Reviewed: Worth The Wait by Ava McKnight...Best of the Best rating...

Jade’s law-enforcing, gun-toting relatives scare off every potential love interest she has in the small town of Moon River, Montana, leaving her frustrated and sexually deprived. Until bad boy Vin D’Angelo roars into town on a bad-ass motorcycle…along with his devilishly handsome friend and business partner, Noah Riley. 

For one night of her very sheltered life, Jade gets everything she wants, needs and desires during an intense ménage with the two men. Come morning, though, it’s Vin’s sinfully delicious body she still craves—making him more than worth the wait. 

Unfortunately, Vin has come to Moon River to reveal secrets he’s kept for eight years. Shocking revelations that threaten his new bond with Jade when she discovers who he really is…and how intricately he’s entwined with her painful past.

"I wanted something you didn't but you gave it to me anyway. Then when I realized what it was I truly needed, you gave that to me too." *sigh* (Jade to Vin)

Wow...I continue to be blown away by each new book that I read by Ava McKnight. She writes the best spicy~hot short reads that I wish were so much longer because I never want to leave the wonderful world she creates through these stories and characters. 

I loved the concept of this story in that Jade was surrounded by the fiercely overprotective males in her family. Her dad was the Mayor, her uncle was the Sheriff and her cousin was the deputy. I was immediately drawn to Jade~just loved her character. She was sweet, feisty and funny. And Vin was exactly what she so desperately needed! Vin *sigh* I just wanted to climb up on him!! lol ;p Ava certainly knows how to write her heroes! And Vin was definitely no exception~sexy, hot, charming, a bit cocky, leather wearing, motorcycle riding, bad-ass~loved him from the start! I absolutely loved the scene where Jade and Vin met. 

Another thing that I love about Ava is that her sex scenes are off the charts HOT!! Whew...the bathroom scene between Vin and Jade almost overheated not only my laptop but me also!! lol :) And then the scene with Jade, Noah and Vin *shivers* Vin was so growly and protective of Jade in that scene that I just fell more in love with his character!! Oh...I LOVED how that scene with the three of them ended~SO FREAKING GOOD!! 

Ava McKnight's books are not only filled with romance and SMOKING HOT sex but with well written easy flowing stories that capture you from the start and leave you breathless and wanting more!! I LOVED Worth The Wait so much and I'm hoping that this is not a stand alone book because I would LOVE to read more of Jade and Vin and I definitely want to read more of Cami and Noah!! Worth The Wait has quickly become one of my favorite books and is definitely a keeper to be reread!! 

Best of the Best rating!!

***Copy provided by Ellora's Cave~Thank you so much!! :)

        

  

Reviewed: Mating Call by B.A. Tortuga...3 out of 5 rating...

Stephanie has three rules when it comes to her relationship with werewolves Shaw and Jordan—keep their lusty encounters casual, never invade each other’s space and no biting. The boys have always seemed perfectly fine with all that, leaving her plenty of time to do her magick and keep her shop going. 

Her rules come back to haunt her when the local pack leader gives Jordan and Shaw an ultimatum—find a mate or find another city to live in. Jordan and Shaw hate having to ask Stephanie to help them find a mate. She’s not just their best friend, she’s the hottest lover they’ve ever had. The boys will have their hands full convincing Steph that rules are made to be broken, before it is too late.

This is my first read from B.A. Tortuga and I enjoyed it so much. I will definitely be looking for more from her. Mating Call was sexy, short and entertaining~about 92 pages. I was immediately pulled in by such a well written story with such sweet and funny characters. The story was unique and interesting and I just loved it. I was left wanting so much more of Stephanie, Jordan and Shaw. I wasn't ready to leave them when the story ended. 

Mating Call was filled with laughter, romance, a little heartache, some tears, one sexy ~ more serious ~ lovable ~ wolf shifter and another more playful ~ sweet ~ just as lovable wolf shifter and a kick ass ~ sweet ~ funny ~ magical heroine. It was so adorable and funny reading about how Jordan and Shaw tried to make up to Stephanie for hurting her. I loved that she didn't give into them so easily but made them work a little to win her back. She was such a great heroine and I loved how she handled Jordan and Shaw.

The sex scenes were definitely hot but there was also a real intimacy shared between them not only as a trio but also as couples that added so much to the story. I especially loved the sex scene towards the end of the book. *sigh* 

I wanted Jordan, Shaw and Stephanie to get their HEA together so bad. And although the ending was happy, it felt like more of a happily-for-now. The ending confused me a little because it felt like the story wasn't finished. There were still a few things left open at the end. So, I'm hoping that this turns out to be a series, but I can't find any information that this is the case. *crossesfingers*  I definitely want to read more about Brett and Wendy. 

Just a great story that was a quick read but lacked nothing. 3 out of 5 rating!! 

***Copy provided by Ellora's Cave~Thank you so much!! :) 

         

  

Reviewed: Bo & Reika by R.E. Butler...4 out of 5 rating...

She's on the run for her life ...
As a child, she-wolf healer Reika Snow was promised as a mate to three were-lynxes to prevent a war between her pack and the lynx clan. Her freedom is coming to an end as her twenty-third birthday arrives. With her bleak future as the subjugated bride of the three males looms near, she does the only thing she can think of ... she runs. With the lynxes hot on her tail, the only thing she can do is pray she can find safety, somewhere.
He's not going to let her get far ...
Bo Elliot, highly ranked member of the Tressel wolf pack, rescues a she-wolf from the claws of three were-lynxes as they attempt to capture her. When she awakens, he's surprised to find himself staring into the beautiful blue eyes of his truemate. With his bum leg, Bo doesn't want to tie Reika down to a wounded male like himself by acknowledging that they're mates, but he vows to set her free from the lynxes and give her back her life. It will take every trick in Bo's book to keep Reika from taking off on her own in a misguided attempt to spare him from getting tangled up in the hot mess of her life, but Bo will do anything for his truemate, even if it means walking away once she's free.
This book contains a scarred wolf with a heart of gold, a she-wolf healer who wants to protect her truemate at any cost, and a wolf-on-lynx battle that will determine where Reika spends the rest of her life. Readers should expect possessive werewolves, passionate sex, neck biting, and the kind of horniness that only the full moon can bring. 

This has quickly become one of my favorite series. R.E. Butler has such a way of telling her stories that allow the reader to escape into this wonderful world she created. The stories are well written and entertaining and filled with such lovable interesting characters that you just can't help but root for their HEA. I fall more in love with these characters with each new story. This was definitely one of my favorites of the series along with Jason & Cadence and Linus & The Angel. 

I have been waiting for Bo's book ever since reading Jason & Cadence and I was so not disappointed!! Bo *sigh*~ Just loved him!! Reika was such a great character~she was the perfect heroine for him. I was immediately drawn to her and her story. The beginning of the book definitely had my heart pounding~so good!! I was pulled right into the story and was nervously waiting for Reika to make her way to Bo. Bo...He was so sweet and caring and he had suffered so much pain with his leg both physically and emotionally.  I loved how Bo and Reika new that they were mates but denied it because bother were trying to protect the other. They just wanted the best for each other. The definitely had some HOT sex!! Oh... and the scene with them outside and Bo with the ice~Yikes!! lol  I loved the scene when Bo tells Reika that she can't lick other men to heal them without him being there with her. So funny. They were so adorable together. 

I loved being able to continue to read about some of my favorite characters~Jason and Cadence, Linus and Karly, Michael and Shyne, and Logan. Oh...I cannot wait for Logan's book next. I am also so interested in Shane and his brothers and I hope that even though they are of a different pack, they will get their own books also. 

Bo's story was definitely worth the wait and I am so looking forward for more in the series. 

4 out of 5 rating!!

***ARC provided by R.E. Butler~Thank you so much!! 

             

  

Reviewed: A Hometown Boy by Janice Kay Johnson...BEST OF THE BEST rating!...

Prosecutor David Owen has fond memories of growing up in small-town Washington State. But he outgrew that place—and his family—long ago and hasn't felt the need to return. Until the day a tragedy shakes the town and calls him back to a community desperate for hope and healing. In the emotional fallout, he never expects to find Acadia Henderson again. For one teenage summer they hovered on the edge of a sweet attraction before she moved away. Now as adults, that same attraction is there… only, hotter and way more intense. This seems like the wrong time to find a connection. But it could be the perfect time to move on… with each other.

WOW...When I decided to read A Hometown Boy, I was expecting the story to be focused on a sweet romance that occurred from some sort of tragic event.  I mean look how sweet the cover is!! What I got...TOTALLY. BLEW. ME. AWAY. I was so not prepared for such a powerfully emotional story.  It is so well written and immediately captured and held my attention till the end.  I could go on and on, but I will try to keep it short and I will try not to give away any spoilers. :)

The book starts out the day of the tragedy and is told through several character's POVs. The beginning was both sad and disturbing to read because this type of thing happens far to often in society today. It showed how so many lives are affected and made me think about how not only the victims and their families suffer but also how the family of the killer suffers and in this case, how Robbie suffered as well. 

Up till this story, I never really gave much thought as to how the family of the killer suffers just as much, if not more in certain cases. They not only have to deal with their own personal grief but at the same time are grieving over the hurt or loss of any victims and  dealing with the guilt and responsibility they feel~as well as other peoples harsh treatment towards them. It was truly a heart~breaking read and I felt for each of the characters. I didn't think it was possible for me to feel badly for Robbie, but I did. The scenes when David sees Robbie's apartment for the first time and then David's words at his funeral and Robbie's self-portrait~had me in tears.  

I definitely sympathized with David and Acadia right form the start. I just loved them together. The scenes where they remembered their childhood growing up were so sweet. And I loved how their romance grew out of friendship. Acadia was such a great character.

I loved the way she was able to see past the tragedy and support and defend David while she herself was also grieving. Because he so needed her and he tried his best to comfort her in return. I thought Janice wrote David's character so well. He was trying to take care of his mother while trying to hold everything together. Loved him!! So, of course, I wanted David and Acadia to get their HEA. lol :) 

A Hometown Boy showed that even out of the worst tragedy, some lives can be changed for the better. Even though the ending was great~I would have loved an epilogue to show the characters a few years later. I definitely shed more than a few tears but there was also romance, friendship, healing, forgiveness, some laughter and a HEA that left me with a good feeling at the end. 

I will definitely be looking for more from Janice Kay Johnson and I cannot highly recommend this book enough!! 

***This may sound corny, but I have no other way to describe my feelings about this book but to say that I truly feel that I am a better person after reading A Hometown Boy. This book changed the way I define exactly who the victims are in tragedies because they have so very many different faces and there are so many different forms of suffering.***

***ARC obtained per NetGalley and Harlequin~Thank you!! 

        

  

Wishing You And Yours A Safe And Happy New Year...

Happy New Year from Belle's Book Bag

A New Year Book: The William S Club by Riley Banks...

Seven years ago, Charlotte Burke changed her name and fled Australia, swearing never to return. Now in London, working as a journalist for The Daily Telegraph, Charlotte has put her old life behind her; a life scarred by memories of her mother’s suicide and her father’s criminal history. However, Charlotte’s past crashes into her present when she is invited on an exclusive Harvey Incorporated press trip. 

The William S Club, the shadowy powerbrokers at the helm of Harvey Incorporated, use Charlotte to draw out her father who worked for them before being imprisoned. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, plunging Charlotte into a dangerous cat and mouse game played out across three continents, drawing her ever closer to Sydney and their ultimate showdown. 

With a dangerous psychopath on the loose and the bodies piling up, Charlotte turns to Damon Harvey. Is he someone she can trust or is he just another cog in The William S Club’s deadly game?

  

  

A New Year Book: Yours At Midnight by Robin Bielman...

Lyric Whetsone only had eyes for Quinn Sobel's brother Oliver, until a car crash took Oliver's life on New Year's Eve. Then, a moment of shared grief between Quinn and Lyric became something more impassioned, something that frightened Quinn so much he ran from Lyric's bed and her life, disappearing for four long years. 

Now Quinn's back for another New Year's Eve, struggling for closure, desperate to leave his grief in the past and make amends with the girl of his dreams.

But Lyric has a secret--one that could drive Quinn from her life forever. Will Quinn run away from the love and acceptance he's always wanted...or will he claim his New Year's kiss and make her his at midnight?