Amy's 5 star ARC Review of Clam Jam by RC Boldt

 Clam Jam
“Clam Jam”
Definition: the female equivalent of a cock block.
Example: You’re chatting with a guy you’re interested in and your friend comes along and lays claim to him. 

Maggie
That’s my life—except it’s worse. My friend who keeps “jamming” me is my gay roommate and if that isn’t a W.T.F. moment, I’m not sure what is.

Fact: He went home with three—yes, three—of the guys I had been so sure were into me.
Fact: He’s really pissing me off. I mean, hello? I’m trying to get back in the saddle, but I’ll never manage to get a boyfriend before the age of fifty if he keeps this up.
Fact: Secretly, I wonder what it would be like if he weren’t gay. Why do all the hot, sweet, tender-hearted guys have to be gay?
Fact: My gay-dar needs a serious tune-up.

Ry
The day I interviewed for the room to rent, everything changed. I knew I had met “the girl”, except there was one small problem: she didn’t want anything to do with men. I recognized a top-notch force field when I saw one. She’d been burned badly and didn’t want to deal with a heterosexual guy as a roommate. I could’ve turned around and found another place to live, but I wanted to live there—with her.

So I had to go “undercover”. 

Fact: I’m in love with my roommate.
Fact: I’m a likely candidate for carpal tunnel surgery since all the action I’ve had for the past year has been my hand.
Fact: She’s going to hate me if I come clean now.
Fact: I’m not giving up. Which means, I’ll just have to continue to run defense until I figure out a way to get Maggie to see the “real” me. 

The me that loves her.

The me that would never do her wrong.

Until then, I’ll keep running off every guy who shows any interest. 

Until then, I’ll continue to Clam Jam.

I became a huge fan of RC’s after reading Out of Love (which if you have not read I encourage you to click up along with this release). This lady can write. 

Maggie and Ry – the greatest BFF gay but really not gay roommate busting up and Clam Jamming love story. You all know I like the dark and twisted – the MC romance with mayhem and loud Harleys but I also love the hilarious sassy and nothing can tear us apart friends story too.

This is just that – what is clam jamming – the same as cock blocking but in the female version. And Maggie is getting clam jammed every way she looks by her gay roommate. Not only is the man charming and a gift to women (if only he liked them) but he has managed to turn the heads of her supposed dates. The dates she chose to take a chance on and jump back in feet first after finding her fiance had “accidentally gotten his junk to fall into the mouth of another woman in their bed in their post apartment.” Okay if you don’t click this up after that paragraph then you just need to move on right now. 

In looking for a new roommate Maggie doesn’t want to live with a chick although her BFF Sarah is awesome spending time with a woman non stop isn’t appealing. She also can't live with a man knowing that she will fall into his bed on accident or even taking the chance so the perfect roommate – a gay man. Ry fits the bill of the best of the best in all the applications Maggie browses through but lawd help her as he is sex on a stick. Thank goodness he is gay and thank goodness there is no chances with him because she definitely would accidently have been falling in his bed if he wasn’t. And cue the hilarious events leading up to a explosive ending. 

The secondary characters Jack and Sarah are fantastic so I hope that we get a story on them or at least them together! HINT! HINT! --- I also would love nothing more to find out where Maggie and Ry are and where the roads have led them. Sarah has a line that made me spit my drink out --- in just giving a hint she bluntly asks Ry how it feels to ...... OMGEEE .. yes .. bwwwaaahhhh! Cut to the chase is what I say as well -- no need to beat around the bush. 

I found myself loving Ry which is incredibly odd for me – I love the alpha male hard core non full sentence stating man. More of one who wears loud boots and carries weapons so me falling in complete love with his characters was shocking. Ry has got to the be the most romantic character that I have read and actually been able to tolerate. LOVE IT – that means RC is a genius in my eyes. 
This is a funny and heartwarming story that you won't want to miss. Like I said after this one click up Out of Love --- you won't want to miss that one either. 

RC – thank you for the ARC! 

Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets. 

Amy's 5 star review of Reign -- Cash -- Wolf (Books 1 - 3 of The Henchmen MC) Jessica Gadziala

1 notorious 1%er
1 innocent trapped in an impossible situation
1 vicious crime lord
3 people who aren't who they appear to be
= one big (bloody) mess.

Reign is no stranger to the criminal underbelly and hard life, but when a random woman comes (literally) crashing into his life- learning things she has no business knowing, and bringing with her the weight of the city's biggest skin trader, the "hard life" starts to take on a whole new meaning.

* For possible triggers, please visit: http://www.jessicagadziala.com/triggers.html

The Henchmen return, this time with CASH as our leading man.

CASH

My life has been about three things- brotherhood, good times, and women. Easy. Nothing complicated. That was until Willow Swift came barging back into my life, face bloodied, banging at the gates of The Henchmen compound calling in a favor owed. Now a marker is a marker and I had to make good, but if there was one woman in the world I didn't need in my life, it was the hard-as-stone, hot-as-sin Willow Swift and whatever mysterious ghosts from her past that were haunting her present.

WILLOW

My life has been nothing but two things: hard and complicated. The last person I wanted in my business was the notorious love-em and leave-em Cash, but I needed help and he was the only one I could lean on without worrying about him finding out about my past. But I was starting to wonder if maybe he was his own kind of dangerous bent on tearing down some things I had long since learned were not possible for me- like falling for a guy I could not, ever, let see the real me.


While this can be read as a stand-alone, you will get more out of this book if you read "Reign" and "Monster" first. 


* For possible triggers, go here: http://www.jessicagadziala.com/triggers.html *

* The Henchmen return to finally give us Wolf & Janie’s story. *

He was just supposed to be saving her from herself… and the half dozen criminal enterprises that would want her blood when they realized what she had done.

What he hadn’t planned on was her invading every aspect of his life with her fiery temper and inability to take no for an answer. And when he finally got beneath her walls and found out why she had gotten herself into trouble in the first place, he knew what he needed to do.

He sure as hell didn’t think he would end up being the one who would need saving…


* This can be read as a stand-alone and has a HEA, but features characters from The Henchmen and Savages series.

** This is a DARK read. Anyone with triggers may want to avoid this title. For a list of possible triggers, follow this link:
http://www.jessicagadziala.com/triggers.html

Reign -- Cash -- Wolf (Books 1 - 3 of The Henchmen MC)
Jessica Gadziala
5 stars

So I just started this serious after clicking it up from Tracy's blog Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets. I was browsing around the MC genre and this was an older post for release that I had yet to read. I thought -- its free on Kindle Unlimited and I'm off for Christmas Break so why not. Holy geezus. What in the heck have I been missing. Sometimes as reviewers we get so involved in reading ARC's which we are forever grateful for mind you we miss other releases that are out there. And trust me I am so thankful for ARC's and the honor to read --- (good lord please no one put words in my mouth here). 

But anyway back to the series -- I'm through Wolf and heading into Repo. I don't know how this series can get any better. Jessica has outdone herself in her first three books. Mind you that you know of Repo in the first three books but he evolves through each one of course until it's time for his own story. 

Reign and Summer
Cash and Lo (Willow)
Wolf and Jstorm (Janie) 

I loved these couples. Each character has their past and demons that are darker than you can imagine but the demons hit home on the ladies side more so giving the story of a man who protects and values the worth of a woman. Don't get me wrong -- these men have their reasons for knowing the worth of a broken heart and what it takes to heal it or find redemption due to their own monsters they are hiding. But taking that woman and knowing she can she through your weaknesses and turn them into your strength is a reader's delight. 

The men of The Henchmen MC are not the only criminals in town. Lo runs her show at Halestorm and protects Janie. Summer was taken by the sick skin trader "V." Each story filled with surprise and heartache along with heartbreak turns this series into a definite keeper. I'm telling you that you won't believe the insanity in Reign -- Summer is strong -- Lo is a badass and Janie is a force to be reckoned with. 

Lo and Janies story mesh into each other when you read them. You don't necessarily need to reach each book as they do serve as standalones but I wouldn't recommend that. I would consume each one and continuing clicking them up until you get to the end. Also in each you follow the previous couple and where they are now. 

At the end of Wolf you are led to finally as you will want to know (perfect by the way Jessica in building Repo up as you did) Repo's story. There is also a friendship that you won't see coming and probably we won't understand until we hit the end of his book -- I'm heading in now. 

Don't pass this up -- Reign was just out this year if I'm not mistaken and I expect more great series from Jessica G! -- BY THE WAY -- I love these covers -- black and white and to the point -- I love the fact that we are seeing the men in what seems to be quiet murderous kind of way.

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Sins Of The Father (Heaven's Rejects MC) by Avelyn Paige

“The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity.” Ezekiel 18:20 

Absolute power corrupts absolutely; it was a harsh lesson that my father learned too late. Now we’re all going to burn for his mistakes.

As the prince of the Heaven’s Rejects MC, I had a life of luxury, a life I paid for with my father’s blood. Now the burden to get us out of this mess has fallen on my shoulders, it’s a job I never asked for, nor wanted, but I’ll rescue us all from the pits of the hell he cast us into.

I am the Devil’s son, but I’m not going down because of that bastard.

3.5

This is the backstory of Raze. I loved the first two releases in this series but throwing this out there I was confused. I felt like we should have had this book prior to the release of Angles and Ashes. 

I had to go back and recount book two in order to understand some of the things that were happening in this release. The book is short and intense leaving what I felt some things left unanswered maybe. I ended up with more questions than things that I wanted to know. I don’t plan on giving up on the series but this didn’t feel needed. Maybe down the road it will come to light of why this book was written but right now I just feel confused by it all! 

I felt like potentially the female characters could have been maybe a tad bit more brave or at least have some kind of backbone. I know Raze’s father was a ass hat but this just felt like complete over kill of the tormented woman in the 1 percenters life. His sister was also just too much. Open your eyes --- I don’t know I love strong female characters and I just didn’t feel like this book was needed. I appreciate the author and what she wanted to accomplish but I just couldn’t get my thoughts into this one. 

Love the series though and will keep reading for sure! 
Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets. 

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Redeemed by Brie Paisley

Jason
I’ve lived in total darkness for as long as I can remember. A dangerous place where pain, love, not even remorse was felt. My world was filled with blood and death until the day I met Karen. Little by little she showed me the way out of that darkness, into her light. She was everything I needed and craved. I learned to fight my darkness, wanted the good side of me to win, until old and new enemies threaten to take away everything and everyone I care about. Darkness is winning and I fear the only one that can redeem me is the one I’ll end up hurting more than I thought possible. 
Karen can save me, only if she beats the dark beast inside of me. 



Karen
Control is the one thing I understand the most. It’s the one thing I’ve depended on to keep my fragile heart safe. That was my life until Jason changed everything. He opened up a side of me I thought had disappeared long ago, and the control I needed for so long doesn’t seem so appealing. There’s a void, a hole left inside me now that Jason’s not by my side. I know his demons. I know his dark beast that dwells within him waiting to takeover completely. I’ve seen it, felt it, and when the monster breaks free, I fear for everyone I love. 
He thinks I can save him, but in the end, he’s the only one that can redeem himself. 

*Note: This is the final book of the Worshipped Series and is not intended to be read as standalones.*

Redeemed is the last in the Worshipped series and believe me I wanted to love it. However this series kind of fizzled out for me. I'm not sure why except for that I didn’t feel any connection to the characters and I wasn’t really concerned what had happened or was going to happen. 

Jason wasn’t the character I wanted him to be. Of course he was charming and mysterious and all that jazz but for me there was something missing. I really cant put my finger on it but it just didn’t click with me. I don’t know if it was the storyline of the monster hidden in the shadows wanting to be pulled out of his misery by the beautiful woman or what but it just didn’t hit home. 

Karen was a better character for me than Jason. Her turmoil was more interesting to me and how she was going to handle Jason and his issues. She was his weakness and the one thing that could get him killed. Knowing what he does and knowing the blood that lays on his hands is nothing .. she has seen his demons and is scared of what will happen in the future. 

I did love Julian and there is some drama with Frankie for sure. I also loved Zayla and Marcus along with Mason. Vincent is also one sick man but again I just couldn’t wrap my brain around this one. I tried! However if you loved this series then you will love this release and the how things pan out. 

There is a very intense chapter around 95 percent into the book when everything comes to a head so prepare. 

Thanks for the ARC and the chance to read. Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets. 

Amy's 5 star ARC Review of Trick by Laramie Briscoe

A forced sentence leads to a reckless passion…….

Hadley

When my husband walked out on me over a year ago, it devastated me. When the divorce papers came, it killed me. When we had to sell our house, it broke me. 

But then he moved in with his new flavor of the month and told our daughter his new woman wasn’t into children. That pissed me off.

Now Riley feels abandoned, and I can’t make it better; no matter how hard I try. I’m desperate to help her adjust to the loss of a male figure in her life. The companion program that matches adults up with children who have loneliness and abandonment issues is my last hope. 

The counselors tell me he’s doing community service hours, and I ask to sit in on his meetings with Riley. The minute I see him astride the matte black Harley, I know neither my nor Riley’s life will ever be the same again.

Trick

Community Service. Two words I should be thankful for, but I’m not. I resent the hours it’s away from building my business. The two previous kids I'd been paired up with didn’t work out because their mothers were more interested in getting in my bed. This next match with a little girl is my last hope. Unless this kid works out, I’m destined to serve time.

When they push her into the room wearing pink converse with a black dress, her crazy curls barely held back by the barrette in her hair, and studious glasses on her face, I can tell she’s scared - of new people, of change, of being pushed aside. Something inside of me breaks, and I want this girl to feel wanted again.

What I’m unprepared for is meeting her mom. The second our hands touch, there are fireworks, bright lights, and a picture of the future I could one day have. The future I’ve never allowed myself to wish for.

Community service becomes more than a chore, more than time I resent for being taken away from me. In the months that follow, I realize they’re just like me: they’ve been abandoned, left behind by the world, forgotten by those who should love them.

Thanks to the one last hope in both our lives - we found the light in the darkness we’d been searching for.

5 stars

So this is my first book by Laramie and I loved it. This is a second chance book. Not a second chance with the same couple but a second chance at life. Doing better – better choices – better confidence and better moments in time. I absolutely loved this story. Did I say that already? Because I loved this story. 

This is also a story of what you see with the eye should not be judged. What you feel with the heart AFTER getting to know someone is what you should see through your eyes. 

Hadley’s husband walked out on her – not only her but on their five year old daughter Riley. Feeling lost and alone not wanting that for her child she takes advantage of a Companion Program. The program matches people up with adults who help children. Children who have abandonment issues – Hadley doesn’t want Riley to ever feel unwanted and she certainly doesn’t want her daughter to grow up with the image and notions she has of men currently due to her piece of crap father. They had money, they had things .. but they never had love. That love went out the door when Hadley was born and he found her 15 year older husband banging his younger than her secretary. Asking for nothing she has made her life as good as she can for Riley on her own just like she wanted with nothing from HIM. 

Patrick or Trick as everyone knows him has done time. Now he has community service and if he screw this up he could find himself right back behind bars. The first two kids he was paired up with didn’t work out. Not because of the kids but because he refused advances from their single mothers. This has to work … and when the little girl with curls for days, her tutu and pink converse comes through the door and lays it out to me for being late something shifts … I know from this point on my life will never be the same. What I am also unprepared for his Riley’s mom …. She has sass and a spine and she certainly didn’t make advances … in fact it was the opposite. She is kind; willing to give me a chance but only for Riley .. 

My last hope could be my first hope. 

This was an exceptional read … the characters were amazing. Down to Riley and how she was described to Haley and her thoughts with Trick and his emotions. I will tell you that the character “G” I did think was going to do more than he did and the surprise is certainly from left field as we know in our stories there is also turmoil that leads to consequences and things we hope won't completely ruin everything that was worked for …. 

I read this all in one sitting and wished for more. I hope at some point we will get to revisit these characters in another release of some sort ..maybe friends with a different character .. something but I need to know more. I need to know where these characters are and how their lives are moving forward … maybe Riley’s story as she grows older!?!?!?! 

Thank you for the ARC! This was just fantastic and I love the cover. Perfect. 

Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets.

Amy's 4 star ARC Review of Dying Wish by Margaret McHeyzer

I have three major loves in my life: my family, my best friend Becky, and ballet. Elijah Turner is quickly becoming the fourth.

He's been around as long as I can remember. But now he's much more than just the annoying guy at school.

My life was working out perfectly...until it got turned upside down.

Ok so … this is going to be short because if you put too much into this review then you are going to know things that will spoil your read and we don’t do that. You should for sure get some tissues ready because look at the title and the cover. That alone should tell you that this is going to take a bit to read. 

This is not really lighthearted and you are going to need some time to breath in and out and let yourself settle before hammering through. 

The prologue is going to set the stage with an 18 year old girl named Alice who has her dreams set and is working to make them real. With her best friends in tow it looks like the world is roses and sunshine. And then …. Elijah, Alice and Becky … I also loved Alice’s parents. I can tell you they did take Becky in under their wing when her mother passed. 

A bond that cannot and could not be broken no matter life says – no matter how hard life tries. 

Get ready .. This is a young adult read and I recommend it. Thank you for the read and thank you for the beautiful story. 

Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets. 

Amy's 4 star Review of The Perfect Stranger (Los Santos Cartel #2) by Melissa Jane

The Devil is like a shadow. 
It follows. 
It waits. 
Gabriel Nicholas Santos. Born with a name belonging to saints, yet evil to the core. 
When he smiled, people would die. 
When he lost control, hell would open up its fiery gates. He was nothing more than a malevolent puppet to his elusive uncle. 
Together they were LOS SANTOS cartel, rulers of South America’s most feared and powerful drug empire. The price on their heads was high. The price of becoming one of them? Even higher. 
Both were my targets who knew the game well. While one kept me close, the other became a myth. But I would wait. I would watch. I would become just like them in order to finish them both. 
But it was never going to be that easy. Not now. Not with… her. 
Gabriel had his sights fixed on FBI Agent Nina Cross. Strong. Beautiful. And none-the-wiser of those who shadowed her every move. She held the answers he had killed so many for. She was the one thing stopping LOS SANTOS from taking full control. 
And I had one job. To both save and destroy Nina Cross. But that was only the beginning. 
Only when you cover your enemies with dirt are they truly gone.

This is the second in the Los Santos Cartel series from Melissa Jane. This book is written from Antonio’s point of view. You definitely find out what makes him tick in this release. It's also interesting to hear his thoughts and feelings on Nina. This is more of a flashback and how things began. 

Antonio’s past is on display in this release. You know exactly the road that was traveled in order for him to become the man hunting the cartel. You also understand why revenge runs through his veins like rapid fire. I can tell you that it was not chance that Nina and Antonio came to know each other. 

If you read the first you need to read this one because this release is much more detailed and as I was confused in to some of the events in the first release they all make sense now. 
This is the end to this series and you will certainly appreciate the ending as things are wrapped up. You will have all of your answers and then some. 

Hang on because you are about to have your eyes pushed wide open. 

Review to post to Ramblings From Beneath The Sheets. 

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Betrayed (The Worshipped Series #2) by Brie Paisley

He is darkness. He is everything that should make me run and never look back. I should run. I should leave and forget everything he makes me want and feel. I have tried running, only to be caught and brought back. Why does this man want me? Why does he want to claim everything I have? 
I just want to be free. I want and need my freedom from him. 
I need freedom from his darkness. 
I need freedom from his chains that bind me. 
I need freedom from falling for the man that I know is a monster. 

She is light. Everything that is good while I am consumed with darkness. She is my salvation from the monster that dwells inside of me. I can’t help but want her. I can’t help but need her. I have to consume her in every way possible. She is mine whether she wants to believe it or not. She wants her freedom from me. But what she doesn’t see, I am the very thing she wants and needs. 
Freedom to be herself. 
Freedom to let go of her pain. 
Freedom to fall for the one man that sets her body on fire. 
Body, mind, and soul I will claim what is mine

This is the second book in the series from a different point of view per say. We get both ends of the spectrum as this is Karen and Jason’s sides. This book starts immediately up where we left off in Worshipped. I have to say I felt at times I was reading the same events just in a different sequence. It was frustrating at times and I wanted things to move forward from the stand still. This book is darker – it holds a lot stomach turners meaning it rolls into secrets. 

This isn’t the last of the series so I don’t know how things are going to end. You definitely need to read Worshipped first and then head into this one. You do find out some interesting things about Jason and that his life was not all sunshine and happiness to say the least. He has done things that jade that past. 

Of course I'm not giving up on the series but I hope that we get some answers and we aren’t drug down the same road in the last book. I wanted more answers and I wanted to know more about some certain aspects of our characters. There wasn’t enough detail for me but that is just my opinion so again if you are reading the series click it up and let me know what you think. You do get a cliffy so hang tight.

Thank you for the ARC – Review to post to Ramblings from Beneath The Sheets.