eARC Book review: The Billionaire Beast (Billionaire Fairytales #2) by Jackie Ashenden

Available March 7th 2017
eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

Nero de Santis: Damaged. Bastard. Beast.

Nero hasn’t left his house in ten years—he demands the world come to him, and the world is only too happy to bend to the strong-willed billionaire. Ruthless, cold, and selfish, Nero wants for nothing and takes care of no one but himself. His last handful of assistants have left his house in tears, but the prim redhead applying for the job looks up to the task. Nero has spent his life shut within the walls he built, with no care to have more than a window to the outside world. But the fiery passion he senses beneath his reserved assistant’s exterior makes him want to break down the barriers he lives behind, and unleash the beast within.

Phoebe Taylor: Uptight. Misunderstood. Engaged.

Phoebe needs the obscene amount of money that comes with being Nero’s personal assistant for one thing, and one thing only—to pay for the mounting hospital costs that her fiancee’s two-year coma continues to incur. She’s heard rumors that the de Santis beast is a force that cannot be tamed—but even she isn’t prepared to handle the smoldering intensity simmering beneath his hard shell of feral dominance. Nero is hiding something, something he is fighting with every step he takes. Yet he can’t help but stake his claim on this woman who has shaken up his life, and Phoebe can’t believe this animal of a man is the one person to ever look into her eyes and see her soul. Nero wants to keep her. He wants to devour her. And Phoebe just might let him.

This book can definitely be read as a stand alone as it's mostly about the two main characters. Nero has a strange ripped from the headlines kind of background. His childhood was pretty much non existent and the tragic event from then has shaped him to who he is now. He's a prisoner in his own house. Even worse pretty much stuck in just a few rooms in that house. Then he gets a new assistant when Phoebe applies. Phoebe is not easily scared of him and presents a challenge for Nero. Phoebe has her own family issues. Her parents have never really been there for her. She just been someone they used and didn't appreciate. Then she met a man who really was a distraction from that and even though her life was better it wasn't what she deserved. For two years that man, her fiance has been in a coma after a terrible car accident. Money problems associated with that is what brings her to Nero's doorstep. This book in a little intense. Nero is NOT a likable character in the beginning of this book. It's takes a long time  and slow change to like him. Phoebe is tough as nails but she's losing the battle of keeping it together. Nero is the finally the man who breaks her. They end of being there for each other like no one has ever been for them before.  I didn't think i was going to enjoy this book but i did. At times it was little out there but something made me keep with it and keep drawn in. I think it was because there was no way to see how the story was going to go.  An interesting read! Loved the ending.

Find out more about this series and Jackie Ashenden here www.jackieashenden.com

eARC Book review: A Million Little Things (Mischief Bay #3) by Susan Mallery

Available Feb. 28th 2017
eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

Zoe Saldivar is more than just single-she's ALONE. She recently broke up with her longtime boyfriend, she works from home and her best friend Jen is so obsessed with her baby that she has practically abandoned their friendship. The day Zoe accidentally traps herself in her attic with her hungry-looking cat, she realizes that it's up to her to stop living in isolation.

Her seemingly empty life takes a sudden turn for the complicated-her first new friend is Jen's widowed mom, Pam. The only guy to give her butterflies in a very long time is Jen's brother. And meanwhile, Pam is being very deliberately seduced by Zoe's own smooth-as-tequila father. Pam's flustered, Jen's annoyed and Zoe is beginning to think "alone" doesn't sound so bad, after all.

Going to start by saying i have not read the first two books in this series.  You don't need to read the first two to read this one. The books in this series are always about 3 different women that connect with each other on some level and what goes on in their lives. If you read the blurb you can get the gist of what each of the women have going on. While the book was interesting in places it's a little to real life for me. A little depressing and cringe worthy in places and i am looking to escape real life. Jen who was the most annoying of the three ladies in the beginning became my favorite at the end. Pam seems to be the one who has it the most together becomes the most annoying and Zoe who was the most likable at the beginning was just kind of meh by the end. For me the men were the most entertaining and was what made me continue reading the book.  I am thinking Chick lit might not be my cup of tea. I like what i read in the blurb but once is started reading the interest i had in the story started to wane and finally i just wanted to get to the end. 

Read more about this series and Susan Mallery here www.mischiefbay.susanmallery.com

eARC Book review: What it Takes (Kowalski Family #10) by Shannon Stacey

Available Feb 28th 2017
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

Revisit all of your Kowalski favorites while falling in love with a brand-new romance in this reunion novel from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey 

Laney Caswell is looking for a change. A decade's worth of less-than-happy matrimony behind her, she wants peace—movies, books and, best of all, a new job at the Northern Star Lodge in Whitford, Maine. Spending the summer living in a camper is her chance to rediscover what makes her happy, and a perfect transition to her new life. 

Being a paramedic in Whitford is nothing like Ben Rivers's city life, but when Josh Kowalski offers him the job, the lure of his hometown is too much to resist. Also too much to resist: Laney Caswell. Ben always thought he'd have a wife and kids, a happy family like the Kowalskis have all built, but he never made time in his life. Now he's found a woman who draws him like no other and helps him dream again—and the last thing she wants is a husband. 

When the annual Kowalski family camping trip is moved to the Northern Star, both Ben and Laney are surrounded by the kind of happiness they've always wanted but never had. It just might be theirs—if they can put aside the past and reach for it together. Laney can't decide what she wants out of life. After coming out of a divorce Laney finds herself working for the Kowalski's. Her family isn't very supportive of her divorce or her choices now. Ben Rivers was a paramedic in the city where everything moves fast. Now he's back home working as a EMT still but with a twist as he's needed on the trails of Josh Kowalski's lodge. This gives him plenty of opportunity to come in contact with Laney. Sparks fly but Ben wants more than Laney. He has to convince her without pushing to hard that he's the one for her. Love these two new characters. Watching them connect was exciting but more, seeing my old favorite characters come back and see what's going on with them as well  was awesome. So much good stuff in one book. If you're a fan of the series don't miss this one!

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

ARC Book review: The Heir's Unexpected Baby (Mafia Moguls #4) by Jules Bennett

Available Feb. 7th 2017
ARC provided by author for review

Will this billionaire boss fall for his assistant…and her baby? 

Putting his ravishing assistant in danger makes billionaire investigator Jack Carson uneasy. Till now, Jack's cared only about running his security company and bringing down the notorious O'Shea family. But using Vivianna Smith to infiltrate their organization has complicated his priorities. And burying himself in work is no longer protecting him from his feelings. 

The seismic attraction he's been suppressing has been tough enough. But watching Viv care for the baby she's fostering stirs up emotions from his tragic past. Despite Jack's certainty that Viv is hiding something, his raging desire is driving him to the limits of his self-control…

 The final book in the Mafia Moguls book puts Jack Carson in a difficult spot. He has put his assistant and friend Viv in the enemies camp. She's working for him and part time for the O'Shea's. The family he's trying to bring down for the FBI. Now she might be in danger and his attraction for her he's been fighting since he met her is waging hell on his heart. Vivianna Smith is taking care of a 11 month old baby girl whose parents were killed in a home robbery. She's done fostering before but never for a baby. Things get complicated really fast when Jack and Viv get close. Viv has been trying not to get attached to the baby or Jack because she can't keep either one. As the grow closer she finds a piece of information that will be devastating to Jack IF she tells him about it. I have loved reading this series. The characters have been interesting and fun.  Things have to get crazy and a little dire before they settle down.Jack and Vivianna have some secrets to sort through and some past demons to come to grips with before they can have the happy every after. Jules Bennett brings them to it  then wraps up the series with brilliant writing. 

Find out more about Jules Bennett and the series here www.julesbennett.com

eARC Book review: Barefoot Dreams (Barefoot Bay Undercover #4) by Roxanne St. Claire

Available Feb. 17th 2017
eARC Provided by author


A wedding day in Barefoot Bay is always joyous and exciting, but when the groom is none other than superspy bad boy Gabriel Rossi, the frenzy factor is high. Maybe that's the reason his beloved bride-to-be, Lila Wickham, wakes on her wedding day in a cold sweat from a bad, bloody dream. 

As much as she wants to wipe away the memory and focus on the happiest day of her life, it soon becomes apparent that the dream heralds unhappiness—and tragedy. Terrified but determined, Lila knows she only has hours to take action against the daunting odds facing her son. But she's not alone anymore—she has Gabe at her back. And when it comes to defending the people he loves, there's no one fiercer than Gabe Rossi. 

One single day, one embattled couple—one last shadow to dispel before they become the family they were always meant to be. 

BONUS: Barefoot Bay short story Whirlwind included for free!

Anyone who is a Roxanne St Claire fan knows who Gabe Rossi is so anytime we can get a little of Gabe it's a good thing. In Barefoot Bay it's time for Gabe and Lila's wedding. The book opens with Lila's bloody dream and once she shares with Poppy she tells her about a curse when you dream of blood. Not good. When Poppy explains what needs to be done to counteract the curse and what could happen if they don't things get interesting. Gabe of course doesn't believe but when things start happening that prove the curse might be real things kick into high gear for Gabe and Lila. LOVE this book. It's short and intense and fun and we get another dose of Gabe . Some old favorite characters from previous books and series show up for cameos which is always exciting. There is a bonus Barefoot bay short story at the end of this book which was fabulous and of course leaves you wanting more which is the hallmark of a good book! Roxanne St Claire wraps up this part of Barefoot Bay with amazing writing and good ride!

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

eARC Book review: Twin Secrets (The Rancher's Heirs) book 1 by Jules Bennett

Available March 1st 2017
eARC provided by publisher through Netgalley

This wealthy rancher is about to meet his match…and her two little secrets! 

Colt Elliott is as handsome as he is cunning. And he wants his neighbor's ranch. So when the owner's beautiful daughter begs him to save her family's home, he gives her a job so she can pay off her debt…and he becomes consumed with a new goal: seduce the fiery virgin. 

But Annabelle is the guardian of her infant twin nieces and all three ladies begin to pull at his heartstrings. Colt will go to any lengths to get what he wants—but will his hidden agenda cost him Annabelle?

Colt is after his neighbors ranch and has set a plan in place to get it.  What he didn't count on what was Annabelle. She has two infant girls to take care of and a handful of secrets. She's just moved back to the family ranch to grieve and save the ranch so she can open a bed and breakfast. Something that was her mother's dream. Only she finds her father has taken a loan from Colt. To pay him back she ends up working on his ranch. She thinks she's going to be paying the loan off but what she doesn't know is even after she does Colt will still own the ranch. Colt is one of those alpha males who is full of confidence and think he's got all the answers. He's attracted to Annabelle when he first meets her and thinks he can be with her and let her go once his secret is out. It's never that easy. As they get closer Colt realizes he's in a losing situation. Loved watching these two come together and seeing Colt slowly lose some of that cockiness. He's got to flounder some before finding his way to happiness. You have to feel for Annabelle. She's been through so much and still she's remains optimistic and tough. She doesn't let all the stuff she's been through keep her down. Can't wait to see what happens with Colt's three other brothers. We get to see his oldest brother as a secondary character and hear about one of the others in this book. Way to tease!

Find out more about Jules Bennett and this series here www.julesbennett.com