Romance Readers Retreat

Connect with the Author:

Monday, 24 August 2015

Review: Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters #1) by L.P. Dover

****4 Stars****

So this is L.P. Dover's first foray into writing paranormal and have to say I am impressed. I love a good sexy shifter tale and oftentimes with me personally they don't even particularly need to have much story to them, I still enjoy them either way as they are my guilty pleasure. Now, obviously if there's a good plot thrown in there too then all the better, and this one certainly delivered on the plot front. There was a well thought out backstory to the characters that is not revealed right away giving the story some depth, there's a bit of mystery involved and a few plot twists too. All of this combined to make you hot under the collar but make this a gripping read from start to finish.
Bailey is our heroine, when she is promised to the cruel and sadistic alpha of the Yukon pack she flees and leaves behind her own pack and her family to escape his clutches. In the middle of the forest, tired and alone, Bailey wanders into the territory of another wolf pack, and is found by none other than their hot, eligible alpha, Ryker.
Ryker is sinfully hot, if you love a protective alpha shifter then you'll adore him. And if for some bizarre reason Ryker doesn't do it for you then there's no shortage of other alpha male hotness in this book.
I really enjoyed this tale and I'm looking forward to te series continuing. I also look forward to checking out this author's non-paranormal books.

Reviewed by Steph Lewis

Synopsis

One girl. Two wolves. Promised to one. Destined for the other.

To escape the cruel, overbearing, Kade, the Yukon Pack alpha she’s been promised to, Bailey Whitehill flees her home in search of a new life, one of freedom where she can make her own choices. However, Kade will stop at nothing to make her his and begins the hunt.

As Bailey starts her new life, everything she’s known to be true, is not. Time is of the essence and choices have to be made or consequences suffered. Not only does Bailey fear Kade, but another danger lurks deep in the recesses of the forest. Unbeknownst to her, that danger is what she’s been searching for all along. At the turn of the moon, her fate hangs in the balance . . . and it’s up to her to make the right choice.

Buy Links:

Connect with the Author:

Review: Deadly (Empathy #3) by Ker Dukey

*****5 Stars*****

****If you haven't Empathy, Desolate and Vacant make sure you read these first before reading Deadly****

Wow Wow Wow!!!!!

I love a good dark book and Ker hits that spot every single time!!!!

Ryan and Cereus have been on the run for the past three years and also racking up quite a few fake id's along the way to cover up their crimes, we get to see what they have been up to together and what kind of relationship they have together.

One thing Ryan and Cereus wish had never happened... Georgina!!
Ryan warned Cereus about her, he said she couldn't be trusted!!
Was he right??

I don't want to give anything away at all so get reading, this has been one of my top series i love how Ker completely screws with your mind and gets you to question your own morals.

Every page had me on the edge of my seat, fantastic way to end a brilliant series!!!

Reviewed by Gemma Curran

Synopsis

Normal is not something Ryan and Cereus have ever been, where’s the fun in normal?

When Cereus’s dreams follow her into the waking hours, she has to come to terms with the fact, Ryan is not the only monster in her madness.
That she herself… can be just as deadly.

Buy Links:

Connect with the Author:

Review: Discovering Stella by K.M. Golland

*****4.5 Stars*****

Well doesn't every woman need a toad in their life? Especially one has hot and amazing as Lawson Drake. I can honestly say there is nothing about that man that isn't perfect and the line "Right now, Princess, you are a puzzle, and I’m sure as hell going to piece you back together again.” just about sums him up.

Stella was indeed a huge puzzle. I couldn't make out what had made her run and I had many different theories as the book progressed and if I'm honest and I probably sound really harsh here, there were times I felt she needed to suck it up and get on with it. By the end I did understand her a lot more and the reason she was acting that way. What I really loved about Stella was that she could hold her own against certain characters. She was by no means a push over, despite what she was going through.

Another thing that struck me with this book was how there were a lot more Aussie phrases than have appeared in Ms Golland's previous books. Personally that didn't bother me in the slightest, as I'm familiar with many of them, but some readers may find they need to go look up a few definitions. I do however think, when you have authors who appeal to a worldwide audience, there is always going to be some kind of language/phrase issue and for me that can be part of the fun.

Which leads me onto my next point (sort of). Besides learning new words and phrases we also come to expect lots of steamy sex with KM Golland's books, but I do think more emphasis was on the story itself and found it to be a much more contemporary read that drew on emotions rather than the steaminess, but that is not to say there were no sex scenes, because let's face it, we all love a good, hot sex scene as much as the rest.

I found the dialogue in this book to be laugh out loud funny at times, which for me was a great contrast to the emotional parts.

This, as far as I'm aware, is a standalone read and I have no doubt will be another hit for Ms Golland.

Reviewed by Louise Dale

Synopsis

Stella Walker is twenty-six years old and hiding from a past that haunts her on a daily basis. In a desperate attempt to escape the torment of her memories, she tries to rebuild her life and move on.
She seeks the seclusion of a rural town and tracks down a distant relative who Stella knows will give help, but who is unaware of the past she is trying to flee.
What Stella doesn’t anticipate, is meeting Lawson Drake.

Lawson Drake is twenty-nine years old, a mechanic who owns an auto service and smash repairs shop. When he comes across a broken-down car by the side of the road, he is intrigued by its owner — a caramel-eyed brunette who clearly has a score to settle, not only with her defective vehicle, but with anyone who tries to get too close. The thing is, Lawson wants close. He wants more than close. He wants as close as he can possibly get.

Will Lawson discover who the real Stella is? Or will her defences prove to be too strong?

Buy Links:

Connect with the Author:

Goodreads

Review: Tribulation and Truths (Chastity Falls #3) by L.A. Cotton

****4 Stars****

** This review will contain spoilers if you haven't read book one and book two **

This is the 3rd instalment of Chastity Falls series and concluded Jackson and Ana's story.

Jackson was hell bent on seeking revenge on 'Uncle' Marcus and taking him down for killing his dad, but this means he needs to get deeper into the criminal world and pulls him further away from Ana.

This was another brilliant read by L A Cotton, it was brilliantly written and packed with twists and turns all the way through. It was full if suspense and surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I'm loving this series and although I was sad to be at the end of Jackson and Ana's story, I'm looking forward to the series continuing with Braiden's story.

Reviewed by Danielle Meredith

Synopsis

When Ana revealed her suspicions to Jackson about the circumstances surrounding his father’s death, she never expected it to be the catalyst for a series of events that could change everything. It was supposed to save him, not push him away. But now Ana is left watching the person she loves more than anything, lose himself to vengeance.

Jackson has spent most of his life loyal to the man he calls Uncle. But since learning that Marcus Donohue might have been responsible for the death of his father, Jackson is consumed with the need for revenge. Even if it means hurting the people he loves, and going against everything he believes in, to uncover what happened.

Will the truth finally set Jackson free or will it ruin his last chance at happiness with Ana… and a life out from under the shadows of the Donohues?

Tribulations will be overcome, truths will be revealed. Welcome to Chastity Falls.

Buy Links:

Connect with the Author:

Review: Love After Pain by Torrie Robles

*****5 Stars*****

This book is a stand alone....
You also may need tissues.
In this book we have David. In one tragic night his entire world is flipped and turned upside down.
He must now find a way to get through his own grief, while trying to step up and by the full time parent his new born son Brody, and seven year old daughter Clare, need him to be.
Along the way he meets Oliva, his sister's best friend, and also child psychologist partner.
Olivia, she's also been struggling and hiding from things in her past, for the last fifteen years.
The characters all had such a heart breaking struggle throughout everyday trying to just keep breathing. I caught my self rooting for them at the smallest accomplishments, just for that tiny bit of happiness.
Can these two help and heal each other? You'll have to read to find out.
I really liked this book and these characters. They pulled me in from the start. There is no instant fix, or no Insta love. These characters are dealing with real life situations, and as we all know in real life, nothing is quick or easy.
This is the first time reading this up and coming author. I can't wait to read the next journey she'll take us on.

Reviewed by Amy Kormanik-Jones

Synopsis

I didn’t want to fall in love. Love wasn’t included in the plan I had laid out for myself. My plan was simple; go to school, graduate and become the most well-known corporate law attorney on the west coast. I had it all right in the palm of my hand until the day I heard her voice, saw her smile, and fell in love with the most gorgeous set of emerald eyes.
Love hits you like a Mac truck and you’re done for. Out of nowhere, you meet the person you can’t see living your life without. Then an actual Mac truck hits you and rips your love away, taking your life right along with it. One moment she was there, the next I was left with my daughter and my newborn son. My daughter will only know her mother by the memories in her young mind and my son? He will never know her. He will never feel what’s it’s like to have the love of his mother because she was dead before he took his first breath.
My love for my wife was replaced by anger. Anger that this was my life, anger that my children will grow up without her, anger that I asked her to join me the first day I met her, when I should have just sent her away. If I had sent her away, if I had kept to my plan, then she'd still be alive. She would be able to watch her own children grow, but I didn’t and now she’s gone.
They say I'll move on. They say there's love after the pain. They say I'll learn to love again, but I can’t. I can’t give my heart to someone else when my wife took it with her.

Buy Links:

Connect with the Author:

Wednesday, 19 August 2015

Review: Cocky Bastard by Penelope Ward & Vi Keeland

*****5 Stars*****

My initial thoughts about this book and Chance in particular, was that he certainly lived up to the books title. He was cocky in every way, but immediately likeable. An all round cheeky chap. Aubrey was his complete opposite to begin with and it's not that I disliked her at all, but she definitely needed to pull that stick out of her behind and who better to do that than the insanely sexy Chance. The two had so much chemistry I believe there should be a space for Chance and Aubrey on the periodic table and the dialogue between them was often laugh out loud hilarious.

As is so often the case, it was clear from the start that Chance had an underlying issue preventing him and Aubrey from being together, but due to the story switching from Aubrey's point of view to his, part way through, his problem is revealed a lot sooner than I thought it would.

Knowing that this book had been written by two authors I was amazed that I couldn't define between their writing styles making for a seamless well flowing story.

This book had it all, even a goat (Yes you did just read that) and this made for an incredibly funny, emotional, unique, five star read.

Reviewed by Louise Dale

Synopsis

He was someone who belonged in my wildest fantasies instead of a rest stop in the middle of Nebraska.

A sexy, cocky, Australian named Chance was the last person I expected to run into on my cross-country drive.

When my car broke down, we made a deal. Next thing I knew, we were traveling together, spending sexually-tense nights in hotels and taking unplanned detours.

My ordinary road trip turned into the adventure of a lifetime. It was all fun and games until things got intense.

I wanted him, but Chance wouldn’t make a move. I thought he wanted me too, but something was holding him back.

I wasn’t supposed to fall for the cocky bastard, especially when I knew we’d be going our separate ways.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

Buy Links: