Royal Hunt by Raven Storm

3 Stars

Eve was only trying to get out of horrible betrothal. At least, that's what she told herself when she snuck out onto the balcony during the royal feast, and had her wicked way with the first man she met.
How was she supposed to know that while that was going on, the royal family was being murdered just beyond the wall?
And the man she was with was a drunken, disgusting mess. There was no indication he was anyone at all of importance!
Yet keeping the new crown prince of the realm alive is only the beginning of her worries. With the murder of the royals came the fae; creatures with magick who descend every hundred years or so to force the humans underneath them to compete in death games. They call it the Royal Hunt.
Now it isn't just about saving the prince's life, but her own, and every human living in the kingdom.

I loved the concept and how things played out. However, it dragged and we still have book 2 to get through for the full story. The first half of the book was a solid 4 while the second half was more like a 2. I loved that she was trying to screw up her betrothal when she mistakenly picked one of the royals to be ruined. They had a lot of chemistry between them. When the fae came out and started the “games” is where the book lost me. It wasn’t explained well for me and it was a drag to read. I will read the rest to find out how things end but hopefully the second book will be better.

Book 1 Royal Fae

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Slide Tackled by Tonya Clark

3 Stars

After four years of losing herself in a relationship that was all about her ex, Devyn Hansley’s new beginning presents itself when her soccer pro, playboy brother invites her to move in with him.

Devyn’s plan to stay away from relationships is sidelined when she meets the team’s deaf goalkeeper, and her anti-dating rule flies quickly out the window.

Kasen Mickelson know the rules when it comes to dating her best-friends’s sister: stay far, far away. But the wager was her idea--and Devyn doesn’t seem like the type of woman who likes to lose.

And Kasen’s certainly not going to let her win.

I loved the first book in this series with the coach. This one was just meh. I didn’t really feel like there was a good connection between Devyn and Kasen. I just wanted more between them.  There could have been more angst with the him being deaf, the fact that it was BFF’s sister, or even something with his job.  

Book 1 Storm Series

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Fumbled by Alexa Martin

2 Stars

Single-mother Poppy Patterson moved across the country when she was sixteen and pregnant to find a new normal. After years of hard work, she's built a life she loves. It may include a job at a nightclub, weekend soccer games, and more stretch marks than she anticipated, but it's all hers, and nobody can take that away. Well, except for one person.
T.K. Moore, the starting wide receiver for the Denver Mustangs, dreamt his entire life about being in the NFL. His world is football, parties, and women. Maybe at one point he thought his future would play out with his high school sweetheart by his side, but Poppy is long gone and he's moved on.  
When Poppy and TK cross paths in the most unlikely of places, emotions they've suppressed for years come rushing back. But with all the secrets they never told each other lying between them, they'll need more than a dating playbook to help them navigate their relationship.

This book was fine until T.K. disappeared for weeks with no word to his kid. Like Poppy’s one request was to not hurt their kid and that’s exactly what he did.  When he comes back all is good with no mention of his disappearance. First missing out because you don’t know is fine but when you do know and you still leave you’re the dick.

Book 2 The Playbook

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Nanny by Lana Fergusen

3 Stars

Suddenly unemployed and on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans is left with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But the job market is terrible, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems like the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.
 
Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire, is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. He shocks her when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.
 
Cassie soon discovers that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her—or at least, her body. Given that he doesn’t remember her, Cassie is faced with what feels like an impossible situation. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility—losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

Cassie is too forgiving in this story. Aiden is a jerk and uses her but all is forgiven because she loves him. The writing was fine but a weak FMC just ruins a book for me.

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Axe Backwards by Daphne Elliot

3 Stars

Once in a while, after life gets you down, the universe throws you a bone. And if you’re really lucky, it comes in the form of a tattooed baby-wearing firefighter with piercing blue eyes and a heart of gold.

When Noah Hebert swung his axe and rescued me from a coffee shop bathroom, I had only a vague sense of who the tattooed lumberjack was. Turns out he’s more than broad shoulders and a thick beard. He’s a devoted single dad and my new neighbor.

Soon after, we find ourselves falling into an easy friendship. I help him with his fussy baby, and he helps me survive my ex-husband and little sister’s wedding. Despite my vow never to risk my heart again, my defenses quickly crumble. The sight of him rocking his sweet baby in those muscular, inked arms only makes matters worse. And when he defends me to my toxic family, the sparks of attraction between us catch fire.

I moved back here with a mission. Grow the food pantry and make our little town a better place. I can’t get mixed up with the grieving single dad, even if he likes to braid my hair and slow dance in the kitchen.

He moved across the country to escape the flames of his past and protect the little girl he now calls his own. But our town is sitting on a bed of secrets ready to ignite.

And when the heat causes my world to go up in smoke, I’m not sure it’s possible to sift through the rubble and find our happily ever after.

I loved the last one. This one was just ok. I didn’t really like Victoria and Noah together. It was very similar to the last one and that couple and drama was way better. I am still confused by Noah’s guilt over his friend’s death. Victoria needed to grow a backbone and kick him to the curb.

Book 4 Maine Lumberjacks

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Phantom by Greer Rivers

3 Stars

The man behind the mask won’t stop until she’s his.

Scarlett Day has been my obsession ever since I witnessed her dark side.

I was content with being her secret. Content with being her protector from afar… until a dangerous enemy sets his sights on her.

I will do anything to protect her. Even keep her against her will.

Now that she’s mine, I can’t let her go.

I’ve mastered the darkness. She tempts me with her light.

But when my mask is gone, will she fear the monster underneath?

It was fine. Sol doesn’t understand why Scarlett doesn’t trust him and messes everything up. The not trusting her continues throughout the story and nearly gets her killed because of this. Which is why the 3 stars.

Book 1 Tattered Curtain

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Inked Obsession by Carrie Ann Ryan

3 Stars

When men in uniform showed up on Eliza Wilder-Strong’s doorstep, she knew her life would be irrevocably altered. She not only lost her husband, but the future she’d carefully planned. A year later, she’s looking to start over—beginning with a solo healing vacation. Only she never expects to see a familiar, tempting face along the way.

Beckett Montgomery refuses to want his little sister’s best friend—especially because she’s a widow. Yet there’s no stopping the connection between them. As the temptation to give in intensifies, so do the reasons they shouldn’t stay together.

Painful ghosts from both of their pasts stand in their way and sometimes it’s the living that can haunt you when you’re not looking.

Eliza is dealing with a lot since the death of her husband. All the drama was a lot but Beckett is there to help her. He was amazing with her. The stuff with Eliza’s husband was interesting and is what the majority of the book is about.

Book 2 Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins

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