Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Omega’s Protector

SERIES: Irresistible Omegas #5.5

AUTHOR: Nora Phoenix

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 118 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 28, 2019

BLURB:

When hot alpha cop Sean rescues an omega from being assaulted, he has no idea what fate has in store for him…not one mate, but two.

Sean meets Felix, a nerdy beta lawyer, and Gia, a sassy omega, under unexpected circumstances. He’s not even looking for a boyfriend, far from it, but something sparks between them, something that’s hard to define and impossible to understand rationally.

And that’s not even the strangest thing happening on the ranch that offers them a safe place. The air simmers there, wild and powerful. But what is that power they all feel?

After riding out Gia’s heat together, they find out what secrets the ranch holds, and they have to make a choice. How much stock do they put in fate? And is their short but explosive encounter enough to last or will their connection fizzle out?

Omega’s Protector is a novella (32k words) set in the Irresistible Omegas universe that can be read as a stand alone and has a HEA. In the series timeline, this book fits in right after book five. It’s got heat, sass, a little action, and all the feels. Plus, some familiar faces for fans of the series. The characters from this book will show up in the next books in the series.

Reviewed by Dan

TITLE: Keeping Secrets

SERIES: The Castaways Series Book 3

AUTHOR: Alexa Land

PUBLISHER: Self published

LENGTH: 230 Pages

RELEASE DATE:  June 24, 2019

BLURB:

The truth can cost you everything.

Twenty-six-year-old Beck Medina is convinced of that. He’s been abandoned by so many people over the course of his life, including most of his adopted family. Now he’s created a new family for himself at the resort he manages on Catalina Island. But they don’t know the whole truth about him.

As much as he hates keeping secrets from the people he loves, he knows revealing the truth is a gamble. What if they all walk away from him, like so many others have before?

Then there’s gorgeous, mysterious Lee Speros. The tall, handsome Greek is harboring secrets too, and some of his are deadly. Just as Beck and Lee take the first tentative steps toward becoming a couple, Lee’s dark past finally catches up to him. The fallout threatens to destroy not only the two of them, but everyone they hold dear.

With impossible odds stacked against them, can two stubborn, fiercely independent men learn to accept help not only from each other, but from the people who care about them? And once they reveal all, will the truth set them free? Or will it cost them everything, just like Beck always feared?

This gay romance is book three in Alexa Land’s Castaways Series, but it may be read as a stand-alone. It is intended for a mature audience.

REVIEWED by Jay V.

TITLE: The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love

AUTHOR: Alice Winters

Series: The Hitman’s Guide #1

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 343 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 30, 2019

BLURB:

Leland

Being a hitman has its perks, but I never thought getting an accidental mooning by an attractive PI while he’s caught on a fence would be one of them. While it’s not exactly love at first sight, he’s captured my interest and won’t let go.

Suddenly, I find myself caught in a game of cat and mouse, determined to attract the attention of Jackson, the PI who should be my enemy. He pretends like he’s not flattered by my flowers and the mentions of my totally-not-fictitious blow-up doll Randy (or was it Dandy?), but I know better. Why else would he be teaming up with me to bring down Hardek, one of the city’s most ruthless criminals?

Jackson

Even though the cops are telling me that the hitman is a notorious contract killer, I can’t help but admit that I’m drawn to him. He’s funny, charismatic, and attractive. There’s no way this ridiculous man can be the person the cops are after.

But when Leland ends up at my doorstep injured, I’m faced with a tough choice. It’s my duty to hand him over to law enforcement, but my heart has other plans. I want to keep him. To protect him. To be with him.

Though one question remains: why in the world does the man have so many d*mn guns?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Realize

SERIES: Men of Hidden Creek season 4 #2

AUTHOR: Susan Hawke

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 269 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 23, 2019

BLURB:

“What we have can’t be faked.”

Max Jackson’s life is pretty close to perfect—except that he’s secretly in love with his straight best friend and roommate. He’s got his dream joband a family he secretly pretends are his own. But they aren’t… no matter how much he might wish it were true.

After the tragic death of his wife, Parker Wilson didn’t have time to wallow in grief—not when he had two young children to raise. He’s not looking for romance or a new partner. He doesn’t need one anyway… he has his life-long buddy Max to help him through every struggle.

When Parker loses his job and can’t afford his daughter’s pricey insulin, Max suggests fake marriage for insurance coverage. Since he’s already a second parent to Parker’s cute kids, it should be easy… until the marriage becomes a little too real.

Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains dad jokes, a pair of kids that will steal your heart, and more heat than a Texas summer.

Reviewed by Cindy & Cheryl

TITLE: Triple Threat

SERIES: Haven Hart Book 6

AUTHOR: Davidson King

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 220 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019

BLURB:

Lee, Jones, and Ginger deal with dangerous situations and mounting stress daily working for the most powerful assassin organization in the world. All of those things seem like a walk in the park compared to the friction that sparks between them. When all three are assigned to the same job, ignoring the heat from the inferno of desire becomes impossible.

Lee is a master at deciphering codes, skilled in hacking complicated systems, and never misses a target, even from over fifty miles away. His feelings for Jones and Ginger, however, may be the first code he’s unable to crack.

Jones deals in absolutes, but the road to his past is paved with bodies and regrets. Getting Lee to acknowledge the pull they both feel toward Ginger may be the hardest mission he’s ever had to face.

Ginger struggles to cope with the overwhelming guilt that accompanies this new job. Falling for these hired killers will be a risk—one that could wind up with him losing in the end or gaining everything he’s ever wanted.

As the three work together to take down a human trafficking ring—and save a desperate soul—time is of the essence. Their lives are on the line as mysteries unfold and unexpected encounters throw them off course. Will Lee, Jones, and Ginger let doubts come between them, distracting them from their mission and blocking any hope of love? Or can they face the toughest challenge of their lives and become…a triple threat?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Shipping the Captain

SERIES: Valentine’s Inc. Cruises #6

AUTHOR: Nora Phoenix

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 197 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 29, 2019

BLURB:

Brantley Phipps doesn’t need a boyfriend. In his line of work, relationships are impossible. All he wants is one night of fun before he starts his three-month rotation as Assistant Hotel Director on a cruise ship.

He scores the jackpot with a hot older guy who hits all his yes, please buttons and who wants the same thing as him. Talk about a night to remember. That should last him a while…

Until he discovers that his one-night stand is none other than the legendary Captain Silver Fox aka his boss for the next three months. Oops.

Still, it shouldn’t be an issue because Brantley doesn’t do coworkers and Fox is known for being strict as hell about not dating employees. That should make things easy, if not for that pesky attraction that keeps flaring up whenever they’re in the same room.

It’s gonna be a long three months…

Shipping the Captain has an age gap, yummy steamy scenes, a Caribbean setting, and a summer fling that turns into an embarrassing case of falling for the boss. It’s the sixth book in the Valentine’s Inc. Cruises series but can be read as a complete standalone. The only connection in the series is the shared premise of the Valentine’s Inc. cruise.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Today

SERIES: Single Dads #2

AUTHOR: RJ Scott

PUBLISHER: Love Lane Books Ltd

LENGTH: 197 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 21, 2019

BLURB:

When the world labels a man and judges them blindly, is it possible to ever find love?

Firefighter Eric is on the front line, battling the threat of nature’s destruction in the California grasslands alongside his CalFire team. Focused and calm, even in the direst of situations, he has a strong affection for his fire truck, loves his career, and has best friends he can rely on. All he needs now is love, but that seems to be impossible to find. At his friend’s wedding. Eric falls in lust at first sight with the shy, slim and sexy Brady, even if Brady isn’t the type of guy he usually goes for. What Eric longs for is an equal in his bed, not a smaller guy who might want Eric to role-play big strong firefighter every time they have sex. He wants to find someone he can be vulnerable with, someone who will love him for his soft heart and quiet ways.

Brady’s life plans grind to a halt when his niece and nephew lose their parents in a tragic accident, and he becomes a dad overnight. His Developmental Coordination Disorder rules his life, but he fights both DCD and the fears that chase him every day, to give Maddie and Lucas a home. Agreeing to go to a friend’s wedding is a decision he regrets long before he even gets there. But, he refuses to give in to his fear, even if he might do something that makes him a target for people’s comments and laughter. Meeting Eric, a huge man with a gentle voice and a flair for chivalry, he falls hard. Now, if only he can let himself get past his panic that Eric would never want someone like him, then maybe he could fall in love for real.

Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: A Rhythm You Feel

SERIES: The Rock Gods: East Coast Label #1

AUTHOR: Ann Lister

PUBLISHER: Rock Gods, Inc.

LENGTH: 347 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 29, 2019

BLURB:

Blade: As the lead singer of Hard Core, I’ve been taught several key life lessons. Unfortunately, I’ve also ignored many of them in the last twenty minutes alone, which is why I’m now being chased by a hoard of crazed fans.

But my worst misjudgment today? Going outside in public without security or a backup plan. Screaming fans come with the job and the fame is as much of a blessing as it is a curse, but I still couldn’t imagine doing any other line of work.

Music owns me and I am happy to be her bitch.

Nico: I knew who he was as soon as he burst through the front door of my store and I was absolutely starstruck and speechless. Yes, me with my own hardened attitude and jaded outlook on life had lost the ability to talk in the presence of Blade.

I’m an ex-con. I paid my debt to society, and I have my own brand of scars to show from the time I spent behind bars. My life’s regrets stain my soul as much as the ink of my tattoos color my skin. Solace for me came with ownership of a bookstore. It was a peaceful place to work until a certain rockstar blew in from the street like a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Blade was about to make landfall and I wasn’t sure I’d survive the storm.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Reveal

SERIES: Men of Hidden Creek season 4 #4

AUTHOR: H.J. Welch

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 323 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2019

BLURB:

“I wish this were real with you.”

Geeky Jason Miller has never really been with a man, and his bullying colleagues at NASA know it. But when an innocent white lie gets out of hand, Jason never would have guessed his gorgeous-but-straight childhood friend would leap to his rescue.

Firefighter Channing Forster saves people every day, so when protecting his former next-door neighbor turns into faking a relationship for a work getaway, he doesn’t hesitate. As the weekend goes on, though, Channing starts to think that he doesn’t just see cute Jason Miller as a buddy anymore.

Are Channing’s feelings for Jason real enough that he could be his first? Jason needs to accept his true self before he can love another. But when his colleagues and boss discover his many secrets, will he lose everything forever, including Channing?

Welcome to Hidden Creek, Texas, where the heart knows what it wants, and where true love lives happily ever after. Every Men of Hidden Creek novel can be read on its own, but keep an eye out for familiar faces around town! This book contains not-so-fake boyfriends, a stowaway kitty, and enough fireworks to out-shine the Fourth of July.