Tag Archive | 4 Stars

Stretching the Rules by B.A. Tortuga (4 Stars)

Dec21

Pack politics has kept them apart so far, but when their lives are in danger, love will come out ahead.

Jonah loves belonging to the pack. It’s a huge part of who he is. He is the beta for his pack and his pack counts on him. Falling in love with a cougar and coyote means he can’t live with them, but it doesn’t mean he can’t love them. Olivia and Hank were together, but with Jonah in the mix, they finally feel like they are a complete package. Olivia is a stripper who knows how to drive the guys crazy, but she’s also very strong and likes to be in control. Hank is the perfect sub who likes to make sure everybody is taken care of. I was glad we got perspectives from each of them.

As the three of them build their lives together outside of the pack, Jonah must continue to keep it a secret. However, one horrible night changes everything when a roving pack of hybrids tries to kill Olivia and Hank. Jonah has no choice but to request help from the pack.

Although this was a short story, it certainly wasn’t lacking in the steam department. These three people love each other with all of their hearts and certainly enjoy playing in the bedroom. The majority of the beginning of the story was a series of non-stop sex scenes, which was enjoyable, but fortunately, the story itself picks up toward the second half. A steamy paranormal story of love and devotion with a bit of action.
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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

Book Blurb

Where There’s Fire (Panopolis #2) by Cari Z. (4 Stars)

Nov17

Our super villains continue their adventures in this second and equally enjoyable story set in Panopolis.

Ed and Raul, the Mad Bombardier, are happy and in love, but their lives aren’t easy. Ed escaped prison with a new power – the ability to make somebody experience Ed’s emotions. This allows him to bring somebody to tears or experience extreme fear. Unfortunately, using the powers gives him horrible migraines. Raul is trying to teach Ed as much as possible about being a villain, but before he finishes his training, Raul is kidnapped. Now Ed has to do a special project for the evil Maggot in order to keep Raul from being killed.

I really like these characters and adore Ed. He’s a likable guy with a great voice for telling this story. The romance and relationship were lighter than I would have liked, but the action and Edward’s voice kept it interesting. The ending was solid, but it also left the door open for additional adventures which I will definitely read.

As in the last story, SuperTruther, the blogger, introduces the chapters with an interesting view on the world. I love the way this plot device was used to give us more background on current events in this world.

I really enjoyed this fun, action-packed adventure with my favorite villains from Panopolis.

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb

Where There’s Smoke (Panopolis #1) by Cari Z. (4 Stars)

Nov15

Very enjoyable story with super heroes, villains, corruption and an interesting narrator.

Edward Dinges moved to Panapolis to find purpose in his life. Until that happens, he works at the local bank and tries to make the most of his days. Raul Tremblay, aka “The Mad Bombardier”, has worked with explosives since he was a small child. Raul would have been killed while robbing the bank if Edward hadn’t helped him out. This is how they begin their relationship, but they have an uphill battle to keep it from coming to an early demise.

Edward was a sweet guy, and although he was bothered by Raul’s status as a villain, he also felt that Raul was a good guy deep down. Raul made sure nobody ever got hurt during his escapades. Raul spent his days robbing banks and hiring himself out to other villains to handle the explosives. Although I felt like I got to know the characters based on their actions, I would have liked more time with Edward and Raul actually talking to each other instead of just being told about it.

I really enjoyed the way every chapter opened with a broadcast by SuperTruther, the person who informed the city about the corruption taking place between the government and corporations.

A fun story and introduction into an interesting world with plenty of opportunity for a great series. I’m really looking forward to the next book, Where There’s Fire.

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Originally reviewed for The Romance Reviews. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb

Only Love (Only Love #1) by Garrett Leigh (4 Stars)

Nov10

War and violence didn’t destroy them, but it caused a lot of damage to their lives. Can these two people open their hearts to love and finally find peace and happiness?

Max suffers from serious seizures caused by an incident in his past. He’s now living down the street from his sister in a private cottage. His adorable dog helps him get by, and he’s a generally happy, albeit lonely, person. Jed Cooper is home from the war recovering from a serious injury. He is also trying to determine how to live with the permanent illness he acquired during the war. He’s extremely quiet and really doesn’t talk very much. He needs a place to live, but staying with his brother, who happens to be married to Max’s sister, isn’t working out. However, since him and Max seem to get along pretty well, they decide to become roommates.

This was not an easy story to read. Both of these guys suffered through some serious trauma. Through flashbacks, we got a pretty good idea of the details and they weren’t pleasant. It felt very realistic and had my heart breaking thinking about the people risking their lives for their countries every day. At the same time, neither of the guys expressed self-pity. They accepted their lives for what they were and made the most of it. There was plenty of family and friend drama, but it was also enjoyable to see the support that they provided to each other. I also liked watching Jed spend time with his nieces since he was such a great uncle.

There were two things I struggled with related to the story. Since Jed hardly talked, it was really hard to buy into his relationship with Max. There were barely any deep conversations between the two of them. This lead to the second issue of feeling like I was reading two separate stories where the characters sometimes spoke with each other.

This was a very touching story about a veteran trying to return to civilian life and enjoy the love of a good man.

Link to free missing scene: Awake and Alive (Only Love #1.5)

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Originally reviewed for Swept Away By Romance. Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Book Blurb