Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger .....Review by Dawn

 

The first letter arrived the day my husband was buried. It was postmarked from the state penitentiary, and contained a single sentence:

I’ll wait forever if I have to.

It was signed by Dante, a man I didn’t know.

Out of simple curiosity, I wrote back to ask him what exactly he was waiting for. His reply?

You.

I told the mystery man he had the wrong girl. He said he didn’t. I said we’d never met, but he said I was wrong.

We went back and forth, exchanging letters every week that grew increasingly more intimate. Then one day, the letters stopped.

When I found out why it was already too late.

Dante was at my doorstep.

And nothing on earth could have prepared me for what happened next.

Review 

Ooh my goodness where to begin? In typical Geissing fashion, this is full of twists and turns and emotional torment. This is an erotic thriller/paranormal thriller with a load of spice. I was under the impression when I signed up for the ARC this was dark romance, it is but the paranormal side takes over. I am not mad about it and it kept me interested the entire time. I am not one who would necessarily gravitate towards PR but I am glad I stuck with it.

Kayla and Aidan's relationship begins when she hires him to fix her leaking roof and do some home repairs. He is brash and moody and Kayla is in no way prepared for his presence but she can not deny that she is intrigued with the man. 
It escalates quickly and Aidan makes his intentions known and has zero problems with the uncomfortableness Kayla feels. 
I was so torn because I was feeling "YOUR HUSBAND JUST DIED" to "GIRL, CLIMB THAT MAN!" As I went further into the story I started to figure it out, there are Easter eggs throughout the story. 
I really want to leave it there because I am not going to ruin it for you. I will say if this was presented to me as PR I would have probably would have passed BUT I am so glad that I didn't. 

Pen Pal 

by 

JT Geissinger 

4 clocks

ARC provided by the author.

New Pre Order COVER REVEAL By AL Jackson and GIVEAWAY

NEVER LOOK BACK COVER REVEAL

Coming August 29, 2022

Cover Designer: RBA Designs

Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography

From NYT and USA Today bestselling author A.L. Jackson comes an enemies-to-lovers,

close-proximity, second-chance romance…

Logan Lawson won me in a bet.

The second I saw him sitting at the illegal card table, I knew I was in trouble.

Years ago, he sealed my fate and condemned me to a life I didn’t want to lead.

Yet he’s filled with untamed fury and thirsting for vengeance against the husband I hate.

Aster Costa is everything I never should have wanted.

The second she showed with her pompous, prick of a husband, I should have gotten up and

walked.

But there’s no looking away from the woman who wrecked me.

Worse, I can’t stop myself from plotting to get her back.

I want nothing more than to be free of my husband.

I’m afraid Logan Lawson is the only one who can make that happen.

He might hate me for our past, but now it’s me on my knees begging for help.

Finding each other in the middle of it wasn’t supposed to be part of the bargain.

But once Logan touches me, I’m gone.

A torch is rekindled. A fire is lit.

Aster Costa has always been mine.

And this time, no matter the cost, I won’t give her back…

Pre-Order Now!

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A little of what I have been reading.

 A LITTLE OF WHAT I HAVE BEEN READING. 

It has been a couple of slow months in my reading process. Vacations, relentless heat, and then COVID hit our household right as I was supposed to leave for BOOK BONANZA '22. Yep, I missed it because I tested positive the day I was to leave.

Then I decided to share it with my husband and we all know how the men we love get when they are sick, x10 for my hubby. Anyway, life is getting back to normal and I have felt the need to get lost in books once again.  I am 7 books behind on my Goodreads goal, so a girl has got to find her groove again. 

Deserter (Silent Phoenix MC book 1)

By Shannon Mayers

I grew up in the dark.

Right and wrong?

In my world, it was kill or be killed.

I spend my time in the shadows; doing what I want, when I want. I refuse to follow anyone's rules—I own this town.

They might not see me, but my club controls everything... including her. I took Daddy's little princess and defiled her to send a message. Now, I want to keep her down here in the dirt forever.

She's crazy not to run.

Around here, there's no right or wrong. I'm the judge, jury, and executioner and god help any fool who tries to lay a hand on what's mine.

If you're looking for a hero, you're in the wrong place.

Please be aware that Deserter is not recommended for readers under the age of eighteen, as it contains strong language, sexual situations, drug use, and graphic violence.

I happened upon Deserter in my "we think you should read..." in KU and man did it not disappoint. This is a pretty intense story so if you have triggers this will be a pass for you.
This story spans years and it is brutal. I do not cry when reading books very often but this one, this one got me.
There are so many twists and turns and emotional ups and downs, it is a wild ride. This story ends on a cliffy and that drove me straight to book 2. I am not reading book 3 in the series and am happy that I stuck with it. Normally cliffhangers are a NO for me, but this series is so worth it.   4.5*

Brutal Vows by J.T. Geissinger 

book 4 in the Queens and Monsters series. 

An Irish mobster with a brutal grudge.
An Italian mafia princess with a dark secret.
Two enemy empires joined in sacred marriage vows.
Let the hating games begin.

Author's Note: There is a thirteen-page epilogue set in the future not included in the ARCs that will be in the digital and paperback versions.

Reyna

If this arrogant Irish mobster my brother sold my niece to thinks I’m going to play nice over this arranged marriage BS, he should think again.
I don’t care if this match with the Mob will make my brother capo of the Five Families.
I don’t care how much money, territory, or power it will gain us.
I especially don’t care that the Irishman is the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.
I won’t allow my innocent niece to suffer the same way I did.
Even if I have to kill him.

Spider

I’m supposed to marry sweet, beautiful Lili. So why can’t I stop thinking about her swamp witch of an aunt?
Reyna who hates me. Reyna who challenges me. Reyna with the guts of a Viking, the body of a fertility goddess, and the attitude of a feral cat.
Nothing good can come of what I’m feeling for a woman who’s not the one in the wedding contract I signed.
A woman I want so much, I’ll have to burn the whole world down to get.
If she doesn’t kill me first. 

~I finished up the Queens & Monsters series by J.T. Geissinger and I simply can not recommend this series enough! I am hoping there may eventually be more but if not, I am completely satisfied with how this series was wrapped up. We all have been waiting for Spider's story since we met him in book 1.
This was exactly what I wanted and didn't even know it. I was a little surprised at how tender Spider was from time to time. He and Reyna are a match made in mafia heaven. 

I loved the way this came to an end and the twist that it took made me love it even more.  4.5*

Hooked by Emily McIntire

Once Upon A Time, there was a little boy.
His belly full of laughter, his life full of joy.
Until one day, something changed; stripped his innocence away.
The hole inside making space for the devil to come and play.
His dreams gone forever, he grew up way too fast.
An endless night of crocodiles, and watches made of glass.
He grew into a villain, the taste of vengeance on his tongue.
Craving to make his enemies pay for the misdeeds they had done.
Instead he found a darling girl, and refused to let her go.
For what better way to make the man pay, than to steal his little shadow.

*Hooked is a full-length, complete standalone and the first in The Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. This is a DARK Contemporary romance (not a literal retelling and not fantasy) featuring mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised.*

I had seen this everywhere and thought I would give it a go. While the idea behind it was exciting and the storytelling was good, I grew tired of the references to Petter Pan. I know, I know... that was the point of the book, I just found myself rolling my eyes when I read something alluding to the original. I will read the rest of the books in the series. There were interesting twists and turns and some were obvious to the reader. All in all, it was a decent read and it makes me want to continue the series.  4* WAR (The Four Horsemen #2) by Laura Thalassa    The day Jerusalem falls, Miriam Elmahdy knows her life is over. Houses are burning, the streets run red with blood, and a traitorous army is massacring every last resident. There is no surviving this, especially not once Miriam catches the eye of War himself. But when the massive and terrifying horseman corners Miriam, he calls her his wife, and instead of killing her, he takes her back to his camp. Now Miriam faces a terrifying future, one where she watches her world burn town by town, and the one man responsible for it all is her seemingly indestructible “husband”. But there’s another side to him, one that’s gentle and loving and dead set on winning her over, and she might not be strong enough to resist. However, if there’s one thing Miriam has learned, it’s that love and war cannot coexist. And so she must make the ultimate choice: surrender to War and watch humankind fall, or sacrifice everything and stop him.

~This is a good follow-up to book 1 Pestilence. War is brutal and has zero feelings about what he was sent to do. Miriam just happens to be his weakness and she has no idea why! This is a tug-of-war kind of story, the push and pull between War and "his wife" is intriguing. 
I can not read these books back to back I have found. I wish I could tell you why other than that, it is just a lot and I mean that in a good way. I will finish this series and I am loving it. 4*

Aphrodite and the Duke by JJ McAvoy

 Second chances are even sweeter. . . .

Aphrodite Du Bell has always resented her name. While the members of the ton, and even the queen herself, praise her warm brown skin, perfect curls, and exquisite features, Aphrodite can’t help but think that living up to the literal goddess of beauty is asking a bit much. Her renowned loveliness certainly didn’t stop the love of her life from jilting her and marrying another woman four years ago.

When Aphrodite’s formidable mother summons her back to London to aid in her sister’s debut, she has no choice but to acquiesce. But Aphrodite is determined to ignore one man in particular: Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everely, the man who devastated her all those years ago. Yet why does her guileless heart still flutter at the sight of him?

Evander Eagleman lost his chance for true love, but now that he is an unattached widower, he is determined to win back Aphrodite’s trust—and her hand in marriage. But just as the couple make strides to mend old wounds, Evander’s true reason for rejecting Aphrodite threatens their coveted future . . . and even their lives.

~~~~~~Review~~~~~

Let me start this with a little about what I read. I read dark and I mean dark with all the triggers, if it is taboo or needs a warring, I will read it. I am one who likes a lot of grit and not every story has to be wrapped up with a bow and a Happily Ever After ending. I am taking a leap with this genre and hoping that one of my favorite authors introduces me to something I did not see coming. I would read a greeting card if Author JJ McAvoy wrote it.

I went into this thinking I would love the writing and just be bored because it was "not my norm." I WAS SO WRONG, I really enjoyed this story, the characters, and the drama. Do not get me wrong this is a story that is light and airy.  You can visualize the beauty of high society, the ball gowns, and the opulence perfectly laid out in stellar writing. The drama has many facets, our leading lady with the name of a goddess is heartbroken and dejected by her one true love, her only option is to leave London and try to heal her heart. 

 The Duke is reeling from a lie that changed the course of his life. Left longing for his true love and hellbent on bringing those who caused his life turmoil to justice.  Then you have his sister Verity,  who is fighting her own battle with her past. Only to be followed up with family members that feel jilted and out for revenge. 
It seems like a lot but there really is a beautiful love story told throughout the drama that makes the story hopeful and warm. 

 We see Odite grow into the woman she was always meant to be, steadfast, strong, and loving. Evander, we get to see his heart thaw and let the stoic hard man become a worthwhile husband and father.

Is a second chance worth the risk of getting your heart ripped to shreds again? Is the man who broke you worth everything? How far will you go to protect the man you love?

All of these questions are answered in this fantastic story that has opened my dark loving eyes to something new and that is very exciting! It must be said, I read this book in a day, that is how much I enjoyed it. 

PS, I wouldn't hate a Verity and the doctor story!!!

Aphrodite and the Duke 

by 

JJ McAvoy

4.5 Clocks

Book provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

What I have been reading.

 Loren and Raina ... was everything I wanted to end this series. A fantastic wrap-up to a great cowboy series! 
We meet Raina in book 2 briefly in a traumatic way and were left wondering what was going to happen. I was so excited for Loren as he grew so much on me in books 1& 2. This story is everything you want in wrapping up a series and the satisfaction in Loren's revenge is, tasty!!!!

This was a tab bid back and forth for me. I enjoyed the premises of the book and character development. It was a little tiresome at some points. He had a job to do, she didn’t like the idea of it and that part was pointed out quite a bit. I loved this from about 30% on, once the feelings were starting to arise. I am intrigued by this entire plotline has me vested and, I will be reading the rest of the books in this series.

The spice level is definitely there. The love story and twists and turns are a fantastic ride! An interesting take on enemies to lovers. I have been on a JT Geissinger kick and devoured this series. Nat and Kage are what we want in an alpha male and a leading lady that has been just put through it and really has no idea how to move on. The rollercoaster of emotions this takes you on is incredible.


Book 2 is probably one of the funniest books I have read in a long time. I say that with the caveat that it is a mafia book, but with Sloane and Declan and their banter, it is so flipping funny, Sloane had me cracking up in Nat's story so I was expecting the same in her book. If you are not into BDSM this is not the story for you. Again this author takes you on a journey that is filled with so many twists and turns you are left thinking, "how did she do that"? Declan and Sloane are a fun and exciting ride. 


Book 3 leads us to Riley and Mal, Riley is Sloane's little sister so there is a quick connection to the character. Riley is smart and stunned to learn her sister is in love with an actual Irish mob boss, not just a mob boss the head of the Irish mob. Mistaken identity leads to Riley being kidnapped by Mal. He thinks he is saving her because she is a sex slave of Declans. There is a reason I devoured these books and that is the brilliant writing. I am glued to each book and want more after I finish each one. 
Riley and Mal had the heart I wanted to see and feel. I loved Mal even if he is a killer.
I am so ready for book 4 Spider's story. 

I really enjoyed this story. For me, it was a different spin on most mafia romance/dark mafia. We never think of the men the mafia are afraid of. This take is refreshing and so good!!! The spice is there in spades and is off the charts hot. I for one, am in this series until the end. This was a one-sitting read for me, I could not put it down so I finished it in a day. I am now about to start book 2!

2021 Wrap up

2021 END OF YEAR WRAP UP

BEST READ OF 2021 

STILL BEATING 

by

Jennifer Hartman 

Contemporary Romance of 2021
Give Me A Reason 

by

AL Jackson

Romantic Comedy of 2021
The Stopover 

by 

TL Swan

SPIN-OFF SERIES

Kristen Ashley

Dream Team

COWBOY ROMANCE

Pam Godwin

Trails of Sin

DARK Romance (2)

Tillie Cole

Jegudiel

Giana Darling

Enslaved Duet

TABOO Romance

Pam Godwin

Lessons in Sin

Best MC Series

The Fallen Men series

by

Giana Darling

Best of hard to get books of 2021

Best Audiobook The Storyteller

by

Dave Grohl

My trip to the dark side of reading.... I LOVE it here

      Just wanted to pop in and give you a little update on what I have been reading. Not surprising I have been on a dark reading binge. I wish I had a reason I could give you that would explain why the dark and taboo genre calls to me. I love a story that sticks with me and makes it hard for me to go on to the next book, and for me, that is the dark and edgy stories. 



Let's start with this Duet by Giana Darling, 🠈 makes a few appearances on my reading list. I had no idea what I was in for, I found this in KU under "based on recent purchases we recommend this." I had no idea this duet would consume me the next 4 days. 
It is dark and there are so many twists and turns I had whiplash. There are crossover characters from The Evolution of Sin trilogy, but they are secondary and you can read this duet without getting lost. 
If you have any triggers this duet will engage them, so be warned. 
Highly recommend it if you are a fan of very dark stories.

It was the biggest day of my life.
I know most people say that about something joyous; graduation, a wedding ceremony, the birth of their first child. My situation was a little different.
Sure, it was my eighteenth birthday, but it was also the day that I was sold.
Sold to a man with hair like a crown of gold and eyes blacker than the darkest pits of Hell.
He bought me to own me, to control me, and to use me as a means to an end.
I was his tool and his weapon.
And through it all, somehow, I also became his salvation.




It was the worst day of my life.

I know most people say that about something obviously horrific—a first heartbreak, the discovery of a fatal illness, or the funeral of a loved one—but my situation was a little different.
Not only was it my wedding day, but it was also the day I chose to die.
Two men.
The first, my Master, my captor, and my impossible love.
The other, his brother, a mafioso I was meant to ensnare and ruin.
If I had any hope of living a normal life reunited with my family, I had to make a choice.
End my old life as I knew it and start fresh, or take down the monsters that hunted me and haunted my Master.
In the end, the decision was never really mine to make. Because Alexander Davenport would come to claim me even in death.

Back to the dark MC side with Giana Darling once again. Loved Inked in Lies struggled a bit with Dead Man Walking. Both were gritty and the character development is superb.  I always know what I am getting with this author and I love it. Lies was so enduring to my heart. For some reason, I found this story sweet and loving. Maybe it was the back story of Nova and Lila. Knowing you met your soul mate at such a young age and never wavering from loving him, it was just so good. 

He moved in next door.
Handsome as sin, older in a way that meant forbidden.
He had tattoos on his hands and wickedness tucked in his grin.
I was a goner as a girl to a man they called Casanova for a reason. He would never love me, at least not the way I needed him to.
I tried to move on. But I couldn’t turn my back on him or The Fallen MC.
So when they needed me most, I offered the only thing of value I could use to help them.
My body.
And when helping them meant putting my life on the line, Nova had to decide just how much he was willing to do to get me out alive.







 Dead Man, the struggle was I didn't really connect with Priest and his lack of communication. He was so intense all the time and that, I felt weighed the story down a lot. He is interesting and lives up to the "killer" mantra.  I just needed a little bit of a smile here or there. Really good read just a heavy one. 

    

A killer. A criminal.
A psychopath.
The Irish enforcer for The Fallen Men MC is everything good girls is taught to stay away from.
Only, I found myself inexorably drawn into his dark gravitational pull. I wanted to know what it would be like to walk beside the human personification of Death and hold his hand, feel his kiss, and maybe even earn his undying love.
But Priest McKenna is older, cold as ice, and notoriously unfeeling.
So what are the odds that a dead man walking would come to life for little, insignificant me?
When a serial killer begins to target the women of Entrance, BC, and The Fallen suffers another terrible blow, Priest resolves to hunt down the killer himself.
And when the murderer sets his eyes on me?
My very own psychopath steps between me and certain death, thrusting us into an intimacy I prayed we would never recover from.

Next up is Lessons in Sin by Pan Godwin, I devoured this story! What is more taboo than a Priest and his student? This book lives up to all the hype and then some. If you read Priest by Sierra Simone then this is right up your alley. If you have age gap problems, this is one to skip. Father Magnus is not for the faint of heart. 

There’s no absolution for the things I’ve done.
But I found a way to control my impulses.I became a priest.
As Father Magnus Falke, I suppress my cravings. As the headteacher of a Catholic boarding school, I’m never tempted by a student.
Until Tinsley Constantine.
The bratty princess challenges my rules and awakens my dark nature. With each punishment I lash upon her, I want more. In my classroom, private rectory, and bent over my altar, I want all of her.
One-touch risks everything I stand for. My faith. My redemption. And even my life.
As if that could stop me. I need her pain, and her heart, and she needs my lessons in sin.



I hit a bit of a Pam Godwin stride with the Tails of Sin series. If you want dark cowboy done right, this series is for you. Knotted is book #1 and it is so good! Second chance romance that seems like it is never going to happen. There are many trigger warnings in these books and if you have any, you should tread lightly. From the jump, Knotted is a heartstring-tugging intense story. Jake and Conor (female) are childhood sweethearts headed for a bright future of love and happiness. Lies and deceit from people that are supposed to love them, set things into motion that cost years of hurt. They make a pact to get revenge and OMG it is super intense and really good! 


I try to forget her.
It’s impossible.

Growing up together, Conor and I shared all our firsts.
First love, first kiss, first…
Not all our firsts.
We were sixteen the night she was violently assaulted while I helplessly watched.
I’ll never forget the sounds of her suffering.
Or my inconsolable agony when she left Oklahoma.
Years later, she returns to honor our teenage pact.
Except for the boy she loved is gone, replaced by a ruthless cattle rancher knotted with secrets.
She doesn’t know my dark cravings or the trails of sin that lead to her.
I don’t deserve her, but one truth remains.
She’s mine.

I have become a fan of Faith Summers and her Russian Bravata stories. This one Deceptive Vows was particularly good! The idea of impersonating a cartel princess and being forced to marry the man in line to take the head as part of the Bravata was original. The twists and turns this story takes are such a great ride. You think you have it all figured out when all of a sudden, curveball!  Really good and original plot. 

A monstrous Bratva leader who binds your wrists and promises to break you. Mikhail Dmitriyev is a beautiful devil with a villainous heart and a thirst for revenge.

The choices he gave me when he stole me away from my home with an army of men were very clear—marry me or die.

I chose to marry him and live.

But there’s one small problem with his grand plan to rain Armageddon on the Mexican Cartel.

I’m not the woman he thinks I am.

I’m not the cartel princess he thinks he took to make his enemies bow to him. When my captor finds out my secret and realizes he married the wrong woman, love won’t be enough to save me.

And neither will his obsession.

Deceptive Vows is a dark mafia arranged marriage romance. It contains dubious situations, mature content, and graphic violence some readers might find offensive and/or triggering. 

Rounding out my trip to the dark side is Fifty Six by Seven Rue. Let's just start with the triggers, major age gap, BDSM, orgasm denial, degrading, spanking, watersports, breath play, very vulgar language. All sexual acts in this book are consensual between two legal adults. There is no rape.

If you are not into "DADDY" stories this is NOT for you. I loved it because I like something different from the norm and WOW did this fill it. 

TRIGGER WARNING
This book is only for very open-minded readers.
There will be all kinds of kinks, some that are often seen as nasty and disgusting.
I don’t kink shame, and if you don’t either, turn the next page.
If you think you can’t handle it without judging or shaming me as an author writing fiction, but also readers who like these types of books, please do not read fifty-six.

Valley
Guys my age didn’t know how to treat me right.

Girls my age would never understand how powerful a woman can feel being adored by older men.
And men twice, even triple my age could never say no to me.
Not even Riggs.
Thirty-eight years my senior and my dad’s best friend.
Rough, short-tempered, and an alpha male.
I liked being in control in every situation, but he made it hard.
He challenged me while I kept teasing, wanting to push not only his but my own limits.
And when the most unexpected thing occurred, Riggs showed me just how much he hated the games I played.