Category: Contemporary fiction

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Join the Club (Four Kings Security #3) by Charlie Cochet

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I seem to be in the minority for this series and this book.  I liked it but I wasn’t overwhelmed by it in any way. This one had a good core theme, but the romance felt so off to me. Most of the time I felt like I was watching a soap opera. Given the background of these characters, I expected men who were not demonstrative and kept emotions controlled until safe to bring them out. Maybe the men I know are not typical because they men were so OTT smoochie and the sexting and quick work breaks for sex before they had a long-term commitment were inappropriate and totally out of character with their professional roles.  They’re older guys so I would think they could better handle their sex drives.

Mason, a former Texan, kept his twang but is now a detective in Florida—at least until he fails a drug test because he neglected to list his cough meds at the time. Suspended for an unknown time (eventually 8 weeks!) he takes a job with Four Kings Security.  Mason is Ace’s former lover from book one. Lest we forget that, it’s repeated ad nauseum throughout the story by so many different characters that it became annoying. When the 18-year-old son of one of the Kings’ deceased comrades teases him about it, I threw in the towel.

Mason has had a crush on Lucky, Ace’s cousin—one of the Four Kings—since book one. I gather there was a kiss or two in either that book or the second one, but apparently these two are destined to be together because most of the book is about their budding romance, hot sex, and eventually, everlasting love.

Thankfully, the core story was good, though much of the detail was quite unbelievable. A valued detective suspended for eight weeks because of cough meds that can be proven by contacting his doctor about the prescription? That’s an extraordinary length of time. But it was necessary so that Mason could get comfortable at Kings Security and could fall in love, not just lust, with Lucky.

As with the other books, there was a lot of extraneous background information in this story. I’m used to more dialogue from this author, through which readers can follow the story and make their own decisions about characters.  But this book, and series, has page after page of narrative and repetitive information.

The crucial action toward the end has a rather mild, and unrealistic, outcome and the men find their way to their HEA. 

The cover by Reese Dante features a man who must be Lucky as he has dark hair, scruffy beard, and what appear to be camo pants and dog tags. He’s handsome, and I love the bright purple big city background. 

Sales Links: 

Amazon Kindle US
Amazon Global Link

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 261 pages
Published November 19th 2018 by Charlie Cochet
ASINB07KNXDHQJ
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesFour Kings Security #3

A MelanieM Review: Deja Vu by Addison Albright

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Gavin and Matthew just want to get home to enjoy Christmas Eve in their safe, warm apartment. Should they walk or take a cab? But will either option do the trick when Victor, suffering from his holiday blahs, is determined to undermine this happy twosome at every turn?

Years ago, Victor made the unfortunate mistake of coming out to his family on Christmas. Why couldn’t he have picked a random summer day?

Can Victor’s husband Bryan pull him out of his gloomy mood in order to give the popular Gavin and Matthew the merry Christmas they deserve

Deja Vu by Addison Albright is a short holiday tale that employs the format of a story within a story.  Victor is a well-known author and his long term and very happy couple of Gavin and Matthew, characters in his series,  his focus this Christmas Eve.  And not in a good way.  Victor is taking his angst and    pain over losing his family years ago when he came out to them at Christmas for his lover.

The short story alternates between short woeful chapters of what’s happening to Gavin and Matthew vs Victor and his husband in RL.

Albright’s writing is skillfully done.  You actually emphasize with the poor characters meeting their demise over and over due to their author’s, Victor’s, angst. And you adore Victor’s husband, Bryan’s gentle anxiety over their well being and the novel’s ending too.  Within 22 pages Albright creates a loving relationship twice over, both of which you come to care about.

Each couple gets a heartwarming ending, just as you would hope.  Perfect for their holidays and ours.  Short, sweet, and with just that hint of the holiday melancholy that works so well.

If you are looking for a quick holiday read just a bit outside of the normal romances,  definitely recommend this one to all of you.

Cover art is simple but pulls you into an important part of the story.  Well done.

Sales Links:  JMS Books LLC  |    Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 22 pages
Published December 1st 2018 by JMS Books, LLC
ISBN139781634868167
Edition Language English

Characters Matthew, Gavin, Victor, Bryan

An Ashlez Review: The Island Angel by Alex Slorra

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Jessica was a successful IT Director, but now she is on the run. Accused of fraud and orchestrating her company’s downfall, she travels as far as the island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland before breaking down.

There, an American, Anna Meyer, takes her in and offers kindness without questions. As they become closer, Jessica soon discovers Anna has her own much bigger problems and a past that comes knocking.

I’d say more 4.5/5 since there were a few slow moments, but holy moly this book was mostly fast paced and intriguing.  I love going into these fast paced books knowing not a whole lot, and I’m so glad I did.  I must say my fav character out of the book had to be Kermit, I honestly have a soft spot for animals in books and Kermit was an absolute joy to read about.  The interaction between the mains (Though kinda instalovey .. like most books) was really sweet and affectionate.

I loved the edition of another individual in their lives to care about, and I have to say the last 80% of the book I could not put it down, I knew things were going to come to a close in an exciting fashion, and they did .. explosion ! BAM kick you in the neck fun.

I never thought anything of the tides in the book (but heck it sounds like a great place to live, I’m a homebody) and the farm/fixer upper/lost soul just warmed my heart!

Definitely worth a read!

Cover – The background behind the girl really told a story, I thought the cover didn’t much need a woman on it, though maybe 2
Sales Links:   NineStar Press | Amazon
Book Details:
ebook
Published December 10th 2018 by NineStar Press
ISBN13 9781949909630
Edition Language English

A Lila Review: His Hart’s Command -Nothing Special VI (SWAT Edition) by AE Via

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Lennox Freeman (Free) is one of the best hackers in the world which has caused him to spend most of his life on the run. Never able to put down roots, he couldn’t trust anyone not to take advantage of him, even his own family. If it wasn’t for his best friend, Tech, shielding him, Free’s father would’ve sold him and his skills to the highest bidding crime family when he was still a student at MIT. Free owed Tech his life; so when his friend called for him to come to Atlanta to work with him, he couldn’t say no. However, he wasn’t expecting the overprotective group of detectives that made up Atlanta PD’s most notorious task force. And he certainly wasn’t prepared for the large-and-in-charge SWAT Captain that was responsible for their safety.

Ivan Hart has lived and bled one creed all of his life: To Serve and Protect. His intense focus and determination in law enforcement has led him to finally commanding his own team. He’d worked hard to put together a squad of badasses capable of backing up a very dangerous team of detectives. Being God and Day’s last line of defense came with a lot of responsibility that he took very seriously.

After his divorce was final Hart turned right around and remarried his job. He had his good friends there in the office with him every day, so it was easier to ignore the few quiet hours he spent at home alone each night. He’d settled well into his new routine and was comfortable with it. Then God decided to disrupt everything by hiring another tech specialist for his department. A man whose brains, trendy looks, and voice would leave Hart tongue-tied and captivated at their first introduction.
Free quickly awakens a passion in Hart that he long thought was dead. An attraction he didn’t know existed. He couldn’t fathom that the sexy cyber genius could be interested in an over-sized, big-bearded brute that served criminals the bottom line for a living. No matter what his best friend, God said.

A future with Hart could be potentially dangerous and often times full of terrifyingly close calls; but little did he know that so could falling for the most hunted hacker in the world. All Lennox Freeman wants in life is security, love and protection… Hart had all that to give and more.

His Hart’s Command is a spin-off of the original Nothing Special series. With some parts running parallel to the previous book. We get to see all the guys again, and how their lives continue to change after their happily ever after. It’s also a good place for someone new to get into these men.

As always, I love the older characters. Their sweet banter, and how they were not afraid to show each other who they truly were. This book is a nice mix of sweet and sexy. I liked the way Free and Hart fit together. They have a vulnerability that calls the reader to know more about their past and what made them protect their hearts. They are strong and capable but as a couple they are beautiful. They helped the other heal and look forward to their future.

There are not as much action scenes in this story, but the author did an excellent job making them relevant. Everything that happened had a reason and moved the story forward. The smexy was a bit milder but it worked for them. There are some awkward moments but they fit the story.

My only complaints were about Hart’s ex-wife and their story. Perhaps to theatrical for my taste. And some loose ends here and there. Overall, a nice addition to this series.

The cover by Jay Aheer is worth staring at. It matches the previous books but it’s enticing enough to attract new readers. Plus, that beard…

Sale Links:  Amazon | Smashwords | Nook

Book Details: 

ebook, 250 pages
Published: November 27, 2018, by Via Star Wings Publishing
ASIN: B07KX7QF8P
Edition Language: English

Series: Nothing Special
Book #1: Nothing Special
Book #2: Embracing His Syn
Book #3: Here Comes Trouble
Book #4: Don’t Judge 
Book #5: Nothing Special V
Book #6: His Hart’s Command

A MelanieM Review: Designer Holiday by Ari McKay

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

It’s never too late for a second chance at love… or is it?

Rayne Sadler left the tiny town of Holiday Pines and his childhood sweetheart, Emilio Rives, to make a name for himself in the world of interior design. For twelve years, he never looked back. Now he has the successful career he wanted, but no one to share his life.

Emilio isn’t happy when Rayne returns to Holiday Pines to renovate the local playhouse. The town wants to stimulate the failing tourist industry, but Emilio has no interest in reviving the ashes of his relationship with Rayne.

Yet shared memories and experiences are powerful things. As the playhouse is restored to its former glory, the friendship between Rayne and Emilio slowly returns as well, and their chemistry is as powerful as ever. Rayne has designs on Emilio’s heart, and he sets out to prove it. Will the magic of Christmas thaw Emilio’s heart, or will it remain as cold as mountain snow?

What a perfect time for a lovers reunited and second chance at love story than at Christmas?  Designer Holiday by Ari McKay is a sweet, contemporary romance that brings two high school sweethearts back together after a long separation.  While one has seemingly moved on, the  other clearly hasn’t emotionally, the pain of the breakup deep even after all these years.

It’s hard since the breakup was as teenagers to imagine why Emilio carries such an enormous burden after all these years but McKay (and a lovely character, Emilio’s mother) go a long way to reasonably explaining such a deeply held grudge towards Rayne.  And Rayne’s take on it all, which honestly seems to normal for a teenage boy.

The way in which the town comes together for the playhouse, the various members of the community, and the place itself has it’s own magic.  I would definitely love to visit there myself would it appear on a map.  The authors have a way of making a walk down the street turn into an intimate stroll that pulls the readers into the scene, glancing here and there about the location while eavesdropping onto the conversation taking place.  It’s real, lovely, and in the moment.

The same goes for the romance.  At first hard and a bit tortured, it becomes a slow path back to trust and love and the way home at Christmas time.  Sweet, heartwarming, and believable.  I loved it.

Want to add a holiday story to your Christmas reading?  Pick up Designer Holiday by Ari McKay.  I recommend it to add sweetness and joy to your holiday reading.

Cover art is suitably Christmassy and bright, I like the models but wish for a little more of the playhouse that drew them both back together.

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 132 pages
Published December 8th 2018
ASIN B07L7K5CKM