Not Quite Perfect by Catherine Bybee

Glen and Mary met about a year ago. The attraction was there, but neither acted on it. When the arrival of a mutual friend's baby throws them back together, Glen finally decides to make a move. Mary knows Glen has been an unrepentant player, so she expects him to pull out the charm and smiles for their first date. What she didn't expect was all the planning and thoughtfulness he invests into giving her an unforgettable night with no strings attached at the end. Living on opposite sides of the country doesn't deter Glen at all. As a pilot and part owner in his  family's luxury charter business, he either hops a plane to see her or sends one to bring her to him. Mary can't believe how happy she is. She's not used to someone caring so much or so many good things happening. She is more used to being unwanted, and while Glen definitely wants her, he is not the only one. Shortly into their relationship, it becomes obvious that someone is out to harass her. Despite the distance between them, Glen takes every measure he can to ensure Mary is safe, but he can't be there all the time. Someone else wants to keep Mary "safe" as well, and as soon as Glen is gone, he plans to make her his.

I grabbed this book because I loved the author's Weekday Brides series. I had read the first two books in this series but didn't keep reading it because I tend to be a suspense junky, and there wasn't much there. The description for this book gave me hope that the suspense might be there, and was it ever! I fully enjoyed the book and ended up wishing I'd read books 3 and 4 since those characters played heavily in this story. I've already added them to my to be read que.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Repressed by Elisabeth Naughton

I loved this book!  The characters drew me in from the start. Samantha was a fierce though talking chemistry teacher. She hated being back in her home town because it borough nothing but bad memories and now a laundry list of pranks she attributes to her disgruntled students. Ethan also has bad memories of this town. Thankfully he is a different person from who he was when he lived there. His life has come full circle, and he is in town to help one of Samantha's students whose behavior is eerily familiar. Ethan was so kind and gentle and caring but still fiercely protective. I especially loved reading from his perspective as the book alternated points of view. When Ethan and Samantha cross paths the attraction is instant and mutual, but while Ethan immediately pursues, Samantha sounds the retreat. As Ethan works on tearing down her defenses, the threats against Samantha escalate. Both of them begin to suspect ties to the past, but neither is fully open with the other about those suspicions. The suspense and tension were strong as the intersection of their pasts became inevitable. I found myself strongly suspecting what was coming but begging in my head for that not to be where things went. As the best books do though, it went there. Suddenly, it wasn't even about whether their relationship could survive the past, but rather whether they could escape it with their lives.

I have been a fan of this author for a while due to her Aegis series, but I almost think I liked this book even better than those. It was a great read that kept me connected from the start.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Ultimate by Piper J. Drake

Having not read the first book in this series, I had no problem reading this as a standalone. Alex and his two buddies are former military now operating their own training facility for military  dogs and also obedience training for local animals. Elisa  is scared of Alex in their first chance encounter, but when fate throws them back together again, he works hard not to spook her recognizing her skittish behavior as a red flag for deeper problems. Once Alex gets Elisa to open up, not only is he not scared to stand with her, but he enlists the help of his friends as well. The two both have some PTSD type issues they have to learn to work around, but they make progress with the help of one of the dogs in training. In the end when danger strikes, the dog who loves them might be the one to save them.

I liked the characters and especially the relationship between Alex, Elisa, and their canine pal. I will probably go back and check out book one now.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Forged in Smoke by Trish McCallan

This series is military romantic suspense with just a hint of paranormal. I have read all the books in the series so far, and I can't wait for the next book because I hope it's Mac's.  I don't recommend reading this as a standalone, but if you decide to try it, there is a "sitrep" at the beginning and a run down of the characters. Those aspects along with the glossary of military terms and of Arapaho  we're huge bonuses in my mind. I read so quickly that I usually have to go back and reread the previous books to remember what was going on. This kept me from having to do that.

This story focused on Rawls and one of the scientists they rescued in the previous book, Faith. Faith is not only dealing with the fallout of losing her colleagues but also some serious health concerns.  She is pretty much a giant ball of nerves. Rawls is recovering from a deadly  experience and dealing with a new ability which brings with it dangerous challenges and scepticism from his teammates. Neither of them is in a good place for starting a relationship, but they can't ignore the chemistry between them.  Situations out of their control throw them together, and they begin to grow attached even while dodging the attacks of enemies out to destroy them and searching for Faith's kidnapped colleagues.

All the couples from the previous books were still highly involved in this story since a large part of the storyline continues from book to book.  I can't wait to see what happens next!

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Beautifully Decadent by L.A. Fiore

L.A. Fiore has been my favorite authors list for a very long time. I have read all three books in the series now, but I have loved every single one. In my opinion, this series has just gotten better and better. This book especially was a great mix of humor, charm, and suspense. The characters were amazing as always , and I loved getting to check in and catch up with the characters from the first two books. This story starts out with Avery. Avery is a chef who specializes in desserts and pastries. She is finally gotten her dream job but it requires a move and she needs a place to stay. Her new boss sets her up renting a place from his best friend Rafe. Rafe is a loner. He is a craftsman who works from his own garage , and he is not at all sure he is ready for the whirlwind that is Avery. Fortunately, he finds himself amused by her quirky nature, the freedom with which she expresses herself, and the desserts that she is constantly baking and sharing. With his father being released from prison after a long sentence, Rafe needs the lightness that Avery brings to his life. Avery, on the other hand, finds herself drooling over Rafe from the start. Much comedy ensues around trying to get good looks at Rafe and his buddies when they are not aware. With both Avery and Rafe interested in each other, things should've been smooth sailing, but that's not how suspense works. Someone has been trying to break into Rafe's house, and other strange things have been happening. When you add in an ex-girlfriend who doesn't want to let go, the situation gets even more complicated. Avery ends up caught in the middle, and it could cost her her life.

 I really enjoy suspense stories which bring in plenty of humor. Being able to listen in on the thoughts going on in Rafe's head was super fun. There were definitely plenty of amusing moments as well as enough drama both physical and emotional to keep me interested and connected to the story. While I do think this book could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first two books ahead of time. They were amazing as well, and will help you understand the background relationships between the characters.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Deadly Odds by Adrienne Giordano

I'll start by saying that I loved the cover. It Is what drew me to the book in the first place. I've never read this author before, but I will definitely be looking out for her books in the future. Personally, I found this book to be very interesting. I liked the Las Vegas setting and the behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the casino. Granted, I didn't know a lot of the terms not being familiar with casinos, but I was easily able to figure out from the context what the characters were talking about. The characters themselves were very well rounded. Ross was a clotheshorse yet not stuck up or snobby. His sidekick, Don, was an older guy and very old-school Vegas. He was one of my favorite characters since he was so inappropriate most of the time and vastly amusing. Kate was a kick butt and take names kind of woman. She had a job to do and had every confidence that she could get it done. The sparks between she and Ross were evident from the beginning even before they knew who each other was. They made a fun and entertaining couple especially with Don always butting in. As for the suspense, a cheat is loose in Vegas skimming from the casinos. It is Kate's job to find this person and solve the problem. Ross doesn't believe his casino could possibly be targeted because he believes his defenses are too strong. When Kate finally does come up with the suspect, Ross becomes angry and believes Kate is trying to ruin his business by going behind his back. Things go downhill from there. Kate may get her suspect, but will she lose her man in the process?

The characters kept me connected throughout, and I enjoyed the storyline. I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Hard Rules by Lisa Renee Jones

This was my first book by this author, and it definitely won't be my last! I was hooked from the start and ready to drop everything to keep reading. I loved the characters both primary and secondary. The storyline was nicely convoluted with many complicated personalities and subplots twisting around each other in a tangled writhing mass of passion and suspense. Shane and Emily meet by chance but end up thrown together by fate. Emily has some big secrets which could be dangerous. Shane is in the middle of a battle with his family which he knows for certain is dangerous. Neither is in a good place to get involved, but neither can resist.  They are drawn to each other yet caught in a web of lies and betrayals. I finished the story in a day because I was dying to unravel the threads of what was really going on. I've got to say that I'm now in more suspense than ever and hoping book two in this series is following shortly behind. I really want to know who Emily really is, what part the prologue plays in the scheme of things, who is actually on Shane's side. I am completely invested in this story.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Stranger in my House by Mari Manning

When Kirby's half sister shows up out of the blue claiming her life is being threatened, Kirby feels obligated to help. She is a law enforcement officer and feels she can quickly put her detecting skills to use and find the culprit. Unfortunately, Frankie complicated matters by insisting Kirby go undercover as her. Since the two are practically identical other than eye color, the swap would be easy. Kirby has never been close to her sister but her deep longing for a family connection leads her to do as Frankie requests. Once in place as Frankie, Kirby realizes the list of suspects is a mile long because no one likes Frankie, in fact, they ask despise her and don't bother to hide it. Her only ally is Seth. Even he is reluctant to help her. When strange things occur and threats escalate, he is the only person she trusts, but whether or not that trust is deserved remains to be seen..

This was a bit of an unusual storyline with some big twists at the end. Many of the characters came across as unlikable because of their animosity toward Kirby in her role as Frankie. Once their true nature was evident, they became much more relatable, and connections were finally forged. The story had plenty of suspense and chemistry and no shortage of suspects.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Raw Redemption by Tessa Bailey

I am so very sad to see this series end! I have read every book and become completely engrossed in the different relationships and personalities. If asked to choose a favorite, I seriously couldn't. Obviously, this book is best when read in the context of the series, but it could be read as a standalone.

Henrik was a very interesting character. His depth of devotion to Ailish's protection even though he had never fully meet her was his driving force. He has protected her from jail time for a crime she committed, and now he may have to protect her from his own co-workers. Ailish had information that could bring her father's criminal network to its knees, and Henrik's captain wants to use it. Ailish has already been working on ending her father's enterprises but knows working with law enforcement can be a risk since her father had connections everywhere. Henrik gave Ailish back her life, and when she finds out he was her savior, she will sacrifice anything to return the favor.

This series was really an out of the ordinary concept for me, a law enforcement squad made up of criminals. I will miss the series. Hopefully Ms. Bailey will start another series just as captivating.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Gone too Deep by Katie Ruggle

I requested a copy of this book because I vaguely recognized the author's name as one I had read before and enjoyed. I also liked the cover and thought the description sounded interesting. Honestly, I was caught up in the story pretty quickly, especially once George entered the picture. Who can resist a huge handsome mountain man who literally doesn't talk to anyone? There were so many great moments between him and Ellie as she tries to communicate with him and he tries to take care of her. I found myself smiling a lot and enjoying their interactions. Ellie's search for her dad also results in many dangerous situations. George is willing to do anything to protect her, but Ellie also does a pretty good job of protecting herself and those around her.

The story was exciting, and being from a hot southern state,I found the cold snowy setting interesting too. Once I finished reading this story, I went back to research the author and realized I had read the introductory novella for this series when it first came out but had somehow missed the next two books. I just added them to my wish list so I can correct that oversight. After reading about Callum and Lou in this book, I can't wait to go back and get their full story. So, as I said, I missed a couple of books in the middle of the series, but I didn't have a problem reading this as basically a standalone. I do think it would have been even better however if I had read them all in order.  This book does end in sort of a cliffhanger. George and Ellie get a nice resolution, but a few threads are still hanging out there waiting to be followed, especially a big shocker at the end. Thankfully, the wait for the next book is only a couple months.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

No Strings Attached by Julie Moffett

Can I just say how much I totally love this series?!? Every book gets better and better as you get to know the characters more deeply and watch them adapt and struggle and change. It is one of those series that can be both serious and emotional and still laugh out loud funny. There were definitely a few scenes that had me laughing out loud in inappropriate  ( like the doctor's waiting room).

This story has Lexi intercepting a hack into the NSA. Since Slash works for them, she quickly turns to him for help. The seriousness of the hack quickly becomes apparent when murders start to follow and Slash and Lexi find themselves becoming targets. As usual, the twins get pulled in to help out along with some other familiar faces from previous books. In the midst of trying to stop a terrorist plot, Lexi is also trying to plan her friend Basia's bachelorette party, a task which seems somehow harder than facing the terrorists.

I loved this edition to the series, and though I've been on the fence between Elvis and Slash for Lexi (with a slight leaning toward Slash), this book put me solidly in the Slash corner.

I ( quite happily and with much celebration) received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Hot SEAL Lover by Lynn Raye Harris

On the rebound after a publicly scandalous divorce from her cheating politically affiliated husband, Christina allows herself one night of passion  Remy, a man she met through her brother's work with  HOT. Remy has tried to be a gentleman and take things slow. He truly enjoys Christina and want to explore where things might go. Christina, however, ditches Remy after their first and only night together and refuses any further contact despite repeated efforts at communication on his part. She just isn't ready for another relationship, and Remy scares her. Months later, Remy is in the unstable middle east tasked with rescuing a group of civilians from a city about to fall to terrorists. When he finds out Christina is one of the people in harm's way, he is furious that she has put herself in this situation and that she has ignored him for so long. Christina doesn't help matters by being completely unrepentant and even unwilling to leave without competing her business deal. Unfortunately for her, Remy isn't taking no for an answer. He forces her out just as the situation in the city takes a turn for the worst. Remy, along with his team, now has to get Christina and the others through the dangers of the war torn countryside without risking his heart again.

As is typical for this series, there was plenty of realistic reading military type action, suspense, and off the charts chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be impatiently waiting for the next book in the series.

I received an ARC from the author for review.

Ultimate Vengeance by Nancy Haviland

Ultimate Vengeance is book four in a series. It is absolutely one of my favorite anti-hero series out there. No, these are not good guys, but yet they are. Alek has been a tragic figure pulling my heart from the beginning of the series. It has been a long wait for him to reconnect with his lost love. So many surprises popped up in this story ( especially the ending...OMG!!!), and so many threads were finally untangled. All my favorite characters were prominent as always, especially Maks. The story had me hook, line, and sinker right from the start. I'm guessing Lucien may be the next story, but honestly, I'm reading it no matter who it features.

I don't recommend reading these out of order because there are a lot of characters and ongoing storylines although each couple does get their HEA at the end of each story.  You definitely don't want to miss out on any of these anyway, especially Maks's story.  I do so love Maks. I love that these guys want to be legitimate, but when their women are threatened, there is nothing legitimate about their reactions. Check it out. You will love the boys and their kick butt women.

Running Scared by Christy Reece

To the best of my knowledge, I've read everything out there by this author including the books under her Ella Grace pseudonym. She continues to be one of my favorites. What makes things even better is that she is from my home state ( Roll Tide! ) I have been ready to get Riley's story for a while. Her character had overcome so much, and this book makes that even more clear. Some of the things in this book seem so unbelievable that we'd like to think they couldn't be real, but as I was reading about this couple selling their child, my husband shared an article in the news of a real life couple doing the same thing. I like how the author made Riley such a survivor and such a strong woman. Her partner, Justin, was absolutely the perfect man for her because he knew when she needed gentle and when she needed the cool methodical focus of work. He kept her grounded. I adored the story and the climax toward the end. I can't wait to find out what happens in the future between Aiden and Anna. It should be interesting.

Though this book is better read as part of the LCR series, it could be read as a standalone. The whole series is great though, so check it out.

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Justice Burning by Elle James

Phoebe is the daughter of one of the w wealthiest men in the state. She has been coddled and protected and kept away from the real world. When her father arranges a marriage for her with one of his associates, she does her duty and toes the line. On the wedding day, she comes to her senses and decides to call of the wedding only to find her groom has ditched her first. She decides if he doesn't have to face the crowd of guests, neither does she. She steals the rented get away car and just takes off with only her dress and the car. The story takes a turn when car trouble strikes  Phoebe finds she has run away with more than she bargained for. Chaos ensues, but with the help of a local deputy, Phoebe sets out to make things right.

For me, this was a nice quick easy escape read. If you are one of those readers who doesn't mind fiction being a bit more fictional than realistic, you should enjoy it. It was full of stereotypical over the top characters who were amusing and some not supremely competent bad guys. The hero and his brothers were the best part of the story since their good  natured bickering was funny.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Montana D-Force by Elle James

Mia has been working on a screenplay that mirrors traumatic events from her past. When she hits a writer's block, she decides to make the hard journey back to her hometown and  dark memories. When Mia finds herself terrified to be alone, she runs to her best friend's house and quite literally into Bear who has just started working for her friend's husband at Brotherhood Protectors. The attraction is immediate, but Mia has more on her mind than a relationship, and Bear is still physically recovering from injuries. With some encouragement from her friend, Mia decides to hire Bear as a bodyguard  but undercover as her handyman. As Mia digs deeper into her past, it soon becomes apparent that the past might be bleeding into the future and danger may be tracking her. Bear knows his body is not at 100% yet, but he is determined to make sure nothing happens to Mia on his watch.

I liked this story. It is the third book in the series, and while I think it would be better enjoyed with the background from the first two books ( which I've also read and liked ), it could certainly be read as a standalone or out of order.  Sadie and Hank from the previous stories featured prominently, and it was nice catching up with them. I would have liked a bit more depth from Bear, but the story still had plenty of chemistry and action to keep me interested.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Targeted by Kendra Elliot

Mason and Ava are one of my favorite book couples because their need for each other is so great and their connection so deep. They are truly soul mates. In this story, they are apart as Mason takes a trip with his boss and some buddies. The trip comes to an abrupt end when Mason discovers the body of his boss. Despite the possible conflict of interest, Ava gets herself assigned to the case. Once Mason is cleared as a suspect, he ends up taking along in the background of the investigation. It soon becomes clear that a serial killer is at work targeting law enforcement, and his method of killing is as gruesome as it is macabe. In addition to trying to find the cop killer, Ava is still having to deal with her twin's psychiatric issues. With so much going on, Ava may not realize until it's too late that the killer's final target is someone very close.

I recommend this series highly, although it definitely needs to be read in order. Each story has a definite ending with no big cliffhanger, but threads of the story continue from book to book. This addition was absolutely my favorite of the series so far.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Love Thy Enemy by Katie Reus

Though this series of books is typically shorter than what I usually read, I appreciate that they read like longer books and never feel rushed. This book in particular actually ended being two stories short of intertwined. Though it is about Viktor and Dominique, Viktor's brother, Abram, and his assistant, Lucy, also feature prominently. Basically, Dominique blames Viktor for an event from the past and hates him with a passion. He, on the other hand, feels inexplicably drawn to her. When the two of them are finally in a place where the truth can come out, their relationship hearts up quick. Unfortunately, Viktor has an enemy who wants to take away everything he cares about, and Dominique is at the top of that list. Abram and Lucy also end up in the crosshairs, but neither Viktor or Abram plan to let their women get hurt.

As is typical for this series, the passion was white hot, the ladies were kick butt even without the totally alpha guys backing them up, and the suspense was consistent throughout the story. I know I will keep reading this series as long as Katie Reus keeps  writing it.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.