Too Soon for Adiós by Annette Chavez Macias

From author Annette Chavez Macias comes a heartfelt novel about a woman who embarks on an emotional journey when she meets her biological father on the day of her mother’s funeral.

No one expects to meet their father at their mother’s funeral. But for Gabby Medina, that’s exactly what happens. Her dad abandoned her when she was a baby, and now he’s back.

And he wants to give her a house.

Gabby doesn’t want the house—or him. But she could use the money. So Gabby agrees to take it under two conditions: First, she can sell the house whenever she wants. Second, accepting it doesn’t mean she accepts him.

After they strike a deal, Gabby hires a contractor in preparation for a quick sale. But as she gets to know the town and these two new men in her life, she learns more about herself than she ever dared to think possible.

But is she ready to open herself up to the truth of what happened—and the promise of what could be?

 

 

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~ Also Available to Read & Listen to with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I would look out for more in the future. It deals with cultural issues far from my own and I really enjoyed the history, the food, and the locale in the story. I did find that, for me, it could have done with being tightened up a bit editorially, as some of the threads did not really seem consistent. I was, however, engaged enough in the story to let such things pass, without too much frustration. The story came from a good place, and so I read it in that mindset.

The idea that a young woman could be saddled with so much debt by her semi-estranged dead mother was not a good one, and how it left Gabby very conflicted was well written. It also gave her the opportunity to take a chance on resolving that by taking up the offer from her previously absent father. The links with food, history, and the importance of family gave the book a chance to shine a light on better parts of her past. and obviously the hero of the story proves to be a man to trust.

A clever take on a love story – one romantic, but also one which heals a damaged past.

 

 

ANNETTE CHAVEZ MACIAS writes stories about love, family, and following your dreams. She is proud of her Mexican American heritage, culture, and traditions, all of which can be found within the pages of her books. For readers wanting even more love stories and guaranteed happily ever afters, Macias also writes romance novels under the pen name Sabrina Sol. A Southern California native, Macias lives just outside Los Angeles with her husband, three children, and four dogs.

Connect with Annette Chavez Macias

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Too Soon for Adiós by Annette Chavez Macias to read and review.

Fearless Enough by Kelly Elliott Release Blitz

Fearless Enough is a spin-off novel from New York Times bestselling author Kelly Elliott’s Meet Me in Montana series. Readers will head back to Hamilton, Montana, for a family reunion like no other!

Blayze Shaw could sum up his life in one word, fulfilling. He grew up in the shadow of his famous father, Brock Shaw, a multi-year PBR champion, but chose not to follow in his dad's footsteps. Instead, choosing to work on the family’s cattle ranch in Hamilton, Montana. Everything in his life was exactly how he wanted it, and he was the happiest he'd ever been.

When a woman from his past resurfaces and is given the task of diving deep into his world for the answers he isn’t willing to share, Blayze’s perfect world is thrown into a tailspin. He wants to dislike her, but the more time they spend together bickering back and forth, the harder it is to fight his feelings.

Georgiana Crenshaw is chasing a career as a sports reporter and has something to prove to the top dogs at the network where she works. She hasn’t made it this far simply because of who her father is. Georgiana has succeeded solely due to hard work and determination. She dives in when given a chance to show she has what it takes to get the promotion she desperately wants. Told it will be the interview of a lifetime, Georgiana shows up at the airport with a go-get-'em attitude. Only when her father tells her who she'll be interviewing does she have a moment of doubt.

But honestly, how hard could it be to interview an arrogant, self-centered, obnoxious, too handsome for his own good flirt, who gave Georgiana her first kiss behind the barn on his father's ranch?

 

 

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
Fearless Enough is the first book in the Love in Montana series. It's a spin-off series featuring the kids from the Meet Me in Montana series. Blayze Shaw is the son of Brock Shaw (Never Enough) but you see everyone from that world, which I absolutely love.

Blayze Shaw had his heart broken when he was seventeen and he's tried to protect it ever since. He may be a huge flirt, but he's not the playboy everyone makes him out to be. Ten years later, the first woman he ever loved comes back to town to interview the Shaw family for a magazine article. Blayze has compared every woman in his life to Georgie; when she comes back into his life, he fights what's still between them. Can Blayze let down his guard with her? Can he finally give his heart to someone?

Georgiana Crenshaw is chasing a journalism career. She loves working in fashion, but when her dad has the opportunity for her to work in sports by writing a "where are they now" story on the Shaw family. She has her reservations about doing it because of a complicated history with Blayze Shaw. She grew up going to the ranch but after what happened that summer when she was seventeen, she stopped and hasn't been back since. The rest of the family welcomes her with open arms, but Blayze's hostility toward her hurts. When she finds out the intention behind the article has changed, she will do anything to protect the family over furthering her career – but will the family believe her? Can Blayze finally let her in?

Meet Me in Montana is my favorite series that Elliott has done and to get the next generation now is fantastic! I loved getting to see the characters I fell in love with – and now their kids – is a huge win in my eyes. Blayze and Georgie have a complicated history, but they have always loved each other, even ten years later. Blayze and Georgie together are full of chemistry and steam!!

I can't wait to see what's coming next!!

 

 

KELLY ELLIOTT is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Her bestselling works include Wanted, Broken, Lost Love, and Never Enough, to name a few.

Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, Gus, her chocolate lab, four cats, and endless wildlife creatures. When she's not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.

Connect with Kelly Elliott

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Kelly's Krew

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Fearless Enough (Love in Montana #1) by Kelly Elliott to read and review.

Cauldrons Call by Kristen Proby Release Blitz

Cauldrons Call, by New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby, is the highly-anticipated second book in The Curse of the Blood Moon series.

Breena has known Giles all her life—and has loved him for nearly as long. Linked by the ties of family and coven, Breena has had a lifetime to discover everything there is to know about him. His intelligence and specialization in crystals and gems are truly things to admire, but it’s how he smiles at her that really makes her cauldron bubble. Too bad he’s completely oblivious.

Giles isn’t as oblivious as Breena thinks he is. A powerful witch, he’s spent most of his life hiding his true feelings from her, but he can’t ignore the fact that she’s hurting and plagued by the same nightmares that haunt him every night. So, getting her to move in with him so he can do just that seems like simple common sense. The hard part will be resisting the way Breena makes him feel.

But evil has invaded their world, and it has the power to kill every witch in Salem. Breena has no time to wallow in what might have been and Giles desire to protect her is stronger than the power contained in his crystals. Together they must lift the curse of the blood moon before time runs out. If they can’t, the people Breena loves the most are all in danger. It will take every skill she’s honed as a witch to protect what’s hers and the man who cast a spell on her heart.

Will they have time to kindle their love for each other, or will the clock run out at the hands of fate?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Curse of the Blood Moon series!
For book one, Hallows End, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

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

This is the second book in the series, and I definitely recommend that you read book one first. If you don't, you will be quite lost in the story and what happened to get to book two.

This is Breena's book. Since book one, she's feeling slightly off kilter and needs to be surrounded by people who love her. Even though she's had a crush on Giles for years, she never told him. When it comes out, Breena doesn't know whether to be mad or relieved.

Giles doesn't know how he's not noticed Breena that way in so long. Of course he's noticed her, but really seeing her took what happened in book one for him to truly see her.

These two have a long, arduous road ahead of them. With evil lurking in every corner and the doorway to a different dimension on the brink of opening, Giles, Breena, and everyone in the coven will need to draw on all of their skills to fight the evil that's coming.

This is a sweet romance between Giles and Breena. They have an amazing foundation of friendship that helps their romance blossom in a more natural way. You'll cheer them on in both their fight for love and their fight to survive.

I can't wait for book three... I have a feeling that it's going to be even more epic than the first two.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and you most definitely need to read them in order to understand the underlying plot, as well as the intricacies of all the relationships. I am assuming you have in my review.

As danger is still present in modern day Salem, I spent a good part of this book thinking, “I wouldn't be going there on my own!” I loved the low-level tension which that added to the book, as these powerful witches worked to prepare for the threat to their lives, and to change the past. Alongside, and due to this, Breena has to confront her embarrassment at the fact that her childhood crush was revealed to Giles, and move forward. Luckily that move is together not apart, although he remains the gentleman for as long as he can! I really enjoyed the carefulness with which they act, and the honesty of their love for each other. It was clear that the coven were expecting it, but as in other inevitable romances, patience that it would happen at the right time.

I enjoyed this installment, and the situation is clearly not entirely resolved, so already looking forward to the next – and hoping that another couple in particular will find their way together soon!

 

 

 

KRISTEN PROBY has published more than forty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two cats.

Connect with Kristen Proby

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Facebook Group: Proby's Peeps

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Cauldrons Call (The Curse of the Blood Moon #2) by Kristen Proby to read and review.

Smolder by Laurell K. Hamilton

Vampire hunter Anita Blake is no stranger to killing monsters. It’s part of her job as a Preternatural U.S. Marshal, after all. But even her experience isn’t enough to stop something that is bent on destroying everything—and everyone—she loves.

Anita Blake is engaged to Jean-Claude, the new vampire king of America. Humans think she’s gone over to the side of the monsters. The vampires fear that their new king has fallen under the spell of the most powerful necromancer in a thousand years.

In the midst of wedding preparations—including getting Edward, aka U.S. Marshal Ted Forrester, fitted as best man—Anita gets a call that the local police need her expertise at a brutal murder scene linked to a nationwide slaughter of vampires and humans, dubbed the Sunshine Murders.

But there is more than just a murderer to catch: an ancient evil has arrived in St. Louis to challenge Jean-Claude for his crown, his life, Anita, and all they hold dear. Even with Jean-Claude’s new powers as king and Anita’s necromancy, it isn’t enough; they must embrace their triumvirate or allow primeval darkness to spread across the country, possessing first the vampires and then the humans. Evil will triumph unless Jean-Claude and Anita can prove that love conquers all.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series!
For book #26, Serpentine, click HERE.
For book #27, Sucker Punch, click HERE.
For book #28, Rafael, click HERE.

 

 

Book 29
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Berkley (PRH)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Smolder is the 29th installment in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. No, you can absolutely not read this as a standalone or out of series order. Do you need to read all 28 books prior? No. As long as you've read most of them, there would be no issue keeping up with the world building.

This review will have a different format than usual, a list rather than paragraph form, while trying to avoid spoilers. We're 29 books deep – fans will understand why I'm making a list. As someone who spent the last eight weeks rereading every novel and short in this series, I feel like a bit of an expert on what readers and fans are looking for in the newest installment, in order to gauge if they wish to read or skip.

1: Edward and Peter open the novel. It was some much needed dark humor and a strong emotional connection devoid of any agenda. Anita needs Edward in her life, as do the readers. We need Edward in Anita's life.

2: Anita finally speaks to her father after 29 novels. While only on the phone, it sets up the next novel in the series, which will include her entire family. Some heavy emotional labor is shown, which serves to make Anita much more relatable to readers. Human. Plucked my heartstrings and drew tears to my eyes, made me remember the Anita that captured my heart.

3: We get a glimpse of Jason. Sure did miss him.

4: Dolph is back, even if only a cameo. He may not speak as Dolph used to, but it was nice to have a grounding force back in Anita's life.

5: Richard is back and he threw one helluva curve ball.

6: We're still dragging a dead horse up a never-ending hill, but it is less than in past novels. The poly negotiations are still there, wish it was toned down even more, but it made sense this time around. I wish Anita didn't get coerced into being with people she doesn't love, let alone even like, but Anita has self-awareness of this fact. FINALLY. I do believe sexuality is fluid, but Hamilton seems to believe you can convince yourself, be coerced, or grit your teeth and bear it when it comes to sexual preferences. I'm not a fan of this narrative. I was born this way – life experience and knowledge made me aware and accept it. Being pestered or forced isn't going to change my orientation.

7: A big bad dragon blows into town. Lots of discussions over this, yet it was left dangling for the next installment. While not a cliffhanger, elements and plots that manifested during Smolder took a backseat, used as a vehicle to push something that has been on the horizon for 29 novels. I assume this will be picked back up during Slay. I just wish this long-anticipated element was more climactic.

8: This wasn't an orgy-filled erotic novel. There was one portion of the novel that was sex-centric. It was more like two scenes that bled into one. The first scene made me hot under the collar, the second was a scene fans have been thirsting for for decades. It fell flat to me. Anita was disconnected. As a reader, I was emotionally disconnected as well. It was almost fade-to-black-esque. It was happening with no details, which would have been fine, but there weren't many emotions either. I understood because Anita was conflicted. I just wish I could get this scene in another's point of view, better yet – two points of view. Anita wasn't the best person to show this "connection."

9: Who here wants to see Kane get TKOed by a human?

10: There are still characters that I just feel are a waste of page-time. They pop up out of nowhere, lend nothing to the story or the series, but are just in the way. There are less of these every book as Hamilton gives Anita self-awareness to not cave to the boundaries she's set. There needs to be more boundaries. The biggest issue is how these characters are devoid of character traits outside of appearance and neediness. They're just there, in the way, popping up out of nowhere, and I'm unsure why they're included. There's no emotional connection. Most of Anita's tigers to call and two of her three brides are just one-dimensional cards tossed on the table in the discard pile to muck up the game.

There was an entire section, that even JC commented on how these people kept stepping in their path to distract them from the matter at hand, minutes from dawn when he dies for the day.

Imagine you're running to the bathroom before you pee yourself, but everyone you pass grabs your arm and forces you to talk for an hour about things that happened a decade ago. The closer you get to the bathroom, the more people who refuse to hear your no or pleas for a toilet. They grab you and refuse to let you go, ridiculous, unnecessary conversations. One has the audacity to tell you to suck her breasts. (You have to pee, remember. In this case, JC is about to crash for the day and needed to do some metaphysics before that happens.) Then all the sudden, your creator forgets you were on the way to the bathroom and doesn't even make you pee your pants. This is Anita with all the people around her, with Hamilton driving the bus.

Dawn is in a matter of minutes, JC is in a panic, why is kissing Angel important RIGHT NOW? WHY? Just kiss her and get it over with and walk away, why discuss it. Why even stop in the hallway. Nod and walk by – King and Queen in a crisis, no you don't matter right now, Angel.

I read this entire scene in pure frustration, unsure why I had to deal with this tedium. It always feels so forced and cringy. It ultimately tied together, but it could have been tied together without Angel. She wasn't the tie, her brother was.

As a woman who enjoys other women, I find pushing women at Anita uncomfortable and cringy. Society pushes us enough, experiencing this via Anita's eyes is not sexy – it's exhausting and painful. At least we don't have to suffer through Jade, but I wish Envy and Angel would go away. The guys with them aren’t the issue. But insufferably dealing with Angel being demanding when they're in a metaphysical crisis seemed ridiculous at best. It just left me thinking, "Go away! I'd rather have Kane on scene. At least he fits the dynamic happening." (My wish was granted seconds later. Ha!) Hamilton forcing Anita to pretend to want women... the readers don't buy into it. It's like lying to yourself and everyone around you realizes but you.

11: I'm glad the characters are in therapy, but mentioning this in every conversation is now another dead horse being dragged up yet another mountain. Is it a conversation? A negotiation? Verbal combat? They're all so insufferable. It's not as bad as in previous installments but I hope Hamilton keeps whittling this down to a minimum. I couldn't have people like this in my life, yet everyone in Anita's life is like this. It's why I understand Anita's need to go out of town for Marshal business with Edward. How refreshing that violence is easier than clingy, needy, emotional vampires. All of them start to sound the same when the whining begins. I wish Hamilton would write a scene where Anita just walks off and they don't realize until later that they've been whining to one another and mommy left. I think they all need more therapy. Less talking to each other and more to their doctors.

12: JC screaming "Enough!" "You will keep a civil tongue in your head toward my queen, or I will tear it from your head and let you wait in silence for it to grow back." JC's balls dropped. I just wish he would do this more often. Tell people to step off and get out of his face and leave Anita alone. Stop the whining. Be king. Why suffer from the weight of all the power if you can't tell your underlings to back off?

Overall Thoughts: Anita seems more self-aware, less likely to be coerced, even though numerous characters are nonstop manipulating her for their own ends. While not a cliffhanger, Smolder felt like half a novel since the plot threads introduced led to nowhere. I don't mind this, as I understand how difficult it is to successfully write what should be two novels because the plot was so big. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't obvious that the novel took three or four misturns, as if it wasn't sure which type of novel it wanted to be. Wedding. Cop. Relationship BS. Metaphysical Crisis.

I enjoyed Smolder, read in two sittings as I needed to go to bed for the night. It wasn't as frustrating and tedious as previous installments. It's always a homecoming to read characters that you know like the back of your hand. As Anita gets more powerful, now that she will be queen, I understand how everyone and anyone around her would need her, push her, pressure her, and hide behind her. Heavy is the head that wears the crown. I just wish Hamilton would write Anita's nearest and dearest to be soft places to fall, to be her equals, to help instead of hurt. Otherwise, this experiment in the ultimate poly group is more like abuse than love with Anita as its victim.

 

 

LAURELL K. HAMILTON is a full-time writer and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and the Merry Gentry series. She lives in a suburb of St. Louis with her family.

Connect with Laurell K. Hamilton

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ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Smolder (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #29) by Laurell K. Hamilton to read and review.

Rental by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey Release Blitz

A steamy romance between a player and a referee breaks all the rules but will it destroy their careers?

Five different cities in eight years — Logan’s never had the chance to settle in one place. He’s the guy who fills in gaps on teams as a temporary fix and is traded at year’s end because no one wants to keep a thirty-year-old rental after he’s outlived his usefulness. When he’s called up to the Rebels, he knows it’s his last run in the NHL. Now, he must decide if it’s worth carrying on with the weight of his secrets around his neck for one more year. He’s never had a love that mattered, his career is nearly done, his ex-wife is remarrying, his sex life is drier than a desert, and abruptly, Logan’s had enough. He craves one night to ease the frustration, and hooks up with someone tall, dark, and dangerous in the bathroom of a club. The sex is off the charts, but it’s one and done, until Logan realizes exactly who he slept with and understands how dangerous it is to play games with secrets.

Being a referee is in Webber’s blood, and it’s a job he loves. Sure, sometimes he’s called dirty names—by fans, coaches, and players—or must insert himself between two massive men trying to pummel each other. Some nights, he’s knocked on his ass. Other times, he might take a puck to a tender spot. But despite all the hazards and name calling, there is no place he wants to be than on the ice. If only his love life was as settled. It’s hard to find someone willing to put up with his travel schedule, and even if he found Mr. Right, how would he juggle a romance when he’s never home? A chance hookup while officiating a game in Boston should be a simple matter of scratching that itch, but he couldn’t be more wrong. Unfortunately, that one-night stand—while memorable—turns his sedate life upside down in ways he could’ve never foreseen. When the penalty for love is losing everything he’s worked hard for, is it a price he’s willing to pay?

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Boston Rebels series!
For book two, Back Check, click HERE.
For book three, Snowed, click HERE.
For book four, Royal Lines, click HERE.

 

 

Book 6
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~  Rental will be Available with KindleUnlimited on March 31st  ~

 

 

“Samuel Adams, please, draft, and a menu?” I asked. He nodded, moved off to pull me a beer and grab a menu. Raking my fingers through my short, damp brown hair I settled in, looked to the left, and saw one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen before, staring at me as if I were a bacon cheeseburger and he was just coming out of a meat-free Lent drought. Gorgeous lower half of his face, anyway. He wet his lips. My pecker perked up instantly. I barely noticed the beer and menu that appeared in front of me. The bartender, who was probably used to seeing men drooling on his bar, moved off to tend to his other customers. “Evening,” I said because I was smooth and suave that way.

“Hey,” he replied, his voice deep as the ocean depths. He was dirty blond, big, and inked. Also, a little younger than me. Not by eons or anything, but maybe early thirties. He had a rugged face, a nose that was wider and perhaps a wee bit crooked. Incredibly lush lips and one hell of a strong jaw. Dark blue eyes. That nose/jaw combo was a real standout. His face was rough and masculine, but he’d not be appearing on the cover of any high-fashion magazine. The man was not a fashionable waif. He was a bruiser. And just my type. His mask was purple with sequins. Very flashy for a man who didn’t strike me as the flashy type, but then again, what did I know about him other than my dick was into his vibe. “You here for food or something else?”

My dick was standing at attention. Okay then, the straightforward type. “I’m here for whatever the night brings me.”

He gave me a smile that could have jarred Satan. Talk about sinful. “Yeah, same.” With that announcement, he slid from his stool, adjusted his cock, which looked like a thick hunk of meat pressing against the zipper of his jeans, and then sauntered off. I sat there overwhelmed, not only at the quickness of finding a willing fuck, but at the potential sheer size of that man’s cock. His ass was a work of perfection. Meaty as hell. Damn this bar was a treasure trove! Why had I not googled gay bars in Boston when I was here before?! He paused at the end of a dark hallway, bathroom signs lit above his head, and gave me that look. That look that scorched all my nerve receptors aside from the ones that led to my crotch. He walked off into the dimly lit corridor.

The bartender cleared his throat. I glanced at him, waiting with a pencil and pad in his hand.

“I have to go wash up first,” I lied like a motherfucking rug.

“Uh-huh.” He placed the pad back into his front pocket and went to make cocktails.

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the sixth book in this series, but also brings in friends from other hockey teams who we know and love! I would recommend you read all the goodness, but should you choose to start here, you can definitely still enjoy the story as a standalone.

I really enjoyed this completely new-to-me take on the illicit romance. One which calls into question ethics on a large scale, and inevitably involves more than just in-house politics... this could be huge! The referees and linesmen in a hockey story tend to be overlooked, or the cause of a wrong call against our favourite player, but here, one of them is front and centre of a player's mind and emotions – and vice versa... Wow!

I loved how we get to read their differing viewpoints yet can see their hearts and integrity, as well as their lust and passion. Really engaging, sexy, and fun read.

 

 

USA Today bestselling author RJ SCOTT has written over one hundred and fifty romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

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 box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

Connect with RJ Scott

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: RJ Scott – Special Secret Group
Facebook Group: MM Hockey Romance

 

V.L. LOCEY loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.)

She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted fowl, and two Jersey steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

Connect with V.L. Locey

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Vicki’s Vixens
Facebook Group: MM Hockey Romance

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rental (Boston Rebels #6) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey to read and review.

Risk by Skye Jordan

New York Times bestselling author Skye Jordan returns with another adrenaline-infused story from the Renegades stunt team!

After two years sidelined from the Renegades, Duke Reid wants nothing more than the excitement of his stunt work—except for Caitlyn Winters. She's country fresh and just as naive, the kind of woman you rarely find in LA. One night to remember is all Duke needs to know she's a keeper. Unfortunately, he leaves the next day for a job in British Colombia.

When the sheltered beauty shows up on his movie set, managing damage control for the biggest prick in Hollywood, Duke sees disaster on the horizon. If anyone gets hurt on Duke's watch, he risks losing his certification, ending his career as a stunt man, the only job he knows and loves. A job that's also funding his sister's legal battle against an abusive ex for custody of Duke's nieces. He can't afford to screw up. Caitlyn is in way over her head, and her naivety could cost Duke everything.

There's no going back for Caitlyn. She burned all her bridges on the way out of her small Kentucky town for her dream job in Los Angeles, where her cousin, Lexi LaCroix, lives a fairy tale life. But Caitlyn's dream job turns into a nightmare on day one. She didn't sign up to be a celebrity fixer, but her savings and her pride says she can't quit. She's pleased to find Duke on the same movie set, until he tells her she's not qualified to handle the job. Then he becomes just one more person who underestimates her.

Tempers flare, as do sparks, but if her best isn't good enough, hers won't be the only job she tanks.

All books in the Renegades series may be read as standalone books.

 

 

Book 8
Buy Links

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Paperback (US)
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the eighth book in the fabulous Renegade series – and what a pleasure to be back with the guys after a two-year hiatus! I think that you can read this as a standalone, but really you are missing seven great books, so do go back and enjoy!

Duke has been super busy supporting his sister and nieces through her acrimonious divorce, but he needs to work as his savings are more or less drained. The latest assignment is for a climbing expert, so he is the man, and much as he dislikes the star he is doubling for, he needs the money.

Just before he goes, he has the pleasure of attending Lexi and Jax's wedding, where he not only meets her cousin, Caitlyn, but spends the most amazing night with her. She is newly out of Kentucky, released from familial duty and a seven-year staid relationship, and discovers that her past sexual experiences were to say the least, bland. She lights up like a fire, so great is the chemistry between the two of them. But the situation is complex, and they part on a promise to meet again, but no commitments.

Of course, fate has a hand in their lives and she turns out to be the PR fixer for Leo, the very actor Duke is stunt doubling for – so they are together in Canada, but things between them are seriously complicated by Leo and his bad behaviour.

I greatly enjoyed the descriptions of the climbing adventures that Duke and the guys have. It is also fascinating how Caitlyn left behind her roots but retained her principles. It is fun to be on a film set and catch some of the crazy that goes on for people in the industry.

I did wish that we had a bit more time with the pair once they have overcome the multiple issues in the way of their happiness, but loved some of the revelations in the epilogue!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Caitlyn is a country girl who wanted to get out from family expectations. After being in a relationship for so long, Caitlyn knows that she doesn't want to be stuck in Kentucky. So, she picks up, tells her family that she's leaving, and heads off to sunny California. It's when Caitlyn gets here that she realizes that sometimes, leaving everything behind will give you everything and take everything too. With her parents and siblings relying on her too much and Caitlyn being taken for granted, she knows that she has made the right choice. But sometimes starting over again is hard and takes more courage than staying in one place.

Duke is a thrill seeker. However, with his sister and his nieces in trouble, Duke knows that he can help them stay safe from his sister's horrible ex. But when money becomes a necessity to fight against the evil, Duke starts up with his group of buddies once again as a stunt double.

Duke and Caitlyn start out at a wedding. They have an instant attraction. With their attraction still so new, Duke and Caitlyn don't know if they can start a relationship when Duke is supposed to be on set in Canada for several months and Caitlyn is just starting her new job in California. But when a happy or not so happy twist of fate has them in the same location for the foreseeable future, Duke and Caitlyn will have to navigate their new romance, tough clients, and a hidden boss who has made life for all involved miserable.

This is a sweet romance that defies the odds.

 

 

SKYE JORDAN is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels.

She was born and raised in California and has recently been transplanted to Northern Virginia.

She left her challenging career of sonography at UCSF Medical Center to devote herself to writing full time, but still travels overseas on medical missions to teach sonography to physicians. Most recently, she traveled to Ethiopia and Haiti.

Skye and her husband are coming up on their thirty-year wedding anniversary and have two beautiful daughters. A lover of learning, Skye enjoys classes of all kinds, from knitting to forensic sculpting.  She is an avid rower and spends many wonderful hours on the Potomac.

Connect with Skye Jordan

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Facebook Group: Skye's Starlets

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Risk (Renegades #8) by Skye Jordan to read and review.