ARC Review: The Purest Hook by Scarlett Cole

The Purest Hook is the third book in the Second Circle Tattoos series from Scarlett Cole. This is the first book that I have read from Scarlett Cole, but I have heard such great things about this series that I jumped at the chance to read this one. This book is a standalone story, and I didn't feel lost coming into a series already in progress, though the characters are interconnected. I have to say though that this book had a lot of things that didn't work for me personally, and while I wanted to love this one I just didn't. 

With her abusive past, Pixie has found a new family at the Second Circle Tattoo shop. She avoids men and works hard. Rocker Dred Zander is the type of man she usually avoids at all costs, but she can't help but be drawn to him. Dred is determined to win Pixie over, and the more time they spend together the more he wears her down. Soon they are both wanting more, but with his touring and career and her past, they know that time together will be few and far between. So when both of their pasts reappear and threaten everything they are building together Pixie and Dred will have to fight harder than ever for something that neither of them ever expected. 

I really wanted to love Pixie and Dred's story. I liked both of them, but I didn't feel as though I was invested in them. They were okay characters, I just couldn't connect to them even though I did like them. Their relationship was a slow burn and I kept waiting for things to develop and once they finally did there was so much else going on that their relationship just got sort of lost in everything else. There was just so much drama and it was all so over the top that I didn't find this story believable at all. I thought that Pixie and Dred had chemistry, but there was just so much else happening that I never really saw it happen naturally and everything felt rushed and forced. 

Overall, this one was a disappointment for me. The focus here was on everything else but these two, and it really felt as though the romance between them was a subplot that just got lost in the shuffle. I found myself skimming and wanting to just get to the end because I just felt no emotion or had no interest in Pixie and Dred because of everything else. I might go back and read the previous books at some point because people seem to love them. I am hoping that maybe those two books are different than this one. But this might be a case of this book just not working for me, and if you have enjoyed the series so far or think that this might be something you would like I recommend giving it a shot. For me personally, this one didn't work.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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May Brazen Release Blast with Jennifer Bonds, Megan Erickson and Sara Jane Stone

I know how much you love a good binge! Forget those TV shows that have left you hanging for months and grab the latest releases from Brazen. These final titles complete each series which means you get commercial free binges that'll keep you entertained all month long.

ARC Review: Trust Me by Margaret Watson

I jumped on this bandwagon a little late. This is book four of Margaret Watson’s Donovan Family series it can be read as a stand-alone just fine, but now I want to go back and read the other three. This is my first Margaret Watson book and I like her style so far. It was very engaging and well-paced the characters are relatable and likeable. The sexual tension was delectable and even after the H/h had sex the tension was still there, probably because the situation it happened in. I loved the story the premise and the execution of the story was very well done.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, preferably after weeks of psyching out your prey and making him extremely paranoid. Raine Taylor has everything planned out to avenge the death of her sister, she has been working on the plan for a while the time is getting closer to when she will provoke her brother-in-law to attacking her and she can claim self-defense and as a black belt in Tae Kwon Do she believes she could easily take him on. Connor Donovan is a detective he wasn’t even technically supposed to take the prowler call but it kept his sister from pulling overtime and sent her home sooner. Connor is glad he took the call the prowler was a female who managed to take him by surprise and kicked him in the chest. One thing he’ll never forget is the fine ass at the top of those dangerous legs. The next day he is volunteered to watch the department sponsored after-school Tae Kwon Do Club, can you see where this is going? Yeah, Raine is a teacher and a Tae Kwon Do instructor. Connor recognizes that fine ass of hers. After a bit of convincing and wooing, Raine admits to Connor what she is doing. Connor as a cop and as someone who cares about Raine is adamant that she does this legally and starts to investigate the murder of her sister. Connor has a tough time trying to convince Raine that if her brother-in-law is cunning enough to get away with murder than Connor and Raine need to be even more smart and sneaky to get the evidence they need. Along the way Connor is fully aware that he wants a serious relationship with Raine and he needs to convince Raine that he’s in for the long haul.

Overall, this was a great suspense. I loved the romance and interactions between the characters. I really need to go back and read the other three.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Guest Post with Author Victoria Roberts and Giveaway

Meet Victoria Roberts, author of Kill of Be Kilt.

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, award-winning Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. Prior to ever picking up a single romance novel, she penned her first young adult novella at 16 years old. Who knew her leather-studded motorcycle hero would trade in his ride and emerge as a kilt-wearing Highlander wielding a broadsword? Victoria lives with her husband and their two beautiful children in western Pennsylvania.

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ARC Review: Dueling With the Duke by Robyn DeHart

This is my third book by Roby DeHart and just like the other two I read by her, I really enjoyed “Dueling with the Duke.” Just like the previous two books, I enjoyed the hero and the heroine. I also loved the chemistry of the characters and I really enjoyed her storyline!

When the story starts, Lilith Crisp, Lady Thornton is outside on the balcony at a ball. Gabriel Campbell, Duke of Lynford happens to step outside and the two of them strike up a conversation! There is an instant attraction between the two of them but nothing comes up it!

Lilith is a beautiful women and has her pick of men to marry but her father is not going to settle for just any man, he wants someone with heavy pockets. Gabriel is the second son and he knows he is out of Lilith’s league. As luck would have it, Gabriel’s older brother ends up asking her to dance and she accepts. Through a twist of fate Lilith and Gabriel end up being forever connected but neither of them are happy about how this comes about. I think that the little twist in both Gabriel and Lilith’s story is so essential to the story and I don’t want to give it away!

Years later, Lilith is married and she ends up face to face with Gabriel again. Lilith’s marriage was anything but happy but she has learned to survive and she made the best of it. Lilith always used her beauty to get her way. She never let her appearance get in her way and she always knew how to get the men around her to do what she wanted.

The only man who doesn’t seem to fall into her hands is Gabriel. He was nicknamed “the Saint” because of his celibacy. After the events that tied him and Lilith together forever, he turned over a new leaf and joined the Brotherhood of the Sword, a group of men dedicated to protecting Queen Victoria.

So, I really enjoyed both Lilith and Gabriel! I found their story to be so complex and intriguing! I also really enjoyed his allegiance with the Brotherhood! I loved the adventure and mystery that they both had to solve. I also cannot wait to see what DeHart has planned with Isabela and Angel! I could already see their chemistry. Finally, there was a moment in the story where the author just shocked me and I could not believe what I was reading! I had to re-read it! So good! I did not see that coming! Needless to say, this was a fantastic read and I cannot wait to read the next book by DeHart!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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