A Jeri Review

A Jeri Review: Tops Down Bottoms Up by Jay Northcote

Standard

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

This was a fun little read! Jay writes feel good books with little or no angst. And sometimes that is exactly what you need.
This was another example of not only opposites attract, but of one of the main characters getting caught making fun of what the other main character does. Namely Morris dancing. I had no idea what this was (silly American that I am!) and was off to youtube to get a better picture. But once Rowan is softly pushed into trying it, he doesn’t hate it like he thought he would. And that isn’t just because Seth is hot and the sexual innuendos fly.
But after a quickly punched in phone number turns out to be one digit wrong, Rowan figures it was a festival fling and to move on. But his best friend finds out where the Morris dancers are next and has a plan to get Rowan and Seth back together.
This book is a perfect read for sitting by the beach or pool. It will put a smile on your face, the sex isn’t off the charts steamy so you won’t be red in the face in public, and it is a quick read.
Enjoy this little Morris dancing romp.
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design.  Sexy and appealing.

Sales Links:

Amazon US:http://amzn.to/2uHLViY

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2w92Wmu

Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 91 pages
Published August 16th 2017 by Jaybird Press
Original TitleTops Down Bottoms Up
ASINB074TVDMFQ

A Jeri Review: Dare You To (It Was Always You) (Wild Side 0.5) by Riley Hart

Standard

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

dare-you-to-by-riley-hartAnother novella I had to read because I am such a fan of Riley Hart’s work. This book sets up a new series she has coming out so it can almost be considered a prequel of sorts. At least, that is how I think of it.

Austin and Dare are friends, neighbors and complete opposites. Austin devotes almost all of his time to working at the LGBT youth center and when he isn’t there, he is home on his couch.  Dare owns a popular club and spends his free time doing anything BUT sit on the couch. Except on Sunday nights- their practically written in stone date night of popcorn and movies on the couch.

When Austin gets dumped- again- he gets a bit drunk and kisses Dare. And then Dare walks away.

Riley is practically the master of friends to lovers. She writes relatable characters with real life issues. The flow from friends to lovers is so seamless and natural. There is bumbling and awkwardness, but once they realize what is happening , it is all in for both.

And holy fan yourself can she write a sex scene!

I have to say that this book got me really excited for the coming series. According to the author, we will see Austin and Dare show up in the series, just not as main characters.

Cover art is dramatic.

Sales Link

c60a7-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

70 pages
Published January 5th 2017
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWild Side 0.5

A Jeri Review: Heart’s Gamble By S.J. Frost

Standard

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

hearts-gamble-by-sj-frostAn enemies to lovers sweet romance in horse country. Shawn goes to horse auctions to bid on and win whatever horses he can. He takes them back to his farm to rehabilitate them after they have been neglected. When he digs to find out who originally owned Heart’s Gamble, he discovers that the farm isn’t far from his and he wants words with the owner.

After Grant’s father dies, he inherits the horse farm that Grant left years before. And a mountain of debt. His original plan to sell it and move back to his life in California are thwarted by the arrival of a pissed off horse trainer- Shawn.

Shawn and Grant definitely have some great chemistry on the pages. Grant struggled with real life issues- namely what to do with his father’s farm, and the author showed what Shawn actually does as a horse rehabilitator. The scene when Shawn takes Grant to a horse auction so he can actually see what happens was heart breaking. When a story has real life issues and the characters actually go to work makes it more real for me.

This was low angst and a sweet read. The sex scenes were well done and rather hot I must say! SJ Frost can definitely write a sex scene!

If you are looking for a nice, easy read for the new year, I recommend. Prepare yourself for some cliché material though.

Cover art is lovely, and works perfectly for the story.

Sales Links

MLR Press LLC

65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 97 pages
Published October 21st 2016 by MLR Press
ASINB01M4KF4U4
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Jeri Review: Wolf, in League (Wolf #3) by A.F. Henley

Standard

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

3135820wolf-in-league-wolf-3-by-a-f-henley7I really enjoyed Wolf, WY, the first in the series. If was really focused on just 2 men for the most part, and their story. I looked forward to book 2, Wolf, en Garde, but was mildly disappointed. But I held out hope that book 2 was a bridge to book 3. And it was. On the other hand, you could pretty much read this book as a stand alone if you wanted to.

Wolf, in League, really expands the world that the story is in. The Committee is investigating not only the wolves from the first two books, but also Arius and other vampires. To do this, they send two men to act as a married couple. When the Committee goes to Gavin- a respected geneticist- about this, Gavin also learns that paranormal creatures are real. And he is to live with one of them during this ruse.

Naturally, throw the two main characters together and there are sparks flying. But the characters were interesting and well thought out. And they discover far more sinister things at work in the paranormal world. Gavin and Matthew are thrust into the middle of everything to help save, well, everything.

An interesting and enjoyable story that was fast paced that leaves the possibility of another book- or series- out there.

Cover art works for the book and series.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

ebook
Published October 12th 2016 by Less Than Three Press
ISBN139781620048771
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttps://afhenley.wordpress.com/wolf-in-league/
SeriesWolf #3

A Jeri Review: Death Dancer (Dangerous Dancers #2) by Tara Lain

Standard

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

death-dancer-by-tara-lainNormally I am not a big fan of mysteries or murder mysteries. But couple it with a romance AND an author I enjoy- sign me up. To top it off, it is set in the ballet world. Second only to baseball for me.

Valentin is a professional ballet dancer earning his dues and wanting the lead he feels he deserves, but the current lead isn’t giving up his spot.

Andrew meets Val when one of the dancers from the corp turns up dead. He isn’t the first and likely isn’t to be the last. Andrew and Val are immediately drawn to each other. But then Valentin’s rival is the next dead body and Val himself is the prime suspect.

The heat and chemistry between Andrew and Val is off the charts! I really liked seeing their relationship develop while also dealing with these murders and Valentin being a suspect.

The supporting characters were great- loved Andrew’s work partner. She cracked me up with her straight talk. The supporting dance characters were very typical of the dance world. The literal and figurative prima donnas, the corp members desperately trying to get ahead and their near hero worship of those who are principals.

The mystery itself was done really well. A nice twist or two kept me turning the pages to see “whodunit”.

This is the second in the series but easily read as a stand alone.

Cover art is wonderful.

Sales Links

Pride Publishing | AMAZON | B&N | Kobo

Book Details:

ebook, 199 pages
Published November 1st 2016 by Pride Publishing
Original TitleDeath Dancer
ISBN 1786515172 (ISBN13: 9781786515179)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series Dangerous Dancers:

A Jeri Review:To Love and To Cherish (Vows #3) by Addison Albright

Standard

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

to-love-and-to-cherish-by-addison-albrightA nurse practically left at the altar, a grouchy doctor and a meddling patient. What we get is a cute, kind of fluffy story that in the end, wraps up nicely.

Nash has been living on his best friend’s couch since he moved out of his fiance’s home. After said fiancé learned his “presumed dead” husband was not so dead. Two weeks before the wedding. Bemoaning his lack of love, he tells another friend and nurse that he has given up on love and would be happy with friendship, companionship and regular sex.

Dr Myles Birmingham is going through a divorce- according to the hospital grapevine. He overhears Nash and his friend talking and comes up with a plan or two. Plans that should benefit them both. Until a freak accident puts Nash in the hospital with a severely broken arm and no memories of the past four months.

This was a sweet book. Although I think it was trying to be a bit angsty, it just didn’t come off that way. There wasn’t enough of a build up between Nash and Myles/Emmitt for me to root for them one way or the other.

But it was a fluffy feel good book with a good cast of side characters- especially Grampy. I loved Grampy. But, I should have loved Nash and Myles/Emmitt more.

The third in a series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.

Cover art is bright and eye-catching.

Sales Links

JMS Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | All Romance | OmniLit

Book Details:

ebook, 201 pages
Expected publication: November 12th 2016 by JMS Books, LLC
ISBN139781634862394
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttp://bit.ly/2dv19R8
SeriesVows #3
CharactersSam Miller-Greene, Nash Marino, Myles (Emmitt) Burlingham settingSeattle, Washington (United States)

A Jeri Release Day Review: The Ghost in the Mirror (Samuel Dexter #1) by Faith Gibson

Standard

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

the-ghost-in-the-mirrorIf you are looking for something a little different, look no further than The Ghost in the Mirror. Sam Dexter “Dex”, is injured while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan. When he wakes up in the hospital, he finds his memories gone- even the woman claiming to be his grandmother brings him nothing. He is sent home with her to recover, and while he wants her to tell him everything, she wants him to try to remember things on his own.

While in the hospital he was seeing visions of his military brothers who lost their lives. He chalked it up to his head injury and tried to forget about it. Until he starts seeing a little girl when he gets home. After finally admitting to his grandmother what he is seeing, she tells him of HER grandmother who was said to have the same gift.

And so begins Dex’s quest to find out what happened to the little girl and along the way is reintroduced to his high school love Orlando, Orlando’s nephew- who seems to have a special connection with Dex, and Orlando’s sister.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book because although the ghost element could have been really cheesy- it wasn’t at all. Four stars  instead of higher because I don’t think the way Dex dealt with- or didn’t deal with- his amnesia were very realistic. He just seemed accepting of the fact that he had no memories and wanted to get them back. I wanted him to get mad. Throw a fit. Yell at someone. But he was very complacent.

I am going to hazard a guess that this book is the beginning of a series. Although a good story in and of itself, there is a lot of set up for future books.  I look forward to reading them and watching Dex regain more and more of his memory.

Cover art by Jay Aheer is eye catching and perfect for the story.

Sales Links

7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 267 pages
Published September 29th 2016 by Bramblerose Press LLC
ASIN B01LBWB6S0
Edition Language English
Series Samuel Dexter #1

A Jeri Review: Fight the Tide (Kick at the Darkness #2) by Keira Andrews

Standard

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Fight the TideYou really, really must read Kick at the Darkness first as this is the follow up book. And I am guessing (hoping?) that there will be a book three.

Fight the Tide picks up right where Kick at the Darkness leaves off. Adam and Parker are aboard a sailboat trying to survive. They have no idea where they are really going or what to do. But they want to survive. One day while Adam is on shore getting supplies, Parker is victimized by modern day pirates. Feeling like less of a man, a broken person, he puts on a brave face for Adam. When they hear a distress call, Parker absolutely does not want to help, fearing the worst. But Adam can’t leave these people with 2 children when they are sinking. And so we meet Craig, his daughter Lilly, and Abby and her so Jacob.

This installment is no longer a romantic love story, but one of survival and making your way in an unknown world. In book 1 it was Adam who was untrusting of the world. In book 2, it is Parker. That flip kept this book very interesting. Adam has a whole new “coming out” when he admits to the others that he is a werewolf.

While I really enjoyed this book, it was a bit of a hybrid of The Walking Dead and Waterworld.  There were tears, gasps, sighs and oh my gods. At times I was a bit lost in the sailing jargon, but then on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. We still get moments of romance between Adam and Parker, but this is far from a love story.

I admit I like book 1 more, but book 2 was a necessary bridge to the story coming for us in book 3. A story I cannot wait for.

The cover is gorgeous and a perfect representation of Parker and Adam and their sailboat, seemingly alone on the open seas.

Sales Links

         Smashwords square

Book Details:

ebook, 250 pages
Published July 26th 2016 by KA Books
ISBN139781988260068
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series: Kick at the Darkness – add it to your Goodreads here