In Bed With the Billionaire by Jackie Ashenden

I love that Jackie Ashenden is not afraid to write some really bad guys but make you love them. This series in particular is full of them. Jericho is definitely not a good guy, and it is evident from the start. Temple is also no innocent shrinking violet. The two of them are like an out of control fire from the beginning despite neither of them wanting a connection. Each is looking to destroy the other, and they fully intend to do so. Unfortunately for their plans, their situations are intricately intertwined, and they end up needing each other almost as much as they want each other, whether they want to admit it or not.

Temple's employer and her sense of justice insist that Jericho must die, but the closer she gets to him, the more she doubts her judgement. Jericho has a plan, and Temple interferes with that plan. He knows his endgame, and caring about someone could shatter all his careful planning. Somehow though,  Jericho and Temple seem to understand each other's brokenness, and their connection entangled more and more strings around them. Since neither of them believe they can have their relationship and their justice, they each are left to choose between love and death.

This series is full of such complicated connections and relationships. I love all the twists and turns and dark emotions. Jackie Ashenden has a style of writing that paints a very vivid picture and draws you right into the middle of the story which is right where I want to be.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Family Sins by Sharon Sala

I have been a fan of Sharon Sala for while and have read many of her books.  This story was pretty different from what I usually expect from Ms. Sala. Family Sins is set in the mountains amid a community of close knit self sufficient friends and relatives. The murder of one of their own throws everything into chaos, especially when he leaves a message pointing directly to his killer.

Bowie doesn't come home often, but he was not leaving his family to deal with his father's murder alone. He backs his mother in her stand against her family and her determination to see that justice is served. In the meantime, he runs into his only love, Talia.

The story is a sweet emotional romance of reconnection surrounded by murder, grief, greed, family feuding, and violence. I found the setting and family dynamics interesting. Jesse, Bowie's brother, was an especially endearing character. I have no doubt I will read more of this series.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Necessary Evil by Jamie K. Schmidt

I was completely unfamiliar with Jamie K. Schmidt, but she's on my favorites list now. I love a book that can surprise me, and this one kept me guessing. I also can't resist a good bad guy. Evan/Evil totally fits that bill. Evil is not afraid to break the rules as long as justice is served. Lucy doesn't believe justice is served unless you follow the rules. They are an unlikely pair, but they certainly steam up the pages. The story rolls along at a quick pace, and there is always something going on to keep your attention. I got hooked on several of the characters, especially Sentinel. He apparently gets the next book in the series, so I am definitely reading that. The ending to this suspense was a bit of a shocker. I really didn't expect it to go the direction it did, but it made for a spectacularly unexpected finish. I completely enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Tempted by a Touch by Kris Rafferty

Having not read the first book in this series, I must admit to feeling a bit out of the loop at first. It's almost as if this book just picks up right in the middle of where book one left off. Thankfully, everything eventually recaps, and I caught up to the ongoing parts of the storyline quickly. Harper and Lucas dated for a while and both felt their their soul deep connection. Unfortunately, their ideas for what their future together should look like were vastly different, and Harper felt she had to let go. Lucas is still angry, but when another's actions place her in danger, he can't help but make sure she is protected. He also can't help but find her behavior suspicious at times. Harper is definitely hiding some dangerous secrets, but if she tells the truth she fears she will lose more than just Lucas.

I loved the cover for this book. It is what initially caught my interest since I was unfamiliar with this author. I ended up really getting into the story and the characters.  I especially enjoyed Caleb and am excited he will be getting his own story.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Behind Closed Doors by Lisa Renee Jones

I absolutely couldn't put this book down. Though  haven't read any of the Careless Whispers series, I had no problem falling right into this story.  I knew that would be the case since I've read several of the author's other books. I'm going to start by saying that Jason was one of the hottest sexiest male characters I've read in quite a while. I loved his pet names, and I loved his intense personality. Even though I know nothing about poker , I enjoyed the setting of the story . It was a bit outside my normal realm. The story starts with Skye who is struggling to manage two jobs and survive on her own without the help of her family and without very many friends. Her one new friend convinces her to buy a storage facility which is been abandoned. It is been put up for auction, and her friend make certain she ends up winning the bid. Little do they know all the trouble that one the decision will bring. Oddly enough, Trouble is the nickname Skye gives to Jason when she meets him. Trust doesn't come easily to her, and she definitely doesn't trust him. The feeling is mutual, since Jason doesn't trust her either. They strive to work out a deal which they believe will help them discover the truth of what lies between them and what is really going on with the stuff in that storage locker. Their deal also leads to travel to Las Vegas. Trouble follows them, however, and there quickly in the middle of a stressful situation. Thankfully, stress brings out the best and Jason. He is not about to fold. He is also not about to let Skye go. He is going to protect her with everything he has whether she wants him to or not. Someone is trying to blackmail him, and Skye has been pulled into the deadly game. Jason is used to winning the game he plays, and he intends to win this one as well.

 At least he made a great couple. They balance each other out perfectly. Jason was unbelievably sexy, and Skye was a very strong character to despite her many fears and flaws. I also now feel the need to read about Ella. She featured so prominently in this story, that she grabbed my curiosity.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox

Verity and Frankie make such a fun ghost hunting duo, and when you throw sweet Ellis into the mix, you get the comedy, the spookiness, and a bit of romance. This particular case proves to be a bit more difficult and dangerous than most of Verity's past experiences, but as always, she forges on despite her fears driven by her need to fix things for others. Verity is extremely likable because she always tries to look at the upside of things, and she is willing to do without if it means some benefit for someone else. She is also not afraid to dive in headfirst, which is why Ellis is so perfect for her. He trusts her to handle herself but is still there when backup is needed.

This was a spooky fun story which can be read as a standalone but is so much better if you've read the series in order. You will definitely get hooked on Verity if you do.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Burning Obsession by Calista Fox

I was so excited when I opened my email and found an invitation from the author to read an ARC of this book. I just finished Burned series this book spins off of, and was definitely jonesing for more. Kyle had had a soft spot in my heart throughout the series, and I absolutely loved that this book was first person from his perspective. Tamera has had her eye on Kyle for a while, but he has been too wrapped up in Ari. Now that he has let go of that and reconciled that they are only meant to be friends, he finally notices Tamera. Tamera is beyond thrilled when Kyle finally asks her out, but their date is ruined when an irate man tries to attack her. As he is known to do, Kyle shifts into protection mode. Tamera doesn't mind since the danger continues to escalate as does her desire for Kyle.

I loved getting to check back in with Dane, Ari, and other favorite characters while finally getting a love interest for Kyle. Burning Obsession was intense and loaded with both passion and action right from the start. I was so into it that I read it non-stop. I don't know how Calista Fox can spin any more books out of this series, but I will be thrilled if she does.

Going Hard by Kelsey Browning

This was my first book by Kelsey Browning, but it definitely won't be the last. I was caught up in the story right from the beginning. The way the characters were crafted pulled me right into their world. Grif and his brothers were perfect in the way that they picked at each other and fought but still would never let anyone else mess with them. I wasn't sure what to think about Grif at first. He came off a bit shallow and vindictive when in reality he was anything but. Carlie Beth and Aubrey, on the other hand, were easy to love, as Grif soon found out. When Grif returns to his hometown to help out his brother, he finds himself in for several whopping surprises. These revelations have him stuck in town longer than he had planned. They also have him thinking about things he never considered before. Just as he begins to reach out for what he wants, it seems someone has decided to take it all away from him. Thankfully, his brothers have no intention of letting that happen, neither does Carlie Beth who is much tougher than she seems.

I truly couldn't put this down, and no matter which brother gets the next story, I'm definitely reading it. Steele Ridge is going on my automatic buy list!

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is a master at writing characters you can't help but get attached to. I've been a fan for a long time and always consider her books to be a guaranteed great read. This one was no different. Finn and Dana both needed a bit of a get away from traumatic events in their lives, and somehow they end up neighbors in the remote woods. After an unusual first meeting, the two quickly become friends. As the days pass and their relationship starts to grow deeper, Dana begins to experience problems on her property. Finn believes his former military experience and his close proximity make him the ideal person to protect Dana if needed and to ferret out who is causing trouble.

As the title suggests, the plot definitely is tangled. I enjoyed the story and especially Finn and his brothers. I missed the first two books in this series, so now I know I need to go back and read Lance and Mac's stories.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Dark Corners by A.M. Madden

David and Maygen hit it off right from the start. David can't understand why he is so interested in her, but he is. He and Maygen are each hesitant to spill all their secrets to each other, but they slowly build a passionate relationship. Unfortunately, it is all built on deception, and once all is revealed, out may shatter everything and leave Maygen vulnerable.

I enjoyed this story much more than the last book in the series. The characters were relatable and believable. I especially thought the depiction of PTSD was accurate. It is a feature in many books, but as a counselor, I rarely find it shown as it truly is. The banter between David and Maygen was amusing, and it was a good counterpart to the seriousness of many of the other issues.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Slow Burn by E.B. Walters

Ron and Ashley have a past connection, but Ron is the only one aware of it. When he begins to receive anonymous clues leading him to Ashley, he uses false pretenses to try to get close to her. Ashley doesn't make his task easy, but Ron is nothing if not persistent. He begins to foster a relationship with her and ends up liking her more and more as he begins to see beyond the outward confidence she projects. Ashley succumbs to Ron's pressure to look further into her parents' deaths without realizing his secret motive. He realizes it will tear them apart if she finds out, so he just has to make sure she doesn't despite the danger that secret brings.

The title for this book was definitely appropriate. The relationship between the two characters was a nice slow burn leading to a building passion. While the villain was made obvious from the start, trying to determine who all was in on the plot added to the suspense and intrigue. I particularly liked the ending and the vindication it gave to a character I had been secretly rooting for.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Burned Hearts by Calista Fox

Finally, we get all the answers we've been waiting for! Ari and Dane are such a great couple, and though it hardly seems fair for them to go through so much, it definitely makes for a suspenseful and exciting story. When you add in the phenomenal chemistry, this series burns up the pages. I get completely caught up in it and can't stop reading. In this story, both Dane and Ari try to take on a lot on their own rather than together. They both have a difficult time since their strength is in their bond to each other. Kyle and Amano are doing their best to provide protection, but problems arise at every turn. Unfortunately for Ari and Dane, they are beginning to suspect that their problems might be closer to home than they thought. <br><br>I was definitely surprised by one of the culprits in the end, but another culprit was one I'd suspected through most of the series.I'm sad the series is complete, but hopeful to see books about several of the supporting characters, Kyle in particular. I will be so very mad if we don't get his story. He is an absolute favorite of mine.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

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