Amy's 5 star ARC Review of I'm Only Here For The Beard (The Dixie Wardens Rejects Book 4) by Lani Lynn Vale

Sean is a man with needs—needs that a lot of women were ready and willing to fulfill. Yet, the only woman that he wants to fulfill them dumped him for another man. A man who’s a member of his MC and is someone he has to see every single day and twice on Sundays.

He’s bitter and angry. He’s definitely not in the right frame of mind when it comes to dealing with women. Which is unfortunate for his new partner, Naomi, a fresh-out-of-school and totally green paramedic. 

---

Naomi’s got enough problems on her plate. A brother who’s self-destructive and doesn’t care who he takes down with him. A man who she’s in love with but who doesn’t love her. A job that she hates because it is a constant reminder of what she can’t have.

Desperate to distance herself from her problems, she runs, taking the first job in her field that she finds willing to take on someone with so little experience.

The last thing she needs is a perpetually pissed off partner, especially when he sets her blood on fire.

But life doesn’t ask how much you can handle when it dishes out challenges. It just keeps piling them on until you’ve bested them or you’ve buckled under them.

---

Sean really doesn’t want to like his new partner, Naomi. He just wants to be left alone to live his life however he damn well pleases and without complications.

Naomi doesn’t care what he wants, she can’t be anything but herself. It isn’t long before she’s breaking down his walls and making him feel again. She’s trying to pull him closer and he’s pushing her away.

It’s not long before Sean sees the error of his ways.

It’s too bad, though, that by the time he realizes she’s the one, Naomi’s already gone.

With the release of another great read to a great series we have Sean and Naomi. I'm trying to keep track of all the interlacing of these characters but it's hard! 

Sean lost his love to a brother of the MC. Seeing them happy together kills him. Naomi only had eyes for PD but we know that was a lost cause. You do get to revisit him in this story. 

Thrown together after an accident with Naomi's brother Sean knows his partner is hiding something. The thoughts he has about her .. they need to get out of his head because it only leads to being burned. A man who gives his heart to a woman more than once and gets it's thrown back .. yeah he knows how this goes. 

Naomi left needing a new place to call home. PD is married and happy to say the least. The beast of a man she works with is surly and rigid. Perfect match for a whole lot of non feeling. 

This is a great read with characters who both have been through the wringer. Of course it can be read as a standalone but you should go back and pick up the others. Characters do appear from other series which again I encourage you to grab up through the summer for some good reading. 

Love the book and the characters as always. Thank you for the ARC!

Amy's 5 star ARC Review of The Way Back Home by Carmen Jenner

August Cotton shouldn’t be here. When a tragic accident calls him home to Magnolia Springs, this returned Veteran adds his parents to the list of things he’s lost in recent years, right along with his IED detection dog and his left leg. As the sole guardian of his four-year-old sister, August must rely on his Marine training in raising a tiny hellion who’s as stubborn as he is. But the Corps could never prepare him for this. Nor could they prepare him for Olivia Anders, a woman who’ll stop at nothing to get her way. 

As owner of Paws for Cause, Olivia is no stranger to the broken men and women who return home from war. She’s no stranger to broken dogs either. In fact, she’s made it her mission to pair the two and enrich both of their lives, but pairing ornery and aloof August Cotton will take some work. The last thing August wants is some pushy southern woman occupying his parents’ bed and breakfast and forcing him to open up about the hell he narrowly escaped, but that’s exactly what Olivia intends.

They complete one another, and yet they can’t stand to be in the same room. 

Can Olivia make this hardened Marine feel again and finally show his heart the way back home?

*** Intended for a mature 18+ audience only. This book may contain triggers for some readers.

5 stars

This is a must read for your summer list. What a beautiful and amazing story rolled into a wonderful learning experience and a book everyone needs to read and learn from. 

Paws For A Cause pairs broken men and women with unwanted and thrown away dogs. Good dogs that were tossed aside for no reason. (Truth -- over 3500 adoptable dogs are killed due to space in shelters daily - the majority are pit bull or bully type breeds due to the WRONGFUL stigma). Pairing men and women in need alongside a pup that needs the same is the mission for her. A mission that puts the mistreated and the forgotten together to have purpose once again. August Cotton is difficult -- finding the one for him is more than she bargained for. He is more broken that any man she has ever met. 

The marine August Cotton shouldn't be allowed to live -- the demons in his head are more than he can handle. When a tragedy back home calls him back; its just another tick on life that has sucked every ounce of happiness from his body. The loss he suffered deployed and now this ... all of this and he has been left behind to rot in this life. His little sister needs him -- she is all he has but she is just like him. Strong and stubborn -- they are like two trains colliding. Now Olivia is pushing his buttons and getting in his head. That is the last thing he needs. 

This book killed me -- the loss of life --- the PTSD -- the horror of what our men and women go through. This was a brilliant read, a must read. I loved this story. I loved everything about it. Please take the time and click this one up. Absolutely fantastic and heartbreaking and wonderful and fun and magnificent all rolled into one. Thank you for the ARC! I am HONORED to have read this story. 

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Dax (SouthSide Skulls MC #1) by Jessie Cooke

Dax Marshall is six foot four of hard muscle and raw animal magnetism. 
As president of the Southside Skulls Outlaw Biker Club, he’s had his share of women, but never one who meant more to him than his Harley or the brotherhood. 
That was before she walked into the Spirits Bar and told him her name—Angel.

Angel Brady went searching for something she would only find by hiding who she really was. 
But she found much more than she was looking for, and now her secret stands between her and what matters most.

Can Dax and Angel overcome the other dangers lurking in the shadows that threaten everything they live for? 
Secrets that even Angel never knew.

This is the first book in the Southside Skulls MC Series.
This is a Standalone Romance Novel, with HEA and No cliffhangers. 
Intended for Mature Readers.

Angela Davis needs to start a new life. Undercover and trying to infiltrate the Southside Skulls MC may pose more difficult than she thought. Especially since their president Dax is something to be reckoned with. The lines are blurring for Angel. 

Dax's father was betrayed by a man that he thought had his back. Growing up in the club life wasn't hard. His father was the best man he knew -- a hero in a son's eyes. The man who killed his father better watch his back. His time is limited and Dax is the owner of that time. Angel has changed his life though -- maybe she is the one -- maybe she will understand or maybe his path should be different. 

I didn't dislike this book, but I felt there could be more to the characters. I look forward to reading the next and think that this will be a good series as we continue to get releases. Thank you for the ARC and the chance to read.

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Gypsy's Chance by Shelley Springfield and Emily Minton

Gypsy Rose’s life is changed by one brutal act. 

She is forced to leave her home behind and head to the small town of Macon, Missouri. While there, she finds love and contentment with a family that isn’t her own. She is finally able to bury her past and look to the future with hope and excitement. 

After an unexpected tragedy hits, she is left to start over again.

When she meets Chance Ryan, he offers her a helping hand. She can't help from being skeptical, but trusting this supposed knight in shining armor seems like her only option. With nothing left to lose, she really has no other choice but to take what he offers. 

Can she take a chance on him giving her the happily ever after she always wanted?

Warning** This story includes violence against women, both physical and sexual. Not intended for readers under 18.

Gypsy's mother put her in harm's way in the worse way possible. A tragic life with a mother who didn't care and never bothered to worry about her daughter she leaves that world behind. Making a stop on her trek to safety she meets a couple who sees the hurt in her. Taking her under their wing she finally knows what its like to have someone care for her and love her. Yet silver linings never last -- or do they? Does tragedy have to strike twice before the good finally stays? 

Chance fell in love with her the first day he saw her. Can he protect her and can she learn to trust him after everything she has been through. Fighting for her might just be what he was meant to do. 

This was a decent read. I did like the characters, but the storyline was not as in depth as I wanted it to be. Thank you for the ARC and the chance to read. 

Amy's 4 star ARC Review of Tough Love by Max Henry

Some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried …

Eight years ago, Amelia Harris had her life ripped out from underneath her. Being the centre of the town gossip was hard enough, but when the boy who promised her forever left without so much as a goodbye, he took her ability to love with him.

After family tragedy brings Evan North back into her life, the secrets of her past have never felt as close as they do now. When the same scandal that tore them apart rears its ugly head, will history be doomed to repeat itself?

Amelia has found herself sitting in a hospital waiting room with her sister fighting for her life. A sister she hasn't known for years. The past broke them apart -- in fact it broke them into pieces. Being there now is unnerving to say the least but when an old flame shows up things start to get complicated and the past floats back in. Not only does the past float back in but it's staring her right in the face. How can you feel for someone so much and hate who they are from all at the same time? 

Evan left without a word so many years ago. Amelia knew things were not great in his house but until now she never knew how bad. Evan has more secrets that haunt him and confessing to the one girl he has loved his entire life might finally drive her completely away. Tragedy brings people back together but can also tear them further apart. 

Tough love focuses on a family that turned their backs on a horrific situation and left one child alone while hiding secrets from her. Second chances may be a good thing or a bad thing -- 

I did love the storyline, but I was not really thrilled with one particular incident of someone showing up from the past. I felt like there should have been "more" written about this event. I recommend clicking this up but get ready for a whirlwind of emotions. Thank you for the ARC -

Amy's 5 star ARC Review of Scarred (Ruthless Rebels MC, #3) by Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele

Whitton ‘Skinny’ Thorne – scarred skin only covers a beautiful soul.

Bitter with a capital B.

Life has been hell from the beginning when Whitton was burned as an infant, yet as much as he pushes me away I’m always coming back for more.

When I finally let go, he wants to let me in, how do I survive when we’ve both been scarred?

*Chelsea Camaron and Ryan Michele have teamed up to bring you an explosive new MC romance that will have you panting for more of the Ruthless Rebels. Hold on tight, it's going to be a wild ride full of action and suspense that these two authors are known for. Throw in two people who finally get their second chance, and things are about to get smoking hot.**

**This book contains violence, adult language, and sexual situations and is not intended for readers under the age of 18. This book is a work of fiction and is not meant to be an exact depiction of life in a motorcycle club but rather to entertain.*

This is my favorite of the series. I love Whitton Thorne and Roelyn Duprey. I love even more our female leads occupation! Go teachers! 

Childhood friends with Whitton and his twin brother TT; Roe took care of the boys as best as a child could helping them heal with friendship and love after their continued abuse from their mother. Friendship turns into love but years take them apart. 

At the funeral of the boys now men's foster parents, Roe has never forgotten either of her childhood friends but especially Whitton. However her heart can't take another break as Whitton destroyed it the first time leaving her to heal and piece herself back together. Whitton still hasn't moved past his younger years and the trauma he endured. He can't make a lifetime promise or even a day long promise. Keeping Roe away is best but is it possible? 

There are so many amazing things in this release. A storyline that is shattering, an appearance from an old friend from Ryan's books and so many fantastic secondary characters. This again is by far the best release yet. The cover is beautiful. Great read  Click it up! Thank you for the ARC .

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Mr. Dark by Pavan Kaur

Mr. Dark - I know what they say about me, I’m demanding, but that’s only because I know what I want and I don’t play games. I don’t do girlfriends; I walk away without a second glance…until I met her. I feel myself losing control around her, will she be the one to bring me to my knees? 
Ava - All I’ve ever wanted was to own a magazine. Doing this internship at Dark Media wasn’t my first choice. I do what I’m told until I meet him. He wants me, I can see it in his eyes, but he wants more than I can give. He unnerves me; he wants me to submit to him. 
How can I say no to him when my heart is saying something else? What if he breaks me? 
Will I be able to walk away with my heart still intact when this is all over?

Ava Banks is a smart woman and has taken on her own despite her past. Working for Kevin Dark is a nightmare and a dream all rolled into one. He's beautiful -- he oozes everything that Ava does not need to be thinking about. 

Kevin Dark is the man behind Dark Media. He is a wanted man in many ways but when Ava comes around he sees someone he wants as his and his only to train -- a sub. Mingling within the workplace is not something he should be doing but this woman needs to be at his mercy. Keeping the lines drawn poses a very difficult task. 

When the past catches up to Ava -- Mr. Dark needs to decide what he feels. The need to protect her is more than the need to keep her at arm's length. 

This storyline was decent. I did wish the characters were a tad bit more in depth. I ended up skimming over a lot of the "love" scenes and was more interested in the past coming to find Ava. If you like the Dom/Sub relationship that turns into something more than this is for you. 
Thank you for the ARC and the chance to read.

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Fury by Cat Porter

I still have the dreams, baby. Do you?
In mine, I plead and wait for your touch to come like it always did.
But it never does.
I strain against the iron, but you’re no longer there in the shadows. 
I’m alone.
One single shard of deep dark hope was enough back then.
Not now.
My claws, your fangs have sunk deep.
Follow my trail of blood,
my trail of anger, desolation.
Am I the same man?
Soul dark,
Heart dense,
Blood fierce,
Purpose raw.
Flame burning.
Unrelenting.
Brewed on vengeance,
laced with tenderness,
my fury for you.

Chained in brutal darkness, they fell in love. Free in the world, they were torn apart. Empires rise, empires fall, and still, she burns in his soul. But between them now runs a wild river of ambition, greed, and blood. So much blood. He’ll do anything for revenge, and she’ll do anything to protect him. Love and vengeance are the same kind of savage...

**This is for mature readers only! Graphic sexual situations and trigger warnings. Some situations may not be comfortable for all readers.

Fury is sort of a part of the Lock and Key series maybe? I don't know -- however this is a really tough read -- there are triggers all over the place in this book so be warned. 

This is Finger and Lenore's story. Fury is a very very dark read and again this is a definite MC of the bad kind ... I wouldn't say this is a love story but a story of survival. These two have absolute horrible beginnings. I mean you talk about the depths of hell. And how they survived is just an entire other issue in itself. 

I will tell you the story is deep and just drenched in emotion but not happy and rainbows. The most you get I would say is maybe the lighter portion of a tornadic shit storm laced with intertwining of the devil himself. Yup ... I felt like we were reliving the same horrible scene over and over again. 

Again I will say this is not a bad read but it's tough. It was a little too graphic for me as far as the scenes that were depicted BUT if you look solely at the writing of Cat she is extremely talented and you certainly do not want to see what's inside that head. 

I appreciate the chance to read -

Amy's 3.5 star ARC Review of Real Deal (Single Dads Club) by Piper Rayne

Red Flags…

Too loud.
Too clingy.
Too much make-up. 

I could go on and on. The other guys in the Single Dad’s Club would say I’m obsessed with finding them. But none of their kid’s mothers call a maximum-security prison home either, so their opinions mean shit.

Caterina Santora has her own list of red flags…

She’s too young.
She’s my client’s daughter.
She’s my five-year old’s camp counselor.

Even after repeating this mantra to myself every morning on the way to Lily’s summer camp, guess what happens the moment I see Cat? Yeah, that mantra turns into ride me, doggie style and reverse cowgirl. 

Every. Damn. Time.

The fact that she doesn’t remember me from six years before grates on me until I don’t have it in me to leave her alone any longer. I have to have her. But our lives are opposites in every way. In no way compatible.

When we’re together all the complications fade away and I have to keep reminding myself, even if I can have her— I can’t keep her.

Marcus is a single dad raising a daughter as best as he can. Lily is adventurous and spunky which unfortunately she gets from her mother. Marcus is all business and his daughter comes first. You figure a single dad will swoon you and make you want to find one for yourself but this character was lacking at times. I found the secondary characters more interesting -- Garrett. Very interesting to say the least. Dane got on my nerves and I wanted to slap the pages every time he came into the picture. 

Cat threw herself at Marcus when she was just 18. He embarrassed her and she has never forgotten it. Now they are face to face at the single parent camp for kids where she will be teaching art. Best thing to do -- act like you don't remember the man. 

The storyline is pretty as you figure -- not a lot of depth but I did keep turning the pages due to Garrett and another character name Ava and also Charlie. Things are happening there and these girls and that man kept my peaked.

This isn't a bad story I just wasn't over the top in love. However I will keep reading the series to see where the other characters take us. Thank you for the ARC 

Amy's 5 star ARC Review of Rush (The Beat And The Pulse #9) by Amity Cross

Ryan Harper used to love a girl named Jade Forsyth, until she chose someone else.
Walking away from the only woman he’s ever loved and clawing his way up from the bottom, he’s on the cusp of making it in the world of professional MMA. He’s spent his life being put down because of his working class roots, but now he’s made something out of himself. Something he can be proud of.
When a chance meeting on a Melbourne street sends his unrequited love spiralling into his life once more, he’ll do anything to show her there’s more to her—and life—than how much money is in her bank account, the clothes she wears, and how much overtime she puts in at work. Life is for living…and loving.

But when the rush wears off, will Jade see his feelings are real? Or is history destined to repeat itself?

From Amity Cross comes Rush, a sizzling new instalment in the Internationally best selling MMA fighter romance series, The Beat and The Pulse.

So this is glorious book 9 in The Beat series. These can be read as standalones so no fear if you are behind. However I recommend you click them all up. 

Jade Forsyth is a workaholic but today her boss has told her go home. Take a break -- have some fun. She doesn't even remember that word or how to. In fact her whole life she has been working. Working to pay for college, working to go flying up the corporate ladder. Her finance expects it. He has a certain type of woman he wants on his arm. Wanting to please him she is the perfect woman or at least is trying to be ... so why did she just find him in their bed with another woman? Shattered .. nowhere to go and no one to turn to -- her high society friends as they call themselves are not really her friends .. what now. 

Ryan Harper can't believe his eyes -- Jade standing alone on the sidewalk and looking lost? Where in the world did she come from. He was the bad boy who was always in the friend zone. Not good enough -- no enough money -- never going to happen back in the day and not likely now but leaving an old friend in need is not what Ryan is about. He just won't fall back into the Jade trap. He has too much on his plate waiting for his shot at the PROs. 

I LOVED this book -- This was not the fall head over heels in love and thank you hot dude and sassy girl who is put in her place. NOPE ... this is a fall from high society what you think is important and getting slapped into reality story and I LOVE IT. I wanted to beat the hell out of Jade myself. I don't belong on her side of the tracks so reading a character like her just keeps me turning the pages waiting for the fall and the I'm so stupid I should have seen then what I see now. YUP! 

Ryan is the most genuine and glorious character. He heart is huge -- his will is strong and yet he doesn't let the woman he can't forget use him. I also love that we get to hear from old friends .... yes ... yes we do! WHOOP WHOOP! If you can't tell I'm a huge fan of this series. I couldn't be more thrilled with this release. Great story line and exceptional read. 

Thank you for the ARC

Amy's 5 star ARC Review of Shameless by M Malone / Nana Malone

I am the thing that goes bump in the night. I am a liar, a protector...a killer...I am Noah Blake.

There is only one light in my darkness, one bright ray in the storm of my life. Lucia DeMarco. And I’ll do anything for her. Anything except show her who I really am...an assassin. Well, former assassin. I don’t really do that anymore...usually. 

It would be easier if she didn’t call me names. Asshole, control freak … shameless. It would also be easier if she didn’t look at me with those trusting gray eyes. If I didn’t dream about the perfect curve of her — never mind all that. The point is she’s digging into my world, my secrets, and it’s going to get her killed.

But first, we have another more immediate concern. Lucia is going on a date—With someone else...

And I’m not allowed to kill this one.

Shameless is book one in a trilogy. 

Losing her brother crushed Lucia. Her life was never and will never be the same. She remembers that night and in fact it lives in her dreams. If only she could see the man's face who took his life. She stayed put just as he told her -- and in the end he was gone. Hunting down and checking into who could have wanted him dead has put her in the cross hairs of some very dangerous people. Noah Blake is furious -- and yes he is her brothers best friend -- keeping her safe is his only job. Down to monitoring her dates, spying on her -- but never crossing the line he wants to cross so badly. Now that Lucia has put herself in the path of a hitman everything is about to change. 

Noah promised his best friend that he would watch over his sister. Keeping her safe has proven humorous but also dangerous. His emotions are on high and now she has dug herself into a hole that he has to get her out of. Running his security agency and keeping a tight watch on Lucia has him all over the place -- the boys are on his side but now things are changing. Lucia has open a door that should have been kept closed. 

There are some excellent secondary characters here and I am sure we will also get their story. This one ends in a HUGE cliffhanger -- get ready -- this is a really good read -- mystery -- murder -- humor -- alpha males all around -- sassy and independent woman -- yup -- great job! Thank you for the ARC -- the cover is sleek and on point as well ....