Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

Who left the body on the beach? And who’s next? Their dream getaway has become a nightmare destination…

Three tight-knit friends embark on an extravagant divorce trip to the Maldives where they can unwind and celebrate a new chapter in midlife—until they realize the resort of their dreams is harboring a killer.

Best friends Darcy, Camilla, and Kate escape for a post-divorce retreat in the Maldives, the perfect place to relax, reset, and embrace a fresh start in life. Darcy is learning how to be a free woman at forty-two. Camilla has found the perfect calling as a fitness and wellness influencer with a devoted following. And Kate is finally working on the book she was meant to write after years of telling other people’s stories.

Their dream getaway? The exclusive and isolated Sapphire Island Resort. With luxurious private villas, crystal-clear waters, and sun-drenched white sand beaches, relaxation is guaranteed. But this is no ordinary friendship, and they’re not the only guests on the island with secrets. Who left the body on the beach—and who’s next?

A propulsive and deliciously dark tale about female friendship, loyalty, and lies, Bad Tourists is a white-hot thriller from the first page to its mind-blowing finish.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Hardcover (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Avid Reader Press (S&S)

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Lesley Sharp

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Veronica☆☆☆☆
Darcy takes her friends Camilla and Kate to the Maldives to celebrate her divorce. The tropical paradise of the Maldives is a great location for a thriller, but the story actually starts in the past with a brutal but intriguing crime that happened the day before 9/11. I knew once I was a few pages in that I was going to love this book and I was right.

Bad Tourists is told not only from the point of view of the three women but also from other characters, including Darcy’s 12-year-old son and a young woman the ladies befriend who is on her honeymoon. You’d think a story in such a lovely location would mean good times but there is danger, secrets, and violence set against the backdrop of a natural paradise. There was never a dull moment. Something was always happening.

I loved the way the story was told, both in the past and the present and from multiple points of view. It kept me guessing as the story twisted and turned, and the tension increased until we reached a violent crescendo. Bad Tourists was thoroughly entertaining and engrossing. If you are after a great mystery and thriller, I’d definitely recommend Bad Tourists.

 

 

Author Bio

CARO CARVER lives in Scotland with her husband and four children. She is Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, teaches for the Faber Academy and the Curtis Brown Academy, and regularly speaks on panels and hosts events on writing. Caro is happiest when traveling and takes inspiration from her travels to write her books. Bad Tourists is her first book written under the pseudonym of Caro Carver. She is also published as C.J. Cooke for her gothic thrillers.

Connect with Caro Carver!

Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  TikTok  ~  Goodreads

 
 

ARC provided by

Avid Reader Press.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Bad Tourists by Caro Carver to read and review.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Cover Reveal – Friction by Kindle Alexander

Cover Reveal. September 17, 2024. Can the friction of life destroy what they shared or is your first true love like gravity—an unending universal law?

BEAU BROOKS

The guy of my dreams sweeps me off my feet and over my handlebars, quite literally. But our budding relationship takes a turn when my troubled past resurfaces, shattering any hope for a future. Now, I feel like a hollowed-out version of myself. Memories of piercing blue eyes and sweeping blond hair are all that remain to get me through a day.

I know I have to make peace with my past to move forward into my future. But am I strong enough?

DASH RICHMOND

I’m the tenth child of affluent older parents, confident, and privileged. But the future they see for me isn’t how I want to live my life. A chance encounter with a guy my polar opposite changes my path indefinitely, leading me to the life I’ve always wanted.

When he’s ripped away from me, I vow to wait for his return. Now I’m stuck in limbo, unwilling to give up on him.

Can the friction of life destroy what they shared or is your first true love like gravity—an unending universal law?

The Gravity series is an unforgettable whirlwind romance chronicling the love of two men over three decades. Friction heats up the scene with passionate alpha males who navigate the often-rocky road to love. Love’s rarely easy, but when it’s true, it’s a battle worth fighting for.

 

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Friction by Kindle Alexander

Cover Designer: Lori Jackson
Photographer: Michelle Lancaster

RELEASES SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Author Bio


Kindle Alexander. Enjoy your happy ending!

Bestselling author KINDLE ALEXANDER is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It's always a surprise to see what's coming next!

For the full bio, visit Kindle’s website.

Connect with Kindle Alexander!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Kindle's Krew

 
 

Hosted by

Enticing Journey Book Promotions.

Monday, July 29, 2024

Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley Instagram Tour

Release Tour. Eden Finley’s Twincerely Yours.

EMMETT

My twin brother and I have gotten ourselves into a lot of messes growing up. We would constantly switch places to escape consequences while protecting each other at every cost.

But sleeping with Ben’s professor is a whole new level of mess, because there’s something Jonah doesn’t know. He might have been Ben’s professor last semester, but the person he was lecturing wasn’t Ben. It was me.

JONAH

From the moment I meet Emmett, I know he looks familiar but I can’t pinpoint where from. It’s not until I see his twin brother in the quad that I put two and two together.

Dating the sibling of one of my ex-students isn’t a huge problem for me, but I can’t help thinking the twins are hiding something.

The more time I spend with Emmett, the more I fall for him, but as my insecurity grows, so does my worry that I’m being played.

When my heart and my gut tell me two different things, I don’t know which to trust. My gut tells me to cut and run, but my heart won’t let me. Even though I’ve been telling myself to hold back, it’s too late. I’m already in too deep.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Franklin U 2 series!
For book one, The Hookup Mix-Up, click HERE.
For book three, Batting Style, click HERE.
For book four, Level Up, click HERE.
For book five, Full Service, click HERE.
For book six, Tongue Tied, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Twincerely Yours by Eden Finley

Book 8
Buy Links

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

Audiobook (Author’s Website)
Narrated by Tim Paige
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Jonah Brooks has the potential to ruin me. Not only me but also my brother. This professor might be my downfall, but instead of running away, all I want to do is chase after him.

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Erica☆☆☆☆☆
Twincerely Yours is the eighth installment in the Franklin U 2 series. While I've read all of the installments in the original Franklin U series, I have not read any others in the FU2 series. I was able to read the novel as a standalone with little to no confusion, out of series order.

Note: The twins, Ben and Emmett, were first introduced in the CU Hockey series by Eden Finley and Saxon James. Line Mates & Study Dates and Puck Drills & Quick Thrills (CU Hockey books four and five) where their brothers, Asher and Westly, narrated, and who are cameoed heavily in this novel.

I devoured Twincerely Yours in one sitting, and it just ignited my appetite to reread the CU series, FU series, and tackle the FU2 series anew. Adorable and engaging, I enjoyed every single word, thoroughly entertained, sparking all the feel-good emotions within me.

Identical twins, Emmett and Ben share mirrored learning disabilities. Emmett struggles with dyslexia, whereas Ben struggles with dyscalculia, which is similar to dyslexia but with numbers. This part of the story truly resonated with me as someone who has similar issues.

Emmett is sweet, compassionate, self-sacrificing, and endlessly giving. He's humorous and good-natured with a go with the flow vibe. As part of an identical twin pairing, Emmett struggles with codependency on his twin. Since I hadn't read Ben's novel yet, I did struggle with liking Ben because I had to keep reminding myself that Emmett was voluntarily being selfless, none of it asked by Ben.

Emmett is helping Ben with his statistics class, where he briefly meets Professor Jonah, when the twins decide to no longer switch and take each other's classes. Emmett is currently pretending to be Ben 24/7 after his expulsion from another local college.

Jonah is a solid guy, a first-year professor struggling with who he wants to be as a teacher. He's kind and compassionate, but has a black and white world view, a view that Emmett upends entirely.

Emmett is struggling to hide his great love of hockey from his twin, spending his hours coaching youngsters at the local rink. Uncle Jonah is picking up the slack left by his nephew's deadbeat daddy, volunteering to take the little to all sorts of extracurriculars until one sticks, and he's hoping hockey won't. Hockey sticks for the tyke just as strongly as the coach does for Jonah.

An instant connection, a spark of recognition and lust, ignites into a realistic friendship and enduring love story loaded with delicious angst. While Emmett is not Jonah's student, and there is only a four-year age difference between the two, this simmers beneath the surface waiting to be exposed.

A delightful read, I thoroughly enjoyed every page. All the characters were lovely to read. Humorous. Realistic. Adorable. Endearing. From start to finish, I never wanted the story to end. Now I will have the pleasure of starting at the beginning with the CU series again, working my way through all of the Franklin U stories.


Shannan☆☆☆☆☆
Twincerely Yours is the eighth installment in the Franklin U 2 series. Franklin U 2 is a multi-author series that can be read in any order without issue.

Emmett and Benny Dalton are the chaos twins. They made their first appearance in the CU series in West and Asher's (their brothers) books. Emmett and Benny have long known the act of swapping roles when the other didn't want to do something. Emmett feels he has dyslexia and Ben struggles with dyscalculia; both were overlooked when they were children and now feel it's too late to come clean with their secrets. They have been helping each other for their entire school careers. They became experts at pretending to be the other. So when Emmett was asked to leave his college (by something no fault of his own), of course he was going to help his brother with his math at FU. Emmett was incredibly attracted to his statics professor. When Benny drops the class, Emmett is almost sad to not see Jonah any longer. The twins were best friends, but while Benny found his happily ever after, Emmett was losing himself always portraying himself as Benny. When he was finally noticed for himself, he jumps at the chance to just let go and be himself for a while – even if it's with his brother’s professor. He knows he can't pursue anything, just one night, but will one night be enough for Emmett?

Jonah sort of fell into being a professor. He's not sure if it’s something he'll do forever but he's giving it his all as his first teaching job. Jonah and his nephew are close, and Jonah takes him to hockey (his new obsession) practice. Jonah notices the new coach and he seems familiar, but he can’t quite place him. When Dalton says he can only give him one night, Jonah doesn't understand why but does it anyway.

I loved finally getting the chaos twins’ book. I loved everything about it. Emmett and Jonah have so much chemistry and work so hard to make it work between them. The CU series by Eden Finley and Saxon James is one of my favorites and to get more of West and Asher makes me so happy.


Angie☆☆☆
I wanted to love this book. I love twins and I couldn't wait for this book. I am not sure if a series written by different authors for each book is for me. I felt this book was more about Emmett and Ben instead of Emmett and Jonah. I wanted more of Emmett and Jonah. I couldn't understand how Emmett was so taken with Jonah with only a few interactions. I found myself skimming the book at times because it wasn't holding my attention. I am glad Emmett and Jonah were finally able to get their happily ever after, but this was a miss for me. I'm sure others will love it and be sad it's the end of the series.

 

 

You should stalk him. Like, in the ‘I want to see you again’ way. Not problematic stalking.

 

Author Bio


Eden Finley

EDEN FINLEY is an Amazon bestselling author who writes steamy contemporary romances that are full of snark and light-hearted fluff.

She doesn't take anything too seriously and lives to create an escape from real life for her readers. The ideas always begin with a wackadoodle premise, and she does her best to turn them into romances with heart.

With a short attention span that rivals her son's, she writes multiple different pairings: MM, MMF, and MF.

She's also an Australian girl and apologises for her Australianisms that sometimes don't make sense to anyone else.

Connect with Eden Finley!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Absolutely Eden

 

 

Giveaway


 

 

“It’s okay. I know I’m not a ten.”     He groans and bites his knuckles. “The fact you don’t even know you’re a ten makes you an eleven.”

 

Hosted by

Gay Romance Reviews Tours & Promo.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Twincerely Yours (Franklin U 2 #8) by Eden Finley to read and review.

Friday, July 26, 2024

A Little More Forgiveness by Pauley J. Ray Release Blitz

Release Blitz. A Little More Forgiveness. (Hot Property Book 3) by Pauley J. Ray. July 2nd – 29th.

Three angry men, two loveable dogs and one isolated cabin.
What could possibly go wrong?


Gabriel Sanchez is a man running away from his past, unaware it’s about to catch up to him. Stuck in an isolated cabin with two strangers is the last thing he planned. One guy, a bear of a man shouldering intolerable emotional pain, Gabe instinctively wants to soothe. The other, kinder, gentler, and just wishing to be seen, Gabe desperately wants to show him how visible he is. However, the harder he tries to keep both at bay, the more they fight and the closer they get until his heart begins to desire things he’s promised himself it can never have again.

Leo Taylor has yearned for approval his whole life, and as the lawyer negotiating the sale of a run-down cabin and its land, this time he may just earn it. But, trying to keep the peace between a cocky New Yorker and the grumpiest man alive is slowly taking its toll. During their confinement, secrets are uncovered that will force Leo to make a tough choice. Close the sale and gain the approval he craves, or follow his heart and fight for the men for whom he’s falling head over heels.

Mitchell Houghton is drowning in grief and guilt following the death of his wife four years ago. Then, along comes a lawyer with an outsider who claims to own 50 percent of his home, his land. After years of self-imposed isolation, Mitch is now trapped with them both in his small cabin. Determined to make their lives a misery, he almost succeeds, until their unwanted interaction and attention makes him remember the man he used to be—the one he thought lost forever—giving him another chance at a happiness he’s not sure he deserves.

Author’s Note: This is book three of a four-book series. It does not end on a cliffhanger. Each book concentrates on a different main character from the four owners of a successful construction company. Successive books will include spoilers from the previous ones if the books are not read in order.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

A Little More Forgiveness by Pauley J. Ray

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Kobo
Paperback (US)  ~  NineStar Press

 

 

Excerpt



“I’m a determined man, Mr. Houghton.”

“Or a foolish one.”

I shrugged, not prepared to admit I was beginning to agree with him.

“Time after time, you were told no, but unlike any decent man, any honorable man, you didn’t leave me alone and walk away, did you?” He didn’t wait for me to answer. “No, instead, you went behind my back and began pressuring my brother to sell, recognizing he’d be the more gullible of us, the weaker of the two.”

I frowned at his answer. Obviously, there was far more bad blood between them than I’d originally suspected.

Not my problem.

“And you think it’s me who’s foolish.” I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m here today because you requested this meeting. You. You were the one who’d finally decided to sell.” I lifted my shoulders. “Don’t kid yourself into believing I’m the bad guy in this scenario. It’s pretty obvious as soon as you received our offer and caught sight of all those zero’s, you had a very rapid change of heart.”

“A momentary lapse in judgment,” he snapped at me.

“Whatever.” I balled my hands into fists in my pants trying to remain relaxed, knowing my next admission wasn’t going to be well received. “Oh, and by the way. To be clear, your brother came to us, not the other way around.”

“No.” His sharp rebuttal sounded almost painful.

I shrugged again. “Believe what you want, but I’m telling the truth. Until Jared Houghton offered up his fifty percent, I’d given up on the purchase, had decided you weren’t worth the time and effort to continue pursuing.”

Something flashed in his eyes at my comment but was gone too quick for me to decipher. “There are other cabins, other land”—removing my hands from my pockets, I spread my arms to indicate the shabby interior—“in much better condition.”

He moved off the jamb and was in my face before I had chance to blink, his voice low and threatening. “Be very careful what you say in my home, Mr. Sanchez.” He said my name like my presence left a bad taste in his mouth. “You’re a guest here, and you better remember that—and your manners.”

I took in a few deep breaths, wanting to calm down and ensure I didn’t say something inappropriate. I hated being threatened. Watching Mason after his attack, how he’d get jumpy and scared at the slightest hint of raised voices or aggression from others, I’d done everything in my power to help him work through his trauma. To the point I automatically placed myself in front of him whenever he got anxious, protecting him from anyone getting too close. So Mitchell trying his intimidation act on with me in the hopes I’d cower meekly? Well, I couldn’t help myself.

“Ah, but that’s not quite true anymore, is it?” My blood pumped hard in my veins, rapidly heading south, making me hard. I wouldn’t say I was enjoying our sparring match, but the male aggression filling the air, raising our body temperature, and releasing delicious-smelling pheromones of sweat and musk pushed all my buttons.

I glanced around the room with its worn couch, scuffed oak furniture, and thick log walls, thinking if renovated, the place would look amazing. “I’m not really here as a guest, am I? I own fifty percent, remember? So this place is as much mine as yours.”

I didn’t see the punch coming until it connected with my gut, winding me as it knocked the air from my lungs in a loud whoosh, doubling me over as pain ripped through my abdomen. The next thing I knew, I was grabbed by the collar of my expensive silk shirt and the back of my leather belt and heaved up as if I weighed nothing. He dragged me around the couch to the front door, which, typically, opened as we got there, to a horrified Leo.

Mitchell pushed past him, me firmly in his grip, my struggling useless against his power and strength as he swung me back, and then let gravity pull me speedily forward before releasing me, sending me flying across the porch to land in the snow and frozen dirt at the bottom of the steps in front of the cabin.

“My house,” he roared. “My home. Mine.” Then he slammed the door firmly behind him, leaving me there on my ass and out in the cold.

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Angie☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, but I feel it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read any of the previous books.

Gabe, Mitch, and Leo are all so different. Each man has baggage; while they do share some things right away, they don't share everything right away. The chemistry is off the charts... hubba hubba. There was angst – how could there not be with all that baggage they each have? I thought the book was a little too long and at times, I just wanted to tie things up for goodness’ sake! Once we get to the end, it was worth it, and these three men got the happily ever after they deserve.

 

 

Author Bio

PAULEY J. RAY writes contemporary M/M romantic fiction. His books contain sexy yet complicated and flawed characters searching for their own happily ever after.

When not writing, he can’t wait to get outdoors, and with his husband, go hiking, camping, and travel everywhere they can, as often as they can.

With his husband’s job taking them all over the world, he now gets to write all day, every day, and he's never happier than when sat at his laptop creating new stories about gorgeous and sexy men.

Except when there's coffee... ooh and chocolate... yes, he's way happier when there's coffee and chocolate!

Connect with Pauley J. Ray!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway


 

Hosted by

Gay Book Promotions.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Little More Forgiveness (Hot Property #3) by Pauley J. Ray to read and review.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

The Burning by Linda Castillo

Roots run deep and silence burns. Available wherever books are sold. Minotaur Books.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder investigates a gruesome murder that reveals a little-known chapter of early Amish history in this next riveting installment of the bestselling series by Linda Castillo.

Newlywed Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is awakened by an urgent midnight call summoning her to a suspicious fire in the woods. When she arrives at the scene, she discovers a charred body. According to the coroner, the deceased, an Amish man named Milan Swanz, was chained to a stake and burned alive. It is an appalling and eerily symbolic crime against an upstanding husband and father.

Kate knows all too well that the Amish prefer to handle their problems without interference from the outside world, and no one will speak about the murdered man. From what she’s able to piece together, Swanz led a deeply troubled life and had recently been excommunicated. But if that’s the case, why are the Amish so reluctant to talk about him? Are they protecting the memory of one of their own? Or are they afraid of something they dare not share?

When her own brother is implicated in the case, Kate finds herself not only at odds with the Amish, the world of which she was once a part, but also the English community and her counterparts in law enforcement. The investigation takes a violent turn when Kate’s life is threatened by a mysterious stranger.

To uncover the truth about the death of Milan Swanz, Kate must dive deep into the Anabaptist culture, peering into all the dark corners of its history, only to uncover a secret legacy that shatters everything she thought she knew about the Amish themselves—and her own roots.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

The Burning by Linda Castillo

Book 16
Buy Links

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

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the sixteenth book in the series, but if you are a new fan, don't worry, there is enough contextualising that you will be able to enjoy the story, but may well think you need to invest some time in learning more about the life of lead protagonist Kate!

This book starts with a very gruesome crime, which sets off an investigation for Kate Burkholder and her new husband and long-time partner, Tomasetti. It brings in issues for her own Amish family, and also some very disturbing under the radar activity. She is convinced that this is not a one off and has to engage her whole team in the search for an answer.

This story gets personal for Kate and though she has her delicious, supportive, and understanding husband by her side, she still cannot help being somewhat reckless with her own safety. I had to (not literally) hide my head behind a cushion at times as she went into dangerous situations. I loved how that was dealt with and how maybe she will be a little more thoughtful in future... who knows!

A very intense and engaging storyline, and delicious moments of harmony in the face of crazy when she and Tomasetti get time to be together.

 

 

Author Bio

LINDA CASTILLO is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Kate Burkholder series, set in the world of the Amish. The first book, Sworn to Silence, was adapted into a Lifetime original movie titled An Amish Murder starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. Castillo is the recipient of numerous industry awards. In addition to writing, Castillo’s other passion is horses. She lives in Texas with her husband and is currently at work on her next book.

Connect with Linda Castillo!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 
 

ARC provided by

Minotaur Books.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Burning (Kate Burkholder #16) by Linda Castillo to read and review.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Fired Up by Gigi Templeton

Passions ignite when two BBQ pros make one rare connection.

The author of Spiced Right serves up scorching romance with just a hint of danger in this novel about a sexy pitmaster and the sultry cook-off host determined to rope him in.

Avery Reed knows how to fire up the grills! And with his piercing blue eyes, the rugged pitmaster makes women’s mouths water, including Layla Jenson’s. She’s a YouTube cook-off host who’s spotlighting talented BBQ cooks across the country. Her current project is a bunkhouse cook showdown—and former pitmaster pro Avery holds the key to its success.

Unfortunately, Layla’s running from a troubled past. And Avery has his own demons nipping at his heels.

When Layla visits the Triple R to ask Avery to be on the show, will their scorching chemistry seal the deal? Or will their complicated pasts tear them apart?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Spiced Right series!
For book one, Spiced Right, click HERE.

 

Add to Goodreads.

 

Fired Up by Gigi Templeton

Book 2
Buy Links

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

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by CJ Bloom & Eric G. Dove
~ Also Available to Read & Listen with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and whilst I think you would get some more insight of the ranch setup and we do meet the leads of book one, this is definitely a great read as a standalone too.

Layla hosts a YouTube channel dedicated to BBQ cook-offs and her latest venture in bunkhouse showdowns takes her to the Triple R to persuade Avery to join the line-up. Now, I have to admit that I had no idea that anyone went to quite so much trouble to feed hungry ranch hands, but I loved reading about the dedication to getting everything just right when cooking in a pit. I felt very ignorant of the whole setup, but really enjoyed reading about it.

Layla and Avery have an immediate connection which is terribly inconvenient, and seems doomed to failure due to their lifestyles, before taking into account a number of other issues… But Avery is dedicated to his task, and has feelings for her which may not be put out like one of his pit fires. It does mean he has to deal with some of the past that haunts him and drives him to always do better at the ranch.

I loved watching the dance, the blockers, the supporters, and the passion. I enjoyed the fact that they are both solutions-focused and dedicated to being the best... and they found a way to be everything for each other, in spite of the impossibility of it all.

I could have read about this two for a thousand pages... or more!


Veronica☆☆☆☆
Avery and Layla have great chemistry right from their very first meeting. They are both intelligent and sexy and have issues in their past that are heavily impacting their lives in the here and now. I was particularly fascinated with Layla’s past and early on my eagerness to find out what secrets she was keeping kept me reading.

One thing I really liked about Fired Up was that I didn’t really know where the story was headed. It surprised me several times with little twists and even right up to the very end. This was one of those great stories where you can’t see how the couple can possibly make a happily ever after work and I admit I cried a few happy tears as the story came to a close.

Fired Up was a fun, sexy, and sometimes emotional romance. I was happy to be back at the Triple R ranch and I hope there will be more books in this series.


Mary☆☆☆☆
Layla is looking for pitmasters to star in her new show, she has several already signed up but the main one she wants is Avery Reed.

Once Layla sees Avery behind his grill, the sparks between them begin to fly. When they talk, the flirting begins and it only grows and the sparks grow into a flame, like on his grill.

I enjoyed this one as much as the first book. The family dynamic on the Reed Ranch is so strong and the connection between Layla and Avery is one everyone wants. Having the support of family, Avery accepts the offer to join the pitmaster show and goes beyond his normal cooking to show his best.

As I said, I enjoyed this one and can't wait for more from this series.

 

 

Author Bio

With works ranging from contemporaries to rock star romances to romantic suspense to paranormals, GIGI TEMPLETON is an international bestselling author. Her novels and novellas have been published under three pseudonyms by traditional publishers, including St. Martin’s Press and Hachette/Forever, digital publishers such as Harlequin’s Carina Press, and serialized fiction apps such as Radish Fiction and YONDER. Templeton’s Spiced Right won the Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America’s (MMRWA’s) Best Banter Contest in November 2022. She was also a finalist for the Romantic Times Best Book of the Year and Seal of Excellence.

Templeton lives in Arizona with her real-life hero and her rescued Maltese, and she is currently studying culinary arts and food photography.

Connect with Gigi Templeton!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 
 

ARC provided by

Montlake.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Fired Up (Spiced Right #2) by Gigi Templeton to read and review.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh

What they unearth will reveal a nightmare beyond imagination. This time, the battle is to the death...

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh takes us into a family dark with shadowy secrets, as the world of the Psy teeters on the edge of a final catastrophic collapse...

Daughter of two ruthless high-Gradient telepaths, Auden Scott is not the child her Psy parents wanted or expected, even before her brain injury. Her thoughts are scattered, her memories fuzzy—or just terrifyingly blank. The only thing she knows for certain is that she must protect her unborn baby... a baby she has no recollection of conceiving and who draws an unnerving depth of interest from her dead mother’s closest associates.

Leopard alpha Remi Denier is a man driven by the primal instinct to protect. Protect his pack, protect his allies... and protect the mysterious woman who has become a most unlikely neighbor. With eerie eyes that see too much and a scent that alters in ways disturbing and impossible, Auden Scott is the enemy... but nothing about this strange Psy is what it seems, and Remi’s feline heart is as fascinated by her as his human half.

Then Auden asks Remi to help her shatter the wall of secrets that is the Scott bloodline. What they unearth will reveal a nightmare beyond imagination. This time, the battle is to the death...

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series!
For book one, Silver Silence, click HERE.
For book two, Ocean Light, click HERE.
For book three, Wolf Rain, click HERE.
For book four, Alpha Night, click HERE.
For book five, Last Guard, click HERE.
For book six, Storm Echo, click HERE.

 

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Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh

Book 8
Buy Links

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

Audiobook (US)
Narrated by Angela Dawe

 

 

Reviews


Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team


Mary Jo☆☆☆☆
I have been waiting for this book since book seven.

Auden Scott. The daughter of Shoshanna Scott and Henry Scott. A broken Psy even before the PsyNet began to fail. Auden, who had carved out a somewhat simple life, is now on edge as her brain injury seems to be getting worse.

Remi Denier, the Alpha of RainFire, is a dominant – alpha – feline who finally accepted the mantle of leadership and formed his own pack. Buying land in the middle of nowhere Colorado, his plans for his pack are to lead a simple life – staying away from trouble.

But what happens when trouble finds him? News of Auden Scott inheriting the property adjacent to him makes a cat curious. Auden is not what he expects, even for a Psy. She's distant, almost as if she isn't processing what she's actually seeing. As if someone else is staring out of her eyes.

Auden doesn't know what is going on with her. She doesn't remember a lot of things that have been happening to her since the death of her mother, including getting pregnant. But she knows that her child is the answer to the question she doesn't remember.

The continuing world-building in this series is nice, but it also limits the story between Remi and Auden. I would have like to have seen more development between the main and supporting characters. The cameos of characters from other books gives added depth to Primal Mirror.

I really enjoyed this book, staying up late to read it all in one night. Then going back for a re-read the same week.


Erica☆☆☆
Primal Mirror is the eighth installment in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series as well as the 23rd installment in the Psy-Changeling Series. Primal Mirror cannot be read as a standalone. However, it can be read out of series order if familiar with the overall world-building, where you've read the majority of the series.

I need to preface this review by stating how I feel as if the overarching world-building and backstory is overly complex and completely buries the story attempting to be told. Added in with the female main character suffering from a brain injury, the beginning of the novel was nearly impossible to enjoy, filled with nothing but confusion, the need to make a spreadsheet to order events, and not much of entertainment value. It was purposefully confusing, not truly focused on either of the main characters, overshadowing any romance or connection the main characters may or may not have felt to one another.

I adored this series, as well as all of the other series Nalini Singh has written. I know this series like the back of my hand, not confused by events that have taken place. But there is an overall chaotic, end of days feeling to the novels as of late, which erases any feel-good emotions and entertainment value I may experience. Reading this series has become stressful, so it's difficult to root for the main couple in each novel, as their romance and connection is completely smothered by the never-ending plot arc that binds these novels into a series.

This series has become a slog, no longer pleasurable to read and enjoy as a couple finds their way to one another. I love angst, drama, and suspense, not one for in-my-face romance, but the overly complex world-building and backstory are drowning the main plot in the past few installments.

Auden Scott inherits the land next to Leopard Alpha Remi Denier's pack lands. She is suffering from a debilitating brain issue which stems from her family utilizing medical procedures outside of her consent, added in with the fact that she is also pregnant, which was a medical procedure outside of her consent, without her knowledge, which adds into the inability to remember events.

Auden Scott is a difficult character to connect with, not only because of the abuses she has suffered at the hands of her family, but the fact that she doesn't even remember these abuses, remember much of anything really. The ultimate of an unreliable narrator. How can the reader know Auden when she doesn't know anything about herself either? I could empathize and sympathize, but I was left feeling as confused as she was.

Remi Denier is easier to understand, especially since he is a reliable narrator. His narration easier to digest, but it is still overshadowed by all the hundreds of plots coming together to where the reader doesn't get to know him well enough to connect with him.

I wanted to love Auden and Remi, but I never got to know them. I wanted to ship them as a couple, but they barely shared any time together on the pages to develop a connection with one another and to the reader. A slow-burn vibe with no passion, no connection, or sexual attraction. Auden is suffering across the board, pregnant, and dealing with issues with her family and the PsyNet, she had no room for romance, so what little romance there was seemed oddly misplaced and paced.

This novel did not work for me. Auden and Remi used as a vehicle to continue to slog through the tangled, overly complex, anxiety-ridden, chaotic backstory and world-building, which I personally do not find very entertaining.

 

 

Author Bio

New York Times bestselling author NALINI SINGH is passionate about writing. Though she’s traveled as far afield as the deserts of China, the Highlands of Scotland, and the frozen landscapes of Antarctica, it is the journey of the imagination that fascinates her most. She’s beyond delighted to be able to follow her dream as a writer. Nalini lives and works in beautiful New Zealand. You can contact her directly through her website. While visiting the site, Nalini invites you to join her newsletter for up-to-date news about both the Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series, as well as fun exclusive extras, including free short stories set in her worlds.

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ARC provided by

Berkley Romance.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Primal Mirror (Psy-Changeling Trinity #8) by Nalini Singh to read and review.