Ireland was always the smart one. My Irritatingly perfect twin sister. I was the wild one. Her exact opposite. She was the voice of reason. She kept us safe.
She was my best friend.
Then she met him,
and he took her away.
Now I’m left trying to pick up the pieces they left behind. It’s hard being alone, when you’ve never done it before.
Now he’s back…
She wasn’t enough for him, and what they had didn’t last.
He wants me…
He plans to keep me.
I should run, or at least fight back.
The only problem is…
I don’t know who he is.
About HB Jasick
HERE ARE A FEW “FUN” FACTS ABOUT ME:
I live in Springfield, Missouri with my husband, and our two daughters. We have a cat that thinks she’s a dog, an obnoxious Cocker Spaniel named Freckles, and two fish. I actually like the fish.
I have a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics and History Education, that I don’t actual use, because I prefer to substitute teach instead. I lead the Brownies to my daughters’ Girl Scout Troop , and I review books for my little tiny blog on the side.
I enjoy working out, when I can, which is not very often. I’m also determined to turn my house into my very own version of the library that Beast gave Belle, with bookshelves on every available wall.
My Favorite things include: movies, music, books, dachshunds, the color brown, LISTS, The Denver Broncos, sushi, coffee, Moscato d’Asti, and terrorizing all of my friends.
My favorite types of stories include Dark Romance, Psychological Thrillers, Dystopians, Horror, Suspense, Memoirs, and Historical Non-Fiction.
My Favorite Books: Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy & Public Enemies by Brian Burrough
Ember-Raine Winters lives in sunny California with her two beautiful kids and a wolf. Also known as Apache her pure white Siberian Husky. She loves writing romance and reading just about anything she can get her hands on. And, football! She loves watching football and going to games. It’s one of her favorite ways to unwind. She dislikes the super-hot temperatures in her city and exercise. She hates to exercise but somehow her sister still gets her to do it every day. She also thinks it’s completely awkward talking about herself in third person. Ember loves connecting with readers so don’t be afraid to stalk her and drop her a line on social media.
I received an advanced/review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content and honesty of my review.
This book is suitable for 18+ due to mature content.
Our planet, Mortuus, is lost and dying. A desolate place where a few lone survivors dwell. My men have lost hope. Our future is bleak. Longevity is a luxury we can’t afford. The most we can hope for is survival. We’ve all but given up when an opportunity presents itself.
Five females—a chance at a future. Procuring these women went against everything I’d been taught, but desperate times call for desperate measures. They’re ours now. Asleep and made ready for breeding. We won’t die out—lost and forgotten. It’s our destiny to grow and once again inhabit our lonely planet.
I am Breccan Aloisius, the forgotten commander. My people will have the future they deserve. I’ll make sure of it.
My mind is made up…until she wakes and nothing goes as planned.
I’ve been eagerly anticipating this book since K. Webster first announced she was releasing a science fiction romance. Funnily enough, I had never read any sci-fi romance until I saw that K recommended Ruby Dixon. I thought, sure, K is one of my favorite authors, so why not give one of her favorites a shot? I read the first book in Ruby’s Ice Planet Barbarians series and I was hooked. Since then, I’d been secretly hoping K would write a sci-fi romance, but I know that just because you enjoy reading something doesn’t necessarily mean you are able or willing to write it, so I had no idea if it would be anything she’d be doing. Imagine my delight when my wishes came true!
So, let me begin by giving you a basic summary of this story. The people (read: aliens) of planet Mortuus–a dangerous and desolate planet filled with all sorts of things that will try to kill you–are the last of their kind. The worst part about this is that they’re all male, and unless they find females who they can viably breed with, their entire race will die out. In desperation, a few of the morts find cryochambers of female aliens (read: humans) and they quickly bring them back to their home with the intent of impregnating them and bringing hope of a future to their people. One of these women happens to wake up unexpectedly–effectively halting their original plan.
The female in question is Aria, a very famous actress back home who had recently been taking on some more risque roles due to some selfish “advice” from her manager. I won’t go into detail, but Aria had a rough life, and while there are some things she misses from the planet she comes from, it’s clear there’s not a whole lot she’s left behind of value. Now, as would be expected, she’s absolutely terrified when she wakes up to see these massive, snowy skinned, fanged men watching her expectantly, and she has absolutely no idea what’s going on–just that she’s scared witless. Before long, the commander, Breccan, takes interest in her more than just as a living incubator, and much to her surprise, she soon begins to have some interest in him as well.
While I mostly enjoyed this book, there were parts of it that I wasn’t thrilled with. While I understand the dire predicament the morts find themselves in, that doesn’t make it okay that they want to impregnate these women without their knowledge or their consent. Thankfully, at least Aria agrees and thinks that’s pretty awful, too, and decides to make it her mission to set them straight. Also, while I grew to like Breccan and Aria together, there were a few parts in this book that sort of fell a little flat for me. Honestly though, that could very well be more to do with my mood at the time of reading it than the book itself, because in the end, I felt like it was a good story and aside from the whole trying to get unconscious women pregnant thing (which is rectified by the end), I liked what I read. I do think I’m going to enjoy the next book a little more because I think I’m going to like that hero a bit better, but by no means was this book bad in any way.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of science fiction romance and likes their heroes a little otherworldly 😉
Happy reading!
Follow me for more book-related reviews, news, and more! 🙂
Our planet, Mortuus, is lost and dying.
A desolate place where a few lone survivors dwell.
My men have lost hope. Our future is bleak.
Longevity is a luxury we can’t afford.
The most we can hope for is survival.
We’ve all but given up when an opportunity presents itself.
Five females—a chance at a future.
Procuring these women went against everything I’d been taught, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
They’re ours now.
Asleep and made ready for breeding.
We won’t die out—lost and forgotten.
It’s our destiny to grow and once again inhabit our lonely planet.
I am Breccan Aloisius, the forgotten commander.
My people will have the future they deserve.
I’ll make sure of it.
My mind is made up…until she wakes and nothing goes as planned.
The Vanished Specialist
The Lost Planet Series, Book Two
by K Webster & Nicole Blanchard Publication Date: April 3, 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Sci-Fi, Romance
Continue the out-of-this-world Lost Planet Series with Calix’s story.
About K. Webster
K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers.
Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.
Nicole Blanchard is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of gritty romantic suspense and heartwarming new adult romance. She and her family reside in the south along with their two spunky Boston Terriers and one chatty cat.
Two Witches and a Whiskey Annette Marie
(The Guild Codex: Spellbound, #3)
Publication date: February 8th 2019
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Three months ago, I landed a job as a bartender. But not at a bar—at a guild. Yeah, the magic kind.
I’m not a badass mage like my three smokin’ hot best friends. I’m not a sorcerer or an alchemist, or even a wussy witch. I’m just a human, slinging drinks like a pro and keeping my non-magical nose out of mythic business. Seriously, I know my limits.
So why am I currently standing in a black-magic ritual circle across from a fae lord?
Somewhere behind me, my three mage friends are battling for their lives. Somewhere near my feet is the rogue witch I just knocked out with a stolen spell. And I have about five seconds to convince this very angry sea god not to shmoosh me like a bug.
I’m pretty sure this wasn’t part of the job description.
— THE GUILD CODEX: SPELLBOUND
Three Mages and a Margarita (#1)
Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (#2)
Two Witches and a Whiskey (#3)
Shouts burst from Aaron’s table in a mix of triumph and dejection. Half the table lifted their shot glasses and tossed them back, Aaron included. He slammed his glass down and growled.
“That one wasn’t fair,” he complained. “Lyndon, your turn.”
Surveying the gathering, I counted most of our top combat mythics—from mages like Aaron, Kai, and Laetitia, to sorcerers like Andrew, Lyndon, Gwen, and Zora. Even Girard, the first officer, had joined in. This was the elite faction of the guild—the ones who claimed the toughest jobs and took on the deadliest opponents.
Ezra was part of the circle too, but he’d slid his chair back and didn’t have a glass. He never drank much, stopping long before he got tipsy.
Whiskey bottle in hand, I leaned against his chair. “What’s going on?”
“Drinking game,” Ezra replied with a grin. “Going around the circle, each person shares something they’ve done or experienced on a job. Anyone who hasn’t had a similar experience has to drink.”
“Since Darius covered it so thoroughly,” Lyndon declared, “I want to know. Who’s been bitten by a vamp? If you haven’t, cheers!”
Groaning, Aaron downed his refilled glass. Wasn’t he happy to be vamp-bite-free? Or maybe he was so many shots in that he’d prefer pointy fangs over more liquor. Laetitia, Gwen, Andrew, and two others drank as well, but Kai didn’t.
Zora pushed her sleeve up and displayed an ugly half-circle scar on her forearm. “The bastard nearly ripped a chunk out of me. It happened back at my old guild and their healer wasn’t top- notch.”
As various mythics whistled appreciatively, Lyndon pulled his shirt collar aside. A similar scar marked the spot where his neck and shoulder joined. “She drained a solid pint before my team caught up. I don’t normally relish a kill, but that one didn’t bother me.”
They passed the whiskey around, refilling their shot glasses.
Andrew, a skilled defensive sorcerer and frequent team leader, leaned back in his chair. “I want to see who hasn’t tripped and fallen on their face in the middle of a fight. And when you drink, we’ll all know you for the liar you are.”
As everyone laughed, Kai alone lifted his shot and downed it. Smacking it on the table, he raised his chin in challenge. “Who’s calling me a liar?”
I snickered when no one said a word. If there was ever a mythic who hadn’t wiped out in a battle, it was super-ninja Kai.
Girard stroked his beard. “My turn, isn’t it?”
Aaron and Kai exchanged despairing glances.
Smirking, Ezra half-whispered to me, “Girard will try to make everyone drink.”
The officer shot him a grin, then lifted his glass in a mocking toast. “Not to get too macabre, but Lyndon brought up kills, so. If you haven’t seen at least six bodies in one place, drink.”
“What?” Gwen pointed accusingly. “What kind of horrific shit have you been sticking your greasy beard in, Girard? Who stumbles across six piss-reeking corpses?”
Ah, Gwen. Every time she opened her foul mouth, I had to fight the urge to laugh. With her sleek blond ponytail and penchant for designer business attire, she looked like a high-end executive— an impression she ruined whenever she spoke.
Girard wagged a finger. “Drink, Gwen.”
Scowling, she tossed back her shot. Everyone else lifted theirs—except Aaron and Kai. Their smiles had vanished, their expressions grim as they stared at their shots like they wished they could drink too.
An uncomfortable silence settled over the table, then Zora grabbed my arm and pulled me in front of Ezra’s chair. “Tori, you do one!”
“Uh, me?”
His drunken grin back in full force, Aaron took my replacement whiskey bottle and stuffed a full shot into my hand in its place. “Give us a good one, Tori!”
I blinked around the table, packed with the guild’s best warriors. What could little ol’ human me say? What had I done that none of them had? Well, there were a few contenders. Flown with a dragon? Made a darkfae scream like a sissy girl? Punched a rogue druid in the nose? Problem was, I couldn’t talk about any of that.
My gaze dropped to Aaron. “Who here has thrown a drink on three mages at once?”
Laughing groans circled the table. Even Girard had to take a shot.
“Wait!” Laetitia lowered her whiskey. “I spilled a coffee across Darius, Tabitha, and myself once. Does that count?”
The table debated, then decided it counted. Zora gave me a commiserating slap on the hip, making me stumble backward into Ezra, still seated in his chair. He steadied me with a hand on my waist.
“Good try!” Zora exclaimed. “You almost had it, but no one’s managed to make everyone drink yet.”
“Tori could have,” Kai interjected. “All she had to do was say ‘kissed Aaron.’ Then we all would have lost.”
The guys howled with laughter and Aaron snorted.
Zora turned to Alistair, an older man I knew only as the most powerful mage in the guild. He was rarely here, too busy hunting the scariest bad guys both in the city and outside it.
“Last round, Alistair,” she said. “I can’t handle any more whiskey, so this is your final chance to claim ultimate victory. Go big or go home.”
Alistair tugged thoughtfully on his snow-white beard. Deeply tanned and weathered, with full- sleeve tattoos on his sinewy arms, he oozed badass-ness. I leaned forward, eager to hear his challenge.
“Hmm. All right, this is mine: Who among us has fought the ultimate opponent?” His dark stare roved around the table. “Who’s fought a demon mage?”
No one moved. A wordless ripple passed among the mythics as they assessed their comrades’ reactions. Cold, tangible fear crawled through the eerie silence. Then, in near perfect unison, they lifted their shots and drank.
Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
A vampire desperate for a brighter future. A wolf shifter eager to forget the past.
A killer closing in.
Still reeling from the events of December 31st, wolf shifter Emma Kingsley stumbles into the new year knowing that nothing will ever be the same. Her sanctuary—her territory—is falling to pieces around her. Danger in the forest. Danger in the village. Danger at her door.
This time of year, wolf’s in season.
The cruel promises of two rogue vampires cling to her like a second skin, but so does the possibility for something more with the vampire who saved her life. Despite her growing feelings, she knows in her heart that Calder is a part of this madness.
And when the truth comes to light, will she ever be able to trust him again?
Forced to unite for the sake of their beloved boarding school, two former enemies are torn between doing what is necessary…
And following their hearts.
The fresh start that vampire Calder so desperately craved is shot straight to Hell when the past comes back to bite him. Had circumstances been different, he would have fallen back on old habits—and run.
But now that Emma is involved, he knows the game has changed. A price must be paid, and if it keeps her alive, Calder Holloway will pay it a thousand times over.
Even if that means forgetting his feelings for the beautiful shifter. Every. Last. One.
Because those messy, messy feelings are what got him into trouble in the first place.
In the dark days of winter, an ancient evil emerges from the shadows. Blood will be spilled. Lines will be drawn. Lives will be lost.
Only one thing is certain: no one is safe.
Not even creatures of the night.
Dark Days is a standalone enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance duet. While Book 1 has a cliffhanger, all will be resolved with a supernatural happily-ever-after in Book 2.
As soon as my hand settled over the nape of her neck, Emma bolted upright, shrugging me off. “You don’t have to… Just go, Calder, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Well,” she wiped at her cheeks, “that’s not on you to fix.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“Calder—”
Oh, fuck it. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, dragging her out from under Sampson and straight to me. Emma fought back, just as I knew she would, but not as hard as she could have—and less still when the tears started up again.
“Calder, just stop…”
I maneuvered her easily, lifting the shifter onto my lap, her back to my chest, both arms snapped tight around her in an embrace she couldn’t break even if she tried. And she tried. Emma pushed at my arms, drove her elbows into my ribs—weeping. She fought until she broke, until she went limp against me, body wracked with sobs, her nails sinking into my forearms like a steel bear trap. Pain flickered at the indents. I ignored it, all of it, and just held her, my face buried in her hair, drowning in lavender.
Our hearts beating as one.
Liz is a Canadian author who grew up in the Middle East. She has a degree in Bioarchaeology from Western University, and when she isn’t writing about her own snarky characters, she is reading about other people’s snarky characters, babying her herb garden, loitering on social media, or taking care of her furbabies.
Liz dabbles in both paranormal and contemporary erotic romance. Her paranormals are usually dark and angsty, and her contemporaries are stress-free smutfests, but you’ll find both full of feels. Most of all, she loves writing realistic characters in fantastical settings.
I received an advanced/review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content and honesty of my review.
This book is suitable for 18+ due to mature content.
A vampire desperate for a brighter future. A wolf shifter eager to forget the past.
A killer closing in.
Still reeling from the events of December 31st, wolf shifter Emma Kingsley stumbles into the new year knowing that nothing will ever be the same. Her sanctuary--her territory--is falling to pieces around her. Danger in the forest. Danger in the village. Danger at her door.
This time of year, wolf's in season.
The cruel promises of two rogue vampires cling to her like a second skin, but so does the possibility for something more with the vampire who saved her life. Despite her growing feelings, she knows in her heart that Calder is a part of this madness.
And when the truth comes to light, will she ever be able to trust him again?
Forced to unite for the sake of their beloved boarding school, two former enemies are torn between doing what is necessary...
And following their hearts.
The fresh start that vampire Calder so desperately craved is shot straight to Hell when the past comes back to bite him. Had circumstances been different, he would have fallen back on old habits--and run.
But now that Emma is involved, he knows the game has changed. A price must be paid, and if it keeps her alive, Calder Holloway will pay it a thousand times over.
Even if that means forgetting his feelings for the beautiful shifter. Every. Last. One.
Because those messy, messy feelings are what got him into trouble in the first place.
In the dark days of winter, an ancient evil emerges from the shadows. Blood will be spilled. Lines will be drawn. Lives will be lost.
Only one thing is certain: no one is safe.
Not even creatures of the night.
Dark Days is a standalone enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance duet. While Book 1 has a cliffhanger, all will be resolved with a supernatural happily-ever-after in Book 2.
I loved the first book in this duet and I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel since I had finished it. I adore Ms. Meldon’s writing style, and she takes great care to breathe life into her characters, making you feel like they’re real people and not just words on a page.
Emma and Calder are such compelling characters; not only are they interesting, but they’re both relatable in their own ways–despite being supernatural creatures. They’re also about as different as possible, and even though it technically shouldn’t work between the two of them–partly because vampires and wolf shifters are sworn enemies–it does. Calder is the epitome of type A personality–everything has to be in its place, his clothes have to be impeccable and ironed to perfection, his living and working quarters are spotless, and he can’t stand a thing out of place. Emma, on the other hand, is messy; her office has papers and various items scattered all over the place, her housing is cluttered with clothes strewn about everywhere, and she’s constantly sporting dog hair due to her beloved canine rescues. The differences between these two are laughable, but somehow, they make it work.
These two grow much closer in this story, in part due to all the horrific events that take place throughout both books–though this one is arguably worse than the first. Somehow, Calder has discovered that he’s fallen in love with the stubborn shifter, and Emma, being her cantankerous and hot-headed self, isn’t going to make having a relationship with her easy. Part of the fun of this book is in the abrasive nature at the beginning of their relationship. Honestly, a lot of it is hilarious–especially in the first book–but most of it is angsty and gritty and oh-so-sexy. There’s a nice added depth to their relationship in this book that has more to do with feelings than just having sex because they’re attracted to each other, and that, in my opinion, makes it so much better.
This book not only explores the relationship between Emma and Calder, it also answers some crucial questions that were left open in the first book. And let me tell you, this book was packed full of information. There were several shockers that I suspected but wasn’t entirely sure of–one of them you don’t find out until nearly the end. It was exceedingly well written and I never felt like I was being bombarded with information, nor did it feel rushed or the opposite, too slow. The fossegrim from the first book plays a larger role in this one–which is something I was so hoping for; I find him incredibly interesting. I’d actually love it if this author wrote more about him, possibly where he finds his own mate? I’m not sure. I just loved his character, despite the fact that he had a part in luring unsuspecting humans to their deaths at the hands of his sister. There was something so fascinating and alluring about such a devastatingly haunted–and beautiful–creature.
Without giving too much away, I will say that despite the several heartbreaking circumstances Emma and Calder find themselves in, the ending is everything I hoped it would be. Ugh, I love this couple so much. The love that radiates from the two of them is perfect and I couldn’t be happier with this ending. Their relationship both softens them and makes them stronger, which is exactly as it should be. Also, we finally get to see Emma in wolf form! This was so beautifully written and I enjoyed being inside Emma’s head while she was in her wolf form, and I also loved Calder’s reaction to Emma’s wolf. Ahh, so, so good.
I loved this book. It definitely met my expectations for a sequel and honestly, I’m hoping the author decides to either add a novella of these two or write in the same universe with another character (preferably the fossegrim … ahem) because I’m not ready to say goodbye to these amazing characters yet. But, of course, it’s the author’s decision and I’m sure only time will tell 🙂
I highly recommend this duet for all the paranormal romance fans out there. Definitely one of my favorite PNRs I’ve read in the last couple years. Check it out, and as always, if you do, come back and let me know what you think! 🙂
For my review of Dark Days: Semester 1, click here!
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As she slowly comes to terms with her surprising news, Kida is working to rebuild the bond between herself, James and Miles. But when a deranged student targets Miles, the trio is put to the test once again.
When will they catch a break? Can the trio stay true to each other and overcome the obstacles in their way?
Will this break them once and for all, or can they stay UNITED?
United: Part 1
Marked for Love #2
by Kiera Jayne Publication Dates: January 25, 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
After a rocky start to her unconventional relationship with James and Miles, Kida is finally starting to get comfortable with her situation. Her guys dote on her at every turn, showing that their love for her is more than enough to sustain their blossoming romance.
But the world doesn’t care about their joy. Everyone seems hellbent on tearing the trio apart, and when Kida receives some unexpected news, their union will be put to the test.
Now, more than ever, they’ll need a united front, but will Kida’s indecisiveness tear them apart?
About Kiera Jayne
Kiera Jayne writes love stories full of humour, fun, empowerment and angst. Her characters range from shy to sassy, troubled to flirty and everything in between.
Her influences include G.J. Walker-Smith, Cassandra Clare and Olivia Cunning.
She is an animal lover with wanderlust in her heart and a passion for music, history, the Aussie bush and epic television dramas. Not to mention an obsession with all things pertaining to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Who & Marvel.
Residing in Brisbane, Australia, Kiera’s home is filled to the brim with books covering a vast variety of genres.
I received an advanced/review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content and honesty of my review.
This book is suitable for 18+ due to mature content.
Sawyer's abuser is in jail, but she's still his captive. Even behind bars, the twisted and sorry excuse for a human keeps her enslaved, locked in fear, and forced to do the unthinkable to keep her past from being exposed. That is until a new guy walks into her life and tries to rescue her.Jake is the first man Sawyer has ever opened herself up to. The good, the bad, and the unbelievably ugly. But when her abuser is released from jail and manages to turn her life upside down again, Sawyer realizes that happily ever afters aren't made for her.Jake wants nothing more than to protect Sawyer. As he gets to know her and her still-looming dark past, he finds that saving a girl so lost in the scars of her life is next to impossible. But he's willing to try.
NEVER TOUCHED is a survival story about sexual abuse and the ripple effects it creates throughout a victim's life. This novel does contain details of sexual abuse, sexuality, and explicit language. Details in this story are shared in a manner as to not glorify the crime, but to show the real and long-lasting impact that abuse can cause in a victim's life.
Wow. This book was, in a word, intense. Luckily–or perhaps unluckily if you find me to be long-winded lol–I have a lot more than one word to say about it.
To begin, Sawyer has been put through hell in her short life. She’s been abused, used, and betrayed by people she should have been able to trust. She’s also been greatly taken advantage of and blackmailed after her darkest secret is exposed, and though she attempts to act tough and give off the facade that she has it all together, she’s just becoming more and more fragile. Honestly, the things this poor girl goes through would bring even the toughest person to their knees.
Sawyer isn’t always an easy character to like. She’s been hardened by her experiences and circumstances and she’s often quite sexually aggressive. I understand where she’s coming from, and since she’s the narrator, it’s a little easier to get inside her headspace during each scenario, but that doesn’t necessarily negate the fact that she makes some pretty terrible choices throughout. One choice, in particular, damages her in a way she’d never experienced before, and, if possible, leaves her a shell of her former self. I won’t say any more about it for fear of giving away spoilers, but I will say that it was by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to read about. I was absolutely devastated for her; heartbreaking is too lenient of a word to describe her feelings.
While there is definitely romance involved in this beautifully written book, the recurring theme is resilience through the darkest of times. No matter how difficult life gets, there’s always hope. It takes Sawyer a while to realize that, but with the help of a few really important people in her life, she begins to see that there’s more to life than simply existing day to day in an alcohol-induced haze.
Now, as for the romance … there are plenty of swoony moments thrown into this story. First in her life is Jake, a boxer who stands up to her bully in school and ends up becoming more important to her than she ever could have imagined. And then later on in the book, there’s Cash–her dorm neighbor in college. He ends up becoming a good friend, and he obviously adores her. Between these two guys, it’s so hard to pick a favorite and the author has done a splendid job of making you love them both.
I will say that I didn’t expect the way this story ended up, and I couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed, though at the same time I’m not sure it could have ended any other way. It was, however, wonderfully written and an all-around fantastic story. This is not an easy book to read at all, but I’m so glad I did. I had never read anything by Laney Wylde before, but this book has definitely made me a fan.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys gritty, angst-filled, dark books with a hefty dose of romance and sexiness 🙂
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Our planet, Mortuus, is lost and dying.
A desolate place where a few lone survivors dwell.
My men have lost hope. Our future is bleak.
Longevity is a luxury we can’t afford.
The most we can hope for is survival.
We’ve all but given up when an opportunity presents itself.
Five females—a chance at a future.
Procuring these women went against everything I’d been taught, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
They’re ours now.
Asleep and made ready for breeding.
We won’t die out—lost and forgotten.
It’s our destiny to grow and once again inhabit our lonely planet.
I am Breccan Aloisius, the forgotten commander.
My people will have the future they deserve.
I’ll make sure of it.
My mind is made up…until she wakes and nothing goes as planned.
About K. Webster
K Webster is the author of dozens romance books in many different genres including contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance, and erotic romance. When not spending time with her husband of twelve years and two adorable children, she’s active on social media connecting with her readers.
Her other passions besides writing include reading and graphic design. K can always be found in front of her computer chasing her next idea and taking action. She looks forward to the day when she will see one of her titles on the big screen.
Nicole Blanchard is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of gritty romantic suspense and heartwarming new adult romance. She and her family reside in the south along with their two spunky Boston Terriers and one chatty cat.
I received an advanced/review copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content and honesty of my review.
Football is my life, and coaching in the NFL is my dream. I have a doctorate in sports psychology, but the fact that I’m a woman means I couldn’t possibly know a thing about football, let alone coaching a team. At least, that’s what my critics say. Others argue a woman on the sidelines would be a distraction.
Distraction. Pfft. I’m a professional, and I certainly don’t fall for players.
When I land my dream job coaching the Boston Rebels, I realize just how difficult it will be to maintain a hands-off approach to the team. Everything about them, from their broad shoulders and thick biceps to their chiseled abs and narrow waists, makes it so I’m the one who’s having trouble staying focused.
As if that weren’t bad enough, I’m attracted to not one, but three, players. Three offensive players who keep breaking through my defenses.
I’m their coach, but absolutely nothing in my playbook prepared me for this. My head seems to understand they’re completely off-limits, but my heart is pulling a reverse play.
It’s no secret that I love Julia Clarke. She’s one of those authors that I’ll read just because I know she wrote it. In fact, her last book, Time of Enchantment, was one of my favorite reads of 2018 (also one of my favorite reads of last year was the final book in her Stardust series that she co-wrote with Autumn Reed). So, when I read the summary for The Reverse Play, I knew I had to read it. It’s completely different from her previous books, yet the same writing style that I’ve come to love from her.
Let me just tell you–I know next to nothing about football. So, I was slightly nervous about reading this book because I was afraid it would have some “technical stuff” that would fly right over my head and would impede my enjoyment of the actual storyline. Well, I needn’t have worried. Ms. Clarke wrote this book in such a way that there was a nice blend of necessary football jargon while still making it an enjoyable read for someone like me, who has no athletic bone in her body, lol.
Blake is one of my favorite heroines I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Not only is she a football coach, but she’s also a gold medal winner for Team USA. This girl is a badass. She’s incredibly strong–she has to be, being a woman in a field predominantly filled with men–but she also handles herself with grace, a hint of vulnerability, and a charming amount of humor. She has this way of showing her insecurities and weaknesses without it coming across as a “poor me” mentality. She knows she’s in the minority in the football world, but she holds her head up high and exudes confidence in her hard-earned knowledge and skill. Blake is a beautifully written and highly relatable character and I greatly enjoyed getting a peek inside her mind while reading from her perspective.
Now, the love interests … Holy freakin’ moly. Colt, Tristan, and Xavier couldn’t be more different from each other, but they have an exceptionally strong bond. They’re the best of friends as well as roommates; more like brothers than just friends. Something I wanted to touch on is that they have this little ritual–either before or after each game; I can’t remember which right off–where they grab each other’s shoulders and press their foreheads together. It’s such a cool little addition to their friendship and gives the reader a glimpse into just how close these men are.
As the story progresses and Blake battles her attraction to not one but all three of these men, you can’t help but feel your heart ache for her. She’s finally getting a chance to follow her dreams, but her heart keeps pulling her toward these guys who are not only incredibly easy on the eyes but also are each genuinely wonderful to her. She knows it’s wrong–and against the rules–to want to be with any (or all) of them, but she also can’t help the way she feels when she’s with them. It’s a precarious situation, and while I love seeing her in this position that few women work in, I also hate how she’s found these men who are perfect for her but she can’t pursue anything with them because it’s considered unethical. Agh! Chalk that up with some drama within the team, a concussion or two, and flirty glances and lingering touches and I’m already dying to find out what happens next. *screams internally*
Oh, and I should mention–Blake’s dad is the best and so adorable. He’s so supportive and it’s such a sweet thing to read. And then there’s Bastian, Blake’s best friend, who has a ridiculously huge crush on Colt. He’s hilarious and is pretty much setting the bar for best friend sidekicks in romance novels. The relationship Blake has with him and her dad is so sweet and special and it was another one of those things that added a little extra something to an already lovely story.
So, in conclusion (ooh, I sound so serious) … I loved this book. It’s my first five-star read of the year and I honestly have no negatives to say about it. I wish I understood a little bit more about football, but maybe Blake will help me out with that 😉 I highly recommend this book for any of my romance lovers out there–especially if you like sports romance and/or reverse harem!
And as always, if you do end up reading, please feel free to pop back over here and let me know what you think in the comments 🙂
Happy reading!
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