Book Thoughts and Recommendations 🧐 Our Picks for the Week of Nov 28th

 

 

📚 Our Book Thoughts and Recommendations

📰 Talon by Stacy Gail

🛣️ Road To Absolution by India R. Adams

🎶 Exquisite Scars by L. Ann

🔥 Kristian: The Vendetta Brotherhood by C.R. Robertson

⚗️ Resurrection by Lissa Kasey

😈 In a Devil Bind by Makayla Roberts

See all of our reviews and recommendations

Amazon  BookBub  Goodreads 

Talon by Stacy Gail

Description:

First Contact…

When ambitious journalist Zenni Greer snuck into a House of Payne charity event, she’d hoped to discover what made the famous tattoo studio tick. What she found was a furious tattooist who didn’t appreciate her snooping around in his booth. When he threw her out the door—literally—she vowed to never cross paths with that terrifying man again.

First Impressions…

Talon Levesque, former military police officer and tattooist at House of Payne, isn’t thrilled to be landed with the task of babysitting Zenni when her paper assigns her to profile him and his fellow tattooists. But his first impression of the nosy reporter changes when he sees Zenni in action. Her intellect, her compassion, her sharp wit, her pixie-like perfection—all that and more make for one sexy riddle he’s only too happy to solve.

Lasting Consequences

No way can Zenni write a profile on Talon. He’s too dominating, too arrogant, too pushy… and too damn hot to be legal. She can’t resist his dirty-talking seduction, but she also can’t resist his mysterious past the military has labeled “classified.” When clues to a secret rescue mission that Talon was involved in fall into her lap, she has to decide what’s more important—her career, or Talon?

This is the twelfth and final book in the HOUSE OF PAYNE series. This contemporary romance includes a rocky prologue, a satisfying epilogue and a whole lot of sexy-times shenanigans in between, with an Alpha male that will make your toes curl. No cheating, no love triangles, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this book is not intended for people under the age of eighteen

Our Thoughts 💭:

Pixie, you kick but take no prisoners whirlwind of chaos
I absolutely adore you!
Talon you are a giant marshmallow filled teddy bear who I seriously would not want to anger
Pixie seems to find herself in a bit of a predicament. Trust me that is putting it very mildly. She wants to move out of the pits and into the big leagues but to do that she needs a real story and her nose is telling her there is a story behind the doors of the House of Payne
Talon has served his time and does not give leeway to liars and thieves especially ones who crash charity events
Cute pixie or not - she is out of here
My heart kind of cracked for Talon when he realized how Pixie saw him. I don't think it ever mattered before or he just never realized. And Pixie with her independent streak - a slightly angsty truth - had a hard time seeing past her barriers
Their connection is almost instant even if it takes them a bit to acknowledge it
The chemistry between these two was tangible - they made me laugh, and at times groan in frustration
The two of them are perfect for each other
When I came to the final page I took a moment to digest that this was the end for the family of House of Payne
I am sad to say goodbye - I know that I will see some of them again
This series - hands down - is one of the best series I have ever read
Great storylines -
Characters that stay with you long after you close their books-
Friendship, Family, Angst, Laughter, Suspense, Romance
Everything a solid saga should offer

#Talon #HouseofPayne #Contemporary #Romance #StacyGail  
Amazon Kobo B&N Google Apple 

Road To Absolution by India R. Adams

Description:

I was supposed to die that day.

The crash that had me engulfed in flames should have taken my life. Taken me away from a life with my beautiful pregnant wife, my little sister, my boxing career.

If that failed, the gun pointed at my temple should have definitely been the end.

But it wasn’t.

Someone stepped in.

Someone who should have been dead.

Maverick struggles to come to terms with what transpired that fateful night. Being a pro boxer, he knows to never back down from a fight.

But this time… he’s fighting himself.

The road to absolution will be the hardest match he’s ever entered. The question that remains is…

What will be left when the final bell rings?

Our Thoughts 💭:

"There were still haunted roads to travel, but those simple moments of honesty were ones that would help save us in the end"
No words for what a beautifully emotional journey this was
I met most of these characters in Haunted Roads Trilogy and to be honest even though this is a first in a new series I strongly most adamantly suggest reading Haunted Roads first - If you take only one leap of faith this year let it be this
"Full circle moments… What a beautiful thing"
This is the beginning of Maverick and Delilah's story in a way.
They are finally ready to start a family of their own. They have a new home, a baby on the way, and things are looking up.
One small forgotten truth - There is a price due
A life for a life
I broke during this journey - a couple of times
So much strength and vulnerability
Hope, Love, and family
If you have not had the pleasure of reading Adam's work before it can, in the beginning, feel a bit fast-paced and confusing.
Do not panic!
Everything will slide into place perfectly -
Think of it like a teleporter warming up - getting ready to break you down to a cellular level - slowly chipping away until you are nothing but broken pieces - then putting you back together -stronger and more resilient
Yes there is a bit of pain but ohhh the journey is soooooo worth it

#RoadtoAbsolution #RedemptionRydersMC #MCRomance #Suspense #IndiaRAdams

Amazon  

Exquisite Scars by L. Ann

Description:

Luca Tallorico

Drummer, Hot-Tempered, Hurt

The pain in his texts spoke to my own

I reached out, secure in the knowledge we would never meet.

He had different ideas. He makes me feel special, beautiful

And makes promises I’m scared to acknowledge.

He tempts me to take a walk on the wild side.

But I know if we meet, he'll reject me and walk away

Ms Wrong Number

My Firefly. My Light. My Ever After.

I was searching for closure

Looking for an escape from the all-consuming guilt.

Then I found her, by accident, through a text meant for a ghost.

She's a small-town girl, and far too sweet for me

But like a brilliant flame, she lights up my darkness

I just have to break through the walls she’s protecting herself with.

Make her see she is beautiful and bring us both out of the shadows of our pasts

Our Thoughts 💭:

No, I soooo do not forgive nor trust you to make things right!
I have so many things I want to say about Luca and Firefly's story but I in no way want to risk any of the events that occur in this episode.
And yes it is an episode. Each book in this series does highlight one of the band members but it is also about the four of them -
Their past - their present and their possible futures - if they can pull their chit together long enough to have one!
This does end on an HFN for our couple and just like real life things are ever-evolving.
That being said - No peeking at the end - Corral your inner curiosity and ride this one out - it will be worth it
"I don't think I can do this" "Yes, you can. You walk out front of thousands of people and perform music. You climb into a cage and fight men who could kill you. This is the easiest thing you will ever do, Luca."
Our brooding and angry drummer has finally grown up *sniff sniff*
I have always been a fan of the lost soul hero and Luca is that times a trillion.
Watching the care he takes with Firefly. The way he can read her.
Melt my heart
"Then I'll be sure to check for wild animals in the forest"
This is just a taste of the humor that is part of what, for me, made Luca and Firefly so tangible, so perfect for each other. When you get to the scene you will understand - lmao - but seriously - Firefly is so much more than the box she has been put into and watching her learn to spread her wings, come into who she should have always been ...
Their whole story was emotional, fast-paced, a touch humorous a whole lot smexy, and one you will not want to miss
I didn't want to close the pages but life moves forward and there is more to come for our Forgotten Legacy family

#ExquisiteScars #ForgottenLegacy #RockStar #Romance #LAnn

Amazon  

Kristian: The Vendetta Brotherhood Book Three by C.R. Robertson

Description:

I was damaged, my needs dark and dangerous.

She walked into my life and reached into my soul and now I would burn this world down to protect her.

Davina was collateral damage in an emerging war between criminal factions. She was the key that could open the doors to a mystery that remained cloaked for almost a decade. Emotionally and physically damaged, she is feral and deadly.

Kristian was alone among the crowd around him, isolating himself from the world. His heart was dead, his emotions turned off until one woman saw beyond his façade and found the man inside.

Together they are a force of nature, destroying everything in their path as their passion ignites dormant volcanoes of desire. Separate they are vicious but together they are lethal and deadly. Lives will be lost in their quest for completion.

Our Thoughts 💭:

"We all have scars that life has given us. Some are on the inside, and some decorate our bodies"
My new favorite couple 💑
I know I have said this before but this time is different.
I can't recall the last time a story dragged me so thoroughly through an emotional gauntlet and still left me feeling giddy - chit ewe not! 😘 one of the best reads of 2021
"Quite the feral little beastie, aren't you?"
I was dying! Davina is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to heroines. She was beaten down but not broken.
The girl knew when to kick booty and when to snuggle.
"Nope, we are psychopaths. Being normal is severely exaggerated."
Kristian is the elusive geek in the Brotherhood. The quiet one that gives off a warning vibe like an electric fence- When he is close the hairs on your arm stand on end and you know if you get anywhere near him he will hurt you.
The chemistry between these two
The way they click - the ease of their banter
Even peppered in body parts and covered in crimson
These two were a Practically Perfect Pair
The way Robertson balanced these characters was phenomenal. They were lacking in the basic understanding of so many societal norms-
Relationship and people skills, moral compasses, acceptable social responses
Just to name a few -
But instead of it being cast in a negative light it was crafted into something beautiful
Kristian's story is packed with heart-pounding suspense, truly evil bad guys, acts of vengeance that left me questioning my own moral compass, a steamy romance that screamed of the forever kind /
Oh and lots and lots of laughter at the most inappropriate moments
I could go on but trust me when I say take a chance on this series
You won't be disappointed
#Kristian #VendettaBrotherhood #OrganizedCrime #Suspense #Romance #CRRobertson

Amazon

Resurrection by Lissa Kasey

Description:

Someone is raising the dead from their graves, including an old vampire lover.

When a golem shows up on campus, Seiran searches for a way to unravel it and find its creator. But it is animated with vampire souls and the golem may not be the only one. When he realizes a necromancer is raising the undead from their slumber, Seiran finds himself face to face with a lover he thought long gone.

Gabe went to ground over a decade ago to silence the revenant gaining foothold inside of him. When he is yanked from the earth, his memory a mess of shattered fragments, he finds himself bound to a very powerful witch he doesn’t remember. And someone is trying to use his power to summon the dead.

An army of the dead awakens, and Seiran and Gabe are the only thing standing in the way of a shift in global power. Can they rise to the change or will they become the next victims?

Our Thoughts 💭:

Hook line and sinker!
I was captivated from the beginning and never quite released. The way we were fed small bits here and there - never quite enough to sate us - No that would be too easy - just enough to keep us on the hook
I have never read Kassey's work but I can tell you I will be discovering the previous works as well as upcoming ones. The cast is so eclectic, tangible. I want to know them better, spend more time in their world.
I easily connected with Gabe - I felt like both of us were a bit in awe at the events happening around us, at times unsure but yet not - the sense of familiarity in a world of unknowns
And Rou?
I felt for him wanted to protect him. Not that he needed it physically but emotionally he was vulnerable.
Sometimes standing for what you believe can be isolating- but he never wavered in his belief to make things right.
There is so much here
Action, adventure, mystery, suspense, family, and intimate connections
I definitely have more questions than answers but I'm strangely okay with it - Says something about the writing
The author did a fabulous job of introducing the characters, building this unique universe filled with magic and mayhem.
Not to mention capturing my heart completely

#Resurrection #PillarsofMagic #DarkAwakening #Fantasy #MMRomance #LissaKasey

Amazon  

In a Devil Bind by Makayla Roberts

Description:

It has been one hell of a week.

With a serial killer on the loose and her carnal needs spiraling out of control, the last thing Detective Cheyenne Wilcox needs is to be deterred. As her cursed fate would have it, she gets the biggest hindrance of all when she winds up drugged with a spell that prevents her from moving more than six feet away from none other than Thorne Lucifer—an egotistical playboy whom she hates more than anything. Perhaps it was a good thing he didn’t remember her from the past, because the moment they manage to find a way to break the spell, she’s going to go above and beyond to erase all traces of him from her life…again.

Chey is one hot succubus, but her detached attitude is nothing but a nuisance to Thorne. Plus, having her following him everywhere presents a threat to his hard-earned reputation as Elysium’s most eligible bachelor. However, he can’t deny the sizzling attraction between them, or the fact that her feistiness only makes him eager to have her submit to him.

There’s a fine line between lust and love, and though Chey seems determined to keep things casual until the spell is broken, for the first time in his life, Thorne is leaning more toward the latter.

Reader advisory: This book contains scenes of violence, stalking and murder. It is best read as book two in The Lucifer Brothers series.

Our Thoughts 💭:

I jumped into this series with this episode so I did not have a lot of background on the universe and the characters. I was still able to follow the cast connections and for the most part, had no trouble picturing and understanding the universe in which it took place -
I do however want to go back to the first book I really enjoyed the cast both main and supporting and the world-building was such fun
This was a cosmic comedy of wrong place wrong time for both our main characters
Chey comes across as a take-no-prisoners heroine who had no trouble kicking booty when it was necessary. She was pretty easygoing as long as you didn't mess with her or those she cared about. Being a busy detective in the middle of a gory homicide case she didn't have the time or the patience to be chained down to a womanizer like Thorne
Thorne on the other hand lacks that brain-to-mouth filter that keeps most of us out of the dog house. I think he prefers it that way though.
He is a firm believer life is all about indulgences.
Especially those of the more carnal type
Now if he can just shake the succubus who seems hades bent on his demise
Not to mention this painful indigestion he keeps getting in his chest Life would be good again
Ohhh you one-horned unicorn fool 😹
The story begins with our two "nemesis" awaking in what can be described as a horror movie brought to life
After a bit of forced proximity
Harsh misjudging
And indulgence of the flesh - purely out of necessity mind you
Our unlikely couple find themselves at a crossroads
What to do?
This was a light-hearted read that had a bit of mystery and light angst, a sweet forever romance, and a whole lot of snark
Great chemistry between the characters
Easy to follow storyline with a spot-on supporting cast
Definitely will be following the series

#InaDevilBind #LuciferBrothers #Paranormal #Romance #MakalyaRoberts

Amazon  Kobo  Nook