Mini Reviews: Heart of Falcon Rigde by DL Roan and Trapped with the Alpha (Balfour Shifters Book One) by Emily Minton & Julia Keith

Title: Heart of Falcon Ridge (Original Title: Second Chances)

Author: D.L. Roan

Type: Novel

Length: 256 (Kindle)

Publisher: D.L. Roan

Publication Date: November 25, 2015

Genre: Western Romance/Contemporary Romance

Blurb
Three hearts beat as one, for one. Always.

"Everything inside him ached for Claira in a way that was completely unfair to the memory of his wife." ~ Grey McLendon

Claira Robbins technically didn't exist until two weeks before she began teaching at Grassland Academy. Her new identity may have given her the credentials she needed for the job, but it hasn't helped one whit to soothe her frayed nerves caused by years on the run. It also didn't come with instructions on how to handle three ravenous cowboy brothers intent on seducing her.

Six years after losing their wife, the McLendon brothers are focused on running their family ranch, Falcon Ridge, and raising their rambunctious twin boys. They've never believed they could find another woman with which to share their hearts and family.

When Matt and his twin, Mason, meet their sons' classy new teacher, hope and love aren't the only things that spring back to life. Matt is convinced she was Heaven sent to heal their family. Mason hopes he's right, but knows they have a bigger problem than convincing Claira to take a chance on their unconventional family; a much bigger, surly, older brother kind of problem.

After their wife died, Grey McLendon planned to live the rest of his life comfortably numb from the neck down, even if it killed him...and it just might if he can't reconcile his guilt and desire for Claira before her treacherous past catches up with her.

Author Note: Originally published as Second Chances. Remastered and reedited with bonus content for The McLendon Family Saga Series.

Review

Warming Up Nicely

This was an unexpected gem. Its been awhile since I've picked up anything containing cowboys and if I did it had something to do with the Sacketts (props to Louis L'Amour fans). This was good and all of the main characters were so very, very likable.

So, lets break it down a bit with an Angie facts: 

1. Vaqueros son muy caliente. 

2. There is nothing more endearing than a guy getting all emotional.

3. There's nothing better than a book that has you cackling like a loon. Who knew hamsters and squirrels would crack me up.

Like in any good story (for me) the heroine has to likable, but not just likable. There are a bunch of 'she can't be' included in this. Claira Robbins (Gabriella) is likable because she a solid female lead. She isn't a 'kick butt' kind of lady but she has a quiet strength about her that is needed to counter balance the three male leads of this story. I like that her character is able to attract some real 'nut jobs' because it keeps the reader guessing about who was behind the different things that was going on. Though Claira's character is good, she wasn't the star or this story. That honor goes to los tres vaqueros (three cowboys).

The male leads have three completely separate personalities that the author did a good job of not blending their characteristics together or confused the reader about which one(s) were being featured. Grey McLendon eldest of the McLendon boys and leader of the bunch is heart broken and punishing himself for what he believes caused the death of his pregnant wife. Dark and brooding with piercing green eyes isn't ready for the love that walks into life in the form of Ms. Claira. The twins Matt and Mason are adorable. Matt is all smiles to Mason's calm but the trio make a good match for Claira.

Besides the cowboys and the McLendon family as a whole, I liked that the author made sure that a complete story is told. A lot of the time, these sort of books get stuck in one place (the bedroom) and never accomplish telling the story. Would have liked more of the bad guy or guys (to see what made them tick) but there was enough there to keep you guessing about who did what, why and how. Overall 3.5

Title: Trapped with the Alpha (Balfour Shifters Book One)

Author(s): Emily Minton & Julia Keith

Type: Novel

Length: 233 (Kindle)

Publisher: Emily Minton & Julia Keith

Publication Date: January 8, 2016

Genre: Western Romance/Contemporary Romance

Blurb

For eight-hundred years, Isabel McKay has been trapped in her own personal prison. She is forced to watch the man she loves live his life as if she never existed. Pain, betrayal and utter despair are her constant companions as she remains locked away.

Brody Balfour has spent the last eight-hundred years trapped in his legacy. He and his wolf both long for a mate, but he is beginning to wonder if it’s a lost cause. Loneliness, treachery, and possible failure are his constant companions as he endures in his birthright. 

Finally able to leave her prison, she realizes she is trapped in her memories. She still loves Brody more than her next breath, but how can she forgive him for the things he has done? Jealousy and anger are her constant companions as she is haunted by her imprisonment.

Finally able to fulfill his legacy after finding his mate, he realizes he is still trapped in a nightmare. He loves Izzy more than life itself, but how can he convince her of that after all of the things he has done? Denial and helplessness are his constant companions as his past and future collide.

Review

Wading Carefully

Isabel McKay has been trapped for 800 years, tethered to her mate's side, watching his downward spiral ... watching him hump anything that came his way. Her only sin was that she fell in love with Brody Balfour. Then again, their predicament isn't Brody fault either. They are both victims of a crazy delusional witch looking for revenge. Straight forward plot: Boy+Girl+Ancient Curse= Witch's Revenge but the female lead just messed up the story a bit. The heroine is in full I'm the victim mode and I understand why. But come on.

The male lead (Brody) is drowning himself in self destructive sexual activity and she's really pissed (and its understandable) that she has to witness it. But this character goes from being pissed about him having sexual encounters with hundreds of women for 800 year to being mad that he didn't care enough about them or that he didn't take the time to get to know them. Really? I understand that the heroine's behavior helps to lead up to the climax of the story but there is a certain strength lacking in this female lead.

Review: Strip You Bare (Deacons of Bourbon Street #4)

Title: Strip You Bare (Deacons of Bourbon Street #4)
Author: Maisy Yates
Type: Novel
Length: 200 (Kindle)
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date:January 5th 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb

Sparks fly when a society belle and a biker with a troubled past get down and dirty in the Big Easy. Maisey Yates turns up the heat in the sizzling finale of a series co-written with Megan Crane, Rachael Johns, and Jackie Ashenden.

Micah Carpenter hates New Orleans. Hell, after ten years he no longer has much affection for the Deacons of Bourbon Street motorcycle club, either. But when the brotherhood calls, Micah answers. Joining the hunt for their mentor’s killer, he crosses paths with a Southern belle who exudes class—and sex appeal. Micah knows better than to mess with ice princesses: No matter how hot things get, they never melt. And yet he can’t stop himself from offering her a taste of the wrong side of the tracks.

Sarah Delacroix understands that reputation is everything. The daughter of a prominent family rocked by scandal, she’s desperate to restore their good name. Micah’s exactly the kind of man she should be avoiding. Behind his sleek and sophisticated exterior beats the heart of a predator—and she knows it. But, like the tattoos beneath his tailored suit, his rough edges are irresistible. And all too soon Sarah finds him getting under her skin . . . and living out every one of her hottest fantasies

Review

Heating Up!!!

Use of language is everything when drawing the reader into a story. A writer can describe something to death but if they cannot draw their reader(s) in then it’s just a lost cause. I'm a little biased when it comes to my home state (Louisiana) and when I think of it, it’s not just someplace I go back to for a visit or to check on relatives. Louisiana has a life and vibrancy of it's own. For me, what made this installment of the Deacons of Bourbon Street really good was that Ms. Yates described New Orleans as if she was reminiscing about an old lover or if the city had a life of its own and the characters of her tale were just lucky enough to come along for the ride.

Now, how to describe Prince? Maybe, as a self-loathing bastard or a crafty pseudo chameleon who thought a change in location could change the man that he is and was. Though the change is local is forced the change in personality is carefully orchestrated. The Micah Carpenter of New Orleans came from nothing and had nothing but the Micah Carpenter of San Francisco was a millionaire … a hotelier … a somebody. Yet, he was an unhappy somebody … a lost somebody … a lonely somebody. Well, he was lonely until the stylized Prince met the Southern princess. Sarah Delacroix is the shot of reality the Prince needs to help him put things in prospective. Sarah is poised, well-bred and everything one would expect from a traditional Southern Belle. But a life of tradition and rules never can or will lead to happiness. Though I expected to see Prince trying to wine and dine Sarah in order to prove his worth. You know flashing a lot of cash to show that he fit in with the 'upper crust'. This isn’t the case and what we get is a wise-ass meeting his match. I enjoyed the interaction between both lead characters as well as the inclusion of the rest of the cast of characters associate with the Deacons. The author concludes the story very well.

Review: Dirty Sexy Saint by Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde

Title: Dirty Sexy Saint (Dirty Sexy # 1)
Author: Carly Phillips and Erika Wilde
Type: Novel
Length: 187 pages (Kindle)
Publisher: Random House/Loveswept
Publication Date: January 19, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance/Erotic Romance



Blurb

Are you ready to get Dirty Sexy with a Saint?

Clay Kincaid knows he's more a sinner than a saint. Especially when it comes to women. With a rough and damaged past that has left him jaded, he doesn't do committed relationships. But he does like sex—the hotter and harder, the better. He likes it fast and filthy, which is why he refuses to even touch someone as sweet and guileless as Samantha Jamieson. Until he discovers that she likes it just as down and dirty as he does. Let the sinning begin . . . 

Review

In Deep Like!

How Dirty is Saint Clay ?

Well, not as dirty as you think. Clay is a sweet and kind gentleman from the tough side of Chicago who just happens to be a bit kinky. Clay is the product of a troubled/abusive childhood and he is still dealing with the repercussions/internal damaged its left. There's just something about a hero who feels that he is unworthy of love, kindness, affection and intimacy. It just pulls at the heart strings. Especially, when the hero is betrayed by the one person in his past that was supposed to be in his corner no matter what. If a person is never given love or shown affection, how can he or she ever share those feeling with anyone else?

So, when the Saint spots his cupcake a really learning curve begins. Samantha Jamieson aka Cupcake is running from her own demons as well. If Saint Clay is from the side of the tracks then Samantha couldn't be more right. Heiress to Jamieson fortune she is expected to act and behave exactly as she's told. Marry the germophobe that daddy wants, bridle her tongue and live as a virtual prisoner for the rest of her unhappy life. Samantha wasn't willing to do that to herself and once she made that decision her real life began.

What makes this a good read? Both characters are really relatable and well developed. It is easy to imagine Kincaid' s as any neighborhood pub that you might just walk into and find a 'Clay' behind the bar. There's is also an abundance of secondary characters that keeps the reader glued to the story. 

***ARC graciously provided by RockStarPR in exchange for an honest review.***

Review: Forgotten Promises by Jessica Lemmon

Title: Forgotten Promises
Author: Jessica Lemmon
Type: Novel
Length: 200 pages (Kindle)
Publisher: Random House/Loveswept
Publication Date: January 19, 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance/New Adult

Blurb

Morgan Young had a perfect upbringing, and now she’s got a perfect boyfriend and a perfect future—until her twenty-first birthday changes everything. First Morgan finds out, in the most painful way possible, that her relationship is a sham. But that’s nothing compared to the nightmare about to unfold.

It’s too late for Tucker Noscalo. A brutal childhood left him with a bad reputation and a criminal record. Fresh out of jail, Tucker has a score to settle with Baybrook’s crooked chief of police—his own father. Nobody will believe Tucker’s explosive accusations without proof and a good lawyer, neither of which he has on his side. Until he sees someone he used to know, someone who just so happens to be the daughter of the best lawyer in the county.

He needs Morgan to convince her father of the ugly truth. But first he has to convince her, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get her to listen. Confronted by the story of Tucker’s dark past, Morgan feels utterly compelled to help him. And as their connection grows into a fierce bond fueled by raw passion, Morgan finds herself falling for the wrong guy—but never has the promise of love felt so right.

Review

Loving It!!!

Unexpectedly intense read with an unexpected hero.The story has a storyline that's just heart breaking. Tucker is an escape artist of sorts. His escapes haven’t been from the prison cell he’d been sitting in. Nor was it from an after hours bank heist. Tucker spent his young life escaping from a nightmare that happened to be his father. So, Tucker the antihero is the only cape worthy figure of this semi dark tale. Even though he’s reluctantly wearing his cape … that heavy mantle of past sins, current nightmares, and future hope. But once confronted with his own personal devil (aka dear ole dad) any hope of the future is fading fast. 

Morgan Young is the untainted ‘good girl’ that gives Tucker’s hope new life. Tucker isn’t what Morgan’s perfect life expected but Tucker is what her life needed. You see, Tucker has been her hero long before they reunite in that deserted parking lot. So, at the end of the crappiest birthday she has ever spent, Morgan never expected to get the biggest gift of her life.

Thought Forgotten Promises isn’t the traditional love story it does end with a well-deserved HEA. Tucker’s innocence takes the reader’s breath away and Morgan’s courage helps to move story forward. There are parts of this story that I prayed that the author didn't give a full description because my heart just couldn't take it. There are parts that as the reader I wished I could've scooped the hero up and protected him. This definitely was a good one. Overall rating is 4.5.

Happy Reading Everyone!!!!

~~ ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ~~