ARC received for an honest review

Holy sh!tballs Rachel Van Dyken! What did I just read??

This is RVD sitting at home as we read

I have been waiting for Maksim's story and wow, what a story it was

Right from the beginning I was "what the heck is going on here?"

This is a story that I feel that you need to go into quite blind, so I won't go into too much detail as you need to feel all the feels for yourself,

Izzy and Maksim wrecked me emotionally, and I am not afraid to say that I cried a bit reading this one.

And don't get me started on the plot twist! Say whaaaaat?? I know the next book is coming in December, but man I need to know what is happening there now!

Also, I never thought I would ever say this about my love Chase Abandonato, by my love, I don't think I like you at the moment. However I know that will pass lolol

I can't wait until the next Mafia Royals book.



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Copy received from author for an honest review

I love everything that I have read by Cat Johnson - I mean, come on, she had me at SEAL!

And when the singer meets the SEAL, you know I am on it like white on rice!

It is not really SEALy or rock starry, but that is fine. It is more about the mystery and our lovelies loving on each other

I loved seeing the GAPS guys, and I did like meeting the other military guys and Blessing, but didn't know what their stories were as I have not (yet)read the other books in the series.

Ms Johnson could write the chinese takeaway menu and I would read it hahah

I look forward to what she brings us next.

Yes! Dalton "Cage" Booker is the man I have been wanting to read about.

We've met him in the earlier books in the series. His a cocky, swears like a sailor, is hot tempered with a short fuse. And one hell of a player - on and off the ice.

And he has a knack of rubbing people up the wrong way, especially Jody LeGrange.

Enter Jody's sister Karen - and we know right from the start that there are going to be fireworks - but not always off the good kind.

I felt that spark between Cage and Karen right from the start, but Karen puts him firmly in the friend zone right from the start.

And from here we have a beautiful friendship that could be so much more.

I adored seeing the softer, sweeter side come out in Cage, and the more we got to know, the more I had to love him. My heart hurt for him the more I read.

Karen - gah at times I wanted to shake some sense into her for being such a stubborn ass! Seriously, what more does the man have to do to show you he's the real deal??? It made it hard for me to connect with her at times when she was so standoffish.

This book really is a slow burn. I mean SLOOOOOOOW. It was about 85% of the way through the book before we got to the sexy times. Way to get a girl worked up with all the UST flying around the room Ms Worrell!

And way to redeem Cage Booker to me!

I re-read Cage's Misconduct in one go and even though I had read it before, I had forgotten what a beautiful but at times heartbreaking story it was.

I can't wait to see what Ms Worrell brings us next.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review


If you mixed the movies 'You've Got Mail' with 'Must Love Dogs', It started With A Dog would be its baby.

This was a cute at times, but man oh man were the characters (besides the dogs) frustrating. I was fine as i was reading it, but the more I thought about it after the fact, the more I was scratching my head at them

One who doesn't mind throwing a mum and dad business under the bus to get what she wants in the world. One who leaves a job he loves to help his family who a) take advantage of his good heart and b) don't listen to a thing he says to help them. Walk away dude, walk away.

And then there is our leading lady's boss who I just wanted to throw my reader at his head. A horrible man who treats his staff so direspectfully ugh

Gah, I could go on. I am sure most people won't have these problems, but even now, days later as I write the review, they are bugging me.

I did like some somethings, but overall it was all a big meh to me.

But don't let this stop you from reading, these are my issues only

Copy received from Harlequin Australia for an honest review

This is my first Tricia Stringer read - how can I have missed her in my reading life before now? I like to read and support my Aussie authors as much as I can, but this author has slipped through the cracks. But I am rectifying that now,

Birds Of A Feather really does live up to that old adage that birds of a feather flock together..

Eve, Julia and Lucy should not fit as well as they do, but they have more in common than each of them thinks.

I enjoyed the small town coastal vibe of this town. I live in a small town myself, and understand the small town gossip, the cliques, and totally understand Eve's vibe to say eff it all to those she thought were her friends. Hermit life anyone?

I did find Lucy quite abrasive to begin with, but as she thaws throughout the story, so do my feelings about her.

And I can relate to Julia most of all of all these women.

What some may see as weaknesses in them, I see as their strengths, and I liked how they banded together, shared their problems, and each grew stronger for knowing the other women.

I did a mental fist pump as their stories all came to the close, as each of them achieved more for themselves than they ever thought the really wanted or needed.

Once I started reading this tale, I couldn't wait to turn the next page to find out what was going to happen next.to these characters I came to adore.

Mental note: pay attention when your sister says "you should read this author!".

I do look forward to reading more of Tricia Stringer in the future.


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ARC received from author for an honest review

I say it all the time, that Sawyer Bennett could write the chinese takeaway menu and I would read it.

However, to me, I think we should be getting to the end of the Arizona Vengeance series.

And we are getting there. And to be brutally honest, I was only wanting to read Riggs as a stepping stone to get to Baden, but I a so glad that I did read Riggs' story.

After the last couple of Vengeance books that were not favourites of mine, it was good to see Ms Bennett back up there with stories that, to me, did the guys justice.

I totally get Riggs' standoffishness and his title as the team loner, and I loved seeing him come back to life with the help of his sister and Veronica,

You remember her? The rich lady (and best friend) at Clarke's book shop. This really isn't a love at first sight - heck, not even like at first sight, but that was what this gunshy pair both needed.

And that ending - well, let's just say that I NEVER read bonus chapters/into to the next book at the end of books, yet this time I did, and I NEEEEEED Baden's book ASAP!



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Get thee to a book retailer and indulge in Riggs.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review - thank you

Donuts? Let me at it.

Well, I had at it, and while I liked Donut Fall in Love, that was it. So much so that a day later I have even forgotten the MC's names, so this one really didn't stick with me.

To me, and this is just me, it dragged. There was so much where it just plodded along, and it might be my mindset when reading, so I don't know if this is a problem with anyone else.

I did like that we have Asian main characters - I know there are getting to be more, but it was nice to see the diversity, as the world isn't just filled with really, really, ridiculously good looking white people.

I think my favourite character in the end was our leading man Ryan's dad - he is so much like so many older parents that even when he frustrated me, he was so relevant and made me laugh - note, please don't ever let my father near Twitter!!

Also, warning - do not read on an empty stomach, as there is lots of cakey goodness inside.



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ARC received from author for an honest review

I have said for many many years that blood does not make you family,and Ms Shalvis has given us a story that proves that old adage.

The first thing I thought of with the first chapters of this book were Jack and Annie from the movie speed, where Jack says "I have to warn you, I've heard relationships based on tense experiences never work. Okay. We'll have to base it on sex then."

Levi and Jane's story is sweet and emotional story about how the past and family and friends can affect people in the present.

I did get frustrated with Jane pushing everyone away when all they ever wanted to do was hold on to her and love her. I got it, I did, but sheesh I wanted to tell her that if she didn't stay with Levi, I was moving halfway around the world to claim him!

As much as they annoyed me (and Levi and Jane) at times, you can feel nothing but the love his family has for him, and how they wholly envelop Jane into their lives.

I enjoyed this first installment in this series, and I look forward to more in the future.


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