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Review: Better When It Hurts (Stripped #2) by Skye Warren

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Title: Better When It Hurts
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Amber Shah 6/3/15
Length:  198 pages
Series: Stripped #2

Overview

A forbidden romance about pain that binds us together…

Five years ago we lived in the same house. He was the ultimate bad boy.

And my foster brother.

Now he’s back. Tougher, harder, meaner. All of it aimed at me, because I was the one who sent him away. It’s payback time. He wants his pound of flesh, and I am helpless to say no.

My Thoughts

It’s really nice to see how Lola (Hannah) and Blue’s story began / evolved, changed throughout their years together. From their prologue, we saw when they first met, when their paths first crossed and how a decision made by Hannah to protect herself had implications to Blue’s future. now we find ourselves five years in the future and we get to see how that’s all turned out.

Hannah is now working at The Grand as it’s the place where she’s able to make money to take care of the one foster mom who ever cared about her. She tries to stay detached from everyone and everything because she knows the dark side of any sort of relationship, but then there’s Blue. The man that she believes hates her but the same man that’s some how shown back up in her life and she’s sure it’s no coincidence.

We remember Blue from the foster home and we know that the choice Hannah made to put herself in a safer situation ended up sending Blue to the military. It was a way to keep him out of trouble and to hone skills that have some how managed to work towards everyone’s benefit. What it means now though is that not only is he security for The Grand, he’s Hannah’s personal protector again.

This story takes us through their journey of hating each other, knowing that they are still drawn to one another but not being sure if its’ because they believe there’s a debt that has to be paid or if there’s something more.

Hannah finds herself in situations that are unsafe that require Blue’s help and of course that means that he takes actions that could have consequences to his freedom which is something Hannah’s not willing to stand for. She fights with him and for him as he does for her and we watch them go around and around and around.

Where we net out at the end of their story is one that’s expected but bitter sweet regardless. There are hints at what’s to come (much of which I already know since i’ve read Ms Warren’s series out of order) but still a great lead in to some exciting stuff. So on that note – enjoy!

Review: Overture (North Security #1) by Skye Warren

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Title: Overture
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Skye Warren 2/14/19
Length:  302 pages
Series: North Security #1

Overview

Forbidden fruit never tasted this sweet…

The world knows Samantha Brooks as the violin prodigy. She guards her secret truth—the desire she harbors for her guardian.

Liam North got custody of her six years ago. She’s all grown up now, but he still treats her like a child. No matter how much he wants her.

No matter how bad he aches for one taste.

Her sweet overtures break down the ex-soldier’s defenses, but there’s more at stake than her body. Every touch, every kiss, every night. The closer she gets, the more exposed his darkest secret. She’s one step away from finding out what happened the night she lost her family.

One step away from leaving him forever.

My Thoughts

I love anything that Skye Warren writes and this series is no different. We’re introduced to this world of music and lies – a combination of the two swirling around our leading lady Samantha. She grew up in a world where it wasn’t safe – her father was a diplomat, but we learn that he wasn’t always a clean one, taking money from people, doing the wrong deals etc and that meant that they were often living under extreme circumstances – which we learned included Samantha being left on her own, often without food or money, and at time forgotten. That’s transformed her into not only a strong woman, but added to the allure of her unparalleled talent.

Enter Liam – a man who knew Samantha’s father but was not friends with him. He was in the same orbit as her father and when he ‘passed away from a heart attack’, Liam requested guardianship over Samantha. Her own brother didn’t want to care for her, so it was lucky that Liam took that over. He’s established, owns a security firm and clearly has connections with the ability to protect which we soon learn are necessary.

There’s a lot of character growth in this first installment of the series. We’re at the precipice for Samantha where her life is about to change – the moment she turns 18. She’s no longer the ward of Liam and she’s going to go on an international tour. She’s finding out more about herself and what she wants and she learns how to go after it. In this case – part of that is Liam.

Through the trials and tribulations with two of her friends, Samantha ends up in situations where Liam doesn’t believe she’s safe or frankly is a bit jealous and that brings out a side of him that we were all hoping to see. There’s a mutual attraction here but given that she was underage, that was part of the barrier. The notion that he’s not right for her and capable of being what she needs and deserves is the other aspect of things.

The story progresses with us watching Liam battle internally with what he wants and what is right. His brothers even see through him and warn him from breaking Samantha’s heart and still that’s a battle that he can’t win. Sadly we know that there is going to be no way to come back from whatever it is that they’re going to do.

There’s an attempt on Samantha’s life, and there’s a reporter that’s probing too hard into her past. Liam uncovers that the reporter wasn’t who she said she is, and that means that there’s an uncertain future and risk around Samantha that makes everyone nervous. She doesn’t quite know where it’s coming from, but Liam is pretty sure given some inside information that he’s heard through the wires.

We close this first book with the discovery of passion and chemistry, the loss of the past and innocence and the fear for the future. Samantha has spread her wings since that’s the only way that she can survive and Liam now has to deal with a broken heart and hope that he can protect her from afar. So, what does that mean? on to the next installment to see how this plays out. Enjoy!

Review: The Pawn (Endgame #1) by Skye Warren

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Title: The Pawn
Author: Skye Warren
Publisher/Year:  Skye Warren 10/28/16
Length:  312 pages
Series: The Endgame #1

Overview

Gabriel Miller swept into my life like a storm. He tore down my father with cold retribution, leaving him penniless in a hospital bed. I quit my private all-girl’s college to take care of the only family I have left.

There’s one way to save our house, one thing I have left of value.

My virginity.

A forbidden auction…

Gabriel appears at every turn. He seems to take pleasure in watching me fall. Other times he’s the only kindness in a brutal underworld.

Except he’s playing a deeper game than I know. Every move brings us together, every secret rips us apart. And when the final piece is played, only one of us can be left standing.

My Thoughts

I have to feel just a bit impressed that there’s a book from years ago that I haven’t read (or at least I don’t think i’ve read it before) by an author that i’m a fan of. So that’s what we get with the first installment of the Endgame series. You have the beginnings with Avery, a girl who’s grown up with the means to maintain a specific lifestyle but it seems like there are things taking place behind the scenes that has the chance to jeopardize it all.

We start our story with her at her graduation party, where she’s wearing the right things, and talking to the right people until she goes to find her father, and walks in on a conversation that makes her rethink all that she knew. She goes to run and almost falls down the stairs to be saved by a man that exudes power, and has this appeal that makes her stop and think. Little do we know the role that he will play in her life in the future.

Fast forward a few years when the world has come crashing down on Avery. Her father’s poor business choices have resulted in them losing all their money, and then her father getting beaten to an inch of his life, leaving Avery to take care of everything and herself. Her dreams are dashed and she needs to figure out how to keep her father alive.

Enter Gabriel and the men from the Den. She knows that while unsavory, they can give loans for the right payment terms and she goes in knowing that she has nothing to offer, and learns that perhaps herself is the best thing for her. The agreement ist hat she’ll be auctioned off to the highest bidder for a month and then she’ll get the money that she needs to survive. Gabriel is the #2 in The Den and to watch how he orbits around Avery, how he’s drawn to her and to protect her, well we all know how this will end.

What happens from here is a story that really takes us on quite a few twists and turns. We can only assume that the objections that they have overtly will slowly change into a chemistry and relationship that neither expected. There’s revenge on the part of one, and naiveté on the side of another, and all together, that means that we’ll see combustion, heat, passion and most likely hatred.

Secrets come to light and bonds of trust are broken. What ever path we thought this story was going to go down is dashed when there’s a trade made at the end and that leave us wondering if there’s more revenge than even Gabriel and Avery we’re aware of. So on that note, i’m off to get book 2 and get back into their world. Can’t wait to see who outsmarts whom, and what it means for the other.

Review: My Cruel Salvation (Fallen Saint #3) by J Kenner

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Title: My Cruel Salvation
Author:  J Kenner
Publisher/Year:  Martini & Olive 5/18/21
Length:  358 Pages
Series: Fallen Saint #3

Overview

He’ll keep her safe, no matter the price.

Investigative reporter Ellie Holmes has uncovered billionaire Devlin Saint’s dark and dangerous secrets, and he has both stripped away her protective armor and tamed the wildness within her. Bound by a shared past and the hope of a blissful future, they grow even closer, each exposing more of themselves as their love deepens. 

But now that Devlin’s true identity has been publicly revealed, old enemies appear, intent on destroying Devlin. And while he vows to enlist all of his resources to protect her, Ellie soon realizes that the only way to save them both is to take the last, final step to fully join Devlin in the dark. 

My Thoughts

Just when we didn’t think that their story could get any more complicated – the rest of the secrets come out. It was only a matter of time but that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach. On a night that should have been something amazing not just for Devlin but for DSF as well, turns into a monster of a night where his identify is leaked, outed and what he’s worked his adult life for is on the end of being ruined.

We know Devlin and Ellie are not the type to shy away from confrontation – they are going to take their opponent on head first, and while that’s happening, we just have to worry about who’s going to get caught up in the crosshairs. There are inklings of who leaked the information, especially now that Anna’s dead, and there’ a plan in place to take that person down once they have enough concrete evidence.

It’s a race to the finish here – with several of our favorites meeting a less than stellar fate. There were so many sub plots that were on the move to being something great, and those lines of story are cut short.

Brandy and Christopher were on the road to happiness – we know Brandy’s path and were so happy to see what she was able to overcome with Christopher, however the challenge that we see her face is the notion that Christopher was not who he seemed. He is the brother of Joseph Blackstone and while they weren’t on great terms, there’s manipulation going on behind the scenes and we don’t yet know if he’s trustworthy. He goes missing at a prime time and there’s evidence shared that doesn’t paint him in the best light, and that means that we really don’t know if he’s good or bad. What we do see though is Brandy is stronger than she appeared to begin with, and this is just a bump in the road for her – an opportunity for her to find her footing and come out on top.

Then there’s Lamar and Tracy. Lamar is the consumate cop – the man who’s always trying to stay on the right side of the law, even when it doesn’t seem like it’s directed to him. He’s struggled with what Devlin does within his organization, but after a variety of things transpire in this third installment, he walks the fine line with our friends. Tracy is a character that we’ve enjoying watching grow in her role at DSF and her relationship with Lamar really starts to take a new phase. It’s cut short when circumstances of revenge come into play and this is another jumping off point for bigger and better things to happen for the crew.

We fall back into Ellie and Devlin’s story over and over again, and what this third book does is that it takes us on a journey both in the past and then back to the present. There are moments and memories that come through in sub chapters so that we’re able to see what caused things to happen, what put things in motion in Devlin’s past to make him into what he is, and to give us hints at who was potentially behind all that’s going on.

There are a few snippets here and there that make it clear to me as the reader who we need to watch out for, but the journey that our amazing author J Kenner takes us on is a bit round about and doesn’t give us the direct route. It’s adds to the tension and it makes us question some other characters that come up from time to time, but that’s what gives us the resolution and closure that we need.

We know that we want a happy ending and we know that it’s possible if certain dominos fall into place but there’s really no direct answer on how that will happen, and who will be left standing. We have the notion of long lasting true love – good v. bad, family – and all that pays itself off as we see this part of the journey come to an end. I”m really happy with the way that this story plays out even if it doesn’t mean a happy ending for everyone. We’re left with more questions than answers for several people, but that’s what makes a good book good right? you don’t want everything buttoned up nicely, We see a glimpse of hope of a new romance coming along, and I think that’s what we get in the next spinoff – Sinners Game, so i’m going to track down when that one’s available and hopefully dive right back in. Enjoy!

Review: Boss Woman (Boss #4) by Victoria Quinn

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Title: Boss Woman
Author:  Victoria Quinn
Publisher/Year:  Createspace Publishing 2/23/18
Length:  170 pages
Series:  Boss #4

Overview

He betrayed me.

I trusted him, like a fool, and he stabbed me in the back.

Diesel Hunt.

He hurt me. Lied to me. And now he ruined me.

But I’m not the kind of woman who stays on the ground.

I’m back on my feet. I’m back from the dead. And I’m stronger than before.

It’ll take something a lot stronger to bury a woman like me.

Tatum Titan.

My Thoughts

This couple is GOING THROUGH IT. There’s no way for them to catch a break, every time they take a step forward, it seems like they take a step back. They admitted that they’re more to each other and that there’s true feeling, there’s love between them, but then when they least expected it, someone revealed the one secret that Tatum was trying to keep from the world – her experience 10 years ago that made her into who she is. And that someone apparently was Hunt. Or was it?

When we left the last book, a story was published in the NY Times revealing all that Tatum went through at the hands of her abusive ex boyfriend. The source was noted as being Hunt, and that means that he betrayed the trust that they built, revealed the one thing in the world that no one could know, and ultimately pushed Tatum back to Thorn. We readers of course know that it wasn’t Hunt who did this, but there’s no way to prove this. That’s where we spend much of this fourth installment – watching Hunt trying to prove his innocence by figuring out who was out to get them, and then trying to get Tatum back.

This piece of the story is heartbreaking on so many levels. Not only do we see one of the most intense romances fall apart, but we see strong people crumble, and that’s the worst. Walls that came down are now back up, and we are back in a cold and frosty world.

Hunt thinks that it’s Carol, the man that they ruined and bought a business from. There are thoughts that it’s Thorn (and to be honest, i think that it’s Thorn, because the timing was just tooooo coincidental) My other guess is that it’s Hunt’s father, since we know that he’s declared war once Hunt bought a business that he was going after. 200 pages of trying to figure this out while trying to win Tatum over is exhausting. Every time a step is made in the right direction, we fall back a few more.

The rift in the world is getting bigger. There are questions that Tatum poses to Thorn that pushes them apart and that’s a relationship that hurts almost too much to bear for her. Hunt makes the decision to take the eyes off Tatum’s story by revealing his story of why he and his father are estranged, and that makes his life even more complicated.

We are still at a point in this story where we don’t know how things will net out. Thorn and Tatum give Hunt a 2-week period where if he doesn’t prove that he didn’t leak the story, that they will move on and get married, and we all know that it’s an impossible feat for him to accomplish so we see his world shatter.

I”m an eternal optimist – i believe that there have to be happy endings for people who deserve them, but i’m wondering if our author is one at this point. It seems as though someone is going to get hurt and it’s our main character here. There’s no way to prove that he hasn’t done what they claim, and life is moving on. Thorn gets what he wants ideally, but i still question what that is. I think that he’s got this hidden dark side and i’m just waiting to see how that manifests. So….i’m diving right into book 5 now and i’ll let you know how that goes. Enjoy!