MATEO book 2 Unseen Underground by Abigail Davies ......Review by Dawn

My entire life had been unpredictable. But in the chaos, I’d found moments of solace. 

I was sixteen when I dropped out of high school to take care of my baby brother. A couple of months later I became a soldier in the Beretta Mafia. And I’d finally found the one place that felt like home—a family.

No two days were the same when your boss ran a criminal organization, yet it still hadn’t prepared me for her...

Luna.

The girl with soulful eyes. 

The girl with lips that begged for my touch.

She hadn’t been part of my plan, but now it was impossible to get away from her.

My plate was full. I was on track to get us away from the mayhem at home. And I couldn’t let anything veer me off that.

If only it was that easy.

Luna had made a mistake. She’d tried to do the right thing. Only she had no idea the darkness she would face as she stepped into Lorenzo Beretta’s office as the enemy.

I was her only way out.

Her get-out-of-jail-free card.

But should I risk it all for her? Or let her face the consequences alone.

Review

What a flipping ride.

First, I had no idea this was book 2, which is my own fault for some reason I thought this was book 1. I love Mateo and I am going on a reading bender of Abigail Davies!
Mateo is responsible for his much younger siblings and his addicted Mom. He sees a way out and takes it knowing the road it leads could be dangerous. To better his and his sibling's lives it's a risk he is willing to take. This is when Luna comes into the picture and rocks his world.
Luna is the product of addicted parents and the constant disappointment they bring to her life. The connection she finds with Cardo and Chiara is what leads to meeting Mateo. She comes to his rescue one night and he returns the favor by saving her life.
I am in!!!

Mateo (book 2 Unseen Underground)
by

Abigail Davies

4 Clocks

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!

Amazon: https://geni.us/NLBAmznB

Audio: https://geni.us/NLBAudioB

Paperbacks, Hardbacks, & Release Box: https://geni.us/ALJacksonShop

Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/NLBGoodreadsB

Enter the Cover Reveal Giveaway: https://geni.us/NLBCoverRevealGiveaway

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