Dare to Dream (Carolina Beach Book 1) ~ C.A. Harms

 

Amazon US

After the sudden death of his wife two years ago, Darren Griffin has finally found peace. He has a good life, good job, two daughters he’d do anything for, and a beautiful home on the beach.
Greer Monroe is grieving the loss of her father. It’s the final rung on the broken ladder that’s become her life—crappy job, no friends, and a cheating ex-boyfriend. At the insistence of her aunt, Greer decides to spend some time at her family’s beach house.
When the glee-filled sound of children’s laughter dances through the breeze, Greer finds herself smiling again. The neighbor girls are carefree, depicting a life Greer has only dreamed about. Husband, children, happiness—a family. And their father, Darren, he’s everything a woman could ever want.
But it is, of course, only a dream.
She can’t stay at Carolina Beach, no matter how much she adores Darren and his daughters. She has responsibilities at home, a mother who needs her. Where there’s love, there’s heartbreak, and she can’t go through that again. And she sure as hell won’t do that to those little girls.
But Darren isn’t letting her go that easily. It’s been so long since he’s felt this way for anyone. Greer is his missing piece, a piece he never thought he’d find.
Saying goodbye is hard, but sometimes starting over is even harder.

Only when they dare to dream again, will they ever dare to love.

I absolutely love CA Harms’ books. Her writing is smooth and all the scenes make you feel like you are there with the character. The stories are heartfelt and well told. Dare to Dream was another one I could not put down.

When reading the first chapters of Dare to Dream I was not feeling #TuckertheFucker. He just seemed like a shady playboy. At the time Greer needed him most, he was cheating on her with some skank. I was proud of how Greer handled herself. You could tell she was more mature than her now ex. I’m not sure I would have been as calm, but she had other things to worry about, now that she lost her dad. She was completely lost. When her aunt offers her a change and a break, she convinces herself this is just want she needed.

Darren is the epitome of a man. He’s a sexy, sweet alpha and an amazing father. Everything that would make any woman’s ovaries explode. He was a mess after he lost his wife, but had to pick up the pieces for their daughters. He’d do anything for them, again showing what a true man should be.

When Darren and Greer meet, or should I say stalk each other, they can’t tell what to make of each other. The laughing and happy family on the other side of the fence intrigues Greer. After realizing there’s no other woman, Greer can’t help herself fantasizing about the sexy Dad. Darren wants to know more about the beauty in the usually vacant blue house. She makes him feel things he hasn’t felt since his wife and his girls have latched on to her more than he expected.

There were things going against Darren and Greer. Darren’s guilt over possibly moving on from his wife, the two girls, Greer having to go back home to deal with the rest of her father’s belongings, her own grief and oh yes, dealing with Tucker.

Some of my favorite scenes are the way Darren and Greer are with the girls. They make me giggle and sigh at the same time. I love the mind of a child. They don’t hold anything back and when they answer cell phones on their own, answering questions honestly, well it just makes me fist pump ;-) The #SinfulSwivel is also another of my favorite scenes, because, well, it’s just HOT!!

This book made me laugh and cry. It spoke to me on a different level since I could relate to Greer’s situation. Losing your father, one of your biggest fans, your first Valentine, your protector, it’s devastating. Then to find a man you feel safe with and fall for faster than you could have imagined, it’s both scary and exhilarating. CA can relate all these emotions and connect with the reader on their own possible experiences. Just excellent!

Touchdown (Game Day #1) ~ T.S. McKinney

Amazon US

Alexander Bryant has lived his entire life making everyone else happy. After meeting Lincoln, will he have the courage to finally do what makes him happy?

Alexander – I like to imagine myself a rebel – an ass-kicker that takes what he wants regardless of what others think. I make my own path and flip off the people who don’t agree. I laugh in the face of conflict. Nobody tells me what to do.

In reality, everything about me is a lie – past, present, and future. The Bryant name requires certain things and all my decisions are based on those requirements. I like football, but the family name demands I love it. I want to be an artist, but the family name demands I be a lawyer. The family demands I fall in love with a nice girl, but I’m falling for, well, the opposite of nice AND girl. I’m a coward and a liar.

Lincoln – I like to imagine myself a loner – a cold heartless bastard that takes what he wants. I lived the biggest part of my life with parents that were ashamed of me for more reasons that one could begin to count, so I trust no one.

I have a low tolerance for bullshit and hate liars.

So why did I go and fall in love with the biggest liar of them all?

So, this was my first T.S. McKinney book and I loved it. I was in the mood for a good M/M romance and Touchdown surpassed my expectations. I loved the characters and the emotional turmoil that both went through. Their desires and pre-destined futures are constantly question for what they are supposed to do and what they truly want to do.

Alexander is exactly what the blurb describes, a young man who follows his family’s rules, wants and traditions to the letter….even if it is the furthest from what he wants to do. He plays football like his father and grandfather did and he’s being groomed to go to law school and be a lawyer….just like his father and grandfather. He feels he’s living a lie, which just multiplies when he meets Lincoln. He’s confused by the attraction and the feelings that Lincoln stirs, but he can’t stop thinking about him.

Lincoln is completely enamored with Alexander, the star quarterback for the local college, from the moment he sees him. Not that Lincoln watches football, but he loved Alexander’s sexy body and his responsiveness... Even though Lincoln can tell that Alexander is fighting all his feelings. Lincoln can see the turmoil in Alexander’s eyes and as much as he knows he should walk away, he can’t.

There was some super hot scene’s between these two and some super over bearing family members that get involved. The whole façade that Alexander has perfected starts to crumble and he has to decide what he is going to stand up for. I was really surprised and proud by his decision, but also really surprised by Lincoln’s reaction as well. I loved their dynamic and their story. I would definitely read another T.S. McKinney book. Instant favorite. 

Revenge (Phoenix Undercover Book 3) ~ C.A. Harms

 

Amazon US
Amazon UK

 

Living in fear was what they were all doing. 

It was no longer just the life of the woman he loved that was in danger, but also the life of their unborn child. The undercover case Josh led was now threatening to take away his true happiness. And he must find a way to keep his family safe from the hands of evil. 

Knowing that the devil is lurking in the darkness, Josh is left with no way to secure their safety. His fear is taking over. 

Soon Leo would finally get the chance to make them pay for ruining his life. 

His revenge was coming, and there was no one who could stop it. 

The devil is near and Gabby is his target…. 

And he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. 

The count down has begun. 

There’s nowhere to hide. 

They will all pay. 

So I know I’ve said this before, but I am a huge C.A. Harms fan. I have read most of her work and Revenge did not disappoint. The writing, the development of the characters and the conclusion was everything I hoped for.

The constant living in fear for Gabby and Josh was palpable. I could feel the tension and strain through the pages. I was extremely impressed with how patient Gabby was with Josh’s obsession to find Leo. There were times I could feel her loneliness and despair, but she stayed strong and leaned on her sisters. Josh was so determined to protect Gabby and their baby that he ended up obsessed and distant. I get it, but I’m glad he had his fellow agents; friends really, pull his head out of his ass every now and again.

This story was suspenseful and dramatic. There were twits that made me want to throw my kindle and some super-hot scenes that made me want to stand in front of a fan for a bit. Whew. Loved it. 

Corrupted (Deathstalkers MC) ~ Alexis Noelle

She is being hunted.

Prey left defenseless.

She needs to hide.

They cannot find her.

They will kill her if they do.

When Lucy decided to run, she didn’t know where to go. They were coming for her. She needed protection, but she had no one to help her. Until she came across the warehouse of the Deathstalkers MC and begged them for protection. Now she owes them her life and her loyalty. Her family will never end their search for her; she is a piece of property that needs to be recovered at any cost necessary. For Lucy, there are worse things than needing to hide for the rest of her life, being found is one of those things.

Sometimes the obvious evils aren’t the ones you need to fear.

*Disclaimer - The book is not recommended to readers sensitive to graphic depictions of violence. This book is not suitable for persons under 18 years of age.* 

Corrupted is definitely not for the faint at heart. If you like a raw, gritty read with a total alpha, then Corrupted is the book for you.

Lucy is a runaway, a desperate runaway, looking for anywhere to go except for where she has called home for 14 years of her life. When Jordan stumbles upon her, he can’t help but want to protect her. Jordan, only being a prospect at the time, gets placed on babysitting duties (with a demand to keep his hands off) until Lucy turns 18. This would be the longest 4 years of Jordan’s life.

"Loved you for years, Sweets. Just had to wait 'til I was allowed to." 

~Jordan

Lucy’s “family” situation is completely f*$&ed up!! When she tells Jordan her background and story, he vows to always protect her. It broke my heart what Lucy went through and what she continued to go through. Lucy starts to grow up right in front of the MC’s eyes and if Jordan see’s any of the other brothers’ eyes on her, he’s not going to ever get patched in. Because Lucy is HIS!  But let’s be real, he is also HERS!

Legend (The REAL series Book 6) ~ Katy Evans

Maverick “the Avenger” Cage wants to rise to the top and become a legend in the ring. Though he keeps his identity well guarded, he's known on the fighting circuit as the new kid with a chip on his shoulder and a tattoo on his back that marks him as trouble. He's got a personal score to settle with the Underground's one and only Remington "Riptide" Tate.

As Mav trains, he meets a young girl—the only other new person in the town--and sparks fly. When things get heated between them, he finds out she's none other than Reese Dumas, the cousin of Remington Tate’s wife. A girl who's supposed to root against him and a girl he's supposed to stay away from.

But Maverick fights for the woman in his heart, and the monsters in his blood. The world’s eyes are on them and the victor will go down in history as the ultimate fighting champion; the ultimate LEGEND. 

 

When I read this, all I could feel was pride. I was proud of Maverick, Reese, Oz, and of course Remy. As much as this was Mavericks and Reese’s story, Remy played an integral part, which just further solidified my love for him.

I absolutely, unequivocally loved this book. The characters were complex and had their own issues, but it didn’t stop them from speaking their minds. I feel in love with Reese and Maverick probably just as quickly as they fell for each other. Nothing in life is perfect and whole both had demons in their past, they were both able to support and love each other as they are. They were cast aside, placed in the friend zone and ostracized, but they found and understood each other. They were made for each other and with each battle (mentally, physically, emotionally) that they went through, it further confirmed, they were “with” each other.

The adrenaline before the fights, I felt. The love between Reese and Maverick, Remy and Brooke, all of their love for Racer, it just hit me right in the feels. What an inspirational and powerful story. I cannot say enough great things about Legend. It is definitely just that…..a Legend. 

Ground and Pound ~ Emily Minton and Alexis Noelle

Kane Travis is one of the most successful fighters in the UFC. His name is known worldwide. Men want to be him, and women just want him. All Kane wants is the heavy weight title, nothing else matters to him. Not until, he see Emmy twirling around a pole

Kane has one rule, never give anyone else control. He doesn’t let anyone in, especially woman. The night he meets Emmy, he knows she is more dangerous than any opponent he has ever fought.

Emmy Sanders will do anything to care for her younger brother, even taking her clothes off at a seedy strip club. Ever since their parent’s death, she has been the sole provider for them both. All Emmy wants is to get her brother through college, nothing else matters to her, until she sees Kane sitting at the end of the stage. 

Emmy has to have control over every aspect of her life. There is a time and place for everything, she never wavers from her plan. The night she meets Kane, she knows he is more dangerous than anyone she has ever met.

Hot, Sexy, totally in control Kane “Knock-out” Travis gets knocked on his ass, by a sultry stripper. He loves her sassy smart mouth and the fact that she doesn’t take his shit.  Even though Kane is a total alpha, he has a sweet side. Events in his past have taught him how a woman should be treated and respected. Even though he can beat his opponents to a bloody pulp, he has a good heart. Instantly warming to Trey, after seeing his determination and strength, Kane takes Trey under his wing, which breaks down Emmy’s walls just a bit more.

Emmy takes care of her and her brother the only way she knows how, by taking her clothes off. Make no mistake, she doesn’t sleep with her clients, but she dances to make enough money to support her only family, her brother Trey.  Emmy has always had a chip on her shoulder as well as the RBF (resting bitch face). It’s easier for her to push through her guilt over her parent’s death and not talk about them, while not letting anyone else in. Everyone else, until she meets Kane.

I loved Kane’s alpha tendencies, but I also like that Emmy was sassy and only gave over control in the bedroom. There was angst, suspense, hope, despair and super, explosively hot sex. These two kept me reading and wanting to find out what happens next. I hope Trey gets his own book and we get to follow his journey.