His Pawn by Emily Snow

Holy dirty talking goodness. A strong, confident, bossy AF man that knows what he wants and goes after it whole heartily. Sometimes the best laid plans go off track and a whole new future can be found...or not? This book was addictive, well written with some the hottest banter I have ever read. My kindle was blushing at times..Emily Snow nailed the "asshole" that you love to hate and hate to love. The guy that says things that make you melt, but if they were said in "real life" you would nut punch a fool. Swooooon my favorite kind of hero. While under all the bravado lies a man...that falls for a girl and that trumps it all.

These two were the perfect combo of opposites attract, the ying to each other's yang and pissing off the bad guys at the same time. Elle's strength and ability to fight for what she believes in, was inspiring and connected me to her quickly. Not a shrinking violet even in the world of cut throat, she had a quiet bravado that I appreciated. A heartfelt story was found underneath it all. I love that twist. It is such a brilliant reminder of why I love reading, escaping into the pages of another world where words and feelings are real life breathing entities...Ms. Snow really nailed it with His Pawn. It will speak so many different romance reader's hearts. One click this one. You won't regret it.

I Dare You by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Let me start this review with this simple fact. I love college sports romances. Especially when you pair a "nerdly" girl and a hot ass athlete. It's like a perfect combo when done well and Ms. Madden Mills did it effortlessly. The "meet", the "banter" all combining the make a solid friendship and connected me quickly with all involved. Add a little angst for good measure and I am in reading heaven I tell ya. Totally devoured this one. Completely swooned and as always can't wait for the next book from this author.

Iron Princess by Meghan March

It's so hard to write a review for these stories as they come out. I want to scream from the rooftops all my thoughts, concerns and WTF is happening moments..but alas I can't!! Because I HAVE TO GET THE NEXT STORY EARLY. LOL. Meghan March does it again...fueling the flame, keeping you at the edge of the story and tipping it RIGHT AT THE END. You think you have it all figured out and BAM. Plot twist! Ms. March has completely owned and trademarked the trilogy and how to keep you needing more with a hunger that will have you one clicking whatever she puts her name on. I just can't scream it enough. These women are tough, yet soft when needed, not overwhelming you with brute force, allowing strength and femininity to rule not too emotional. I have always loved that about this author's heroines. And her heroes...CHECK PLEASE. They just scream masculine, just enough alpha to blur the line between a slap to the face or maybe the vagina. Let's just end with this...I can't wait for the next installment!

One Good Man by Emma Scott

I first read this novella in the Team Player Anthology and it so stole the show for me. It was so different from all the novellas and I felt myself drawn in on another lever, which was strange being it was a novella. A short story packed with so much intensity, so much solid story in it I felt as if I had just read a standard novel. After reading this story I followed up by one clicking all of Ms. Scott's stories and a new author was found.

Novellas aren't usually my thing, neither are anthologies but I am so glad I picked this one up. Even if you read this in Team Player, read it again. It holds just as much power as it did the first time. Emma Scott completely held me captive with this short, yet in-depth story about a trying time. Different, meaningful and well told. Loved it!

Rising: (Eve & Vincent #1) by Jessica Ruben

OK STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING CUZ I'M ABOUT TO RUIN...YOUR TBR SHELF! Mark this book down and then come May 1st READ IT! I am still reeling over this book, and it's a DEBUT! I can't believe it. The writing is solid, the engagement with characters is instant, the FEELS are there, butterflies, angst, wonder, and just enough mystery to keep you totally OBSESSED. This story blends all the things I love most about reading, a hot fighter, danger, are they or aren't they together angst, turmoil, tough characters, mafia, gang bangers and more OH MY! I swear my romance reading soul runneth over. I still can't believe A DEBUT people..first book. Gah.

It's hard to describe when a book just fits, checks off all the boxes you have as a reader and just works. All the words combined deliver in a way that has you swooning, stuck in a fictional world and yet never wanting to escape it.Ms. Ruben delivered all of that in more in her debut story. The characters are flawed, strong, captivating and with every word I felt them more and more. I can't say enough about this one. A gritty, emotional, hard to read at times tale of  how hard life can be on the "wrong side" of the tracks, while the over-privileged seek something simpler, the pureness of it. Corruption, fear, and the all consuming want of MORE. Which I now suffer from because I WANT MORE. Like now. So Ms. Ruben this is to you...I can totally read as you write, clean your house, grocery shop, I am here for you.

READ THIS BOOK. You will thank your lucky stars you did. I know I am.

  

Chaser by Kylie Scott

                                                                            3-3.5 Stars

I love Kylie Scott and her book Lick is one of my favs ever. The Dive Bar series has been good to me and continues to be so with the manwhorey Eric. I enjoyed watching him sink into "real" life and love. While friendships have been strained to an almost breaking point, it took a preggo girl from out of town to kind of heal everyone..

In my stories I love banter. Conversations and banter are always something I need to help me connect...but this one may have over done it for me. There was so much convo about what...I am not sure. But I never realized I would think this could be too much for me. Live and learn.

Overall I did enjoy this story. I liked watching Eric and Jean find their way to each other. And I will definitely read the next installment. SO win.

**copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review from well...me**

The Real by Kate Stewart

Let me introduce myself...my name is Dawn. I have four kids, have been with my hubs for 23 years, my hobbies include music, Golden State Warriors basketball and READING. I am obsessive with my words. Giving many authors a chance to be an auto read but only a few make the cut. KATE STEWART helped set this bar. This story is one of the many reasons why...

The Real is a character driven love story. What do I mean by that? You fall in love with their love story as they do, slow and steady. With lots of dialog, and while they are falling you as the reader are too. One of my favorite things about Ms. Stewart's stories is the detail...not so much that you know what brand lotion they are rubbing on themselves, just the right amount of the ins and outs that you feel what they feel. You are immersed in the story simply due to the atmosphere that is set. Whether with music, dialog, setting a scene or just simply being in the moment. It seems simple. But we all know as a reader not all the stories are set that way.

I loved falling hard for both Cameron and Abbie. Taking it slow, waiting to get too deep, but life doesn't always work that way as we all know...QUEUE ANGST!! Gah..I love reading. A heartfelt romance that made me swoon, laugh, and completely sucked me in to the point of actually yelling my opinion at my kindle. As always Kate...bravo!

Epoch by Jewel E. Ann

**Epoch book two in the Transcend Duet by Jewel E. Ann. Not a standalone, Transcend must be read first. Epoch picks up right where we were left in book one**

ALL THE STARS

I finished this book about five days ago...I'm still reeling. It's the kind of story that continually calls to me...so much so that I have re-read it cover to cover, while also returning to the last 30-35% of the story too many times to count. Putting aside the fact that this duet completely consumed me and my thoughts, my other dilemma is being able to try to articulate how powerful this story is while not giving anything away. I had my ONE person through out these two books and I never wavered. It never crossed my mind to feel everyone was fair game. But at times in this story I HATED people, possibly even Ms. Jewel E Ann herself. I was over half way in and wanted to quit it all. That's when I sat back, took a deep breath, and gently said to myself..."well played Ms. Ann, well played". You don't feel all these deep rooted, intense wants and dislikes in just any story...you feel it in an epic story. And this my friends is EPIC..(which by the way is how Epoch is pronounced?)

"I've been loved by two men, neither feeling they were the worthy one, when the truth is I'm the one not worthy of this kind of love from them."

Being a fan of this author and having devoured every word she has written, I knew I had to trust her...but it wasn't easy. What is was...totally WORTH it. Every book I read from this author I think WOW she has totally out done herself. It must be rough to have to reset the bar every time you release a new story, but I am so glad I am here to witness it all. This story will transcend what you believe or don't believe, what can be a possible and what is just known. A beautiful tale of love lost, love found, family made, and minds blown. The word love doesn't seem to full encompass how much not only did I enjoy the Transcend Duet, but how it stayed with me and will forever.