From Ashes by Elise Faber

 

4 Star

After Gabby was rescued she isn’t sure if they will let her stay if they knew her secret.  She tries to stay under the radar and away from others to protect them.  Mason has been widowed forever and hasn’t been interested in anyone since the death of his wife and son until Gabby.  Will they be able to work through their issues to find their happy ending?

This is a pretty good story.  The biggest issue I had was it says it is book 1 but it didn’t feel like book 1.  There were a lot of things that didn’t make sense because it was reference the original series this book is a spinoff of.  If I had read all of those it probably would have made more sense.  That goes for the world building as well.  I still have questions about the world and since I enjoyed this one I will be checking out the other series.  I also didn’t understand why Gabby felt her big bad dark secret was that bad.  It wasn’t and it didn’t help the story along to have this big bad attitude about it.  I enjoyed the relationship between Gabby and Mason.  They struggled with their pasts and tried to find a way to make their relationship work and work through their pain.  This was why a 4 star review.  I enjoyed how it was written and the struggle the two had to come together made it worth all the other issues.

Book 1 Phoenix: LexTal Chronicles

Bad Engagement by Elise Faber

 

3.5 Star

Kate McLeod is tired of everyone trying to set her up with men since she is the last McLeod unmarried.  When her mother tries to set her up and won’t take no for an answer she blurts out that she’s engaged.  With that statement she now needs to find a man to fill the role.  She’s lusted after Jaime as the hot vet now to get him to agree to be her fake fiancé.

I enjoyed this story though as I read it I could have sworn I’ve read this book before by a different author but it was just so similar.  There were parts that frustrated me like why fiancé and not boyfriend.  I liked Kate and Jaime but felt like there needed more backstory.  It is part of series and I haven’t read all of them so the backstory could be there I just haven’t read.  I am also confused why this is billionaire’s club as there was no billionaires.  I also felt the conflict between them was so contrived.  If she was that upset she should have confronted him instead of ignoring him.  It was very childish.  Overall I enjoyed the book just little things bothered me.

Book 10 Billionaire’s Club

Shielding Aspen by Susan Stoker

4 Star

Aspen wanted a man he went on a couple of dates with to leave her alone.  She has asked and justified why they won’t work but he won’t take no for an answer.  After yet another spurned advance she walks up to a man in a bar and kissed him.  Using this random man to deter the guy she ends up with another soldier.  However, this one is a good one.  Brain has never had much luck with women.  He was too smart and too awkward.  When a random woman kisses him in a bar, he is enthralled with her.  When their relationship continues to deepen the could have been was not happy and was determined to make her and everyone else’s life miserable.

I enjoyed this book for the most part.  I didn’t really feel like the bad guy was really a bad guy.  It was more relationship book than here is this big bad guy that they will need to be rescued from.  I really liked Aspen’s character.  She was struggling with who she was and whether she should stay in the Army.  Brain frustrated me.  He was very smart but very stupid man.  Aspen made him a better person.  The ending literally sets up the rest of the books in the series and now I have to wait an indeterminate time to get all of them.  I really need to stop reading that last couple of pages of her books to not torture me with the wait. 

Book 3 Delta Team Two

Before you Ghost by Helena Hunting and Debra Anastasia

 

3 Stars

Evan had the most interesting demise.  He was having the best make up sex with his girlfriend Sammi when he went flying off the cliff and died.  Sammi can’t really believe what happened as he’s still sitting next to her cracking jokes while the police are explaining the next couple of steps will be.  How is Sammi supposed to handle Evan being a ghost and another ghost out to get her?

This story had an interesting premise and it was written by two authors I enjoy reading.  The writing was good and there was a fair bit of humor.  You will need to suspend your mind a bit for the sex scenes between a living breathing person and a ghost.  Ultimately the book was ok but there isn’t really a happily ever after since Evan stays a ghost and Sammi stays alive.  They just get physical time together when a medium type person helps them out.

Storm Called by Susan Copperfield

 

3 Star

Patrick Laycal was working as a dishwasher when the Royals decide to eat there.  Patrick’s boss ropes him into cooking the foods for them and then fires him.  He finds a job almost immediately cooking for some elites.  He keeps coming home to Princess Jessica in his house.  He feeds her and she keeps coming back.  When food poisoning sweeps through Dallas, Patrick tracks down what is causing it to keep Jessica safe.  Jessica is determined to piss off all the members of congress by not being a baby factory to give them the male heir they want.  She wants Patrick and she will have him.

This is marked as book one but it came out well after the series was established and is a prequel.  I very much wanted to love this story as I love Jessica and Pat in Null and Void.  However, as I’ve said with other books by Susan Copperfield there are so many scenes that can be cut out and have a more cohesive and better book.  I don’t know if the author doesn’t want to cut or people are just being yes men to her but she needs to edit her books.  You don’t need to have every minute detail left in the book to have a good book.  You have to have a book that makes sense throughout.  I liked seeing how Jessica and Pat got together but it seemed like the only reason they get together was because he cooks for her and it would horrify her parents.  There didn’t seem like any other connection.  If you cut out all the drivel it was nice to see what lead to their marriage.

Book 1 A Royal States

Cold Flame by Susan Copperfield

 

3.5 Star

Rachel of the New York Royal family has run away from her life.  She’s tired of how her family treats her and wanting freedom from the expectations.  She sneaks into the Royal States of California as a refugee.  If she can make it through the probationary period she can become a citizen.  After almost five years of being there and moving every couple of months she gets a job at the archives working for the royals.  She meets her lusty prince she’s been craving for years.  Ethan has been wanting Rachel for years and has bided his time until he could have her.  When her parents put out a live bounty on her he makes his move to get and keep her.

There were so many parts of this book that could have been cut out and made for a better story.  There were pages upon pages of conversation about her pet rats that didn’t need to be in the story.  There was a lot of telling what happened and not showing.  Prime example was Rachel’s parents come to California to get her and end up dying to stop a wildfire.  Rachel never gets any closer or sees her parents because they do this with no witnesses.  Susan Copperfield also does a lot of insta.  She then plays it off as empaths and leechs who have to be with each other.  Like everyone seems to be empaths and leechs in these books.  It gets old that the couple never really have any meaningful conversations before they get together.  There are a lot of conversations of I’m obsessed with you let’s get married.  That doesn’t equal a good marriage.  The story just kind of fizzled out for me. 

Book 7 A Royal States

The Troubleshooter by Anna Hackett

 

4 Star

Gia has three very over protective brothers and their friend Saxon.  She gives her whole heart to those she cares about even when it shouldn’t be.  One of her friends Willow is in trouble and that trouble ends up falling on Gia.  When her brothers and Saxon found out what was going on they were determined to keep her safe.  Saxon will have to keep his hands to himself because he shouldn’t want his best friends little sister.  Gia has had a crush on him since she first met him.  The biggest problem is he’s very demanding and orders her to do what he wants.  She refuses to follow any orders or to listen to her brothers.  When they can no longer ignore the sparks what will they be able to work together to get the bad guys off Gia.

I really enjoyed this book.  The struggle between Gia and Saxon was fun to see.  I did get frustrated with Gia over her belief that Willow couldn’t be doing anything bad on purpose even though everything was pointing to that.  I really wish she had clicked to that sooner because by the time she did it was way later than she should have.  One of my favorite scenes in the book was Gia telling Saxon’s parents off.  Another one was Gia saving herself and letting the guys come in and basically be the clean-up.  Loved seeing team 52 in here as well.  Good addition to the series and I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.

Book 2 Norcross