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A Shadow In The Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout(Review Post)

Published September 6, 2021 by bookbesties

A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire, #1)

A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Make him fall in love with you, then end him…..

A Shadow In the Ember is I guess you could say a spinoff prequel to Jennifer Armentrout’s widely successful From Blood and Ash series. It takes place in the same world, just a reeeeeally long time before the events in FB&A. In this we meet Seraphena(Sera) who has been chosen and trined for one thing and one thing only. Make the primal of death fall in love with her, then end him. Its the only way she knows how to save her kingdom. But When that time comes, things don’t go as planned and now Sera has to face a new reality, Or so she thought. When the primal does come, he is like nothing she was expecting. The slow burn of Sera and Nyktos was one of the best ones I have read in a really long time.
I thought no one could beat out Poppy and Casteele(from Blood and Ash) for my fav couple, but I’m telling you now, SERA & NYKTOS have surpassed them so much and this only the first book in this series! Sera is everything you want in a strong female lead. Cunning, smart, fierce, strong and yet, vulnerable and loyal. And Nyktos is…he’s…well he’s Nyktos. He’s a Primal, THE Primal of death and gives of BDE(Big D Energy) BIG TIME! The book answers a few questions we may have from the Blood and Ash world, and tied in some key elements that we will need for the next book in the Blood and Ash world. It also left me with my pulse literally racing by the end and my mind blown.

I have been a long time reader of Jennifer’s and the way she wove this story into all the elements from the past and what I hope will come in later books is simply amazing.
I feel like I say this with every book she puts out lately, but this book was amazing! I’m speechless at how much this world has grown and how it keeps growing! I can’t wait for the next book!

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Newspaper Nanny by Maren Moore(Review Post)

Published September 2, 2021 by bookbesties

by Maren Moore

🗞 💜 HOT NEW RELEASE! 🗞 💜

THE NEWSPAPER NANNY by Maren Moore is LIVE!

#1ClickHere

bit.ly/newspapernanny

When I stumbled across my dream job in the classified section of my newspaper, I knew it had to be too good to be true. Turns out it was. Becoming the nanny for the grumpiest hockey coach in the NHL was more like a nightmare. Liam Cartright was infuriating, stubborn, and impossible. Oh, and he happened to be my new boss. I should have signed my resignation with a giant kiss my ass the moment he opened his mouth, but I couldn’t. I fell for his little girls before I realized it was happening, and my resolve began to weaken. Our roles were clearly drawn out. He was the boss, and I was the nanny. But then we crossed a line. I wouldn’t lose my job over a chiseled jawline and a few stolen kisses. I couldn’t. Not when so much was at stake. But Liam was the one who made the rule book, and I had no choice but to play by his rules.

This was a new author to me and I love anything sports romance so I gave it a shot. Liam is sweet and you really warm up to him seeing him as a single dad and going through life. Juliet seems strong and independent and trying to make life work. She answers a newspaper ad for a nanny and finds herself interviewing with a sexy stranger that she had previously met. I enjoyed Juliet relationship with the girls but I felt that her relationship with Liam felt like it was missing something. I also felt like the ending was a bit lacking and didn’t really win me over. Liam was a bit hot and cold so you have some angst and you do get that HEA. I do give it 3 1/2 stars and would not be opposed to ready another book from this author to see if maybe it was just this story that didn’t fully win me over. I think overall its worth a shot for you to read. There are some funny moments and I really liked Liam mom and his girls so overall I recommend.

AUTHOR LINKS

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A Good Day for Chardonnay(Sunshine Vicram #2)-Review Post

Published August 24, 2021 by bookbesties

A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram, #2)

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amaze balls!!
Absolutely. To get the basics out of the way and do what I’m here for, 5 stars. Absolutely and if we can give bonus points to get more stars I would give them all to Darynda Jones; specifically for this book.

I love that you can read Darynda in every book she writes but they are not the same. As I said for A Bad Day for Sunshine, I LOVE Sun and Auri! My top book characters. Their mom-daughter banter and unconditional love will bring me back to reread and re-reread these book.

**Some spoilers as you go on, please be warned….**
The first book in the series closed up its plot holes nicely while still leaving more open to continue with the series. So many were closed in this book I wonder what else is going to open in the next book.

Something I’ve been waiting for since the first book happens… Sun and Levi totally and finally get to have sex and it looks like the start of something that should’ve always been.

Cruz. Oh Cruz De Los Santos. I have cried over and over in this book.
From Dangerous Daughters and stabbings to doorbells and raccoons this book was amazing (for me at least. Did you see the Amazeballs at the beginning?) and I cannot wait to see where we go from here.

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Grace & Glory by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Review Post)

Published June 3, 2021 by bookbesties

Danger, betrayal, and enticing forbidden love clash in book three of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s Harbinger trilogy!

When Angels Fall

Trinity Marrow has lost the battle and her beloved Protector. Even with both demons and Wardens on her side, Trin may not win the war against the Harbinger.

Bringing Lucifer back to the world to fight the Harbinger is probably a really, really bad idea, but they’re out of options—and the world’s ultimate fallen angel is the only being powerful enough to impact the outcome.

As Trin and Zayne form a new and more dangerous bond and Lucifer unleashes Hell on earth, the apocalypse looms and the world teeters on the end of forever. Win or lose, one thing is certain—nothing will ever be the same.

I was really sad to start Grace and Glory because I knew it was the last and I didn’t want it to end but I was super excited to see what happened to Zyne, Trinity and crew so I dove right in.

I was so nervous reading this book because I was super anxious for something to happen(If you know, you know) and it was so satisfying when it did! Trinity and Zayne have new things in their life to navigate but on top of that Trinity has so much more to do. She has to prepare for an epic fight, she has to figure out what’s going on with her lovable ghost buddy, she has to get the love of her life back AND pray she gets the help of the one being who is known for NOT helping.

That’s enough problems for 10 people let alone one. But Trinity handles that, plus a few added extra issues along the way with humor, sweet moments and fighting, lots of fighting.

I was very happy with the pace and progression of the ending. Sometimes a final book can be a mixture of too much info or feeling like it was rushed or questions left kinda open. I’m glad that Jen doesn’t do that and this book couldn’t have ended on a more perfect chefs kiss and a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming(and I can usually guess the endings of books).

Jen has managed to turn a person (me) who didnt like Zyne since his DE days into loving the mess out of him in is own series and be happy that he finally got his HEA. I’m going to miss Trin and the gang 😦

The Crown Of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout(Review Post)

Published April 21, 2021 by bookbesties

Bow Before Your Queen Or Bleed Before Her…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book three in her Blood and Ash series.

She’s been the victim and the survivor…

Poppy never dreamed she would find the love she’s found with Prince Casteel. She wants to revel in her happiness but first they must free his brother and find hers. It’s a dangerous mission and one with far-reaching consequences neither dreamed of. Because Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her. By right the crown and the kingdom are hers.

The enemy and the warrior…

Poppy has only ever wanted to control her own life, not the lives of others, but now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire. But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat. And they will stop at nothing to ensure that the crown never sits upon Poppy’s head.

A lover and heartmate…

But the greatest threat to them and to Atlantia is what awaits in the far west, where the Queen of Blood and Ash has her own plans, ones she has waited hundreds of years to carry out. Poppy and Casteel must consider the impossible—travel to the Lands of the Gods and wake the King himself. And as shocking secrets and the harshest betrayals come to light, and enemies emerge to threaten everything Poppy and Casteel have fought for, they will discover just how far they are willing to go for their people—and each other.

And now she will become Queen…

OH MY GOD

Where do I really even start? This book blew me away!

I am going to try and do this without soiling anything, which is so hard because it all was amazing. I sat on this review because I had to process everything and I still don’t know if this review will adequately relay all of my feelings.

After all the ups and downs from A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire I thought Jennifer couldn’t top it, it was seriously my fav book this far. how could she make me love Poppy, Cas and the gang more? Oh, but I was wrong, so, so wrong. This book starts with so much happening it left me screaming,

“That’s how you start a book!”

This book started on 100 and ended on 100000! The excitement doesn’t end there. This book picks up exactly where the last book left off with Poppy, Cas and crew thrown into a new deadly situation. I was on the edge of my seat for the first 100 pages and couldn’t put the book down enough to even sleep.

New revelations leave Poppy to question who she is and what really happened the night of her attack and her and Cas have to navigate a new life, new rolls and new feelings. So many feelings.

The twist and turns this book took me on were heartbreaking,emotional and phenomenal! I laughed, I felt things, and I cried, man did I cry! New characters were introduced and old side characters were showcased( Shoutout to Delano and Vonetta, my personal fav ;-)) more and I loved it! I was happy that a few of the theories that I guessed were correct and others were not. And the steam?

The steam was steamier, the swoon was swoon-er and everything was just so much more. I have been a JLA fan for a long time, since her first book back in 2011 and this was by far the best book Jen has ever written(so far) and defiantly my 2021 top read(so far).

Bravo Jen, BRAVO!

Badly Behaved by Megan Brady(Review Post)

Published April 9, 2021 by bookbesties

Release Date: April 7

I’m a Monet.

A chameleon.

I’m whatever I must be.

And what I must be is a flawless daughter, a skilled socialite, and the perfect prize to the man who signed along the dotted line.

Not that I’m complaining.

I’m all for a contractual agreement, a quick and clean catapult into the next phase of rich girl life. One that takes little thought, less effort, and zero devotion.

It’s exactly what I want.

An impassive life.

A calculated future.

Or, it was until the lights went out, darkness took over, and I learned what it meant to live.

To feel.

To fall.

But everyone knows what thrives in the night burns in the light and flames were among us.

There is no escape.

No turning back.

No ending within my control.

My mother always says our choices determine our consequences.

I hate it when she’s right.

This is an all-new 103k word standalone romance about a rich girl and the trouble she finds herself in when she catches the eye of a guy unlike the ones in her world.

Okay, so let me pick my jaw off the floor….. So I have read Meagan books and they are dirty and can be complex but I was not ready for the storm that awaited me in this book. “The Blackout Boys” are a force to be reckon with. I had all kinds of feelings at first and I was proceeding with caution as I went into this read totally blind. You see the dynamic between the boys and Jameson and it’s intriguing and left me feeling like I could not tear my eyes off of the words on the page. Jameson (loved the name) is a kick ass heroine who will have you laughing and on the edge of your seat. The twists and turns to the plot you will not expect . I loved that I was nail biting my way through this story. Everybody has demons in this story some are more tamed than others. It’s a wild ride that is worth every bit! Badly behaved is such a great indulgence.

Grab Your Copy Here:

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Paperback

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Meet Meagan Brandy

Meagan Brandy is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of New Adult and Sports Romance books.

Born and raised in California, she is a married mother of three crazy boys who keep her bouncing from one sports field to another, depending on the season, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Starbucks is her best friend and words are her sanity.

Connect with Meagan Brandy

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Musical Mayhem by Alley Cruz (Review Post)

Published March 24, 2021 by bookbesties

🔥🔥HOT NEW RELEASE🔥🔥 MUSICAL MAYHEM by Alley Ciz is LIVE! #1ClickHere: https://books2read.com/u/mdnw9E 🎸🎧 Musical Mayhem BTU 1.5 🎧🎸 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱: 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗯𝘂𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶-𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘆. Enter Sammy Rhodes. Famed DJ The Spin Doctor. Musical genius. Fits with the band like he’s our sixth member. We hired him on the spot. So what’s the problem? He’s also all broad shoulders and dazzling smile, and has this flop of hair I constantly yearn to brush away from his handsome face. What should have been a match made in musical heaven could 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 my career. Why? Because as the front man of BoP, I’ve been living my life from deep inside my walk-in closest for years. Will I risk 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 for love? #newrelease #rockstarromance #needtoreaditnow #wildfiremarketingsolutions #mmromance #BTU #alleyciz About the author:

Alley Ciz is an indie author of Contemporary/New Adult, Rom-Com, Sports Romances. She’s a stay at home mom to 3 amazing and crazy mini royals, a 95lb lab, and let’s face it on some days her hubby is her 4th kid… But to be fair she totally loves him a lot. When she’s not corralling her crazy mini royals she can be found writing the stories the voices in her head tell her. Caffeine is a staple in her daily diet since she does most of her writing late at night when the rest of her house is asleep, usually with her trusty dog Buke (short for Beukeboom reluctantly named after a NY Ranger even though she’s a NJ Devils fan all the way. Is it any surprise she writes sports romances? Pizza and mac-n-cheese are major food groups and she is a proud Potterhead and superhero buff. She is a complete romance junkie and can always be found reading or listening to a book. Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlleyCizAuthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alley-ciz

This is a new author to me but I figured ok rockstar and MM I will give it a go. I love the cover so that was a plus and the blurb hooked me a bit more. So now moving along to starting the book. I really enjoyed her writing style. This was a winner for me. First you have Jamie , the rockstar, who is famous and a huge sex symbol to the world but has a huge secret about his sexual orientation. Then there is out and proud Sammy who is smooth and funny and just gives you the cool guy vibe. I love the story of Jamie emotions and his struggles of being gay but having to have that image that you feel you have to portray yourself as. Their connection was sweet and heartwarming. This was a home run for me. There was never a dull moment and I loved the friend group. I love it when a author creates a environment in the book and you just wish that it was real and happening now so I can go chill and play Mario Kart too! Lol overall win from cover to end for me.

A Lady’s Formula for Love (The Secret Scientists of London Book 1) by Elizabeth Everett REVIEW POST

Published March 17, 2021 by bookbesties

What is a Victorian lady’s formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry–it’s elemental.

Lady Violet is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England’s most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.

Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.

When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet’s laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test–and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.

Ok Besties, it is my pleasure to introduce you to break out author Elizabeth Everett. In this her first book we get to see her attention to detail in both building a multitude of characters but in the intricate ways they all interact with one another, and how each interaction is worked into the story line in ways that allow you grow to know the hero and heroine individually outside of their interactions. It was a unique experience and I really enjoyed it. I also was surprised that although this heroine is literally a damsel in distress, who our hero has been hired to safeguard, and not my typical cup of- sassy, independent, knows what she wants, bada$$ heroine- tea, I found myself championing her success and loving her all the same. What she lacks in self-confidence, poise, and cunning she makes up for in determination, goodwill, and intelligence and seriously those things combined give her a different kind of strength. A kind of quiet strength that I think the world needs to recognize more of, so bravo to this author for spotlighting it! This isn’t your typical historical romance in that the setting is a secret society for lady scientists and really, that alone was half of the fun of the book, you never knew when something would randomly explode or crawl out from under the door. Of course the other half of the excitement that makes this book such an enjoyable read is the romance that we see bloom between our damsel and her guardian. Watching as both characters discover their self-worth through their reflection in the other’s eyes and witnessing the amount of personal growth and discovery the connection between them allows warms my heart and brings a smile to my face every time I think about it. Lady Violet Greycliff and Authur Kneland perfect for each other and I am glad they get their HEA.

So with all that in mind I think it is safe to safe that I really liked this book, I am excited to see where this author’s career will take us, and I can’t wait to see what all of you think as well.

Break Me by Megan Brandy(Review Post)

Published December 3, 2020 by bookbesties

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Meagan Brandy comes an opposites attract romance about facing your fears and fighting for love at all costs.
I had a plan, and it was solid.

Track down what was hidden away and take pleasure in toying with it.
Toying with her.

That plan, it worked like a charm.
Until it didn’t.

Turned out, the feisty little thing I found was far from what I hoped for.
She was different from all I knew and more than I expected.

She was light, and I’m the bastard who led her into darkness.
But this girl… she followed with a smile.

I told her I break pretty things.
She asked me to promise.

Break Me by Meagan Brandy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the moment Julie sees her best friend, Gavin, in the airport, it’s like no time at all has gone by instead of months and months. No matter how long they’ve been apart, their relationship has always been steady, comfortable, and decidedly just friends. Even though their meddling parents have hung what seems like unlimited amounts of mistletoe everywhere she goes this holiday season, Julie knows some things will never change.

Gavin is well-aware his family’s wanted him and Julie to get together since forever, even though he’s been friend-zoned since they could talk—and he’s been happy to play that role. After all, as the new starting quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs, he’s got enough on his plate without adding romance to the mix.

But between playing elves in the holiday bazaar to nights spent one-on-one watching rom-coms or soaking in their town’s hot springs, suddenly the “reverse parent trap” they’ve fallen into is actually starting to work. But this could be one scheme where letting themselves get trapped might be way too dangerous.

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Only One Kiss by Natasha Madison(Review Post)

Published November 3, 2020 by bookbesties

Release Date: September 1From USA Bestseller Natasha Madison comes a brand new Hockey series The Only One.

Ralph
Being traded to Dallas was a dream come true. I had everything I wanted, my game had never been better, and my wife was due to have our baby any day now.

What could go wrong?

Everything.

I was now raising our baby on my own. After hockey practice and games, I didn’t have time to sleep, let alone make sure my social media was up to par.

I never thought I’d get a second chance at love.

Candace

When my hotshot brother was drafted in the NHL, he didn’t have time to do his social media, so I took over for him. Little did I know it would become my career.

My plate was full with over fifty NHL players, and I wasn’t taking on any new clients.

Yet when he showed up on my doorstep with the cutest little girl in the whole world, I couldn’t say no.

I was just helping, but it turned into more than that. He’s the man I’ve been waiting for.

All it takes is one touch, one night, one chance, and only one kiss.

Only One KISS by Natasha Madison

Can I get a single dad hockey romance? Check here it is! Candance is the hot shot Social Media handler that everyone is using so why not for Ralph to try to hire her? Ralph has too much on his plate after his girlfriend died during birth. Now he has a child who is not even a year old and camp is starting soon. Here to save him is his buddies sister Candance. When she first sees Ralph she is frozen with how good he looks! She must remind herself of her rule of not dating players or her clients. These two are so hot together and the more time they spend together the steamier the pages are. Ralph with baby Ari is sweet and ups his sexy meter even higher. Now if they can commit without dealing with ghosts then things might go smoothly. I loved these two and to see how Candance is with Ari puts a smile on your face.

BookBesties.com Damaris