Title:Glass Ceilings

Author :A. M. Madden

Series:A True Heroes Novel, #2

Release date:24 May 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

When a perfect new love is shattered, two hearts will do anything to pick up the pieces. In this sizzling novel from the author of Stone Walls, irresistible heat leads to sensual thrills—and a secret that changes everything. Two years ago, Nick Farley was undercover as a bartender in Chicago. The tough-as-steel FBI agent was working all the angles to build a case against a local crime syndicate, but even his intense focus was no match for the sight of Angela Cavallo’s plump pink lips pulling on her drink. All Nick got was one night—the longest, hottest, sweetest night of his life. It could have been the beginning of something real. Instead, she walked away—and Nick watched her go. Angela has made some mistakes in her life, but Nick was never one of them. Nor was the baby boy he doesn’t know about. But Angela has been running from a stalker for so long that she’s forgotten how to feel safe. So when Nick suddenly reappears in her life, Angela faces a moment of truth. She wants to trust him and reveal her secrets—her life and the life of their son may depend on it—but first she needs to know that Nick can handle her past, and promise the one thing she most craves: a future together.

Glass Ceilings (True Heroes #2) by A.M. Madden was a well written but confusing book to me. I had been interested to read something by this author for a longer time now – so I took the chance with this ARC even though I was not very sure about the plot.

I turns out that the writing is well developed and I am sure I will read another book by this author. In addition, my doubts about the plotline disappeared – there were just some things inside the plot that confused me. It may have been me overlooking something but …

I believe that each reviewer has his own specifications on what to look for in a book. Even if you never articulate them aloud if you pay close attention to yourself, you will find out soon that it is always the same pattern that you are following.

In my case it is not that I check on spelling or typing mistakes – they are not my cup of tea if they do not interfere with my reading: I am unintentionally checking up on logical stuff it seems. Like when a main character turns on the radio to listen to music on page 5 I notice it when on page 200 someone says that the same character does not like music at all.

So in case of this book there were some situations that went against my logic (again maybe it is just me overlooking something but it’s my honest feeling).

I cannot go into details as that is against my “no spoiler” rule. And maybe that is even better if I do not mention any details to not disturb the reading pleasure for others.

In total the story was well developed and the characters were well written. So I am looking forward to reading another book by this author to solidify my opinion that this is a really interesting author.

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Title:Never Let Go

Author :Allison B. Hanson

Series:N/A

Release date:24 May 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

Just one gorgeous weekend away from reality. Then they can go on like it never happened…Riley Fisher doesn’t have time to chase after men. As a single mother working two jobs, she barely has time to eat or sleep. But a girl has needs. So when handsome veteran Sam Brooks asks her out, she decides she deserves some R&R. She doesn’t expect anything else from him—after all, he’s hardly the type to get serious.Sam came back from Afghanistan lucky to be alive, despite PTSD that hits whenever he lets down his guard. His therapist told him to forget about relationships. When he meets Riley, he’s not planning on breaking the rules. She’s cute, petite, and a total smartass—not even his type. But she’s hard to forget. Especially once he runs into Riley and her toddler on a rustic mountain getaway and sees what he’s missing. Her kid makes him laugh all day. And Riley makes him burn all night.Too bad a relationship is impossible. But they can enjoy the attraction. It’s not like they’re going to fall in love…

I had the pleasure of reading “Never let go” by Allison B. Hanson last weekend and I would like to express my “Thank you” to Kensington Books for allowing my to review this Book as an ARC.

“Never let go” was my first book by this author and it is a standalone novel. Let me start by saying that this author has well developed and engaging writing style.

There are no huge twists or turns in this story so some readers might say the storyline develops predictable. But for me personally it was more a solid way of writing.

The focus was on the main characters and they were described in a solid way that was deep enough to feel related to them.

By the time that I was reading and preparing to review this story there was not even a blurb up on GR so I refrain from giving to much details as I am not sure how the publisher wants to handle this.

But please be assured – once the blurb is up and it appeals to you – you will get a solid romance with likable characters that will draw you into their story and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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Title:Seven

Author :Susan Renee

Series:N/A

Release date:24 May 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

Blurb :

DEVASTATION

Moving back home wasn’t anything I ever wanted. But after enduring the worst,Going home was the only answer.Being back is everything I thought it would be…Awful, isolating, a constant reminder of what I lost. And the last thing I need–or want–is another reminder of my past,Especially Bryant Wood.

GUILT

That’s all I feel–all I can see when I look at Savannah Turner.I want to hold her, feel her, love her,And thank her for what’s she given me.But I can’t show her the gratitude.The relief.The gift she’s given me.I won’t.It’ll ruin everything.A secret I must keep–a secret that could break her. Shatter her. Destroy her. All over again.

I just read Seven by Susan Renee and I am still wondering something that probably has totally nothing to do with the book – but – Dear Author … are you by any chance a fan of Startrek Voyager? … (having said that – if she is – she will know what I am referring to)

Savannah and Bryant’s story was an interesting one.

There were several moments when I found myself rolling my eyes because some things were just too obvious (the “secret”) and in the first few chapters I almost thought Bryant was kind of strange … (hint : the car/key “thing” – I mean seriously ?)

However, leaving that aside – after a few chapters I got into the story and it was a really good read. I liked the way the relationship developed. The start of the book as well as of the relationship was kind of rough but the further it developed the more the author seemed to find into a nice pace.

It became easier to relate to the leading characters the further the story progressed and the complete setting was well developed (again after the first chapters).

Seven is a unusual romance that is not quite a second chance and also not a first meet. It’s a little about forgiving and a lot about not forgetting.

But basically it is about moving on and simply trying

And I think it is really worth reading

reviewed by

Raven

Scarlett Finn

n/a

Release date : May 23rd 2016

Rating : 5 Stars

Blurb :

Raven

He’s mysterious and alluring,

Dominant and powerful.

He keeps her grounded,

And lets her fly.

After a date ends in disaster, Zara Bandini is drawn into a conspiracy of dark lies and hidden motives. Bidding farewell to blissful ignorance, she must betray those who trust her to prevent evil from murdering innocent civilians.Raven guides her, shields her, and seduces her… Now Zara has to protect her heart while saving the world.

I jumped into reading “Raven” by Scarlett Finn when it appeared on my kindle without re-checking its blurb (I am not sure I need to explain but reviewing so many books there are often books appearing on your kindle without further information send from authors you reviewed before or from publishers)

The title sounded interesting at that moment so I did not re-check with our blog schedule if it was a scheduled review and started reading it. I tell you this to explain because I thought at first that this book might be a paranormal romance.

(spoiler : it is not #laughing but the way Raven is introduced to the reader – no reader of paranormal romances would have wondered if he turned out to be a creature of the night)

Raven is so mysterious and well exactly what the Blurb states … he is alluring, dominant and most definitively powerful. In fact I have no other book hero to compare him with … well maybe – if I reconsider … there is one … I met him in J.T. Geissingers book “Make me Sin” …

This is no sugary flowery romance with hearts and white picket fences. This is dark and dirty. But it is pure and addictive and with “it” I mean the story is to the readers as well as Raven is to Zara. Or should I better say as addictive as Zara is to Raven ? I am not sure which one of them is worse.

The author created a perfect start to a (what I hope) series of standalone books with “Raven” that are centered around something that I will not name here to refrain from spoilering. There are definitely interesting side characters the reader meets in Raven that we hope to see again.

If this book is any indication than the series will be a rollercoaster ride with good guys appearing bad, bad guys that are maybe better than the good guys and really bad guys that you do not mind getting killed in the process.

Ask you self the question “How do you explain the meaning of “love” to a man who has never loved

Think about it and than start reading “Raven” to find out … (Go-sh… I need the next book … like in NOW)

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Kiss Me That Way

Laura Trentham

Cottonbloom Novels #1

Release date : 31 May 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

A river divides Cottonbloom in two: the upscale enclave on the Mississippi side and the rundown, rough and tumble side in Louisiana. They’re worlds apart—but nothing can build a bridge like love…Cade Fournette never had it easy Cottonbloom. He stuck around long enough to raise his orphaned siblings and then hightailed it out West—and never looked back. Even though he’s made a success of himself in Seattle, Cade never lost the toughness and the angry edge that helped him survive down South. His only weak spot: the girl he left behind…Monroe Kirby came from the wealthy side of town, but that didn’t protect her from her mother’s drinking—or her mother’s boyfriend. It was Cade who did that, on a long-ago hot September night, before he disappeared…along with a piece of her heart. Now Monroe is a physical therapist who can fight for herself, and it’s Cade who could use some conditioning when he makes an unexpected return back home. Will he and Monroe pick up where they left off and finally explore their mutual passion—or will the scars and secrets of the past divide them once more?

Review : When it only takes some “small” tracks to bring you on the wrong side of a town – just imagine what it does to someone when you are from the wrong side of a river ?

Laura Trentham dives deep into that question with “Kiss me that Way” the start of her new series of “Cottonbloom novels”.

It was the first book of that author that I read and I think she really managed to catch all the clichés (in a good way) that you would expect in a wrong side of the track novel. And than she topped it off with a big dose of small town novel.

While usually a “wrong side of the track” novel focuses on a certain person, this book/series really shows not only what it does to a person but to a whole town.

The story as well as the characters a developed to its fullest and during the flow of this first story it is easy to see where the next stories will lead us.

The side characters are almost as well developed as the leading ones so maybe – while this is good on one side – it is also a tad to much on the other. Because it takes the focus of the leading persons and at times I found myself wondering if it was Tally or Sawyer’s story already.

It might not be a “light summer read” in my eyes but it is a good story for a rainy autumn day. But in total I liked it and I am looking forward to what is really going on with Sawyer and Tally.

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