HOT SEAL Rescue by Lynne Raye Harris

This was definitely my favorite HOT SEAL book so far though I have loved all the HOT books. Lynn Raye Harris just has a way of writing very likable believable characters that you just can't help but root for. Cody and Miranda really clicked for me. Cody was tough and decisive without some of the more domineering alpha qualities. Miranda reminded me of a lost girl. She had run from her family and gotten so lost in her work that she had forgotten to really live.  When these two meet, they light up the pages...until something goes terribly wrong. It's anyone's guess how they will ever be able to reconcile their differences and work together.

HOT is just so, well....Hot! All my favorite reoccurring characters were there, Cash, Lucky (I so love her.), and not the least of all, Ian Black. I swear when that sexy inwardly tortured man gets his own story, I might just swoon. I can't wait!

I received an ARC from the author for review.

Deep Under by Lisa Renee Jones

I read and loved the first three books in this series and loved them. The three Walker brothers and the people they have surrounded themselves with have sucked me in. So, while I will agree that this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series in order. It adds so much to this story to have the full background.

I love how Lisa Renee Jones creates characters who are nowhere close to perfect but yet perfect for each other. Kyle was one of my favorite characters in the last book. He was funny and yet tough at the same time. As he helped his friend search for a missing woman, he fell in love with her in the process before they even met. When an odd stroke of fate lands him as her bodyguard, he can hardly believe his luck.

Myla trusts no one but herself. She can't afford to. More lives are on the line than just hers. She wants to believe Kyle is as good as he appears, but that's not been her experience in the past. She sees herself as damaged and has no problem sacrificing herself if it will save others. She will save Kyle too before she lets him get hurt for her.

This was my favorite story  the series so far, mainly because of Myla. She was a captive, yet she maintained an inner strength and a will to survive. Overall, it was a wonderful story.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Travis Justice by Colleen Shannon

Zach and Hana couldn't have been any more different. Zach was former military with a cowboy's bearing while Hana was dark and fierce and half Japanese with samurai training. The combination shouldn't have worked, but it did. The story focused around a very valuable Samurai sword which formerly belonged to Hana's family. Zach's family now has possession of it, but Hana will do anything to get it back. Even the sparks that fly when she has an unexpected encounter with Zach aren't enough to dissuade her. Her need for the sword is life or death. Zach is captivated after their encounter. It becomes the impetus for making some decisions he has put off for too long. His ability to help Hana is key in his decisions, but can she trust him with her secrets, with her life?

Colleen Shannon has a very detailed descriptive way of writing that really creates nice imagery. I liked the characters, especially Zach's super brash mother and Hana's super savvy friend and trainer, and the unusual storyline.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Wrong for Me by Jackie Ashenden

Levi is back, and he has repayment in mind. The one person he believes owes him the most is his former best friend Rachel. He had dreams of a future for her and with her, but he believes her choices destroyed his dreams. Now that he's back, he is determined he will make those dreams a reality even if he has to coerce Rachel's cooperation. He doesn't care if his actions make her hate him; he will have his dreams. Rachel can't reconcile the boy who was her lifeline with the callous man he has become, but he has found a way to tie her to him, and she will have the fight of her life to get free...if she even still wants to.

Jackie Ashenden isn't afraid to take her readers outside of their comfort zones. She takes fatally flawed characters and somehow turns them around. I wasn't sure at first how this story was going to work out, but in her usual fashion, Ms. Ashenden has turned out a story I couldn't put down.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Wanted by Marissa Garner

FBI agent Dillon pretty much hates Kat since she literally left him at the alter and disappeared. Kat believes she had no other choice but to run. Her parents supported her and even moved away with her. When Kat notices unusual things happening at the nuclear power plant where she works, Dillon is her only option for help. Unfortunately for Kat, not just Dillon, but also his colleagues refuse to deal with her. It's not until Dillon finds out her life is in danger that he becomes marginally involved in helping her. The two begin to work out some of their issues, but Kat still has a huge secret to protect, one that is likely to destroy everything.

I enjoy Marissa Garner's books. This one had a few surprises and one really huge secret. I liked the characters even though I  disliked their choices at times. This was a good addition to the FBI Heat series.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

The Off Season by Colleen Thompson

Colleen Thompson has written a twisted novel of suspense that kept me guessing until the end. Every time I thought I knew what was really going on, something would come up that threw me off again. Personally, I love that in a book. Each character had depth and was truly flawed. It was easy to identify with the self doubt, grief, and regret over past mistakes.  The story had several creepy elements and a shocking ending. The slight romantic element was a bonus for me.  There are also a couple of secondary characters I would like to see get their own story.  This will not be my last book by this author.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

The Wild One by Riley Murphy

This was my first experience with this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Daisy was the stereotypical nerd.  She was uber smart and totally a bit out of sync with social norms. In an effort to prove her brother in law had a part in her sister's disappearance, she decides she needs a boyfriend. She not only needs a boyfriend, but also needs him to be dominant. To find out why, you will have to read the book. She hires Ben to act as boyfriend/covert bodyguard. Their first meeting was pretty hilarious, and things between them remained pretty amusing.  Their cover as a couple places them in very close proximity, and they quickly realize their chemistry is sparking.  Ben and Daisy each have their own agenda for the investigation, and neither is completely honest with the other, so their relationship may be doomed from the start. When the investigation turns dangerous, Ben calls in the team for back up while Daisy continues to try to solve the case on her own. Between them, maybe they can accomplish both of their goals.

I will definitely be reading more of this series. I loved the characters and the witty banter between Daisy and Ben.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.

Bang by Avery Flynn

Though I did not read the first book in the series, I thought this book worked just fine as a standalone. There were a lot of interesting characters with unusual personalities which made the book quite interesting. Tamara was definitely not your typical sweet nice heroine. She was prickly and closed off. Sometimes, she came across quite harshly. Fortunately, Isaac had a thing for blondes with an attitude. He spotted trouble coming before Tamara did and was determined she was going to let him help her. A bounty hunter was on her tail , and her former brother-in-law wanted to take her niece away from her. Tamara thought she had all of her troubles hidden and that no one on her team knew about them. She really didn't think they would be interested in helping her if they didn't know. She couldn't have been more wrong. Isaac and the rest of the team pull together to keep Tamara and her niece both safe.

 Even though I was not familiar with this series before now, I have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past. I am happy to have another series to add to my reading list.

I received an ARC from Net Galley for review.