TEXAS THUNDER

TEXAS THUNDER                                   KIMBERLY RAYE

Set deep in the heart of Texas, bestselling author Kimberly Raye’s sizzling new series proves that men, women, and moonshine make one dangerous combination…

RECIPE FOR DISASTER

The most infamous moonshiners in Lone Star history, the Tuckers and the Sawyers have been feuding for over a hundred years. Sure, the days of buckshot and bloodshed are long gone, but it’s not over yet. To save the family business, Callie Tucker has to find the recipe for the legendary Texas Thunder moonshine. But first she’ll need to make a devil’s bargain—with a red-hot hell raiser named Brett Sawyer.

ROMANCE WITH A KICK

A Sawyer through and through, Brett was raised to never trust a Tucker—especially one as pretty as Callie. But desperate times call for desperate measures. With his ranch going bankrupt, Brett agrees to help Callie find the recipe, sell the rights, and split the profits. Of course, it won’t be easy for these two enemies to work together. But it’s even harder to ignore the sparks of attraction—when just one kiss delivers a kick stronger than any swig of moonshine…
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

The book starts off with two Texas families who were one time friends and partners in a moonshine operation until for some reason that no one can remember are now feuding. When the great grandfathers broke the best moonshine in the state neither family had the entire recipe. Callie’s grandfather has been trying to match that taste for years but could not come up with anything close and then was killed in a so called firs from the still blowing up. When they have the funeral and reception in walks rodeo star Brett Sawyer, who wants to tell Callie Tucker he is sorry for her loss. She still remember the night from their prom when he left her in the mountains and she had to walk home. Calling for a ride from her dad both her parents go out to get her when it starts to rain and they are killed in an accident. So not only was she left by a guy she thought she loved, but she lost her parents that night also. She also stayed home instead of going to college to raise her two younger sisters, and try to keep the family ranch going. The last person she wanted to see was Brett. The town though was waiting for the show down between Tucker and Sawyer. She would not give in so she left. Brett trying to save his family ranch also is also dealing with a grandfather with Alzheimer’s and a sister who does not want to go back to college. Callie finds part of the recipe her grand dad was making and because a man came and offered her money she goes to Brett and tells him if he knows the other half they could sell the recipe. This puts them back together to work out their problems. Not a bad story thought it was going to be a little more fun, but overall a good start for a series. I got this book from netgalley. I gave this book 3 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com 

MIDNIGHT HEAT

MIDNIGHT HEAT                                   CAT JOHNSON

He needs to escape...

Justin Skaggs is on the road to anywhere—as long as it's far from home—when fate throws a kindred spirit across his path.

She needs to get to Oklahoma...

Phoenix Montagno can't believe her luck when she runs into the hottie from the bar. He's the key to her getting everything she's always wanted, but she can't tell him that. Luckily he's not interested in learning her story any more than he is in sharing his.

Both have secrets they don't want to share...

It's the perfect arrangement. No personal details. No talking at all. Just two strangers sharing the cab of a truck heading the direction they both need to go . . . until they decide to share a bed, too.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is the third book in the series and I heard about them through my wife reading the first two. I got familiar with the characters so I figured since net galley gave me a copy I would give it a go. Justin Skaggs is one of the work hands on the ranch for Rohn Learner and he is getting married soon so he needs someone to go to Phoenix to pack up his fiancĂ©e things. Justin who takes care of his mom since his older brother was killed by an IED in Afghanistan is wanting to get out of town for a few days since it is the anniversary of his brother’s death. His father died 10 years ago and his mom is having a tough time. He gets is aunt to take care of his mom and Rohn asks him to go to Phoenix, he agrees. The other part of the story begins in L.A. where Phoenix Montagno, is tearing her apartment apart looking for her birth certificate. Not finding it her friend says she can contact the county from the state she was born and ask for a duplicate. She now must go to her parents’ home and find out how they came up with the name Phoenix. She is adopted and since it was a closed adoption there is information. She finds out that she was born in Phoenix. When she receives the birth certificate she realizes someone sent the original and now she has the name of her birth mother. She does some research and finds she lives in Phoenix. She decides to go and barley makes it her car breaks down the night she gets their but she still make it to the house to that it is dark. A cowboy she saw at a bar she stop at while her car cooled down shows up and he is Justin. He has a key to the home but won’t give her any information. She leaves for the night and after some research she believes that she has moved to Oklahoma. Arriving the next morning she sees the same cowboy, but now he is loading the trailer, and also sees the truck has a ranch location of Oklahoma. Asking more questions but still not getting anything out of the cowboy she decides to follow him. He realizes this when he mentions this to her he decides to drop her car off to get fixed and then take with him back to Oklahoma. Their bantering back and forth is good and when she tries to change the radio station but he won’t let her she realizes that they each have their own secretes. He finally reveals some about himself and she does the same. Once there they come up with a plan she can meet the women who she thinks is her mother. This part is very moving for me and was well written. Being adopted myself I remember the first time I saw my birth mother and how I felt and the author captured those emotions. You find out more about her birth father, and then how she and Justin are going to make it, if they are going to make it. He does not open up, she gets him to and just when you think there is going to be an epilogue or something the book ends. With no real idea her being in California and him being in Oklahoma. But I am giving it 4 stars because of the way the author was able to describe emotionally with the adoption and finding her birth mom. I got this book from netgalley. I gave this book 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com 

REBEL COWBOY

REBEL COWBOY                                  NICOLE HELM

First in a new series about a struggling Montana ranch, a woman determined to save her family, and the NHL-star-turned-cowboy who makes it all possible.

Mel Shaw is determined to keep her family ranch from going under, so she takes on a job helping some city slicker get his old ranch up and running. And if that means being in tight quarters with the hot NHL-star-turned-cowboy? Well, she did say she'd do anything for family.

After leaving his NHL career behind, Dan never expected to find a home on his rundown Montana ranch, but with Mel guiding the way, he finds that and so much more…

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
There is a lot going on in this story and it begins with hockey star Dan Sharpe who is now in Montana trying to understand what exactly is so special about his families’ ranch that his grandfather was trying to tell him. Oh that’s wright he was not listening to everything, but there was a look in his grandfather’s eyes and now here he is trying to get his life back on track. Mel Shaw has been running her families ranch for years since her father took a tumble off his horse and is now in a wheel chair. Trying to keep everything together she is counting on her bother to step up while she takes on a job for 20,000, to teach some supposed hockey star how to run a ranch. Like he is going to stay. As long as she gets her money it is all good. When she arrives at the ranch he is still asleep and barley answers the door with just a t-shirt and shorts. Thinking Mel is a guy he is surprised when there is a women standing in front of him. The care taker for years Buck did not tell him thought it would be good to find out on his own. Not good she is not happy, and their first day does not get any better. BY the second day she invites him over for dinner not thinking he does not have a way back to his place, but she is slowly liking the way he looks. When they get to building the fence she really likes how he is pounding the fence posts into the ground. When a lama shows up one night in his coral he decides a few days later that he is going to become a lama rancher shows Mel all of the research and even has a meeting to buy some from a breeder. Her life is getting more and more out of control. She is falling for Dan, who is also falling for her and then things at her ranch are falling apart, when her and her brother get in a fight she leaves and with nowhere to go she ends up at Dan’s. After a few weeks she realizes that it is falling into a comfort and they are becoming a couple, not what she wants. She walks in one day over hearing Dan telling his agent he is not going back to hockey that he is retiring. Fearing for herself she goes off on Dan and says things to him to purposely hurt him and when he does not respond she just keeps going. When she is finally done and walks out, stunned he follows her and tells her she is wrong and that he is not leaving and that when she sees what is being built here she will realize that she could have been happy with someone who loved her. So get used to seeing him around town. After a few days she realizes that she blew it and when she goes back he is not there. Buck tells her he will be back in three days he needed to clean out his things in Chicago. Her choice now is to get out of her comfort zone and go or not? This was a very good book with a lot going from his side and also hers. A lot of emotions and some surprises as well. A good story. I got this book from netgalley.com.  I gave this book 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com 

THE LOOK OF LOVE

THE LOOK OF LOVE                             CRYSTAL B. BRIGHT

You can’t fight love…

There’s only one thing MMA fighter Gunnar Wells is more devoted to than his career, and that’s his mother, “Queen” Elizabeth. An elegant African American woman who adopted Gunnar and his two white brothers, Elizabeth was there when they needed her, and they’ll do anything for her. For Gunnar, that means running her hair salon when she suddenly falls ill. And if that’s not awkward enough for the champion fighter, he’ll have to work alongside Eboni Danielson, the other love of his life. The one he left behind to pursue his dream. The one he’s never forgotten…

Between the salon and her volunteer work, Eboni keeps busy to keep her mind off the man who broke her heart. So when Gunnar shows up again, she does her best to stay cool—on the outside. But the more she watches Gunnar step up and help out, the less she can deny her feelings. Soon Gunnar is doing everything he can to convince Eboni to give him a fighting chance. Can she trust him again—even when old secrets and new dangers come between them once more?
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

A story of three boys being adopted by a women named Queenie, she now needs help because she is sick and the oldest one comes home. His name is Gunner and he is a MMA fighter. Queen wants him to run her beauty shop, she has three different businesses and each one of the boys worked at each one and was good at the one they were at. This one he is arguing with Eboni who just happens to be a girl he liked before he left. One of the reasons he left was because he was into the streets pretty heavy, and gangs. This is really where he was learning to fight. Now he fights in a cage but he is thinking that it is time to end that part of his life and settle down. The problem is weather Eboni will have again or not. A very good book. With just the right amount of drama and light heartiness to make the story flow. Like the characters and the story. I gave this book 4 stars. I got this book from netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1Rad-Readerreveiws.com.


FORGET ME NOT

FORGET ME NOT                                  CRYSTAL B. BRIGHT

Roses are red, violets are blue.

Only one woman could make NFL star Gideon Wells walk away from the Super Bowl: His Mama, "Queen" Elizabeth, the beautiful, strong black woman who adopted him and his two white brothers when they were just kids. So when Elizabeth develops a pressing health issue, Gideon doesn’t hesitate to come home and run the flower shop she loves almost as much as her boys. But there’s an unexpected complication in Queen Elizabeth’s shop: and that complication looks really good in a gardener’s apron and pruning gloves. 

This mama’s boy has a naughty side too.

Janelle Gold has always thought of herself as a geek, more into books than sports, preferring brains over brawn. So a gorgeous jock like Gideon Wells is not exactly the type she usually goes for. But there’s something about the hot quarterback that makes Janelle think sometimes opposites do attract, and it’s not just his dedication to his family, or the fact that he can hold his own in the flower shop. There’s just something irresistible about a man who stops to smell the roses.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This the second book and it begins with Gideon being the starting quarterback in the super bowl and after he completes the last play for the winning score he gets a call about his mother Queenie being in the hospital. He leaves without going to any of the celebrations to go home to be with his mother. She adopted him and his two brothers. He is the middle son. The story mostly is around the floral shop that she owns and asks him to help run while she is laid up. This is where he meets Janelle Gold who also owns a floral shop. The first encounter she is not very nice to him when he asks a favor. After a few more times meeting and talking she warms up to him but at the same time she is guarded and not trusting. When she asks him to look at himself which he does towards her and a friend of his from the team that is mad, neither of them are looking at themselves. The change does not take place until the end of the story but to get to that point is a very interesting story and very intriguing with the merging of personalities. Another good story and very romantic. I got this book from netgalley.  I gave this book 4 stars. 
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RULES OF PAYNE

RULES OF PAYNE                                   ELIZABETH LYNX

*The sweet & spicy workplace romance inspired by the popular character blog Payne In The Blog*

I'm his dirty little secret.
I'm the person he can't control.
I'm the woman who caused him to start breaking his rules.

Morgana Drake may have had a few rough patches in her life,especially when it came to men, but now she is determined to focus on one thing: her job. If she can work hard enough as the assistant to the VP at Mimir, then she has a chance at getting into the Executive Development Program.

There is only one thing turning this path of accomplishment into a steep climb, her boss Mr. Payne.

Henrik Payne has worked hard to amass his wealth and turn a struggling start up into the third largest online retailer. He has sworn off women, drinking, and anything else that might break his rules for success. It's not until a clumsy yet curvaceous redheaded assistant tests his resolve that he begins to see life isn't all work and no play. 

***There is a cliffhanger at the end. This is book 1 or a 2 book series.******

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a fast paced story with a lot of tidbits from Morgana working on getting past the sexual tension of her and her boss. When she thinks she has accomplished that their relationship heats up once again. There tension is off the charts along with their passion. She is trying to find what is real in her life only to be sucked into his spell once again. The writing was good along with the characters. I did forget about the cliffhanger at the end and that did bother me. I got so caught up into the story, which is a good thing. I will say it is difficult for me to find the next book, and I hope the author does not drag this storyline out through multiple books. Overall a good book and story. I got this book from netgalley. I gave this book 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com 

STRIPPED DOWN

STRIPPED DOWN                                   ANNE MARSH

“I warned her once—I don’t give warnings twice—that if she ever came back when she was grown up, she’d be mine. She flipped me off and told me I wasn’t the boss of her. She was playing with fire and she knew it, but she also thought she was safe. Off-limits. Taboo. She hadn’t figured out that the only rules I played by were my own.” ~ Angel Mendoza

When I come home to Lonesome, California, I’m expecting to inherit a house and a fresh start on my crappy life—not a hard-eyed cowboy. Angel Mendoza is more devil than saint. He’s also my former stepbrother, richer than God, and a sexy asshole to boot. I have no business wanting to get close to him. He’s got a few plans of his own, too—like getting into my bed and my body. Heart optional.

Angel’s need for total control in bed shocks and thrills me, but giving in and letting go isn’t easy. Despite everything he owns—the land, the vast wealth, the loyal cowboys who run his cattle—Angel is tormented by demons. He’ll give me his body, but never his secrets… or his heart.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This story opens up with Angel Mendoza trying to figure out how to get more water out of the wells he has on their land since quite a few of them a drying up because of the drought. On his way home he notices someone swimming is in his water hole and he figures out that it is Rose. She is all grown up since the last time he saw her and she now has tattoos over most of her body. She is on her way to a reality she show for tattoo artists. She comes back months later after being off the show and not winning. She is attracted to Angel and he is to her but they are at odds with each other. Until he finally makes his move. When he does she goes along with him except for being tied up. This is explained later in the story. She also is actually more in control of him than he is of her he just does not know it. When she leaves again she comes back with the idea of making a house she has inherited along with Angel her new tattoo parlor. He wants the land because he needs the natural well that sits under the house. This is an interesting story with a lot of emotion from both of the main characters and both of them dealing with their pasts. I also liked the supporting characters as well. A good book. I got this book from netgalley. I gave this book 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com 

BLACK ICE: THE VAL JAMES STORY

BLACK ICE: THE VAL JAMES STORY       VALMORE JAMES & JOHN GALLAGHER

The first black American in the NHL tells his story 

Val James became the first African American player in the NHL when he took to the ice with the Buffalo Sabres in 1982, and in 1987 he became the first black player of any nationality to skate for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Born in central Florida, James grew up on Long Island and received his first pair of skates for his 13th birthday. At 16, James left home to play in Canada, where he was the only black person in junior and, often, in the whole town. While popular for his tough play and winning personality, the teenager faced racist taunts at opposing arenas, and the prejudice continued at all levels of the game. In his two NHL stints, James defined himself as a smart team player and opponent, known for his pugilistic skills.

Black Ice is the untold story of a trail-blazing athlete who endured and overcame discrimination to realize his dreams and become an inspiration for future generations.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
A fascinating story of how a young boy was around a skating rink because his father was working there and then learning how to play hockey and took that into a profession. Of course not that easy. Val James was born in Florida and then his family moved to Long Island, it was there that his father got a job working at a rink and also worked out for his son to learn how to skate. From there he started playing on a local team at the rink and as he grew he grew with the team and he was able to practise more because of being able to use the rink. On the team and every team he was on he was the only African American so you can imagine the things that were said to him not just by the opposing team but also by people in the stands. He would leave home and go to Canada to play junior hockey where he was the only African American in the town. The town accepted him along with the team and the longer he played he began to be known as an enforcer. This was back in the time when fighting happened all the time he would go on to fight some of the biggest enforcers of the day and it was said to be a show seeing the two of them going at it. He did get drafted and played a few games in the NHL it was at this time when they said in an announcement that he was first American born African American to play in the NHL. An injury to his shoulder cut his career short but he said he was grateful for the time he had, and being able to find the women he married. A good book about old time hockey and the way they used to play the game and him thanking the people that made it possible for him especially his father. A wonderful book. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 4 stars. 
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THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST               THOMAS A. KEMPIS

When does a classic become new, fresh and extremely relevant? When someone takes it 
out of an outdated format and makes it readable, searchable and understandable. The 
Imitation of Christ has been in print for over 500 years for a good reason. It is powerful, beautiful 
and heart piercing. James Watkins has taken those words and reworked them into ninety daily 
readings, arranged by topic. Whether for daily devotions or for sound insight into a particular 
issue, Watkins paraphrase blends the ancient with the modern to introduce this classic to a new 
audience, speaking to all Christians with credibility and authority and using inclusive language 
not found in the original.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

I have been reading this book on and off for over 30 years, so seeing that it was being up dated with today’s language I thought would give it a try. Being someone of an old school sort of person I made sure to keep an open mind just like I do when I read the book normally. The book is a meditation tool and one to help you in your journey on being Christ like. Forgiving people, getting out of yourself and giving to others. To look inside of yourself and how you can improve to be a better person. How to set your mind before you read the bible. You get my point. Originally this book was written over 500 years ago by a monk and has been updated occasionally. I have the Thomas O’Keefe edition which is probably the one that most people have if they have this book at all. I found this new updated translation to be enlighten and opened my eyes to passages that I have over time just read over and allowed my mind to drift. So this is a good book for that, and I cannot find fault for anyone who wants to get people to read this book. I think of this book that much. Just because you change the wording does not change the meaning that comes across from reading this book. A very good book! I got this book from netgalley. I gave this book 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

WASHINGTON & HAMILTON: THE ALLIANCE THAT FORGED AMERICA

WASHINGTON & HAMILTON      
BY: TONY WILLIAMS & STEPHEN KNOTT

The Untold Story of the Extraordinary Alliance That Forged Our Nation and the Unlikely Duo Behind It: George Washington & Alexander Hamilton

In the wake of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers faced a daunting task: overcome their competing visions to build a new nation, the likes of which the world had never seen. As hostile debates raged over how to protect their new hard-won freedoms, two men formed an improbable partnership that would launch the fledgling United States: George Washington and Alexander Hamilton.

Washington and Hamilton chronicles the unlikely collaboration between these two conflicting characters at the heart of our national narrative: Washington, the indispensable general devoted to classical virtues, and Hamilton, an ambitious officer and lawyer eager for fame of the noblest kind.

Working together, they laid the groundwork for the institutions that govern the United States to this day and protected each other from bitter attacks from Jefferson and Madison, who considered their policies a betrayal of the republican ideals they had fought for.

Yet while Washington and Hamilton's different personalities often led to fruitful collaboration, their conflicting ideals also tested the boundaries of their relationship--and threatened the future of the new republic.

From the rumblings of the American Revolution through the fractious Constitutional Convention and America's turbulent first years, this captivating history reveals the stunning impact of this unlikely duo that set the United States on the path to becoming a superpower.
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is an excellent book about the history of our country and about two of the men that helped to shape it. The book starts with an overview of each of their early lives that leads up to the Revolution. Takes you through each of their battles and then to the meeting and finally to Washington bringing Hamilton onto his staff. Early on you can see that Hamilton does not shy away from telling people what is on his mind and some times that gets him into trouble. That would be the story for the rest of his life, Washington liking his passion always trying to calm him down and get him to slow down before he would speak. Even when Washington sent Hamilton home he brought him back for the final charge to end the war. You get to see just how much of a fight it was to build the foundation of this country and how some of the men that were the ones that they were fighting in those meetings they would continue to fight with until they passed. You get see the workings of Washington’s cabinet and how Jefferson was a constant force of disruption and how he attacked both Hamilton and Washington. From an historical point of view I am glad some of these things were brought about because some of the arguments he had against both of those men he did himself when he was President and all people remember is the land purchase and not how he did not go to congress first, but when Washington was running the government he was all against everything he did saying he was circumventing the Constitution. I thought that each man was portrayed fairly for their pluses and minuses. Overall a very good book about the beginnings of our country. I got this book from netgalley. I gave this book 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

COMING FRIDAY AT 7PM PST. KATIE GRAYKOWSKI AUTHOR OF: "TEXAS ROSE forever"

Coming Friday
7pm PST.
Katie Graykowski
Author of:


Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that goes double at the Texas Rose Ranch, home to the Rose family through five generations of toil, sweat, and scandal. From the moment CanDee McCain is hired to write a history of the Roses’ empire, she’s bowled over by tall, sexy Cinco Rose. True, the man initially mistakes her for a stripper, but he certainly puts the man in manly. For the first time since her cheating ex left, stealing her novel-in-progress in the process, CanDee is ready to have a little fun.
No woman has ever made Cinco feel both so at ease and so turned on. Since his divorce, he’s preferred a saddle and solitude to risking his heart again. Yet something draws him to the fast-talking, leggy redhead. CanDee’s not just sweet; she’s smart and brave too. But her research is uncovering long-buried secrets that could jeopardize everything the Roses prize most—and destroy a love that’s just begun to bloom.

Katie Graykowski is an award-winning author who likes sassy heroines, Mexican food, and glitter nail polish. She'd love to hear from you. Visit her atwww.katiegraykowski.com.

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