Thursday, December 22, 2016

Deadly Design by Brandy L. Rivers


Some deadly designs can right the wrongs of the past…

Years ago, Erik Mortale loved and lost Monique when he chose his path. He wanted to make a difference, to change the mages perspective of Other casters. Erik made great strides until another Necromancer in the same program showed his true colors.

Monique DeSandre has been burned repeatedly by the Silver Council and their misconceptions of Enchanters. The designer has made a name for herself as the leading supplier of magically enhanced clothing. As much as she’s tried to leave Erik in the past, she can’t let go, no matter their differing views.

The new magister has created a new Diverse Special Forces program. Once again Erik has been brought back as one of the high ranking Enforcers as well as a trainer. However, an elitist mage wants to destroy the group and has chosen Erik as the scapegoat.

With tensions rising, Monique will fight for the man she’s pushed away for years. But is it too late to fix what’s broken? And can they prove Erik isn’t the one behind the ritualistic murders?

Add to Goodreads


Book 9
Buy Links

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



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo☆☆☆☆
This is really two stories in one. The first half of the book tells the story of Erik and Monique's beginnings – two kids who were friends, who grew up to become lovers against her mother's wishes. During this time, Monique's father is accused of a crime and is imprisoned by the Silver Council. Her mother blames the mages – all mages – for all the injustices that have been perpetrated against them.

After her mother's death, Monique leaves Erik, believing that he will be better off without her since he appears not to trust her. Erik doesn't understand why Monique is acting this way, but he believes that it has a lot to do with her mother and her violent death.

Fast forward to today and Erik is finally ready to move on and leave Edenton. Monique has finally decided that she has been scared long enough and wants a life with Erik. Not knowing how much more he can take, he doesn't believe Monique's sudden role reversal.

During this time, the Monique comes under fire from the Council and the Others must come together to save Monique and Erik.

Once again a solid read and I can't wait to see what happens next in Edenton.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the ninth book in the series – and whilst it is a good story on its own, it would make a lot more sense in the context of the series.

There is something really lovely about having a new Edenton book to read, because you can guarantee to meet up with a lot of old friends again, and that is no exception here. The story starts off over 50 years ago, and sets the scene very clearly for what is happening in the present day. This book concentrates, more than anything, on Erik and Monique's relationship and the plot is the key to its fractured state. I found it much more emotionally driven than many of the books, which often have a lot more tension due to evil forces. There are still factions that need controlling, but for me, it was the difficulties of these two people that took centre stage. Given that most of us would find a wait of just a few months or years difficult to tolerate, Erik's patience has to be admired!

Another good episode in the series, and a really interesting change in pace and intensity. Look forward to seeing what comes next.


Also Available in the Others of Edenton Series

Book 0.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca


Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca


Book 1.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca


Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca


Book 2.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca


Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca


Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Breaking Free Blog Tour.


Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Mending Scars Blog Tour.


Book 6
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Light in Darkness Blog Tour.


Book 7
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 Blissful Agony Blog Tour.


Book 8
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our Entangled Darkness post.




Brandy L Rivers is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her two main series are Others of Edenton and Others of Seattle. She has also written a couple contemporary stories. An avid reader, Brandy has always loved writing. She became serious about it as a stay-at-home-mother. Her secret lair, guarded by a pint-sized pound puppy who imagines himself a hellhound, contains a file full of manuscripts she plans to edit and put out with new creations she is constantly dreaming up. Living in rainy Western Washington with her husband and three kids, Brandy is already working on future stories in each of the series, and several other projects.

Connect with Brandy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads




Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Deadly Design (Others of Edenton #9) by Brandy L. Rivers to read and review.

Pansies by Alexis Hall


Can the fully paid-up pansy make things right with the pink-tipped hipster?

Alfie Bell is... fine. He’s got a six-figure salary, a penthouse in Canary Wharf, the car he swore he’d buy when he was eighteen, and a bunch of fancy London friends.

It’s rough, though, going back to South Shields now that they all know he’s a fully paid-up pansy. It’s the last place he’s expecting to pull. But Fen’s gorgeous, with his pink-tipped hair and hipster glasses, full of the sort of courage Alfie’s never had. It should be a one-night thing, but Alfie hasn't met anyone like Fen before.

Except he has. At school, when Alfie was everything he was supposed to be, and Fen was the stubborn little gay boy who wouldn’t keep his head down. And now it’s a proper mess: Fen might have slept with Alfie, but he’ll probably never forgive him, and Fen’s got all this other stuff going on anyway, with his mam and her flower shop and the life he left down south.

Alfie just wants to make it right. But how can he, when all they’ve got in common is the nowhere town they both ran away from.

The Spires stories can be read in any order – jump in wherever you'd like.

Add to Goodreads


Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
ARe  ~  B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆
3.5 Stars.

Alexis Hall is a new-to-me author. Stating this because others may be put off as I was: I have to admit, I was hesitant to read this novel due to the cover. I'm not one who allows that sort of thing to influence me, but with the physical proportions off, it looked as if a grown man was holding a disproportionate little kid in a romantic embrace, and I wasn't sure what I was in for should I continue to read.

With that being said, I'm glad I continued. With the love-hate premise of stumbling upon the guy you bullied as a teenager, having no idea who he is, and wanting to bed him, this is a delicious recipe for angst.

I need to point out, if you're someone who was bullied as a kid, you may find it hard to swallow how easily Fen forgave Alfie (ignored the issue). People are complex, and we all don't react the same way to events in our past and present, so I found their dynamic realistic. We also change as we mature. Alfie isn't the kid he used to be now that he has grown into a compassionate man, and Fen isn't the same person either.

Alfie comes home for the wedding of his old pal, only to out himself in the most embarrassing fashion, and he keeps doing this all over the place. Not that he's in the closet, but his small town isn't up in his business. Alfie has a difficult job, tons of money, and a contemporary apartment in London, but none of this offers him any real happiness. He wants something else, but he's just not sure what.

Alfie and Fen connect instantly, the tension palpable, but it's tinged with a thread of resentment Alfie doesn't understand. This connection anchors Alfie, finding it difficult to go back to his life. On the pages, the men share many sweet, hot, and heartfelt moments. But what I found to be my favorite was the unexpected humor. The dry, witty banter between the couple had me chuckling aloud many times. As the daughter of a contractor, one who knows how to spackle, I was dying during that scene.

Finding the romance sweet and lovely, with a bit of purple prose that added a flourish to the novel, you're probably wondering why I gave Pansies 3.5 stars instead of 5. Pacing. The slow pacing, mixed with redundancy is why. It took me the better part of a week to read and finish the 400-page novel, when normally I can read a book and a half of that length in a single day. It wasn't so much the length of the novel, but how it took much longer than ordinary to wade through it. A part of me felt it tedious, drifting into boredom, while another part of me felt the scenes were beautifully romantic. One voice was louder than the other.

Heed this warning: If you're a reader who needs conflict, action, and a quicker pace, perhaps download the sample. As this is 400 pages of conversations intermixed with between-the-sheets actions, and inner monologue.

Recommended to Alexis Hall fans and readers of MM romance. I am curious to see if I'd connect with more of this author's stories. Even though the execution of this premise wasn't to my tastes (I won't wish it was something it wasn't, nor will I rate it on what I wish it would have been), I did find the author's voice to be a beautiful one.


Angela☆☆☆☆
I’m starting my review with a word of warning for my fellow American readers – this is a book set in England, written by an English author, featuring English characters. So, if you have a problem with English phrasing and thick accents (especially when the characters get emotional), then be forewarned that Pansies could be problematic for you. Personally, I enjoy reading British authors and consider myself well versed enough in the more commonly used phrases and written accents to read modern English authors, but there were a couple of scenes where I struggled with the thickening accents, particularly Alfie’s. However, none of that affected my rating of the book because I thoroughly enjoyed Pansies.

Technically outside the new adult age range, Pansies has a new adult feel to it because of the level of angst and indecision Hall infuses into the story. Typically, I would consider 28-year-old Alfie old enough to know better, but because he’s only been aware of his homosexuality for a couple years, the angst works for him. Alfie is still trying to reconcile his heteronormative upbringing with his homosexuality, trying to overcome his knee jerk reactions and homophobic comments, and trying to understand his parents’ reaction to him coming out, all while he’s still learning to accept himself. Fen’s angst comes largely from a place of grief – the death of his mother, the loss of his boyfriend, and the loss of the life he had started to build when he chose to return home to take care of his mother and take over her flower shop. Added to all that is the fact that, in high school, Alfie used to torment and bully Fen for being gay, and the confusion that Fen felt for being attracted to Alfie, despite the abuse he suffered. That he once again suffers at Alfie’s careless words when they run into one another, have a one-night stand, and decide to spend more time together, is icing on the cake. But Alfie isn’t the only man in the relationship who has a hard time communicating or who lets his past affect their future.

Despite the fact that he constantly mucked things up, I enjoyed watching Alfie grow over the course of the novel. From his very first cock-up, Fen encouraged Alfie to consider how his actions affected others, encouraged him to make it right and to communicate with the people in his life. Over the course of the book, we got to see Alfie morph from a man who blamed those around him for a problem or misunderstanding, into a man who was able to admit he was wrong, identify where he went wrong, and fix it (when possible). I also enjoyed how their personal relationship changed as Alfie became the man he wanted to be, and I loved the chemistry between them. There were times they were sweet and gentle, and there were times when they couldn’t get enough of one another. This struck a nice balance in their interactions. And the letters! Oh, how I loved Fen’s letters to his mother. They were a touching way for Fen to grieve, to “talk” to his mom, and to give the reader insight into how Fen felt, thus moving the story along. More than one of them made me tear up, but not as much as when Fen “delivered” them. I enjoyed Pansies immensely. You’re probably wondering why not give it five stars? Simply because I’m not entirely sure that Pansies is a book I’ll reread, which is the difference between a 4-star rating and a 5-star rating for me. Either way, I loved spending time with Fen and Alphie, and I look forward to Hall’s next book.



Alexis Hall was born in the early 1980s and still thinks the twenty-first century is the future. To this day, he feels cheated that he lived through a fin de siècle but inexplicably failed to drink a single glass of absinthe, dance with a single courtesan, or stay in a single garret.

He did the Oxbridge thing sometime in the 2000s and failed to learn anything of substance. He has had many jobs, including ice cream maker, fortune-teller, lab technician, and professional gambler. He was fired from most of them.

He can neither cook nor sing, but he can handle a seventeenth-century smallsword, punts from the proper end, and knows how to hotwire a car.

He lives in southeast England, with no cats and no children, and fully intends to keep it that way.

Connect with Alexis

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads


http://riptidepublishing.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Pansies (Spires Universe #4) by Alexis Hall to read and review.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Completely Yours by Erin Nicholas Blog Tour


The first book in a brand new contemporary romance series from New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas about three geeky girls and the hunky guys who fall for them.

Kiera Connelly leads a quiet life, and that's just how she likes it. She's built a name as a graphic designer and meets up with her friends online, all from the comfort of her living room couch. But when a rare outing turns disastrous, Kiera finds herself up close and way too personal with an unbelievably hot real-life hero.

Zach Ashley doesn't see himself as a hero. He's just a regular guy who gets to help people every day as an EMT. But when he's called to a scene and has to treat his most gorgeous patient ever, he finds himself mixing work with pleasure. He never hesitates to put his life on the line... but will he ever risk his heart?

Add to Goodreads


Book 1
Buy Links

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




She was still watching the ambulance, and she nodded absently. “Okay.”

He moved in front of her and crouched to get on eye level. “You can go right over and see them at the hospital. Mass General. If you’re not family, they might not be able to tell you much, but if you can get in touch with their families, they can come and sit with you, right?”

She nodded again but Zach wasn’t sure she’d heard him. He really wanted to know that someone was going to be there with her. Shock in survivors wasn’t uncommon. The that-could’ve-been-me thing could kick in at any moment if it hadn’t already. But there was nothing like seeing someone you cared about hurt.

He put his hands on her arms again, this time rubbing up and down and just ignoring how good her skin felt against his rough palms. Mostly. He needed to comfort her more than he needed to worry about how she made him feel.

“Do you know where Mass General is?” He didn’t love the idea of her driving herself over there. She was clearly overwhelmed.

Kiera nodded. “Yes.”

“You can get there?” he asked.

She nodded again.

Okay. So…

“Zach! Let’s go!”

Zach glanced over at Reed. His co-workers needed help so he was going to be here for a while. He couldn’t be messing around, obsessing about a woman who liked to play dress-up. “Kiera, I need to go but…”

“Yeah, of course.” She shook her head and looked around. “You go.”

“But…” But nothing. She was fine, and he was needed by people who weren’t fine. “Okay.”

He had the fleeting thought that he wanted to kiss her goodbye. But that was crazy. They’d just met. In the middle of an emergency. No way should he kiss her.

Finally, he let go of her and stepped back. But not touching her didn’t do a thing to make him not want to touch her. He forced himself to turn away and head toward Reed, trying to clear his mind of green and gold sweet-smelling flowers as he went. But when he got about twenty feet from her, he glanced back.

And she was still standing there. Hugging herself. Looking lost.

Fuck.

“I’ll be right there,” he told Reed.

Reed glanced back. “Dude…”

“I know.” And he did. He needed to not be distracted. But the only way that was going to happen was if he knew for sure that Kiera was taken care of.

He jogged back to her side. “Hey princess, what’s up?”

She looked at him, and her look of confusion cleared. That made him feel stupidly good.

“I don’t have a way…”

She trailed off, and Zach frowned. “You don’t feel up to driving?”

“We brought Sophie’s car, and her fob thingy is with her.”

Ah. A little issue. “You have someone you can call?”

“I didn’t bring my phone.”

“You can use mine.”

“No one’s home. I live with Maya and Sophie,” she said. “Obviously, they’re not… there.”

Her voice wobbled, and Zach worked on not grabbing her and hugging her.

They’d just fucking met. Hugging and kissing wasn’t appropriate. Dammit.

“How about a cab?”

“I don’t have any money.”

He looked her over again, revisiting the curves he realized he’d already memorized. He could give her money for a cab of course. He could get her home. But she’d be home alone. He could get her to the hospital, but they wouldn’t talk to her and she’d be stuck in the waiting room for God knew how long. Alone.

And leaving her alone was simply something he could not do.

“You need to come with me.” He reached out and snagged her hand before he could tell himself that holding her hand was a bad idea.

Because it was. Her hand felt good in his, and the way she curled her fingers around his tightly and followed him without question felt good. And the idea that he was going to get to spend more time with her felt good. And all of that was bad. And yet, he pulled her along with him through the convention hall and into the heart of the chaos.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

“I need to go help with some more injured. And I need you to stick with me.”

“Me? Why?”

He looked over at her. Her cape floated behind her, and for the first time, he noticed the golden sword swinging at her left hip. Damn. That was kind of hot. “Because you’re a gorgeous kick-ass warrior princess, and the people in here are gonna need some gorgeous kick-ass stuff.”

She looked at him with surprise, but as he held her gaze, he saw something that turned him on even more than her smelling like candy—a spark of determination. She pulled up straighter as she walked, and he felt her hand tighten on his.

“Kick ass. Right. I can do that.”

He smiled. “And I could use some help from an interpreter.”

“An interpreter? I speak some Spanish but that’s about it.”

“You don’t speak geek?” He hoped he wasn’t committing a faux pau in calling her, and all of this, geeky.

But she actually gave him a half smile. “Oh, geek. Yes, I’m fluent.”






Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Death

This was truly about learning that life isn't something you can completely control. Kiera is a strong woman – she knows who she is, what she wants, and she's not afraid to achieve those goals. However, from the glimpses you get to see of her past, you know that wasn't always the case. There was a time when she tried to bend, mold, and shift herself into the perfect view of someone else.

Josie and Aimee and Zach had a great life – at least that's what Zach thought. However, the issues within a family are usually hidden such that an outsider won't know what the dynamic is within a family. Zach learns this the hardest way possible. Despite being successful and loving his job, he's a fixer. When he can't fix things, he neglects himself in order to try and figure out a way.

This has a lot of dynamic built in. Aimee is struggling to come to terms with the death of her sister, trying to please her brother, and hiding the secrets of her parents. While finding a new circle of friends, she realizes that she is free to do so without fear of disappointing her brother and parents, because they all have their own things to work through.

Kiera and Zach are very different when they first meet, but both are unafraid to be who they want. I think that the relationship between Kiera and Zach is pretty organic from the beginning, despite them coming together fairly quickly. I think that Aimee helped to create the organic dynamic.

This was a sweet story with great characters. I do hope that more characters get their own stories and with this being a book one, I am hopeful it will be soon.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 Sweet, hot and meaningful stars – rounded up because the more I think about it, the more I realise how much I enjoyed it!

This is the first book in a new series, and I cannot wait to immerse myself back in the company of this delightful group of interesting people. I did not read the first chapter of book 2 at the end though, because I knew just how frustrated I would be at having to wait for the next story! I do hope Ms. Nicholas is busy plotting, so that we get it soon.

Sometimes books which pitch two people at each other in a moment of crisis have an element of drama that never seems real. Here Ms. Nicholas has done exactly that and exploited it brilliantly through an online world. I cannot emphasise how cleverly she leads us down a path of reality, to then use the online world to make us laugh, and wait for everything to come together. I am not someone who enters such worlds, but I absolutely get why it happens, and how it can help in times of trouble.

Parallel to this, Keira and Zach live in a world which is far from perfect, and approach it in a very different way – watching them learn about each other, become firmly entrenched in each others' hearts and lives is so enjoyable. They are clearly so right for each other, and yet...

With a good sized cast, and lots of potential stories in the future, I have a feeling this is one of those series that will become a best friend to be turned to in times of need. So, whilst I would happily reread this immediately, I shall wait until Maya gets her turn, and then indulge in a twofer. Thank you in advance Ms. Nicholas!




Erin Nicholas is the author of sexy contemporary romances. Her stories have been described as toe-curling, enchanting, steamy and fun. She loves to write about reluctant heroes, imperfect heroines and happily ever afters. She lives in the Midwest with her husband who only wants to read the sex scenes in her books, her kids who will never read the sex scenes in her books, and family and friends who say they're shocked by the sex scenes in her books (yeah, right!).

Connect with Erin

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Hosted by
http://forever-romance.com/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Completely Yours (Opposites Attract #1) by Erin Nicholas to read and review for this tour.

Snow in Montana by RJ Scott Blog Tour


An actor in the closet, a sheriff in love, and memories that won’t stay hidden.

Jordan Darby is known as the King of Christmas. The star of eight made-for-TV Christmas movies, the leading man who always gets his girl. Filming at Crooked Tree Ranch in Montana, in the ice and snow, Jordan is fighting to make a go of his new company and dealing with fears of exposure over one huge secret. After all, who the hell would buy into him being a romantic straight lead if rumors about him being gay were proven to be true?

Sheriff Ryan Carter is advising on the new movie being made at Crooked Tree. He hoped this would be one day of work and nothing more. Until, that is, he meets the hero. But while Jordan is sexy, he’s also very much stuck in the closet—everything that Ryan doesn’t need in his life. And then lust becomes part of the equation, and Ryan’s quiet life is thrown into turmoil.

Their story unfolds against the chaos that overtakes the ranch, with Adam regaining memories that terrify him and make him look at Justin differently, and Justin leaving the ranch to make things right. Only through trusting in love and friendship can Justin and Adam learn to look to the future instead of letting the past destroy everything. But will they ever see clearly enough to do that?


Add to Goodreads


Book 4
Buy Links

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



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica☆☆☆☆
Firstly, I have to say how much I love Ryan, our sexy, 6 foot 5, sexy, cuddly Sheriff. He has such a calm, relaxed way about him and he is all hot and toppy in the bedroom. I couldn't resist him.

Ryan meets Jordan at Crooked Tree Ranch where Jordan is filming his latest Christmas movie. Jordan is a B-list actor who is in the closest for fear of what will happen to his movie career and production company if he comes out.

When Ryan and Jordan hook up, they assume it can only be for a short time while Jordan is filming in Montana, but that doesn't stop them from getting close and wanting more. And they are pretty great together.

Parts of this story are also told from the point of view of previous Crooked Tree heroes, Adam and Justin. Adam's memory starts to come back and play tricks on him, and it causes a fair bit of tension and drama for those at Crooked Tree. I love that we get to spend more time with the characters we already know and love.

Snow in Montana is loving, comforting, and a little bit sexy story that wraps up the lives of our gang at Crooked Tree ranch nicely.


Angie☆☆☆
I love this series, was soooo excited when this book came out, couldn’t wait to read it. Man, I was disappointed when I read it. It felt thrown together, too many scenarios going on and just didn’t click with me like the other books in the series did. I didn’t feel the sizzling connection between Jordan and Ryan. I wanted more focus on them and it was always drawn away and given to the other characters. Just didn’t hit the mark for me this time.

Characters: Well written
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Yes
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Sarah☆☆☆
Whew. This is a very busy book with several subplots building from earlier stories in the series. To fully appreciate it, this book really must be read immediately after reading the first three books. It doesn’t standalone and even though I read the third book less than a month ago, I found myself desperately trying to remember details from earlier books that led up to the events and relationships in this one.

The central romance between actor Jordan and sheriff Ryan is very sweet and relatively angst free. The main conflict is Jordan’s closeted existence as a straight star in the conservative Hallmark Channel’s made for TV movies. Both men are incredibly easy going and both have supportive friends and families. I enjoyed both of these men, but we didn’t quite get the depth of character development or angsty grit that we experienced in the earlier books.

I enjoyed watching Jordan and his brother producing their film on location on the ranch. The film details were fascinating. The complicated but supportive relationships between Ryan and his brothers was lovely.

Overall, I enjoyed the romance between Jordan and Ryan, but the rest of the book was quite complicated and a bit of a whirlwind.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth in the series – and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, as there are ongoing issues which have to be faced in this book. I have been reading them as they are released, and whilst I think the stories are memorable, the family trees at the beginning were very handy reminders of the main protagonists.

There are really two stories in this book – one, the lovely romance where Sheriff Ryan finds his man, and even though things are complicated, looks like he's struck gold. And the other, the resolution of the complex situation between Adam and Justin. Things are so tense, so secret, and so intense, that it seems difficult to believe that these two childhood best friends can ever get that back. What I think is so clever in this storyline is that really everyone is in the dark about what happened, and can only be supportive. Justin is in an impossible position, and doesn't feel he can defend himself, which is very sad to watch. He is as much the victim as Adam in this terrible tragedy.

I enjoyed the balance between these revelations and the devastating effect that they had on the men and their partners, and the nascent passion and romance that Ryan and Jordan are exploring. It contrasted darkness and light, and in all cases, highlighted the need for hope, and belief that it could come right in the end.

Whilst certainly not a soppy, kitten-filled made for TV Christmas movie, it certainly is a great seasonal read!


Also Available in the Montana Series

Book 1
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Crooked Tree Ranch Blog Tour.


Book 2
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the The Rancher’s Son Blog Tour.


Book 3
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the A Cowboy's Home Blog Tour.




RJ Scott is the bestselling gay romance author of over ninety MM romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn't with family either reading or writing.

RJ also writes MF romance under the name Rozenn Scott.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn't like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

Connect with RJ

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by
http://signalboostpr.blogspot.co.uk/


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Snow in Montana (Montana #4) by RJ Scott to read and review for this tour.

Everything Unexpected by Caroline Nolan


Can a man and woman be just FRIENDS?

Shane Carlisle and Leah Kessel think so. They’ve been the best of friends for years—and quite content being just that; it’s their friends who don’t believe it. None of them can understand how two gorgeous, non-committed adults have never thought about crossing that line. Until a night of celebration, too much tequila and new found curiosity makes it impossible for Shane and Leah not to think about it. So together, they cross it—promising themselves and each other that nothing will change and that yes, a man and woman can STILL remain just friends.

That is, until everything around them begins to spiral out of control.

Plans they had once formed, vanish. Promises they once made, are broken. And their once easy and effortless friendship turns into… the complete opposite. Coming face to face with the consequences of their actions, Shane and Leah are once again challenged by the same question.

Can a man and woman be JUST friends?

Not when everything unexpected is thrown their way.

Add to Goodreads



Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N Paperback  ~  Kobo



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo☆☆☆
The first third of the book was slow going for me, but once the major plot point was revealed the book got better for me.

The story is about two friends who, after a night of drinking, take their friendship to the next level and are filled with regrets that they cannot go back in time. During the course of the book, they realize that going back is not an option, but the relationship that develops is even better than the great friendship that they once had.

I would be interested in reading other stories from this author.



Caroline Nolan writes stories about love and all the beauty and ugliness that comes along with it. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their fur baby. She is currently working on her second novel.

Connect with Caroline

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Goodreads


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Everything Unexpected by Caroline Nolan to read and review.