Untethered St. Jude Rules book 1 by M Jameson........Review by Dawn

 

I grew up in darkness, it's etched in my soul,

so I have no right to touch anything as perfect as Isabella Serrano.

She hates me, I thought I hated her too until one taste of the forbidden makes me question that.

I'll try to break her, to take everything from her, 

but what she takes from me in the process, is more,

so much more.

Flynn Drake is a monster, my tormentor,

but the hate he gives, he gets right back,

the last thing I expected was to fall for him.

He tainted me, he used me, 

and I let him,

but now I hold his life in the balance.

~~~~~~~REVIEW~~~~~~~~

I am still processing this book! It had stayed with me since I finished it in one sitting. I do not red bully or "high school" stories but I could not stop reading this, I just had to see where this would go. I was happy when the author decided to not drag the angst and bullying out.

This was so different for me and I was so happy that I stuck with it. I love dark and this definitely falls into that genre. Flynn's backstory is quite heartbreaking and making it easy to see why he is the way he is. I was a little put off by the total acceptance the parents have with all the things they find out. Like it was super common for this information to be revealed and just "Okie Dokie." we are fine with it. 

 Isabella was a little more of an issue for me. She professed her hate for her step-brother and I believe she did actually have an issue with him, but the quickness of her giving in was a bit off-putting. I enjoyed her growth throughout the story and she really grew into someone who stood her ground finally. The time jump was not as confusing as I thought it might be, but it was worked in just flowed flawlessly. I was ready to see how these 2 were going to deal with the past and present. 

The plot twist, I saw coming but still, it was a very good one and I am in for the rest of this series. 

Untethered  

book 1 in 

The St. Jude Rules series 
by

M.Jameson 

4 Clocks

Book provided by NetGalley 

Unexpected Union by Brooke Summers

 

A moment of passion leads to an unexpected union...

Melissa Harding has veered on the side of caution, always keeping her past locked up tight. Until one night

 she decided that she'd let loose. Which came at a cost. Getting pregnant was shocking enough, but

 marrying the head of the Irish Mafia was worse.

 Melissa hopes that she can keep her darkest secrets hidden. But her new husband has other ideas.

Danny Gallagher never had plans on settling down. His family doesn't have a great track record when it

 comes to marriages. That is until his new bride's secrets start to unravel, Danny realizes that he's finally met his match.

The darkness he has inside burns deep within her.

When enemies start to rise, Danny and Melissa find out just how perfectly matched they really are.

What happens when a traitor has plans to take Danny out?

Will the couple be able to find them before it's too late?

~~~REVIEW~~

I did not realize this was book 2 in the series when I applied for it. That being said, you are not lost at all. Everything is perfectly laid out and very easy to follow. 

Melissa or Lissa as she likes to be called is soooooo good! I love a true BA female lead. She lets her walls down to the sexy Danny one night and that is all it takes for him to be hooked. Little did Lissa know,  that one night would end up changing her life forever. With walls built so high there was no way anyone was getting inside, not even Danny Gallagher, head of the Irish mob.

This is a cleverly written story. There is not long played out wait to find out Melissa is pregnant, it is right there within the first few chapters. There is no angst-filled wait to see if they can make it work, you get the gist right away. What you are not aware of is the power Melissa holds. She is a take-no-crap from any one type of girl. She will take you out or down within seconds, no matter who you are. The chemistry is there and you can feel the respect given by both leads. Danny sees Melissa's strengths and Melissa sees Danny's weaknesses and they balance each other out. 

I love that this author gives these women in her books powerful roles and men who can accept those roles. I really enjoyed this story so much. There are triggers and some may not be able to deal with the secrets that come to the surface when Lissa, tells Danny the truth. Be warned! It is not a pretty picture that is painted but so perfectly written. 

I am 100% vested in this series and can not wait for the next installment!

Unexpected Union
by 

Brooke Summers
4.5 Clocks

Honest review based on book provided by NetGalley

Scar by A.M. Brooks .........4 Clock review by Dawn

 

Trent

I fell in love with the wrong girl—you could say. 

She destroyed my career.

Set me up for her family’s crimes.

Then ran off into the sunset to become Queen of a criminal empire. 

Time is supposed to heal all things. For me, time has done nothing but create a vengeful monster out for blood. Her blood. I won’t stop until she’s back on my turf, playing my game and surrendering her body and soul to me. 

I’d say my plan would be to destroy her heart like she did mine, except I learned long ago that Scarlet Reyes doesn’t have one. 

There is no happily ever after here. 

Scarlet

I ruined my chance at happiness—you could say. 

I became a Queen to survive.

He doesn’t know I walked away to save his life.

My plan to make my father’s enemy fall in love with me worked, until I lost my own heart in the process. 

Until he showed me the cage I had allowed myself to be trapped in. 

When a relationship is already built on lies like ours, hearts and love don’t stand a chance. 

I have a secret I’m keeping from Trent Nichols.

Now I’m back and once again my lies are standing in the way.

How can we live happily ever after when he’s determined to ruin me?

~~~~Review~~~

This is my first time reading this author and  I really enjoyed it. I really liked the idea of Scarlett being a crime family princess. Her father has no problem threatening her with selling her or her cousin Evita off to make himself more powerful. Thinking she would never get out from under her father she becomes what he wants, ruthless.  Never did she intend to fall for one of her marks, but Trent Nicolas was too hard to resist. 

I enjoyed their chemistry and the time it took to become a relationship, it wasn't insta love.  I liked Trent a lot, he was a decent guy who never thought he would find love. 

Spending a summer together changed everything, now Scar had come up with a plan to get out from under her father and keep Trent alive. That meant she would have to hurt the man she loved to save him and to go back into her father's fold and wait for the perfect time to take him out. 

Heartbroken and out for revenge Trent is ready to bring the person down that killed his best friend...enter Scarlett. The drama that comes from this is electrifying, when these 2 see each other for the first time again, let's just say there is no love lost on his part. He wants her to pay for all her crimes and he has no problem helping bring her down. 

Secrets come out and truths are revealed that lead to a revelation that I really didn't see coming. I love a good plot twist. 

Now, I will say that this all happened a little too quickly for me, I like a little more drama and emotional torture in my "crime family" stories. I needed just a bit more drama when all heck was breaking loose. I just needed more. 

I enjoyed this and will definitely keep this author's name on my watch list. 

Scar 

by

AM Brooks 

4 Clocks

Book Provided by NetGalley for honest review

The Insiders by Tijan........ Review by Dawn

The Insiders is the first in a brand new, page-turning romance trilogy from New York Times bestseller, Tijan!

Bailey is as normal as could be, with a genius IQ and a photographic memory. But still, normal for her. Then, things happen—a guy breaks into her house in the middle of the night to take her hostage. She finds out her father is actually billionaire tech genius Peter Francis, the same guy she’s idolized all her life. She learns all this when she meets dark, mysterious, and electrifying Kashton Colello. He’s an associate of her father’s, and he gives Bailey two choices—go with him and meet her father or survive on her own because those kidnappers are going to try again. It’s a no-brainer.

After this, three things become clear for Bailey:

1. She’s living at her father’s sprawling estate, complete with bodyguards and the best security that money can buy.

2. She’s no longer an only child. She has three siblings and has no idea what to do with them and vice versa.

3. She is being guarded by Kash himself. Personally guarded. And there is a lot of guarding going on there and some of it is going to drive her crazy.

A complete outsider in a world of wealth and decadence, Bailey has to find her way within a family that has more secrets than she could have imagined. One of these secrets could be deadly…

~~~~REVIEW~~~~

It has been a few years since I have read Tijan. Not for lack of publishing, but because I am not super into College-age romance. I saw this come up and read the blurb and was intrigued. 

I really enjoyed this story for the mystery and twists and turns. I will say Kash's secret-keeping was getting a little old and I was glad when it was revealed.  I really hated the discord between Peter and Baylie. I was so mad at him when he would not acknowledge her presence, let alone her existence. I was ready for that to blow up.

The instant bond with her secret siblings was the soft spot in the story and was very much needed. So much mystery and suspense needed a little laughter.

The Kash and Baylie dynamic I found very interesting. I wasn't sure how bad I wanted them together until he started in on people who were rude to her. I love a man who will not let someone be disrespected. His protective nature was fantastic and I totally loved those two together. 

I am very invested in these characters and am ready for more! 

The only thing that made this a 4 star read for me was the excessive detail when describing the houses and surroundings. I get it, they are the 1% super-wealthy, I did not need page after page of house and grounds descriptions.



The Insiders 

by

Tijan

4 Clocks

book provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Mafia Prince by Vi Carter......... Review by Dawn

Jack

I’m the son of Liam O’Reagan, next in line to wear the crown.
And when I prove myself worthy, I will RULE over the Irish Mafia.
I don’t have time for distractions—much less time for a woman who has always been the bane of my existence.
When Maeve comes back into my life, I fight like hell to resist the pull she has on me.
An attraction that has only grown stronger with time.
But, when trouble lands her at my feet, I take the opportunity to have what I truly want.
I offer her a deal. I’ll help her, but the cost will be one night in my bed.
One night of submission.
One night to have her completely at my mercy.
If only I had known my battle with Maeve would start a war.

Maeve

Jack is the only one who can help me.
Too bad, he hates me.
But I have no choice but to go to him.
It turns out, hate is a powerful motivator, and I just handed him a way to punish me.
He offers me his help—for a price. Everything in his world has a price.
One night in his bed.
He’s everything a woman would want, so this should be easy. Only, I’m a virgin, and he terrifies me.
I should run, but I won’t.
I can’t.
I just pray this one night doesn’t destroy us both. 

~REVIEW~

The story of Jack and Maeve had me very invested from the very beginning. I really enjoyed the push and pull between them. Jack, was going to have her one way or another, there was no stopping him when he had his mindset on what he wanted, and what he wanted most was Maeve. Family be damned, Jack was going to have her. 

 Maeve was always drawn to Jack and he was nothing but cruel to her as a child. Maeve was never going to measure up to Jack and he liked to remind her of that. The family dynamic and the events that play out when her Mom and brother fall deeper into trouble keep Maeve even more drawn and dependant on Jack and he is not one to miss an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. This all plays out among the Irish mob and its power struggle. 

I really enjoyed this and will definitely be back for the rest of the crew's books.

Mafia Prince 

by

Vi Carter 

4 clocks

Book provided by NetGalley for honest review

The Kings of Kearny by Navessa Allen............ Review by Dawn

 

Jakob Larson is going to be the death of me.

That’s what I think every time he strides into my bar.

The Kings of Kearny Motorcycle Club run this small Texas town, and Jakob is their chief enforcer.

The Viking, they call him. He’s a criminal. As dangerous as he is sexy. The kind of man who makes my inner cavewoman sit up and take notice.

Him big. Make strong babies. Bring home mammoth for dinner.

I’m ready to indulge her desires, but just for one night. Unfortunately, Jakob has other plans.

Someone in town is breaking one of the cardinal rules set by the leader of The Kings. And Jakob thinks they’re using my grandmother’s nursing home as a front for their illicit activities.

Now I’m neck-deep in trouble with him, and every time I think I’ve figured out what’s really going on, Jakob reveals another piece of the puzzle.

I need to figure out how far I’m willing to go to protect this town. How far I’m willing to go with Jakob.

Because if I fall for him, there’s no going back. No hope for a peaceful ending.

But Jakob is the kind of man who makes me think that peace is overrated, and descending into the darkness with him could lead to something even better than a Happily Ever After.

~REVIEW~


I am a very big fan of MC and am always looking for the next great MC read. I was so hoping this was going to be it but sadly this fell a little flat. I was a bit put off right from the start, the author seemed to have this need to use words that really had no place in the MC world when describing Jakob's appearance. The characters I never could connect 100%b with. Krista was not incredibly loveable except with her Grandmother. I mean, I get that she had just met Jakob, but he was so stiff and was a man of little words, but it made him seem so off-putting. They truly should have been a one-night stand at least that would explain the lack of chemistry. The drama seemed mild at best and I kept waiting on it to develop and sadly it didn't. It was almost there and I thought it was going that way and then it would just be over and done with it.

I liked the epilogue it had more emotion than the entire book. Gran was the best character followed closely by Jennifer. This will find the right audience and I am happy for the author.

The Kings of Kearny

by

Navessa Allen
3 Clocks

               
Book provided by NetGalley for honest review

Custom Made by Chantal Fernando ..... Review by Dawn

 

Cameron Davies has the job she’s always wanted—designing custom motorcycles at Fast & Fury. No way is she going to screw this up. But when her wild, sexy one-night stand ends up being the shop’s new VIP client, her life is suddenly turned on its head.

Orion Stenton radiates power, danger, and, most of all, sex. His lavish lifestyle is fraught with dangers for Cam—and a far too intimate link to her past. She has to keep things professional, but it’s impossible to forget the feel of him or the way he whispers her name.

The connection between them demands far more than a quick fling. But when Cam’s past puts Orion in danger, she must face her demons if she’s going to save them both.

Dawn's Review

I liked Custom Built but I LOVE Custom Made! Cameron and Orion, I just thought we such a great match, and their chemistry just exploded right off the pages. Made was an improvement for me from the storyline in Built. Maybe it was that I sort of knew the characters and could connect with them better this time around? I am not sure but whatever it was it worked so well for me.

I thought it was particularly endearing that Orion was so close with his family and they would just show up unannounced and barge right in on Orion and Cam. I did get the giggles a few times when this happened. Also, the Knights were present and interwoven into the dynamic of Cameron and their need to look out for her, she was one of their own. I enjoyed that Orion didn't hide the fact that he had "questionable" business practices. That was refreshing, two characters being honest with one another. 
The plot twist, I did not see that coming... one could even say "the double plot twist." It was written really smart where it wasn't this overbearing subject that was not on every page. It was a crazy and twisted change in direction of the story, but it worked so well. 
What I enjoyed most was the fact that the author did not diminish the importance of Cameron's job and how she was a BOSS! Her work in a male-dominated field was never treated like she "slept her way up" or that she was there just because "she is pretty." Her skill was always on display in the words written and I beautifully crafted so that we understood that Cameron was definitely one of the team.
It should also be noted her success never came between them and caused problems, it was actually celebrated. That would have been such a disservice to these characters if that would have happened. 

I seriously enjoyed Custom Made and can not wait for the next one!!!

Custom Made 
by

Chantal Fernando

CLOCKS

Book provided by NetGalley for honest review