Friday, March 29, 2024

Stacked by Linden Bell Instagram Tour

Blog Tour. Linden Bell’s Stacked.

When the person you desire is so close, and yet so far.

SAWYER

I've been in love with my best friend and roommate since the first day of boarding school over a decade ago. But Preston has always been oblivious, obsessed with his PhD research, and more importantly, straight.

When the new, sexy grad student walks into my gym, I have to wonder... is it time for me to move on?

PRESTON

Some guy is trying to steal my best friend. I won't let him. Sawyer's mine.

Maybe I haven't appreciated Sawyer enough over the years, but that's going to change now. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him by my side. Even if it means kissing him.

Stacked is a best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, nerd/jock, MM romance between possessive, protective, and co-dependent roommates. Expect the most tender caretaking, slipping into each other's beds in the middle of the night, and adorable clinginess. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Mars Fitness series!
For book one, Ripped, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Stacked by Linden Bell

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Excerpt



“Who the hell are you?”

Mom and I spin around at the new voice.

In the doorway is another boy, shorter than me and scrawny. The school uniform he’s wearing is wrinkled, one pant leg is caught in a sock, and the tie is loose and off-center. He’s got a mop of black hair and thick black-framed glasses, but what really catches my attention are his eyes.

They’re blue. Like the ocean. Like the sky. And they’re zeroed in on me with such intensity that my lungs stop working. My brain stops working. The only response I’ve got is whoa and cool.

Beside me, Mom clears her throat and steps forward. She puts on her mom voice when she speaks. “This is Sawyer and I’m his mom, Ms. Paige. He’s moving into this room today. And you are?”

The mom voice works because the boy shrinks back and clutches the textbook he’s holding closer to his chest. “Preston Boyer,” he says, eyeing Mom warily.

“So nice to meet you, Preston.” Then she hooks her thumb over to my side of the room. “Would all this be yours?”

Preston’s eyes dart from Mom to the bed, piled high with clothes, to me. There’s a little furrow in his brow like he’s trying to think of a response and drawing a blank. Like maybe all this stuff isn’t actually his.

Then he blurts out, “You’re not my roommate.”

Mom’s in front of me, so I can’t see her face, but I know exactly what it looks like. Her eyebrows are halfway up her forehead and her lips are pursed into her “What did you just say?” expression.

Oh shit. Preston’s in trouble.

“As a matter of fact, he is. Sawyer’s enrolling as a student at Westbourne and he’s been assigned to this double room. So your choices are to become friends and get along or find another room to sleep in. Either way, you need to move your things. Now.”

With each word coming out of Mom’s mouth, Preston shrinks into himself even further. I kind of feel bad for him, even if he’s being a jerk. Getting on Mom’s bad side is never a good idea.

“Hey, Pres. What’s taking so long?” A pretty blond girl wearing a cheerleading uniform materializes behind Preston. It takes a second for her to notice me and Mom in the room. “Oh! Hi! You must be Sawyer.”

She squeezes past Preston and approaches Mom with a big smile plastered on her face. The girl is brave. “I’m Madison. Preston’s girlfriend.” She extends a hand for Mom to shake, then does the same with me.

“Mads!” Preston hisses like Madison is consorting with the enemy. “What are you doing?”

Madison glances back at him. “I’m welcoming them. Come on, Pres, don’t be a jerk. You knew you were getting a roommate.”

“No, I didn’t!” Preston shuffles into the room, staying behind Madison like she can protect him from Mom. Madison looks like she can hold her own, but no one can stand in Mom’s way if she’s determined.

“Yes, you did.” She rolls her eyes and turns to the mess on Preston’s desk. “The Residence Office sent you a letter, remember?”

She shuffles through his things, tossing them around as Preston’s expression grows pained. He’s probably one of those people who has some weird ass filing system that only makes sense to them.

“Here it is!” Triumphantly, Madison holds a crumpled piece of paper high in the air. It’s the same thick cream-colored stuff that my acceptance letter was printed on. “Sawyer Paige. Moving in September twentieth. Please clear away any personal items that have been stored on the other side of the room.”

As one, we all stare at the personal items that have definitely not been cleared away.

Silence stretches for long moments before Madison breaks it. “No worries! I can help! It shouldn’t take too long.” She marches over with a big grin and grabs a stack of books off the desk.

“No! Wait!” Preston drops the textbook he’s holding and reaches for the ones in Madison’s hands. “You can’t just move stuff around! I have a system!”

Ha. Called it. This guy is strange. Living with him is going to be a drag, but at least I don’t have to worry about being the token loner.

“Fine, here, I’ll hand you the stuff and you put it wherever you want, okay?” Madison takes him by the shoulders and spins him around so he’s facing his side of the room again. “Just keep it all over there.”

Did she say she was his girlfriend? How the hell did a confident, pretty cheerleader end up with this disaster of a guy? I exchange a look with Mom, who has to be thinking exactly the same thing.

Then she sighs and pats me on the shoulder. “Looks like you’re all going to get along just fine.”

It’s going to be a long year.

 

 

He’s a disaster. And I love him.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Angie☆☆☆☆
Preston and Sawyer have been best friends since high school. They are now adults and roommates. Sawyer has been in love with Preston since the day he met him. Preston is clueless but very codependent on Sawyer. Sawyer is a jock; Preston is your typical academic type.

Sawyer is such a sweetheart, I loved him instantly. Preston is so involved with his dissertation that he forgets to eat, sleep, or basically anything else at times. If it wasn't for Sawyer and Madison, he'd be lost. Their friendship is close… I mean super close.

One day Fritz walks into Sawyer’s work and he is gobsmacked. Sawyer didn't realize it until almost the end of the book, but the reason he was drawn to Fritz was he is similar to Preston in looks and even their academics.

This was a sweet book, light on the angst and a good happily ever after.


Shannan☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Stacked is the second book in the Mars Fitness series. It can be read as a standalone without issue.

Preston and Sawyer have been best friends since Sawyer's first day at boarding school. Now, years later, they live together while Preston is getting his Masters and Sawyer takes classes and works at the gym. Sawyer has been in love with Preston for years, but Preston has a singular focus for his work. Sawyer takes care of Preston when he forgets to eat, sleep, or just take a break from his research. Preston is dependent on Sawyer – he'd forget everything if Sawyer wasn't there to keep him on track.

Sawyer meets Fitz at the gym. He's a new member and he and Sawyer have instant chemistry. Sawyer is tired of waiting for Preston to realize what's in front of him and starts dating Fitz. Fitz is also working under Preston, which Preston is not happy about. When he suddenly realizes Sawyer is spending time with Fitz, he is jealous but can't figure out what that feeling is.

Eventually Sawyer and Preston get their stuff together and become a couple. I really like Sawyer and Preston, but the addition of Fitz (which is a big part of the beginning of the book) didn't add to the story for me. I needed to finish but I spent a lot of time putting this one down and picking it back up. I was cheering for Sawyer and Preston, but it was just too much for them to get there for me.

I am interested in seeing what's next for this gym!

 

 

I can’t imagine my life without him, and I don’t want to.

 

Author Bio


Linden Bell. Romance that heats you up and makes you smile.

LINDEN BELL writes contemporary MM romances that heat you up and make you smile.

Connect with Linden Bell!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway


 

 

He’s mine. You can’t have him.

 

Hosted by

Gay Romance Reviews Tours & Promo.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Stacked (Mars Fitness #2) by Linden Bell to read and review.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Below Grade by Elle Keaton

Below Grade. Reclaimed Hearts Series. Elle Keaton.

A serious health scare forces Martin Purdy to rethink his life. He quits his job, sells his house, and buys a set of fixer-upper cabins on the coast. There’s just one teensy problem. Along with the property comes a very angry man.

Nicholas Waugh had his own scare, bad enough that he slunk back to the crappy town he grew up in. With no home to call his own, he finagles a security gig keeping an eye on a set of vacant cabins. The deal comes with a free one-year lease–and he’s not leaving a day sooner. Not even if the new owner gets down on his knees and begs him.

Okay… maybe if he got down on his knees.

Fifteen years of teaching college freshmen and patience is second nature to Martin. But Nick is giving Martin a run for his money. He’s one suggestive chainsaw sculpture away from justifiable homicide. If that wasn't enough, when he's not infuriated with Nick, Martin finds himself fighting an inappropriate and ridiculous attraction to the much younger man

Everyone in Cooper Springs thinks Nick is crying wolf, but creepy stuff is going on around town and he is the only one paying attention. Human remains found in the forest, and a body dumped on the property he’s in charge of, have Nick on high alert.

Meanwhile, all Martin wants to do is get started on the remodel. Instead, he’s fighting with Nick over things that go bump in the night and losing sleep worrying he’s made a disastrously wrong decision.

Failure is not an option.

What will it take for Nick to let his guard down? What will it take for Martin to admit that age is just a number and Nick is more than man enough for him?

Welcome to Cooper Springs, home to UFO chasers, Sasquatch believers, conspiracy theorists, chainsaw artists, and regular folk just trying to make a living. And, quite possibly, a killer.

Below Grade is second in the Reclaimed Hearts series, set in the wilds of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, it is an opposites-attract, age gap, only one bed, grumpy-sunshine, small-town romance, with a little murder.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Reclaimed Hearts series!
For book one, Adverse Conditions, click HERE.
For book three, Red Flagged, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Below Grade by Elle Keaton

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Professor Martin Purdy had evolved from an easy-on-the-eyes instructor to a hot silver fox.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, as getting a sense of the place and the people is important in the overall story. By the end of the first book, we knew that the cabins had been sold to an out of towner, and the worry and excitement that the newcomer posed to the town.

Martin Purdy has taken his late aunt's advice and changed everything about his future, thanks to her inheritance, and also a scary heart attack. Now he finds himself in a cold, rather desolate place with a challenge to bring tourists back to town. The friendly locals, well except his lodger, Nick Waugh. We learn quite quickly why fate has been cruel to Nick, but it is amusing watching the whole story play out as Martin does not understand what he could have done to annoy the man.

After these two become housemates due to a freak storm, we get to watch them grow closer and recognise how well they work and play together. It is entertaining to see how Nick copes with his newly found feelings after a life of being considered inadequate by his parents.

As well as the men's romance, we have the ongoing investigations following the body on the bridge and... well, I should say no more! Suffice it to say that policing in this sleepy town is maybe not so easy as the new Chief had expected!

 

 

This was a standoff, like Wyatt Earp and his posse, except it was Nicholas Waugh and his chainsaw.

 

Author Bio


Elle Keaton. Author Imaginator.

ELLE KEATON writes M/M romantic suspense set in the Pacific Northwest with some contemporary romance thrown in. She's passionate about writing inclusive romances with complex characters and a unique sense of place. Her characters start out broken, and maybe they’re still banged up by the end, but they find the other half of their hearts and ALWAYS get their happily ever after.

In 2017 Elle hit the publish button for the first time and hasn't looked back. Being an author is the best job Elle has ever had and now she has over thirty books available for you to read or listen to!


She loves cats and dogs, Star Wars and Star Trek, pineapple on pizza, and has a cribbage habit her husband encourages.


Love always wins, thank you for supporting this indie author!

Connect with Elle Keaton!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: The Highway to Elle

 

 

“Is he going to pay you with pornographic chainsaw art?”

 

ARC provided by

Gay Romance Reviews Tours & Promo.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Below Grade (Reclaimed Hearts #2) by Elle Keaton to read and review.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Funny Guy by Emma Barry

Are Sam’s feelings for Bree just funny business? Or is their smoldering attraction the real deal?

From the author of Chick Magnet comes a heartfelt friends-to-lovers story about what can happen when a funny guy and his childhood best friend are stuck together in a small New York City apartment.

Sam can’t escape the smash hit “Lost Boy” because, well, he is the lost boy. His pop-singer ex immortalized him in a song about his childish ways, and now his comedy career is on the line.

At least he still has Bree, his best friend and confidante. Bree has always been there for Sam, but she’s never revealed her biggest secret: she’s in love with him. To help herself move on, Bree applies for her dream job across the country—and doesn’t say a thing to Sam.

But as Sam tries to resuscitate his career, he turns to Bree for support—and maybe more. In the confines of her tiny apartment, they share a different dynamic. A charged dynamic. But she’s his friend. He can’t be falling for her.

Except he is.

Are his feelings for Bree just funny business? Or is their smoldering attraction the real deal?

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Funny Guy by Emma Barry

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Lucy Rivers & Teddy Hamilton
~ Also Available to Read & Listen with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆
I love reading a friends-to-lovers story, but this one seemed to have something missing from the start.

Sam was a comedian who was not good with relationships except the one he had with Bree, his best friend.

Bree is a successful young woman who has loved Sam for many years. She has finally seen that Sam will not love her back when he proposed to the pop singer. When they break up, Sam runs to Bree. She can't handle much more so she decides to change jobs and move away from the city.

When Sam finally realizes that Bree is the love he has been looking for, he seems to be struggling with what to do next.

I liked Bree to a point, she was hung up on her love for Sam (I can totally relate) and all but stopped her life until she finally said to herself, no more. Sam needed to let his past go (I know, not that easy) so he can move on and live.

I found the story to be good but there weren't many funny parts that I would call it a funny romance. It was an okay story for me.

 

 

Author Bio

EMMA BARRY is a teacher, novelist, recovering academic, and former political staffer. She lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, and she occasionally finds time to read and write.

Connect with Emma Barry!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 
 

ARC provided by

Montlake.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Funny Guy by Emma Barry to read and review.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Teasing You by Samantha Chase Release Blitz

New York Times Best Selling Author. Samantha Chase. Teasing You. Available Now.

A Small Town, Second Chance, Firefighter, standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase.

She’s being suspected of setting her workplace on fire.
He needs to prove it wasn’t her.
Now he’s on a mission to convince the one that got away that they belong together.


Ashlynn Donovan’s life just hit rock bottom. She lost her job, there are no prospects on the horizon, and she just unknowingly flashed the hot new firefighter in town. This isn’t the first time she’s embarrassed herself in front of him, but she was prepared to react the same way she did years ago – by running away. But Reid’s persistent and isn’t ready to let her get away a second time.

Reid Baylor always hoped to return to Sweetbriar Ridge—the only place he’s felt a connection to after a lifetime spent moving from place to place. When he learns of an opening in the fire department, he jumps at the chance to return to the small town he wants to call home again. And just when he thinks life can’t get any better, he runs into the one girl he’s never been able to forget. But reminding Ashlynn of their embarrassing first meeting might not have been the best move, especially when he wants to prove that he’s the man for her.

When Ashlynn is suspected of arson for the fire at her former workplace, Reid’s dream of becoming a fire inspector is on the line—and so is any chance he had with Ashlynn. Will his chance at getting both his dream job and the girl of his dreams go up in flames?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge series!
For book one, Loving You, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Teasing You by Samantha Chase

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Paperback (US)

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Carly Robins

 

 

Dirty blonde hair that was cropped short, a strong jaw, kissable lips, and basically made a very appealing hero.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up

This is the second book in the series, and I would recommend you start at book one as you will be well acquainted with Sweetbriar Ridge if you do – and we see how Lyric and Mason's relationship progresses here too, which is fun.

Ashlynn is not really presented in the best of lights, although as the book develops, we can see that maybe her initial outburst is not entirely unprovoked. She is not one to forgive and forget – which is why when her high school nemesis, Reid, moves into town, she is not really rational!

It is fun to watch them understand the viewpoint of the other and take steps to move past the embarrassment and forge a real connection. Inevitably there is some drama – with a rather strange twist to the plot and plays out rather slowly – but it does give Ashlynn a chance to grow up a bit and move forward with a better outlook on life and love.

I do enjoy the side plot of the local ski resort being developed and can see lots of opportunities for fun stories ahead!

 

 

Author Bio

SAMANTHA CHASE is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance that's hotter than sweet, sweeter than hot. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than eighty titles under her belt – including The Christmas Cottage which was a Hallmark Christmas movie in 2017 and The Wedding Season which was a Hallmark wedding movie in 2023!

She’s a Disney enthusiast who still happily listens to 80’s rock. When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Solitaire when she should be writing, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene… oh, and spending time with her husband of 32 years and their two sons in Wake Forest, North Carolina.


Connect with Samantha Chase!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Samantha's Romance Chasers

 

 

But when she looked up and met his gaze, it was so damn sexy that she figured she was alright. “Reid?”     “Hmm?”     “Kiss me, please.”

 

Hosted by

Valentine PR & Literary Management.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Teasing You (The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge #2) by Samantha Chase to read and review.

Monday, March 25, 2024

Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Welcome to the Dark Horse Dive Bar, where the Wildes throw one hell of a party and love could be a barstool away!

New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s page-turning Dark Horse Dive Bar series continues with this story of love lost... and found… as a widow seeking to heal her heart crosses paths with a rancher/bartender who offers her a taste of adventure.

Welcome to the Dark Horse Dive Bar, where the Wildes throw one hell of a party and love could be a barstool away!

Landscape artist, Layla Brock, knows what it feels like to love someone so completely you’d do anything for them—even take their secrets to the grave. Widowed after her husband’s betrayals and tragic death, Layla is searching for a new scene to paint, a new life to live. And Wyoming feels like the perfect place to get lost and find herself again.

Jax Wilde runs the family ranch, but has a few side hustles: wrangling his sisters, covering shifts at the Dark Horse Dive Bar, and renting out cabins to tourists looking for the ranch experience. His busy schedule, plus a bad breakup, equals no personal life. And then she showed up. And the woman he thought he had nothing in common with turned out to be his perfect match.

Layla knows what it feels like to lose everything. Jax is a man who wants it all—a wife, children, a life filled with happy memories. It’s a beautiful picture of a life Layla thought she’d had but turned out to be a lie. This could be her second chance…

Until her secrets begin to unravel and a new threat is revealed. There’s one difference this time: she has Jax Wilde on her side…

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Dark Horse Dive Bar series!
For book one, Wilde Love, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Paperback (US)
Avon (HarperCollins)

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Lynn Barrington

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series – and I loved it!

The moment Jax and Layla see each other, they are smitten, and somehow the filter is off and they tell each other how they feel – completely out of character for both of them, but they just can't help it... such fun and original when most books thrive on lack of communication.

That is not to say that they don't have issues from their past relationships, and struggle to trust, but they both recognise that this is special and so are patient with each other and affirm their attraction and constancy.

I found Layla's artist's eye a refreshing way for us to imagine Wyoming, and the beauty around her; this is undoubtedly down to the talent of the author, that this is so vivid and compelling. I liked the touch about not being her work until she signs it, and that happens only as she is about to deliver the work. It was such a strong contrast to Jax's world of running a working and holiday ranch and a lively bar with his family.

This was a really good story with lots of layers, with a passionate romance for a super hot and sexy couple at the middle of it.

 

 

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author JENNIFER RYAN writes suspenseful contemporary romances about everyday people who do extraordinary things. Her deeply emotional love stories are filled with high stakes and higher drama, love, family, friendship, and the happily-ever-after we all hope to find.

Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

Connect with Jennifer Ryan!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 
 

ARC provided by

Avon Books.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Wilde for You (Dark Horse Dive Bar #2) by Jennifer Ryan to read and review.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Find Me by Stacey Kennedy

She’s cloaked in mystery, but he’s determined to uncover all her secrets… Now available!

USA Today bestselling author, Stacey Kennedy returns to the mysterious world of the Phoenix club for this final chapter, where she's cloaked in mystery, but he's determined to uncover all her secrets.

Retired Navy SEAL, Hawke Foster, thought his days of danger were over. But when he takes a job as security detail at Phoenix, an exclusive sex club in New York City, he’s proven wrong. A sophisticated surveillance device has been found in the club and Hawke knows he needs a top private investigator. Enter Penny Larson: sharp-witted, fearless, and absolutely stunning.

When Penny agreed to investigate, she never expected to team up with the handsome and enigmatic Hawke. As they work together to unravel the truth behind the device, they are drawn to each other in ways they never expected, igniting a passion between them that cannot be denied.

But soon, the investigation heats up, and Hawke and Penny find themselves facing off against some of the most dangerous and powerful figures in the city. They know they have only one shot at stopping the looming threat… and failure could cost them everything.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Phoenix series!
For book one, Watch Me, click HERE.
For book two, Keep Me, click HERE.
For book three, Save Me, click HERE.
For book four, See Me, click HERE.
For book five, Take Me, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Find Me by Stacey Kennedy

Book 6
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Paperback (US)

 

 

“Call me your babysitter again, Red,” he said, eyes flaring. “And I’ll show you how I handle you.”

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary☆☆☆☆☆
I have loved this series and looked forward to each new release. The stories are filled with a little suspense, a little drama, and a lot of romance. You know there will be some steamy scenes when the characters visit Club Phoenix.

Hawke Foster, a retired Navy SEAL, is part of the Phoenix security. When a high-tech device is found, he needs help locating who planted it and why. Penny Larson is a high-tech hacker and just the person for the job. What Hawke wasn't expecting was Penny – she is good at what she does and he is drawn to her.

As Penny and Hawke get closer to the threat to Phoenix, they become closer to each other. Their chemistry is on fire. Can Hawke protect Penny while she does her job? Will they begin a relationship after the dust settles?

I highly recommend this series. I cannot express how much I have loved each and every story. I hope you give it a try and that you enjoy it too.


Avid Reader☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance

Penny is a white hat hacker who doesn't trust easily. She knows the worst of society and only trusts a few people. When she's pulled in by a trusted friend to help find who is spying on Phoenix, Penny doesn't expect Hawke.

Hawke is a retired SEAL and knows that Penny is skittish. The draw that Penny has on Hawke is something he's never experienced before and he wants to be counted among those she can trust.

The threat to Phoenix is close and as Penny narrows down the suspects, Hawke has to keep Penny safe.

Hawke and Penny have hot chemistry throughout the story, and I love watching them feel their feelings, trust their instincts, and search out the bad guys. This is a fast-paced story that will leave you breathless.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the sixth book in the series, and I most definitely recommend that you read them in order. The story starts with a discovery made at the very end of the last installment, and continues earlier storylines to satisfy those of us who want to see how relationships progress.

The secrecy of the club is in danger given that a spying bug has been uncovered. Hawke has to bring in help to find out just how far things have been compromised. Head of Security, Archer's wife Elise, brings in her expert white hacker, Penny. Banding together, Hawke and Penny have to work against time to ensure the privacy of the members is maintained, and the perpetrator is disabled. I really enjoyed the cybersecurity twists and turns and the camaraderie which develops between them as they sleuth.

For a relatively short novel, this story packs a lot of punch from a drama perspective and delivers a delicious and well deserved love story too – thank you, Stacey Kennedy, for a very enjoyable series!

 

 

Author Bio

USA Today bestselling author STACEY KENNEDY has written more than fifty romances, including titles in her wildly hot Club Sin, Phoenix, and Devil’s Bluffs series. Her books are about real people with real-life problems, searching for that special thing we call love... in a very sexy way.

When she’s not burning up the pages and setting e-readers ablaze, she’s living her happily-ever-after with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario, Canada. She’s a firm believer that wine, chocolate, and sinfully sexy books can cure all of life’s problems.

Connect with Stacey Kennedy!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

“You don’t do dangerous things?”     “Nope,” she said, fighting against the blush creeping along her cheeks that told her he wondered if she considered him a dangerous thing.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Find Me (Phoenix #6) by Stacey Kennedy to read and review.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

The Hero by Susan Stoker

New York Times Bestselling Author. Susan Stoker. Game of Chance.

In this thrilling romance from New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker, an ex-military man is on a mission to rescue a wrongfully imprisoned archaeologist—and to make her rightfully his.

Any soldier who gets out of the service with his life should be happy to leave danger behind. Though his army brothers are content running their new business in Maine, Kendric “Bob” Evans isn’t ready to give up the fight. He’s been supplementing his hours with covert rescue missions organized by the FBI. But his latest charge may be more than he bargained for.

Marlowe Kennedy is on a routine archaeology dig in Thailand when she’s arrested for drug trafficking. She has suspicions about the true culprit, but even when she’s rescued from prison, there’s nothing she can do about it without proof. Her protective bodyguard’s only objective is to keep her safe until they cross the border into friendly territory.

The best way to do that? Travel as man and wife.

After returning to Maine, as Bob and Marlowe navigate this treacherous terrain with the help of their friends, they face vengeful authorities, a vindictive frame job, and perhaps most important of all—turning their fake marriage into something real.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Game of Chance series!
For book one, The Protector, click HERE.
For book two, The Royal, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

The Hero by Susan Stoker

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Lucy Rivers & Aaron Shedlock
~ Also Available to Read & Listen with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

He was in big trouble. This woman had him wrapped around her little finger after a total of a few hours... and she had no clue.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Avid Reader☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance

Kendric Evans (aka Bob) loves his friends. He loves his life too. However, something is missing. He misses the thrill of the mission. When he realizes that he can have his friends' backs in Maine, but also continue doing missions on his own, he knows this is his calling. While on a mission, Bob has the chance to help Marlowe.

Marlowe is an archeologist. It's not something she ever thought she'd be doing. Instead, she kind of fell into the career. And while she does love finding new things, her real desire is to be more settled. Marlowe now finds herself living in a foreign prison for something she knows she didn't do.

When Bob helps Marlowe escape, they will have to lean on each other much sooner than they thought. Both will need to trust the other and will have to hope that they can make it out alive.

When forces back home threaten their newfound peace, Bob will need to come clean about his missions and his friends will have to step up.

You won't be disappointed in this book. It's fast paced and a great story. I can't wait for more.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in a very enjoyable series about a group of retired military men who have settled down in business together and are finding their ways in the non-combat world, coping with their nightmares and the slower pace of life. But one of them can't quite let go of the excitement and has been doing recovery missions for the FBI on the quiet.

I really liked the idea that at least one of the guys found rural life a little difficult to take, and wanted to actively seek out adventure. It is even more enjoyable that on this occasion, he too would find the very reason he needed to move forward in life. It works on so many levels – him relying on his friends in his time of urgent need, their acceptance of his need for excitement, but also their joy for him as his life takes a new, safer shape.

Marlowe is an interesting person, clearly a competent archeologist, but actually she fell into it by chance and, like many people, craves a more settled life, just as everything goes wrong. Kendric (aka Bob) rescues her just in time, and their escape involves a most unexpected, but fortuitous union. Now to see if they can be honest with each other and make it work!

It was good to catch up with the rest of the guys and see how their relationships are developing – I am already looking forward to the next installment.

 

 

She couldn't be his. This wasn't fate. She wasn't his soulmate.

 

Author Bio



SUSAN STOKER is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose series include Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, SEAL of Protection, and Delta Force Heroes. Married to a retired Army noncommissioned officer, Stoker has lived all over the country—from Missouri and California to Colorado, Texas, and Tennessee—and currently lives in the beautiful wilds of Maine. A true believer in happily ever after, Stoker enjoys writing novels in which romance turns to love.

Connect with Susan Stoker!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Susan Stoker's Stalkers

 

 

No matter how many times he told himself those things, the feeling that he was destined to be right where he was, right this second, wouldn't rest.

 

ARC provided by

Montlake.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Hero (Game of Chance #3) by Susan Stoker to read and review.