Book review: A CAPTIVE SITUATION, by Tijan

Kings of New York #3

Jake & Sawyer

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was so surprised to start this book and not get sucked into the story, as is usual when I read a Tijan book.  The heroine, Sawyer, is so distracted and clueless, like she’s not all in her head, as she visits New York, does some touristy stuff, and starts loitering outside the building where her cousin Graham works.  Her behavior is so bizarre, no wonder she’s picked up by the police and taken to a precinct. 

Incredibly, Sawyer had wasted eighteen years of her life on a loser who used her to help him further his career goals, then when he got her best friend pregnant, he dumped her and cancelled their wedding.  I was asking myself: how can you have not seen any red flags along the way? Usually Tijan’s heroines are plucky and smart, but this one felt like a mental case.  Those wasted eighteen years really hurt me! So Sawyer traveled to New York City on the week her wedding would have been, to distract herself and find her cousin Graham, son of an estranged aunt, whom she’s never met.  She’s found loitering in front of the building where he works, is taken to a police precinct and left there, again aimless and clueless.

Jake Worthing, whom we’ve met before on the previous books of this series, had met Sawyer on the subway, saw her having a moment, asked if she needed an ambulance, then left her there.  Later on, he arrives at the precinct looking for his addict cousin who has been arrested again, finds Sawyer there, and brings her with him and Val.  And then we’re taken on a crazy rollercoaster ride of Mafia shenanigans, a war for turfs among Mafia lords, old friends Trace and Ashton, Sawyer’s crazy aunts who think they are cyber sleuths, and all kinds of fun stuff.  And here is when I got really engaged with the book, now in familiar Tijan territory.

The story is convoluted, fantastic, with so many twists and turns I got whiplash, super entertaining and riveting. The story started with the insta-lust that is so frequent with Tijan’s characters, and ended with a love story where both characters tried to sacrifice their lives to defend their loved one. In the end, I finally got clarity on Sawyer’s haziness at the start of the story, and it made total sense. As she got involved on the action with Jake, she came to life, all the sass and smarts I expect from Tijan’s heroines came forth, and I enjoyed a hell of a ride. And the end was all I expected and needed, although I wouldn’t mind an extra epilogue (hint, hint). Another Tijan hit!

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4kjjE7G

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/ACaptiveSituation

Audible: https://bit.ly/43k7F3A

Narrated by: Amelia Hugh & Jeffrey Kafer

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3EZKUb1

A Captive Situation is book three in the Kings of New York series. It can be read as a

standalone but does mention events from books 1 & 2.

Check out the series here! https://bit.ly/41KRvyY

About the author

Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable

novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of

sass on the side. Tijan began writing after college and once she started, she was hooked.

She's written multi-bestsellers including the Fallen Crest series, Ryan's Bed, Enemies

and others.

She is currently writing many new books and series with an English Cocker she

adores.

Connect with Tijan

Website: http://www.tijansbooks.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4851199.Tijan

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tijan/e/B00DJG52QE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tijansbooks/

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/tijansreadergroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tijansbooks/

X/Twitter: www.twitter.com/tijansbooks

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@tijan_author

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tijan 

 

Book review: HOLD THE LINE, by Julia Wolf

The Kelly Ranch #2

Phoebe & Deacon

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Beautiful and so very moving! What a wonderful story, I loved every word, and loved the characters.  I love ex-con stories, love reading how they overcome the stigma of being seen as a felon and untrustworthy, how they feel unworthy of love.  In this case, Phoebe had a high school crush on Deacon, so when he moved to the apartment upstairs of hers, it was like a second chance, and she took it. He had to get over his issues in a hurry!

Deacon says that Phoebe smells like sugar, and she’s definitely sweet and beautiful inside and out.  Her family thinks she needs protection but she’s very solid and forthright.  Getting together with Deacon was as natural as breathing, in spite of his hesitation.  I saw Deacon as this man of true grit, who overcame a family of misfits, took his little sister out of that environment, did a favor to his brother and got arrested for it.  He served four years and now wants peace, to be able to work and get ahead.  I loved how Phoebe’s family, who are like royalty in this town, accepted him as one of their own, because he loved Phoebe so hard and made her happy.  

The first three quarters of the story are wonderful and uplifting with some suspense coming from Deacon’s nasty older brother.  The last quarter is heartbreaking with nail-biting suspense.  

I loved seeing Deacon’s transformation from a taciturn man of few smiles, to a guy who laughs and jokes, to the guy who cries when his beloved is in danger and hurt.  He opened his heart and his mind, and Phoebe made him whole.  Super romantic and just plain beautiful!

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://bit.ly/42ifANK

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/43Y0Bd1

About the author

Julia Wolf writes sexy rockers, broken bad boys, snarky heroines, and bad ass women. She's a firm believer in happily ever afters, no matter how rocky the road is to get there.

Julia lives in Maryland with her husband and three crazy, beautiful children. When she's not writing romance, she's reading it. Some of her favorite things are, in no particular order: goats, books, coffee, and Target.

 

Connect with Julia

Website: http://juliawolfwrites.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17563191.Julia_Wolf

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Julia-Wolf/author/B078VDJ3Z1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJuliaWolf

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2086152844974595

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjuliawolf/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuliaIsWriting

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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorjuliawolf/

Book review: TORE UP, by Abbi Glines

Mississippi Smoke #1

Bane & Halo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

The author promised angst and heartbreak and wow, did she deliver.  I lost count of how many times I cried because it was so devastating.  Talking about what happened spoils the story so let me just express my feelings during the story.  

Bane starts out as a violent, aggressive man.  Later I saw that he was in the grip of a huge pain, the loss of his little brother.  I saw the hate he felt for Halo, blaming her for his loss.  But then I saw Halo’s beautiful soul, a girl who suffered mistreatment from her family and yet, she kept being a sweet and kind person, her only weakness trying to win the love from the people who were supposed to love her. 

I saw how Bane changed, saw how all the guys in the house accepted Halo as one of them.  The first chapters of this book are harrowing as Halo learns all the circumstances of her new life, the truths of her old life.  I cried many times, but it felt so good!

The story evolves and it all turns good and everything that is sexy and deep.  I loved how Halo won everyone over because she’s just so good. And I loved how Bane found the peace that he had lost, as he cared for her.  

The story felt different because it’s not all mafia business, it’s all about heartbreak and healing.  There’s one gory scene but it’s all tied to the story and I can’t say it wasn’t needed because it was.  All in all, a story of redemption, a love that went wrong, but another that went right.  A girl who only wanted acceptance and love and finally found it, not without first suffering a heavy loss.  Astounding, heartbreaking, cause of a crying fest, but it was absolutely fascinating and wonderful.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/toreup

Add to your Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220223196-tore-up

Find more books by Abbi Glines: https://abbiglinesbooks.com

About the author

Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party, and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She finally moved to New England into a home that is 200 + years old with it's own ghosts. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she being born in Alabama, her life in New England is as close as she will get. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, and/or watching Netflix like the introvert that she is. 

You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. 

www.abbiglinesbooks.com

TikTok @abbiglines

Twitter: @abbiglines

Instagram: @abbiglines

Snapchat: abbiglines

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbiglinesauthor

Book review: UNDENIABLY INFATUATED, by J. Saman

Boston Irresistible Billionaires #3

Stone & Tinsley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the best romances this author has written! It was undeniably delicious and so steamy!  Stone and Tinsley have the best chemistry, the best compatibility.  To think, for years they have been near each other while Tinsley was with Forrest, Stone’s younger brother, but it wasn’t until she stowed away in his sailboat when he escaped to reset his life that they got together and realized they’re soulmates.

It was so angsty to have this huge desire to be with someone, to know they’re the one, and believe it’s forbidden because she was Forrest’s ex-girlfriend.  Then to read all their good times, only to know it will be temporary, then part. It was too sad!

This author kills me with the forbidden trope, I was so frustrated! I wanted Kinsley and Stone to get together, but I also understood that they both love Forester and don’t want to hurt him.  And then on top, we get another stalker, suspense, anxiety, and let’s not talk about the paparazzi!

I loved reading how Tinsley and Stone got to know each other, discover traits they love, and the infinite sadness at their separation. The push and pull was torturous, and I wanted to say: the heck with Forrest, he was being so annoying.

I love the togetherness, the big bunch of friends and family getting together to help, the sexy times, how they brought out the best in each other, how they were vital in helping the other turn their loves around. I loved Grandma Olivia and her huge wisdom and little push at the most convenient time.  It’s a mix of events and feeling that this author developed that made this boom so memorable. Loved it!

Purchase links

FREE with Kindle Unlimited

http://geni.us/UndeniablyInfatuated

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3WEnsXe

About the author

J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 40 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side—especially for their women.

Connect with J. Saman

Website: http://jsamanbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14923699.J_Saman

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Saman/author/B01FOIUR46

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jsamanbooks

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jsamansradtasticreaders

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