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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