2.5 stars
I was looking forward to reading this one, but it really fell flat for me.

I lked the main characters Finn and Jos just fine, but man oh man was it downhill from there for me.

I mean, after a decade apart it was like nothing had happened in the past. At all. Like, really? Come on, there wasn't even an argument!!

Oh, and don't get me started on the winking lol. This might not bother anyone else, but everyone was winking at everyone else! All. The. Time!!

I loved the premise as I love cooking and baking shows (not going to lie, I was craving cake by the end) but the execution just wasn't there for me.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

I really enjoyed the first book in the Devil You Know series, and was excited to dive into book 2 which is Cecilia's story.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this story, I didn't as much.

It took a long while to get into Cecil and Ramsay's story, and while I thought it would speed and heat up, I found myself struggling to keep going with this installment.

I found myself not liking Ramsay at all - and I never say that about a man with a Scottish accent.

And I can't quite put my finger on what it was with Cecilia, but she irritated me a lot of the time.

It is probably just me and my weird thoughts and feelings though.

I loved the mystery part of the story, and was as blindsided as our lovelies when things were revealed.

So whilst this one missed the mark for me, I am looking forward to our lady Francesca's story.

ARC received for an honest review

Many moons ago, I fell in love with a book boyfriend named Jack F'n Carter.

Now, years down the track, I love his son, Chance F'n Carter.

I never knew I wanted his story until I knew it was happening.

I had so many questions.going in. Would Chance be like his father, or learn from Jack's mistakes? Would he find his one, or would he miss his chance - no pun intended.

This story was everything I could have wanted. Chance is all the man I hoped he would be, and more.

And Danika is the perfect woman for him. She is the Cassie to his Jack. She takes not crap, doesn't let him walk all over her.

Gah, I don't know how to put into words how much I loved them both.

It was beautiful and amazing and smile-inducing seeing Jack and his Kitten all these years later. They are relationship goals.

It was great seeing more baseball boys, but the character that I want to see a story for in the future is Chance's sister Jacey. She needs her story to be told one day.

Please make that happen Ms Sterling.

I am now impatiently awaiting Mac's story.

ARC received for an honest review

I have ready everything M. Robinson has released, and Alejandro Martinez has long been a favourite of her men.

When I heard that Cruz Martinez was getting as story, I could. not. wait.

The devil comes back from the dead in this next generation installment. Not going to lie, I started off hating El Diablo. I hated the way he treated Cruz so much.

As the story progressed, my heart hurt for Cruz and events that happen. How could it not when he is thrown into the role of the Devil.

I was all nerves and anxiousness as I turned each page. If you have read any of M Robinson's previous books, you will know why she is called the Queen of Angst. She has you on the edge of your seat the entire time you are reading.

I don't want to give too much away, as I feel that this is a story that you need to go in blind to feel the full effect.

It was great to see Alejandro and Lexi's family all grown up. The one thing that I didn't remember about El Diablo was how much older he was than Lexi, so I will say that when it is revealed how old he is in this story, I was like woah, really?? That's my terrible bookzheimer's for you.

Be prepared with a bottle or two of vodka when you are reading. You are going to need it@

There is great set up for the next book, and now I am impatiently waiting.

ARC received for an honest review

As a woman who has more than flirted with 40 - heck, I have flirted and waved as I rode right on past 40 - I enjoyed Blakely's tale.

From flirtation to serendipitous meeting, Blakely and Slade are just too cute. I couldn't help but smile as I was reading.

This was like a guide to finding yourself again. From work issues to moving on after divorce, Blakely is dealing with it all.

And Slade is just the guy to help her through it all, even when he is dealing with work complications of his own.

It is a good thing Slade is a cardiac surgeon, because he had my heart beating out of my chest. Palpitations I tell you!

There are some great secondary characters, and I feel that I need to get the story of Blakely's bestie.
And I need to find a Slade of my own.

I look forward to more stories like this from Ms Bromberg.

Copy received from author for an honest review

I adore Evie Mitchell, I adore all her works, but this one I just didn't like as much as others I have read.

We started off all hot and heavy, and then for me Anika and Mac's story kind of fell off the rails.

I didn't really feel any of the feels for our lovelies. In fact, the only person in the story I felt any real reaction to was Anika's brother, and it wasn't a good reaction. He is a turd that needs to get whacked with his pompousness. Writing this now, days later, I still hate him!

I can't quite pinpoint exactly what it was that I didn't really like with this one. I finished it and mostly I am oh yeah, I am done with this book now. And I hate that I felt like that this time.

I am looking forward to more of Ms Mitchell's work, and am sure this one is just an anomoly.

Audio ARC received for an honest review

Ms Bowen, you had me at rock star. Throw in a surprise (to him) bubber and the small town vibe and I am all in, baby!

I loved that Jonas wasn't coming off being a manwhore and all of a sudden stopping that for one woman. Was he in the past? Yeah, sure.

And Kira and Vivi.. oh my heart

ARC received for an honest review

It feels an absolute age since we have had a new story from CP Smith. However, it has been worth every single second of the wait to get Storm Damage.

You know what you are going to get with one of her stories. Alpha man. Strong woman. Insta-love (I am not a big fan of the insta-love, but it doesn't worry me with CP's stories as the stories are so well plotted out, it doesn't feel real quick).

Logan and Skylar's story is all that and a bag of chips. I was consumed from the minute I opened up this book until I regretfully put it down after the last word. Regretfully, as I didn't want it to end.

There is murder, mystery and mayhem as you read. You pretty well know who is doing stuff, but it is the journey of the why that takes you on a rollercoaster of a story. Just when you think things are sorted out, BAM, you turn the page and are again blown away.

Ms Smith gives us such well rounded out characters. Logan and Skylar are fighting to find their peace, and with the help of family and friends, maybe they can find it. Skylar's brothers and her best friends are amazing, and I neeeeeed Jamie's story to happen. Things are alluded to in this book so I hope we get her story in the futute.

I am a bit over the alpha-hole thing in my books, however Logan Storm is very much the exception to that rule for me at the moment. And that all comes down to Ms Smith's writing.

Now I need to move to Montana, find me a Logan (or heck, maybe I can find Dutton Ranch whilst I am there) and live happily every after!

ARC received for an honest review

Back in 2013, just a month or so after we started bloggig, I received an ARC of this mafia book titled Elite, by a new to me author, Rachel Van Dyken.

And from that moment I have been hooked on her Eagle Elite / mafia stories.

I have been through thick and thin with them all (hands off Chase, he is mine!), and now I am doing the same with Eagle Elite: The Next Generation.

I never thought I would love a series as much as I did the OG EE, however Ms Van Dyken is proving me wrong with the Mafia Royals.

Scandalous Prince is Breaker and Violet's story, and we are thrown right into the deep end with this one. I have a friend who had read this book a few days before me, and I was messaging them with updates as I was going. I was all woah, WTF and hang on a minute! This was edge of your seat, non-stop, adrenaline rush kind of reading.

Gah, I don't know how to put into words how much I loved this book. I only finished it last night, and I already want to read it again!

Just know that whatever you think is happening, you have no idea what is going to happen next.

I loved getting more of my man Chase and the rest of the original crew. I love the banter and snark and laughs between them all. And you know the saying "let's keep things in the family?" Well yeah, this lot really do like to keep things in the Family (in a non-incestuous way of course!)

It was also great seeing a few things from Ruthless Princess from another side (you don't need to have read RP but why would you not want to??).

I also loved the bit of set up we have for Ash's story. I CAN.NOT.WAIT for that one!

In the words of 2007Britney, Gimme more!

 

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

It's the most wonderful time of the year. It is time for all the Christmas stories to hit my Kindle.

I have enjoyed all of Debbie Mason's books that I have read so far, and add in my favourite season Christmas, and I am all in.

Mallory and Gabriel's is more about them finding their way after losses in their lives than a Christmas story. It was a lovely tale, but deeper that i was expecting - I was expecting a light and fluffy story. Not that this is a bad thing. Just unexepected.

It was full of relatable issues, family dramas, teen angst. I laughed at times, I got completely frustrated and angry with people as I was reading.

There is someone who steals every scene they are in. I can't wait for you to meet them.