Book review: THE DARK BEFORE LIGHT, by L.M. Halloran

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And to think that I almost didn’t get the book!  The BDSM trope didn’t appeal, but the blurb of the book was so intriguing that I decided to go for it, and it turned out to be one of my 2024 favorites!

Kieran and Talia met when she was 14 and he was 18 years old.  They met in a Dublin cemetery, she was drunk, he was smoking a joint.  Talia was touring with her family, her sister took her to a pub, gave her two shots, left her, the owners threw her out and she ended up drunk in the cemetery.  Kieran found her, talked to her, and took her back to her hotel.  Not without first telling her she needed to be the queen of lions, and he would be the king. She would be ok and people would kneel at her.  She’s now 31, a psychiatrist, and an old college roommate asked her to take in a new patient.  When she finds out it’s Kieran, she makes room for him.

And this is how this fantastic story begins and took me on a journey of nanotechnology, assassination attempts, a psychiatrist who is also a sex therapist, she used to work as a dominatrix, and he used to feel guilty over losing his wife and turning into a player.  The author’s writing is sophisticated and witty, the characters are complicated and so interesting.  I loved all the psychology involved in their interactions and psyches, loved the slow burn of their attraction and the ethics involved as their attraction evolves and Talia can’t manage to separate feelings and professional actions.  

This story felt like a psychological thriller, not so much from the plot against Kieran for his nanorobotics research, but from the thrills I felt at all the psychological interactions between Kieran and Talia, and Talia’s consulting with her fellow therapist Leo Chastain.  I love anything psychological, and paired with love, sex, and the bit of BDSM involved, it felt like a dream love story. There’s also real suspense, industrial espionage, bodyguards who protect with their lives on the line, attempts at their safety, nail biting, and girl gossip.  I loved that the author inserted several humorous scenes because otherwise it would have been hugely intense, I needed the relief of some laughs!

This book needs to be enjoyed page by page, every dialogue, every interaction, all their thoughts and all their feelings.  It was an intense ride and so very enjoyable, I totally recommend it! 

Purchase links

https://a.co/d/iqBtBo7

Why you need to #ONECLICK this book…

🔥Doctor/Patient

🔥Second Chance

🔥Dislike to Obsession to Love

🔥Billionaire Romance

🔥He Falls First

🔥Suspense

🔥BDSM/kink (light)

🔥Irish Hero

🔥Spicy Contemporary Romance

🔥Characters in their 30s

🔥Female Domme

🔥Alpha Hero

🔥Possessive Hero

 

About the author

When not writing or reading, the author can be found gardening barefoot or chasing her spirited daughter. Some of her favorite things are puzzles, podcasts, and small dogs that resemble Ewoks. Home is Portland, Oregon.

Connect with L.M. Halloran:

https://www.lmhalloran.com/links/

 

Book review: THE BOSS + THE MAID = CHEMISTRY, by Louise Bay

Sweet and fun, what a wonderful and heartwarming story.  I love that we’re about to start with another group of men who are besties, billionaires and stubbornly single.  There are two Brits and four Americans. It will be fun to watch as they all fall in love, especially Joe who is a self-proclaimed player.  This is Bennett’s story, soon we’ll be enjoying Joe, Worth, Jack, Fisher, and Byron’s stories.  My favorite so far is Worth, can’t wait for his story!

Efa is wonderful, quirky, talented, determined, and completely open about her feelings and thoughts.  There’s not one dark corner in her mind and in her soul.  She’s such a refreshing change for Bennett who is so secretive, a little paranoid, wary of fame and being used for his money or connections.  It feels like she charged into his life like a tornado, turned it around and he doesn’t know what hit him!

I especially loved all the cameos in the book!  Tristan, Dax Cove, mentions of Vincent in whose New York apartment Efa is staying, mama Cove and papa Cove and even Dog.  Lovely!

A perfect first book, the author is laying the basis for another series of wonderful men and their extraordinary future beloved!

Purchase links

#1Click: https://geni.us/TBTMC_Amazon

About the author

International, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author, Louise Bay writes contemporary romance novels that make you laugh - the kind she likes to read.

Ruined by the bonk-busters of the eighties, Louise was inspired by Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins, but wants to be Emily Henry when she grows up.

Louise loves the rain, RHOBH, London, days when she doesn't have to wear make-up, hanging out with her kid, elephants and champagne (not necessarily in that order).

She loves to hear from readers so get in touch!

 

Keep up with Louise Bay and subscribe to her newsletter: https://louisebay.com/newsletter/

 

To learn more about Louise Bay& her books, visit here!

 

Connect with Louise Bay: 

https://louisebay.com/contact/

Book review: NEVER HAVE I EVER, by S.L. Scott

If you disregard the fairytale that a rockstar sees a fan in a sold-out concert, singles her out for a good time, falls in love during their night of fun and sex, then proposes marriage, then this is a wonderful romance.  The author has a wonderful romantic style of writing, and it’s a delight to read about a couple who are having a second chance.

Laird Farris is the guitarist of Ferris Wheel, an up and coming rock band.  During one concert in Austin, Texas, he saw Poppy in the crowd, and he singled her out as his destiny.  After a wonderful night together, he proposed marriage, she went away to pack but never returned.  Of course, with no last names, no phone numbers, and no address, a desolate Laird continued on his tour but he never forgot the one who got away.

Two years later, they find each other and she has amnesia.  And this is when, in my opinion, they truly fell in love.  Laird was angry until he learned about her accident, then he was protective, loving, and very considerate.  He was so easy to fall in love with!  

The pace of the story is very slow, and there’s a lot of rumination from both as they deal with their unique situation.  He knows her but she doesn’t, so he has to woo her all over again.  He’s endlessly patient, and she’s confused and conflicted.  He had lost his muse and he got her again, so there’s bumps in the road as they embrace the rockstar life.  It’s a very entertaining story, very romantic, of course with the required sexy times. Very entertaining and sweet!

Purchase links

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://geni.us/NHIEAm

Audio on Audible: https://geni.us/NHIEAudio

Narrated by Summer Morton & Jacob Morgan

About the author 

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, S.L. Scott, writes character driven, heart-racing suspense, and swoony romances that will leave you glued to the page. With stories ranging from witty beach reads to heart wrenching and heart healing, her stories are highly regarded as emotional, relatable, and captivating.

Her books are more than escapes for the voracious readers of today. They are journeys of the heart that always come with a happily ever after reward at the end.

 

Connect with S.L. Scott:

 

Website: www.slscottauthor.com or https://geni.us/slscott

Newsletter: https://geni.us/SLScottNL

Amazon Author Page: https://geni.us/SLSAm

Goodreads: https://geni.us/SLGR

Pinterest: https://geni.us/SLPin

Instagram: https://geni.us/IGSLS

Tiktok: https://geni.us/SLTikTok

Facebook: https://geni.us/SLSPage

Bookbub: https://geni.us/SLScottBB

Facebook Reader Group: https://geni.us/SLScottBooks

Twitter: https://geni.us/SLTwitter  

Youtube: https://geni.us/SLSYoutube

Book review: RALLY, by Devney Perry

Treasure State Wildcats #3

Rush & Faye

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Such a wonderful book! My favorite tropes, YA, sports romance, and surprise pregnancy! Nobody does small town like Devney Perry and in this book she broke my heart and put it together again, made me laugh and cry and rejoice, what a treat this book has been!

I loved Rush, a wonderful young man, who came from a normal and very supportive family. He was the perfect guy to pair with Faye, a flat-out broke student with high aspirations to be a speech therapist. She was a product of an abusive mother who constantly berated her and made her feel inferior and unworthy. Thankfully, the owner of the diner where she worked was a mentor and gave her the support to work for her goals. Faye was hard-working, stubbornly independent, averse to pity and charity, unused to giveouts and help. She was a difficult girlfriend but Rush had all the patience of the world.

“Rally.” She arched her eyebrows. “You say that a lot.” “Do I? Well, I guess because it’s true. We can rally. Figure this out, right?”

It was beautiful to read how this couple navigated the pregnancy, their bumpy relationship, and the people near and dear to them.  We live with them as their love grows, as the belly grows, and I was particularly delighted at the baby’s nickname Squish, like another favorite author also nicknamed her baby boy.  

“The NFL draft is all about picks. You’re my pick.”

The characters are remarkable because they are so relatable, like people you want to know and be friends with.  I loved Faye’s growth arc in this book, how she dealt with her many issues and came forward to a remarkable woman. Both characters had huge potentials, and big determinations, and I was happy to walk this story with them. A truly delightful story that I throughly enjoyed!

Purchase links

FREE with #kindleunlimited 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VGa6cl

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

     

Audible: https://bit.ly/4d1NiKz

Narrated by: Jason Clarke & Vanessa Edwin

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

About the author

Devney Perry is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over forty romance novels. After working in the technology industry for a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to pursue her passion for writing. She was born and raised in Montana and now lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. 

 

Connect with Devney

Website: www.devneyperry.com

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kncXnb

Amazon: https://geni.us/nAXkP

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

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324585607979213/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/devneyperry

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2v1Hr7t

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

Book review: DEMONS, by Abbi Glines

Georgia Smoke series #5

Thatcher & Capri

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All I can say is WOW! What a story, Abbi Glines outdid her previous awesomeness with Thatcher’s book! I expected something similar to Gage’s crazy, but Thatcher’s crazy is different, and just as fascinating!

There are so many things I loved in this book! First, the contrast between Capri and Thatcher; she’s very innocent if somewhat rebellious against her mother’s extreme religiousness, and we know Thatcher has demons inside. She’s straining against her mother’s rules and he’s protecting her from him. He brings her lemon crinkle cookies all the time, and yet he keeps himself apart from her.  He perturbs her, makes her feel things, and she brings him peace and quiets his demons.

How can you not love a story like this?  I love Abbi’s psycho book boyfriends!  Gage was fun and cute, Thatcher is quiet and broody.  He sees himself as bad but he has kind and generous moments like when he helps Capri every time she has a problem.  He hates her mother but lets her live, he’s lawless and has no guilt, yet, he’s like a little boy who didn’t get the love from his mother because he’s wired differently from others.

It’s fascinating and heartbreaking at times, and completely riveting.  I loved how Capri was attracted to Thatcher but she never guesses how obsessed he was with her.  All his sexcapades threw her off, but she didn’t realize it was his way to divert his obsession.  Truly wonderful and fascinating, this series has been utterly addictive.

Purchase links

https://geni.us/DemonsAG

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