Alexandrite by Penny Rogue..... Review by Dawn

Three teenage girls are given a gift that will change their lives forever. A tale of untamed magic, the test of true friendship and unraveling generations of untold secrets. Follow Alex and her two best friends, Emma and Ruby, on an enchanted adventure; A thrilling ride to discovering their history and what it will mean for their future. A journey to understanding that they are different in ways beyond their imagination.









If you are a fan of fantasy and sisterhood, Alexandrite is the book for you. The plot is original and keeps you vested in the 3 leading ladies. This is an exciting introduction of a series that will have readers coming back for more. I highly recommend this book for young girls ages 11 and up. No harsh curse words, no sexual situations. This could be the series of books that get your girls into reading.
Secrets are unlocked when Alex, Ruby and Emma are each given a necklace. Each having a power unbeknownst to each other. When things start happening that are unexplained, the girls start putting the puzzle pieces together and demand answers from Alex's Mom and Emma and Ruby's Dad.
This is an interesting story/series that I believe any YA/fantasy fan would like.   I know book 2 is in the writing stage.

Amazon

Silent Sons MC Series book 1-5 by Ambere Sabo...... 5 Clock review by Dawn

Synopsis for each book.

Cessy  (bk 1)
I was born the Princess of an MC I knew nothing about. Thrown into their world of crazy, when I had no other options. Despised by the club for things out of my control. It took me a long time to find my way in this life, but I became the Princess I was born to be. Now they have taken my Pops from me, and I will bring hell on earth to those who caused his death. 
The Silent Sons have promised to help me find those responsible. I was looking for answers, and I found Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody. Will he be my saving grace in this life or will we both lose our lives when we find an enemy more twisted than we could imagine?

Havoc (bk 2)
I left behind my home, my family and my club to hunt down a bastard that doesn’t want to be found. My only focus is putting a bullet in his head and figuring out how to save my sisters from the Infierno cartel. The problem? He’s a ghost in the wind who always seems to be one step ahead.
Things change when my best friend, Cessy, forces me to bring Angel out on the road with me. Angel Hernandez, the hotheaded Hispanic beauty who drives me crazy. She wants the bastard’s head as much as I do, but she has no concern for what it may cost her. Can we overcome the scars of our past together or are we destined to die for the sins of another?

Enterrador (bk 3)
To some, I'm the monster they tell their children to fear. A man capable of killing without remorse or regret. Preparing my victims for their graves as I go. To others, I'm their leader. Someone they would follow blindly to their deaths if asked. But to her, I was the one that held her heart. The one who would do anything just to see her smile.

Lilly (bk 4)I had plans for my life.
Graduate from UT Austin's nursing program...
Work at Dells Children's Hospital...
Get married and have a family...
Stay the hell away from club life...
Simple plans, right?
That's what I thought anyway. Until my father had to go and ruin it all in one damn day. My only solace with all the crazy of club life, cartels, and psychos, is that I found Gunner...
A man who could make the crazy that has become my life worth it. If only he didn't see me as off limits. Can I make him see me as more than Havoc's kid sister before the psycho comes to claim me? Or am I doomed to be an unwilling replacement for a woman I know nothing about?

Mythic (bk 5)I’ve hidden who I was from the world for so long. Never making friends. Having nothing more than flings or one-night stands. I thought it was the only way to protect myself. If no one knew the real me who I really was, then I had nothing to worry about.All of that came crashing down around me when I made saving Lilly my life’s mission. I wouldn’t let the cartel or Enterrador take another person from me.I didn’t expect to fall for him.He was only supposed to be a means to an end. Someone who could show Enterrador all he’d been blind to for so many years.If only I would’ve known the outcome…Would I have told them who I was?Probably not, but I would’ve done a hell of a lot better job at guarding my heart.Now I’m living on borrowed time. Can he look past everything that’s happened between us or will I die never earning his forgiveness?

Dawn's Review

Ok, I am going to warn you now, this is going to be a long review. I need you to know this first and foremost, I LOVE THIS SERIES. I LOOOOOVE IT!  I am horribly picky when it comes to MC. I feel like it has been done by the absolute best authors and everyone else just skates by... NOPE, not Ambere Sabo, GOOD LORD WHAT A TALENT! I read this entire series in 3 days after being recommended to me by someone who knows what a picky cow I am about MC.  I could not put these books down. I would finish one and immediately start the next one. I just could not get to the next book fast enough. When telling someone about these books, I often say "it is not like any other MC series I have ever read. Yes, you have the normal MC stuff but this is so much more in depth. The main story (which I am not going to spoil for you) is what ties each story together. The layers that unfold with each book leaves you shell shocked and wanting more." It is not a stretch for me to say that this is easily my top series of 2019. Here is a little take on each book. I am posting a spoiler free reviews, encouraging you to go read this series!!! Each book gets 5 Clocks from me and I am hoping and praying that book 6 is coming soon! 

What I found so refreshing in these books, where the women. They were important and played major roles in each story. Most MC books the women are seen and not necessarily heard. Once in a while a brother will tell his old lady what is going down, but most of the time it is "club business," there for the ladies know very little. Not the case in these books.  Cessy is an MC princess and her father's club is in ruins and she wants answers, even if it means going to another club for answers. She is on a mission and will stop at nothing to find out who killed her father, enter Venom. He is less than thrilled when he learns who Cessy is, he just knows she is trouble.  Cessy and Venom, set out to find clues as to who would want her Pop's dead and why. With suspension that a member or members of her fathers club may be involved, never imagining that their hunt would lead to answers for Venom about his mothers death. The twists and turns that I did not see coming, just made this so so good. The chemistry between Cessy and Venom, was explosive! The sexiness is , off the charts and I ate it up. I really did not expect the ending of this story to go the way it did, I mean MIND BLOWN! So when we get into the next book Havoc, man I was ready for answers. 

Havoc, had a death wish... either his or the man who threatened his sister's lives. He was ready to die protecting those he loved the most. Hitting a road block in his tracking, Cessy has an idea, take Angel, on the road with him. Angel, is one of women who they saved from the cartel and she is ready to get answers about her family. Havoc is less than thrilled to bring her along, fearing she will slow him down. Angel, couldn't careless if Havoc is happy about her being on the road with him or not. Whether he wants to admit it or not he needs her on this journey, she has information that could bring them one step closer to getting the man responsible for all of this damage. Havoc and Angel, are made for each other. She keeps him calm when he is ready to murder someone,  and he makes her realize that all men are not as horrible as she once believed they were. Passion born out of the worst circumstances could be fleeting. But love born from the ugliness these two have witnessed and experienced, is forever. 

.

Enterrador, man I hated this character and was sure when I read his story I would be steadfast in my dislike. I was wrong. How does an author make you feel bad, like really bad for a totally despicable character? I knew from the first chapter and even vocalized it "Oh, I sort of like him now!" This is the way you do a background on a sub character, that is becoming vital to the remaining books. This is how you make him real. This is how you make a man so hated, so understood. But still I had my reservations with his infatuation with Lily. 

Lily's simple well planned life always had one rule, no MC life. This was before she drew the attention of the head of the cartel and he wanted her at his side, no matter the cost.  She had been kidnapped, stalked and ordered the death of the man she knew as her father. Lily, is done and on the run.  Leaving her brother, mother and friends behind Lily wants a new life. But leaving, means leaving Gunner. He has been with her through all of her trauma and she depends on him and she is in love with him. Thinking she is doing the right thing Lily leaves, hoping to escape the eyes of Enterrador. 
Lily and Gunner's story for me is the most romantic. Call me crazy, I find the "friends to lovers" thing romantic. I love that he calls her "Baby Girl" and it drives her brother Havoc crazy. While Lily is on the run she meets or is "found" by a woman with ties to the club and they take off together. Once they are convinced that they are about to be found, they head back to the MC for protection. Everyone is happy for Lily's return, Gunner, is ready to take his baby girl as his own to hell with what anyone thinks.  Demanding answers as to where she has been and with who, heads turn when Mythic is introduced. Snoopy, knows the name but not the face and he knows that she has helped the MC before so he trusts her interest in seeing Lily free. Lily, has a plan to draw Enterrador out . I love that she is done with this BS and wants to put an end to this once and for all. Who can be trusted and who is the traitor ? 





 As a fellow hacker, Snoopy and Mythic have been working together to bring down Enterrador, but Mythic is hiding something and they are suspicious of her. Only wanting to see Enterrador taken down, Mythic is putting herself in more danger than she is comfortable with. She knows how he works and she knows he will stop at nothing to get Lily. Her past pushed her into hiding and when she thought she was safe, the unspeakable happened at the hands of Enterrador. With revenge on her mind and at her finger tips, she and Snoopy set out to find the evidence to bring Enterrador to his knees. Knowing that whatever they find may expose Mythic, it is a chance she is willing to take. Even if it means hurting Snoopy, who she is is falling for and Lily, who has become like a sister to her. This book, just rips your heart out. The plot twist, is just EPIC! I had a feeling it was going to rock Enterrador's world but I had no idea, it would be his undoing.  Snoopy feels betrayed when all is revealed and he wants nothing to do with her ever again. He is always in a awful mood and is biting everyone's heads off, until one moment changes everything.  This is where this book, if you can believe it, gets even better! Again, I am not spoiling it for you, just know... WOW!  I have said after each book, "that was my favorite one," even Enterrador but Mythic, yeah she's my favorite. 


This series has strong women characters and that is always so refreshing. We all like our alpha men, but I long for women who stand up to the men and are not victims in every story. Women who want to solve their own problems and who are capable of doing so. Each of these books, have women who do just that. They know how to bring their men to their knees with one bat of the eye. But you better believe they also know how to bring a man to his knees begging for his life. The men in these stories are not to be walked on, they are manly men and will do whatever it takes to keep their woman safe. The balance of power shifts from page to page and it is just perfect!  

5 CLOCKS FOR EACH BOOK IN THE 

SILENT SONS MC SERIES 

BY

AMBERE SABO

books were purchased by reviewer. 

28 Dates by Stacey Lynn...... Review by Dawn

Caitlin Pappas is a lifelong commitment-phobe. The closest thing she’s had to a relationship in the last few years was a friends-with-benefits thing that fizzled out because the guy wanted more. So when she and her best friend design a new app that promises to find “the one” in 28 Dates, Caitlin is the perfect guinea pig. Little does she know that she may have already met her match. . . .

Jonas Reeves has tried his best to move on after Caitlin didn’t want take things to the next level. Now they really are just friends . . . without benefits. Caitlin’s even a regular at his bar, The Dirty Martini. But when he learns that Caitlin plans to beta-test a new dating app on his home turf, Jonas senses a golden opportunity to win her heart. Even if he has to slide into her DMs to do it. . . .

This is a fun quick “Second chance romance or friends to lovers” read. 
I loved Knocked Up and was looking forward to this one so much. I felt this was a little predictable. I knew Jonas was going to try and get to know Caitlin, via the dating app.  I expecting more drama to come from their initial “break up.’ I get it, it was a friends with benefits type of deal, but it ended way too  pretty. There were feelings and that made Caitlin, flee and made Jonas, trying to move on.. But when he does Caitlin, decides “hey, I kinda miss him and wow he wasn’t so bad.” That sort of didn’t sit well with me and I have no hard limits when reading. Jonas, knows he can only ever love Caitlin, so breaking up with his girlfriend can no longer be avoided. Caitlin, is unaware of the break up and keeps longing from afar. 
I did enjoy the Idea of finding love or boyfriend material with the 28 dates app. It was an original plot that I have not read yet. I really enjoyed Caitlin ‘s relationship with her guy friends. 
After overcoming trust issues and her fear of love, Caitlin, realizes that in fact that Jonas is the right guy for her. 
This was a quick pleasing read. Just a little too predictable and lacking excitement , for my taste. 



3.5 Clocks for

28 Dates 

by

Stacey Lynn



Review based on book provided by

NetGalley

Dirty Irish by Magan Vernon........ Review by Dawn

My life has revolved around the two things I've always loved: whiskey and rugby. Now the marriage clause in my Da's will has me putting both on the back burner if I want to save the Murphy's Pub empire and find a wife.As the last brother to get married, I need a little help, and that's where my sister-in-law's American best friend, Leah, comes into the picture. She could use a little Irish luck after the deceitful things her ex did to her that brought her to Ireland. With her take-no-shite-attitude, she's just the type of girl to help me find a wife .That is, if I can remember she’s the matchmaker and not the match.

Each book in the Murphy Brothers series is STANDALONE:

* Straight Up Irish

* Irish on the Rocks

* Dirty Irish

I struggled with this book in the beginning. It was not bad it was just a little slow to get going for me. BUT that all change at about 30% in.  I loved Sean’s bluntness and his no holds barred attitude. Leah, is in Ireland to help heal form a bad break up and a massive business flop. She is living with her bestie Fallon, who happens to be Sean’s sister-in-law. Sean has always thought Leah, was very attractive and different than all the other “bird’s he bags. This time he has to find one that he can marry as per the terms of his fathers will. 

Leah, gives Sean so much attitude and he finds it so refreshing that she isn’t falling over herself to get noticed by the star rugby player, like everyone else. He needs a wife and since Leah has no interest in being that wife, she agrees to find one for him.  Taking on the job of being Sean’s assistant, Leah is thriving, she loves the business side of his responsibilities, the wife hunting, not so much. 
They are hilarious and the banter between the entire group is such a fun read. Jack, Connor, Grace and Fallon make this ensemble a real treat. The brothers give Sean, a hard time and it is so fun. 
When Sean and Leah, attend the wedding of one of the brothers, lets just say a one nighter, has lasting results. 
The drama that ensues from the one night of weakness, provides the drama this book needed.  
I enjoyed this book and quickly forgot about the slow start.  The way the book ends is really great and the epilogue was amazing.

4 Clocks for 

Dirty Irish 

by

Magan Vernon 

Book Provided by NetGalley

based on honest review

Make Me Need by Katee Robert........ Review by Dawn

Trish Livingston desperately needs cash, so when her brother offers her a job while he’s on paternity leave, she snaps it up. She’s even willing to put up with his best friend and business partner, the notoriously grumpy Cameron O’Clery—especially when she finds out he’s very easy on the eyes.

Cameron hates people: especially peppy, happy people like Trish. He avoids her at all costs, until a raunchy late-night encounter in an elevator shows him that there’s a fine line between hate and lust. Cameron knows he’s broken the rules—and is resolved to keep his distance from her.

But Trish doesn’t make it easy. A work trip places them in adjoining hotel bedrooms, giving her the chance to put on a sizzling show just for him! When Cameron’s left wanting more, Trish is delighted to give him exactly that… Can either of them walk away from something that feels this good?







Once I applied for this and was approved, I then realized this was book 4 in a series by Katee Robert.  Not that this story can't be read as a standalone, because it can. I just wish I had known so I could have has previous knowledge of the characters. 
This was a enemies to sort of friends to lovers story, that spanned a total of a few weeks. Insta love is kind of a hard thing for me to get into but the insta heat Trish and Cameron had, that I could deal with. 
A quick read in the Harlequin Dare genre, it is a little bit spicier and I am totally ok with this. 
The attraction is instant and they try to fight it, well Cameron does. A business trip to London, throws Trish and Cam together and romance ensues.  Thrown into a meeting with a woman from Cam's past really throws Trish off her game and she starts getting the idea that she and Cameron will never work. Once they are back in the states, can they over come all the odds they face to make it work ? 
 
I was not board with this book, nor was I HUGELY impressed. I think if you are looking for a sexy sweet quick read , this  is the book for you.



3.5 Clocks for 

Make Me Need

by

Katee Robert

Book provided by NetGalley

for honest review