eARC Book review: Smoke & Mirrors (Forged in Fire #2) by Skye Jordan

 

eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

Available May 31st 2021

I’m taking a break from women. I’ve been lied to once too often, and I’m over it.
Then Isabel, my best friend’s little sister, blows into town without notice, bringing the past with her. Her secret past.

From the moment she crashes poker night and hustles the whole firehouse out of a couple hundred bucks, I know she’s not telling the truth about why she’s here.

Lies have influenced my entire life. They’ve also torn my world apart too many times already.

But by the time the truth comes out, she’s tangled around my heart like barbed wire, and there’s no way out unscathed.

Isabel rolls into town on her very last dime. Scammed by her ex-boyfriend and living a lie for years she's back in her hometown. Her life a mess. Logan's sister Maya was Isabel's best friend. That friendship ended years ago when Isabel left town and cut ties. Logan's been burned before and trust is a serious issue for him. He's always been attracted to Isabel and her being back brings out those feeling but he senses she's hiding something and he'd be right. I like Isabel and Logan but they drove me nuts at time. Isabel didn't out and out lie but she omitted a lot and distracted to avoid. Logan had reason to not trust her completely. Logan had been taken advantage of before but come one you can't paint every women you meet with the same brush. Took a while to get their act together but watching it happen was enjoyable. Both were good people but needed to communicate and open up with each other. There was the right amount of humor to balance out the drama. I did not read book one in this series but you don't have to to enjoy this book. It definitely stands on it own. Isabel's brother Tucker is a bit of a little shit so we'll see if he soon get some growing up time in a future book. I look forward to that. I haven't read a Skye Jordan book in a while and this was definitely a great book to dive back in with.

Find out more about Skye Jordan and this series here skyejordanauthor.com

eARC Book review: Deathtoll (Broslin Creek #8) by Dana Marton

 

Available May 25th 2021

eARC Provided by author

Kate and Murph are back in Broslin Creek, thinking they're safe, their worst enemy dead. But soon people around Kate begin to die under suspicious circumstances, and she and Murph must face the terrible realization that Asael followed them home, and not only are their lives in danger, but also the lives of the townspeople who took Kate in years ago.

This is the stunning conclusion to the Broslin Creek series. It doesn't disappoint with the edge of your seat writing. This series started with Kate and Murph and how they ended up in witness protection. Now the danger is over and they are back in Broslin Creek and Kate is questioning their relationship. While she's keeping Murph at arms length they find their old enemy isn't dead like they thought. They are in danger as well as all their family and friends. This is not for the feint of the heart. I had to take a break or two reading this because of the some of the suspense elements. This book starts off quick and keeps that pace. Kate's indecision drove me nuts sometimes and is finally explained at the end but poor Murph has the patience of a saint. I think you can read this as a stand alone but would be much better if you read the series as a whole or at least book one. I have not read all the books in this series yet but definitely look forward to reading the ones I have missed. Definitely a thrilling read. 

Fin out more about Dana Marton and this series here www.danamarton.com

eARC Book review: Love for Beginners (Wildstone #7) by Jill Shalvis

 

Available June 8th 2021

eARC Provided by publisher through Netgalley

When Emma Harris wakes up from a coma, she learns that her fiancé and her BFF have fallen in love, she’s lost her job, and the life she knew is gone. Overwhelmed but grateful to be alive, she decides to start over from scratch. Not as easy as it sounds, of course. But she’s never been a quitter, even if she wishes she could quit rehab, where her hot but evil physical therapist, Simon, puts her through the wringer.

Desperate for a new start, Emma opens a doggy day care. Unfortunately, the only space she can afford is owned by her childhood nemesis Ali Pratt. But hey, she’s been through worse, right? She tries to roll with the punches, but a friend drops his grandpa off at the doggy day care because he can’t find senior care. On top of that, she and Ali bring the term “frenemies” to a whole new level. And then another grandparent shows up. And another.

In the midst of all that, Emma realizes she’s accidentally fallen for her Evil PT. But the most horrifying thing of all is that Ali just might have turned into the best friend she’s ever had. And as Emma grows from the pain of her past and takes on her new path, she comes to learn that life isn’t what you’re given, it’s what you make of it.

Emma wakes up from a coma to find her whole world has changed. Her fiance' and her best friend have fallen in love leaving her a third wheel living in her apartment with them. In rehab to fix her damaged body and brain she moves into a new place her fabulous physical therapist finds her. That's step one. Step two is to make it up the steps to her apartment without passing out. To make a living to buy the local doggy daycare. Unfortunately she has to take on a partner in the form of her high school enemy. Add in her hottie physical therapist you got a great story. I loved this book. Probably the best book I have read so far this year. I was delightfully entertained page after page. Emma is the toughest chick out there. No matter what she doesn't give up and is she starts to waver she's got people to back her up even if some of those people are a little reluctant. You laugh you cry and you feel good by the end.

Find out more about Jill Shalvis and this series here www.jillshalvis.com

eARC Book review: Second Chance Love Song (Dynasties: Beaumont Bay #2) by Jessica Lemmon

Available May 25th

eARC Provided by author 

There’s no place like Nashville for discovering all the secrets your ex has been keeping.

He chose country music over the one who got away.
Well, now she’s back…

Country music star Cash Sutherland is too successful for his own good. Seen as a bad boy in need of redeeming, he and his label are doing all they can to revamp his reputation. They’ve even hired eager journalist Presley Cole, who’s ready and willing to print the cover story that will make both their careers. The only problem? She’s the woman he left behind, and she’s not ready to forgive him for breaking her heart…

Cash and Presley used to have a thing in college until Cash left to start his music career and left Presley behind with a broken heart. Now Presley is in a position to find her dream and Cash can make that happen if she can find out the secret of who his number one song is about. While spending time at Cash's home to interview him and put a news piece together for her boss feelings rekindle. I love the Sutherland brothers. They are close knit family of four who razz each other but also have each others backs. This book is part of a 4 book series by two authors. Do yourself a favor and start with book one. These can be read alone but I think reading them in order will really enhance your enjoyment.  Presley and Cash were young when they started but still seems to be repeating the past. Loved how the two authors writing this series has so far seamlessly made this series flow together. This was one of those books you don't want to put down until you hit the last page.

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

eARC Book review: The Hitwoman and the Teddy Bear (Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman #26) by J.B. Lynn

 

eARC provided by author

Available April 30th 2021

Maggie Lee has done some really questionable things, but she’s never stooped so low as to steal a child’s toy. There’s a first time for everything.

Maggie’s life is always complicated, but her tenuous balancing act becomes even more dangerous when she’s given the job of stealing a teddy bear from the grandson of the mobster Delveccio.

As she struggles to keep the different facets of her life separate, her family faces multiple threats to their safety, and there’s a very real chance she won’t be able to protect everyone she loves.

Her best chance at success depends on the help of her pets…and you can bet they all have something to say about that.

Maggie is always juggling a several balls at once and this book is more of the same. With so much going on she needs a little help from all her pets and there more than willing to help. There's something about these stories that makes you want to read it all in one go. You can easily sit back and relax and enjoy and be entertained. Then there's that Gino.

Find out more about JB Lynn and this series here www.jblynn.com