CRUISIN' FOR A SEAL

CRUISIN' FOR A SEAL                                      SHARON HAMILTON
Posted:  June 30, 2015

Cruisin' For A SEAL (SEAL Brotherhood, #5)Marc Beale and several of his brothers from SEAL Team 3 board a cruise ship to bury a fallen buddy's aches at sea. A risky affair with a beautiful Italian the night before they leave begins to ease his survivor’s guilt. 

Sophia Negri, suffering jitters over her engagement, falls for the handsome SEAL and pretends she speaks no English, letting their bodies do the talking. When Marc finds her on the ship and learns Sophia is half American, he is angry at first, but falls for her all over again as they set sail.

Terrorists take over the ship and hold the passengers for ransom, Marc and the other SEALs are the only ones who can stop the plot. Will Marc’s actions be enough to save Sophia or will he have to sacrifice himself to save the woman he loves?

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This story has Seal Team 3 meeting in Italy with their wife’s and or girlfriends to go a cruise to bury their fallen team mate at sea. Everyone is good with meeting before and hanging out except for Marc Beal, who is getting over his girlfriend who passed away from cancer. He goes off by himself and he comes across a little café and while there a beautiful women sits down a few tables away and they make eye contact and without saying anything start to flirt with each other. Shortly she is meet by another beautiful women who has to be her mother and though they are speaking Italian he tell that the conversation is not that all pleasant. After the mother leaves and she gets up to walk away he decides to go up and talk to her which turns out to be funny she only speaks Italian. They go to her littler apartment and spend the night together and part of the next morning. Later that night he goes back to her place but she never answers and he realizes she is not there. The next day the team board the ship for the curse and all he has is his memories of one fabulous night with a women Named Sophia if that is her right name. Later on the ship he spots Sophia and she is dancing with a guy but he does not like him there is something that makes leery about him. She really does not like him either but he is her fiancés best friend. Once Sophia sees Marc it is all over she tells him about the arranged marriage even though she is not happy about it but she feels trapped they meet and talk but while this is going on the ship is taken over by tourists. Now the team must work to take control of the ship since it is going to take some time before help arrives. This turned out to be a much more exciting book and there are little stories going on besides the two big ones that push this book along and make this into a fabulous book. I enjoyed it very much. I got this book from net galley.  I give this 5 stars.

SEAL OF THE HEART #7 (HUBBY'S REVIEW)

SEAL OF THE HEART                                      SHARON HAMILTON
Posted:  June 30, 2015

SEAL Of My Heart (SEAL Brotherhood, # 7)Kate Morgan is engaged to the most eligible bachelor in Sonoma County, the son of a wealthy wine family in Healdsburg, California. On a flight to visit her sister in Portland she is seated next to a young hard-bodied elite soldier who ignites her insides in a strange attraction she cannot deny.
Navy SEAL Tyler Gray plans to spend a weekend home before deploying to North Africa with the rest of his SEAL Team 3. But the conversation with Kate has him rethinking his future.
The encounter has both of them feeling fate has stepped into their lives and altered their course. Unable to just say goodbye as lovers, they agree to carry on a correspondence. Kate becomes the girl Tyler wants to come home to while she is pressured by her family to reconsider her broken marriage plans. Family secrets are revealed from the past regarding a young Marine and Kate’s mother which brings both heartache and a sense of clarity as old loves are unearthed. From the grave, a Marine’s love letters from the past affect the new love between Kate and Tyler in the present. And when Kate’s life is endangered, will Tyler be the man to save her without sacrificing his own?

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a story in which Kate Morgan, is working at her fiancés winery in charge of sales. They end up breaking up and over a weekend not wanting to meet anyone she ends up meeting Navy Seal Tyler Grey. They then continue to talk to one another and get together when he has days off leaving San Diego and going up North. As their relationship continues to grow there are problems at her job with missing money and some people think she might be responsible for it. He finds out that his Team his being deployed to North Africa realizing that he wants more than just a weekend romance he talks to her about wanting more in his life and wanting her to be part of it with him. She really does not know how to feel since ending her last relationship and also having problems with her best friend. But once he is gone she realizes that she cares for him more than she thought and then she finds out from her mother about her relationship with a marine years ago and reading the letters that she kept. She sees firsthand what lost love can be like. The ending has one more twist that deals with her job and discloses who was stealing the money which turned out to be a surprise. Overall this was a good book. i got this book from net galley.  I give this 4 stars.

BLACK RAINBOW

BLACK RAINBOW                                              J.J. McAVOY
Posted:  June 30, 2015

Black RainbowAfter an erotic one-week fling with a musician she meets in a bar, Thea Cunning never expects to see Levi Black again. Then Monday morning comes around, and she discovers that her former lover is not only her professor, but he’s also one of the top criminal lawyers in the state of Massachusetts. 

With everyone in class vying to be one of the twelve disciples—a group of twelve students that Professor Black takes under his wing—tensions run high. Thea considers dropping his class, given their passionate week together and their undeniable chemistry. After all, there are other (less infuriatingly sexy) law professors on campus. 

But to accomplish her goal and get her father out of prison, Thea knows she needs to learn under the best of the best—and that’s Levi Black. 

But can she learn under the best, without being under the best?

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Talk about a very passionate story, this is it. It begins in a bar where Thea Cunning walks in for a drink after her mother passes away. You find out more about her mother as the story goes along and she is not a nice person. That same night she meets a musician in the bar and they decided to go home for the night. The next morning they decide to spend an erotic week together and at the end of the week they just walk away and never see each other again. No numbers were exchanged or addresses. When he leaves at the end of the week she is wanting to ask him to stay but says nothing, and he does not want to leave. Now it is Monday and it is the beginning of fall semester at the University and Thea is sitting in her law class and in walks the Professor Levi Black, who just happens to be one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the country and more importantly the man that she spent the last week together with that she thought she would never see again. His class is one of the hardest and people who take his class want to be one of the 12. He gets his class down to 12 students and they work in his firm on cases and he feels that this is the best way to learn law is to practice or work on cases. His goal is to get people to leave and right away he gets part of the class to get up and walk out. His next goal is to get Thea to leave but as he starts in on her she bluffs her way to stay in the class by coming up with an argument because he was not specific on which case he was referring to. He gave her points in front of the class because of her argument and after a couple of weeks asks her and two other students to intern on a case he is working on. It is then that he finds out through his brother in law that she is the daughter of a famous judge and even a more ruthless lawyer than him. She even finds a piece of evidence that had been missed by his own team that wins the case for him. She then helps him in his next case as well. It is during this time that he is wanting to get back with her but she tells him no and then he finds out the meaning of Black Rainbow and what her mother was really like and what happened to her. As he wants to get close to her he also finds out that her father is in prison for a crime he didn’t do and that her mother destroyed evidence. The story is full of emotion and you get caught up with the two of them and also with the two friends she makes from the class. I will say that towards the end something happens that he thought he was going to lose her and after that everything became clearer for the two of them. Though this book starts off with an erotic week and a few sex scenes it is really love story. This is a very good book. I got this book from net galley.  I give this 5 stars.

A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL                              LOUISA GEORGE
Posted:  June 30. 2015

A Deal with the DevilWhen the only thing worth fighting for is love …

There are two things ex-boxer and casino tycoon Rey Doyle is an expert in: fighting and gambling. He trusts no-one, but he needs a fiancé to help seal a business deal and part-time casino waitress Kate Wilkinson agrees to the pretense.

Kate is on a mission to expose Rey Doyle for the pitiless criminal he is, but the more she learns about Rey and his past, the more she begins to admire the man. When the chance to bring him down arrives will she take it? Or will this bad boy claim her heart instead?
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

Kate Wilkerson is on a mission to expose Ray Doyle, who is an ex-boxer and now is a successful casino owner. She is after him because her little brother who she has been raising since her mother passed away from cancer is recovering from being beaten in an underground boxing fight club. She believes the Doyle is the owner of the fight club and by proving he is responsible he could lose his casinos. She goes into his casino as a waitress under cover and somehow she ends up working in the high roller area. When he sees her he is attracted to her but at the same time he feels that something is slightly off about her. Later that night needing someone for a business meeting he is having with some foreign investors he asks her to be his fiance and she agrees believing that this will get her closer to finding the truth. Going with him to the meeting actually turns out good for her but not so good for him. The new investors take a liking to her so the next few times they are in town they have to make sure they are together. She begins to find more out about his fighting and that he is not such a bad person. This all throws a wrench into her plans because she is starting to feel maybe he did not have anything to do with it. As the story goes along you start to find out about more characters involved in the fight club and the relationship between the two of them become stronger but she still has her doubts though she wants to believe him. The end of the book puts it all together and all of the questions are answered. This is a fast paced and at times fun story. A good book. I got this book from net galley.  I give this 4 stars.

NO TIME LIKE FOREVER

NO TIME LIKE FOREVER                                 ZOE YORK
Posted:  June 30, 2015

No Time Like Forever (Wardham, #6)It started with a kiss... 

Mari Beadie needed a boyfriend, and former NHL hockey star Chase Miller happened to be in the right place at the right time. The kiss that followed wasn't necessary, strictly speaking, but it sure was hot.

Hot enough that when the tables are turned, Chase knows just the pretty bartender to ask to be his pretend girlfriend. Only this time, it's not a one-time deal.

The pub was slammed, strange for a Sunday night, but it was one of the last weekends of the summer. The tips would make up for the sore feet.
Mari was pouring a tray of pints when the phone rang. She hopped over and stuck the ancient handset under her ear, pinning it in place as she pulled the long cord back to the taps with her.
“Danny’s.”
“You sound busy.”
Her heart didn’t leap a little at the sound of his voice. No, it didn’t. “Yep.”
“What time do you get off?”
“We close at ten tonight, then I need to do some clean up. Probably ten thirty, but I’m not sure.”
“Okay. See you later.”
She frowned as she hung up the phone. Two hours later, she was still confused when he sauntered in after last call. Instead of taking his regular stool, he started straightening chairs.
“What are you doing?”
“Helping you.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what boyfriends do?”
She looked around. They were alone. “Uhm…”
“Because that’s what friends do?” He shrugged. “Don’t overthink it. I actually just wanted to give you my cell phone number, but when I called you sounded swamped, so I thought it would be easier to stop by. And I’m not going to watch you sweep, that would be a dick move.”
“You watch me tend bar almost every day.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Give me that.” He took the broom from her hand, and she ignored the little thrill she got at the brief, hot press of his fingers against hers.

The Wardham Series:
Between Then and Now
What Once Was Perfect
Where Their Hearts Collide
When They Weren't Looking
Beyond Love and Hate
Perfect No Matter What
No Time Like Forever
Beneath These Bright Stars

If you like Wardham, you'll love Pine Harbour! Check out Zoe's other small town contemporary romance series that begins with Love in a Small Town and continues with Love in a Snow Storm.
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a fun story about a bar maid named Mari who waits on mister grumpy Chase. Chase is back in town recovering from a car accident that ended his pro hockey career. He surprises her one day by helping out when an old flame shows up and he kisses her which she did not expect and then he starts showing up at closing to help her clean up because that is what boyfriends do. She really does not know what to make of everything but because of their being together he is actually working on moving out of his parents’ home and stopping to feel sorry for himself. She is still working on her music and her songs and her singing are getting better they are good for each other now can they just work past there other issues and make it work? This is a fun and emotional story at times, but overall a very good story and I like the characters very much. A very good book. I got this book from net galley.   I give this 4 stars.

BEYOND LIMITS

BEYOND LIMITS                                                 LAURA GRIFFIN
Posted:  June 30, 2015

Beyond Limits (Tracers, #8)An FBI agent and a Navy SEAL race against time in New York Timesbestselling author Laura Griffin’s newest Tracers novel. “Griffin delivers the goods!” (Publishers Weekly)

FBI agent Elizabeth LeBlanc is still caught in the aftermath of her last big case when she runs into the one man from her past who is sure to rock her equilibrium even more. Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn is back home from a harrowing rescue mission in which he found evidence of a secret terror cell on US soil. Elizabeth knows he’ll do anything to unravel the plot—including seducing her for information. And despite the risks involved, she’s tempted to let him. Together with the forensics experts at the Delphi Center, Derek and Elizabeth are closing in on the truth, but it may not be fast enough to avert a devastating attack…

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a fast paced story from beginning to end with the lead FBI female agent getting assigned to a new team. Her name is Elizabeth LeBlanc, and the one person she was not expecting to see in the room when they were in the briefing room was Navy Seal Derek Vaughn. A blast from her past and the one man she was not ready to see. Likewise he was surprised to see her in the room as well. Explaining the mission that they had just completed and the material that they came up with they were explaining that an attack on American soil was imminent and he wanted to help since he lost a friend on the raid for staying longer to collect more evidence. The story goes between him working the case through his own contacts and the FBI. The FBI are not getting anywhere and the only leads are coming through him and at the same time he is working on getting back together with her or at least getting started. She is scared because of his always being deployed at a moment’s notice. They not only have to figure out where the attack is going to happen but also the spark between them. This is a fast paced and action packed book, with more than just one story line but a few and they are done excellently. A good book. I got this book from net galley.  I give this 5 stars.

THE LAST COWBOY IN TEXAS

THE LAST COWBOY IN TEXAS                      KATIE LANE
Posted:  June 30, 2015

The Last Cowboy in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #7)No Sad Songs Here, Darlin'

Country music princess Starlet Brubaker has a sweet tooth for moon pies and cowboys: both are yummy-and you can never have just one. Now Beckett Cates may not be a cowboy, but he certainly has the heart, soul-and body-to whet her appetite. He's a sexy ex-Marine with a touch hotter than the scorching Texas sun and arms strong enough to catch her when she lands into trouble.

Playing bodyguard to America's sweetheart isn't easy for Beckett. But falling for her sure is. Unfortunately, Starlet has a reputation for keeping a guy or two wrapped around her finger and Beckett refuses to be anybody's backup. So now it's up to Starlet to prove that she's put her cowboy-crazy days behind her. Otherwise, she'll be singing solo instead of living in harmony with the man who's loved her even before her fame and fortune.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Starlet Burbaker is a country music star and she is being pulled in all directions from her mother that drinks too much, a cousin, an aunt and an uncle who is always trying to sell some type of merchandise. Then you have her manager Kari Jennings who is on her about what she eats and makes sure she works out. This one concert they want her to pick out someone from the audience to sing one of her love songs to and she picks one of the Marines in the front row. Beckett Cates does not want to be their but went ant way and now he is being forced by his buddies up on the stage and he thinks that she is fake but when she sings the song to him he something change in her. Then later someone tries to kidnap her and he stops that. He then starts spending more time around her and they are trying to figure out what is happening between them. He realizes that no one has put any type of security around her or her home and he begins to see that she really just wants to write music and sing. The other stuff is not for her. They have to figure it out for themselves. A good story and the characters are well thought out of. I really enjoyed the book. I got this book from net galley.  I give this 4 stars.

FIXED IN BLOOD

FIXED IN BLOOD                                              T.E. WOODS
Posted:  June 30, 2015

Fixed in Blood (Mort Grant #4)I become whatever they want. Whatever they need.
 
Seattle Chief of Detectives Mort Grant is still reeling from losing his daughter—again. When Allie first walked back into his life, breaking years of silence, he could hardly believe his luck. And after hearing her story, Mort tried to do everything in his power to keep her safe. The only person he trusted with Allie’s life was The Fixer. But, for the first time, The Fixer let him down.
 
Now Mort has been called in on a gruesome murder case: a beautiful young woman found in a ravine, her body riddled with stab wounds. Within twenty-four hours, the police uncover a snuff film depicting her murder, the killer’s face always just out of shot. When a second body and video are discovered, Mort knows this is no ordinary case.
 
From a chain of sleazy payday loan shops to the dark underworld of the sex-slave trade, Mort’s chasing a twisted menace to hell and back. But he’s not the only one. Once again, The Fixer is on the hunt—and she’s desperate to make things right.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
The fixer is back and this story starts out a little tame. You are not sure when or if the fixer is going to appear. Seattle Chief of Detectives Mort Grant and his team begin this story with discovering a body and find out the girl is from a snuff film. While this is going on he is dealing with the loss of Allie, his daughter who was taken away by a revival drug lord after he killed her lover and partner and the fixer could not save her because she did not want to be saved. She continues to be a reminder because now she is setting up bank accounts for her twin nieces and other things that neither her brother nor sister in law want. She also pays off her father’s boat and fees for docking. This makes the family more upset and while this is going on another body shows up. So now as much as it pains him he goes to Lydia and asks for her help. He does apologize and though he wants her help he wants to make sure that the fixer does not appear and that they get the person who is responsible for these murders the right way. She helps but when one of her patients goes missing she is wanting to do more. The same time that all of this is going on you also get to see what is happening to his daughter and what she is doing and how it goes with the story. There are two stories in one. Of course as much as they want to keep the fixer hidden it is hard to do that but the way the author brings her out towards the end of the story really makes this book. The last part of this book has so much going on that it makes for a great read. I got this book from net galley.   I give this 5 stars.

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