Broken Pieces | Riley Hart

Can three broken pieces make a whole?

Josiah Evans is the orphan who lost both his parents. He’s sweet, shy, and all heart. He wants nothing more than to be loved.

Mateo Sanchez is the son of a gang leader. He’s seen it all, and never hesitates to do what needs to be done, no matter what it is.

Tristan Croft is the wealthy attorney who clawed his way up from the bottom to rule his own world. He’ll never depend on anyone but himself again.

Three men who couldn’t be more different…and yet, as their lives intersect they find an uncommon balance that calms the storms inside each of them, and ignites fires hotter than they ever thought imaginable.

 

Archer's Voice | Mia Sheridan

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees. 

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

KGI Series | Maya Banks

I've been on an contemporary romance kick lately. The KGI series revolves around six brothers that had served in the military. The brothers created their own elite family run business, Kelly Group International. From intelligence gathering to covert operations, this family does it all. I sorta, kinda, became obsessed with the series. I'm in the midst of reading the fifth book. There's a great plot with hot military men in dangerous situations. There's a lot of action, character development and you just can't help but fall in love with the brothers and their teams. On the other hand it's a hit or a miss with the female leads. If you're searching for a fun romantic-suspense, look no further!
Rating: ★★★★☆

Content Advisory: This book is intended for mature audiences and contains explicit sexual activity. 
 
KGI Series in order:

• Book 1, The Darkest Hour, September 2010.
• Book 2, No Place to Run, December 2010.
• Book 3, Hidden Away, March 2011.
• Book 4, Whispers in the Dark, January 2012.
• Book 5, Echoes at Dawn, July 2012.
• Book 5.5, Softly at Sunrise, August 2012.
• Book 6, Shades of Gray, December 2012.
• Book 7, Forged in Steele, June 2013.
• Book 8, After the Storm, January 2014.
• Book 9, When Day Breaks, June 2014.
• Book 10, Darkest Before Dawn, TBR

Goodreads

Maya Banks Website

The Substitute | Tionne Rogers

“I understand this is all new to an inexperienced youth like yourself. I was half expecting your denial, but I'm willing to wait, that you become my lover. I will provide, take care and see that no harm falls upon you, as long as you respect me and behave according to your status. As I said, you are the most adorable thing that had caught my attention in years. You have to be mine and I have every intention to win you over.” 

“I'm 44 and way past the age for playing. You are everything I've dreamed of for a lover and a companion in life. Your beauty and innocence makes you perfect for me."

With these words, Konrad von Lintorff, a Swiss German banker declared his intentions to a 19 years old penniless student. Guntram was young, kind hearted and exactly looking as Konrad's former lover. Can a young sweet boy survive the High Finance World and the love of a possessive and violent man? Follow Guntram's diary through a story of intrigue, love, sex, betrayal, secret societies, deceptions and murder.

Take This Regret | Amy Lichtenhan

Publisher:Writer's Coffee ShopDate Published: August 1, 2011
Pages: 252

Romance, contemporary, chick-lit

There are some mistakes we make that we will regret for the rest of our lives. For Christian Davison, it was the day he betrayed Elizabeth Ayers. For five years, Christian has regretted the day he walked away from his family and will do anything to win them back. Can Elizabeth forgive someone who has committed the unforgivable? Or are there some wounds that go so deep they can never heal?

I have to say, the plot caught my attention, but it didn't keep it for long. Christen and Elizabeth are dating in college and are headed for law school, when Elizabeth finds out she's pregnant. Christen didn't take the news well and gave her an ultimatum, him or the baby. You see, Christen has a plan, he will complete law school and work for his father, a baby will not fit into their lives at the moment. Elizabeth walks out the door and heads to her family in San Diego after a difficult pregnancy.

Five years later, Christen is opening a new law firm in San Diego and sees a child in a grocery store. He feels a remarkable kinship with her. With the regret of betraying Elizabeth, he decides to look her up and finds out she's living only a couple of miles away. This book is about a second chance.

Christen Davison is flawed, he is selfish, manipulative and irresponsible. After five years of regret and reflection he redeems himself, he is endearing and praiseworthy. A good father to a wonderful little girl. Elizabeth Ayers is admirable in the beginning, becoming a single mother is a terrifying journey. When Christen comes back into their lives, she became very selfish, she wasn't putting her daughter first. She refused to see her own flaws. She did not take upon herself culpability of having a child because of unsafe sex, after all it takes two to tango. She became an annoying heroine, very spiteful and indifferent.

Pros: This book has two point of views, Christen and Elizabeth, which is great to see the depth of emotions and growth of each character. It was great to see that Elizabeth didn't forgive Christen quickly but the story progressed to show her mindset. I liked how Lizzie was there throughout the book and not pushed to the back as a character.

Cons: Christen became extremely sappy and it didn't feel real. The book became extremely superfluous. There are grammatical errors throughout the book, but not enough to truly distract. Lastly, the ending was anti-climatic.

I can't say I loved this book, however if you need something to pass the time and are not too picky, you may want to try this one out.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

  Amazon  |  Chapters.Indigo

Treasure | Megan Derr

The Lost Gods #1

Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Date Published: January 24, 2012
Pages: 272

LGBQT, fantasy, romance.

Nine gods ruled the world, until the ultimate betrayal resulted in their destruction. Now, the world is dying and only by restoring the Lost Gods can it be saved.

Nine hundred years ago, the Dragons of the Three Storms, gods of chaos, tried to destroy their land of Kundou. Only by rising up and slaying the Dragons and stealing their power was Kundou saved. Now, that power resides in the royal family and grants them the right to rule.

But that power comes at a terrible price, and Prince Nankyokukai is determined that he will be the last to pay it—even if it means surrendering his chance with the man he has waited for his entire life.


As a fan of Megan Derr, I was surprised I had not read this one.

I liked the world building although it seemed incomplete, I'm assuming because the other countries will be detailed in the following books. The unique culture and rituals were impressive. Quite a few plot twists that kept me rooted to the book. About two thirds in, the story was monotonous. Nothing really happened, other than sex that is. Towards the end it picked up once more, and the ending completely caught me off guard. It came out of nowhere to be honest, there was no foreshadowing or impression that it was possible.

I didn't like the multiple POVs. It started off with the story revolving around Kyo and Kin, but somehow Taka and Raiden had larger segments as the book went on and we saw less of Kyo and Kin. Two POVs are more than enough, otherwise it's hard to know who to focus on.

The characters were great. Both Kyo and Kin had strong personalities. Kyo had many self-pity moment and other times he portrayed the spoiled, cold prince. Kin on the other hand was the angry, half merman character who was nonetheless charming. Taka, Kyo's secretary, was cantankerous and rather annoying at times. He was my least favourite character. Finally Raiden was not very memorable. He was cheeky, flippant and liked to get under Taka's skin. His character was truly not important until the end.

Overall I enjoyed this book and will continue to the next.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Amazon  |  The Book Depository  |  Chapters.Indigo

Grim | M.K. Eidem

King Grim Vasteri is the strongest and most feared warrior in the Tornian Empire. He is the King of Luda, blood brother to the Emperor and his line will die with him. He will have no offspring for no female would join with him for once he was scarred he was considered 'unfit'. The Tornian Empire has been dying ever since the great infection caused the birth of females to become a rarity. Since then they have been searching the known universes for compatible females. The Emperor's discovery of a compatible female on a slave ship changed that. He'd ordered Grim to find his Empress' home world so more 'unprotected' females could be obtained, knowing Grim would never be allowed to Join with one.

Lisa Miller is a widowed mother of two little girls, Carly and Miki. Her husband died just a year ago, after a long battle with cancer and she misses him immensely. Friends want her to start dating again but in her heart, she knows there isn't a man on the planet she could love like her Mark. Who could love their girls like their own. Therefore, she'll stay alone.
When Lisa is discovered 'unprotected' at her husband's grave, she wakes on an alien ship heading for an alien world. Refusing to accept this she confronts the large males, demanding she be returned to her children. Seeing his chance to have a female, Grim agrees to accept and protect her offspring, if she agrees to Join with him and only him. Realizing this is the only way she can retrieve her children Lisa agrees and the Tornian Empire changes forever.