REVIEW - Guarding Eden - Cameo Renae

TITLE - Guarding Eden

AUTHOR - Cameo Renae

Blurb: 

***The Midway Novels are spin-offs of the Hidden Wings Series, but each book can be read as a standalone.***

Tucked away at an upscale, private boarding school in Brindle Hollow, Washington, seventeen-year-old Eden East comes face to face with a hideous creature on her walk back to her dorm. Shaken to her core, she's left questioning the world around her, and soon finds herself entering a friendship with a hot, new student named Alexander.

Little does she know, Alex is a Guardian Angel, sent from Midway to protect her from those dangerous creatures—known as Darkling—lurking in the forest outside Brindle Hall. It isn’t long before Alex learns this is no ordinary assignment. Eden’s existence holds a secret; something hidden from even herself.

Eden is thrust into a world where Fallen angels and creatures of the Underworld will stop at nothing to catch her. With Alex at her side and a little help from some of his old friends, they form a formidable front against the enemy.

 Hopefully, it’s not too little, too late.

Review:

Escape into a wonderful new world! Or at least it is a new world to me. Guarding Eden can be read as a standalone as I had never heard of the Midway Series until I read this book. It is obvious there are some other books featuring other characters, but it did not matter if I read them or not to fully enjoy this book. This book has a bit of mystery, action, and romance. I really enjoyed this book.

The plot of this book is simple. A guardian angel is sent to watch over a mortal after an incident occurs that causes the mortal to be in danger. What neither the guardian nor the mortal know is that there is much more to this assignment than either could imagine. This plot was done wonderfully. I have not read any angel books in a while, so this was a nice reintroduction into the genre.

Eden is a wonderful character. She is quite strong willed even though she comes off as shy and timid. I love her personality and how she cares so much for those around her. I think that is an important aspect to her character. Alex is a great character as well. He is a guardian angel who is known for being able to stick to the assignment and then move on without a thought. I think he had some developing to do in this story. I liked his protectiveness and caring ways as well.

These two characters are both undeniably drawn to each other, but neither knows why. It is forbidden, yet they both want to taste that fruit. Eden is especially confused as she is mortal and does not know about angels. This leads to some sexual tension between the characters as they both try and fight their desires. What makes it even better is that because of Alex’s role, he has to stay close to her which means the tension just continues to build.

I liked the way the author wrote this story. I loved the dual point of view between characters. Readers get to better understand the angel world, while also getting to experience what the mortal being thrown into this new world is going through. I think it adds a layer needed in the book. The pace of the book is good as well. The only complaint I had about the book was some of the characters reactions were a bit unrealistic for me personally, but it was not enough to affect my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It makes me want to go back and read the other books in the series to see where these other characters have been. I would recommend this book to others who like books in this genre. I think that you should give this book a try, especially if you like angel books. Great job!

Star Ratings:

Plot: 5/5

Character: 5/5

Heat: 5/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

REVIEW - The Leverager - C.L Masonite

TITLE - The Leverager 

AUTHOR - C.L Masonite

Pre-Order from

Releases August 4th



BLURB:

No one knows who The Leverager is, or if they do, they keep his identity a closely guarded secret. You ask to him to do a favor, any favor and he’ll do it, for a price in return of course. 

He’s exclusive; he meets the needs of his clients one at a time. They say his price is different according to each client, sometimes it’s money, sometimes it’s trade secrets and sometimes it’s a favor that you’ll have to repay in the future. 

The price is always extortionate—when you make a deal with the devil it always is. And I was willing to pay.

REVIEW:

This book was unlike any others I have read recently. I really enjoyed this book and think others will too. I will mention that there are some very serious topics discussed in this book that could be triggers for some. There is a lot of mystery, redemption, heat, romance, and, most importantly, healing in this book. Honestly, I think everyone should give this book a try.

This book caught my attention because of the blurb. I just wanted to know what the Leverager really did. I didn’t expect what I found. This plot was wonderfully written. The main female character is broken and in need of assistance from the Leverager, but not the kind you would expect. This book made me laugh and cry. At times, I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation for the next scene. 

Hendrik is a dangerous man. He leads a life that others would find surprising and scary. He has a past that haunts him. Emerson also has a past that haunts her. She is lost in life trying to find her way while also trying to heal on her own. She is damaged goods that just needs someone to come along and handle with care. The big question is can they heal each other or will they just cause more damage in the end?

Due to the nature of this book, it would seem like there would not be much heat, but you would be wrong. This book is all about healing and finding ways to heal. One of the ways for Emerson to heal is to face her fears and trauma. This leads to some hot and sexy scenes between the characters.

The author did a wonderful job with the serious content of this book. She took care in describing the characters reactions which means a lot to readers. I also loved the fact that she had this huge mystery tied up in a tight ball that she unraveled slowly for readers. This book has so many twists and turns that you will be amazed when you reach the end of the story. I can honestly say I did not expect that ending! I love being surprised!

Overall, this is a wonderful romantic suspense novel. I would recommend it to others who could handle some serious topics mixed in with an amazing story.  I loved everything about this book, from the plot to the characters, to the big surprise ending. I hope you love this story as much as I did.

Star Ratings:

Plot: 5/5

Character: 5/5

Heat: 5/5

Writing Style: 455

Overall: 5/5

REVIEW - Havoc (Moonshine Taskforce #3) - Laramie Briscoe

TITLE - Havoc (Moonshine Task Force #3)

AUTHOR - Laramie Briscoe

 Pre-Order

Releases August 18th

BLURB:

When a marriage of convenience turns into the passion of a lifetime…..

Holden “Havoc” Thompson

My job as the leader of the Moonshine Task Force is my life. I eat, breathe, and sleep it. The men under my command mean the world to me. Knowing they count on my guidance has kept my demons at bay for longer than I care to admit.

The control I have over myself is an iron fist that sometimes threatens to squeeze the life out of me. What I want more than anything is to live again – let go of the hurt smothering every bit of light I have in this darkness.

I don’t expect it to come in the form of a Moonshiner’s daughter needing my protection.

Leighton Strather

My whole life has been defined by who my family is. In the state of Alabama, we’re number one with a target on our backs. The danger and prestige isn’t for me. I don’t care about the money, and I care too much about the families we’ve ruined.

My brother and my dad are proud of it. They wear their arrest records like a badge of honor. Me? I want as far away from the lifestyle as I can get.

It’s the only reason I ask Holden to marry me.

I never expect his whispered yes to cause such upheaval in my life. Even though I resist, I learn some havoc is good – and this one? It’s a whirlwind of lust, hope, and love and all I can do is let it sweep me away. 

REVIEW:

Havoc is book three in the Moonshine Taskforce series. This is the book I was most excited about because of the storyline. Each book in the series is about a different couple, but I would suggest you read them in order to get the full effect of the larger plot going on throughout the whole series.  This story has a little bit of everything. There is mystery, romance, heat, devastation, and redemption. 

Havoc follows the leader of the taskforce as he makes an important life changing decision to protect someone he cares about. He takes in a girl who he might care more about than he lets on to others. If you have read the other books, then you know who this girl is, who she needs protecting from, and why she needs to be protected. I think her direct involvement and the drastic measure Holden takes is what drew me to this book. You find out about this measure really quickly in the book, but I don’t want to give anything away so that is all I will say for now.

The characters in this book have a lot to work through. Holden is an older man who is responsible for a lot of people in this life. He also has feelings he is unsure how to really handle. Above all, he feels guilt for the drastic measure he has taken. Leighton has guilt of her own from her past. She has a lot of baggage she has to work through and overcome to be able to fully move on with her life. Both of these characters go on a journey with each other trying to find themselves and what to expect from their future.

 The heat in this book is sizzling. These characters are both very passionate people who care deeply about each other. There is also a history between the two of them. This also leads to more tension between the characters due to the history. The author did not skimp on the heat in this book!

The writing style of this author is amazing. I love how she wrote a whole series with a main plot, but each individual book is actually quite different than the others. I think that is really makes her books seem new and exciting. I also loved the time jump she included in this book. I really like the way this author writes overall. 

In conclusion, I loved this book and the others in the series. After having such anticipation for this book before reading it, I can say it did not disappoint. This is my favorite book in the entire series. I cannot wait to read the next story that I am sure she is busy writing. I would recommend this book and series to others.

Star Ratings:

Plot: 5/5

Character: 5/5

Heat: 5/5

Writing Style: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Release Blitz - Up To Bat - Maggie Schuler

Title: Up to Bat

Series: The Diamond Series

Author: Maggie Jane Schuler

Genre: NA Romance

Release Date: July 25, 2017

Photographer: RplusMphoto

Cover Models: Davy Muscle and Kayla Barnes

Cover Design: Mr. @ Maggie Jane Schuler

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35387011-up-to-bat

Blurb:

Samantha Sawyer, a busy college junior, is thrown a curveball when she's asked to mentor Adriana, a shy freshman with secrets and mysteries.

Unfortunately, these secrets lead Sam into a dangerous game she’s not sure she can win. Her salvation comes packaged in the tall, sexy, and self-assured Blake Angel. Can he save her, or is he really the devil in disguise?

Review:

Up to Bat was not what I was expecting.  I actually liked the book, even though my first impressions were different than what the book actually was. This is a romantic suspense that ends in a cliffhanger. The book is worth a read as it is thrilling, but some minor improvements could make it a 5 star read.

The plot of the book is vague when reading the blurb. The name of the book leads to the assumption that the book will be about baseball. Baseball is a minor part of the story, but not enough to satisfy my desire for the book to feature baseball more. With that being said, the actual plot was interesting. It drew me in and had me wanting to know what happens next. Even the cliffhanger was written well.

The characters were written pretty well. Blake is an interesting character. I like his personality and fierceness. Sam was a pretty good character as well, but I felt at times she was careless. It is hard to say much more without giving away major plot points, but let’s just say, some of the things that occur could have been avoided by just being more observant and cautious.

There is chemistry between these characters and I feel it is really the main focus of the story. I don’t usually mind this in books, but I felt the main focus should have been on the plot more. These characters are good together though so I like the heat that did come with that. I think reading more about these two will be fun in future books.

The style of the book is where I find the most issues. There was quite a bit of time jumping going around, which isn’t bad per say, but I felt it was distracting. I also felt the story was not as authentic as it could be. There were certain situations that I thought were out of the norm for what would happen in real life. I can’t say exactly what that is without giving away the story, but let’s just say I think Blake did not handle things as well as I would expect someone in his position. I usually don’t mention things like the cover because it does not really effect my personal thoughts of a book, but I will say I also feel the cover misrepresents the story.

Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book, even with the minor issues. I cannot wait to find out what kind of trouble Sam gets herself into in the next book. I would recommend this book to others, especially friends who like romantic suspense books. Wonderful story!

Star Ratings:

Plot: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Heat: 4/5

Writing Style: 3/5

Overall: 4/5

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2uYGkUp

iBooks: http://bit.ly/ibooksMJSUptoBat

Nook: http://bit.ly/NookMJSUptoBat

Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboMJSUptoBat

Praise for Maggie

Amazon Review - “I absolutely loved all the suspense and intrigue on the story line”

Amazon Review - “Hit a home run with this book!”

Amazon Review - “A five star homerun!”

Author Bio:

Maggie Jane Schuler is a wife, mother of three almost-grown children, and teacher by day. While she has always loved to read, the thought of writing her own prose did not strike until she was in the middle of writing her Master’s Thesis. From that point on she was hooked.

She Resides in Southern California. Besides the family and books, she loves baseball. Since the Dodgers, Angels, and Padres are all within a short distance, and the Giants and Athletics a nice weekend jaunt away, she’s got plenty of games to take in during the season. Additionally, she enjoys cooking, movies, the beach, and the local mountains. She’s most content being with her family engaged in whatever activity they have planned.

Connect with the Author:

Website: www.maggiejaneschuler.com

FB: bit.ly/AuthorMaggieJaneSchulerFB

FB Reader Group:bit.ly/TheNaughtyNerdyNest

Twitter: bit.ly/MaggieJaneSchulerTwitter

IG: bit.ly/maggiejanenerdynovelistInstagram

Google+: bit.ly/MJSchulerGooglePlus

Goodreads: bit.ly/GoodreadsMJS

Amazon: Author.to/AmazonMaggieJaneSchuler

Giveaway 2 $10.00 Amazon Gift Cards

Direct Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/81aa78941396

REVIEW - Your Fierce Love - Layla Hagen

TITLE - Your Fierce Love

AUTHOR - Layla Hagen

BLURB:

Clara Abernathy adores the Bennett family. After growing up in group homes, she yearns for the warmth and love of a family, and the Bennetts treat her like one of their own. So when Clara needs a temporary place to live, Blake Bennett suggests she move next door to him.
The offer is tempting. The problem? So is Blake himself. Handsome, funny, and alpha, he’s six feet two of eye candy... and his outlook on life is completely different from hers. But Clara finds it difficult enough to resist his charms at family events. How is she supposed to resist him when he’s just one wall away, and hell-bent on having her?
Blake Bennett knows family friends are off-limits for good reasons, and Clara is more off-limits than anyone else. But Blake went through life and made his fortune in the gastronomy industry by bending rules rather than following them. Clara’s sweetness and sass fill a hole in him he wasn’t even aware of. Soon he finds himself gravitating around her. He wants to have her and he will, rules be damned.
YOUR FIERCE LOVE is the seventh book in Layla Hagen's Bennett Family series, but all books stand alone.

REVIEW:


“Friends to lovers, 5 stars”

Clara was part of the system growing up. Her parents died when she was young causing her to have attachment issues. When she lets you in, she lets you in. Clara let the Bennett family in and it was one of the best things she’s ever done. Until she thinks about Blake. She’s always had feelings towards him, but not enough to risk losing the family she feels like is her own. But what happens if Blake wants her…

Blake has always noticed Clara, just not enough to do anything about it until she moves in next door. He finds himself trying to insert himself into her life. Be it helping her move or bringing her coffee. When the line is finally crossed there is no going back, they sealed their fate. They are a match made in heaven, until they hit a road bump. What happens when one doesn’t take it well? Will redemption happen?

I loved how flawlessly Blake and Clara shifted from friends to lovers. It was an easy transition not only for them but for Blake’s family. It was a sweet easy read. I would totally recommend it if you don’t have a lot of time to read but need to read. It felt like it went by fast without rushing. Defiantly one-click.

 Star Ratings:

Plot-5/5

Characters- 5/5

Heat-5/5

Writing style-5/5

Overall-5/5

Release Blitz - Guarding Eden - Cameo Renae

Title: Guarding Eden (A Midway Novel)

Author: Cameo Renae

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: CHBB

Cover Designer: Stefanie Saw

Edited by: Victoria Schmitz - Crimson Tide Editorial

Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Blurb:

***The Midway Novels are spin-offs of the Hidden Wings Series, but each book can be read as a standalone.***

Tucked away at an upscale, private boarding school in Brindle Hollow, Washington, seventeen-year-old Eden East comes face to face with a hideous creature on her walk back to her dorm. Shaken to her core, she's left questioning the world around her, and soon finds herself entering a friendship with a hot, new student named Alexander.

Little does she know, Alex is a Guardian Angel, sent from Midway to protect her from those dangerous creatures—known as Darkling—lurking in the forest outside Brindle Hall. It isn’t long before Alex learns this is no ordinary assignment. Eden’s existence holds a secret; something hidden from even herself.

Eden is thrust into a world where Fallen angels and creatures of the Underworld will stop at nothing to catch her. With Alex at her side and a little help from some of his old friends, they form a formidable front against the enemy.

 Hopefully, it’s not too little, too late.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35441918-guarding-eden

Review:

Escape into a wonderful new world! Or at least it is a new world to me. Guarding Eden can be read as a standalone as I had never heard of the Midway Series until I read this book. It is obvious there are some other books featuring other characters, but it did not matter if I read them or not to fully enjoy this book. This book has a bit of mystery, action, and romance. I really enjoyed this book.

The plot of this book is simple. A guardian angel is sent to watch over a mortal after an incident occurs that causes the mortal to be in danger. What neither the guardian nor the mortal know is that there is much more to this assignment than either could imagine. This plot was done wonderfully. I have not read any angel books in a while, so this was a nice reintroduction into the genre.

Eden is a wonderful character. She is quite strong willed even though she comes off as shy and timid. I love her personality and how she cares so much for those around her. I think that is an important aspect to her character. Alex is a great character as well. He is a guardian angel who is known for being able to stick to the assignment and then move on without a thought. I think he had some developing to do in this story. I liked his protectiveness and caring ways as well.

These two characters are both undeniably drawn to each other, but neither knows why. It is forbidden, yet they both want to taste that fruit. Eden is especially confused as she is mortal and does not know about angels. This leads to some sexual tension between the characters as they both try and fight their desires. What makes it even better is that because of Alex’s role, he has to stay close to her which means the tension just continues to build.

I liked the way the author wrote this story. I loved the dual point of view between characters. Readers get to better understand the angel world, while also getting to experience what the mortal being thrown into this new world is going through. I think it adds a layer needed in the book. The pace of the book is good as well. The only complaint I had about the book was some of the characters reactions were a bit unrealistic for me personally, but it was not enough to affect my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It makes me want to go back and read the other books in the series to see where these other characters have been. I would recommend this book to others who like books in this genre. I think that you should give this book a try, especially if you like angel books. Great job!

Star Ratings:

Plot: 5/5

Character: 5/5

Heat: 5/5

Writing Style: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Author Bio: 

2016 Young Adult Author of the Year - Penned Con

2013 Break Out Author by Young Adult & Teen Readers

2013 Book of the Year (Hidden Wings)

Cameo Renae was born in San Francisco, raised in Maui, Hawaii, and recently moved with her husband and children to Alaska.

She's a daydreamer and a caffeine and peppermint addict who loves to laugh, loves to read, and loves to escape reality. One of her greatest joys is creating fantasy worlds filled with adventure and romance and sharing it with others.

One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe and ride away on her magical unicorn. Until then...she'll keep writing!

HAPPY READING!

Author Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/CameoRenaeBooks/

Blog: http://cameorenae.blogspot.com/

Website: http://cameorenae.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CameoRenae

Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CameoRenaeFanClub/

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/23HGKIy

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mycZJj

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4794993.Cameo_Renae

Buy Link:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2h74w1p