ARC Review of Caiden by Krystal Shannan

Description 

Caiden MacLaughlin has lost love once in his life already. He is leery of putting himself out the again, but when he sees the beautiful Lina Mathews his heart does a double take. She seems like a breath of fresh air, but secrets and trouble are following this girl like a bad habit. Will he take a chance and listen to his heart? Or will he cut himself off from another chance at love?

Lina Mathews is running scared. She left her home to avoid a man who's determined to make her life a living hell. When she meets Caiden MacLaughlin, everything changes. Will he be her knight in shining armor, or will her troubles drive him away like everyone else? Can she find safety in his arms before it's too late?

My Review

The is the second Novella in the MacLaughlin Family series, and so far my favorite in the series. I have to say I love Lina we are introduced to her when she has a flat on the side of the road. She is no weak woman either, but we find out she has a reason to be cautious. I love her sass and how Caiden finds it attractive also.

Caiden is a protector and I love that about him, I also love his dogs. Him and Lina heat up the pages from the get go... They belong together.
This Novella is keeps you reading and is well rounded...There is a lot that happens to Lina in this book (warning of violence) but it is written very well written and Krystal covers all corners.  My heart broke on how Lina's father treated Caiden, but everything turns out great in the end.

I can't wait to read more of this series and read the rest of the MacLaughlin's stories. Another quick but complete read from Krystal Shannan.

I rate this book a 4 out of 5 Genie Lamps

* I received a copy of this book from the author in return for my honest review.

You can purchases this book from 

Amazon Barnes & Noble

Review Saving Margaret by Krystal Shannan

Description
Successful, but lonely, Margaret Taylor finds her mate in the body of a man she least expects it in. A bear! Her human half tries to reason her way out of the match, but her wolf is through with her excuses. Crossing the species line isn’t unheard of, but it’s not often done. 

Try as she might to avoid him, fate makes sure the big grizzly bear is nearby at all times. But, will his presence be enough to protect her from the evil stalking her?

The power of the magick between them can’t be avoided. But, Scott O’Hearn thinks the beautiful Taylor wolf is doing a fine job of just that —avoiding him. He can’t help he’s a bear shifter and he’s determined to convince her it doesn’t matter. She is his mate and he’s waited over a century to find her. 

Will he convince Margaret she’s his true match before it’s too late?

My Review

Saving Margaret is the second book in the Vegas Mates Series and it fills in a lot of the questions you have about Sam's Mother at the end of Chasing Sam. This book as a lot going for it and you need to read Chasing Sam so you are on par with is going on.

I really like Margaret and Scott as a couple , there is a lot going on but it keeps you reading. Love the part where Scott kinda loses it due to being surrounded by wolves and just wants to be with Margaret.

I like that Krystal has expanded the characters, the action, and the drama. There is some bad things that happen due to Renata's wolf going crazy. I am not going to spoil anything but I like where this series is going and can't wait to read more. 

I rate this book  5 out of 5 Genie Lamps

You can buy this book at Amazon Barnes & Noble

A Needful Heart by J.M. Madden

A Needful Heart By: J.M. Madden

Description

Matt Calvin has watched Gina Carruthers sway up and down the doctor's office hallway once a month for four long years. It’s time to do something about this fascination he has with her. He knows he's not relationship material, but he doesn’t expect it to get that far. He just wants to talk to her, and put himself out of his misery once and for all. Things never go as planned, though, and when fantasy crashes and burns into reality, Gina pays the price.
Gina doesn’t blame Matt for her injury, but she is appreciative when he steps into her crazy life to help out. Proximity fires the sudden attraction between them and Gina can’t believe she’s overlooked the sexy carpenter for this long. Tattooed and intimidating, he’s not the type she's normally drawn to, but something about him tugs at her heartstrings. 
When a dire situation develops and they have to save a little boy, Matt loses control of his tightly held emotions. Though his heart aches, Matt walks away, both for Gina’s safety and his own sanity. It’s up to Gina to convince him love can heal any heartache.

My Review

A Needful heart jumps in right away no easing in but then Matt has had the hots for Gina for 4 years.  Matt is the type of guy you would see and judge on appearance, tats, huge guy with that don't bother me attitude(which is a shield, just like his damn baseball hat) however he is such a good guy. He has fears and doubts himself a lot (I didn't care for his self-doubt) however you can't help but love him in this book.

Gina is well, she is accident prone and tends to hurt herself which is how Matt finally gets the courage up to talk and fate gives him the chance, in a oh lord did that just happen type of way. Poor Girl, she is a sweetheart who had to overcome somethings too. 

There is also one darling little boy Gabe in this book who Gina tries to help in anyway she can. Makes you want to jump in the book and hug him... He also plays a major part in getting Matt to get his head out his ass when needed. 

Matt spends a lot of time telling himself and Gina that he isn't good for him but slowly Gina breaks him down and that little flicker of love becomes more. There is also one darling little boy, Gabe in this book who Gina tries and helps in anyway she can. His story is similar to Matt's which will make you feel for them even more. Gabe also plays a major part in getting Matt's head out of his ass because like all Alpha males Matt puts his foot in his mouth and has his head up his ass lol.

This book does have some smokin sex scenes, pushy mothers and does include terrible childhood memories and touches on child abuse. 

Only thing that frustrated me was I wanted to know more, what happens after. Overall though it this was a quick read which I liked.

I rate this a 4 out of 5

You can buy this book from Amazon B&N

Embattled Hearts (Lost & Found Series Book 1) by J.M. Madden

Embattled Hearts By J.M Madden

Description 

John Palmer hasn’t felt like a real man since he was injured during combat in Iraq. Though not content with his new life, he is mostly adapting, just like the other vets at the Lost ‘N’ Found Investigative Service. When Shannon Murphy is hired on as the new office manager, life suddenly gets a lot more interesting. Before long, John finds himself wondering if he could ever be the kind of man Shannon needs.

Shannon Murphy wasn’t really looking for love when she hired on at LNF, but finds herself hopelessly attracted to the sex-on-wheels former Marine, John Palmer. The man is grumpy and nearly impossible to work with, but his brand of masculinity appeals to her on a basic level. Soon Shannon is wondering just what it would take for John to want her the way she wants him.

When an old enemy tries to settle a vendetta against Shannon, John insists on protecting her. He moves into her house, fanning the spark of attraction into a blaze. But the danger continues to escalate. Even with all the resources at their disposal, they’re thrust into a fight for their lives.

My Review

I am telling you now I hate spoiling books... I found it hard to write this review without spoiling everything because I loved this book to death. So here is my review without any spoilers.

Embattled Hearts is the actual start of The Lost and Found  Series... I read and reviewed The Embattled Road(Prequel) the series.. I would suggest you read the prequel first as it introduces you to the marines in this series and give their back stories and how the business started.   

Embattled Hearts is the story of John Palmer (or Gunny John as I call him) and Shannon Murphy. John is  a disabled veteran with a grumpy side and even though he is in a wheel chair is 100% Marine. He is also one of the owners of one of the main bosses for Lost and Found (LNF) Investigation Services. He has a hard time feeling worthy of love due to his past and current wheelchair bound state. 

Shannon is the secretary at LNF and is attracted to John...She thinks he is the sexiest thing ever and him being in a chair is not an issue. She goes out of her way to be by him and attract his attention. When weird stuff starts happening that leaves her uneasy(flat tires, soda can's, and things that can't be) the men at LNF and John  do everything they can to keep her safe and find out what is going on. 

I have to say that Shannon is the perfect heroine for Gunny, She understands his needs and won't let him tell her she doesn't know what she wants or deserves better.  Gunny has things he needs to learn to except... He got me when he learned to hold a kitten.... Thats right a Kitten. Melted me right there.  Can you picture gruff spoken manly marine holding a kitten?

J.M again respectfully addresses issues that disabled veterans face, the way she wrote Shannon and Gunny's sex scene is was respectful and steamy at the same time. She showed Shannon's heart and ability to give John his privacy (getting into bed from chair) and John's disappointment and self doubt(getting happy a little to early) and Shannon informing him , "I think that is the hottest thing  I've been a part of in, well, ever." Bring his spirts up and proving he is still a sexy man. 

John's need to protect Shannon shows though and even in a wheelchair he proves what a strong and determined Marine he is.  There are twists you don't see coming, parts that have you near tears and Ooh Rah moment which have you going hell yeah. 

J.M also makes sure that Chad and Duncan are included, they are Shannon's bosses too after all so they had to be in this book. There are also new characters Zeke, Harper, Jennings. Jennings will keep you wondering what is going on with him(is he a good guy/bad guy what???), Harper Preston(Seal) will leave you wanting to know more, and Zeke will have you rooting for him(his book is next).  Can't wait.

I loved everything about this book and say it is a must read.

I rate this book a 5 out of 5

You can buy Embattled hearts from

Amazon

B&N

Just some added info 

A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. If you would like to make a personal donation, you can find information at http:// www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ ~ J.M. Madden

ARC Review Rough Around the Edges By Ranae Rose

Rough Around the Edges By: Ranae Rose

Description

Sometimes love is enough. Other times, you have to fight for it.

For Ryan Moore, the choice to fight is like the choice to breathe – necessary. After being wounded in war and discharged from the United States Marine Corps, competitive MMA fighting is the only thing he’s still able to excel at. Every round is a risk he can’t afford to take, but time spent outside of the cage is purgatory, until he meets female fighter Ally Rivera. For the first time since an IED blast destroyed life as he knew it, he wants something – someone. And she wants him, but the lingering effects of war might just tear them apart, if the gang violence that plagues her family doesn’t kill them first.

Rough Around the Edges is Ryan’s side of the love story told in Battered Not Broken. It’s not a sequel, but a separate novel written for those who want to experience the story through Ryan’s eyes. Read Battered Not Broken first or simply dive right in and enjoy an erotic romance novel told completely from a male point of view.

My Review 

Ok, So i loved Battered Not Broken, and I have to stay reading Rough Around the Edges and hearing Ryan's side of the story made me love both Ryan and Ally even more.  Ranae Rose fills in all the little questions that you would have from Battered Not Broken. Believe me she doesn't leave you with any questions in this book. 

She allows us to see Ryan in a way that is real and allows us to see what he deals with in regards to his TBI  from his nightmares, to his inner dialog and questioning his value as a person, and even describing what happens when he gets a headache and the after affects.  I have to say that reading Ryan's thought sounded very familiar to me especially his thoughts of messing up things,being a failure and not having anything of "worth" to show from his civilian life  in regards to his military friends as I have heard them from my husband a time or two. 

I also love reading Ryan's POV when it comes to the sex scenes which are just scorching hot, but reading Ryan's thoughts about how much he loves and wants Ally even imagining her in an apron cooking naked in her mom's kitchen.(what a naughty man). 

She shows what happens when Ryan saves Mel. She shows what Ryan was doing and how he was feeling when he fell from the roof and fractured his arm, His thoughts on Ally being shot and what happened when he went off with Manny for revenge.  I have to say Ryan going of with Manny was very enlightening and answered a lot questions.

I love that Ryan and Ally's visit to Quantico was included because it showed the Marine side of Ryan's life and allowed Ally to meet Feltz  She also includes many other interactions that Ryan has with his parents especially his father. 

Overall I have to say that Rough Around the Edges is a wonderful book that i love and it is the perfect companion book for Battered Not Broken (Ally's POV). If you haven't read Battered Not Broken you must as it shows how truly caring Ally is as a person and why she is perfect for Ryan.

* I received and ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for my honest review.

I Rate this a 5 out of 5

You can purchase Rough Around the Edges

Amazon

B&N

Review Chasing Sam By Krystal Shannan

Chasing Sam by Krystal Shannan

Description 

Samantha Demakis doesn’t want a mate right now. She wants to finish her degree and work as a doctor in third world countries. Her birth-rite and family obligations to her status as the first daughter of a noble family beg to differ. In fact, even her wolf seems to be against her. When a chance encounter reveals the man who might just be a perfect fit, will she run? Or will she fight?

Chase Michaels has been alone for seventy-five years. He’s fought in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Afghanistan in the US Army. Somewhat resigned to never finding his true mate, he is shocked when his wolf reacts so strongly to a woman he runs into in the airport. Unprepared for the politics and snobbery of the noble families, Chase finds himself fighting in a different type of war —a war for the heart of a woman he knows should be his. 

A lot of things are chasing Sam, but who or what will catch her in the end?

My Review

This is a short story that introduces us to Krystal Shannan's Vegas Mates Series...

Samantha Demakis (Sam) is flying home for Christmas break, She has put off coming home as she is now of "mating" age, and wants to become a Doctor. Her Parents have other plans for her home coming, and are hell bet on forcing her to mate if she wants to or not. 

Sam meets Chase in the airport when he gives her back her jacket that someone stole. There is a instant connection, that their wolves won't  let them ignore.  Chase is coming home from Afghanistan and the last thing he expected was Sam, even if she is a Demakis Chase's wolf knows that Sam is his. He agrees to be part of the mate hunt in order to claim what is his.  Sam knows that Chase is her only hope in living a life that she would be happy in. 

High Class and Everyday meet in this  Romeo and Juliet shifter style story... I really enjoyed how Chase and Sam's wolves talk to them in their heads... Gives the story something extra as normally we don't see shifters being able to communicate with their wolves. Krystal Shannan has wrote a fast paced book that has everything you could want from a shifters story plus some extra. I have to say the mate hunt was one of my favorite parts of the story. The only thing that i had issue with was I wanted to know what happened after the chase, what was the family's reaction (especially Sam's Mom). 

Thankfully this is to be a series but waiting isn't one of my good points. lol

I rate this a 4 out of 5

You can buy Chasing Sam from

Amazon

B&N

Review- Time for Death By Christie Silvers

Time for Death( Liz Baker Book 1) by Christie Silvers 

Description

Liz Baker thought it would be a normal evening of sex in a cemetery with her beau, until she spotted someone in the distance and all normality in her world ceased to exist. After several murders in her small town, Liz comes to the realization that the murderer is coming after her, and he's more dangerous than any human could possibly be. With the help of her dead mother, bar bouncer, and cemetery lover, Liz learns that the murdering vampire was sent by her biological father to claim her as his own. Only then does she discover her real parentage and underlying special powers. Only death will release her from Marcus's powerful hold, but who will die first?

My Review

Ok so I bought this book at Book 'Em NC a few weeks ago... I chatted with Christie Silvers a little bit before i picked it up... I had seen a couple of the books in the series online for kindle but i hate starting a series in the middle... yeah i am one of those who have to start from point a...So i snagged this book up hoping it was as good as the reviews i had seen on it said it was. I am totally happy with my purchase and will be buying the rest in the series because i am hooked.

Liz Baker is the type of head strong, feisty, dirty mouthed heroine i love. She is AWESOME, even if she pisses me off sometimes with how she treats Rick...It is so hard not to spoil this book... She sometimes can't see what is in front of her with her love life... Throw in a vampire who is evil that Liz is completely attracted to even though she shouldn't be, steamy questionable sex, a snarky cat, a couple of deaths, some funny parts, life drama, and thriller action... This book has everything... I am so happy i bought it... I would totally break it down more but all i can say is read it... It is one of those books you will have no problem reading again and again.

I rate this book 

5 out of 5

You can buy this book 

Amazon

B&N

Review Relentless Protector by Colleen Thompson

Relentless Protector By: Colleen Thompson

Former army ranger Cole Sawyer reacts on instinct when he sees beautiful young widow Lisa Meador pull a gun at the bank. He foils the robbery, but when Lisa screams as the real robbers take off with her son, he realizes that things aren't what they seem. Driven by a painful secret, Cole makes the split-second decision to join forces with Lisa and trail the criminals across Texas.

Haunted by his failure to save Lisa's husband in Afghanistan, Cole is determined to help her rescue her son. But he's even more determined not to give in to his growing attraction to her. As they untangle clues and face the potentially devastating loss of their quarry, they soon realize that the kidnappers' motives run deeper—and darker—than they ever expected.…

My Review

This story starts out with revenge written all over it... but is written in such a way that it leaves you constantly guessing what is going to happen next.

Lisa Meador is the widow of a fallen solider with a little boy named Tyler. She is a determined heroine who is strong in the face of heartbreak and willing to do anything to save her son from a kidnapper even rob a bank.

Cole Sawyer is a former army ranger who is  dealing with his own "failures" and blames himself for the death of Lisa's husband. He tries  to stop a bank robbery and is doing everything in his power to right wrongs and save Lisa's Son. 

A Kidnapper from the past who Lisa can't remember that leaves the reader wondering who exactly is Evie LeStrange???

Throw in a couple of local cops, one that can't follow directions and follows her "own" rules. 

And you get a fast-paced, suspenseful, thriller written by Colleen Thompson that is a quick read that leaves you guessing until the last chapter.

* I won this book in exchange for a fair review. 

I rate this 4.5 out of 5

You can buy this book 

Amazon

B&N

and at most book stores