Necklace of Shame by Carol Lynne

As the past returns with a vengeance, can three survive better than one?

On the worst night of her life, Bel fell in love. Now ten years later, the threat to her safety is back as well as the policeman who held her so long ago.

Brody quit his job with the police force after that horrible night. He’s spent the last ten years building his business and trying to keep away from the only woman he’s ever loved. With her attacker on the loose once more, Brody enlists the help of his best friend and lover to keep Bel safe.

Sheriff Callum McCloud has been in love with Brody for years and he’s dreamed of a life with Brody by his side. As he gets to know Bel, the chance arises for him to have Brody and her. But is it too much to wish for?

Reader Advisory: This book contains an attempted murder, rape, reference to incest, child abuse.

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is a story with a lot of moving parts and all of the characters play important roles. I loved that the characters were all so interwoven. Bel is living in hell when she's younger. She is subjected to her dad's abuse and ultimate betrayal. She even has to live the rest of her life with reminders of her time living with him.

Brody and Callum have been friends since they were in grade school. Their relationship is loving, hot and both know that there is someone missing.

When Bel needs protecting again, Brody wants to be that person. However, he also knows that Callum will stop at nothing to help her either.

The three of them are so incredible together. They have chemistry and heat between all three of them and know that in order for them to be lovers full time, they need to come together and figure out their relationship and how to rid Bel of her father.

I really hope that there are more books in this story, as I think that there is a lot more story to tell for the other characters in this book.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a short, hot, and intense novella. If you like your ménage to be a true trio, then you will enjoy how they heat up the sheets.

It takes a while for them all to get on board with what had possibly seemed inevitable for the last ten years, but only when Bel is again in danger, do Brody and Callum step up to the plate. I did have to suspend belief a little for the mystery/crime element, and the ability to recover so quickly from serious injury, but in the interests of the story it was worth it!

Another hot and steamy read from Ms. Lynne – an author who definitely seems to know just how three people can fit together!


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆
This was... interesting. There were certain parts of this story that I really enjoyed and others that felt a little odd.

I love the romance between the three and watching them build their relationship together. However, I felt like we were just sort of thrown into the relationship between Brody and Callum.

While I felt like we got to know Bel quite well, every single other character (including both our heroes) were just sort of side characters that we learned very little about, which to me meant we connected to very little to.

However, I really felt the terror from Bel's past as it haunted her years later and the way she reacted to it was real, so that helped save the story even though it lacked depth in some areas.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Necklace of Shame by Carol Lynne to read and review.

A Cowboy's Secret by Carol Lynne

Will Lex be willing to sacrifice his long-held secrets for true love?

Nick Barker was thrilled. A summer working on his college roommate’s family ranch was a dream come true for a veterinary student. He didn’t anticipate his reaction to his best friend and roommate’s father, though.

Lex Whitefeather hired his son Sam’s best friend for the summer. He figured he’d be generous and help the kid out. He wasn’t expecting the young Adonis who stepped off the plane. Nick Barker was no kid. Years of repressed sexual desires rose to the surface that summer.

When Lex and Nick finally come together and admit their feelings, Lex is plagued by guilt. He’s not “out” to his family and friends. Lex pushes Nick away with his unwillingness to open up to his family.

A few years later, Nick is back on the ranch…

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Lex is living a lie. He loves his son, Sam, and doesn't want to do anything to rock the boat. Lex is also hiding a truth that he believes will destroy his ranch and his life. When his son, Sam, asks if his best friend, Nick, can come for the summer to work, Lex doesn't hesitate to agree.

Nick is used to being alone. He grew up in foster care and never had anything of his own, no real home to come home to. When he finds himself on Lazy River Ranch, he's excited, nervous, and incredibly attracted to his best friend's father.

This story spans several years and we get to see glimpses on both sides of the timeline. I think that it was developed fairly organically, but it was still frustrating to see the before and only get hints of the in between.

Lex has to find a good place because that's the only way he'll risk his son or Lazy River Ranch. However, he's somewhat lost without Nick. Nick is not necessarily lost, but he won't be allowed to love anyone else because he left his heart at Lazy River Ranch. Watching the two characters figure their stuff out, find that their attraction stays just as strong throughout the years is both sweet and predictable.

Lex and Nick make a great couple and definitely have great chemistry. But it's the culmination of the story, involving all of the characters, that really makes it great. I do hope that Pete gets his own story too, as I think that he'll be a great addition.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
When I was a teenager I loved romance novels with Native Americans in them. This book had one and holy cow... I was thrown back to my youth and fell in love all over again!!! Nick is going to work on a buddy's family ranch. Lex is Nick's buddy's dad. Fireworks went off when they saw each other and they never stopped going off either! These two try and fight their feelings but they just can't. HOWEVER, Lex is so deep in the closet it isn't even funny. Nick decides he can't handle hiding and leaves before the summer is over. A random phone call several years later brings Nick and Lex back together and their chemistry hadn't cooled off at all. This story had me rooting for both Nick and Lex and for each of them to fight for what they wanted. My only regret was the book wasn't longer, I wasn't done with them, I wanted more, even though we did get a nice epilogue.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is a shortish book with a sweet story and a happy ending. I found the dialogue to be a little stilted in the beginning, but it seemed to smooth out along the way. I liked the premise, but did find the speed with which the two men fell for each other, and the resulting outcome to be quite extreme. Luckily fate, in the form of Lex’s son, Sam, manages to resolve the immediate problem of distance, and in turn of acceptance. The epilogue, set a good while later, is a fun way to round off the story.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of A Cowboy's Secret by Carol Lynne to read and review.

Finnegan's Promise by Carol Lynne

How much will it cost Fin to keep his promise?

During the off-season, professional football player Calder Finnegan returns to Boston to help run his estranged father’s pub. Little did he know he’d find the love of his life in the pub's bartender, Mick Sullivan. Fin soon discovers his father has only weeks to live. All his hopes of getting to know the man who always seemed too busy to be a father are dashed. With Mick’s help, Fin begins the healing process between father and son and through this some of Mick’s wounds are healed as well. When Fin makes a deathbed promise to his father, he’ll do anything to keep that promise. Even if it costs him his lover and his career.

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really good, emotional, and hot romance between a closeted Football star and a barman that has a big secret.

I do warn you that you may need tissues; I certainly did! But such a lovely story, with plenty of sweetness, a dash of drama, and some nostalgia. These two men are super hot together, and as they work through their issues, get closer and closer physically and emotionally.

Thank you, Ms. Lynne, for another fabulous read.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Finnegan's Promise by Carol Lynne to read and review.

Harvest Heat by Carol Lynne

Love blossoms in the heat and dust of the Outback.

Touring Australia before starting his life as a lawyer back in Kansas seemed like the perfect escape for James. A trip to the Mandarra Horticultural Show has him itching to work on an authentic Australian farm. What he doesn’t expect to find in the bush is a field of sunflowers and a man who makes him tremble with need.

Lachlan has resigned himself to living alone in the Australian bush. Since returning from Sydney to run the family property, he’s put his sexual desires on hold, knowing his mates would never understand. When he takes a chance and hires a good-looking young tourist to help him on the homestead, Lochie begins to wonder just how heated this year’s harvest will be. Will he be able to put his worries aside and take a chance on love?

Publisher's Note: This book is a prequel to Sunshine, Sex & Sunflowers. This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this short novel. It also left open a possibility for some more stories to flow from this part of the Australian Outback – which would be very welcome.

At heart this is, like most romances, a really simple case of two people finding that they have found their 'one.' However, given James is a man from Arizona on a trip to escape his father's work demands for just a bit longer, and Lachlan is wedded to his land in the Outback, it is hardly convenient. Add in the problems of Lachlan being closeted for fear of what the other farmers in the community might say or do, and there are plenty of hurdles to cross – and that's not mentioning the spiders...

There is a lot of story and plenty of passion between these two men who definitely find each other irresistible.

Another good read Ms. Lynne, thank you.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Harvest Heat by Carol Lynne to read and review.

Kiss Me, Cowboy by Carol Lynne

It isn’t easy to cling to teenage promises when you become one of the forgotten.

For Eli Barron, Jesse Clooney has always been the one. From their first day of kindergarten through their high school graduation, the pair were inseparable. So, when a situation arises that splits the two men apart, it’s up to Eli to keep the home fires burning as Jesse sets off to follow his dreams on the rodeo circuit. But how long can a man continue to stoke the fire before the flames die out?

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released as part of the Unconventional in Kansas City anthology with Pride Publishing.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Ms. Lynne has a real talent for writing cowboy stories, so I had no doubt that this would be a good read. I did, however, wonder just how much story there could be... well a very sad, beautiful, and hopeful one.

Eli is a man who has known his life's love since he was just a boy. Jesse loves him too, but an abusive father has meant that he needs to leave town to make himself worthy. We share their story as it spreads over many years. It is a vivid reminder of the power of love, family, and duty. Eli deserves the ending.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Kiss Me, Cowboy by Carol Lynne to read and review.

Sunset on Turtle Lake by Carol Lynne

Winter isn’t the only chill in the air on Turtle Lake.

When Sam Burgman’s mother, Gloria, nears the end of her battle with cancer, Sam makes the hard decision to leave his job as a corporate lawyer in Miami to take his mom home to Turtle Lake, Minnesota.

Ian Mendoza takes his job as Gloria’s caregiver very seriously, but unlike the assignments he’s taken in the past, Ian fails to maintain a professional distance when it comes to Sam. Unfortunately for Ian, Sam refuses to open his heart despite their mutual attraction.

Born and raised in Miami, Ian isn’t prepared for the frozen landscape that is Minnesota in the winter, but the chill he wants to erase is the one coming from Sam.

Reader Advisory: This book deals with maternal illness/death.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Terminal illness

This was a hard book for me. Ian was a great character. He was compassionate, kind, but not a pushover – he stood up to Sam when it was necessary and even stood up to Gloria when she needed an extra push.

Minnesota in the winter time can be magical. Lynne does an amazing job at describing the surrounding area – she truly captures the essence of what winters can be like.

The magical moments in this book were between Sam and Gloria. Their relationship needed to be repaired before Gloria's illness took her, and Lynne did a great job at showing those tender moments that are normally behind the scenes.

I so wanted to love this book, but it was so short and there were really only glimpses into the world that was Gloria, Ian, and Sam. It felt too short to really develop anything between Ian and Sam – their relationship seems incredibly superficial.

Overall, the tender moments were great, but the story itself lacked for me.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really moving short story, for which I recommend a tissue to hand. Sam is a man who has been living in denial for a long time, but as his mother is nearing her end, he has to finally come to terms with things. His mother's live-in nurse, Ian, is a man on a mission to help him, and watching the barriers come down is very rewarding. For such a short story, it was incredibly easy to get invested in the outcome.

Ms. Lynne has once again got to the heart of the matter in this lovely read.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sunset on Turtle Lake by Carol Lynne to read and review.

Karma by Carol Lynne

From an Olympic gold medalist to a jail inmate, one man’s journey to rebuild his life after hitting rock bottom.

Once a celebrated athlete, Guy Hoisington fell from grace and into a bottle. For years, the citizens of Cattle Valley went out of their way to avoid the drunk lecher, but one man, Shane Rendell, not only dated Guy during a brief period of relative sobriety but fell in love with him, too, before he was hastily cast aside.

Living within the thick haze of liquor and sex, Guy rarely made good decisions, but on one particular dark night, he makes the worst decision of his life when he decides to drive down the mountain after a long evening of drinking. He wakes from a coma to discover he’s run an innocent man off the road and has a life-changing injury. For the first time in a very long time, Guy is able to look at himself through sober eyes, and he hates the man in the mirror. In one stupid move, he’s lost what little self-respect he had left.

Shane has tried for two years to move on with his life after falling for the town alcoholic, but when he learns of Guy’s accident, he rushes to the hospital. Although the entire town may hate Guy, Shane is determined to prove that Guy hasn’t lost everything.

Book 33
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆
This book was pretty short and packed a lot into it. As short as it was, I didn’t really feel a connection to any of the characters, and by the time Guy pulled his head out of his butt, the book was over. I think if this book was longer and we got more dialogue between Guy and Shane, there would have been a good story here and possibly a great love story, but it just fell flat for me.

Characters: Well written and easy to relate to
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes, but I read it as a standalone
Genre: M/M/Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I read 20 or more Cattle Valley books a few years ago, and loved them, so I was delighted to revisit the place, and see how things have moved on. I remembered the characters and certainly felt back amongst the townsfolk.

Guy has been a much disliked man, but he has gone far beyond that now, and only one man, Shane, has any time for him. It has to be said that the way he treats his one and only friend makes it difficult to understand why Shane stays, but finally we get the breakthrough. This is a difficult story, with so much in both their pasts that has an impact on their behaviour, but Guy at some point has to move forward. Ms. Lynne takes us right to the edge, with some very moving moments. The ending was really good, and I can tell I will be looking out for the new installments from now on.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Karma (Cattle Valley #33) by Carol Lynne to read and review.

The Cut by Carol Lynne

Guilt kept him away from Santana for years, but once he has her, he’ll let no one stand in his way from keeping her.

As the only child of an abusive biker and an alcoholic mother, Santana Rogers had one hero she could turn to in her life. Stake Wills, a member of the Kings of Bedlam Motorcycle Club, was her father’s best friend, her savior and her lifelong crush. When her father is sent to prison, the club and her only friends turn their backs on her, leaving her to deal with the fall-out of her father’s crime on her own.

Santana is proud of the way she’s persevered through the hard and lonely years. When Stake reappears in her life after the County Sheriff attacks her, she isn’t sure she’s willing to let him back into her life and her heart. And if she does, she’s not sure she’ll survive having her heart broken again when he inevitably leaves.

It just about killed Stake to walk out of Santana’s life, but after his best friend’s death, he’s forced to choose between the motorcycle club and keeping an eye on Santana. The club is the only family he’s ever known, and a blackmail threat by Santana’s mother threatens to destroy it all. He realizes that he made a mistake, but that won’t stop him from trying to prove to Santana that he’s still the man she needs him to be.

Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of attempted rape and references to child abuse and incest.

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been re-edited for re-release with Totally Bound Publishing.

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the start of a new series, and so there is a degree of world-building, but nothing too intrusive. And although any MC reader will get the picture quite quickly, there are some interesting relationships which affect the dynamics of the club. I am looking forward to future installments, as there are a number of ways that things can progress.

I liked Santana, and her situation makes more sense once the mystery of her current banishment from the MC is revealed. And whilst Stake seems to have been her protector, he certainly hasn't fulfilled that role of late. However, he and her other childhood friend step up at last, and we get a rich story of MC politics, mistakes and ultimately, love. As the passion is unleashed, and the relationship between Santana and Stake develops, it is difficult to see how it will work out, but Ms. Lynne does not let us down.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Cut (Kings of Bedlam #1) by Carol Lynne to read and review.

It Was a Thursday by Carol Lynne

It was a Thursday. The day one eighteen-year-old gunman would change the lives of an entire town.

Principal Mark Kurtz loved his school. He worked hard to give his students every advantage in life, but he could have never predicted that on a warm day in May, a distraught senior would commit an unimaginable act of vengeance on his classmates.

In the aftermath of the shooting that left both students and faculty members dead, Mark must deal with his own guilt while trying to help those around him feel safe once again.

Mark’s problems are compounded when an old flame, Lane Warner, arrives in town to help treat the trauma victims. How can he possibly deal with his own guilt, be there for his seventeen-year-old son and confront the part of himself he’s always denied while trying to heal a broken community?

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars total
5 stars on the Aftermath
2 stars on the romance.

It was a Thursday was a highly compelling read. The aftermath of a school shooting, as well as the way it dove back into the past to examine why it happened, were done with great compassion. I was emotional while reading, but I couldn't put the book down.

Narrators: Mark (the principal), Max (Mark's son), Ally (a small POV by Mark's ex-wife/Max's mother), and Lane (Mark's ex-roommate/lover/trauma therapist).

In the aftermath, Mark holds a wealth of grief for not keeping his students safe, especially with the zero-tolerance policy on bullying. But the shooter says directly to Mark how Mark couldn't protect him off school grounds. I found Mark's emotions true-to-life when it came to the aftermath of the shooting. What I didn't find to be true is how quickly (in less than a week) he came to terms with being gay, admitting he was gay, and coming out to everyone. Mark had spent 20 years ignoring his nature out of fear of how people would perceive him (this portion was realistic). However, the speed in which Mark comes to terms with his nature was too rapid, even for such a short novella.

Max's narration was an injection of sweet innocence and the voice of reason. I thoroughly enjoyed Max, and was relieved when his POV returned. Max was integral to solving why Scott shot up the gymnasium during graduation rehearsal, while showing how children will persevere.

Lane, even while in his mind, I didn't feel like I knew anything of him. The character development was all one-sided in the romance. In fact, the reader knew more of Max's life, and his best friend, than Lane (even while in his head). All I know is that Lane loved Max for twenty years and was a therapist.

The reason for the shooting was realistic, painful to read, eye-opening, and tragic. More than realistic. The short passage back in the past was written in a fuzzy gray area to blur all that happened except what took place in the foreground between the shooter (Scott) and the principal (Mark). It was heart-pounding and earth shattering to read, but done with compassion instead of shock-value.

When it came to the romance, it was almost like it was in poor taste. Perhaps if the book had been longer to support the romance angle, my views would change. The bones of the romance were great, just poorly executed. I do believe the length was perfect for the 'aftermath' angle. But the romance needed more time to develop, and we (the reader) needed more pages and scenes (maybe a flashback to college days) to connect to the characters on an emotional/human level, instead of only as victims of a school shooting. Mark went from shoving Lane in a parking lot to spending the night with him only hours later, with no true conversation to change the course of their lives. Mark was terrified, shouting he was straight, then Lane pretty much moved in an hour later. It was instant life partner, with Lane showing no resentment over 20 years of being frozen out or how Mark treated him senior year in college. The romance was too pretty and tied in a nice bow for such a poignant read.

The news conference: I was disappointed at the direction the book took.

One: Mark made the shooting about him instead of the shooter (who was a victim in his own right) and the gone from this earth and living victims. Mark made something that should have been about closure about coming out as a gay man, when it was NOT about him. I lost all respect for him after reading this.

Two: Mark stated they'd never know why the shooting took place, when we (the reader) spent the entirety of the novella learning why it took place, and the victims and their families, and Scott's family deserved knowing why.

Three: While Scott was bullied for being gay, it was bullying in general that led to the events that had him snapping. This needed to be addressed more so than in the context of being gay. The bully boys who are still living, they needed to get help because their actions combined with what happened are a stepping stone for causing mass violence as well – this needed to be more than a passing blip in the narration, as it was the sole reason the story existed. Scott didn't snap because he was gay; he snapped because he was heinously bullied. While I understood the compassion and empathy angle of Mark's speech, I felt making it about him coming out, making it about being gay, was in poor taste instead of making it about the devastating effects of bullying. This would have been accomplished by actually giving everyone closure by explaining the 'why.'

All in all, the aftermath was written flawlessly, as were the emotions felt by the students and the principal, but the romance diluted that message.

Genre: MM Romance | Psychological trauma | Social Issues |


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Ms. Lynne took an event that affects everyone in some way. It either affects you personally or it's something you hear about on the news, but everyone is aware of this new "normal" that we are living. School shootings seem to happens more than some would like to admit. Ms. Lynne looked past the sensationalism of it and turned it into something that maybe hits a little closer to home.

It was a Thursday is finding out what happens after a school shooting. How some are trying to cope with their survivor's guilt and some are just trying to cope with understanding why. The reasons to why the shooting happened and the minutes leading up to the shooter's death are emotional and heart breaking to read. It was very well written. It didn't go for that shock and awe of the situation but a more realistic emotional cause and effect.

The love story that is wrapped into the story just seems almost out of place for me. I like the characters and the connection that they had, but I was more interested in the rest of the story and less about the two men falling back in love.

Overall it was a well written, emotional read.

An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.

Connect with Carol

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of It Was a Thursday by Carol Lynne to read and review.