ARC Review: Wild Card by Karina Halle

I really enjoyed Wild Card by Karina Halle. It was a great start to her new series and I didn't want to put it down. I love this world that she has created, and the characters were fantastic. This book was different from what she normally writes, but it was so refreshing and just as well written. I love her books, and if you haven't read anything from her before this is a great one to start with! 

Wild Card is a second chance romance featuring Shane and Rachel. They met as kids and their friendship turned into more with their connection being undeniable. Shane promised Rachel that he would run away with her leaving their small town behind, but then he broke up with her leaving her broken and with no choice but to leave on her own. Now years later she has returned home to help her mother, and she quickly learns that while she thought she had moved on her heart never did. But while Shane had his reasons for doing what he did, can he convince Rachel that they belong together? 

I loved these two. They were perfect for one another and their connection was so strong. The love between them was obvious and my heart broke for all that they had been through at such a young age. They fit so well together and I loved getting to see their past and how things started as well as the present and how they were trying to put things back together. I also really loved the secondary characters here, and thought that they added so much to this story. 

Overall, this was a really great start to Karina's North Ridge series and I honestly can't wait to get to know Shane's brothers better. Mav and Fox were fantastic and I am really excited to see more of each of them. I did feel like there were a few things here that were a bit unresolved and kind of came up and were dropped and that is the only reason this wasn't a five star read for me. But it was still really good, and I am anxious for more in this world.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Redeeming the Texas Rancher by Charlene Sands

Falling out of love with Colby Ryan wasn't working...

There hasn't been a woman who's held Colby Ryan's heart for long, not since his teenage love went awry twelve years ago. Now, all of a sudden, Dakota Jennings, his longtime family friend and trusted wrangler on the Circle R ranch, is catching his eye. For Dakota’s sake, Colby won't ever give in to the temptation she poses.

Dakota has been secretly in love with Colby since the age of ten, but his sense of honor and the Texas code he lives by won’t allow her permanence in his heart. Up until this point, he’d never hinted at romance between them and yet, falling out of love with him just plain isn’t working.

Colby has always protected Dakota, and he isn’t about to stop now. If he gives in to his desire, she stands to lose far too much. Colby doesn’t deserve her love, he's already ruined one life, but the binds that tie them are strong. Can Dakota be the woman to redeem his broken soul?

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ARC Review: Absinthe by Winter Renshaw

After reading Absinthe by Winter Renshaw, I can't believe that this was the first book I have read of hers. I was originally drawn in by the blurb and the forbidden aspect of the story, but I couldn't put it down once I started. It was well written and captivating, and I will definitely be checking out more by Winter Renshaw.

Halston and Ford met through a dating app called Karma. As the users of the app chat (they can only contact one user at a time) they earn Karma points that unlock different features such as the ability to email or call one another. The app allows its users to find the exact type of relationship they are looking for without putting themselves at risk before they are ready. Ford and Halston weren't looking for anything serious, but the connection between them grew as they got to know each other as Kerouac and Absinthe. But when the summer ends and Halston begins her senior year, they are both shocked when she arrives in Ford's office as principal of her school and they discover that the best phone sex of their lives was each other. 

I loved that this wasn't your standard teacher/student forbidden romance story. This book was emotional and sexy, and Winter Renshaw created characters and a story that was deep and complex. I really enjoyed seeing the layers peeled back here as we got to know Ford and Halston and all that each of them had been through. I felt so connected to the characters and all that they had been through. The chemistry was off the charts, but it was so much more than that. These two connected in a way that neither of them ever could with anyone else, and it was so obvious that they were perfect for one another. 

Overall, I loved this story! I couldn't out this book down and read it in one sitting. Winter Renshaw has gained a new fan in me after Absinthe, and I can't wait to get more from her in the future as well as go back and read some of her previous books. I really love stories that begin through social media or communication were they haven't met in person, and this was unlike any that I have read before. I highly recommend this book and I think readers are going to love Ford and Halston as much as I did.

**ARC Provided by Ardent PRose**

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Guest Post with Author Alyson Chase and Giveaway

Alyson Chase writes historical romances that are just a bit…naughty. She is a former attorney, and thought that her flair for dramatic and sexy writing was seriously undervalued in her legal career. She also writes under the name Allyson Charles.

She lives in Northern California where the incredible weather and natural beauty so far outweigh the overcrowding and congested freeways. Also, the food in the Bay Area rocks.

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ARC Review: Swept Into Love by Melissa Foster

Swept Into Love is the fifth Ryders book by Melissa Foster, with these also being set in her Love in Bloom world. Each book is a standalone story though, so don't worry if you haven't read the previous books. I love these books so much, and it is so much fun to get to know each of the characters through the interconnected books and I recommend reading them in order though it isn't necessary. Each book is such a great read though and Melissa Foster never disappoints. 

Sally lost her husband years ago, leaving her to raise her son alone. Her rock has been her best friend Gage, and while there has been something simmering between them, they have never gone there. But with her son headed to college and Sally and Gage off to open a new youth center together, they find themselves unable to fight what has been growing between them. But could one night together be the start of their future together, or could it ruin their friendship altogether. 

I love Melissa's heroes, and Gage is one of my favorites yet! He definitely made me swoon with his sweetness and how sexy he was. He was kind and caring and really patient, there wasn't a single thing I didn't like about him. Sally had been through a lot and was afraid to have something with Gage because of her guilt of moving on. I understood that and I was glad that she had Gage. He was exactly what she needed, and these two were so great together. There was chemistry between them and you could feel the attraction. But their connection was what made them special, and you could see that it was such a foundation for a future because they had grown so close over a period of time. This wasn't something instant, and it had developed naturally making it seem that much more real and believable. 

Overall, another great read from Melissa Foster. She just seems to get better with each book she writes! I love these books so much and if you are a contemporary romance fan you need to be reading Melissa Foster's books. She is definitely the queen of contemporary and I can't recommend her books enough. If it has her name on it, it automatically gets added to my TBR list. Swept Into Love was fantastic and is definitely at the top of my list of favorites from her to date.

**ARC Provided by Tasty Book Tours**

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Feature: Love in the Friend Zone by Molly E. Lee

The only thing worse than not being able to tell your best friend you’re head over heels in love with him? Having to smile and nod when he enlists your help to ensnare the girl of his dreams.

Braylen didn’t even want to go to Lennon Pryor’s epic graduation-night party, but when Fynn begs her to be his “wingwoman,” she can’t deny him.

Talking up her BFF—how he’s magic behind a camera, with a killer sense of humor and eyelashes that frame the most gorgeous blue eyes in the history of forever—is easy. Supporting his efforts to woo someone so completely wrong for him? Not so much.

Fynn knows that grad night is his last shot before leaving for college to find true love. And thanks to Bray, he gets his chance with the beautiful Katy Evans. But over the course of the coolest party of their high school careers, he starts to see that perhaps what he really wants has been in front of him all along. Bray’s been his best friend since kindergarten, though, and he’d rather have her in his life as a friend than not at all.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one epic party, complete with every high-schoolers-gone-bad shenanigan, and two best friends whose sexual chemistry is off the charts…if only they’d succumb to it.

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ARC Review: Irresistible You by Kate Meader

Irresistible You is the first book of Kate Meader’s new sports romance series Chicago Rebels. I like sports romance so much more than actual sports, and I always end up comparing them to Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series because those are some of my absolute favorites. In a way this one reminded me of It Had to be You, that’s not a bad thing there were some of similarities but more than enough to make this a great book on its own. I really enjoy Kate Meader’s books and besides the beginning of the book, which was I little difficult for me to get into it was a really nice romance. I’m probably an oddity here but I don’t like the Cajun accent, for the exception of Gambit from X-Men. Remy, once you get past him acting like a child who isn’t getting his way, is a good ‘ole boy whose momma raised him right. He goes from acting like a petulant child to such a sweetie especially with how he treats Harper, I mean come one homemade muffalleta.

Harper Chase has spent most of her life trying to make her Dad proud; Clifford Chase was not an easy man to please. Upon his death he left his hockey team, the Chicago Rebels, to his three daughters with the stipulation that they have to co-own the team for a year and win the Stanley Cup or lose it. Harper and her sisters haven’t had the best relationship, but they agree to set aside their differences and run the team and try to be sisters as well as owners. Harper has worked from the bottom up trying to show her dad that she has what it takes to run the team, his lack of faith in her is devastating but she has a plan and even though it doesn’t seem like it now she knows what she’s doing. 

Remy DuPre is nicknamed Jinx because every team he has played for almost wins the Stanley Cup he gets traded and then they win. Remy is determined to win this year if only he hadn’t been traded to one of the worst team. As much as he hates it and the fact that he had to blackmailed Harper into trading him again before the cut off and he’ll play along with what she wants him to do, Remy can’t resist Harper. There is something about her that just calls to him he wants to see her with her hair down and relaxed. There is so much more going on that he doesn’t know about that Harper isn’t telling him, but Remy want to understand her. Harper has had experience getting involved with one of the players before and it didn’t end well Harper is afraid to let herself go down that road again even though everything feels right she’s scared of it at the same time.

Overall, once I got into the book and Remy stopped acting like a brat I really enjoyed this one. The sisters are different from each other and it really seems like this is going to be a great series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Royally Endowed by Emma Chase

I have loved this series from Emma Chase since the beginning. Each book is entertaining and she always knows how to deliver such sweet and sexy stories, while also bringing the perfect amount of humor as well. Royally Endowed was everything that I have come to know and love from Emma Chase, and this series is so good! 

Logan has been Ellie's bodyguard since her sister got together with Prince Nicholas of Wessco. She has had a crush on him ever since and though Logan knows it, she was young and he was focused on making something of himself. But when she finishes college and is more determined than ever, Logan finds it harder to stay away from her when she is the only one he wants.

I loved these two. Their world is anything but normal, yet their story to me seemed as though these were just two normal people. I loved that Logan was protective of Ellie and cared about her so much. I really believed that he would do anything for her. Ellie was smart and sweet and I thought that she was great for Logan. They had a great connection and strong chemistry and I really enjoyed their story. I loved that things developed naturally and that they didn't feel rushed or instant like so many stories do these days. It made it all seem so real, and was something I could really believe would happen. 

Overall, this book was really good and was right up there with the first in the series for me. It was a fun and sweet read, and Emma Chase definitely delivers here with Ellie and Logan. This book is a standalone story, but I have enjoyed each one in the series and recommend reading them all if you can. It is so much fun to see how things progress over the course of the series and to get to see familiar faces with each new book. Another great one from Emma Chase and I can't wait for more from her!

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: The Rules of Persuasion by Amity Hope

1) Take things slow (her rule)

2) Make it believable (his rule)

After tragedy hit her family, Meg Matthews officially crossed the line from “good girl” to “bad girl.” Motorcycle? Check. Graffiti? Check. The only thing Meg hadn’t planned on was blackmail. Too bad now a certain infuriating boy holds Meg’s future in his hands…

When Luke Prescott—star pitcher and town golden boy—catches Meg vandalizing the school, she’s given two choices: face the consequences or enter into a fake relationship with him to get his parents and his ex off his back.

But as Meg and Luke grow closer, they both realize they’ve been keeping secrets from each other. Their fake relationship might be doomed from the start—if they can’t learn to open up to the one person they never thought they’d trust.

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains late-night graffiti sessions, flirty baseball lessons, and a never-ending list of relationship rules just made to be broken.

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ARC Review: Legacy by L.P. Maxa

I really enjoyed the first couple of books in the Devil's Share series by L.P. Maxa, but I ended up not finishing the series as life just got in the way as did my ever growing TBR. When I saw Legacy coming out though, I knew I had to read it and after finishing it just made me want to start all over with the Devil's Share books and get caught up. I forgot just how much I enjoyed Maxa's writing and this captivating world she has created. 

The RiffRaff Records series is a spin-off series about the kids from the couples of the Devil's Share series. You do not need to read these in order, but it does help to know some of the backstory if you have read them. Legacy is a standalone story though and features Beau and Halen. They were close as kids and things only intensified as they got older and developed feelings for one another. Things were good until Beau left and broke her heart.

Beau and Halen were characters that I instantly loved and knew belonged together. Things between them weren't simple though, and despite their connection Beau made the decision to leave breaking Halen's heart as well as his own. It was heartbreaking to watch the pain they each felt, and while I saw what he was doing I still didn't agree with it. These two had such strong chemistry and so much history, and it was so clear that they were made for one another.

Overall, this book was emotional and I enjoyed it, even when it broke my heart. These two had such a special bond that is rare and unique and I loved their story from start to finish. It was great to see familiar faces from Devil's Share as well as their kids. These characters are so close to one another and I just love them all. If you haven't read anything by L.P. Maxa before, I highly recommend checking out the Devil's Share and the RiffRaff Records series. I can't wait to read more from Maxa and go back and read the ones I missed and I think readers will really enjoy these books too.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Taming the Lion by Kerry Adrienne

For Marco, heir to the lions' throne, seizing control of the Cave of Whispers from the bear clan is more than just a quest—it's fulfilling the legacy of his breed. But the latest crusade has left Marco gravely wounded in enemy territory and in the hands of Alicia, healer for the bears. An irresistibly sensuous adversary, Alicia presents a serious problem. She carries the scent of a mate.

Drawn to this dominant master of his den, Alicia knows her allegiance has been compromised. His brooding sexuality is testing her defenses, but falling in love with Marco means falling in league with a rival shifter. And turning her back on the bears in a time of war is a lethal move.

Two breeds united by destiny could inspire a peaceful new future for their opposing clans—or ignite the fiercest battle yet and destroy all of Deep Creek forever.

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Check out the Shifter Wars series:

  

“Go away.” His voice barely a whisper on the thick summer air. “I’ll kill you.”

Alicia gripped the scalpel. She could slide it across his neck in a flash, and it’d be over. No one would have to know. A mercy killing, of sorts. Though she’d be lying to herself to categorize it as such.

Her grandmother’s words echoed. Alicia was a healer, not a killer.

From the looks of the lion’s shirt, already dark, yet now wet with blood, he might not recover even with her best efforts to save him. The scent of gunpowder and burnt flesh peppered the blood-laden air. The lions had left him to die under a bush in bear territory, shot in the shoulder.

She shook her head and settled to the ground on her knees. “I’m not going anywhere.” The strength of her voice hid her fear, though he might sense it anyway. His scent was that of a strong and confident shifter, even in his current state.

He looked at her.

She blinked, trying to calm the adrenaline rush that shot through her. His eyes, mesmerizing and wide, lured her in, and she couldn’t turn away. Deep green or maybe brown or even both, they were a color she’d never seen and his gaze was magnetic. Her mouth went dry.

He was her sworn enemy. Sexy, but injured.

She glanced to the sky, but didn’t see Grandmother Hawk. Typical. Recently, she’d started leaving Alicia to figure out the moral decisions on her own, trusting that she would make the right one.

Part of the training.

“Shit.” The scalpel had warmed in her hands, and the sun glinted off the blade in a flash of silvery-white. What would her grandmother do? No doubt, she’d help the lion. Maybe she wouldn’t tell the bears, who she was loyal to, but she’d never let a lion die if she could heal him. She’d never intentionally let anyone die on her watch.

“War is for the weak minded,” she’d always said. Alicia was beginning to think she was right. Why couldn’t shifters all get along?

Because the damn lions wanted the bears’ territory. If they’d stayed in their own area, none of the bloodshed would’ve happened. Even though Alicia had heard the stories of the lions and bears and wolves sharing the cave, the actuality felt as foreign as items in an ancient history book. As remote as a fairy tale.

Fantasy.

“Go.” He turned away, but she could still see the strain on his face as he winced.

His black hair, falling to his shoulders, was damp and matted. How early in the battle had he been wounded? He was bound to be dehydrated.

“I’m here to help. Like it or not.” She slid the scalpel into its sheath and back into the pocket of her pack. Her earlier assessment was correct. The lion was no threat at the moment. He could barely move. The rise and fall of his chest showed his respirations were high and labored. Blood loss was nearing the severe level.

He needed help before his body went into shock.

She looked back toward the trail to make sure she was alone. If Griff or Derek found out about him, the lion wouldn’t need help anymore and her time as medic would be over.

She’d worry about that another day. She had a lion to save.

Copyright © Kerry Adrienne 2017

Kerry loves history and spends large amounts of time wondering about people who lived and walked on Earth in the past. She’s a mom to three daughters, six cats, and various small animals, including a panther chameleon. Her shoe horde will attest to her fine shopping skills.

In addition to writing, she’s a college instructor, artist, costumer, and editor. Her new love is her Mini Cooper Convertible, Sheldon, and they have already gone on many adventures.

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