ARC Book review: Barefoot with a Bad Boy (Barefoot Bay Undercover #3) by Roxanne St. Claire

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eARC Provided by author for review

A man who trusts no one is forced to believe the unbelievable...

For years, former spy Gabriel Rossi has been secretly searching for CIA linguist Isadora Winter, a woman he loved and lost long ago. But recently, he learned of her untimely death in an accident...and death of her son named Gabe. Angry, hurt, and uncertain of his next move, Gabe is stunned when a woman he's never met approaches him on the beach and claims to be Isadora. She doesn't look, act, or talk like his beloved Isa, but she knows things about their past that only a lover could know, and she assures him that his son is alive as well. As much as he wants to believe her and knows that in the spy world, anything is possible, doubts and distrust plague him. Still, he sees glimmers of the woman he once knew shine through and she begins to melt his hardened heart.

A woman who is tortured by emotions must endure the pain of love...

Lila Wickham has been working deep undercover for so long that sometimes she's forgotten who she really is. Now that her assignment is over and the surgeries she endured left her utterly changed, she is determined to fix the broken life she left behind and assure that her little boy is safe. With lingering threats from an unknown source and blinding headaches that torment her whenever she feels deep emotion, she seeks Gabe Rossi for help and protection. But instead of setting her up with a new undercover identity, he insists on luring her nemesis to Barefoot Bay so he can end the threat to Lila and her son once and for all.

Can they survive the worst betrayal of all?

Even if they succeed in drawing out the killer who has Lila in his sights, a much more serious threat hovers over them...a treacherous, deadly truth that could not only destroy their love but end their lives as well.

Well finally we get a Gabe Rossi book. Feels like it's been ages waiting. It's hard to read a book you have been waiting for for so long but exciting too. There are expectations. Gabe was this larger than life character to many fans of Roxanne St Claire's Guardian Angelino's series. When that series was dropped for various reasons she was able to keep those characters alive in her Barefoot series of books. I am so glad she found a way to do that. Barefoot Undercover finally tells what happened to Gabe years ago that made him who he is now.  Is she or isn't she? Gabe the super spy has to figure out quickly if Lila is Isadora. Especially when he finds out she has a son that looks exactly like him. Seriously a twisty turny suspenseful story that leaves you wanting to turn the pages faster and faster. I have seen Gabe in bits and pieces in previous books and he's gruff and alpha but still a mystery in so many ways. Seeing him finally showing us his emotional side was a real treat. If anyone deserved a Happy ending it was Gabe. Figuring out what was going on was not very easy. I would've liked to see Chessie and Mal get more involved but they are regulated back to secondary characters and don't get to do much. Roxanne St Claire does a excellent job keeping me from figuring out who the real bad guy was.  Nothing obvious in the plot for me until it's finally revealed toward the end.  Long time readers of  the Guardian Angelino  and Barefoot series are in for a treat with this book.

Find out more about this book and Roxanne St Claire here www.roxannestclaire.com

ARC Book review: Fully Ignited (Boston Fire #3) by Shannon Stacey

eARC provided by publisher but Netgalley
Available Feb 23rd 2016

When Jamie Rutherford takes a temporary assignment as lieutenant of Boston Fire’s Engine 59, she doesn’t anticipate any problems. She’s been in the fire service for a long time and, even though she’s fairly new to Boston, she knows how to make any firehouse her home. What she’s not prepared for is her reaction to firefighter Scott Kincaid.

Scott is looking for a wife. It’s been a fun ride as a single guy, but he’s tired of being the third wheel, and nearly losing his brother-in-law finally made him realize just how much he wants a family of his own. When the new guy at the firehouse turns out to be a capable, confident and very attractive woman, his plan is completely derailed.

Hooking up with a fellow firefighter has never been part of Jamie’s plan, but she’s tempted by Scott—even though getting involved with him could tarnish the reputation she’s worked so hard for. And Scott can’t stop thinking about Jamie, despite the fact that she’s his superior and not sticking around. Chemistry can crush the best-laid plans, though, and while Jamie and Scott might not be each other’s future…there’s no resisting the right now.

This third installment in the Boston Fire series finds us with  firefighter against firefighter. Ok not really but kind of. Jamie is a with Engine 59 temporarily while Danny finishes healing from his accident from the last book. She's Scott's superior so there can't be any impropriety. No rule really that says they can't date but it could make things difficult. The attraction is definitely there is spades but Jamie wants to protect herself from rumor and Scott has a bit of a reputation. Conflict, conflict conflict! Scott and Jamie have to get over themselves and then come to terms with some differences if they want to survive their temporary romance and maybe make it permanent. I enjoyed the characters in this book. Obviously Scott isn't a new character but Jamie is. It was interesting to see how these two interact with both being firefighters. Unfortunately Jamie being a women in a job dominated by men is part of the story and how could it not be. Shannon Stacey hits on the things that Jamie has dealt with in her career and how she handles them and sets a example of how the men in that field should deal with her. Scott is such a huge character and to see this he-man struggle with his feelings was interesting. Can't wait to see what's next.

Find out more about this series and Shannon Stacey here www.shannonstacey.com

ARC Book review: A Fighting Chance by Shannon Stacey

eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley
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All work and no play makes Adeline Kendrick a dull girl, so when she heads to a casino resort for a friend's bachelorette weekend, she's ready to have a good time. Until she runs into Brendan Quinn, professional fighter and the one who got away—the one her family drove away—and things take a turn for the interesting.

Running into his ex won't shake Brendan. Even if it brings up the old pain of loving her when she was only slumming. Even if she looks really good. In fact, what better way to get over the past than to take advantage of the still-sizzling chemistry running hot between them? He's there to win an MMA fight, but he won't say no to a little physical relief of a different kind.

But when the weekend is over, Adeline isn't ready to give up her second chance that easily. Brendan is still the one for her, no matter what her family thinks. Now, if only she can convince him of that…

This is a quick little novella. Adeline and Brendan used to date. It was serious for both or at least it seemed like it was for Adeline. Then Brendan broke up with her. Four years later and a chance meeting in Vegas they revisit what went wrong. I really enjoyed this novella but it felt like it needed a little more. More time then a weekend i guess. Adeline was there for a small bachelorette party so while they spent some time together and sorted some stuff out it wasn't enough. Maybe a little more something after the weekend was over was needed. I loved the characters though and it was a fast paced quick read for those who don't want something they can sink their teeth in and read in one sitting. 

Find out more about this book and author Shannon Stacey here www.shannonstacey.com

ARC Book review: The Best of Me (Return to Briarwood #2) by Elisabeth Barrett

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eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

Jane Pringle never meant to fall for her boss. After landing a job as a pastry chef at the exclusive Briarwood Golf and Yacht Club in Eastbridge, Connecticut, she just wants to keep her son in a good school district and find some peace and quiet, far away from her manipulative ex-husband. But when Briarwood’s charismatic co-owner takes an interest in her, Jane’s best-laid plans go awry . . . in the sweetest way possible.

Rich and handsome, the grandson of one of the most powerful men in New York City, Preston North hasn’t lived quite the charmed life everyone believes. His family taught him everything he needs to know about betrayal—and Press wants no more of it. What he wants is Jane. The gorgeous single mom is selfless and kind, plus she’s got a backbone. To win her trust, Press just needs to shake off his playboy reputation.

They’ve each been burned in the past. But now Press and Jane will have to choose between letting their fears get the best of them . . . or breaking free and following their hearts. 

Just the name Preston makes Preston(Press) North sound a bit uptight. His bright and preppy clothes seems to go along with that. Yet Press comes across easily as a badass when needed in this story. I just loved him to death. Jane Pringle has been through the emotional relationship ringer. Her ex husband is a nasty piece of work. willing to do anything to make her pay for leaving him and get custody of their son. Jane is a survivor and she is used to doing it on her own. In the first book in this series she finally starts to let a few others help and in this book she is working more towards letting others in. For her doing so is a risk to herself and her son. It's the only way she can see it based on her past. Preston though clues in that if he wants to get to know her he needs patience and to go slowly. It pays off for him eventually. Jane can't help but compare Preston to her ex but slowly Preston shows her the man he really is. As i have said i LOVED Preston! He is so unexpected. Even though his own life took a hard crash a year ago he pulls himself up and is finding his way to a healthy, happy person. The relationship between him and Jane moves along slowly but steadily even though Jane is wary. I wanted to cheer when she finally decides she needs to take something just for herself. That it is OK to do that too. The support from her friends is unwavering and she realizes that she has a family at Briarwood and not just a job. I can't wait to see where Elisabeth Barrett goes with this series next.

Find out more about this book and series here www.elisabethbarrett.com

ARC Book review: Forgotten Promises by Jessica Lemmon

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eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley


Morgan Young had a perfect upbringing, and now she’s got a perfect boyfriend and a perfect future—until her twenty-first birthday changes everything. First Morgan finds out, in the most painful way possible, that her relationship is a sham. But that’s nothing compared to the nightmare about to unfold.

It’s too late for Tucker Noscalo. A brutal childhood left him with a bad reputation and a criminal record. Fresh out of jail, Tucker has a score to settle with Baybrook’s crooked chief of police—his own father. Nobody will believe Tucker’s explosive accusations without proof and a good lawyer, neither of which he has on his side. Until he sees someone he used to know, someone who just so happens to be the daughter of the best lawyer in the county.

He needs Morgan to convince her father of the ugly truth. But first he has to convince her, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get her to listen. Confronted by the story of Tucker’s dark past, Morgan feels utterly compelled to help him. And as their connection grows into a fierce bond fueled by raw passion, Morgan finds herself falling for the wrong guy—but never has the promise of love felt so right.

This short book starts off off quickly, with that amount of pages it has no choice. You are literally thrown into the story within the first handful of pages. Tucker is fresh out of prison and fresh off a beat down of his criminal father who is actually a cop. Desperate to prove his innocence he kidnaps a woman he had a thing for back in high school with the hope she can get her lawyer father to help him. This is the gist of the story from the beginning. As it goes along the details get filled in. This is really a dark and demented story and when you realize what kind of life Tucker had growing up it really makes you think.We find out who and what Tucker really is. For a seemingly bad ass guy he is whole innocent in some ways and in others whole over educated. You can feel sympathy for him so easily. Morgan on the other hand felt a little self serving and ditsy at times. She didn't seem mature to me most of the time. Granted she is only 21 and seems to have been sheltered by her dad and stepmom i can see why she's that way but it didn't make it any less annoying. I really got into the story at first but her character took away some of that instant neediness  I initially felt to read it all in one sitting. Overall i enjoyed the book and Tucker was definitely my favorite character. Morgan redeemed herself quite a bit toward the end of the book. I think the whole situation with Tucker forced her to grow up quickly and that is seen in the end. 

Find out more about this book and Jessica Lemmon here www.jessicalemmon.com