Echo by A. Zavarelli

Wow, like seriously, wow! I grabbed this book because the cover caught my eye. I read the description and found myself intrigued. I started reading a bit afraid that it would turn out to be a primarily darkly kinky sexcapade with little plot. I couldn't have been more off base. This book had twists on top of twists. So many times I was certain I had things figured out only to find myself shocked when the truth was revealed. The characters had so many interesting layers and connections. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of sex, and it was not of the vanilla variety. I usually end up skipping some of those scenes because they get repetitive. That was not the case here. Just keep in mind that it is described as a "dark" story. I don't really want to give away any of the plot, but I will say that I couldn't put it down. It does end with not a lot of resolution, but book two is out already. I am chomping at the bit to get started reading it!

Wild Card by Aleah Barley

This was definitely a different kind of pairing...a former priest and a former stripper ( well, maybe not so former). I never would have put these two together, but in a weird sort of way it worked. Gina was super tough and blatantly sexual on the outside, but kind of wounded and lonely on the inside. Likewise, Finn had a tough detective's exterior while harboring extreme feelings of guilt and also loneliness. The similarities end there. Finn is a total rule follower and compete innocent. Gina doesn't mind coloring outside the lines a bit. She also quit being innocent a long time ago. When a murder throws these two together and on the run, Finn isn't quite sure what to do with Gina, but he knows he wants to do something. He decides he is going to protect her no matter what because she touches something inside him despite their differences.

It was fun watching Gina shock Finn with her bold behavior and words.  He managed to surprise her too at times. There were several suspenseful moments and a nice slow burn of chemistry between interesting main characters.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham

Though I haven't read all the books in this series, I have been totally into the ones I have and plan to read them all. I was very excited to get a copy of this one. This story begins with FBI agent Jude and his temporary boss boarding a cruise ship in pursuit of a suspected murderer. The suspect quickly disappears, but the agents decide staying on the ship gives them the best chances of catching the serial killer. Jude knows his new boss is known for heading up the Krewe of Hunters which is rumored to investigate things outside the norm. He is not sure why he has been asked to work with this group until his acquaintance with the ship's piano bar performer, Alexi, reveals his own unusual ability. Alexi has always been able to see the dead and speak with them. The ship on which she works is older and rich with history, not to mention ghosts. Her ability along with her uncanny resemblance to the killer's victim profile results in her being both under protection and a part of the manhunt. Jude sticks to her like glue and not just because he can protect her. Their chemistry is fairly instant, and they hook up pretty fast. The question they have to ask is whether their relationship will help them find the killer before he finds Alexi. Thankfully they have ghosts on their side.


I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Deadly Obsession by Elle James

Jillian is trying to put down roots, and Chance is running from any appearance of roots.  He shows up to play best man at a friend's wedding with every intention of leaving immediately after. When he meets Jillian, he is immediately attracted to her but believes himself to damaged for a relationship. Jillian is also pretty independent. As luck would have it, Chance always seems to be in the right place when Jillian needs help. The more the danger increases, the more determined he is to protect her. Jillian wants to help Chase as well- help him work through his PTSD nightmares and help him into her bed.

The danger factor is high in this story as is the chemistry. It is pretty easy to connect the dots in the mystery but hard to guess many of the events. Overall, I really enjoyed it despite not having read any other books in this series.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Stepping Over the Line by Laura Marie Altom

I like this author and her Shamed series. I admit to having avoided stepbrother romances like the plague. I almost skipped this one but tried it simply because of the author and because I was curious about Garrett from previous novels. Thankfully this wasn't as cliche as I was afraid it would be. Garrett has been Savannah's stepbrother since she was a teen. She immediately had a crush on him, but he eventually moves away. The two reconnect ( in every way) as adults despite the fact that Savannah is dating someone else.  When Garrett later ends up defending Savannah's honor, an accident and Garrett's own self blame result in him spending time in prison. Once he is released, things become complicated. Garrett wants to be a part of Savannah's life, but she avoids him at first. She fears retribution from her ex fiance's family. Eventually several suspicious incidents end up causing the two to team up. The question then becomes whether they can remain safe and fight the disapproval of their relationship.

This story was definitely not all roses. Garrett's personality undergoes massive changes, and he becomes a difficult person. Savannah's guilt and grief cause her to develop sharp edges. Thankfully, over time, they begin to soften each other. I enjoyed being Garrett's story.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Dying for Love by Angel Nicholas

This was a totally new author for me. The cover caught my eye, so I decided to give this a try. I ended up really enjoying it. Matt hired Grace but wished he hadn't because he didn't want to be her boss. He wanted to be more. Grace noticed her handsome boss but tried to act professional. Things rocked along until Matt began to suspect that Grace was in danger. He had the ability to protect her, and he was determined to make her tell him what was going on. Grace had tried to ignore the threatening notes she received, but when her personal areas are invaded and she realizes the stalker can get to her at any time, she decides to let Matt help. The more the two investigate, the more they are drawn back to the past and secrets that would have been best kept buried.

The suspense and action kept me interested, and the chemistry was great. I really enjoyed the story.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Guilty Pleasure by Lora Leigh

Okay, so menage is not my typical reading preference, but I have come across a couple that were really well done. I decided to try this one because I like this author. This was one of those. For me to read this type of story, it has to have a really solid storyline, not be full of crude talk, and the emotions have to be tied into the relationship. In other words, I want more than just crude sex and the lustful use of each other's body. This story delivered in full. The relationship between Khalid and Marty has been developing for years, and their relationship is the focus of the book. Even though their bedroom is not always exclusive, it is always full of love. Those intimate scenes were HOT. I totally loved Shayne and his involvement with the couple and would love to read a story focused on him. The suspense drove the storyline, and though we know who the bad guy is from the beginning, it keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. I would love to read more in this series, but when I checked they were all price between $8-$10. That's a bit pricey for me since there are so many books in the series. I will definitely be grabbing them if the prices drop.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.