Review – Twisted Cravings by Cora Reilly

Twisted Cravings; Camorra Chronicles #6 
(A standalone within a series)

Publication Date: March 16, 2021

Genre/Tropes: Dark/Mafia Romance

Author: Cora Reilly

Review Rating: 4.5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:

A mix of mafia and street racing, this was not only a new trope mix for me, but also a new author.

I enjoyed the banter between Adamo and Dinara, she had a ton of moxie, but I’d also expect nothing less of a Russian mafia princess. While Dinara could have fallen either into a sheltered woman persona, I liked the brazen-outspoken girl, afraid of nothing better. Dinara is a woman not afraid to take on a man’s sport and she jump into Adamo’s world seeking knowledge that had been kept from her under her fathers rule.

While this is the first time for me entering Cora’s world, I could see the history and understand Adamo’s resentment at always being left behind and feeling like the little brother, even when he pulls in his weight. Adamo runs his own world by running street races. There he is king, but in a grander circle he has to answer to his older brothers. At what time will he feel like an equal? It finally sinks in that around Dinara he does.

I enjoyed this mix and finding a new author to boot. This will not be the last time I venture into Cora’s twisted world.

Synopsis:

As the youngest brother of the notorious Falcone clan, Adamo grew up surrounded by blood and violence. Drugs soon became his way of coping.
Becoming a Made Man like his brothers was his destiny but never his passion. When he becomes the organizer of his family’s successful illegal street races and one of their thrill-seeking drivers, he finally asserts his own path in the harsh mafia world.
His purpose isn’t the only thing Adamo discovers on the fuel-soaked roads he calls home…
​
Dinara Mikhailov is the only female race driver and hard to ignore. Not only because of her flaming red hair and ruthless driving style, but also because the Bratva princess is allowed to drive in enemy territory.
Soon Adamo and she find themselves entangled in a passionate game that goes beyond the race track. Yet, both haunted by events in the past, their dark cravings put everything on the line.
​
As what they crave the most, comes with a brutal price.

Find more of my reviews on Amazon under Kayreader
on Goodreads under Kay Daniels Romance
At Bookbub under Kayreader
or you can follow me on Facebook at Kay Daniels Romance

Review – Holding You Close by Kennedy Fox

Holding You Close; Noah & Katie #2; Ex-Con Duet #4 
(#2 within a Duet, #4 within a series)

Publication Date: March 16, 2021

Genre/Tropes: Contemporary/Small Town/Second Chance Romance

Author: Kennedy Fox

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:

Holding You Close just makes me happy! Action, Love, Family, it’s all here.

Beginning with Noah and Katie on the edge of where we left them in book one, we jump right into the action in Holding You Close.

With the mystery of who is still targeting Noah, barely escaping dangerous run-ins, and no actual prospects for the police to arrest all Katie and Noah can do is move forward with their lives and hope the culprit eventually reveals themselves.

What we do get is these two, second chance lovers, really steam up their relationship and (whew) ten years locked away means Noah has some dirty fantasies to make up for.

While Noah and Katie find their new normal, they do it while keeping one eye open for who’s trying to hurt him and ruin their prospect of their happily ever after.

Gemma, Tyler, Everleigh, along with sweet Owen and all of their close family return, along with a few others, if you are familiar with the series, which makes me totally happy. I love this series more and more with each new book addition and I’m looking forward to what happens next in this small town.

Synopsis:

After serving a decade long prison sentence for an accident that resulted in my husband’s death, Noah Reid returns. Even if he was my childhood best friend and the first man I secretly loved, I refuse to make it easy for him. But the heart never forgets and those old repressed feelings quickly bubble to the surface.

Loving him is a dangerous game but one I’m willing to play. 

Flirting leads to falling between the sheets, and I’m forced to deal with the guilt of what we’re doing. Viciousness towards Noah runs rampant and while revenge trickles through the streets of Lawton Ridge, I realize there’s more on the line than just my heart. While I’m afraid that my son and I will be caught in the crossfire of those who want to hurt Noah, I can’t walk away.

Secrets are revealed and revelations are made, but losing him again isn’t an option—especially since I’m pregnant.

HOLDING YOU AWAY is a slow burn, angsty friends to lovers romance with lots of small-town, Southern drama. It’s book 2 in the Noah & Katie duet and must be read in order.

Find more of my reviews on Amazon under Kayreader
on Goodreads under Kay Daniels Romance
At Bookbub under Kayreader
or you can follow me on Facebook at Kay Daniels Romance

New Release – The Art of Falling For You by Maya Hughes

RELEASE BLITZ
Title: The Art of Falling for You
Series: Falling Trilogy #1
Author: Maya Hughes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 11, 2021
BLURB

I need to know why she hates me. 

Bay Bishop aka The New Girl is my new neighbor. In her glasses and stage crew black clothes she has a knack for fading into the background. 

She’s probably the only one who rolls her eyes when I walk past instead of cheering on my last touchdown play. But before I can shove her into the recesses of my mind filed under “Not my problem” she lands herself smack dab in the middle of my dreams. 

I catch her singing with a voice unlike any I’ve heard before that taps into feelings I shouldn’t have for the girl who avoids me at all costs. 

With three months until graduation, the final play is on. Only it’s not for more points. It’s for Bay. 

Unlike my success on the field, this win is anything but assured. But I can’t stop myself from taking the risk. 

There’s no flashing scoreboard. 
There’s no cheering crowd. 
There’s only her and me. 

The countdown clock is ticking. The only thing scarier about finding my first love will be losing her.


GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49692701-the-art-of-falling-for-you


PURCHASE LINKS

US: https://amzn.to/3rpANkb
UK: https://amzn.to/3v9mySX
CA: https://amzn.to/30n91so
AU: https://amzn.to/3sYbar8

Free in Kindle Unlimited


AUTHOR BIO

Maya Hughes, that’s me!, can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I love writing stories that capture the possibilities of the paths less travelled and enjoy experiencing life through my characters’ eyes.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe, traveling with my family and Jeff Goldblum. 

AUTHOR LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mayahughes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayahugheswrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayahugheswrites

Cover Reveal – My Kind of Beautiful by Nikki Ash

Title: My Kind of Beautiful

Series: Finding Love Series

Author: Nikki Ash

Genre: New Adult Romance

Release Date: March 25, 2021

Cover Design: Jersey Girl Design

Image: Sara Eirew Photography

Cover Models: Sabrina & Quinn Biddle

 

 

 

BLURB:

 

Lexi

You don’t find love… it finds you.

Alec is the steady in my crazy, the light to my dark. My best friend.

He might be the one for me, but I’m not the one for him.

He deserves to have a wife, kids, a home—the complete package.

How can I build those things with him when I feel so incomplete, afraid I’ll never be enough?

I lose myself in surfing and my art, desperate to find the meaning of my life.

Until Alec confesses his feelings to me, and a tidal wave of emotions threatens to take me under.

Because I feel the same.

But the darkness isn’t finished with me… not even close.

 

Alec

You can’t help who you love.

It’s always been her—my wild and carefree best friend.

I know she thinks she’s not enough, but she’s exactly my kind of beautiful.

But a girl like Lexi needs to be free, and I would rather love her from afar and keep my best friend, than love and lose her.

Then an unexpected loss shatters my world and all bets are off… proving life is too short.

No more secrets, no more waiting.

It’s time to make Lexi mine.

Mine to kiss, mine to touch, mine to love.

All. Mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOSTED BY:

 

 

New Release – The Art of Falling For You by Maya Hughes

RELEASE BLITZ

Title: The Art Of Falling For You

Series: Falling #1

Author: Maya Hughes

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Design: Najla Qamber

Release Date: March 11, 2021

NOW LIVE

Amazon Exclusive https://getbook.at/AmazonTAOFFY
Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

ABOUT 

“Are you stalking me?”

“We live right next door to each other, New Girl.”

Bay Bishop aka The New Girl is my new neighbor. Glasses, stage crew black clothes and a knack for fading into the background.

She’s probably the only one who rolls her eyes when I walk past instead of cheering on my last touchdown play. But before I can shove her into the recesses of my mind filed under “Not my problem” she lands herself smack dab in the middle of my dreams.

I catch her singing with a voice unlike any I’ve heard before that taps into feelings I shouldn’t have for the girl who avoids me at all costs. I need to know why she hates me.

With three months until graduation, the final play is on. Only it’s not for more points. It’s for Bay.

Unlike my success on the field, this win is anything but assured. But I can’t stop myself from taking the risk.

There’s no flashing scoreboard.

There’s no cheering crowd.

There’s only her and me.

The countdown clock is ticking. The only thing scarier about finding my first love will be losing her.

The Art of Falling for You is the first book in the new Fulton U universe sports romance, Falling trilogy.

EXCERPT

He wanted to pretend he was a nice guy now? I ran through my first day at Greenwood Senior High. The vivid details craved an excruciatingly clear memory of just the kind of guy he was. Even if he didn’t remember, I certainly did.

If only that had been the end of it. But it wasn’t. He was back that afternoon and mom insisted I take him a glass of lemonade.

I kicked his leg and he slid out with grease marks on his cheeks and hands that only made him hotter.

The universe’s unfairness had never been clearer than Dare looking like a cover model wheeling out from under my mom’s junker of a car. If I’d had a team of stylists and beauty professionals dress me and do my makeup, I’d never be more than catalog cute. He was super-model searing without even trying.

“From my mom.” I shoved the glass toward him.

“It’s not from you? Did you make it yourself?” He set the wrench down on the concrete and drew his knees up, resting his back against the side panel of the car. His gaze locked onto mine, holding it and not letting me look away.

My pulse pounded, and my stomach back flipped into next week. “Just take it.”

“Did you poison it?” He lifted an eyebrow.

“Yes, I dropped in one of my cyanide capsules that I keep on hand for annoying neighbors.”

He didn’t say a word, only let me stand there with my arm extended, not making a move to take the glass.

My hand shook. I jerked it back and took a sip. “See, not poisoned.” I took a step closer and held it out again.

His gray eyes twinkled with amusement. He shot up, so his body brushed against mine on the way up, not trying to make room at all for my personal space. His fingers curled over mine before he pulled the glass from my grasp.

Instead of drinking from the side of glass closest to him, he turned it in his hold and took a sip from my side of the glass. My lip prints melted away by his. He didn’t drop his gaze or look away.

He froze me in my tracks like a deer caught in headlights after a long night in the forest.

“Delicious.”

Read Kay’s Review: The Art of Falling For You

COMING SOON IN FALLING TRILOGY

PREORDER BOOK 2 – THE SIN OF KISSING YOU – April 8, 2021

TSOKY Amazon getbook.at/AmazonTSOKY

 

ADD TO YOUR TBR!

THE SIN OF KISSING YOU (Book 2) http://bit.ly/GRTSOKY
THE HATE OF LOVING YOU (Book 3) http://bit.ly/GRTHOLY

AUTHOR BIO

Maya Hughes, that’s me!, can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.

I love writing stories that capture the possibilities of the paths less travelled and enjoy experiencing life through my characters’ eyes.

I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe, traveling with my family and Jeff Goldblum.

 

AUTHOR LINKS

Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook | Bookbub

Review – Mafia Bride by C.D. Reiss

Mafia Bride; The DiLustro Arrangement #1 
(#1 within a series)

Publication Date: March 16, 2021

Genre/Tropes: Mafia/Dark/Suspense Romance

Author: C.D. Reiss

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:

The first part of this trilogy was riveting! While dark and foreboding it was also filled with rich description which lead to explosive tension and intrigue.

The world C.D. transported me to was rich and descriptive. I felt like I was there walking the streets and living in the houses. I also loved that Italian terms or words were described throughout the story without having to refer to a dictionary or glossary, but done in a way that it didn’t take away from the moment.

Mafia Bride is a slow burn romance, but the tension and story build up only adds to the chemistry that is brewing between Violetta and Santino.

Violetta may have been born in Italy and spent her first five years there, but having spent the last fifteen in America she’s basically lost her language and she’s gained the American independence and entitlement. The old Italian ways, even though she’s grown up around them in her family, are somewhat a lost idea to her and I love that C.D. brings this idea forward because it’s a very American idea. Each new generation that is born here seems to lose a bit more of their history, tradition, heritage, etc… as they blend into the American culture and while that is the overall thought process of living in America, “the melting pot”, it’s also sad that we lose those unique qualities of where we came from.

Violetta and Santino’s dynamic was electrifying from the beginning. Theirs was not a love match from the get go, but a slow burn that grew, and oh what a slow burn it was(fanning self). There are layers that are slowly revealed, but also secrets and a dark yearning that is only beginning in this first book.

This is an age gap, forbidden, mafia romance, but truly at the heart of the story is a girl that feels betrayed by her family and her growing attraction to a man that she shouldn’t want.

I can’t wait for more as this story continues. C.D. really outdid herself with her writing. The descriptions are outstanding, the tension and buildup are fantastic, and the overall story is shaping up to be explosive. I’m really looking forward to how this entire trilogy shapes out in the end. I seriously have no idea how it’s going to turn out and I’m excited to take the journey.

 

Synopsis:

An epic mafia romance trilogy that sets a new bar for just how dark a hero can get, from NY Times Bestselling author CD Reiss.

Some girls dream of marrying a prince, but I never imagined I’d be sold to a king.

Santino DiLustro.

The king.
The monster.
The keeper of secrets.

When he forced me to marry him, I cried for love I’d never know.
When he locked me away, I cried for the freedom I lost forever.
Every other tear I’ve shed is for my soul, because I’m falling for the devil himself.

Find more of my reviews on Amazon under Kayreader
on Goodreads under Kay Daniels Romance
At Bookbub under Kayreader
or you can follow me on Facebook at Kay Daniels Romance