Blog Tour Book Review: Long Lost by Lexi Blake

Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten #4, Masters and Mercenaries #20
Audience:  +18
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Publisher: DLZ Entertainment, LLC
Release Date: February 4th 2020
My Rating: 5 Cups
Source: Social Butterfly PR

Blurb (from Goodreads):

A stolen past

The only thing Tucker remembers of his past is pain. Used in a doctor’s evil experiments, his memories and identity were erased, and his freedom taken. He believed his nightmare was over when he was liberated by the men and women of McKay-Taggart, until he heard the name Steven Reasor. The idea that he could have been involved in the terrible experiments that cost his “brothers” everything crushed him. A desperate attempt to force him to remember the truth almost cost him his life. Now his world is in chaos and his only path to finally uncover the truth and atone for his sins leads to Veronica Croft.

A painful present

Veronica “Roni” Croft knew Dr. Steven Reasor was bad for her, but she also saw a side of the man that no one else knew. Even as she began to believe their employer was hiding something sinister, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Their affair was passionate and intense, but also fraught with danger. When he disappeared under mysterious circumstances, she took her first chance to run and never looked back. She has stayed hidden ever since, running from forces she knows are too powerful to overcome. But now the man she believed was dead, the man she mourned, has returned and needs her help.

A dangerous future

As Tucker and Roni unravel the secrets of his past, a dark force rises and threatens to destroy them. Their only chance for survival will require them to join forces with the Lost Boys’ worst enemy. Only together can they finally unlock Tucker’s past. But as Tucker’s memories begin to come back, will it free them both or tear them apart forever?

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of his book from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

If there's one character that I'd hoped would finally get closure in this action packed series The Forgotten, that has been Tucker. I loved all the Lost Boys, don't get me wrong, but Tucker has been the real mystery. The one who could have actually done a ton of damage to the entire group depending on what his backstory was has always been Tucker. I went into this book knowing I'd get my heart completely shattered, and while things didn't go as I thought they were, I can honestly say that once again Lexi Blake delivered a powerful story.

Book Review: Whiteout by Adriana Anders

Author: Adriana Anders

Series: Survival Instincts #1

Audience: Over 18

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: January 28th 2020

My Rating: 5 Cups

Source: NetGalley

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Angel Smith is finally ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her last day, the remote research station she's been calling home is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and irritatingly gorgeous glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives...only to realize that in a place this remote, there's nowhere left to run.

Isolated with no power, no way to contact the outside world, and a madman at their heels, Angel and Ford must fight to survive in the most inhospitable—and beautiful—place on earth. But what starts as a partnership born of necessity quickly turns into an urgent connection that burns bright and hot. They both know there is little chance of making it out alive, and yet they are determined to survive against the odds—and possibly, the world.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of his book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

I believe the first person to bring this book on my radar was Teresa @ Romance Reader and reads_romance on IG. She mentioned how this book was romantic suspense set in Antarctica and I knew I wanted to read this book right then. I am very proud to say that I also convinced begged Sam and Haley to come along for the ride, and it was the best of times, guys!

Blog Tour Book Review: Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis

Author: Jill Shalvis

Series: Wildstone #4

Audience: Over 18

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: January 21st 2020

My Rating: 4.5 Cups

Source: HarperCollins

Blurb (from Goodreads):

Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.

When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.

Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of his book from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

With each book I read by Jill Shalvis I fall a little bit more in love with the worlds she creates, and her Wildstone series is no exception. I always know I'm going to get a story far more complex than boy meets girl, with a bit of heartbreak, and a lot of life lessons on the side. Which is always something I adore.

Reread Book Review: Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy #2
Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date:  April 1st 2008
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: My copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if hand-to-hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks... This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price..

My buddy reread of the Vampire Academy series with Jamsu @ Jamsudreams continues. Let me say right in the beginning: This is the book in the series I always dread reading. I know what happens, I know who dies, I know how Rose behaves, I know who does what in order to get to one of my favorite characters dying. So me rereading this book is always going to be a chore because of that.

As with the first book in the series, you can go ahead and read my initial review of Frostbite here if you want. Let me tell you what was different now.

Blog Tour Book Review: Dirty Law by Mary Catherine Gebhard

 

Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard

Series: N/A

Audience: Over 18

Genre: Dark Romance, Contemporary

Publisher: Unglued Books

Release Date:  January 7th 2020

My Rating: 4 Cups

Source: Candi Kane PR

Blurb (from Goodreads):

What do you do when the man who raped you has the entire police force in his pocket? When you’re called a slut, a whore, and a liar?

You get your own justice.

My name is Nami DeGrace, and six months ago I was a normal college student. I was volunteering on the campaign of a man I believed in, a man I thought to be good and noble. Then one night that man forced himself on me and everything changed.

The police didn’t believe me. The media reviled me. My friends abandoned me. I dropped out of college and only have one mission in life: make him pay. That is, until Nick Law came in to my life.

Indomitable, infuriating, and irresistible, Law is complicating things.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of his book from Candi Kane PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.

**Disclaimer: This book contains mature content. As a result, my review may contain references to content intended for mature audiences only.

***Trigger Warnings: Rape, physical violence, depression, animal abuse

I'm no stranger to darker stories, so when I heard of Dirty Law and read the excerpt, I knew I had to have it in my Kindle app. I expected a very dark story, however I didn't anticipate how dark it would get. I loved it and dreaded turning the page at the same time. Let me tell you all about it!

Re-read Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy #1
Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date:  August 16th 2007
My Rating: 4.5 Cups
Source: My copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies . . .

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires - the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger . . . and the Strigoi are always close by.


Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever . . .

Sometime in October 2019 I decided that I wanted 2020 to be the year of rereading my favorites, as well as finally getting to finish all those series I've been putting off for the last few years. One such series is Bloodlines, and when I heard that Jamsu @ Jamsudreams was planning on reading the series as well, we decided to buddy up. Of course, I was feeling a bit extra, so we decided to start from the beginning, with Vampire Academy. So here we are now. Let me tell you all about how I liked this book yet again, and how some thing surprised me more than they did the first time I read it.