BOOK REVIEW - ELEVEN ON TOP by JANET EVANOVICH - STEPHANIE PLUM # 11 - HEADLINE - CONTEMPORARY CRIME

By: Janet Evanovich

Published By: Headline

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback, OP Shop find, 371 Pages

RATING: 4.25 RANGER 'BABE' STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Stephanie Plum is thinking her career as a fugitive apprehension agent has run its course. She's been shot at, spat at, cussed at, fire-bombed, mooned, and attacked by dogs. Stephanie thinks it's time for a change. So she quits. She wants something safe and normal. But the kind of trouble she had at the bail bonds office can't compare to the kind of trouble she finds herself facing now...

Stephanie is stalked by a maniac returned from the grave for the sole purpose of putting her into a burial plot of her own. He's killed before, and he'll kill again if given the chance. Caught between staying far away from the bounty hunter business and staying alive, Stephanie reexamines her life and the possibility that being a bounty hunter is the solution rather than the problem. After disturbingly brief careers at the button factory, Kan Klean Dry Cleaners, and Cluck-in-a-Bucket, Stephanie takes an office position in security, working for Ranger, the sexiest, baddest bounty hunter and businessman on two continents. Tempers and temperatures rise as competition ratchets up between the two men in her life—her on-again, off-again boyfriend, tough Trenton cop Joe Morelli, and her boss, Ranger. Can Stephanie Plum take the heat? Can you?

BOOK REVIEW:

I am still going strong with this series, because I take it the way it is meant to be—well, I think it is meant to be a poolside read.

I’m going to say it…Steph had a moment of growth in this installment.

HALLELUJAH!

I saw her intelligence shine through. She is a quick learner when Ranger and his guys are doing the teaching. She got that computer sorted in no time.

THE WOMAN DOES HAVE SKILLS!

Who knew?

Finally—Janet.

I am gonna say it…Joe does nothing for me.

Blasphemy!

I know. I’m sorry #teamjoe.

It’s not my fault, it’s Janet’s. She writes Steph and Joe’s scenes very wooden. I get nothing, but the surface and some sex. At least with Ranger I get a man who is witty, sexy, sexy-witty combo, he lays his cards on the table, he flirts with smiles. We are interested to see about his past, where he lives. Joe is Joe. He’s a warm blanket.

I still got no clue why Steph is hanging onto Joe—no offence Joe. If you were given more depth of character, then I could work with this, but you aren’t. It is Joe and Bob. Steph and Joe-the-friend-with-benefits. Lawdy I want to love Joe, I want to be torn between him and Ranger as a reader…but I got squat.

I may have another 12 books of this too…eeeep!

In this installment, Janet gets Steph to leave Bounty Hunting behind and try some odd jobs on for size—needless to say none of them work out.

*coughnosurprisestherecough*

Ranger to the RAWRRRR rescue.

Dude gives me a lady-boner.

Lula is Lula.

Grandma Mazur is typical Grandma Mazur.

Did Rex get fed in this one?

Joe is typical Joe…with a leg cast and messing his home with boys-get-togethers.

Cars are blowing up.

Steph is getting filthy.

Ranger is being dreamy Ranger.

Ranger uses the word “Babe” with a smile.

We get to go onto another floor of RangeMan.

Everybody wears black.

There is a mystery to solve, Scooby!

I did like the twist. Nice one, Janet. 

Ranger is flirty. Steph is flirty.


We got into the Explorer, and I couldn’t sit with the gun rammed into my pants. “I can’t do this,” I said to Ranger. “This dumb gun is too big. It’s poking me.”

Ranger closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the wheel. “I can’t believe I hired you.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault. You picked out a bad gun.”

“Okay,” he said, swiveling to face me. “Where’s it poking you?”

“It’s poking me in my … you know.”

“No. I don’t know.”

“My pubic area.”



Now when is a gun able to be dumb? Just when Steph was getting that much more intelligent…she talks like a teenager. 

Bahahaha.

It simply doesn’t matter. I am hooked. I know almost before I start the next book what the layout will be, but I can’t seem to stop. This series is just silly, and remarkably full of Ranger and Steph flirting and shenanigans.

I wonder if I will tire of the series, eventually? I hope not.

I do love we get to know something more about Ranger. I am surprised it took Steph those few paragraphs to ask. I was like “Steph ask the bloody question”.

Bottom line is: I laugh. I giggle. I'm addicted.

Twelve Sharp is up next.

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BOOK REVIEW - RED QUEEN by VICTORIA AVEYARD - RED QUEEN # 1 - YA FANTASY - HARPER TEEN

By: Victoria Aveyard

Published By: Harper Teen

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 387 Pages

RATING: 5 FRESH STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.



BOOK REVIEW:

I used to think there was only the divide, Silver and Red, rich and poor, kings and slaves. But there’s much more in between, things I don’t understand, and I’m right in the middle of it. I grew up wondering if I’d have food for supper, now I’m standing in a palace about to be eaten alive.

It is very hard coming up with something fresh in the YA world that is gonna grab readers by the masses around the globe.

Victoria certainly achieved this.

Even though I did see through a couple characters fairly early on, this story is still a five star read for me.

Red Queen is very rich in descriptive, which brings an amazing visual while reading.

I loved the whole concept of the Reds and the Silvers.

Divergent, ( that other big YA series)  has its society divided into factions, and this is the same for Red Queen, but it's different and this I LOVE.

It sucks if you are a Red, basically.

But—then comes along a girl…

And then there is a boy…

And then there is a brother…

Throw in some royalty…

Throw in some dramalama, rebels, lust, dancing lessons (*sigh*), more rebels, wise people, more rebels...special powers, gladiator style take-downs and a bloody good ending.

When I thought I had found a plot flaw and it was scratching away at me…I simply had to keep reading.

Damn—this was good.

Sure there is a basic recipe that all these types of stories start with, but it's the other ingredients you add—that set it above others and make it worth tasting.

I highly recommend Red Queen.

The cover art is amazing. Very apt. Easily understood.

I will be purchasing this series for my bookshelves, because Mini-Me is gonna be getting them shoved under her nose.

Victoria, I give you my glove clap.

Anyone can betray anyone.

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BOOK REVIEW - WILD MAN by KRISTEN ASHLEY - DREAM MAN # 2 - ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE - FOREVER

By: Kristen Ashley
Published By:  Forever
Released: Available Now
Details : Kindle, 528 Pages

RATING: 4.25 Brock Stars!

Blurb: Goodreads

She's about to walk on the wild side . . .
While filling the display case in her bakery, the bell over the door sounds and Tessa O'Hara looks up to see the man of her dreams. Within thirty seconds he asks her out for a beer. But after four months of dating, she discovers he's an undercover DEA agent-and he's investigating her possible role in her ex-husband's drug business. For Tess, this means their relationship is over.

Brock disagrees. He's committed to his anti-drug mission, but he's fallen in love with the beautiful woman who's as sweet as her cupcakes-and he'll do anything to win her back. Standing between Tess and Brock are their own exes, one of them a drug lord who's determined to get what he wants. Now as danger threatens, can Brock break the rules he's lived by and let loose his wild side to protect the woman he loves?



BOOK REVIEW:

Alrighty. Another KA book, done and dusted. Gotta say I was a little surprised at how Brock turned out after reading him in Mystery Man and not being overly keen on the lad, then.

Silly me.


Then again, Jake—with his motorcycle boots, his bike, his beat pickup, his old t-shirts that fit way too well, his faded jeans that fit better, his dark brown, longish, unruly hair, his silvery gray eyes that told a million stories without giving away a thing, his capacity to drink beer, down shots, eat hearty, howl at the moon and kiss so hard it was like he knew it was the last moment for every being on earth and he was going to make the most of it—was wild.



Did anybody else notice how long that sentence was?

Eh— who cares. Kristen had me at, ‘motorcycle boots’.  

Loved this installment. Tess was a gorgeous character. One of Kristen’s older characters and I kinda forgot she was in her early 40’s—and for that matter—Brock was older.

These two kids, ( hehehe) could bring the smexy and the alpha and all-the-things-KA.



Once he had me settled, arm still firm around me, he said softly, “I am not a normal guy, Tess.”


Amen to that, sister.

Tess is an adorable character, she works hard and has a big heart. Brock is honest in his ways, his past and where he wants to be heading. He is alpha.

Elvira is such a spunky chick in this installment, I totally dig her.

Daisy and Shirleen, ( I love saying Shirleen out loud) make an appearance.

Some of the Hot-Bunch make an appearance…which is always a good thing.



Now, considering Hank was Lee Nightingale’s brother and Lee was Chavez’s best friend and Brock was working with Hector and Vance, two of Lee’s boys, not to mention he’d moved from the DEA to the DPD and paths were crossing, they’d come to an uneasy détente.



This is all I am gonna give you on them showing up. You gotta read the book to find out how Vance blended into the shadows and then revealed himself when he needed to. He was taking his job very seriously.

Onto my next KA adventure...

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BOOK REVIEW - ELEVENTH GRAVE IN MOONLIGHT by DARYNDA JONES - CHARLEY DAVIDSON # 11 - URBAN FANTASY - PIATKUS

By: Darynda Jones
Published By: Piatkus
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 320 Pages

RATING: 5 SEXY REYES STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, missing people, errant wives, philandering business owners, and oh yeah...demons, hell hounds, evil gods, and dead people. Lots and lots of dead people.

As a part time Private Investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, Charley has to balance the good, the bad, the undead, and those who want her dead. In this eleventh installment, Charley is learning to make peace with the fact that she is a goddess with all kinds of power and that her own daughter has been born to save the world from total destruction. 

But the forces of hell are determined to see Charley banished forever to the darkest corners of another dimension. With the son of Satan himself as her husband and world-rocking lover, maybe Charley can find a way to have her happily ever after after all.



BOOK REVIEW :

I think this was one of the best Charley’s for me in a while. I simply adored this installment.

There was a lot going on.

Lots of side stories.

Reyes...

*draw drops*

The sexual encounters he had with Charley were so creative and different and visually…whahhh.

He locked his intense gaze with mine. “Wet your fingers.”

I lifted a hand to my mouth.

“Not there.”

Surprised, I reached between my…

“Farther.”

I pushed them deeper, the sensation swirling in the pit of my stomach.

His breaths grew labored as well. “Rub your…”

I did. The hunger I saw on his face more erotic than my own touch.

“Made a mess?” I asked.

He nodded.

I reached across and caressed his crotch. Felt the warmth. Moistened my panties even more.

“Yeah, I should probably change, too.”

The emotion I felt for Charley and Reyes because they can’t have their bubba in their arms—there was a scene—I felt it.

Deep.

I love Osh. He is kinda hilarious in this installment— for a slave demon.

Ubie and Cookie…always wonderful their interaction.

Hints for bigger things in storyline appear.

Seeds are sprinkled like hundreds and thousands.

Love the Angels hanging about on every corner…and of course Angel, himself.

There was so much for me to love about this installment. We moved forward. We learned things.

Charley still is helping dead people crossover…even that cute little…

I like how Darynda shows us real emotion when it comes to a mother not being able to be in contact with her baby. I want more of that as it is real and true and very much a part of Charley’s current journey and Reyes’.

I want to see Reyes with Beep, even if Charley can’t be near her. Reyes the son of Satan and his baby…yeah. I want to see more of that.

I don’t think there was hardly a page without Charley being switched on with all that wit that simply seems to pour out of her mouth when she opens it. She can make anything Charleyized.

I simply love watching Reyes. I'm a Reyes-stalker.

Yep. We’d turned the corner of the building, heading toward the parking lot, when I spotted Mr. Reyes Farrow standing next to his stunning ’70 Plymouth ‘Cuda. Classic. Dark. And all muscle. The car was hot, too.

Reyes, playing teacher was brilliant. I loved how that all played out. I loved watching Charley get it at the same time we, the reader starts to get who Charley really is and what she is really capable of, in small doses. There was no manual for her to read up on and finally she is getting some guidance.

Watching her shift in her human vs who she really is mind set.

There is lovable Charley, witty Charley, I-must-name-everything-Charley…and then…there is the storm inside that can do things that human-Charley is just beginning to understand.

Even though grain of sand and all.

Bring on The Trouble With Twelfth Grave.

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BOOK COVER REVEAL - WHEN CLUBS COLLIDE ANTHOLOGY by A BUNCH OF AWESOME AUTHORS - MC GENRE

******ALREADY AN******

*****INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER*****

ON

 AMAZON

 US & AUSTRALIA

*****ALL PROCEEDS TO CHARITY*****

PREORDER PRICE .99C

Preorder Link:

WHEN CLUBS COLLIDE ANTHOLOGY

AMAZON US: http://a.co/igeQzAc
AMAZON CA: http://a.co/0Ew0ru0
AMAZON UK: http://amzn.eu/dXtlshO
AMAZON AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06Y4VCB28/

When Clubs Collide Anthology Cover Reveal

If you enjoy hot, tattooed bikers and the women they love, you'll want this anthology on your reading list. Some of your favorite MC authors have teamed up and now these bad boy bikers are helping to raise money for End Rape On Campus. 

Harley McRide and Carson Mackenzie

Geri Glenn and Kathleen Kelly

GM Scherbert and B.b. Blaque

Erin M Trejo and AJ Downey

Ariel Marie and Jacqueline M Sinclair

Liberty Parker Author and Vera Quinn

Kathryn Kelly and Emma James

Shelly Morgan and Avelyn Paige

With eight stories, bringing sixteen clubs together, you know there's going to be some unstoppable action and sexy drama when these Clubs Collide.

COVER DESIGN : Melissa Gill @ MG Bookcovers 

Blurbs: 

Bound by Moon- Harley McRide & 

Carson Mackenzie 

The Ops Warriors need help, and Black Hawk answers the call. But help comes with a cost as the Ops say goodbye to one of their own.

Korrupted Angels- Geri Glenn &

 Kathleen Kelly

The Grinders are playing Sturgis during their ever famous Motorcycle Rally and the Ol’ Ladies of the Kings of Korruption are dying to go. Add in the Savage Angels, a vicious attack and one broken King and you have yourself a recipe for one gripping love story between two unlikely lovers.

Pain and Pleasure- BB BLAQUE &

 GM SCHERBERT

The Masters M.C have a visit from the the Devil’s Iron MC during Bike-Week.The Whipping Post dungeon sets the stage for both pain and pleasure. 

Will the women get their fill of pleasure or pain? Or pleasure from pain?

Past The Vapor- AJ Downey & Erin Trejo

Sacred Hearts MC. Black Diamond MC.

We collided as clubs in order to make things happen but it was our hearts and bodies that told our stories. We may take what we want from each other but we both walked away knowing ourselves more than we had to begin with.

Friend or Foe- Ariel Marie & 

Jacqueline M. Sinclair

Two dangerous clubs will need to learn to work together as danger blows into town. Ant will do anything to save Morgan. The humans have no idea of the trouble that lies in store for them.

Collision Course- Liberty Parker &

 Vera Quinn

The Rage Ryders MC and BlackPath MC are brought together in a Collision Course to destiny. Two separate clubs fighting to keep their territories and families safe while building a future.

The Enforcers' Revenge by

 Emma James & Kathryn Kelly

When a lunch date ends badly for Pearllene and Miss Catherine, the enforcer for the Death Dwellers, Mortician, and Edge, the enforcer for the Soulless Bastards, must form an alliance to save them. 

The mother*fuckers who dared to mess with what is theirs, need to be taught some respect . 

Revenge is everything it's cracked up to be.

Blood For Blood- Avelyn Paige &

 Shelly Morgan

The Devil's Crew is out for blood when Kane's sister is kidnapped.

The Heaven's Rejects are preparing for war when another club invade their territory.

Can both clubs put rivalries aside and unite to take down a common enemy?

About the Authors:

AJ Downey

A.J. Downey is the internationally bestselling author of The Sacred Hearts Motorcycle Club romance series. She is a born and raised Seattle, WA Native. Finds inspiration from her surroundings, through the people she meets, and likely as a byproduct of way too much caffeine.

She has lived many places and done many things though mostly through her own imagination… An avid reader all of her life it’s now her turn to try and give back a little, entertaining as she has been entertained. She lives in a small apartment in a small neighborhood with a larger than life fiancé and two cats.

Ariel Marie

Ariel Marie is an author who loves the paranormal, action and hot steamy romance. She combines all three in each and every one of her stories. For as long as she can remember, she has loved vampires, shifters and every creature you can think of. This even rolls over into her favorite movies! She love a good action packed thriller! Throw a touch of the supernatural world in it and she’s hooked! 

She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio where she currently resides with her husband and three beautiful children. 

Avelyn Paige

Avelyn Paige is a born and raised Indiana girl. While she may be a Hoosier by birth, she is a Boilermaker by choice. Boiler Up! She resides in a sleepy little town in Indiana with her husband and three crazy pets. Avelyn spends her days working as a cancer research scientist and her nights sipping moonshine while writing and book reviewing. Avelyn loves everything paranormal, Cajun culture, and wants to try tornado chasing as a hobby when she finally grows up. She just has to get over that pesky fear of thunderstorms first. 

Avelyn also enjoys collecting voodoo dolls from her trips to New Orleans.

B.B. Blaque

I write beautifully flawed characters who ultimately find, perfection is not a prerequisite. Our flaws are what make us unique and some flaws compliment each other better than others.

I love BDSM (Male dominant/female submissive.) There's something that just feels so right about a man wearing the pants (especially when he wears them well and fills them nicely.) I am interested in the psychological aspects of relationships in general and especially when there is a power-exchange dynamic.

My world would stopping revolving if not for heavy rock music (and the wonderfully talented people who make it.) Music and it's makers will definitely be strongly visible in my work. I listen, I remember...I listen, I'm inspired...to write...to love...to f**k...to live.

Carson Mackenzie

Carson lives in the South with her two sons, her three Great Danes, and the adopted shelter dog that keeps everyone in line. Books have always been a part of her life. Nothing is better to Carson than curling up and relaxing with a good story by losing herself in someone else’s world while leaving hers behind. 

Writing stories and growing as an author with each book published, is a goal Carson wishes to reach. Her aspiration is to have a reader know when they see her name on a cover, they can trust in the fact there will be a good story as they flip the pages.

As an author, she hopes to bring you into her different worlds, giving you a chance to escape everyday responsibilities if only for a few hours.

Emma James

Emma loves writing hearts and flowers romance as much as she loves taking a walk on the dark side, writing in both contemporary romance and dark suspense. Love is always only a happily-ever-after away, even if sometimes it is a little twisted getting there. She lives life positively with writing, reading, music, and photography being her passions. 

The important things she needs to surround herself with are family, friends, and furry creatures. She loves giving hugs as much as receiving them and winding down with good food, good friends, and a nice drink of the alcoholic variety when she pops her head out of her writing cave.

Be who you want to be and keep jumping those hurdles. They are only put in front of us to keep us on our toes.

Peace, love and live life.

Erin Trejo

I am a wife, mother, child chauffeur and author. I love being able to create different characters and spin a web that makes them come together in the end. My books do not stick to just one genre, they span many. 

I write about things that are real life situations and fairy tales are not always smooth sailing. My MC books are hard and gritty and they have struggles just like you would in life.

I also have books that are not so in your face. There are several that are good love stories that are fraught with issues that the characters have to deal with.

Geri Glenn

Geri Glenn is the Amazon best-selling author of the Kings of Korruption MC series. She lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada and is a mom to two beautiful, but slightly crazy little girls. Geri has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. She can usually be found curled up in a comfy chair, reading on her iPad both day and night. Geri is an incurable night owl, and it's not uncommon for her to still be awake, reading at 4 am, just because she can't put the book down.

Geri loves all genres of fiction, but her passion is anything romantic or terrifying; basically anything that can get her heart pumping. This passion has bled out onto her laptop, and became the Kings of Korruption. 

Writing the first book in the series knocked off the #1 thing on Geri's bucket list, and publishing it has been an absolute dream come true. She hopes you all love the Kings as much as she does.

GM Scherbert

Author GM Scherbert was born on a brisk late April morning. She grew up in a small town in the Midwest but, quickly decided that was not the life for her. She quickly moved away for college and thought better of returning to that small town on a long term basis. City living is the life for her. 

Her day job working with people on the Autism spectrum keeps her on the go most of the time. That is when her two small daughters and husband are not pulling her in different direction.

Author GM Scherbert is the kind of gal who is quirky, unique, smutty, hard to hate, harder to love. She has taken her love for telling stories to the next level by putting her hat in the romance writing game. If you are interested in romance with twists and some darker themes Author GM Scherbert will be right up your alley.

Harley McRide

There is nothing better in this world than being an author! I have an amazing supportive family, I have three children, one boy and two girls. They are the lights of my life along with my husband whom I adore. Without their support I would not have become a writer!

Jacqueline M. Sinclair

Jacqueline grew up in the rural southeast and is the youngest child of a large and rowdy family. Reading was an escape when there wasn't much else around to do. She loves everything from classical literature to true crime and everything in between. With her two children grown and gone, she's surrounded by a menagerie of adopted pets and a two-legged thief who refused to give her heart back after a night of karaoke. 

With a day job and a dream job, her writing is a steamy combination of real life and seeking to answer the age-old question of what would happen if...and then characters come along and completely derail the plan. Letting them have their say provides plenty of sleepless nights and an endless combination of coffee and wine, but she hopes you enjoy their stories.

Kathleen Kelly

Kathleen Kelly was born in Penrith, NSW, Australia. When she was four her family moved to Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Although born in NSW she considers herself a QUEENSLANDER!!

She married her childhood sweetheart and they live in Toowoomba with their two furry kids. A British Short Hair named Grace and a Burmese named Jack. 

Kathleen enjoys writing contemporary, romance novels with a little bit of erotica. She draws her inspiration from family, friends and the people around her. She can often be found in cafes writing and observing the locals. 

If you have any questions about her novels or would like to ask Kathleen a question she can be contacted via e-mail: kathleenkellyauthor@gmail.com or she can be found on Facebook. She loves to be contacted by those that love her books.

Kat Kelly

Kat Kelly is living her dream and writing books. She's always been an avid reader and still devours books in her spare time. She also enjoys football, socializing, music, eating, and jokes. In her head, she's the ultimate biker babe. In reality, she's an ordinary girl-next-door and a native New Orleanian. Since the release of Misled in December 2013, she’s been living her dream of writing books. In August 2015, her life took a dramatic turn with the diagnosis of Stage 2B HER2 Positive Breast Cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy, lymph node removal, and breast reconstruction in February 2016. The support of her family, friends, and fans helped her to stay strong and keep her head up. #F*ckCancer became her rallying cry. Now located in the Houston area, she is once again cancer free. Her hair is growing back and her nails are returning to normal. Currently, she is plotting her next book.

Liberty Parker

I have been an avid reader for most of my life. When I was younger I use to sit and fill spiral notebooks full of stories for my grandmother. As I got older I took the jobs needed for raising my boys as a single mom until I met my now amazing husband. I have stopped working in the last three years and started promoting authors, then I blogged and reviewed for authors, which lead me down the path to writing and creating characters and stories. I love creating behind the scenes with my writing getting to use my imagination and write the story as it comes to me.I am loving the people I am meeting and the support system I have found.

Shelly Morgan

I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I have 2 older sisters and amazing parents. Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl, hanging out with him in the garage, fishing, and building stuff. I loved to play softball and swimming, but reading, telling stories, and writing were my passion, even at a young age. I took a break from writing for a while, but you could always find me with a book in my hand.

I have three children – two boys and a girl. They are my whole world. Even when I’m having the worst day ever, they brighten up my day and make me smile.

A few years ago, there was this story that would always play out in my head and no matter how many times I went through it, from beginning to end, it would never fade. So I decided to put it on paper. I didn’t plan on publishing it, but when it was almost done, a friend asked to read it. She said it was a story that needed to be shared. And that’s what started my writing career.

I love all genres of books, and even though I started with writing MC Romance, I have a whole book of ideas, so you can expect more from me than just MC, though romance is in my blood.

Even though I currently work two jobs, my ultimate dream is to become a full time author. I want to be able to spend my days filling pages with stories. I want to be the reason people find a reason to smile or laugh from lines on a page. Reading a book allows me to live in someone else’s shoes, even if only for a few minutes. It’s a way to leave my life and troubles behind and I want to be help others do that as well.

Vera Quinn

I have always been an avid reader and have had an active imagination. When my sister became sick in 2015 I spent a lot of time in doctor offices and hospital rooms. I filled that time reading. My kindle and laptop became my good friends. I started writing storylines and doing background research. 

My sister convinced me to follow my dream so I did and the rest is history.

My sister passed in February 2016 and I published my first book, Never Forever, in March 2016.

I say I am learning as I go and that is true. I've been lucky to make good friends in the indie book community and I work with some of the best. I don't know what is next but I am excited to meet it head on.

I have been married to my husband, Charles, for 22 years and he is my rock. I have two grown sons.

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BOOK REVIEW - TEN BIG ONES by JANET EVANOVICH - STEPHANIE PLUM # 10 - HEADLINE - CONTEMPORARY CRIME

By: Janet Evanovich
Published By: Headline
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 374 Pages

RATING: 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!

Blurb: Goodreads

"I'm Stephanie Plum. My mother says that I'm famous and have to set a good example. She's right, but I'm from Jersey and truth is, I have a hard time getting a grip on the good example thing."

Swing off the Jersey Turnpike and you'll be in bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's neighborhood. You'll know it because all hell will be breaking loose. Not that she looks for trouble - it just seems to follow her. In Ten Big Ones it explodes at a deli, and when Stephanie pegs a robber as a member of a vicious Trenton gang, they peg her as dead. Vice cop Joe Morelli fears she's in way too deep - even with the help of crime-solving, cross-dressing, bus driver Sally Sweet, and Stephanie's friend Lula riding shotgun as backup. With a notorious killer on her tail, Stephanie figures the best hideout is Ranger's secret lair...
Original.


BOOK REVIEW:

YES!!!!!

Five Stars!!!

Haven’t been able to say that for a few books now.

Aaannd…Ranger wasn’t in it as much.

Go figure.

I’ve flagged so many pages of humor and wit and— Ranger, when he chose to pop up— the sexy beast.

I just have to roll like a bowling ball being hurled down the lane when it comes to Ranger and Joe and Steph. I figure I am in for the long haul with whatever is going on, there. Might as well sit back with the popcorn.

Usual check list for a Stephanie Plum recipe.

Villain…check!

Sidekicks…check!

Ranger and his Range Men…check!

Ranger and his comments...check!


“Babe,” Ranger said. And he left.


Somebody appeared that Steph went to school with…check! 

*rolls eyes*

I’d gone to school with Robin Russell.


CAR BLOWS UP. 

Hell yeah!...Check

Family shenanigans…check!

OOO a new addition…scary mother*cking gang.

For once Steph actually, truly felt like she was in hot water—not luke warm water. This I very much likey. Only thing was, the ending...I was expecting a bit more. For once Steph actually gets a beat-down...then...erm...

Did you run out of ink? 

I can forgive your ink running out because I thought I was in the Bat Cave at one stage…I wasn’t…but we get closer to these Alpha men and a lair.

Giddy Up!



“Hey,” I said, when consciousness returned. “You’re poaching.”

“And?”

“Stop it.”

“You don’t mean that,” Ranger said smiling.

He was right. A woman would have to be dead not to want to kiss Ranger. And I wasn’t even close to dead.


Amen.

Then we have the-Tank-tease.

To say Tank is a big guy is oversimplification. Tank is a tank. His freshly shaved head looks buffed up with Pledge. His body is perfectly toned and fat free. His ass is tight. It’s rumored that his morals are loose. And his black T-shirt looks painted onto him. Hard to tell what Tank thinks of me. Or, for that matter, if Tank thinks at all.



Ranger-tease.

I was hot and slippery with shower gel, and I was surrounded by Essence of Ranger. Agony. Ecstasy. I was living a wet dream.

More teasing.

“It’s soap. And it won’t go away.”

“It smells sort of…sexy.”

Tell me about it. I was in love with myself.

The guy really needs his own series.

His mouth curved into the almost-smile. “You’re going to be indebted to me, Babe. You want to start working on that guilt problem.”

Oh boy.

He grabbed me and kissed me, and I felt my toes curl. And I wondered how long it would take me to get him undressed. And just exactly how many minutes did he have before the meeting. I didn’t think I needed a lot of time. After all, he wasn’t wearing any undies.

Women around the globe are requesting a Ranger series. I can only assume this to be true.


Ranger finished his coffee and stood. “I said there was no monetary way to justify your security. The truth is, you’re a line item in my budget.”

I followed him into the bedroom and watched while he got his gun, checked it out, and attached it to his belt.

“I have you listed under entertainment,” Ranger said, sliding money and credit cards into his pants pocket. “This is a high-stress business, and you’re comedy relief for my entire team. Plus, I get a tax break.”

My eyes opened wide and my eyebrows shot up an inch into my forehead. This didn’t sound flattering. “Comedy relief?”


Janet, you really need to consider a Ranger series...hot dayum!

Ranger gave me one of his rare full-on smiles. “I like you. We all like you.” He grabbed me by the front of my shirt, lifted me two inches off the ground, and kissed me. The truth is, I love you…in my own way.”

I love you too, Ranger.

#teamranger

xx

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BOOK REVIEW - SPLIT by J.B. SALSBURY - HEADLINE - SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: J.B. Salsbury

Published By: Headline

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 402 Pages

RATING: 4.25 SPLIT STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

JB Salsbury is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has captivated readers around the world. Her unforgettable new novel is a story of romance and suspense, with a twist no one will see coming . . .

What do you do when you wake up with no memory of what you did last night?

Lucas spent the first half of his life protecting himself from others, but now his own mind is his biggest enemy. He doesn't know what happens when the blackouts overtake him, but he can recall the feelings--the rage, the confusion, the fear. Thankfully the quiet life he's found in Payson, Arizona has kept the darkness at bay. Until his boss's estranged daughter shows up in town, asking questions she shouldn't and sparking a desire Lucas can't control. Getting close to Shyann is the best thing that's ever happened to him, but when his blackouts return, unleashing the truth he's battled so long to hide, he may just lose her forever . . .

BOOK REVIEW:

I am giving this book just over 4 stars, but have to hold myself back from making it a five star read.

I enjoyed Split.

I enjoyed the characters, Lucas and Gage.

I love the cover design because I feel like I am looking at Gage.

I need you to hear me out with my review of Split as in a way I am split.

Go figure.

To tackle the topic dissociative identity disorder in a romance suspense read is very interesting and frightening and other emotions.

Shyann is a great character and I commend her on her ability to outshine what is thrown at her.

The reason I can’t give this a five star read and I so wanted to, was I needed to believe in the plot more.

It needed to be able to stand on its own two feet for me ( personally ), because I am a person who looks deeper than the surface. It is how I read and I can’t help that. I look for strength in plot that appeases me as the reader.

When an author tries to direct ( plants little seeds ) a reader's mind a certain way… red flags go up. I will question why you are doing that, especially when there are XXXX amount of pages still to go in the book.

I couldn’t believe/accept one character was capable of something, even though I kept being told it was so.

Red flag.

I wanted to theorize for myself. I wanted to question the characters in my mind and wonder if I was right.

I feel a really, really good suspense can stand on its own two feet and let the reader try to work it out for themselves… until that all revealing OMG moment, but I need believability too in the equation.

I simply have questions a lot of readers may not have about certain characters and maybe the way something is handled near end. I won’t explain because it will spoil and also some readers will accept everything at face value the author writes, and that is cool.

As a reader, if you are gonna present me with a suspense/psychological thriller, I need it bullet proof, because I am that type of reader. I need stuff explained, even if it is just one sentence. I don’t want things looked over. An example could be therapy.

Man, you don’t go through this kinda shiz and walk away with flowers blooming…life is still young…shiz will take you down later in life in some recurring way. Especially something like what happens in this story.

WHAHHH!

I am trying not to say what is on my mind for fear of spoiling, so I am probably coming across a bit vague. I have my thoughts and I can’t explain them here.

I did enjoy this story, but I don’t like being directed to think a certain way. It feels forced and I know it won’t be true. It’s what I call ‘decoy’ plot. It’s a detour around what really has happened which you can then start to work out for yourself ahead of it actually happening.

Almost all this book I enjoyed, apart from the ‘decoy’ parts and needing a stronger backbone to some outcomes.

Gage is a brilliant character.

Lucas is written very well.

Shyann is working through her own shiz and finding the path she should be on in her life.


I was meant for this. To love the unlovable.

I love the dad and the dynamic there with Shyann and I love her brother Cody.



“How do you do this, Code? How can you stand coming here to this house or even living in this town? Everything reminds me of her.”

“Easy.” He swivels and jerks his head in the direction of the living room. “I do it for him. Whatever we went through, he went through worse. He sheltered us from the worst of it. Nobody sheltered him…”



The twist at the end was brilliant because nothing leads you to suspect. It’s kinda random, albeit I’m not getting true strength and depth to have worked the twist out with the character.

Well done. A twist is a twist in my book and it succeeded, it was well played.

I do recommend this book because Gage and Lucas are very intriguing characters.

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BOOK REVIEW - TO THE NINES by JANET EVANOVICH - STEPHANIE PLUM # 9 - HEADLINE - CONTEMPORARY CRIME

By: Janet Evanovich
Published By: Headline
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from OP shop find, 279 Pages

RATING: 4.25 SHENANIGAN STARS  ( Ranger gets 5 stars )

Blurb: Goodreads 

Stephanie Plum's got rent to pay, people shooting at her, and psychos wanting her dead every day of the week (much to the dismay of her mother, her family, the men in her life, the guy who slices meat at the deli...oh, the list goes on). An ordinary person would cave under the pressure.
But hey, she's from Jersey.

Stephanie Plum may not be the best bounty hunter in beautiful downtown Trenton, but she's pretty darn good at turning bad situations her way...and she always gets her man. In To the Nines, her cousin Vinnie (who's also her boss) has posted bail on Samuel Singh, an illegal immigrant. When the elusive Mr. Singh goes missing, Stephanie is on the case. But what she uncovers is far more sinister than anyone imagines and leads to a group of killers who give new meaning to the word hunter.

In a race against time that takes her from the Jersey Turnpike to the Vegas Strip, Stephanie Plum is on the chase of her life.

BOOK REVIEW:

Another Steph P book under my belt.

I am gonna start by saying, the cover of my Headline published copy has Steph’s latest car in flames.

Which = blowing up.

Did that happen?

No!

I feel ripped off.

Bahahah

No, I do. Seriously. False advertising. Every dayum book for the last 8 books, her car has blown up and this cover actually makes me think I am getting a car blown up.

I get nothing!

*hands on hips*

I mean I was getting a little over the cars blowing up, but now I don’t have a car-blowing-up scene…well, I want one!

Anyhoo, moving on.

Lula is still Lula and one fave sidekick of mine.

Steph still meets somebody she went to school with.

Ranger is still…*sigh stuffs lady boner inside my pants* gorgeous and brings that sexy-Ranger-dialogue.

Joe is still making me scratch my head as to what-the-hell-is-he-doing-with-their-relationship. Add a big fat question mark.

The plot was a little see through, but damn if I am not addicted to a hit of Steph and the gang like a full-on addiction.

Okay, I gotta hit you up with a Ranger quote or three. #teamranger



“Is that a mocking grin?”

“It’s the grin of a man who loves you, babe.”

My heart skipped around a little and I got warm in places only Morelli should be warming. “Love?”

“There’s all kinds of love,” Ranger said. “This kind doesn’t come with a ring attached.”

“Nice, but you avoided answering my question about the mocking grin.”

He gave my ponytail a playful tug.



Dammit Janet, stop doing this shiz for me to read. We all know you want Joe for Steph, but you keep writing this stuff for Ranger.

Hence. #teamranger.

Joe’s gotta get some more spice in his life and be sexier than Ranger.

Hence #teamranger



“I could help you with these maternal urges,” Ranger said.

“Get me pregnant?”

“I was going to suggest a visit to the animal shelter.” He grabbed me by the front of my shirt and pulled me close. “But I could get you pregnant if that’s what you really want.”



DUDE! Stop playing with me! 😊

Hence #teamranger

Ranger reached behind him, under his shirt, and pulled out a .38. He pulled my T-shirt out of my jeans and he shoved the .38 under my waistband and draped my shirt over the gun. The gun was warm with his body heat and his fingers had been even warmer sliding across my belly.

“Thanks,” I said, trying to keep my voice from cracking.

He curled his hand around my neck and kissed me lightly on the lips. “Be careful.” And he was gone. Off to make the world a better place in his shiny new black Porsche.

(@&(*@&#(@*&(@*

Hence #teamranger


“I thought he was supposed to be guarding my body,” I said to Ranger.

Ranger looked at me with dark eyes. “It’s my turn to guard your body, babe.”

Oh boy.


#teamranger!!!!

I seriously need a Ranger book/series. Like DUDE!!! You can’t keep playing with me like this.

Then Janet keeps letting Tank pop up.


“It might be easier if we took one car for the busts,” Tank said.

I agreed. “Do you want to drive or ride shotgun?”

Tank’s eyebrows raised a fraction of an inch. Shocked that I would even consider driving. Tank only rode shotgun to Ranger.

“It’s the twenty-first century,” I told Tank. “Women drive.”

“Only in my bed,” Tank said. “Never in my car.”


*smacks head on desk*

Ya need to stop doing this to me Janet. Joe needs to lift his Alpha game.

I digress.

There is the usual FTAs that by now Steph should have learned how to professionally apprehend, but she still hasn’t.

There is the villain of the story…little easy to work out, but none the less there is a villain.

Mum is being mum.

Grandma Mazur is being…well a granny with gumption.

Joe is still being Joe…he needs to be shaken not stirred.

Ranger…Ranger…#teamranger.

Nuff said.

No car got blown up…which was really disappointing Miss Janet, but it was alluded to by I think, Grandma Bella. (don’t quote me)

Sometimes she doesn’t tell the whole vision.

How convenient.

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BOOK REVIEW - LOUISIANA LONGSHOT by JANA DELEON - MISS FORTUNE MYSTERY # 1 - COZY MYSTERY

By: Jana Deleon

Published By: Jana Deleon

Released: Available Now

Details: Kindle purchase, FREE, back in 2014 and it's still FREE today.

RATING: 4.25 FUN POOLSIDE READ STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

It was a hell of a longshot...

CIA Assassin Fortune Redding is about to undertake her most difficult mission ever--in Sinful, Louisiana.

With a leak at the CIA and a price on her head by one of the world's largest arms dealers, Fortune has to go off grid, but she never expected to be this far out of her element. Posing as a former beauty queen turned librarian in a small, bayou town seems worse than death to Fortune, but she's determined to fly below the radar until her boss finds the leak and puts the arms dealer out of play.

Unfortunately, she hasn't even unpacked a suitcase before her newly-inherited dog digs up a human bone in her backyard. Thrust into the middle of a bayou murder mystery, Fortune teams up with a couple of seemingly-sweet old ladies whose looks completely belie their hold on the little town. To top things off, the handsome local deputy is asking her too many questions. If she's not careful, this investigation may blow her cover and get her killed.

Armed with her considerable skills and a group of old ladies referred to by locals as The Geritol Mafia, Fortune has no choice but to solve the murder before it's too late.


BOOK REVIEW :

I’ve been diving into some of these ‘clean’ ( no graphic sex if any ) mysteries that are pretty much a throw-in-your-suitcase-poolside read.

Janet Evanovich had me at Ranger. *sigh* Eight books under my belt and I’m still #teamranger.

Joe who? :)

I’ve thrown a Rose Gardener Mystery under my belt by Denise Grover Swank, although this first installment felt a bit like a pilot episode of a TV series. Good but not great, I am keen to read more.

Back in 2014 I purchased Louisiana Longshot, for #FREE on Amazon and only just now decided to crack it open. Guess what folks?

It’s still #FREE. Booyah!

The town of Sinful, Louisiana is pretty much run by this group of old ladies.

Smart old ladies.

Devious old ladies.

Fun old ladies.

The Geritol Mafia AKA the Sinful Ladies.

Carter LeBlanc ( doesn’t that name just roll off the tongue?) is your Joe Morelli (but not) from Stephanie Plum. He is the Deputy of Sinful. The guy that pops in and out, while our female lead gets up to all sorts of shenanigans, with a bit of light sexual tension thrown in. I mean feather-weight light.



“Carter LeBlanc,” he introduced himself. “Protecting the citizens of Sinful.”

I pointed to the bone. “You didn’t protect that one.”

A tiny bit of smug slipped from his expression.


Speaking of female lead…Fortune (as she likes to be called) is laying low, a CIA assassin staying under the radar in Sinful as a favor to her boss.

Now I gotta say, I have trouble believing she is a CIA assassin who has spent her time in the deserts of the Middle East prior to landing in Sinful, but that might be just me.

She’s not as bumbling as Stephanie Plum, she appears more together.



Despite the fact I was lean and not overly endowed, I tossed on a bra, figuring I’d burst into flames if I walked into church without one. Underwear was a given as you never knew when you might have to go into a fast drop and roll. Flashing people on Main Street was illegal most everywhere. In Sinful, it might get you the death penalty.



The old ladies of Sinful kinda steal the limelight with their shenanigans throughout this first instalment.

Carter keeps getting out smarted by these ladies and Fortune. Get it, Miss Fortune.

Bahahah… couldn’t put that over you could I? Anyhoo… she kinda stumbles into aiding these old ladies, even down to the Sunday-after-church-throw-your-Nikes-on-banana-pudding dash.

Shit gets real when you are trying to outdo Sinful Catholic for the first person to order those puddings, let me tell you.



“Like getting to wear pants to church isn’t enough of an advantage,” Gertie said as we entered Sinful Baptist. “Celia Arceneaux’s bought the new Nike’s. We’re doomed.”

“Don’t worry. I can take her.” Blindfolded and crawling.

Gertie slid into the back pew and nodded. “I’ll let you take the outside seat to get a better jump. As soon as the preacher gets the ‘A’ in ‘Amen’ on the last prayer, you make a break for it.”



An amusing mystery-frolic in the town of Sinful.


“Ha. You’ve got man-eating monsters pretending to be frogs in your backyard, banana pudding wars, missing people, and an unsolved murder. I am the least of your worries.”


The cover art is so damn cute and colorful.

Love it!

With 4,666 ratings on Amazon, I simply had to give it a read.
I will be coming back for more.

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