If You Need Me by Helena Hunting

4 Stars

I should be the one taking her to our small-town high school reunion. The prom king finally gets his chance with the valedictorian.
Except she hates me.

To the world, I’m a pro hockey player with a million dollar smile.
To Hemi, I’m the menace who (accidentally) sank her bike to the bottom of the lake.

I never thought I’d be able to right my wrongs until she took the team’s PR job.
I’d hoped I was making progress, winning her over—one geriatric polka party at a time.

Until I got drunk one night and made a mistake. A very big mistake.
Now the world thinks we’re both very much in love—except Hemi is absolutely in loathe.

To save our jobs and reputations, we have to convince all our friends, family, and bosses that our fake relationship is the real deal.

I’ll do anything to protect her, especially if it means I get to be the best boyfriend Hemi never expected.

I loved this one so much. I loved the give and take between Hemi and Dallas. The lies that turned into reality. Dallas’ anxiety was written well and was a good addition to the story. The one part that did irritate me was the third act break up. It was just like really are we doing this now…fine. Definitely added to the series.

Book 3 The Toronto Terror

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Lock’em Down by Gina Azzi

1 Star

I’m a carpe diem, live-in-the-moment, kind of woman. But waking up in Vegas with a rock on my finger and a gorgeous man in my bed? Well, now I’m redefining what it means to roll the dice…

Especially because my new husband is Tennessee Thunderbolts center, Leif Bang.

Yes, he has electric blue eyes that pierce me to my core. For sure, I’ve never seen forearms quite like his. And — another point for him — he makes me fold over with laughter.

But he’s also the man my mother was scheming to set me up with once I settled in Knoxville for my new job.

Determined to start my new life on my own terms, the last thing I need — or want — is a wickedly charming husband who’s never had a serious girlfriend, much less an impulsive wife.

It’s fine because I’m all about those annulment papers. Except, our moms are old friends, I’m new in town, and Leif is nothing like I expected.

Especially when he asks me to fake this marriage a little while longer.

Now, I’m forced to embrace my life’s motto and leave things up to chance…

Even if I’m gambling with my heart.

This book was literally the worst of all of the series. I stopped reading them cause I hated this one so much. It was a lot of things going on without any depth. Cami’s mom just pissed me off and it’s not resolved well. Cami was also a really annoying character. Just a huge miss for me.

Book 4 Bang Brothers

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If You Want Me by Helena Hunting

4 Stars

Hollis Hendrix. Cat Dad. Hockey Player. Tattooed grump.

Love? Longing? I’m familiar with them. All because of my dad’s best friend.

I know better than to lust after Hollis.

First, he’s a decade older than me.

Second, my dad would absolutely lose it—I’m forbidden from dating his teammates.

Third, I just did something I can’t undo and Hollis knows.

So if you’re looking for me, I’m the woman at the pancake house trying not to make it weird.

But when Hollis calls me Princess with gruff longing, I wonder if maybe I’m not so alone in my feelings.

I put everyone else first. Except this time, I’m going to go after exactly what I want. Him.

I enjoyed this age gap dad’s BFF. It helps that it’s a small gap cause of dad’s age. It played out nicely and in a reasonable way. The drama was all about dad not finding out about them. One of her better books.

Book 2 The Toronto Terror

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Whatever it Takes by Jillian West

4 Stars

Briar needs help. She knows what it's like to walk out of a dangerous situation and straight into the unknown. That's what brings her to Shadow Security—only a case of mistaken identity leads her to accept a job that was never actually intended for her.

Things look up when she catches the eye of one of the guys at work, but they take a downturn fast when she realizes he has no intention of staying faithful. Luckily, her handsome coworkers are there to help pick up the pieces, but everything compounds as the past catches up at the worst possible time.

Briar doesn't want to run again, but she has big secrets that her overbearing boss and mercenary coworkers know nothing about.

Shadow Security didn't earn its reputation as one of the most ruthless private security companies in the country for nothing, but will that be enough? Will they even want to protect her when they realize how high the stakes are, and who they're truly up against?

This was an amusing read. Briar is on the run and ends up working for a security company. The bosses want her but shouldn’t so they try to stay away from her until they can’t stay away. It just worked for me when they finally get together. I would have liked more fleshed out with her ex but it was still a good read.

Book 1 Mercenaries for Hire

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Pucking the Enemy by Melissa Huxley

3 Stars

They were the enemy, but now I’m their pregnant Omega…

College was meant to be fun, a time away to figure out who I was while attending university with my childhood best friend and avoiding an arranged marriage my parents tried to force upon me.

Then every plan I had fluttered away after one party, one choice to follow my desires.

A one-night stand turned into so much more when my heat kicked in, pulling Roman, Phillip, and Cormac down with me for a night of unexpected passion. They were everything my Omega heart could ever want, until I found out who they truly were…

No matter how deep the rivalry, it didn’t change the predicament I was in. I was pregnant, falling in love, and the cherry on top was their devotion and eagerness to be dads and care for me like I was the missing piece they never expected to find.

And yet, the perfect future I could have would be nothing without my best friend, loving me the only way he knew how.

I wanted to like this more but struggled with Hazel’s character. She started off so strong and then just kind of fizzled out and became super weak by the end. Speaking of the end. It was very abrupt and needed more to round out the HEA.

Book 2 Pucking Pregnant

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Hero She Craves by Anna Hackett

4 Stars

The last thing he expects on his ship is the off-limits woman he can’t stop thinking about—his best friend’s daughter.

After a tough military career as a Navy SEAL, and a member of a covert Ghost Ops team, Lorenzo “Ren” Santoro now calls a research ship home. The ocean, very few people, and solitude…it’s all he needs.

Then as a favor to his best friend, he agrees to take a research team to sea to test a top-secret Navy project. He’s shocked to discover his best friend’s daughter is one of the scientists. The beautiful Halle Bradshaw who Ren once kissed, who ignites a powerful craving inside him. She’s too young, too innocent, and too off-limits.

When strange things start happening to Halle, Ren suspects she’s in danger…and he’ll do anything to keep her safe.

Marine biologist Halle loves the ocean, her work…and Ren Santoro. Being aboard his ship, she finally has the chance to show the stubborn man how good they could be together.

But someone is targeting the highly classified project she’s working on. One she can’t let fall into enemy hands.

The only person she can trust is Ren. Forced to abandon their ship, they will face the danger of the sea and the wilds of a jungle-covered island, all while being hunted by a relentless enemy.

Ren and Halle will no longer be able to hide from their white-hot desire or their demons. She’s determined to convince him to take a chance on love…but first, they have to survive.

I loved Ren and Halle. The push these two needed to get their HEA. I loved the adventure and the romance. I wanted more with Halle’s dad since he was BFF with Ren. Fit in nicely with the other books in the series.

Book 3 Unbroken Heroes

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Packed in the Firehouse by Melissa Huxley

3.5 Stars

The fire started, and I never wanted it to go out…

The fire took everything from me. My home. My memories. The stability I fought tooth and nail for, giving my son the life he deserved.

But it was all gone, destroyed in a matter of minutes as I helplessly watched.

Escaping with our lives and nothing more, Luka and I headed for the shelter, determined to rest before starting over tomorrow, creating a new life from scratch once again. Three Alphas wouldn’t have it though, surrounding us and demanding we stay with them and the other firefighters at the station.

I was reluctant to say yes, and if I had been alone, I would have shot them down. But Luka deserved to feel safe after what we had been through.

And after all, it was only supposed to be for a few nights…

I didn’t expect to find love in the aftermath of the smoldering embers of my life, but would the traumas of my past douse the flames before they could fully ignite?

The guys were adorable and I loved them. Sunny, I had issues with. Her twin brother is never told what happened and he discovers on his own what she’s been going through. He is rightfully angry about it. Then he’s forgotten all over again. The story also went on way too long. Overall, enjoyed but small issues.

Book 1 Fire House Omega

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