Review
Book Reviews, Contemporary Romance, LGBTQA+, Suspense/Intrigue Romance, Year of Reviews - 2022

Review – Stalked But Not Afraid by Nicole Dykes

61031508. sy475

Stalked But Not Afraid; Spark of Hope #2
(Standalone within a series)

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

Genre/Tropes: Opposites Attract/MM/Trauma Romance

Author: Nicole Dykes

Review Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:
Super steamy hot times mixed with a powerful message…Nicole Dykes has enraptured me once again!!

In today’s world where corruption turns up at every corner and it seems like you can’t trust anyone anymore…well…then you read a book like Stalked But Not Afraid and it brings back some of the light into your world that maybe not all hope is lost. That’s what reading does, essentially, it brightens your day, allows escape, and gives that spark of…I’m not alone in the world because there is someone else in the world reading these same words and perhaps they are feeling just like me. Let me open that light just a bit for you…

Roman is a cop and while the world has been topsy turvy lately on the realm of officers, Roman became a cop, not to save the world, but perhaps to save a few families like his own. His brother and him were abused and his mother was eventually killed by his father and growing up the way he did is the reason why Roman wants to help. While Roman can appear gruff to outsiders, he’s really a giant teddy bear of a man. What he represents to his friends, to his family, and eventually to Brooks is incredible strength and a deep passion for caring about those he loves. As Roman opens up throughout the story my heart burst for him. It made me wish the world was full of more people like him.

Brooks, oh where to start on this fiery, took me by surprise influencer. I adored him and how he took back control of his life. While he’s being stalked by a horrific person and degrading Brooks to where he doesn’t feel safe anywhere he goes, he’s left living in the apartment above Ben’s gym – the same apartment Colby lived in in the last book. It’s tiny and doesn’t offer much, but it’s safe and at least gives Roman time to investigate. I basically have no words for how he is with Roman without giving away all the really juicy bits and they are spicy hot, but Brooks is a snack and a half. Getting him back to his former self takes spending time with Roman who actually plays a big part in that, but it takes a hot minute to get there since Brooks and Roman are like oil and water when they first meet.

I am becoming a huge fan of Nicole’s books, not only for her phenomenal writing, but for the powerful messages she wraps up in them. This book was filled with positive messages that wound around my heart and filled my soul with joy. Stalked but Not Afraid was a book filled with tons of small moments that had a big effect.

Synopsis:
Roman
He’s an influencer—whatever that means. He’s also stunningly beautiful with a feisty attitude I can’t deny intrigues me.
But more importantly, he’s in trouble.
I’m not like my brother. Except for being a cop, I don’t strive to save the entire world.
However, I find myself compelled to save him.
If he’ll calm down and just let me.

Brooks
He’s everything I despise. He’s a cop. An arrogant tough-guy type who thinks he knows everything.
He drives me insane and won’t take the hint that I don’t want or need his help.
I’m not weak, and I’m not as defenseless as I once was either.
And still, I can’t seem to fully push him away.
Because maybe this time—just this once—I want to be saved.

**Stalked But Not Afraid is a standalone with a HEA in the Spark of Hope Series. It’s set around a trauma-support group and will, therefore, touch on extremely sensitive subjects. I’ll always do my best to handle these topics with care and healing and with no intention of hurting anyone. But please, heed this warning if you have any triggers.

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
Book Reviews, LGBTQA+, Paranormal/Science Fi/Fantasy Romance, Year of Reviews - 2022

Review – Secrets and Seduction by SK Reign

61176874. sy475

Secrets and Seduction; Bonds of Steele #1
(#1 within a series)

Publication Date: August 1, 2022

Genre/Tropes: Fantasy/Omegaverse/Reverse Harem Romance

Author: SK Reign

Review Rating: 4 Gold Stars4 stars

Review/Synopsis:

Review:
Secrets and Seduction had all the potential for greatness, but fell into the category of just good. All the elements where there; reverse harem, great story concept, excellent secrets to uncover, but the moments when things could have been flushed out just a bit more or the steamy scenes involving more than two people only seemed to focus on two people-it left me wondering what happened to everyone else…well, deeper connections all the way around could have made a lasting impression and skyrocketed this book into greatness.

As for the overall story, I really did love the overall concept and the deep rooted secrets that each character held. That in itself made the story worth reading, I just wish I’d felt a deeper connection when reading it.

There was a lot of internal dialogue vs. actual dialogue among all of the characters. As a reader I want to experience the passionate and sometimes shouty moments right along with the characters and not sit in silent angst with them for a few hundred pages.

It was a nice beginning to the Steele sisters series, but there again, we were only given a very small taste of who they are, so there is truly no hint on who could be next or what’s in store for the next sister.

Synopsis:
As an omega, I was born with one purpose: to be bred by a pack.

The issue? My first heat hit early. Confused and afraid, I took a big risk to relieve the pain, but it broke all the rules and cost me a piece of myself.

Nobody wants a used omega, but if I don’t mate a pack, none of my sisters will be able to either.
So when a wealthy pack of strangers puts in an offer for me, my family is quick to send me packing, all the way to the land of the midnight sun. Alaska.

Archer, Miles, Noah, and Ben are everything that should make my heart flutter. They’re kind, attentive, and they worship me like a goddess.

My body is built for them, to crave their knots and give them offspring. They say they want to give me everything… but what if I have nothing left to give?

Get ready to meet the Steele sisters in the Bonds of Steele omegaverse series world. Each book is a standalone and can be read in any order. Secrets & Seduction features sweet, protective men, a shy, reluctant female lead, and smoldering-hot knotty times. Please read the author’s note for possible triggers.

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

Blog Tour - 2022, Bully Romance, Dark Romance, Mafia/Gang/Secret Society Romance, New Adult, Suspense/Intrigue Romance, Year of Releases - 2022, Year of Reviews - 2022

Blog Tour – Savage Games by Rachel Leigh


SAVAGE GAMES (Bastards of Boulder Cove #1) by Rachel Leigh
Release Date: July 28th
Genre/Tropes: New Adult/Enemies to Lovers/Secret Society/Dark Academia
Series: Bastards of Boulder Cove

NOW AVAILABLE!!! FREE IN KU!!!
http://mybook.to/bobc1

Read the prequel FREE NOW: http://books2read.com/bobcdarkdesires

Add to Goodreads:
http://bit.ly/gr_bobc1

Blurb:
I shouldn’t be here.

Let me rephrase that…
I never wanted to be here.

I didn’t ask for any of this.

Not the society I was born into.
Definitely not the academy I’m supposed to attend.
And sure as hell not the group I’m forced to play nice with.

Unfortunately, one too many school suspensions has catapulted me into the world I swore I’d never live in.

Boulder Cove Academy: Where The Lawless reign and those beneath them are nothing but ash between their fingertips.

The three leaders of this place—Crew, Jagger, and Neo—have always been an aching thorn in my side.

When things get ugly, I have no choice but to turn to the boys I loathe.

Acceptance means I become a slave to their darkest desires.
Bones to rattle.
A mind to shake.

In the thick of it all, I begin to see the truth. They never intended to help me.
They only want to destroy me.

One game at a time.

Read Kay’s Review: Savage Games

About the Author:
Rachel Leigh is a USA Today bestselling author of new adult and contemporary romance. You can expect twists and turns, bad boys, strong heroines, and an HEA.

Rachel lives in leggings, overuses emojis, and survives on books and coffee. Writing is her passion. Her goal is to take readers on an adventure with her words, while showing them that even on the darkest days, love conquers all.

Connect w/Rachel:
Website: www.rachelleighauthor.com
Bookbub: bookbub.com/profile/rachel-leigh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19155638.Rachel_Leigh
IG: https://instagram.com/rachelleighauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelleighauthor/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Leigh/e/B07SSK8P2F
Readers Group: http://bit.ly/rl_ramblers
Rachel’s Ramblings Newsletter: https://bit.ly/rl_news

Blog Tour - 2022, Bully Romance, Dark Romance, New Adult, Year of Releases - 2022, Year of Reviews - 2022

Blog Tour – Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano

EVEN IF IT HURTS: A Toxic Romance (Coastal Elite) by Sam Mariano
Release Date: July 29th
Genre/Tropes: Dark Romance/Bully Romance/Villain gets the girl/Psycho Hero

AVAILABLE NOW!!! FREE IN KU!!!
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3PFZEfK
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7XNJCZK
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0B7XNJCZK
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B7XNJCZK/

Add to Goodreads:
https://bit.ly/even-if-it-hurts-TBR

Blurb:
A psychopath and his prey.
A dangerous, toxic, and utterly destructive love story…

He could have been my hero.
He saved my life that night, a beautiful dark angel slicing through my fear and the water, dragging me from its deadly clutches.
He should have been my hero.
I thought maybe he was.

Villains aren’t supposed to win, and good should always conquer evil, but in the elite coastal town I live in, the only purpose a label has is letting you know what something—or someone—costs. Good, bad; it’s all relative, and it hardly matters. Baymont, California, is a land of beautiful villains and happy-ever-afters that are just out of reach.

Especially for me.

Until Dare moves the world beneath my feet, and even though I’m afraid to trust it—to trust him—boy, am I tempted.
In more ways than one.
Being with Dare is scary, but being without him is impossible.
He makes it impossible.

Dare’s no hero, that much is clear, but maybe…
Maybe he’s mine.

This story contains triggers and is intended only for a mature, adult audience. See the opening author’s note for more explicit warnings, but know this is a very dangerous relationship with a very dark hero.

Read Kay’s Review: Even If It Hurts

About the Author:
Sam Mariano loves to write edgy, twisty romantic reads with complicated characters you’re left thinking about long after you turn the last page. Her favorite thing about indie publishing is the ability to play by your own rules! If she isn’t reading one of the thousands of books on her to-read list, writing her next book, or playing with her adorable preschooler… actually, that’s about all she has time for these days.

Connect w/Sam:
Website: https://sammarianoauthor.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.mariano.author/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292083204528925/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sam-Mariano/e/B00K45AJC0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammarianobooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sam__Mariano
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sam-mariano
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7375051.Sam_Mariano