Jacked Up by Samantha Kane

Samantha Kane has been one of my favorite authors since I picked up the first Brother's In Arms books.  When she wrote the first Birmingham Rebel's series, I was skeptical.  I didn't know if I would like it because I HATE football.  I loved the characters in "Calling the Play".  When I was done, I couldn't wait for the next Rebel's book.  I wanted to know what characters got their HEA next.

"Jacked Up" is the story of linebacker Sam Taylor and defensive lineman King Ulupoka.  Sam served in the Army in Afghanistan and received some pretty nasty physical and emotional wounds.  King is a happy-go-lucky Samoan that is a hard-bodied, tattooed fantasy.  Underneath the tribal tats beats a heart of gold.

King is determined to bring Sam back to the world of the living, not just functioning.  They meet ER nurse Jane Foster at a fishing tournament.  King encourages Sam to bring her back to their hotel room.  Sam thinks he is so traumatized that he can't have sex without hurting his partner, so he asks King to sit in the room and watch.

King does not want to jeopardize his friendship with Sam so he is denying his attraction to Sam.  Watching Sam and Jane makes him realize that he wants more.

OMG!  I want Sam and King as my book boyfriends.  They are wonderful characters.  Both have a strength that makes them so wonderful.  Jane is so lucky!

While this novel is about Sam, King, and Jane, the supporting characters play an important part.  Sam's friend from his unit, Carmina, plays an important supporting character role.  All of the characters are people you would want to meet in the real world and talk to.

This is a MMF romance and it is wonderfully written.  There is a PLOT behind the book!

I will say that I received this ARC several months go and have read it several times since.

I want Carmina to get her HEA.  With Tom and Danny.  Please!!

I received an ARC of this book and am providing an honest review of this book without compensation from the author or the publisher.  (Thank you!)

Claimed by the Mate, Volume 3 by Kate Douglas and A.C.Arthur

I love the contrast between the two books.  They are quite different, yet fit together marvelously.  Since I read the volume, I have been hooked.  When I received the ARC for Volume 3, I stopped reading whatever I was reading and binged read this book.

In "Dangerous Passions" by Kate Douglas, the last two bachelors at Ferral Passions find their mates. I loved how each of the guys had found their perfect HEA and for Trak and Evan to get their HEA in this book was wonderful.

While "Dangerous Passions" is light, "Bound to the Wolf" is the darker side of shifters.  I like the unique version of shifters.  Marena was a great heroine.  I love the connection to Greek mythology.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this novel provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you.

Waiting For an Earl Like You by Alexandra Hawkins

This is classic Alexandra Hawkins.  Amazing characters - ones you loved and ones you wanted to slap.  I loved the "I am just pretending that I hate you because I truly love you" trope.  Poor Thorn can't tell Olivia he loves her because he was pretending to be Gideon when Olivia needed advice.

Once I started the book, I could not put it down.  I enjoyed the characters and plot.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher

Ready Set Roguy by Manda Collins

Quill Beauchamp is furious that his aunt, Lady Celeste Beauchamp leaves her estate to four bluestockings.  Quill is determined to stop the women from inheriting.  Ivy Wareham is thrilled that she has inherited an estate with a magnificent library.  Too bad that a rakish Marquess is bound and determined to stop the women.  After meeting Ivy, Quill had figured out that he has finally met his match.  Will he be able to convince Ivy.

This was a great start to the series.  I loved the characters.  Quill has to be on my book boyfriend list.  I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you!

Diablo Lake Protected by Lauren Dane

I have been waiting for this book since the first one ended.  I loved the characters and the connection between Aimee and Mac.  Aimee has a great life until she got betrayed by somebody she had cared for.  She is a strong female and deals with the betrayal in a classy manner.  Mac is the strong alpha that has been away serving his country until he is called home to solve the family problems.  For once, it is the guy with the screwed up family.  And it is that family dynamic that brings Aimee and Mac closer.

This book is a stand alone, but it ties in so beautifully with the first.  Katie Faith and Jace are wonderful supporting characters along with Katie and Aimee's parents.  This book is family.

While this book is complete, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I want to know what happened with Jace's father and Mac's mother.  Scarlett is a nasty woman.  I hope the next book gives more answers.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher.  Thank you!!!!

An Indecent Affair by Stephanie Julian

Katrina Riley has been emotional abused by her cold, controlling mother since she was a teen.  Tristan Donovan was two years ahead of her in high school and lusted after her since then.  He has been waiting for Kat for years, knowing she is the perfect woman for himself and his best friend Adam.  Tristan's timing couldn't be better.  Kat's mother is determined to push her toward Tristan's smarmy brother.  Kat is finally ready to break free of her mother and move to Philadelphia to open the law practice she wants to pursue.   Are Tristan and Adam able to break through the walls Kat has built around herself?

The emotion in this novel!  I just wanted to slap the stuffing out of Kat's mom.  I loved how supportive Tristan was and how he never let Kat go.  Adam was the sexy bad boy that came to love Kat just as much as Tristan.  Another Stephanie Julian novel burned up my ereader.

Undeniable Temptation by Eden Summers

Knowing this is the end of a series, I wanted this book to be amazing.  I received an ARC from Eden Summers and immediately loaded it onto my e-reader.  Then, I didn't stop reading until I was done.

While this book is Ryan's, the whole Reckless Bead band plays an important part.  There was the relationship of the band with their manager.  The dedication Leah gives to each member of the band.  The support his friends give Ryan when he is going through an ugly period in his life.  What the guys do for Ryan so he can have his HEA.

This book makes you feel Ryan's pain.  Just when he thinks that he is going to get his love, the rug is brutally ripped from under him.  But, the ending is the sweetest ending to this amazing series.


I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.