Paperback purchased by myself.
Release Date: November 28th 2016
Publisher: Self-published
Description:
Jillian Lima’s whole world was destroyed in a span of a few hours. The same night her childhood love, Brock ‘the Beast’ Mitchell, broke her heart, her life was irrevocably altered by the hand of a stranger with a gun. It takes six years to slowly glue together the shattered pieces of her life, but Jillian is finally ready to stop existing in a past full of pain and regret. She takes a job at her father’s martial arts Academy and she’s going out on her first date since a failed relationship that was more yuck than yum. Jillian is determined to start living.
She just never expected Brock to be a part of her life again. But he’s firmly back in her life before she knows it, and not only is he older, he’s impossibly more handsome, more teasing and more everything. And when he sees Jillian, he’s no longer capable of thinking of her as the little girl who was his shadow growing up or the daughter of the man who gave him a second chance at life. He sees the woman who’d always been there for him, the one person who believed in him no matter what.
Brock knows she’s the one he should’ve made his, and what begins as a tentative friendship quickly turns to red-hot chemistry that sparks a flame that burns brighter than lust. Falling for Brock again risks more than her heart, because when the past sorrow-filled and guilt-ridden past resurfaces, and a web of lies threatens to rip them apart, the fallout could lay waste to everything they’ve fought to build together, and destroy the dreams of those they care most about.
My Opinion
I've loved this series since the first book released and I got an ARC. I fell in love with Cam and Avery and have eagerly anticipated the next release ever since. While I'm sad this series is over, I think it felt right for the ending to come.
Fire in You was an engaging read. Just like I've come to expect from J Lynn, her writing was full of humour and witty banter, as well as some more heavy and emotional stuff. The characters are well-rounded and there are also so cameos by past characters much to my delight.
Overall, another really enjoyable read. While none of the books better books 1-3 in my opinion, in their own right they are good romances.
4
ebook downloaded for free via Amazon.
Release Date: September 2016
Publisher: Self-published
Description:
Meg
It’s not easy to reinvent yourself, but my thirteen-year-old son and I were ready for a new start. Old Maggie had been a magnet for disaster, but I decided that New Meg was going to be suave, sophisticated… and blonde. I landed a dream job at the other end of New Zealand as PA to three rich directors who spoil me rotten, I found a beautiful new apartment on the waterfront, and I felt reborn.
Then I wrote an email to a friend describing in vivid detail what I wanted to do to the sexiest of the directors—involving melted chocolate and/or whipped cream—and mistakenly sent it to All Staff. It turns out that New Meg is pretty much just Old Maggie with different packaging. Some things never change.
Stratton
I’ve wanted Meg since she first walked into my office with her soft lips and sexy curves, but she wears another man’s ring, so I’ve steered well clear… until now. My mind’s been occupied anyway since I found my girlfriend, Natalie, in bed with another man. She’s desperate to have me back and won’t take no for an answer—so I’ve come up with a brilliant plan, to hire a fake fiancée for Christmas to prove to her that we’re done.
After sending her hot-as-hell email, Meg confessed the truth about her past, and it’s given me an idea. She’ll make an ideal fiancée, and I can protect her from the guy she’s running from. Sounds like the perfect plan, right? Her teenage son’s no problem because we get on great. Sharing her room? That’s more of a challenge, but I’ve always had excellent self-control.
Yeah, I know. I keep forgetting about the melted chocolate. What an idiot.
My Opinion
I really enjoyed this read. It was festive, but not traditionally so since its set in Auckland where it's summer.
This book was a hot read and I enjoyed the fake fiancée turned real trope. I thought the chemistry between Stratton and Meg was great, and their relationship built well. There was definitely a spark between them, but I also liked their friendship and banter.
As for the story, I liked it. I didn't feel Meg's past was resolved fully, it fizzled out a bit, but I enjoyed the emotional side of the book enough it didn't really bother me.
Overall, a good read. I'd definitely recommend.
4
ebook downloaded for free via Amazon.
Release Date: April 14th 2015
Publisher: Limitless Publishing LLC
Description:
Have you ever wished for a moment that you could pretend to live the life of someone else? Escape the harsh reality that your own is anything but perfect?
Quinn Tucker had always been forced to put her own needs last.
With an absent father and a mother who drowns herself daily in a bottle of Rum, there was no other option.
Jett Jameson was the distraction Quinn needed, even if it was just for one night.
A void filler, and a chance for a moment to allow herself to feel something other than emptiness.
He wasn’t what she expected.
Gentle.
Her life didn’t have room for a man like Jett.
Unpredictable.
But now it was too late, there was no turning back.
Desire.
Nothing would ever be the same…
My Opinion
If I'm honest, this isn't one of my favourites by this author. Usually I really enjoy her work, but for me this one fell a little flat.
The start of this book intrigued me, but the more I read the less engaged I became. I wanted to like it but everything moved too quickly for my liking and so I struggled to connect with the romance. Similarly, I kept expecting more to happen. The story felt like it was building to something bigger than what I got.
Saying that, overall it was a quick easy read. It didn't dig too deep and it isn't a bad book, I've just preferred her other series more.
3
ebook purchased by myself.
Release Date: December 13th 2016
Publisher: Self-published
Description:
Permanent
An indefinite, everlasting and imperishable stamp.
Like a tattoo
One that would forever be with you to remind you of a single moment in time, or a person that touched you in some way.
That was exactly what Jenny was to Sean.
And no matter how hard he tried, he could never forget the one girl who would forever have his heart.
A lifetime of friendship, shattered by one irreversible mistake.
A choice that Jenny would forever regret, but only because it pushed away the one person she truly loved.
A love so deep that they felt as if they were one.
Years passed, and still that love remained deep…stamped with an unfading ink.
When their paths cross after six years of longing, they are faced with a choice.
Forget the past and let go of the heartache…giving in to the temptation that was always there.
Or continue to torture themselves by avoiding what was always meant to be.
Tattooed Hearts of endless love…
Will it be enough or will the memories of their past create an unbreakable wedge between them.
My Opinion
This is definitely one of the better CA Harms books I've read. It held me from start to finish and I loved the driver aspect.
Tattooed Hearts is an emotional, but in general, a sweet second chance love story. Sean and Jenny are childhood friends who never got the chance to be more before they fell out of contact. This book is about their story six years later as they find each other again and begin to connect.
Sean was an all-round good guy. He was sweet, caring, protective, and just loveable. Maybe he was a little too perfect, but I couldn't help but like him. The fact he was a racer had me from the first time I saw the cover too.
As for Jenny she'd had her ups and downs in he life--more downs--but she put on a brave face for her son. I sympathised with her and rooted for her and Sean.
Overall, this is one of my favourite reads by this author. It's a standalone romance so I'd definitely say check it out.
4
eBook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 17th 2016
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Description:
IN HER DARKEST MOMENT
Being pushed in front of an oncoming subway train is just one of many "accidents" to have happened to weapons expert Karen Lombard in the last few years. Alone and scared she turns to the one man she can trust - and who saved her life once before ...
HE IS THE ONLY ONE SHE CAN TURN TO
Four years ago, Clint Hunter led the Special Forces unit that rescued Karen from her kidnapper's clutches. Clint, however, lost one of his men during the mission. He left the Navy SEALs soon after and is now living a life of seclusion on his parents' ranch in Montana, plagued by guilt and sorrow.
HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE HER
When Karen shows up at his doorstep and asks for help, Clint is forced to face the demons of his past once and for all. Even if it means risking everything ...
My Opinion
So ... this book had me at the cover. Then I read the blurb and it seemed to be ticking all the boxes--romance, suspense, SEALs, crazy ex-husband. It set up an intriguing plot and one I couldn't wait to get into.
Hunter's Risk was definitely a good story. The plot kept me engaged, and there was the right amount of suspense thrown in with the romance. I felt the chemistry between Clint and Karen, and thought things between them developed well. The twists the story takes kept me hooked and I couldn't put it down until I reached the end.
However, saying that, it wasn't perfect. To begin with I wasn't sure I'd even get to the end. While the plot is good, the book could definitely use another content edit to tighten it. There was also a lot of repetition, overused adverbs, a few continuity errors, and spelling/grammatical typos that hindered my reading at times. I felt I was told the same thing quite a few times and there were sections I skimmed--the main one being Shannon's relationship. I thought those characters could have had their own book and they detracted from Clint and Karen.
Similarly, I felt that another content edit would help in cutting the word count so that there would have been more room to play with the ending. It all felt rather abrupt and didn't really give me the closure I wanted. As well as that, there were questions I was left with, for example why did Clint never tell his family? I wanted to see their reaction.
Anyway, despite all of that, the plot was strong enough to carry the book in my opinion. It did engage me and keep me hooked, I just think it has even more potential and could be a great read if cleaned up a bit more.
4
