in monsters.” But over all it didn’t move quick enough to hold my attention and I wasn’t sure where it was all headed.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I always appreciate anyone putting pen to paper. This book was just not my cup of tea.

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A Tendency Dark and Dangerous by Emmalyn Danvers – Review by Maura Harper

January 22, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

A Tendency Dark and Dangerous by Emmalyn Danvers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

HOLY MOLY BATMAN – WHAT DID I JUST READ???? CAN I GIVE THIS 50 STARS?

“The word addiction could have a thousand facets…”

I read this in under an hour while sitting at my desk. It is “A dark, twisted tale told in free-verse” and I think every dark, twisted tale should be told this way.

I won’t say anything about the content. I will tell you it packed quite the punch and was wonderful and poetic. Sure it is dark too, but without darkness there would be no light.

I will be searching for more stories penned by this author IMMEDIATELY!!

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Caught in Cross Seas (the Caught Series book 1) by Sharleen Scott – Review by Maura Harper

January 21, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Caught in Cross Seas by Sharleen Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

CAUGHT IN THE CROSS SEAS is the first book in the new “Caught Series” and I was intrigued by the blurb.

This is a completely entangled story that has deception and lies and denial and suspense – oh and romance. It is multi layered with one common thread that connects it all together. The tale is complex and well plotted with lots of characters who interact with each other. At times I found myself going backwards to help me recall a particular plot point or character. I read fast and don’t always absorb the words.

I had a problem connecting with the main characters of the story. I never felt invested at any time. They both have a lot of baggage they are running from and are both in need of really good therapy. That is me, though, you may connect with them and fall in love.

I did enjoy reading the story and was kept engaged from beginning to end. I will continue this series.

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Perilous Confessions (The Possession Chronicles Book 1) by Carrie Dalby – Review by Maura Harper

January 20, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Perilous Confessions by Carrie Dalby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not read the full title of this book before diving in. Only after reading it did I see that it is “Southern Gothic” that was a new phrase to me, so I had to look it up… As described in the “Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature” – “Southern Gothic is a mode or genre prevalent in literature from the early 19th century to this day. Characteristics of Southern Gothic include the presence of irrational, horrific, and transgressive thoughts, desires, and impulses; grotesque characters; dark humor, and an overall angst-ridden sense of alienation.”

I am not a fan of “historical romance” because typically it’s all lords and ladies and the degradation of women (in the most subtle ways). “Southern Gothic” might be the way for me to get around my lackadaisical reaction to the genre.

This was a multi-layered story that built upon itself as the story unfolded. There is great world-building and character development. Each character was well explained in their role and certain characters (I’m looking at you, Opal) morphed as the story continued. It is dark and dense in it’s telling. It is also extremely detailed and I could visualize the clothing worn and the looks given.

While it’s still not my favorite genre, it gave me a new appreciation of the style.

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A Christmas Wish (A Manhattan Dream) by Engy Neville – Review by Maura Harper

January 18, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

A Christmas Wish by Engy Neville
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A CHRISTMAS WISH is (obviously) a holiday story filled with dreams and wishes.

The story starts at The Hamptons with a fun-filled vacation and ends in the cold Manhattan winter. The times in between Summer and Winter allowed for the characters to work out some stuff and have a few “adventures” along the way.

I always feel bad when a book just isn’t my cup of tea and this is one of them. I never connected with any of the characters and felt like situations were written to make what could have been a lovely short story into a full length novel. There were so many cliches that I found myself wanting to roll my eyes often.

Here is what I did like about the book:

The meet cute – I enjoyed the fact that the female protagonist could experience such joy
Friendships – Every female should have a friend who always has her back
Amy’s love of her job – I wish everyone got as much joy out of their job as she did at the beginning of the story
Closed door sexy times – It was refreshing not to have a front row seat for every encounter

I always appreciate the fact that an author works so hard to bring their words to the page. Just because this book wasn’t for me, doesn’t mean it’s not the perfect book for you.

Review by @mauraharper

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Building Storm: (A Hawke Family Novel) (The Hawke Family Book 4) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Maura Harper

January 18, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Building Storm: (A Hawke Family Novel) by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BUILDING STORM is the fourth book in the “Hawke Family Series” and I reread the series before beginning this story. Oh my gosh, they are all amazing!! I think in order to do Storm justice, you should read them in order.

From beginning to end, this epic family drama continues to add layer upon layer of amazing goodness. I have felt every feeling from joy to sadness to frustration and complete satisfaction of a story/series well written.

Twists and turns and intrigue fill the pages of this beautiful story. From beginning to end this book (and series) held my attention. I have definitely put it on my TBRA (to be read again) list.

I absolutely recommend this story, this series and this fantastic author.

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Bad Things Happen: Gripping Psychological Suspense (Ashes to Ashes Book 1) by Rowena Holloway – Review by Maura Harper

January 16, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Bad Things Happen by Rowena Holloway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that starts out strong and incredibly visual. BAD THINGS HAPPEN opens with a breathless car chase and the story continues to be full of twists and turns and quick manuevers.

Told in alternating POVs, the story goes from present to past and back again. It took a bit to get used to reading and I had to read the chapter headings to not only see the WHO but also the WHEN. It is a very detailed story and while I “skimmed” at times, the story kept me engaged from beginning to end. The characters are plentiful and I still have questions which I hope are answered in future stories.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more.

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The Way You Are (Carolina Connections Book 5) by Sylvie Stewart – Review by Maura Harper

January 15, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

The Way You Are by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fifth book in the “Carolina Connections” series and can absolutely be read as a stand-alone.

As with the other stories in this series, THE WAY YOU ARE is a classic rom-com. The story has a great group of friends, romance,new beginnings, and a dog that is almost bigger than the MC.

This is a quick story with a smart woman, a not “classically alpha guy”, a couple of ball players, and a character who (like me) is obsessed with Olivia Newton John.

I absolutely recommend this author, this books and this series.
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The Future Memoir of Ann Jones: A Time Travel Romance with a Splash of Magic by Alex Bailey – Review by Maura Harper

January 15, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

The Future Memoir of Ann Jones: A Time Travel Romance with a Splash of Magic by Alex Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hmm I want to write a review that does this book justice, yet reveals nothing that might be a spoiler.

I went into this story “blind”. I did not read the blurb, I did not read reviews, I didn’t even know the genre. Honestly, based on the cover I thought it was a “cozy mystery” (it is not).

This is the story of “Ann, queen of the eternally-freshly-coiffed-dos” who moved to a (name of town changed to protect the innocent… hehe) for a fresh start. It is told in third person “to make it a little easier on you to read”.

The story is extremely detailed and while I enjoyed reading it, I must confess to skipping ahead because I had no clue what was going to happen.

There is a very clear beginning, middle, and end. The story had me chuckling, shrugging my shoulders in wonder, and gave me the occasional jaw drop.

This is one of those books that I enjoyed but wouldn’t be able to explain why in less than a full recap.

Much like the author, I am also a fan of the Oxford Comma so I will recommend it based on that alone :).

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The Lies We Tell by Brittany Butler – Review by Maura Harper

January 13, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

The Lies We Tell by Brittany Butler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“There is no room for your past when you have a new future.”

“The past doesn’t matter… It is just a part of the lies we tell”

“He ages like fine wine. I, on the other hand, age with Botox.”

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and it was almost like a “blind date” read because the blurb is so vague (I really like the blurb doesn’t explain the whole book). THE LIES WE TELL focuses on one main character with three very important secondary characters who move the story along. It is told in single POV in past and present tense. While tense is always mentioned at the beginning of a new chapter, there were times when I didn’t know whose past we were going to be reading about – or what timeframe. I had to slow down and pay attention so I would know who I was reading about.

It is a well thought out story and I was surprised by the weight of the story. This book isn’t all fluff and romance. There are certain times in the story that I wanted to throw my Kindle against the wall because I did not like what was going on and there were times I wanted to shake them all and tell them to move along and don’t look back. In the end, this was a satisfying read.

I give THE LIES WE TELL 4 super solid stars.

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Surviving Jordan (Surviving Series Book 3) by Virginia Wine – Review by Maura Harper

January 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Surviving Jordan by Virginia Wine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the “Surving Series”. I’ve read each one in order and I think it would be difficult to follow if you weren’t aware of the continuing threads.

SURVIVING JORDAN gives us a few answers to questions that developed in the first two books. PHEW!!! I still have a few questions but am hoping that Steel gets his own story and everything becomes clear.

SURVIVING JORDAN is more suspense than romance. There is lots of action that propels one to quickly turn the pages to find out what is going to happen next. It kept me engaged in the story, even at times when it seemed to be “too much”.

SURVIVING JORDAN features some fantastically strong women who can definitely kick some butt. The men and wen are written in equal strength and the story was an enjoyable read.

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Heart of a Hunk: A Limited-Edition Collection of Bad Boy, Billionaire and Hunky Romance Heroes – Review by Maura Harper

January 11, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Heart of a Hunk: A Limited-Edition Collection of Bad Boy, Billionaire and Hunky Romance Heroes by Nicole Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One of the things I really enjoy about anthologies is that typically the stories are short and sweet which allows me to pick up and put it down reading a few stories at a time.

The Heart of a Hero Anthology has some really fantastic stories in it, some from authors I’ve read before and others are new to me. This anthology contains an eclectic group of stories and I like the fact that some are complete stories with a beginning, middle and end while others are a ‘scene” out of a much more developed novel (or at least that is how it appears).

For Example:

A Kiss Under a Blue Christmas Moon by Tamra Ferguson is set in Crystal Rock which is a location for this author’s “Wounded Warrior” series. It’s like going home again to a cozy, safe space. Characters are like old friends and the holidays bring warmth and joy.

Foxxy Christmas by Allyson R Abbot is a quick read full of many layers. The way this author can write about a simple stare and put such movement into it is such a talent. This is a story with romance and suspense. It’s a complete story in a few pages and I NEED MORE.

In addition to “traditional” stories, there are tales of shifters and magic and “escorts”. A great mix of stories.

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Surviving the Storm (Surviving Series Book 2) by Virginia Wine – Review by Maura Harper

January 9, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Surviving the Storm by Virginia Wine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoy the writing style of this author. The chapters are “normal” length and they are broken up with alternating POV or subject change in quick order. It’s a fast great way to read.

This is book 2 in a series and I think it would be best to read the series in order. There are relationships from the first story that continue here and I think it would be more enjoyable to read in order.

The characters continue to develop as the story unfolds. There is a bit of suspense and some twists and turns. The open door sex scenes are easy to skim.

The story held my interest. I will absolutely continue to read the series. I look forward to reading more about of Steel and Gage and the other characters too.

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Surviving Eden (Surviving Series Book 1) by Virginia Wine – Review by Maura Harper

January 7, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Surviving Eden by Virginia Wine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m hooked. I’m so grateful I have the next installment of the series already downloaded.

The story moves quickly and while it is a story of forbidden love, it is truly about the process of healing. The H and h are both very likeable, the best friends are fantastic and the open door sex scenes were easily skimmed.

I read this book on one sitting and found it enjoyable and entertaining.

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Tapped (The Night Moves Book 3) by Tarrah Anders – Review by Maura Harper

January 6, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Tapped by Tarrah Anders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TAPPED is book 3 in the “Night Moves” series and can absolutely be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone.

A quick read that brings a lot to the table. The characters are uncomplicated and we have a good idea what their agenda is right from the beginning. There is humor (the explanation between “erotic dancer” and “stripper” had me chuckling) and awwww moments too. I like that this book is written with ZERO judgement and without the typical stereotypes that surround the industry.

There is a new character introduced that I want to know more about and I hope he gets his story told next. This is one of those series that could go on for a while because we are always “meeting” new friends and there is some building of their story as we go along. It is also fun to visit the characters we were introduced to in previous books.

This was an easy one-sitting read that I recommend.

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Written in the Stars (Fallen Eagles MC Series (Romantic Suspense, Military Romance) Book 2) – Review by Maura Harper

January 6, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

Written in the Stars by T. Birmingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WRITTEN IN THE STARS is book 2 in the “Fallen Eagle MC Series”. While I think it can be read as a stand-alone, there are a few threads carried from the first book so I think it would be a richer reading experience if you can read in order.

Like TERRIBLE BEAUTY this story is a romantic suspense that is full of great characters, well defined plot points and a style of writing that took me on the journey with Winter and Eagle (I’m not on a date with him, so can’t call him Davis). The story moves quickly and held my interest from start to finish.

Part of the story line in WRITTEN IN THE STARS can be tough to read but I think the author did a great job of keeping it real without glossing it over. I’ve read books with same subject matter that either made it so grizzly it seemed unrealistic or so shiny that it made it more romance than what it was.

This series has a good balance of suspense vs romance and I appreciate that everyone’s strength is highlighted regardless of gender “norms”.

This is absolutely a “one-click” author for me and I absolutely recommend this series.

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A Terrible Beauty (Fallen Eagles MC Series (Romantic Suspense, Military Romance) Book 1) by T. Birmingham – Review by Maura Harper

January 5, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

A Terrible Beauty by T. Birmingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read (and love) this author’s “Wild Beast” series and was not sure what to expect in am M/C series. It was great.

This is a great introduction to a new series and I’m completely invested in it already. The world building is spot on, secondary characters are intriguing, set up to events in past and present tense is brilliant and overall a great story.

This is a shorter book than I thought it would be yet the ending is not rushed. One of the things I loved about this story, is the equality among the sexes. Women and men are treated as equals both in club positions and strength of character.

I’m giving this 5 stars and would go higher if I could.

Review by @mauraharper

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The Mother-in-Law by Judy Moore – Review by Maura Harper

January 3, 2019/0 Comments/in Reviews /by Maura Harper

The Mother-in-Law by Judy Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW is a super quick read and I was able to speed right through it. It is a little predictable, but I assumed that going into it. I read the blurb before picking up the book so knew what the story was about. Therre were no surprises as the book developed.

The stories gets to the point right away, everything is laid out clearly and concisely so I wasn’t bogged down by too much detail and it kept me entertained from beginning to end.

I would read this author again and I recommend this story if you are looking for a quick suspense.

Review by @mauraharper

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