Review: Warrior By Nicole Blanchard

I thought it was just one night with my brother’s best friend. The boy I had dreamt about since he gave me my first kiss, under the lights of the Ferris wheel.

I knew he was about to leave for a year – no chance for a future.

But our one night together would create memories for a lifetime.

Our paths crossed again, but I had lied, and he was no longer the man he once was. He was warring against demons. Against the silence that was threatening to swallow him. And I had kept a secret from him, one he would never forgive me for.

But my secret was about to be ripped open. Displayed for the world on national news. And I had only one way to repair the damage. 

I had to trust the man I lied to. 

The man I never got the chance to make a life with. 

The only man who could save what we had created together.

By now you all know that I have a special love for military romances, especially ones with wounded warriors or those who live with PTSD.  When I signed up for Warrior I didn’t know from the synopsis alone that this was the type of book it would be but it sounded good so I said “sure, why not”.  Nicole Blanchard is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect when I began to read.

Ben and Olivia share one night after years of tip toeing around the attraction they felt towards each other.  Olivia is Ben’s best friends little sister and he doesn’t want to hurt her but he can no longer hold back.  Their one night is filled with passion and they say goodbye before Ben deploys.  With promises to stay in contact as best as possible they part.  Later on Olivia finds out that their one night has created more than just memories, she is pregnant and this will not be an easy road for her.  Ben suffers as well, after being injured in battle he will never be the same as he was before.

I loved the banter between Ben and Olivia when they would start to bicker, you could feel the underlying friendship that was the base of their relationship.  I loved Ben’s character, even when he was pushing Olivia away I understood by.  Unless you experience PTSD yourself or someone who you love lives with it, you can never understand why at times they struggle to not only feel normal once more, but to not push their loved ones away.  Olivia, for me, really annoyed me at times when she didn’t stop to consider that Ben was suffering from more than the injury she knew about.  Yes, she had her own stresses but I think her lack of even telling his family certain things made me like her less.  Sadly Olivia kind of ruined it for me I think. 

Warrior has friends to lovers, a military man, secrets, drama, angst and some lessons that everyone needs to learn in life.  I liked this book, even with the issues I had with Olivia.  I am anxious to see who the next book is about.  I have an idea but I am not 100% positive that I am right so I don’t want to say.   This was a good start to the series and I look forward to reading more. 

Virtual Tour: Easy Target By: Kay Thomas

AEGIS: an elite team of ex-military men who will do anything for their country…and their women.

Fighting to clear her brother of murder, freelance reporter Sassy Smith is suddenly kidnapped and thrown into a truck with other women who are about to be sold…or worse. When she sees an opportunity for escape Sassy takes it, but she may have just jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

Former Marine Bryan Fisher (aka Hollywood) is no stranger to dangerous situations, or to his best friend’s little sister. When he rescues Sassy, Bryan is determined to keep her safe…if he can keep his hands off of her. Because Sassy is all grown up and not at all like the girl he used to know. But he’s got bigger problems. And with enemies coming at them from every corner, Bryan and Sassy will need to work together if they’re going to survive.

I have once again broken my rule when it comes to reading a book that is a part of a series without reading the previous books.  I just didn’t have time this time to do that like I originally planned to, life just got in the way.  Did I absolutely need to read the previous books?  No, but I think I would have enjoyed the book a little more than I did had I read the first two books.  Am I going to go back to read them and do a reread of Easy Target? Damn straight I am because I really enjoyed Easy Target and I think I found a new series that I will really like once I am caught up.  I have always enjoyed military, special ops, suspense, romance types of books so this one was right up my alley.

There was plenty of action, drama, and suspense throughout the book to keep me turning the imaginary page on my kindle.  I loved how Sassy was indeed sassy and Bryan had wanted Sassy for years but hadn’t acted because of his friendship with her brother.  I loved the suspense, I really loved the action, but what I really loved the most was that I was drawn in and wanted to be right there in the action as if I was a part of the book myself.

If you are a fan of this type of book then I really recommend that you try out the Elite Ops series by Kay Thomas, of course start with the first book, I think you will really enjoy them.  Easy Target may be the third book in the series but it is far from being the last and I look forward to reading more.

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/04/easy-target-elite-ops-3-by-kay-thomas.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22552535-easy-target?ac=1 

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/115631-elite-ops

Buy Links:  Amazon | B & N | iTunes | Kobo | Publisher

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Target-Elite-Ops-Novel-ebook/dp/B00L19GVWK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1429741826&sr=1-1&keywords=Easy+Target+by+Kay+Thomas

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/easy-target-kay-thomas/1121191604?ean=9780062290892

iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/easy-target/id890165407?mt=11

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/easy-target-3

Publisher: http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062290892/easy-target             

 Author Info

Kay Thomas didn't grow up burning to be a writer. She wasn't even much of a reader until fourth grade. That's when her sister read The Black Stallion aloud to her. For hours Kay was enthralled—shipwrecked and riding an untamed horse across desert sand. Then tragedy struck. Her sister lost her voice. But Kay couldn't wait to hear what happened in the story—so she picked up that book, finished reading it herself, and went in search of more adventures at the local library.

Today Kay lives in Dallas with her husband, two children, and a shockingly spoiled Boston terrier. Her award-winning novels have been published internationally.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Website:  http://www.kaythomas.net/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KayThomasWrites

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/811889.Kay_Thomas

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Review: With Me By Gabbie S. Duran

What happens when you take a chance one night … make a decision that will change your life forever?

Kasey Wilson, the girl next door, had a crush on the boy next door … Joseph Mitchell was that boy. 

Kasey was left with the consequences of her decision when Joseph left her behind, leaving for the Marine Corps. She never thought she would see Joseph again, leaving her to continue on with her life, moving forward. 

But fate has a way of intervening …

Joseph Mitchell always lived with the regret of walking away that night, never to see Kasey again. Finally ready to settle down, he’s now engaged to someone else. But when he finds Kasey again, he learns of a secret she’s been keeping, a secret that will change both their lives forever. 

Can they finally have the relationship they never had? Or will Joseph be forced to walk away again?

I know I am probably one of the rare people who truly believe that soul mates exist and that sometimes even if you are meant to be with someone that it is not going to be an easy road.  That you will have to not just work through pain and possibly take a chance that you could be hurt again, but that in the end the reward will be worth it.  People believe that if a couple truly are soul mates that they shouldn’t ever have to work at their relationship or everything just be easy, but life and love isn’t easy.  My point with the ramblings above are that things happen for a reason, and the reason why things happened the way they did for Kasey and Joseph is because it was meant to happen that way.

I was a military spouse, so I tend to really like military romances or books with a military man as the Hero so I was excited to begin With Me.  Little did I know that I wouldn’t want to stop reading because I needed to know what was going to happen between Kasey and Joseph.  I can honestly say that I only sat my kindle down when I was reading to feed my kids or run to the bathroom.  I am not going into detail because I don’t want to give spoilers away obviously but because this was a really good book, one that I think true romance readers will not just enjoy reading but will love.  This will be a reread for sure in my near future!

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Review:Kevlar To My Vest By: Lani Lynn Vale (The Heroes Of Dixie Warden MC #3)

You’re the Kevlar…

Behind the badge and the pretty face was a heart. A heart that bled just like the rest. A heart that was so in love with Viddy Sheffield that it was humiliating. Trance had been burned before by a woman that couldn’t handle the fact that he risked his life each and every time he went on shift. She was too vulnerable; somehow he had to convince his heart to let her go. His life would chew her up and spit her out.

To My…

Viddy couldn’t get the man out of her head. Just the thought of Trance put a smile on her face. And when he walked into the same room? Words couldn’t explain. God help her, but she was even in a relationship with another man. She shouldn’t be thinking about the sexy biker with the voice that made shivers dance down her spine.

Vest…

Then the unthinkable happens, and the sexy cop she can’t stop thinking about is there for her, giving her what she never knew she needed. One moment in time, and she finds herself falling for the man, lock, stock, and barrel. The two of them have a lot of work to do to make this relationship succeed. What they didn’t know, however, was that there were people behind the scenes that were working to keep them apart. Sometimes the saying is true. You can’t always have what you want.

I really should just make this review short and sweet and say, Kevlar To My Vest is hilarious, sweet, and will make you believe that heroes are not only 2 legged but 4 legged as well, but if that was all I wrote you wouldn’t have any idea why I once again loved a book in this series. 

This time we have Trance and Viddy.  Trance is a K-9 officer, hence the 4 legged hero comment above, who has wanted Viddy since he first rescues her on the side of the road in the previous book.  Viddy is blind, but that doesn’t stop her from being a spitfire hell on wheels and Trance is hooked.  Trance is a bad ass K-9 officer, who also has a heart of gold.  He needs Viddy in his life, because while she worries about him and his job, she doesn’t nag him about it either.

Viddy may be blind, but that doesn’t stop her, nope, not one bit.  She is independent as they come and doesn’t want anyone to make a big deal about her loss of vision.  She also has wanted Trance but didn’t think he would want someone like her, but once both of their eyes are opened, you can feel the love that these two have for each other.  I didn’t have to worry about a weak heroine with her, nope even when she does have a breakdown she is anything but weak. 

Now I should probably state this because while I laughed so hard about Trance’s fear of flying that I woke up my 15 month old son, that unless I explained why it was so hilarious to me,  you would probably think I am insane.  My husband when he was in the Air Force (Trance was too), he was Security Forces (same as Trance), and was terrified to fly (just like Trance), I just kept picturing this certain scene in my head and even now I am giggling because I swear she based that off of my husband.  So for me at least I was able to really connect with this story because it reminded me of something personal in my life.  And trust me that one scene wasn’t the only funny part of the book, the entire thing will make you laugh, snicker, and possibly snort  while you are reading.

I feel like I am a broken record when it comes to stating how much I am loving these books, but I can’t help it.  It’s been a while since I have connected and been addicted to a series so quickly that I want everyone to give it a chance and see why I am recommending it to everyone.   I have been able to in some way connect with all of the characters, both male and female, whether it be because of a memory like the one I stated above, an attitude that reminds me of me and some of my friends or just the overall feeling that each book has left me with are the reasons why I love this series as much as I do.

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Beholden by Corinne Michales

Guilt. 
Obligation. 
Responsibility.

Jackson Cole is consumed with all three. After another devastating loss, Jackson forced himself to protect the woman he loves the only way he knew how—by walking away.

Fear. 
Trust. 
Conviction.

Catherine Pope took a chance and let love in, only to once again have it ripped away from her. When tragedy strikes, Catherine is unwilling to let fate take the reins. She rushes to Jackson’s side ready to fight for him.

Do Jackson’s loyalties lie with his past or his future? Will they be beholden to their fears or will they both fight against their demons and finally find the love they both long for?

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 Bio: Corinne is an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. She’s happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife. After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness.
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Book Blitz Schedule: Blood Brothers (Rocky Mountain Shifters Book #2) by Susan Arden

As wolf shifters, Tristen and Fin’s loyalty knows no bounds. Yet these close shifters lack the ability to speak from the heart. This pervasive silence leaves them without the means to overcome problems plaguing their relationship. Tristen suffers from PTSD and refuses Fin’s suggestions for help. Fin becomes a shifter of fewer and fewer words. As lovers, they meet each other’s beta needs until Fin craves a rougher edge. A kinky edge.

Santo, another ex-soldier and vampire is looking for work, a place to belong after he swears off bloodsucking, given his battlefield experiences. Now, the three come together for a night of kink, learning that sex can be a means to discover deeper desires. Fin and Tristen must decide if they will stay together, or if sex with a seductive vampire is the doorway to the end.

Caution: This tale will tantalize, causing flaming fantasies to the point of searing. Be ready to sweat.

About the Author

“I don’t write about sex to solely titillate. I write about being in love and that consuming emotion is expressed at every level of human understanding. Whether it’s a paranormal shifter romance weaving a primal instinct into the tension of the story or a woman learning to trust again. This instinct to connect exists and binds us together.”

Susan Arden is a third generation Floridian. Previously, a teacher in the field of special education and biology, now Susan pursues her dream of writing fiction with several releases this year. Crafting sweet and spicy tales, she writes crazy-hot love stories across romance subgenres including contemporary (erotic), Western, fantasy/paranormal, and rock star. Susan also writes under the name of Susan D. Taylor when it comes to mermaids and evil twin sisters.

Susan currently lives in TN along with husband, two cattle dogs, two outlandish cats, a gecko and a corn snake. Having lived through the 70′s, she is currently on a mission to bring back glam rock.

“I love to laugh. More than anything in the world, humor is food for the spirit.”

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