Flashback Friday - Big Bad Beast by Shelly Laurenston

Big Bad Beast, Shelly Laurenston
Pride #6
When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe...

Ric can't believe his luck. He's wanted this fiercely-independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn't some in-your-face Alpha male-but a wily, resourceful wolf who'll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets.




REVIEW:
Dee-Ann Smith, former marine and resident bad-ass, doesn't really care what people think of her. She is quite anti-social for a pack animal and really doesn't like to feel "hemmed-in". Her work with The Group allows her to continue doing what she does best, and that is protect shifters, even if it's from other shifters. Still investigating the hybrid pit fights Dee-Ann is forced to play nice with the other members of a joint task force. She is also forced to put up with Ric Van Holtz, her supervisor, and his desire to always feed her.

Ric Van Holtz has been in love with Dee-Ann since the first time he saw her, but being a smart man he knows a full frontal assault will never work with her. But Ric is not your average wolf...he is a Van Holtz, and that means he is sneaky and patient and isn't afraid to use his fabulous culinary skills to get him what he wants.

While Dee-Ann, Dez and new comer to the series, Cella Malone try to put an end to the pit fights by following the money, Ric is following some money of his own. Unfortunately for him this money leads right to his Dad and the fact that he may be stealing from the pack. Neither trail is going to end happily, and one of them ends up someplace I never saw coming.

I have to say how glad I was that Ms. Laurenston stayed true to the personality traits that we saw in Dee-Ann in previous books. I was really afraid that we were going to get a kinder, softer Dee-Ann, like some other authors have done when writing the HEA (happily ever after) story of their tougher female characters. Dee-Ann was strong and abrasive but she also showed that she was there for Ric emotionally when he needed her. Ric may come across as a beta, but he was strong enough to get what he wanted. One thing that Ms. Laurenston does so well is include previous character's in all of her stories without it seeming contrived or weighing down the story. I loved the 4th of July party and how it brought everyone together again. I mean who doesn't love to see Bo with his lists, Lock dragging the Shaw brothers around by their heads, the wild dogs being wild dogs and Dez once again the only full human in the bunch more than holding her own. It was also a very nice surprise to read the cameos from Sara and Angelina. This book like all in this series had a lot of laugh out loud moments....at one point I woke my husband up I was laughing so loud. But it also has some very awwwww moments, the prologue in this book has to be one of my favorite parts. I can't wait to see where she takes us next....Rory Lee Reed, Cella Malone, Hannah, Stein or somewhere we weren't even looking. 

Flashback Friday - The Heart of Texas by @Rjscott_author

The Heart of Texas - RJ Scott
Texas #1
Riley Hayes, the playboy of the Hayes family, is a young man who seems to have it all: money, a career he loves, and his pick of beautiful women. His father, CEO of HayesOil, passes control of the corporation to his two sons; but a stipulation is attached to Riley's portion. Concerned about Riley's lack of maturity, his father requires that Riley 'marry and stay married for one year to someone he loves'. Angered by the requirement, Riley seeks a means of bypassing his father's stipulation. Blackmailing Jack Campbell into marrying him "for love" suits Riley's purpose. There is no mention in his father's documents that the marriage had to be with a woman and Jack Campbell is the son of Riley Senior's arch rival. Win win.

Riley marries Jack and abruptly his entire world is turned inside out. Riley hadn't counted on the fact that Jack Campbell, quiet and unassuming rancher, is a force of nature in his own right.

This is a story of murder, deceit, the struggle for power, lust and love, the sprawling life of a rancher and the whirlwind existence of a playboy. But under and through it all, as Riley learns over the months, this is a tale about family and everything that that word means.


Let's be honest, the covers are what drew me to this series first. DAMN those are some fine men! And being the age that I am, I grew up in the hay day of Dallas, the original not the re-vamped series, and was completely addicted to the drama. Well let me tell you that the Ewings ain't got nothing on the Campbell/Hayes! There is EVERYTHING in this book and if by some accident the author did miss something you can bet it will be in the the next one. I for one LOVED it and couldn't put it down.

Through all the drama and intrigue is a wonderful love story. Jack and Riley couldn't not have started out further apart but when they come together it is all kinds of hotness. A strong secondary cast that added so much depth and heart the story would not have worked as well without them.

Strong, stubborn, sexy cowboys, hot, carnal sex and that is a recipe for success!

This book is one of my favorite of the fake boyfriend/husband trope. And if you like audiobooks, Sean Crisden hits it out of the park!

Flashback Friday - All Play and No Work Carol Lynne @PridePublishing

All Play and No Work, Carol Lynne
Cattle Valley #1
When a three man partnership becomes too much for their small Texas town, Ryan Blackfeather knows it’s time to head for greener pastures. With a new job awaiting him in Cattle Valley, Wyoming, he convinces his men, Nate and Rio to make the move.

A community built on tolerance, Cattle Valley’s one of the few places in the country where the residents won’t bat an eyelash at the threesomes relationship. Nate, Rio and Ryan fit right in. However, with Ryan busy in his new job as town Sheriff, Rio and Nate are left to wonder how they’re supposed to make a living. What use are a highly trained mercenary and a private detective in a peaceful community the size of Cattle Valley?

If you have not read Carol Lynne, you need to stop what you are doing and go read, not just this series, but everything. This author was one of the first that I read in the M/M genre and her books are still comfort reads for me. 

This series is set in Cattle Valley, which is a community that was established for LGBTQ+ people. It's a safe haven for most of it's residents. When the new Sheriff in town rolls up with his two partners no one looks at them twice. Except to admire the eye candy that has moved to town.

Ryan and Rio have been in an established relationship for a while and adding Nate to the mix is still a work in progress. The three men are finding their way in a new town, new jobs and a new relationship. Hang on tight because these men are hot, hot, hot and Lynne wasn't afraid to write them that way!

This throuple plays a part in the rest of the series as secondary characters, but they also get a few more books that are centered around them. There isn't a lot of angst in this first book it's really to set up the rest of the series and give you an idea of the who's and hows of the town. With 33 books in the series there is a little bit of every trope and it will definitely keep you warm in the coming months.

If you would like to read the story of how Ryan, Rio and Nate came to be together please check out the series, Good Time Boys and especially Rawley's Redemption. 

Buy Links:

PRIDE PUBLISHING

AMAZON

Flashback Friday - Naked in Death by JD Robb

Naked in Death, In Death #1


It is the year 2058, and technology now completely rules the world. But New York City Detective Eve Dallas knows that the irresistible impulses of the human heart are still ruled by just one thing: passion.

When a senator's daughter is killed, the secret life of prostitution she'd been leading is revealed. The high-profile case takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the rarefied circles of Washington politics and society. Further complicating matters is Eve's growing attraction to Roarke, who is one of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, devilishly handsome... and the leading suspect in the investigation.





What can I say about a series that is getting ready to publish book 50 and is still a one click for me on the day it comes out?


When I picked up Naked in Death I had no idea that JD Robb and Nora Roberts were the same person. (Nora's name wasn't on the covers at that time) I just read the blurb and thought, yeah I want to read about a kick ass female detective. I have never regretted that decision.


Eve is a complex character, she is hard, pushy and ruthless when it comes to her job, but personally she is vulnerable and a little broken. She believes fully in the law and has made defending the dead her life. Until the murder of a Senators daughter brings her in contact with Roarke.


Roarke......he is the epitome of sex. He is a self made man who goes after what he wants and all it takes is one ugly coat, a sip of coffee and a murder accusation for him to know that Eve is what he wants.


In the process of solving the murder Eve is twisted every which way with red herrings, accusations of impropriety and psyche evals that could expose her darkest secrets. But Eve won't stop until she gets her man....no matter who he is, or how powerful he may be.


Great secondary characters add much needed light and warmth to the story and give Eve the personal touches that help smooth her rougher edges.


This fast paced, gritty story is the foundation for a series that I hope never ends.