Tacker by Sawyer Bennett Release Blitz

I am not okay.

Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head.

Since that day, I’ve had little desire to do much of anything. Except play hockey, that is. Because that is the one place where the bad memories are banished and I can escape my pain.

But off the ice, I’m spiraling out of control. Losing the grip on my life and putting myself and my career in danger. Now, thanks to a string of bad decisions, I’ve been ordered to complete therapy in order to stay on the team.

The problem? Nora Wayne, my beautiful and somewhat unconventional therapist. I can’t buy into the brand of happy clappy crap this woman is feeding me. What could she possibly understand about the type of loss that I’ve suffered? How does she know anything about finding happiness after losing the most important person in your life?

Turns out, I’ve got a lot to learn, and she’s just the person I need to break through those walls I’ve erected.

I am not okay.
But for the first time in a long time, I know that I will be.

The Arizona Vengeance series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately.

Book 5
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Gazillions of Oh My Goodness STARS!

This may be the fifth book in the series, and the previous four have been wonderful, but it has felt to me like they were all building to the moment that we finally got inside Tacker's post-accident head – and more importantly, that he got the chance to live (and love) again. Sawyer Bennett has to be thanked for finally giving us the story that was so absolutely essential to the series!

I have two pieces of advice before you open this jewel:
(i) Make sure that you have a clear diary and are well rested and hydrated before you start... because I cannot imagine that you will put the book down (except for reason (ii) below) until you get to the end.
(ii) Tissues... have plenty to hand, and by that I mean more than two for sure. The good news is that this is not ugly tears, this is tears which squeeze out of your eyes because it is so moving, not devastating – I hope this reassures you.

Having this hockey family well and truly resident in my reading life, it was great to catch up with old friends, see how the couples are gelling and the friendships are strong. And although Tacker never quite understood where the guys were regarding his behaviour, he finally gets to appreciate their efforts and their camaraderie in this installment. Bennett definitely delivers on carrying the whole story forward as well as giving Tacker and Nora the romance that they both need and deserve.

I refuse to say more, you need to experience all the goodness yourselves!

This series along with the Cold Fury series are absolute fixtures in my TBR list. Utter magic. (Oh, and come February we are promised that Dominik will get his story... so maybe Willow just stops running!)


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I knew Tacker's story was going to be a rough one with a glimpse of his past in the other Vengeance books. I could not wait for it and loved every word.

Tacker Hall is a very good hockey player, a first-line member for the Arizona Vengeance. But his past is taking him down fast. So, when he runs his truck into a barrier outside of the arena, he is put on probation and mandatory therapy. The first therapist was not helpful, Tacker was done before the first visit was even over. When he told the team owner that, Dominik Carlson sends him to Nora Wayne.

Nora is a therapist and owns a ranch where she helps lots of people with all sorts of problems and she even gives horse riding lessons. When she meets Tacker, she doesn't think she can help him. But in order to help him, she must share her past tragedy.

Can Tacker learn to open up to Nora? Will he be able to live again? Can Nora help Tacker learn to live and move past the guilt he is feeling? Will they be able to act on the feeling between them?

This is a story that will rip your heart out and have you crying for the past pain of both characters. But Sawyer Bennett will put your heart back together and leave you smiling in the end. If you haven't read anything from this author yet, I recommend this series. But you can start with any of her books, you will not be disappointed.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Witnessing death of loved ones

Tacker is an amazing hockey player. He is the heart of his team, but when his grief takes hold of his mind, body, and soul, he'll have to dig deep to figure out if this is the path he truly wants to walk. While his team, the Vengeance, want to stand by Tacker and help him heal, they will have to draw some hard lines in the sand for him.

Nora is amazing. I love her outlook on life and her friendships she has developed. While Nora is somewhat hesitant to take on a new client, she knows that her therapy center can use the donation in a big way. What Nora doesn't realize that she's getting is a real, honest person willing to do the work.

I really enjoyed watching Tacker figure out how to heal himself. Tacker was able to really internalize what Nora was teaching him and when he was able to really look around him, he was also able to see how many people supported him and loved him.

This is a powerful story about grief, loss, learning to trust yourself again, and ultimately, love. It was a joy to watch Nora and Tacker learn from each other and how their relationship unfolded was beautiful.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Sawyer Bennett has tackled a very sensitive subject in this book and did a wonderful job in the telling of Tacker's story. His grief is evident in everything he does, except when he's on the ice. Hockey is the only thing that's keeping him sane, but even hockey can't keep his demons away for long.

The Arizona Vengeance is willing to stand by Tacker, but only if he learns to cope with his grief. Unwilling to let his hockey brothers down, Tacker agrees to go to grief counseling. Unsure of how this will help him, he nonetheless makes an appointment with a therapist.

Nora Wayne is the equine therapist that the owner of the Vengeance got him in to see by making a hefty donation to her equine therapy farm. Nora has seen people like Tacker before: damaged, unwilling to move through the stages of grief and sliding further into despair.

As Tacker gets to know Nora and learns of her history, he can see that talking about his emotions not only gets easier, it lifts a weight from his soul. And he begins to see Nora as something other than his therapist.

This book allows the user into the mind and heart of a man whose heart has been broken and his soul shattered. As a reader, I could see how the therapy helped heal Tacker and I also learned a few things about dealing with grief.

Also Available in the Arizona Vengeance Series

Book 1
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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Bishop post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Erik Release Blitz.

Book 3
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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Legend Release Blitz.

Book 4
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Dax Release Blitz.

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real-life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as a full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great workout, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tacker (Arizona Vengeance #5) by Sawyer Bennett to read and review. Mary received a free copy as part of the author’s ARC team.

Landon & Shay Part One by Brittainy C. Cherry Blog Tour

Shay Gable hated my guts, and I hated hers, too.

We went out of our way to avoid one another at all times. When she came my direction, I went the other. When we locked eyes, she’d turn and walk away.

All of that changed the day I was presented with a challenge. It started out as a stupid bet: make Shay fall in love with me before I fell in love with her first.

That was an easy bet for me to win.
I didn’t love, I hardly liked.

Yet slowly the game started to shift. Shay made me crave things I never knew I wanted.
Love.
Happiness.
Her.

The closer we grew, the more she challenged my darkness, and the parts I kept locked away.
The hurts.
The pains.
The truth.

The game between us became too real, our feelings intermixed, and the risks of hurting one another grew higher.

But you know what they say...
All’s fair in the game of love and war—especially the heartbreaks.

Book 1
Buy Links

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

Spin Seven was a mixture of spin the bottle and seven minutes in heaven. When it was my turn, I reached out to the bottle with no concern about whether or not it would land exactly where I wanted it to go. At fourteen years old, I’d learned how to perfect my spin-seven skills in order to kiss the girl I wanted.

Though, this time, I knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of kissing going on. More like yelling.

The bottle spun and spun, around and around. Shay’s eyes stayed glued to the glass beer bottle. The moment it started to slow down, I watched her lips part as she quietly muttered, “No, no, no,” before it stopped directly in front of her.

The circle began oohing and aahing at the idea that the two sworn enemies were on their way to the closet together for seven minutes straight. They were all here for that show, and I knew the moment we stepped into that closet, the door would be surrounded with people whispering and pressing their ear against it from the outside, trying to catch a snippet of what was going on behind closed doors.

I stood from the circle and gestured toward Shay. “Please,” I offered. “Chickens first.”

She grimaced, her thick, full eyebrows lowering a hair before she pushed herself up from the floor and headed toward the closet in haste. We both stepped inside and stood nose to nose.

“Okay, friends, you know the rules,” Eric said, grabbing the handle of the door. “Seven minutes in heaven—or, in your case, hell. Have fun!” He slammed the door shut, and the moment it happened, Shay whined with irritation.

“I can’t believe I’m locked in here with you for seven minutes. I could think of a million things I’d rather be doing,” she grumbled, probably with a pout.

“Like what?”

“Oh, I don’t know… watching paint dry.”

“Well, since we’re here, we should probably spend our time wisely,” I joked, moving to unbuckle my jeans, knowing it would bother her. I wished I could see the annoyance on her face. I loved when I got under her skin enough to make her nostrils flare.

“Oh my gosh, remove that idea from your mind, Landon, and stop messing with your belt, because there’s no way in hell I’m touching you.”

“I’ve thought about it before,” I said, my voice low and tame.

“Thought about what?”

“Kissing you.”

She huffed sarcastically. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

“You’re right, it’s not.”

“I know.”

It was true, though. It’d happened once—and only once—after Lance’s funeral. I had spent a lot of weeks being out of it, using alcohol to cope with the shitstorm raging inside my head, and I was a bit unstable. If my friends hadn’t been looking out for me, I would’ve probably gone overboard. I remembered walking into school one day and seeing Shay standing there at her locker with a few of her friends. She was laughing and tossing her head back in such a genuine way, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

I kept thinking about how she’d held me weeks prior and stayed with me during the lowest point of my life. She had been there—my enemy—taking care of my scars. And as I’d stared at her in the hallway, I’d thought about thanking her—walking over to her, parting my lips, and giving her my gratitude. I wasn’t used to people doing shit for me with no hope of anything in return, and Shay had done it without any expectations.

I remembered looking at her eyes, and then moving down to her slender nose, and then her cheeks, then those juicy lips.

I wondered how those lips would taste if I used mine against them to thank her. I wondered if she tasted like the candy she was always popping into her mouth. I wondered if she dripped of the angelic sin I always claimed her to be. I wondered for a split second… considered it for a blink in time… and then she slammed her locker, walked away, and I sobered up.

Still, I had considered it.

We both went quiet for a few moments before I cleared my throat again. I didn’t like silence. Silence and I didn’t get along too well. “Just one kiss, Chick. I can keep it a secret.”

“You keep secrets the same way you keep girls. AKA, you don’t—other than Monica.”

“Monica’s not mine.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that she thinks you’re hers.”

I smirked a little. “You jealous of her?”

“Jealous of her having to deal with a guy like you? Never in my life.”

“Whatever you say, Chick.”

“I wish you’d stop calling me Chick,” she snapped. “I hate it.”

“You want a new nickname, sweet cheeks? I can give you a new nickname, sweet cheeks.”

She shivered in disgust. Good. There was nothing I enjoyed more than getting on her nerves. “Not that either.”

“I’ll keep working on it.”

“Or you could just call me by my name.”

“Nah, Shay’s too ugly a name to leave my lips.”

“I hate you.”

“I hate you more.”

“Yeah, but I hate you the most.”

I snickered. “You really think you can get a guy like me to fall in love with you?”

“Yes. I’m positive, actually. People are the easiest to read, and that includes you.”

“You can’t read me, Shay.”

“I can, like an open book.”

“Okay.” I reached into my pocket, pulled out my cell phone, and turned on the flashlight, lighting up the small space. “Read me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want me to do this? Reading people is kind of my gift, and you might not like what I have to say.”

“I never like what you have to say, so this time shouldn’t be any different. Go for it.”

She rolled her shoulders back and stretched out her arms as if she was about to deadlift me. “Okay. You’re fake, Landon.”

That was it? That was the big reveal? “What the hell do you mean I’m fake?”

“I mean exactly that. You. Are. Fake. F-A-K-E. Fake. There is nothing real about you. You’re a walking lie.”

I laughed. No joke, I actually laughed out loud, which didn’t happen often for me. It was a deep-rooted, belly laugh.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I questioned. “Everything about me is real. I’m the realist damn person you’ll come across in our town.”

“No,” she disagreed with a shake of her head. “You are the fakest. You’re even faker than the new boobs Carly Patrick got for her eighteenth birthday.”

“What?!” I breathed out, stunned by her words. “I’m not fake, Shay.”

“It’s not a big deal, Landon.” She shrugged her shoulders and went to picking at her nails. “People seem to love your fakeness.”

“I’m not fake,” I argued again, my blood boiling at this point. “Plus, I’ve seen Carly’s boobs up close and personal. Those are straight in-your-face, nips-don’t-flick fake. There is no way in this world I’m more fake than those silicone watermelons. I’m a lot of shitty things, but fake isn’t one of them.”

“Okay then, can you answer a question for me?”

“Anything.”

“How many people know you’re sad?”

“The hell kind of question is that?” I barked.

“A very straightforward one,” she replied. She seemed so cool, calm, and collected—one of the many things I despised about her. It was as if her life was always so solid. I wished for that kind of stable structure, and seeing that she had it annoyed the living hell out of me.

“How long have you been sad, Landon?”

I glanced at my watch. “About a solid three minutes now, because being trapped inside this closet with you is complete hell.”

“Aren’t you the one who wanted to come in here with me?”

“Bad call. A lapse in judgment. I forgot how annoying you are.”

She smiled. She freaking smiled at me, pleased by my annoyance. “Are you going to answer me about your sadness?”

“Are you going to suck my dick?” I replied.

“Do you always do that?” she asked, tilting her head to the left as she studied my expressions. She was doing that thing she did—reading me. Taking note of my movements and the tightness of my jaw, taking in every inch of me.

Don’t let her read your pages, Landon. She couldn’t have even handled my prologue.

All my walls were up, and I wasn’t going to let her knock them down.

“Do what?” I questioned.

“Use sarcasm to shield your hurting.”

“There’s nothing hurting here. Look at this life. I have money, badass parties, and girls throwing themselves at me—why would I have anything to hurt about?”

“Maybe because money, girls, and parties don’t make a person happy. I see how miserable you are in your eyes.”

I grimaced and whisper-hissed, “You don’t know shit about me, Shay.”

“Then how am I able to get under your skin so easily? If that wasn’t true, if you weren’t sad, why would my saying that bother you so much?”

“You don’t,” I calmly replied.

She did.

She was pushing me, making me uncomfortable with the fact that she did seem able to see the parts of me no one else could. Anger was building in my chest, and I needed to defuse it before it became too big.

“Maybe it’s best if we shut up for the rest of the time,” I told her.

“For the second time in my life, I agree with you.”

Shay sat down on the floor of the closet, and I did the same, leaning back against some coats that were hanging. How did seven minutes feel like seventy? Was time moving at all? This was hell.

Then came the silence. The silence that brought out heavy thoughts. Shay could read my mind somehow, and so, when the silence became too much, I cleared my throat and tried to make small talk in hopes of shutting my own brain up. “A chicken and Satan walk into a closet—stop me if you’ve heard this one.”

She laughed a little.

It was quiet and low, and dammit, I’d never heard Shay laugh at anything I’d ever said before, so that was new. What was also new was the small part of me that enjoyed hearing her sound.

“Landon?” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

“Just shut up, all right?”

Yeah, okay.

“One more minute, you horny hatebirds!” Eric called out.

We both stood, and I took a step closer toward her. “I get you not wanting to kiss. That’s intimate and personal, but if you want, this is your last chance to touch my cock while no one’s looking. I won’t stop you.”

“No thanks. I’m allergic to peanuts,” she said so effortlessly and loudly, causing the crowd on the other side of the door to burst into laughter.

Shay smirked again, feeling proud of her little dig at me. That beautiful, annoying smirk I loved to hate.

Shay: 1

Landon: 0

I wasn’t worried, though. The game was just getting started. She might’ve scored one point, but I wasn’t going to let it happen again. We were playing on my field, and Shay didn’t know what she was up against.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
Landon and Shay hate each other. They went out of each other's way to avoid the other. That is, until Landon took a bet to make Shay fall in love with him. It was on when she overheard them talking about the bet.

Shay was the only person who could see Landon's pain. She could read him like no one else. But when she walked into his bedroom and heard them talking about her, she wanted in on that bet. So she bet Landon that he would fall in love with her before she would fall in love with him.

As they tried to stay away from each other, they began to see what the other was hiding. Shay brought her light and laughter to Landon's darkness and Landon let Shay see that the darkness was not all he was about.

Can Landon let Shay continue seeing the real him and not lose himself in the darkness for good? Will Shay help Landon move from the darkness and they continue a relationship? Will the bet ruin a relationship they might have?

I love Brittainy C. Cherry and her stories because she always writes stories that will have you feeling all the feels. This story will have you on the edge of your seat until the end and leave you wanting more. I cannot wait for book two. I hope you love this one as much as I did.

Author Brittainy C. Cherry is an Amazon #1 bestselling author.

She has been in love with words since the day she took her first breath. She graduated from Carroll University with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.

Her novels have been published in 18+ countries around the world. Brittainy lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin with her fur babies.

Connect with Brittainy

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Brittainy's Golden Girls (And Boys) Facebook Group

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Landon & Shay Part One (L&S Duet #1) by Brittainy C. Cherry to read and review for this tour.

Tangled up in Christmas by Lisa Renee Jones

I might be a country girl from the same small town of Sweetwater, Texas, as horse wrangler Roarke Frost, the girl next door who knows him like few know him, but I didn't know enough to save my heart.

He's the reason why I left Sweetwater behind.

But now fate proves she loves a wicked twist and sends me back to Sweetwater to pull together a Christmas festival—and I run smack into the man again, quite literally. His body is pressed to mine, his hands on my arms, and I'm melting like chocolate in the sizzling Texas sunshine. And I run.

I know it’s not exactly respectable, but it works, just not for long. No matter how much I try to get tangled up in Christmas, I end up tangled up in Roarke instead—and the man has me feeling the heat of our attraction and the warmth of our past friendship. He feels like Mr. Right, but history says he’s Mr. Wrong.

But if he wants a second chance, Roarke Frost is going to have to work for it. He’ll need to prove to me that this holiday is a season of new beginnings, the kind that last forever.

Book 2
Buy Links

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Entangled Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

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

This is a story about allowing yourself to love again. After Hannah thought her world had broken apart, she left her hometown for a different life. She has been away for years and now finds herself back in town to help promote a Christmas festival.

Roarke is known as the horse whisperer. Now a vet that caters to all kinds of animals, Roarke knows that he has to find a way to get Hannah to forgive him – to listen to him. He has never loved another woman as much as he has loved Hannah.

With secrets about to be discovered and a festival that needs to be put on, Hannah and Roarke start this dance around their past and future.

The secondary characters are well developed and I really enjoyed watching this story unfold. The couple is easy to relate to and the secrets are not super angsty. Both will have to decide if the past will rule their future or if they are willing to carve out their own path.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a standalone – I did! I may have to go back and read about Jason and Jessica, as they are important in this story, and we get some strong hints that how their relationship started is definitely worth knowing.

Hannah finds herself back in the town she grew up, and that she left after being sent an incriminating video of her fiancé, Roarke. She never found another to love but has lived in denial ever since. Inevitably they meet on her return, and the chemistry is still there. He never found anyone who filled her space either – so in theory, this should be easy!

As we find out what really happened and how they both misstepped, it is just a matter of time and circumstance that should bring them back together. The timing in particular is key. What the author cleverly does, is ensure that we can see growth in attitude and confidence by Hannah. She is older, wiser, and prepared to listen and believe. It is refreshing and works well, rather than repeating the errors of the past.

I enjoyed seeing Roarke's career of caring for animals, and whilst being a big deal in his world, he liked nothing better than the home he has created in Sweetwater. The side characters were also great fun, and I enjoyed how Hannah was drawn into a family that she felt she had lost.

A very enjoyable Christmassy and romantic read, thank you, Lisa Renee Jones!

Lisa Renee Jones is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the highly acclaimed Inside Out series; the Dirty Money series; the White Lies duet; the Tall, Dark, and Deadly series; and The Secret Life of Amy Benson series. Murder Notes is the first book in the Lilah Love series.

Connect with Lisa

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Lisa Renee Jones Insiders Facebook Group

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tangled Up in Christmas (Texas Heat #2) by Lisa Renee Jones to read and review.

This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

Introducing the Bow Street Bachelors—men who work undercover for London’s first official police force—and the women they serve to protect... and wed?

WILL A FALSE MARRIAGE

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is done with men who covet her purse more than her person. Even worse than the ton’s lecherous fortune hunters, however, is the cruel cousin determined to force Georgie into marriage. If only she could find a way to be... widowed? Georgie hatches a madcap scheme to wed a condemned criminal before he’s set to be executed. All she has to do is find an eligible bachelor in prison to marry her, and she’ll be free. What could possibly go wrong?

LEAD TO TRUE AND LASTING LOVE?

Benedict William Henry Wylde, scapegrace second son of the late Earl of Morcott and well-known rake, is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. Georgie doesn’t realize who he is when she marries him—and she most certainly never expects to bump into her very-much-alive, and very handsome, husband of convenience at a society gathering weeks later. Soon Wylde finds himself courting his own wife, hoping to win her heart since he already has her hand. But how can this seductive rogue convince brazen, beautiful Georgie that he wants to be together… until actual death do they part?

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Spoiler-Free Review

Kate Bateman is a new-to-me author. This Earl of Mine is the debut in the Bow Street Bachelors series.

As an independent woman running her late father's shipping company, Georgina Caversteed isn't interested in romance. She needs a solution to her greatest problem. She's constantly pursued by those wishing to take advantage of her considerable wealth and her business. When every man who wants to be in her company merely wants something from her, it makes a woman overly cautious, especially since if she married the wrong man, he would be in control of her legacy and future.

I truly enjoyed Georgina's more mature outlook, slightly pessimistic and cautious, instead of the usual historical heroines who are more worried about balls, looking pretty, and catching a husband. Georgina was in fear of her independence, wishing to lead her own life, so she devises a way to marry that would remove all her worries.

Benedict Wylde is who Georgina chooses to marry in her insane plan of independence. But Georgina underestimates Benedict. He has his own plan, where she doesn't fit into it in the long-run either, which adds to the romantic tension, banter, humor, and unexpected connection between the pair.

I don't wish to ruin the storyline with spoilers, because it's definitely an original story. Both Benedict and Georgina are running parallel games, if you will. Where they truly shine is when they come together for a common goal, while working through their problems, seeking a happier life together.

While the story was a good one, the reason for the 4-star rating is based on my mood, which affected the entertainment value – I wasn't sure if there was something missing in the book that made me able to put it down and walk away, or if it was my mood entirely. That's on me.

I thoroughly enjoyed This Earl of Mine, and highly recommend it to historical romance fans. I'm definitely looking forward to more in the series and by this author.

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K.C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England.

Connect with Kate

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of This Earl of Mine (Bow Street Bachelors #1) by Kate Bateman to read and review.

Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man series comes a sexy and emotional follow up to her wildly popular standalone romance The Protector.

Ryan Willis has spent years in the protection business, a job that requires constant vigilance and quick thinking. His only chance to truly relax is at his secluded cabin in a small town where there are never any surprises. So when Ryan returns after an assignment and encounters a beautiful stranger, he isn't only surprised, he's also instantly intrigued.

Hannah Bright is a breath of fresh air, and Ryan is soon completely consumed, unable to stop from falling for her. As the two grow closer, his instinct tells him something is amiss. Yet nothing could prepare him for what he discovers when he starts digging into her past.

Hannah spends her days painting, running her arts and crafts store... and hiding too many secrets. It's why she won't let the ruggedly handsome bodyguard get too close. But their chemistry is undeniable, and Hannah quickly finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance with Ryan. He is peace personified, a balm to her battered soul. Yet the gorgeous, captivating man who has swept Hannah off her feet doesn't even know who she really is. And the moment he finds out, both their lives are at risk.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have waited for this one since it was first introduced, and I couldn't wait to start it when it hit my Kindle. It is a wonderful story that is filled with suspense and WOW!

Ryan works with Jake (from The Protector) and both are on the job when the story starts. Ryan decides that he is done with his job and wants to build houses close to where his cabin is. The cabin is near Hampton, a small town in the country where everyone knows everyone and everything. When he notices a new shop on main street, he doesn't think an art shop is a good thing for the little town.

Hannah has been running from her past for many years, always looking over her shoulder. She can never let her guard down. As she sets up her shop, she thinks she might stay a little longer in Hampton. Although she knows she can't stay forever, it is too risky to stay in one place for too long.

When Ryan meets Hannah the sparks fly and she is struck speechless. Several times she can't speak. She is drawn to him, he almost kisses her twice, the third time he finally does and it is perfect. And he walks away after.

Can Ryan show her that she can stay and let him love her? Will she get spooked and run again? Will her past come back to haunt them both? Will they both get a chance at a future together?

I loved this story, and Ryan and Hannah are perfect. And don't forget Alex, she is great too. Ryan is another alpha male to add to my JEM stable of men. If you haven't read Jodi Ellen Malpas yet, you will love any of her books, she is a fantastic author and a go-to author for me. I hope you love this one as much as I did.


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

Ryan is used to being on edge. It's kept him alive and saved countless lives. However, he wants to take a step back and be able to enjoy his life. So, he leaves his work and returns to his favorite place. He also wants to see his daughter more than the little he's been able to. He loves her with everything he is.

Hannah is finally able to have a little piece. She loves where she is living and her life. With the past still able to haunt her, she wants to just make the most of what she has now, before she has to move on.

Ryan and Hannah are great characters. They seem to have an easy friendship and while it wasn't an overly steamy or great romance, their easy friendship led to an easy transition to potential love interest. I really enjoyed watching Ryan's daughter stir everything up. She was hilarious.

Malpas has created an ideal place to live and with it, ideal circumstances for walls to come down and pasts to be revealed. With the typical obstacle thrown in the story, it made for an entertaining read. The knight in shining armor saves the woman, who, while she can save herself, likes that someone else wants the job too.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a very enjoyable read from the talented Malpas. It is set mainly in the English Peak District, although really, any small town would have offered the same protection, it did however provide the village fete and the snooty lord and lady of the manor, so in that was quintessentially British. I am still questioning their sanity at going repeatedly into a woodland lake though, as the water must have been absolutely freezing!

Ryan is off duty, kicking back and looking forward to spending time with his daughter when he crashes into a tree avoiding a woman on a bicycle. Their connection is powerful, but she is without a doubt hiding something, and it is something she fears. As the story unfolds, the fear remains, but it is only slowly revealed just who and the depth of why.

Hannah is a likeable character, although her wisdom in opening a specialist shop in the middle of nowhere is more about her love of art than any business sense, that is for sure! It works as a vehicle for drawing her into the community life, and undoubtedly her growing relationship with Ryan helps her settle too. I enjoyed the events that take place, and the crazy of the 'ruling' gentry, which was sadly all too realistic.

Alex, Ryan's daughter, is an absolute hoot, and does a great job of pulling the two of them together, when they are floundering between should they shouldn't they moments. She acts beyond her years, but boarding school can definitely do that to an only child.

There are some really rather sad moments, some funny moments, and some very sexy ones – in just about the right proportion for me. A good read from cover to cover – and I could happily read it again for some fun escapism.

[p.s. I am still a little confused as to why the moving bicycle didn't raise any concern sooner, (or the jewellery) – I couldn't see why it was mentioned but not used as a vehicle, (no pun intended) for making her at least wary. And even later, it is just ignored.]

Jodi Ellen Malpas wrote her debut series, The This Man Trilogy, in secret, worried about what people might think if they knew what her imagination was capable of. She was shocked herself. But she finally found the courage to unleash her creative streak and self-published This Man – the first book of the This Man Trilogy – in October 2012. She took a chance on the story with a hero who soon became one of modern day fictions most prolific alpha male characters. Jesse Ward – also affectionately known as The Lord of The Manor, sparked incredible reactions from women across the globe and catapulted Jodi into the world of romance.

She was soon signed by Grand Central Publishing, part of the Hachette Book Group, and the third book of the trilogy, This Man Confessed, took Jodi to the top of the bestsellers lists, earning her the proud title of #1 New York Times Bestselling Author. This Man has since been voted one of the top romance novels of all time. With so much love and enthusiasm for her words, Jodi suddenly wasn’t afraid of her imagination anymore and has since let it run riot. Writing powerful love stories and creating addictive characters has become her passion—a passion she now shares with her devoted readers.

Jodi was born and raised in the Midlands town of Northampton, England, where she lives with her real-life man, her boys, and a beagle. She is a self-professed daydreamer, a Converse and mojito addict, and has a terrible weak spot for alpha males. Her work is now published in more than twenty-five languages across the world.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Leave Me Breathless by Jodi Ellen Malpas to read and review.

First Impressions by Jay Hogan

Michael

Two years ago I made a mistake—a big one. Then I added a couple more just for good measure. I screwed up my life, but I survived. Now I have the opportunity for a fresh start. Two years in NZ. Away from the LA gossip, a chance to breathe, to rebuild my life. But I’m taking my new set of rules with me.

I don’t do relationships.

I don’t do commitment.

I don’t do white picket fences.

And I especially don’t do arrogant, holier-than-thou, smoking-hot K9 officers who walk into my ER and rock my world.

Josh

One thing’s for certain: Dr. Michael Oliver is an arrogant, untrustworthy player, and I barely survived the last one of those. He might be gorgeous, but my daughter takes number-one priority. I won’t risk her being hurt again. I’m a solo dad, a K9 cop, and a son to pain-in-the-arse parents.

I don’t have time for games.

I don’t have time for taking chances. I don’t have time for more complications in my life.

And I sure as hell don’t have time for the infuriating Dr. Michael Oliver, however damn sexy he is.

Second Edition
First Edition published by Blackout Books, 2018.

Book 1
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Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
The slow build sexual tension in this book is electric. The family-focused dog handler and the playboy ER doctor hate each other at first sight – but they can’t escape the chemistry that draws them together.

It’s easy to love Josh. He’s a devoted single parent and a genuinely good person. His adorable canine partner is also pretty attractive. But honestly, he’s a little safe and a little bland at times – and it was bad boy Michael who really captured my heart. We first meet him when his backroom hook-up is interrupted by a police raid. He’s gorgeous, talented and arrogant – and he’s fighting some difficult demons. Michael made me laugh and he kept the book from falling into saccharine, white picket fence territory.

I enjoyed the action in this book. From Josh’s first drug raid to Michael’s terrifying run-ins with bad guys, the story is fast paced and exciting. The overall plot wanders a bit (I’m not sure the book needed the storyline about Josh’s parents or the one about the softball team...) and there might be a few too many characters but I liked the characters and I enjoyed their relationships. Some of the action near the end of the story isn’t terribly plausible but I felt thoroughly invested in the very real and relatable characters.

This is part of a very loosely linked series. I read this several months after reading the second novel and there really isn’t much that connects the two books. Michael and Cameron work together at Auckland Med but neither man plays a big role in the other’s story. Plot wise, the two are very different. This story gives readers police action and an organised crime storyline while the second book focuses on a closeted rugby player. I've enjoyed both books but readers don’t need to read them in sequence.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in the series but was rereleased after book two. I really enjoyed Crossing the Touchline, so was keen to read this one too. Cam is the lead in book two, which as you get to know him here, makes a lot of sense.

An engaging mystery, which involves the doctor Michael and K9 officer Josh. They first meet with Michael in a somewhat compromising position – so definitely not a good first impression. However, with time they fall into a friendship/romance. As Michael is on a short contract in NZ, and due to return to LA, he is more than a little reluctant to settle down, even if he has broken all his rules already.

I found the two men were well written, and their hopes and fears well expressed. I did, however, hate how Michael was so selfish in his complete disappearance from Josh's life. Whilst it made sense that he needed the time and space to resolve his demons, he caused a lot of pain and angst that was just cruel. I chose to forgive him because Josh did, but I was not impressed at all!


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

Michael is a successful trauma doctor. He is enjoying being around people who don't know his past. While he's taking this break from LA, being around a different bunch is both comforting and terrifying.

Josh is trying to live his best life. With his daughter and dog walking alongside him in this life, he knows that he can ill afford to screw up. He loves his job and, despite the dangers, can't see himself doing anything else.

Michael and Josh's relationship starts on very rocky territory. Neither man is looking for something real and the fact that Josh can't stand Michael only adds to the stress in both men's lives. But when danger lurks around Michael, Josh can't help but want to protect him.

This is a relationship of more enemies-to-lovers. The chemistry is lacking for me and it seems they really only get together out of spite and a need for release. At times, I found myself skimming the pages because there is a lot of dialogue that just isn't necessary. I enjoyed the mystery behind the danger and liked Josh's daughter a lot. Overall, this was just an okay story for me. It had so much more potential, but just didn't hit the spot for me.

Also Available in the Auckland Med. Series

Book 2
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Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Crossing the Touchline post.

JAY HOGAN is a New Zealand author writing in m/m romance, romantic suspense, and fantasy. She has travelled extensively and has lived in the US, Canada, France, Australia, and South Korea. She has a BA degree in nursing and in theology, and in another life, she was an intensive care nurse, counselor, and a lecturer.

Though a late bloomer publishing-wise, she has always had pen to paper from poetry to fiction, benefitting from the unwavering support of a long-suffering husband and the services of an in-house beta reader—oops, sorry, she means daughter.

She is a cat aficionado, especially of Maine Coons, and an avid dog lover (but don’t tell the cat). She loves to cook (pretty damn good), loves to sing (pretty damn average), and as for loving full-time writing—absolutely… depending of course on the day, the word count, the deadline, how obliging her characters are, the ambient temperature in the Western Sahara, whether Jupiter is rising, the size of the ozone hole over New Zealand, and how much coffee she’s had.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of First Impressions (Auckland Med. #1) by Jay Hogan to read and review.

Don't Close Your Eyes by Christie Craig

In this dark and dangerous Texas small town, Annie Lakes' nightmares come alive when a cold case from her past reveals family secrets that put her life in jeopardy.

Annie Lakes has had the same recurring nightmare for years. Her heart pounding in her chest. A panicked voice, begging her to run faster. Her own bloodcurdling scream. But now Annie is starting to realize it's more than just a bad dream. She's starting to remember things about the night her cousin Jenny disappeared all those years ago. Things that make her believe her family was involved—and what they're hiding is much worse than she ever imagined. But she can't unravel this alone. She needs someone she can trust, someone like sexy Detective Mark Sutton...

Mark has seen enough—too much—to assume that Annie's story is a dead end. It turns out that her family is hiding some killer secrets. A long time ago, Annie was just an innocent little girl who saw something she shouldn't. Now she's a target, and Mark's running out of time to protect the woman he's starting to fall for. But how does Mark face off against a murderer who just may be someone Annie loves?

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Psychological Thriller, light romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This book sucks you right in. The mystery is well planned, and the characters are complex and well developed. I really enjoyed watching this story unfold. At first, you really do believe that Annie's memories are just bad memories that a child might have. But as the story continues on and you see how twisted and toxic her family is, the doubts start to creep in.

Mark is a hard character to know. You want him to be the good guy, but his surliness makes him a hard person to like. He is a bulldog when it matters and when he realizes that he wants to trust Annie, he does everything in his power to help her.

The family that Annie now has to contend with is both disgusting and amazing. Her mother is the most infuriating character there is and there was just never a very good understanding of her. At times, I wanted to yell and scream at her and other times, she seemed so meek. It was a strange combination of one character.

I really enjoyed watching this unfold. While the romance was more back burner, the two main characters were able to develop a good relationship despite the circumstances. Also, Mark's partners were fun to watch, and I can't wait to see who gets the next story.

Christie Craig is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty-nine books. She is an Alabama native, a motivational speaker, and a writing teacher, who currently hangs her hat in Texas. When she’s not writing romance, she’s traveling, sipping wine, or penning bestselling young adult novels as C.C. Hunter.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Don't Close Your Eyes (Texas Justice #1) by Christie Craig to read and review.