This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Introduction
Reckless Memories is the first book in the "Wrecked" series. After falling in love with her "Tattered and Torn" series, I have been wanting to work through her backlisted books. I found Reckless Memories and I just had a blast with this book. If you are a fan of second chance romances, then this one will really work for you. I really have become charmed by Catherine Cowles, her steam is lower than expected though. So don't expect high steam for her. But I love that about her, she writes such great connection and intimacy. What really impressed me with this one was seeing these two slowly rebuild their trust with each other.

Summary
So the gist of the story is that Bell and Ford were once best friends and grew up together. Ford dated her sister, but when they end up in a car accident and her sister dies, Bell never hears from Ford again. Its now been years, and he has come back to help his family and their bar out as he has made a success in making bars successful. But what he doesn't expect is having to face up to the mistakes of the past or to be presented with Bell who is bitter and angry against him. But as Ford and Bell learn to rebuild their past bridges, they also embrace the love and connection that has always been there but never had an opportunity to grow until now...

My Outlook
Reckless Memories was such a wonderful read! I just adored so much of this story. Now it didn't quite get to a five star read (as those I am super picky about) however I found that this one just delivered such a sound story. I was all over the place with the emotion that was delivered. I felt for BOTH the hero and heroine. They both were deceived and so we do see some outer forces that contributed to them being seperated but also some of it was them just being young kids and not fighting for each other enough. I do love a great friends to lovers though, but yeah the author really implements the "Forbidden" aspects to their relationship so well. I really enjoyed seeing them find ways to reconnect with each other. The family that we get introduced to are so endearing and I can't wait for more books into this island coastal town. Definitely a keeper if you are fans of small town romances.

Overall View
I found Reckless Memories to be such a win of a story that melted my heart and captivated the senses! You never can go wrong with a Catherine Cowles.

Rating Evaluation:
Plot: 4
World Building: 4.5
Cover: 4
Hero: 4
Heroine: 4
Steam: 3
Heart & Feels: 4
Ending: 4
Overall View: 4.25
 

 This review is going to be for the trilogy as a while as I do read this author's books as if they are together when she does these duologies and trilogies.

The Sin trilogy is a second chance romance with a touch of forbidden, southern soap opera feel, and dealing with a family feud which causes much of the conflict with the pair. Our couple in question is: Lincoln and Whitney. Throughout this trilogy there are SO MANY FLASHBACKS! So just warning. Now if you catch on easily, you can skim or even skip over them if they aren't your cup of tea. Although reading them does give more insight, I do think there was way too many though and wish I had known that going into this trilogy as I might have enjoyed it more than I actually did.

I really enjoyed Lincoln and Whitney as a couple. They were just so good together. I really loved the way that these two come together. They were just one with each other but they also had to learn how to truly be a couple and value each other. We see two timelines, one when they are first together when they are new adult age and then the other when they come together later in their lives and reconnect to each other. I was so moved by these two and their relationship. But they both make mistakes the first time, but they also have outer forces driving them apart and manipulating them from truly being together. So it does take them a while to realize what they have and to learn to fight for it as a team. Once we get them to that stage, that is when the romance really skyrockets and you are just cheering this couple on and wanting them to reach their HEA so badly.

I will be honest in that this trilogy felt lighter than her normal books in reference to the steam that she normally writes. I was actually surprised that there weren't more sex scenes than was actually delivered as most of her books that sexual content is a bit more heavy than what we see in this trilogy but there is a TON happening in the plot, so it does make sense and I did love how layered these books turned out to be here. What we also get with this one is so many side factors to the story that really made these books sing. Certain elements that you normally don't see in romances too often.

These books definitely had me fully entrenched in these stories and wanting so much for this couple. But man it took them a while to really get all the kinks worked out. But I loved so many of the supporting cast and the villains were so wonderfully written in this story. It definitely reminded me why I love this author so much and I know I am coming to a close to finishing all of her books. But they are so wonderful and this trilogy really reminded why her writing voice is so powerful! 

 

A Solid installment with the typical cliffhanger that this author implements. Enjoyed it! Full review in Book three of the trilogy.

 

 

Full review on Book Three! But I liked it but I really didn't need ALL the flashbacks, boy there was a lot of that.

 

 The Price of Mason is the last book in the Forbidden Men series. But I will say that if you are new to the series, read this one with the first book together! I do wish that this one had been written when I had originally read the first book. I am personally not a fan of reading other POV's, years after the original book was published. So I mostly skimmed through this one, as this is one of the more painful books of the series, although I love Mason and Reese. I do think that if you love reading other POV's from books you enjoy, then this will definitely work better for you than it did for me if I am being honest. But I wanted to finish the series off fully so I did read this one. I was hoping it would have more in the HEA of where they are at in present, but oh well.

Overall a likeable installment that was interesting to get back to the first book. 

 Driven is the 4th book in the Deep Ops series, and this installment was such a fun one here. I absolutely loved it so much. I was so fascinated to see what Rebecca Zanetti would deliver with this one here. I really found that this might be one of my favorites of the series actually. Now I physically read this on my kindle, but I listened to the previous installments, so I do think that her books are best physically read if I am being honest.

Now this story was SO much different than I was expecting. Within this story we get the leader of the group and his story with the therapist. Now what is different about this one is that they will be fighting not only the one that they have been hunting, and the one that has been alluding them but also will have to face up to the government agency who is trying to destroy them and split them apart and put the blame on Angus.

I just loved all the factors that went into this story and the way in which we see how this team really has to learn to rely on each other when its get worse than anything they have ever faced until now. I just couldn't get enough of seeing everything that comes together on this one. I would say that this is borderline romantic suspense with romantic thriller, because while there is definitely a romance present, its not the focus of the story. But I did love seeing the way in which our couple: Angus and Nari really come together in this one here.

Overall I found Driven to be such a stunning read and I can't wait for the next one! 

 Consolation Prize is the 9th installment of the "Forbidden Men" series. This is also the last book of the series with a new couple (as book 10 is a rewrite of the male pov of book one), and I have been so curious to get Colton's book. Its so fascinating that he is an adult now haha I remember the earlier books and him being so young. But I really wanted this book so badly, especially after "Priceless" in seeing some of the chemistry between Colton and Julianna. And I have to say now that I am finished with Consolation Prize, this book was EVERYTHING! I absolutely can't believe that this author wrote another epic book in the series. But this book, might just might, be my favorite which is "Perfect Ten".

Consolation Prize begins with our hero, Colton and our heroine, Juli who are brought together at a wedding. Colton's brother Brandt, asks Colton to keep Julianna company as he feels like she is still in love with him and needs her distracted. So Colton, puts on his cocky sure mask and distracts Julianna, but what neither of them expects is for them to embrace the powerful chemistry between them which leads them into a forbidden relationship. For Julianna she has many reasons on why she shouldn't do anything with Colton, there is a age difference, a race divide and she is divorced with an crazy ex. But Colton is determined to show Julianna what they have is worth fighting for. Throughout their journey Julianna and Colton find a endearing deep love...

Consolation was one of the most beautiful romances that I have ever had a chance to read by Linda Kage. My heart was all over the place within this story. I was worried going into this one as some of the reviews I read talked about racism being implemented so I was nervous in how the author would showcase it but she did it SO WELL! In fact, its one of the best romances I have ever read that showcases both sides of racism and enjoyed seeing the way in which this author delicately handled it within the story. There is something about interracial romance that just works so well for me and the emotions and depths that this couple connect to each other with was so poignant. I just never wanted to let these two go!

And I have to say that COLTON was a HOOT! In fact, I think he is a good contender for the entertainment as Ten (Oren) is in the series and I honestly can't determine which one is more entertaining. There is such a journey that Colton has to go through with the trauma that he suffered as a child, and how he has to deal with how his family and friends treat him and how even how Julianna treats him in the beginning, just seeing the surface and not wanting to dig deeper into the man he has become. But seeing the redemption arc with Julianna and Colton, the way in which he faces up to his family about his truths and the manner in which he finds his own strength and capabilities was so empowering.

Overall I found Consolation Prize to be an endearing, laugh out loud intense feeling new adult romance that tugged at my heartstrings and delivered such a poignant message! 

 Rock Hard is the second book in the "Sinners on Tour" series and in this story we have Sed and Jessica's book here. We really see the truth depths to their past. I actually really had a blast with this one, I really think I am in the best frame of reading to really enjoy these books and I am glad that I didn't try picking them up years ago. I have really adjusted my reading preferences. This story definitely has more in the sex content so be warned of that. It is borderline erotic romance but I love the way in which this author writes her steam and balances it so well with a well penned story.

There is a sense of forbidden, angst, and second chance in this story. There are some misunderstandings between the hero and heroine so we get to see them work through those and seeing them being more mature a couple years later and willing to fight for each other. I wasn't a big fan of the "fling" of the relationship in the beginning, but it eventually wins in the end. I did love the fact that the heroine does have to work on winning her hero back. I really gravitate towards a pining heroine, and honestly, both of them pine for each other but in different ways.

Overall I found myself falling in love with these band members again, and most of all wanting to cheer this couple along as they work their way towards their HEA! 

 

Pure Surrender is the 10th installment in the "Pure Dark Ones" series. I was more than thrilled to pick this one up, although it took a bit longer than I expected to do so. I just love this cover and boy is it smokin' hot! This is the book where I feel like the Pure/Dark Ones get introduced to the Dragons so I was so fascinated in what we see build within this story. This definitely has some powerful angst and epic love feels to the story which I immediately gravitated towards.

Pure Surrender is a story that has multiple storylines, so I do think it's wise to at least read the previous book before jumping into this one here. But the main plot of the book, is our primary couple that we get introduced to: Aella and Cloud. Aella was once a Amazon warrior princess and our hero is a elite solider for the Pure/Dark Ones. There has been building tension between Aella and Cloud. Even though there is a powerful chemistry, they both have lost their past memories of each other and suffer headaches around each other. But when they are in a forced proximity situation with a Pure/Dark One scribe, they are both confronted with the truths of their past and the epic love they once shared but lost. But now they have a chance to rediscover their love, but will fate determine a different path for them?

Pure Surrender was such an intense and epic feeling romance. I just couldn't seem to get enough of this test of wills between Aella and Cloud. I was so curious to see how the truths would be revealed between these two. I also love the way that the author implemented the racial diversity within this story. In fact, she is one of the BEST authors in writing it in such a genuine flawless way. Now this story does have LOTS of flashbacks, so be prepared for that. This seems to be a common occurrence within Aja James novels so keep that in mind when reading this one. But I was really drawn into their backstory, and I do enjoy the way in which Aja James handles flashbacks, and I normally can't stand them.

What I really loved though is seeing Aella and Cloud recognize their connection, realize their past and FIGHT for each other and their love. We get to see the truths behind Cloud and what he is willing to sacrifice for Aella, is so precious. I have a feeling this won't be the last that we see of these delectable dragons though! I honestly can't wait to see more of them in future books *crossing fingers* they connect to her dragon series.

Overall, I found Pure Surrender to be a magnificent installment, that combined all the tragedy of the past with the hope of the future, and blends beautifully with the present in a satisfying delivery! This author can do no wrong in my book! So if you haven't read her yet...WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU WAITING FOR? READ HER NOW!

 

 

Warrior is the second book in the "Galactic Gladiators" series. This is where we get Thorin and Regan's story. This pairing was hinted at the end of the first book. So I was super thrilled to get to their book and I was so curious to see what Anna Hackett would do with this one and if we would see what happened with the other women being held prisoner as well. I immediately got sucked into this book and just couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved everything about this one. What I really love about Anna Hackett, is her books aren't super long but they feel full length novels even though they are only around 200 pages. Not saying it in the way that they drag, but that they deliver stories that have such depth and full delivery as you would expect from a 400 page novel.

What we get in Warrior is opposites attract and unrequited love or resisting love I guess haha So the gist of the story is that Regan is a scientist and doctor who was kidnapped and then sold and she was then rescued and brought into the fold of the Galen Gladiator troupe. There is one that she has a connectioin with, Thorin. But Thorin is much more than he claims to be and believes he is too rough and brutal for a soft gentle woman like Regan. But Regan is determined to win this stubborn gladiator for her own. I just love a pining heroine who is willing to fight for her man.

Warrior was such a brilliant read and honestly I just couldn't seem to get enough of this one here. I was so easily caught up into this one and their romance was so emotional at times and deeply resonated with this reader. Their story is so easy to fall in love with. At first Regan is recovering from being abused and kidnapped, but as she embraces her role with the team and builds her science lab and is able to help the crew, she also finds her own strength again and embrace her path toward Thorin and finding her cousin. And the true identity of Thorin is revealed, Regan and Thorin find a deep resonating love to fight for....

Overall I found Warrior to be a thrilled, edgy, packed with adventure filled romance that will tantalize and thrill you!