ARC Review: Chance at Redemption by Samatha Harris

Chance at Redemption is the third book in the Madison Square series by Samatha Harris. This is the first book I have read by her, and I didn't have any problem understanding anything by not having read the previous books. I have to say I was intrigued after reading the blurb of this story and I had to read it despite the fact that I had seen some readers who had a strong dislike for the heroine. Unfortunately even just reading this book, I definitely see where they were coming from and she was what kept me from being able to really enjoy this one. 

Gwen had it all until her father cut her off. Broke and desperate, she is forced to get a job as a waitress where the new owner of the bar seems determined to make her life hell. Liam walked away from the obligation of his family to make his own way and since becoming the owner of a business he has experienced several roadblocks. So when his waitress injures herself and his sister hires Gwen, he knows that she is the last thing he needs. But when the tension between them becomes more than they can fight, they'll have to see if they can put their apparent differences aside and learn to embrace their new circumstances. 

Like I said, I had some issues with Gwen. Unfortunately I was just never able to really warm up to her. I had no preconceived notions not having read the previous books, but she just kind of rubbed me wrong from the get-go here. She was spoiled and didn't really care who got hurt or what she did as long as it got her what she wanted. I just have a hard time relating to that or finding any kind of sympathy for a person like that, even when they do try and change. Not that it is impossible, but it just didn't seem that genuine in Gwen's case. Liam was down to earth and genuine though, and I liked him a lot. I just wish that I had been able to like Gwen more since he was such a great guy and these two did have chemistry. 

Overall, Gwen made it hard to really feel invested in this story no matter how much I liked Liam. I also felt like the ending wasn't entirely what I had been hoping for. So while this one had some good moments, it just wasn't one I loved. I think that maybe I might like the previous books of the series better than this one, and I might give them a try. If this one sounds like a book you might like, I recommend giving it a shot. I think if you can get past Gwen's personality you will probably enjoy this one a lot more than I did.

**ARC Provided by Xpresso Book Tours**

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ARC Review: Clutch by Drew Elyse

This book did that thing where some books draw you in at first and then punch you in the face and kick you down the stairs in the second half. The first half (or so) of this book is a 4 star read. I was intrigued and happy I picked this one up. But then, the second half of the book rolls around and I was just like what the hell is this? I would only give the second half of the book about 2 stars. Between 2 and 4 is 3 so that's why I'm giving this a 3 star rating. If you read the whole book and walk away feeling like 'well that sucked' don't get mad at my rating because I'm telling you in advance why I'm giving this that rating.

Cami was born into the Savage Disciples MC. This is my first book about the club but it follows pretty closely the MC romance line. This is one of those MC clubs that has decided to go straight or whatever. That's not really my favorite thing but I get it. In any event, Cami left the MC fold to go out and make something of herself as a legit citizen. She is engaged to some straight arrow guy and has basically given up everything just so she can claim to be an upstanding member of society. Cami is a member of the country club wives society even though she is not yet married to her country club man. And did I mention that to survive the fake Stepford life she is living, Cami is a coke head who is staying high just to get by.

The thing I didn't really get about Cami is the why. Cami knew her fiance was cheating on her, she wasn't even sleeping with him. Cami was aware that her life sucked and aware that she was in for even more suck after she got married. So I had a difficult time understanding why Cami just sat back and watched her life be a crap show. And then Gauge comes waltzes into her fake perfect life and shakes the crap all up. Gauge is everything her blue blood fiance is not and Cami wants him, bad, right away. Gauge sees through Cami's excuses about being happy and challenges her to finally change her life. Cami, because of Gauge, finally breaks free and returns home. And from this point on, the book stops being a four star book and starts going in a totally different direction.

Cami gets annoying. She is so insistent that she will never be under anyone's control again that she makes stupid choices which put her in danger. Gauge is supposed to be a tough alpha but then he starts sort of acting like Cami is the one running things. And then Gauge has a .....situation which turns into a total hot mess that hunts the end of the book. I just, nothing about the second half of the book appealed to me. The book is well written, no problems there. Just after the 53% or so, I didn't want to read about these characters anymore.

**ARC provided by Ardent PRose**

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Feature and Giveaway: Viable Threat by Julie Rowe

Special Forces soldier and medic Walter River would give anything to snatch more than a few seconds of down time to see if he can rattle the no-nonsense and incredibly hot Dr. Lloyd he's protecting, but dodging explosions, snipers, and student radicals who've unleashed a lethal bio-engineered microorganism have made that almost impossible. Maybe he'll get a chance—if he can figure out how to keep them both alive.

CDC microbiologist Ava Lloyd races to find a cure for a bio-terrorism organism sweeping El Paso. The few stolen moments with her very hunky bodyguard River have been explosive, but no matter how alluring he is, she can't afford to get distracted. The clock is ticking, people are dying by the hundreds, and once this crisis is solved, they'll both be off on their next assignment, thousands of miles apart.

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ARC Review: Down & Dirty by Tracy Wolff

I have really loved books by Tracy Wolff in the past and I am always looking forward to seeing what she comes up with. I have to say though that Down & Dirty is not my favorite book of hers. While I did like some things about this one, I also had some issues with the story.

Emerson is already getting off to a rough start when she finds herself running late for her new job and gets sprayed with water by a driver hitting a puddle. She soon realizes that the driver is none other than star quarterback Hunter Browning. Hunter is immediately drawn to her and wants her, so he sets out to hire her as his real-estate agent to win her over and help save her job. But can he convince her to give them a shot and take her off the market?

I have to admit there were times here that I really struggled with Hunter's character. He was so arrogant and cocky at times. He thought he was God's gift to women, and couldn't understand if women weren't falling all over him with the drop of a hat. Emerson was better, being feisty and strong. These two had a lot of chemistry and were super hot together. That was definitely the one thing that I didn't have any issues with. Tracy Wolff knows how to write some steamy scenes, and Down & Dirty definitely delivered on that. I do feel like when it came to the story and the characters though that things were pretty surface deep and I would have liked more. 

Overall, this one was good but it wasn't everything I had been hoping for. While there were things I liked, it was just okay and I was left wanting more. If you are looking for something quick and sexy, you might give this one a shot.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Cheater's Regret by Rachel Van Dyken

Cheater's Regret is the second book in the Curious Liaisons series by Rachel Van Dyken. Fans of the first book in the series will recognize Austin and Thatch, but if you haven't read the first book this one can easily be read as a standalone. I am a huge fan of RVD's, but I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to cheaters. If anyone could pull it off though, I knew it was RVD and I ended up really liking this one. 

Austin Rogers thought that she had found the one that she could spend her life with, but then he cheated on her and dumped her as though she was the one in the wrong. Her new mission becomes revenge on Thatch Holloway for how he broke her heart. But when she needs help with a school project for her MBA, she knows that she needs help from Thatch as he is a plastic surgeon and will draw the interest she needs. As much as Austin is hurting, she also can't help but still want Thatch even though she knows that he will just break her heart again. Thatch had his reasons for doing what he did, knowing that it was hurt Austin and push her away from him forever. As much as he wishes things were different, he knows that he made the right choice when he still has a secret that would destroy not only Austin, but any chance they might have at a future together. 

I really liked these two, even though I was worried about whether or not I would like Thatch at first. Once we got to know him more though, it was clear that there was so much more to the story. Thatch and Austin were really good together, and I really felt their connection and chemistry. My heart broke for Austin and how hurt she was by everything, especially since she had no clue what was really going on. I just wanted everything to come out and for her to finally get some answers, but I knew that Thatch was really trying to protect her in his own way. I was just hoping that everything would work out in the end and that whatever was going on wouldn't destroy their chance at something together in the future.

Overall, this was one I couldn't put down and I read it in pretty much one sitting. I felt really connected to these characters and Rachel Van Dyken has a way of telling a story that is unlike anyone else. She always has me laughing out loud and is great at delivering all the feels as well. I know that some might be scared off my the title and the fact that there was cheating involved, but trust me when I say that this is so much more than that and worth taking the chance on.

**ARC Provided by Social Butterfly PR**

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