Santa's Subpoena by Rebecca Zanetti

4 star

Anna is juggling her family, boyfriend, and her legal cases.  Not to mention her lifelong stalker seems to be incredibly close.  All of this while trying to pick the perfect gift for Aiden.  Will she survive the holidays?

This book wraps up a lot of questions I’ve had, and it was worth the wait.  This is a book that it helps if you’ve at least read the first three books but isn’t necessary.  It will be interesting to see how Anna and Aiden work everything out.  I am also waiting impatiently for Anna’s sister’s book.  Overall, a good addition to the series and I finally got some answers.

Book 4 Anna Albertini Files

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Eternally Complicated by Julia Kent

 

4 Star

After many miscarriages Josie is tentatively happy she's pregnant again.  She wants this one to stick and be able to finally have a kid with her husband.  While Josie is happy to be pregnant her friend Laura isn't so sure about being pregnant.  Laura, Mike, and Dylan are finally in a good place with their three kids.  Will everything work out for Josie and Laura?

This is the last book of the series and it wraps everything up nicely.  I started with the series when it first came out years ago and it was a joy to read how everyone's lives turn out.  I know with previous books I was really hoping for Josie to finally have a baby and was happy to see how this finally came out.  The only part that was jarring for me was Darla in this book.  I don't remember her being as obnoxious as she was.  Still if you've read all the books you will love this one.  It is one you do need to have read some of the previous books to understand everything.

Book 6 Her Billionaires

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Asterion by Alessa Thorn

 

3 Stars

Asterion owns and operates the Labyrinth where deals are made and fights are fought.  His word is law and whatever he wants he gets.  Ariadne is hired to take him out.  As an assassin she's never had a problem taking out a mark until Asterion.  There's something about him that just works for her.  She'll still try and take him out has the price is too good to pass up.  When she isn't successful will she be able to work with him to take out those who want him dead?

This one started out incredibly slow.  It did pick up and once it did I loved the story.  It is one of the subjects that I love reading.  Gods/myth books are some of the best and this one hit all the notes.  I very much wanted there to be a happy ending for both Ariadne and Asterion.  By the end of the book I wanted to read the next one and was very happy to find out there were several more books in the series to read.   

Book 1 The Court of the Underworld

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Neutral by Jaymin Eve

 

2 Star

Emmy was born a dweller and when a God kills her, her best friend brings her back as a Goddess.  She needs to find out what her gifts will be.  Cyrus is neutral to all issues and he’s the only one who can tell her what her gifts are, but the price may be too steep for her.

I wanted to like this story more than I did.  I enjoyed all the other books in the series, and this should have just given a different perspective, but I ended up not liking Cyrus which made me sad.  He was a gigantic ass to her, and she didn’t even pretend to play hard to get.  It really wasn’t anything new either so you can skip it without missing anything in the series.

Book 4.5 Curse of the Gods

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Mercenary Courage by Ruby Lionsdrake

 

4 Star

Viktor Mandrake was hired for a job that damaged his ship and lost him some crew.  When he gets to a station the plan is to fix the ship and catch some r and r with his love Ankari.  What he gets is Galactic Conglomeration Fleet trying to drum up some fake charges to arrest him.  He tries to distance himself from Ankari to protect her.  Instead, she insists on protecting him however she can.  Will they come up with a way to keep everyone safe?

I enjoyed seeing the original characters again in this book.  I loved seeing Ankari rescue Viktor throughout this story.  Using her brain and skills to find ways to circumvent Galactic Conglomeration Fleet was highly amusing.  It fit well with the series.  The one thing I will say is it makes more sense to read this if you’ve read the first book.  You don’t need to have read all the other books in the series but it helps.

Book 5 Mandrake Company

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When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting

 

4 Star

Avery is living the best life she can.  She’s running the family business with her sisters and living with her best friend Declan.  She needs to give a major presentation to her alumni to get more business for the Spark House.  Declan agreed to take her but flakes the day of.  Mad and running late Avery ends up in an accident.  Declan puts everything aside to take care of her since he feels responsible for her injuries.  While she is recovering Declan walks in on her in a compromising situation and offers to help her there too.  Feelings begin to grow until Declan gets scared.  Will he be able to make it up to Avery and win her back?

This was a good friends to lovers story.  I liked each of the characters in the story and I loved seeing Avery and Declan's relationship change.  This is not like some of her other books with a lot of humor.  It was much more serious book and I loved it for that.  It was very much a slow burn story.  I loved the friends who helped support Avery when Declan was an ass.  I don't know if this is planned to be a series but I would love to see some of the other characters get their happy.  In particular the Avery's sisters.  Here's hoping.

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The Viking Wolf by J.R. Rain and H.P. Mallory

 

2.5 Star

Jovi has the urge to move.  She randomly picks the town of Marshall Heights to settle into.  What she wasn’t expecting was to find Torsten Black. He keeps telling her she can’t be there and that’s it’s too dangerous but won’t explain why.  He wants her but wants her to be safe.  Will they find a way?

I was really digging this story until it was getting close to the end and there was no way the story was going to wrap up anytime soon.  It ends on a freaking cliff hanger.  If I had known before, I started I wouldn’t have started the story until they were all out.  It was an interesting concept, and I enjoyed the parts of the story that were there but not so much the cliffhanger ending. 

Book 1 Wolves of Valhalla

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Rebel Spell by Lisa Carlisle

 

3 Star

Nova is surprised to find she inherits her aunt’s property.  She plans on getting everything in order and then selling the place.  What she wasn’t expecting was the tenants being so loveable.  Diego is a handsome vampire working at a healing center, Sebastian wolf shifter Chef and Lucas is a half-dragon stripping for a living.  She finds it difficult with the idea of kicking them out.  She also has the bonus of being able to hang with her best friend Gianna, a half siren.  In addition to wanting to keep all these people near there is also concern about how her aunt really died.  What will she decide?

This is a very weak 3 star.  The book itself was very predictable quick read.  I enjoyed enough to finish the book but not enough to pick up the next one.  It just was very obvious how the book was going to turn out and why things happened the way that they did.  I know all books particularly romance have a very clear way the book is going to end but when I can sit and say exactly what is going to happen and why it’s not enjoyable.  If you are looking for a quick and light read this book will hit the mark.

Book 1 Salem Supernatural

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Broken by the Horde King by Zoey Draven

 

2.5 Stars

Nine years ago, the prince of my clan broke my heart.  Now he’s back and he wants my help.  Kiran of Rath Okkili is in need of a healer and Maeve fits the bill.  She was determined to never love him again, but will he be able to win her over.

Where I liked all of the other books in this series there were certain aspects of this book that I couldn’t get passed.  One of them being he knew how she felt about him for 9 years and knew they were supposed to be together, but he continued to sleep with other woman for 8 of the 9 years.  We are supposed to give him a pass for making out with HER SISTER because it was a youthful act and not serious. He never really did anything to redeem himself in my eyes to justify her forgiving him and being with him.  The other issue was Maeve was a doormat throughout the book and it got old fast.  She never really grew as a character.  I did love getting more background information as well as more on the planet.  The style and writing fit within the series.  I just found myself skimming this book way more then I should have.

Book 4 Horde Kings of Dakkar

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Pirate Captain’s Daughter by Ruby Lionsdrake

 

5 Star

Marat Azarov thinks he’s being noble when he rescues a slave girl from torture, but he finds out fast that’s not everything is as it looks.  To make up for screwing up Ying’s plans he sets out to help her get her revenge.  Will he be able to win her over?

I loved this story.  You get a lot of the backstory for both characters that enhanced the story.  You also start to like Striker way more in this book then in past books.  This surprised the hell out of me since book 1 he’s been an ass.  This book can be read as a standalone but is better read with all the other books.  I am kind of hoping Lionsdrake will write a book for Striker.

Book 6 Mandrake Company

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Hermes by Alessa Thorn

 

3 Star

Hermes has been rescued but he can’t remember a lot of things.  The only time he has clarity is when Selene is around.  He is attracted to her, but she isn’t interested.  She’s paying off a debt to Hades and even though she is attracted to him it is unethical to be with him.

I am finding this series to be a light quick read with aspects of the mythos the characters are named after and apparently this is what I am in the mood to read.  We’ve met Selene before, and it was interesting to get her backstory in this book.  I really liked the very arrogant obnoxious Hermes.  Even though you don’t think these two would work they do and I enjoyed this quick read.

Book 4 The Court of the Underworld

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The Ruins of Karzelek by Ruby Lionsdrake

 

4 Star

Successful treasure hunter Kalish has spent years finding lost treasures with her family until her father was kidnapped.  She needs to hire the Mandrake Company for their combat skills.  What she wasn’t expecting was intelligence officer Sedgwick Thomlin.  Sedwick is the weird one on the crew.  He knows several languages and he has several allergies the crew likes to pick on him for.  He is intrigued by Kalish but doesn’t think she would like him.  Can the Mandrake company help Kalish’s family, and can Sedgwick get passed his own thoughts to find his happy?

Sedwick was a cutie.  He was the weird guy who doesn’t think he is good enough for the girl and it was just so cute.  I loved the fact that Sedwick and the captain knew something else was going on and they went above and beyond to help of Kalish.  The only part I wasn’t a huge fan of was by the end Sedwick has left the Mandrake Company and won’t be in the other books.

Book 4 Mandrake Company

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Holiday Rescue by Rebecca Zanetti

 

3 Star

Quint Albertini has spent his life being a smokejumper and in search and rescue.  He isn’t interested in a long-term relationship as he doesn’t think anyone would understand what he does and why he does it.  When he is called out to rescue a lost/injured hiker his careful plans of singlehood go to the wayside.  Heather Davis was just trying to spread her grandmother’s ashes when a winter storm came in faster than expected.  The attraction is instant, but not wanted.

I enjoyed seeing Quint get his happy ending but there were some issues.  One of which there wasn’t enough time to build character development.  You have to believe in insta love to believe the story as is.  The other issue I had was the way it ended.  Heather has a stalker.  The way it played out was just weird and not necessarily believable.  I enjoyed seeing another Albertini find love and the grandma playing matchmaker.  I look forward to the next book to find out if all my questions will be answered.

Book 3.5 Anna Albertini Files

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Hacking Mr. CEO by Anna Hackett

 

4 Star

Remi may hack but never crosses the line until her Foster Mother gets sick.  They need an infusion of cash to pay for her treatments.  She will do anything to find the cash to save her mother.  She accepts a job to hack a system which she isn’t happy about but if it helps her mother, she’s all in.  Hacking billionaire Rivera is tantalizing game of cat and mouse and when he catches her what will he do with her?

I liked these two.  It is understandable why she would want to go on the dark web to find high paying jobs to help her mom, but all her problems start here.  Her family wouldn’t be in danger if she hadn’t taken the job.  Rivera was amazing.  He had been used in the past and he deserved his happy ending.  This book fit in with the other books and it builds to show what is going to happen with some of her other series.  Can’t wait to see what comes out next.

Book 3 Billionaire Heists

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Boldly by Elise Faber

 

4 Star

Oliver knows his hockey career is done after a bad hit from a former team mate.  He lost his leg from an infection and he's trying to get his life back on track.  When he is offered a job with the Breakers he isn't sure if it is out of pity or because they actually need him.  One of the conditions of employment is he needs to see a therapist to get over his injury.  The problem is he is sent to Hazel who he's wanted for years but she was engaged.  Now that she isn't with her fiancé he wants her but it would be unethical for her to date a patient.  He is determined to prove to her that he is ok with his life change and that he is the man for her.

When I finished the first book in the Breakers series and read the end, I could not wait for this book to come out.  I literally gasped at the ending.  With this book I was looking forward to finding out how Oliver would get his happy ending and with who.  One of the things I loved about this book was the slow burn to get to the HEA.  Oliver found out that Hazel had never been romanced and decided he would romance the hell out of her.  I love that all his plans went out the window because she kept him on his toes.  When her ex confronted them I really loved what happened to him as he deserved everything that was coming to him.  Definitely a good read and fit with in the series.  This one does benefit from reading the first book but isn't necessary.  Can't wait for the next one.

Book 2 Breakers

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Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant

 

3 Star

Ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East is coming home for the holidays to help his parents out of the financial issues they find themselves in.  When he gets home, he finds out they had some cattle rustled and they caught one of them, a minor who is being raised by a sister.  Abby is trying everything to keep her brothers with her but when one of them is caught rustling cattle she isn’t sure she can pay back what was stolen.  When Clayton offers to let her brother work off the cost of the cattle, she is incredibly relieved.  The problem the men who worked with her brother don’t believe he will keep his mouth shut.  Will Clayton keep them safe?

This was a quick, light, easy romance to read.  You know that Abby is going to end up Clayton.  Probably the biggest reason I didn’t love this book was it was too mushy.  Abby is described as a strong woman who has had to step up into mom role, but she doesn’t read that way.  She comes across as very passive.  It was a fine read just not one of my favorite books by Donna Grant.

Book 1 Heart of Texas

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