Calculated Risk ~ Rachael Duncan

I thought the ring on my finger would do the trick and keep men away. All I wanted was to save my heart from shattering--again. The truth is, I'm not married. The ring was just a ploy--a ploy to keep me safe, protected from pain.

But then Marcus Riley came along with his goofy pick-up lines, and he saw right through the facade. He knew the truth, and he wanted me. God help me, I wanted him too--in so many ways. But love is a risk, a painful, scary risk. One I'm too afraid to take.

Unless...

He's the one risk worth taking.

But it just might come at a price.

I really enjoyed Calculated Risk. Rachael Duncan is a fav of mine, so I didn't even read the blurb before signing up. I wasn't sure what the premise was, but the plot twists and little suspense she threw in with Marcus and Lydia's love story, totally sucked me in. I finished the book in a few days! Her writing was smooth and the story flowed really well.

I will say Lydia’s reservations about not getting hurt again were warranted, but at times I just wanted to smack some sense in to her. All men are not the same and it bothered me a bit that she gave Marcus such a hard time at the beginning. That being said, Marcus worked for her attention and made sure she knew she was special. That sealed my approval for him.

Marcus is a smart and sexy cop. Hello! What’s not to like?! He’s definitely persistent and has a great personality. I loved his quirky pick up lines. He made me giggle a few times. We could tell he was head over heels for Lydia and we could tell he was definitely not like Lydia’s ex. I saw it right away, so I was hoping it wouldn’t take Lydia so long, but I know her last relationship was a disaster.

I loved the other characters in the book too. Lydia’s friends were supportive, but at the same time had to exert some tough love. I cannot wait to see them in their own stories. 

RUSH (Montgomery Men Book 1) ~ C.A. Harms

I was running from my husband, a man I thought I’d known. Running from the hell he had put me through.

He’d nearly destroyed the woman I had once been and I would do whatever it took to regain my freedom.

I would lie, and cheat. I would steal if it meant that I never had to go back there.

I’d run and keep running…

But there was one problem. I hadn’t planned for Ashton Montgomery.

He was a distraction I couldn’t allow. Not if I wanted to stay safe. I had to remain distant, but he was relentless and had other ideas.

I caved because I hadn’t thought it all through, not in detail.

If I had I would’ve realized that you can only live in a fantasy world for so long before everything came crashing in around you.

And those lives you’ve destroy along the way, make you no better than the monster you were trying to break free from.

How could I have been so careless? It wasn’t meant to turn out this way. But the Rush of my freedom took control and I forgot how important it was to keep the secret of who I had once been.

And now I had nothing… 

Only the fear that the man I’d run from would find me again, and finish what he started.

I absolutely love C.A. Harms’s stories. I am floored at how creative she is and how many characters her mind thinks up. Rush is another fabulous read and I cannot wait to get more of the Montgomery Men!

I have a soft spot for books about abuse. Whether it’s physical, emotional or mental abuse, I want to cause extreme hurt to those that dish it out. That is unacceptable! What hurts even worse are those that feel that they cannot get out from underneath it. That they “hang in” there for someone else, for their children or that they feel they have no one and nowhere to go. It’s heart breaking.

When Kinsley runs, I could not be more proud. It takes something fierce to pick up and leave everything. No money, no clothes, just up and disappear to get yourself out of a terrible situation. But Kinsley did it and she is stronger because of it. She has had to try to get back the old her that was drained from her by her husband. She doesn’t back down now and I love that sassy quality she has.

Kinsley has met her match when she meets Ashton. Not one to be known for his gentle and kind ways, Ashton is smart, sarcastic and at times, a dick. But he had a soft spot for Kinsley. Or maybe it was more of a “hard” spot, since she didn’t fall into his games right away. She made Aston work for it and deservedly so. She wasn’t like other girls and he was completely head over heels.

Unfortunately, Kinsley’s secrets started to unravel. Things she didn’t want known come out and strain the relationship she and Ashton built. Kinsley begins to live in fear again and the thought of losing Aston destroys her. She wrestles with the thoughts of leaving again and just running. In her eyes, it’s not fair to bring Aston into this, but selfishly, she wants her happily ever after with him.

I can’t describe how much I enjoyed the writing and the story. C.A. does such a great job with the descriptions of her characters and their personalities that you get invested in them right away. She is definitely a go-to author of mine. 

Savage Things (Chaos & Ruin #2) ~ Callie Hart

Zeth

At the eye of a violent storm, everything is calm. It’s only when the storm shifts that your life explodes into chaos.

The $#*& is finally about to hit the fan for Zeth. After months of blissful quiet, the wolves are at his door, teeth bared and snarling, baying for blood, and the sinister elements of the Seattle underground are closing in tight. In other words, things are about to get bad. Real fucking bad.

Zeth Mayfair isn’t your average criminal, though.

If the New York mob wants his allegiance, they’re gonna have to force him to submit. If the cops want his ass in chains, they’re gonna have to catch him first.

He’ll kill the wolves. He’ll ride out the storm. He’ll make his enemies suffer. Zeth Mayfair is about to crown himself ruler of the city, and fuck anyone who dares to take on the king.

They will obey, or they will fall.

The choice is theirs.

Sloane

Death is a bitch.

Sloane Romera sees death every day, looks it square in the eye, and she does not flinch. When Mason Reeves brings his little sister into St. Peter’s emergency room, a dark cloud hangs over the kid—one Sloane recognizes all too well. Millie is gravely ill, but it's not too late. Sloane's determined to do everything in her power to help her, regardless of the cost, regardless of how many rules she must break in the process.

Mason’s struck a deal with the devil, though. A deal that has painted a huge target on Sloane’s back. There’s every chance she’ll be dead by morning, and the man she loves might not be able to save her this time.

If there’s one thing Sloane knows, it’s that you can’t cheat death. When the Grim Reaper demands a life, a life must be given. Bargaining won’t work. Begging is futile.

A life for a life.

The debt must be paid in full.

OMG! Why, oh why do I do this to myself?! It’s because I love Zeth Motherfucking Mayfair!!! Gah Callie Hart does it again with another fabulous installment in the Chaos and Ruin series. I just can’t get enough of Zeth and Sloane. And Michael too!

I know Zeth is supposed to be the asshole of all assholes, but he keeps surprising me and I can’t stop loving him. He is a changed man since the first book of the Blood and Roses Series, but I love him even more. He is the Alpha Male personified, but he has his sweet spot for Sloane. Only for Sloane. Always.

Sloane is one bad ass bitch. To be able to work as a doctor, face death, destruction and pain every day, but still want to help others….that takes a special person. On top of that, she’s not afraid of Zeth. Well, she may be afraid of how he’ll react to things and afraid that someone may try to take him from her (kill him), but she’s not afraid to stand up to him. That takes some balls. Balls that some of the men that come in to contact with Zeth just don’t have.

"I know my life changed irrevocably when I met him. That change is burned deep inside my very being - in my mind, in my heart and in my soul." ~ Sloane

Mason....The twists that are happening with this kid, I just can’t even. The burden he bears by taking care of his sister Millie, coupled with the guilt he must feel….Well, I wouldn’t want to be those shoulders. I am hoping he starts to see clearer and not blame himself. I hope that he can find peace in where his life is at. My heart breaks for this kid, but if he pulls out of this mess, he will be that much stronger. He will be a force to be reckoned with.

I could read about these characters forever. And don’t even get me started on Michael. There are some things going on with him that I’m dying to know what they are, but he’s such a closed book. I need more. I cannot wait to read more about them. Zeth, Sloane and Michael are more of a family than they realize. Their love for each other is overwhelming and powerful. I hope, for Mason’s sake, he’s brought in to their fold. They all are going to need each other’s support.

I absolutely loved Savage Things. I cannot wait for the next one and for that matter; I hope I’m not waiting too long. Hint, hint. Callie Hart is definitely a go-to author of mine and Zeth and Sloane will always have a place in my heart. #ZMFM

Neighbor Dearest ~ Penelope Ward

After getting dumped, the last thing I needed was to move next door to someone who reminded me of my ex-boyfriend, Elec.

Damien was a hotter version of my ex.

The neighbor I’d dubbed “Angry Artist” also had two massive dogs that kept me up with their barking.

He wanted nothing to do with me. Or so I thought until one night I heard laughter coming through an apparent hole in my bedroom wall.

Damien had been listening to all of my phone sessions with my therapist.

The sexy artist next door now knew all of my deepest secrets and insecurities.

We got to talking.

He set me straight with tips to get over my breakup.

He became a good friend, but Damien made it clear that he couldn’t be anything more.

Problem was, I was falling hard for him anyway. And as much as he pushed me away, I knew he felt the same…because his heartbeat didn’t lie.

I thought my heart had been broken by Elec, but it was alive and beating harder than ever for Damien.

I just hoped he wouldn’t shatter it for good.

Damien! The sexy and brooding, jerk of a neighbor. I was so angry with him, before I even knew him. He lets his dog bark at all hours in the morning and then he listened to Chelsea’s therapy appointments through a hole in the wall!! Granted, he was a 100% correct that her phone therapy sessions were a sham, it was super embarrassing for him to listen in to all Chelsea’s insecurities. I felt shy and insecure after all that and I wasn’t in the book.

That being said, the more Chelsea and Damien hung out, the more we could see that he really is a good guy. He’s an amazing artist and ends up coming through for Chelsea at one of her shows, when another artist cancels at the last minute. Not only does Chelsea start to fall for Damien, Damien’s dogs, Dudley and Drewfus, completely fall for Chelsea.

I think Damien is falling for Chelsea as well, but he won’t let himself truly realize it. He’s fighting against something he promised himself he couldn’t have. His secrets that he’s keeping from Chelsea are really holding them back from becoming more. Chelsea realizes she really can’t have what she wants with Damien, so she decides to move. It’s time for her to move on and hope that they can still remain friends.

I was really hoping that Damien would pull his head out of his a*$ and go after Chelsea. Gah! So frustrating, but when we find out why Damien’s been holding back, it completely makes sense. Not that I agree with it, but Damien’s intentions were always good. There’s a lot that can go wrong, but I still think these two would be perfect together.

I really loved Damien and Chelsea’s story. I liked getting a glimpse in to each of their families and to watch their friendship grow. They are truly two great people and their love could be great as well. There was happiness and sadness, some hot sex and an ending that left me emotional. Well done Penelope. Well done.

Deceitful Choices ~ C.A. Harms

AmazonUS / AmazonUK

Some lies you just can’t come back from. 

The damage is too deep. 

The effects are too strong, and the path they lead you on can be devastating. 

One lie only led to another as Lindsay tried to be someone she wasn’t. She wanted just one moment to pretend she didn’t live the life she had been cursed with. 

She wanted to live without regret. 

Live for the moment. 

She wanted to laugh and smile without feeling as if at any moment something or someone would corrupt that happiness. But all lies have a way of resurfacing. Those deceitful words can come back to haunt you, leaving you as the one heartbroken and alone. 

Zack had taken a trip with a fellow Navy SEAL. Just a weekend away to regroup. Never had he intended to find the girl who would jumpstart his heart. 

Only then to destroy it. 

But the shattered pieces of his trust weren’t the only things he left behind when he walked away from Lindsay. There was now an innocent life that had been thrown in to the mix. 

But Lindsay wasn’t the only one who lied... 

The odds were stacked against them. There was someone doing everything they could to keep them apart. 

But when the truth is told, and those secrets are revealed, they must decide if they have what it takes… 

To survive the deceit.

I think Deceitful Choices was a perfect name for this book. There was a lot of fibbing going on in this book and it wasn’t just one of the main characters. This book was super angsty (yes, that’s a word) and gut churning. I loved it!

Zack is a gorgeous, smart and sexy Navy Seal…Hello, what’s not to like! He lives his life on respect and trust. When he meets Lindsay, he realizes she’s not like all the other girls that throw themselves at him. She’s not uptight or only attracted to him because of his job or status. She’s genuine, or so he thought.

Lindsay is sweet, smart and often ostracized by other girls around her. She thinks it’s because she doesn’t have the money or the same home life that the other girls have, but I really think they hate her because she’s beautiful and has a personality that guys fall for. Being brought up in a home where her parents hate her, she just wants a different reality for once. One lie ultimately destroys the one amazing night she had with Zack, utterly severing whatever could have been.

There is one character in this book, and I will not mention her name, but I wanted to punch her in the face. She was conniving, deceitful and the true liar of this whole twisted mess. C.A. did a great job writing her, because I could not stand this character and I think that’s exactly how she should have been portrayed.

I can’t get enough of C.A. Harms’ books. With the action, love, sex, and heartache that go on in her books, I know she’ll fix my heart and wrap it in a nice bow by the end of the book. The characters are always well written and the story flows seamlessly. Deceitful Choices is another One-Click title.

Bossman ~ Vi Keeland

The first time I met Chase Parker, I didn't exactly make a good impression.

I was hiding in the bathroom hallway of a restaurant, leaving a message for my best friend to save me from my awful date.

He overheard and told me I was a bitch, then proceeded to offer me some dating advice.

So I told him to mind his own damn business―his own tall, gorgeous, full-of-himself damn business―and went back to my miserable date.

When he walked by my table, he smirked, and I watched his arrogant, sexy ass walk back to his date.

I couldn't help but sneak hidden glances at the condescending jerk on the other side of the room. Of course, he caught me on more than one occasion, and winked.

When the gorgeous stranger and his equally hot date suddenly appeared at our table, I thought he was going to rat me out.

But instead, he pretended we knew each other and joined us―telling elaborate, embarrassing stories about our fake childhood.

My date suddenly went from boring to bizarrely exciting.

When it was over and we parted ways, I thought about him more than I would ever admit, even though I knew I'd never see him again.

I mean, what were the chances I'd run into him again in a city with eight million people?Then again...

What were the chances a month later he'd wind up being my new sexy boss?

Bossman was super sexy and fun. I loved all the stories that Chase came up with, from their first meeting at the restaurant. These characters are funny, witty and smart. And of course HOT!

Reese is the smart, sexy and witty heroine that doesn’t have the best track record with men. After meeting Chase at the restaurant and their impromptu double date, she tries to move on and find someone to really settle with. Unfortunately, she can’t get Chase out of her mind. There may have been some certain stalker tendencies in here that made me giggle as well.

Chase is super hot and a GENIUS! Owning and running his own company, he ends up helping Reese connect with a recruiter, which helps her find a new job. What Chase doesn’t realize is the woman he’s been thinking of for month’s turns up for an interview….at his company! He’s trying to resist and he has a tragedy in his past, that he’s trying to get over, but he just can’t stay away from Reese.

I love Vi’s writing. I was sucked in to this book right away and couldn’t put it down. Their chemistry was sizzling and I had to fan myself a couple times with my kindle to cool down. Loved it.