Tag Archives: Secret of Stone

Review: No Simple Sacrifice (Secret of Stone #6) by Angel Payne & Victoria Blue

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Title: No simple Sacrifice
Author:  Angel Payne & Victoria Blue
Publisher/Year:  Waterhouse Press 7/10/18
Length:  336 Pages
Series:  Secrets of Stone #6

Overview

If I could turn back time…

My name is Talia Perizkova, and time has been on my side…until I told it to kiss my ass during a business trip to Vegas and experienced a night for the record books with my bosses—yes, my bosses. But what happened in Sin City refuses to stay there, and time has joined forces with his pal, karma, to exact payback—from the depths of my heart.

Fletcher Ford. Drake Newland. They’re two of the business world’s sexiest, most sought-after bachelors—and I’ve fallen for them both. Their passion is everything I crave, their protection is everything I need, and their love is everything my orthodox family will never let me accept.

The solution, according to them, is simple. One man steps down so two of us are happy.

I could find a way…

But sacrifices are rarely simple, and one plus one doesn’t always equal happily ever after. The three of us have to decide—take a chance on this rare love we’ve discovered…or give in to fear and lose each other forever?

My Thoughts

I had almost thought that we had the happily ever after with this threesome when shocker! We do not have a happy ending. This sixth book is yet another roller coaster and a runaway train all at the same time. Fletcher and Drake have their work cut out for them with Talia for sure.

Where we left off in the last book, we saw these three come to terms with the true nature of how they felt about each other, and agree that there is something special there. So many obstacles still stand in their way and that’s what this book is about.

It’s almost like we’re watching a cat and mouse game although the mouse has sort of been caught. She’s learned evasive techniques though and this puts the men in a position that they’ve never been in before, where they have to outsmart her and tread sooo lightly otherwise it’ll all go to crap.

These two powerful impressive men are also among the most patient men out there as well. They know what they want, they take the steps to get it and make it happen. The distance between San Diego and Chicago isn’t enough to make them stress and they make a temp home base in SD for work and to spend more time with her. She has a tough time though seeing the future with them because chicago is so far away and she doesn’t believe that she’s special enough or the only one.

That’s only one facet of this story though – the fact that she doesn’t think that she’s enough. We can’t forget that she’s from a really traditional family and the idea of being with both these men will bring shame to her family and that’s not going to be an easy hurdle to get over.

Apparently there’s more to the story that anyone knows – because just when it seems like things are going to be ok with the trio, Drake bows out. He sends a letter by courier to Fletcher and Talia saying that he has to choose to step away because there is too much at stake and he needs to give Fletcher and Talia a chance to be something amazing. That’s not what anyone wants and as a result, everyone goes their separate ways. Bad choices are made, hearts and spirits are broken, and King Killian needs to come back in with some wisdom in the hopes of fixing things.

The challenge here is that there’s so much adversity with this situation, that no wise words will fix it. Family tradition and heritage is huge. not blood family is even more. Being honest with yourself is almost impossible. So where we are left throughout the back third of this story is wondering what has to break and be given up since there’s no chance that everything can stay intact.

Add to that anxiety though all the heat and romance that is shared between these three when it’s GOOD. I mean, we’re talking some great chemistry that we haven’t truly seen in other installments. So, i’ll leave you with that thought and then head over to book SEVEN! Enjoy!

Review: No Lucky Number (Secret of Stone #5) by Angel Payne & Victoria Blue

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Title: No Lucky Number
Author:  Angel Payne & Victoria Blue
Publisher/Year:  Waterhouse Press 7/10/18
Length:  184 Pages
Series:  Secrets of Stone #5

Overview

Business trip or trip of a lifetime?

Talia Perizkova has been working toward this moment her entire career. Now she finds herself sandwiched between two of the most eligible bachelors in the country and can barely focus on the task at hand.And that’s fine by Drake Newland and Fletcher Ford.

They’re all business around the office, but when they get Talia to themselves off the clock, things really heat up. Now if they can just convince her a three-way relationship could fit into her world…

Will Talia take a chance on her newly discovered feelings? Or is their weekend of passion destined to end them before they’ve even begun?

My Thoughts

This new spin off taking us on a journey with Talia re-energizes the series for me. I really liked how we left off with Michael and Margaux, but this is a completely fresh perspective, story and level of depth and intensity. Definitely a good refresh.

We knew very little about Talia’s backstory so far. We know that there was a moment in time that she was living in Killian’s apartment in Chicago but no understanding as to why. We got a sense that there was a boyfriend that wasn’t the best to her but that’s really it. So here we get a great intro to that bit.

The nice way that our authors wrote this one is that we get a glimpse into the past by about a year – seeing how things happened to get us to current day. Talia’s from a very traditional family that has expectations about how she is to live, whom she shall live it with and etc etc. So, when that doesn’t work out the way that people want, since she’s not willing to accept being abused, she’s forced to flee. Thank goodness for the Stones right?

Killian’s two buddies that we met in books past, Drake and Fletcher make an appearance in a big way here. They are not just his best friends but they play an important role in his business. This is where the path crosses for Talia as they are all working closely on the cosmetics brand launch.

Drake and Fletcher don’t just have a strong friendship, they are almost the same person. They share the same interests and most of the time the same woman. So, imagine the drama that can and will ensue when they set their sites on Talia.

The journey that they take is one that’s heated, intense, spicy, and full of so much unknown that you have no choice but to read and read quickly. Talia knows that she’s attracted to them but she’s so guarded and shy that there’s a wonder if these men will ever succeed in their goal. The guys are quite possibly two of the most attractive yet sensitive men on the planet and while they have raunchy reputations, they never push too far for anything.

There’s a scene at the beginning of the book that i’m still trying to sort out as whether it was real or a dream, and i think that it’s a dream – but a very hot and intense one. Very foreshadowing to what could be if allowed.

The way they interact is seamless and steamy, but there are so many reasons why it can’t happen. Talia’s family would never be ok with her choices, and there is the concern of the implication to Talia’s professional reputation. She doesn’t want anyone to think that she got to where she is because of their relationship and she doesn’t want to be judged by her friends. The challenge of course is that there’s a chemistry that can’t be denied.

So while progress is made in this fifth installment, i’m not sure that we’ve made enough. Their story is only just beginning now and i can’t wait to see where it goes. Enjoy!