Review: Only Forever by Cristin Harber

Only Forever

Author: Cristin Harber
Publisher: Mill Creek Press
Series: Only #4
Pages: Kindle, 89 Pages
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: May 18th 2015

Summary:

The fourth and final installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.

There comes a time when Emma must face the secret she kept from Grayson. But she never thought it would be while she stood on stage at Emerald’s. The seconds she has to convey that her life is in danger are lost in the devastation that she sees rip through him.

She pinches her eyes closed. “Don’t leave me. No matter how mad you are, please, please don’t leave me here alone.”

But there’s more on the line than just Emma’s safety. There’s the danger that brought Titan’s Delta team in to the strip club in the first place. A threat that’s too close to home, too close to the family, the daughter and woman Grayson plans to claim.

I push away the sudden spring of fear. Life’s too unknown, with hidden enemies and unseen terrors. The idea that I could lose her again… it’s unbearable.

A love story like Grayson and Emma needs a forever love, and somehow they’ll find their way to her fairytale.

Released May 18, 2015

Review:

*sigh*

What a fitting ending.
An ending that left me all happy and fuzzy. - and wanting more of Harber's kickass hotties.

The last instalment of the Only Series picks up right where Only for Us left off, a rather gruelling but very expected cliffy.
But Harber managed to absolutely surprise me. Because I would have bet anything there is drama coming. I so thought I knew where the plot is going, then BAM.. and I was in the deep end again. I didn't expect THAT.
So the plot of this one; surprising for the first bit, swoon worthy and filled with closure for the rest.
There is plenty of action, some sizzles and a huge helping of uber-cute in this instalment.
Mostly though I am just surprised. I didn't expect that Harber will give me the cute & fluffy with a twist. I got my HEA, but not as sugary as I expected, I got drama but totally not the kind I was expecting. And for me this is the best part of Only Forever.

Now that I finished this epic journey with Gray and Em, it is nearly impossible to not compare the serials and look at the story as a whole.
And my first thought of it: A job well done. Harber nailed the serial thingy. Each part is unique and fabulous. Each part managed to surprise me, each part made me expect more and each of them delivered. And each part, retrospectively makes sense. I mean each part is somewhat a finished chapter in the story. Seriously it's very well done and I hope Harber will be doing another one.

I have on several occasions mentioned that I love Harber's writing. Only Forever was no exception. It's a well crafted novella. But more so after I finished it, I realised that while I would not describe myself as a suspense romance reader- Harber kinda just made me one.
She has just the right balance between the gooey happy bits, the action and the sizzles, and all that is wrapped up in some good character building.

I love all the guys. I really really do. First they are totally swoon worthy. BUT more importantly, they all unique. I feel like I know them, I know their quirks and what haunts them... Same goes for the gals. Harber created some great characters, each one unique and likeable, but also totally human and with their fair share of flaws.
I mean Grayson...

(Or any of the other hotties)
Am I the only one hoping there will be a book for Ryan? Sure not...*hint hint*

A satisfying ending to a well crafted and entertaining serial. A must read for lovers of the genre.
And if you not one for serials? Only Forever will be released this Tuesday (5/18/15) - so read the entire series then ;)

Oh and guess what I will be reading soon? Yep, I shall finish the Titan series. I've been waiting for more Audiobook releases of the Titan series... but oh well, I'll just have to imagine Jeffrey Kafer's voice reading it to me.

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Audiobook Review : Winters Heat by Cristin Harber

Winters Heat 

Author: Cristin Harber
Narrator: Jeffrey Kafer
Publisher: Mill Creek Press
Series: Titan #1
Length: 8 hrs 25 mins
Genre: Romance
Release Date: June 10th 2014

Summary:

After putting her life on the line to protect classified intelligence, military psychologist Mia Kensington is on a cross-country road trip from hell with an intrusive save-the-day hero. Uninterested in his white knight act, she'd rather take her chances without the ruggedly handsome, cold-blooded operative who boasts an alpha complex and too many guns.

Colby Winters, an elite member of The Titan Group, has a single objective on his black ops mission: recover a document important to national security. It was supposed to be an easy in-and-out operation. But now, by any means necessary becomes a survival mantra when he faces off with a stunning woman he can't leave behind.

When Titan's safe houses are compromised, Colby stashes Mia at his home, exposing his secret - he's the adoptive father of an orphaned baby girl. Too soon, danger arrives and Mia lands in the hands of a sadistic cartel king with a taste for torture. As hours bleed into fear-drenched days, Colby races across the globe and through a firestorm of bullets to save the woman he can't live without.

Review:

After having read one of the novellas and book 2 in the series before I decided to start at the beginning and give this series a go... AND I did this as an audiobook, which was the best idea EVER!
I honestly think I enjoyed this way way way better read to me by Jeffrey Kafer than reading it myself. His voice... is just want this book needed. Seriously! I have in fact decided to wait for the rest of the series to be published as audiobooks -cause well, Kafer's voice is too much of an enticement to pass up.
There is allot of action, alpha dudes and some pretty good smut.. a fun suspense romance. In some ways this is nothing new- oh wait actually in many ways this is absolutely nothing new. It's same old same old. Harber has not reinvented the wheel. It isn't some great literarily feat as well. But it is well written and rather entertaining, especially when read by Mr. Kafer.
Which is possibly the most surprising thing about this. When I started this I wasn't so sure I was gonna like it- I mean the deep rather alpha sounding dude voice that was reading it... well I wasn't sure at all. But I thought to myself- oh well, thank goodness for whispersync
--BTW I really adore whispersync it's the best invention straight after my kindle, just a sidenote I need to get off my chest---
But as I said,  plenty of times now,  I ended up loving the narration. It's just how I would imagine Winters to sound like, it just worked with the alpha vibes and the action and most importantly the writing style.
So besides the usual usual this is an entertaining action cute & fluffy with a good dose of smut. If you thinking about getting it- get the audio- I promise you won't regret it!


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Review: Alone on Earth by Susan Fanetti

Alone on Earth

Author: Susan Fanetti
Publisher: Susan Fanetti
Series: Signal Bend #4
Pages: Kindle Edition, 273 pages
Genre: Romance
Release Date: March 1st 2014

Summary:

Signal Bend, Missouri and the Night Horde MC gained notoriety after a shootout on Main Street brought down major players in the Midwest meth trade. The media have turned the Horde into folk heroes, and Hollywood wants a piece of that action.

Riley Chase is America’s Sweetheart, with a starring role on a popular television series, and now she’s the lead actress in the movie about Signal Bend. In Hollywood she’s hounded by the press, without the luxury of privacy or secrets, forced to play out her most intimate moments, even tragic ones, on a public stage. In Signal Bend, she’s nearly anonymous, able to discover who she is behind her image.

Bart Elstad is the Horde Intelligence Officer. His responsibility is to keep the club’s secrets buried, especially while the world is looking their way with a long distance lens. He’s in charge of the actors while they’re in town to research their roles.

Bart and Riley forge a quick but intense connection. A casual connection without expectations soon deepens, far more than either of them could have predicted. He sees the woman behind the starshine. She sees the man under the leather. Two very different worlds merge for a brief moment, but reality can’t be suspended forever.

Chaos breaks loose both within and beyond the club. Tensions that have been simmering boil over, with catastrophic consequences. The Horde’s most powerful allies, concerned that their secrets might be exposed in the spotlight of fame, become dangerous enemies. Riley gets caught in the middle. With the future of the Horde in the balance, Bart makes a sacrifice that will change the club, and his life, forever.

Note: Explicit sex and violence.

Review:

So far, this book was the worst in the series and a total mess.

The main no-no for me:

The heroine.
I'm sorry but it's hard to find a more TSTL heroine than Riley. And she is supposed to incarnate Lilli... *major eye roll*

The plot.
The whole Scorpion business absolutely makes no sense. Worse, doing what they are doing in the book is susceptible to bring exactly what they claim they want to avoid. It was obviously the author's pretext to make Bart move to L.A. and brings some action to the story, too bad she didn't think her idea through. And to show that she isn't afraid of one more contradiction, while doing all their useless drama in Signal Bend we learn that the Scorpion are considering a reality show of their MC in L.A.. What. The. Hell?!?!?!
Also, I don't see how Bart leaving solves their so called issue. *rolls eyes*


Rating: 

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Review: Into the Storm by Susan Fanetti

Into the Storm

Author: Susan Fanetti
Publisher: Susan Fanetti
Series: Signal Bend #3
Pages: Kindle Edition, 275 pages
Genre: Romance
Release Date: January 18,2014

Summary:

Signal Bend, Missouri survived a war on its streets and has arrived at a period of growth and peace. The town and its guardians, the Night Horde MC, relax into this moment of hope, looking toward the future for the first time in decades.

Everyone but Robert “Showdown” Ryan. Having suffered tremendous loss in that war, and taking on the burden of blame for it, Show has nothing left of himself. He is an empty husk of a man, drowning in grief and whiskey, seeking relief in numbness.

Shannon Bannerman has come to Signal Bend to manage the new Keller Acres Bed & Breakfast. She has left a successful city life to start anew in this tiny town, trying to keep the door closed on the regrets of her past.

Shannon is drawn to Show despite his stony detachment, and he is drawn to her despite his need to stay numb. But the pain in their pasts is deep and damaging. Only real love, like neither of them has ever known, could heal it.

NOTE: explicit sex, limited violence

Review:

First and foremost, I would like to say that I loved Show from his first appearance in Move the Sun. Unfortunately I can't say the same for Shannon. Show is Isaac best friend as well as right arm and horrible things happened to him in Behold the Stars and I think he deserved a better heroine than Shannon.

Action wise this book was quiet, we are in the aftermath of the big "showdown" in main street. And while Signal Bend is working on its reconstruction Show is trying to pick up the pieces of his life.

On her side Shannon comes with mystery, unfortunately after the revelation of her secret I found her reactions way OTT. To top it off, after all the drama the way the whole thing was packed off, kind of like the showdown in main street, was lame. I was like, what? All that drama for that? *shakes head*

Shannon personality and behavior set aside her relationship with Show was hot and it was good to witness Show awakening.


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Review: Behold the Stars by Susan Fanetti

Behold The Stars

Author: Susan Fanetti
Publisher: Susan Fanetti
Series: Signal Bend #2
Pages: Kindle Edition, 263 pages
Genre: Romance
Release Date: December 7, 2013

Summary:

Lawrence Ellis, with vast wealth and power, has made it known that he wants control of Signal Bend, Missouri. He is a man who always gets what he wants; there are no limits to the lengths he'll go, and he has the means to pay all manner of people to do his dirty work for him. The Night Horde MC, led by its President, Isaac Lunden, is wildly outmatched but prepared nonetheless to defend their hometown to the last man, and they are willing to do whatever they must to protect their home. Lilli Accardo, Isaac’s old lady, with her own special skills and resources, stands with them, rebelling against Isaac’s need to shield her.

After toying with them for months, Ellis loses patience for the game and rains down destruction on the Horde, their families, and the town itself. Tested to their very limits, beyond anything they could have imagined, forced to travel dark roads, the citizens of Signal Bend fight a war no one—not even they themselves—thinks they can win.

Challenged constantly from without, beset by their own inner demons, Isaac and Lilli must find the true strength within their bond. Isaac needs to protect what is his; Lilli needs to stand on her own; but they are stronger side by side.

Even in the deepest darkness, love brings hope.

NOTE: dark themes; explicit sex and violence.

Review:

As much as I enjoyed Move the Sun, I was a bit disappointed by Behold the Stars. My big disappointment comes from Lilli and her reckless and straight out TSTL behavior. The other big disappointment is the lack of described action. The author isn't afraid of writing torture and gory scenes but when Lawrence Ellis attacks the town what does she do? She just says that Dan (If I remember well) comes with a plan and the next thing you now, the bad guys are bitten and the town freed. I mean, come on!

I Also found some parts dragging mostly at the end. Speaking of the end, even though I liked Isaac attitude I didn't understand why Lilli was left dealing with her trauma by herself and didn't get some really needed help.

I rounded it up because of Isaac and Show.

I would like to thank my friend Baba for buddy reading it with me  ❤
Baba's review of Behold the Stars



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Review: The Warrior's Cross by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux

The Warrior's Cross

Author: Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux
Publisher:Dreamspinner Press
Pages: ebook, 316 pages
Genre: Romance, Suspense, M/M
Release Date: August 31, 2009

Summary:

Cameron Jacobs is an open book. He considers himself a common waiter with normal friends, boring hobbies, harmless dogs, and nothing even resembling a secret... except a crush on a tall, dark, devastatingly handsome man who dines alone at his restaurant on Tuesday nights. All it takes is one passionate night with Julian Cross to turn Cameron’s world on its head.

Julian's love and devotion are all Cameron could have hoped for and more. But when his ordinary life meets and clashes with Julian's extraordinary lifestyle, Cameron discovers that trust and fear can go hand in hand, and love is just a step away from danger

Review:

*1,5 stars*

I know I'm in the minority (again) but for me Warrior's Cross was a roll eye festival. I think it's the worse book I've read by Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux so far.

I read this book because my friend Vishous who knows how OCD I am when it comes to the reading order of series, recommended I read it before I start Armed & Dangerous (Cut & Run series by the same authors).

The book started slow, and I'm ok with that, but then it started dragging and dragging and dragging. I know that the authors have no clue on how to write a good plot but at least the MCs in the Cut & Run series are charismatic and even if as far as I'm concerned that doesn't compensate for the lack of plot at least there is a modicum of character development. Here we have no plot, no originality, no character development and no charismatic MCs. Nothing. Rien. Nada. Oualou. Zilch.

I'm sorry, but not only I couldn't connect with Cam & Julian but I also found that the interactions between Julian and Preston were more interesting that the ones between the two MCs.

Beside all the repetitions, boring angst and predictability of the story, another thing that didn't help in this book is that here again instead of showing the action the authors simply tell what happens. I don't care if the authors tell me that the heroes are clever and the best in their parts what I want to see is some gray matter and good action scenes. So what happened when the shit hit the fan? I rolled my eyes. Again. (view spoiler)

Also, the whole books the authors try to be "mysterious" *major role eye* about Julian and what he does for a living. So we get that he's some kind of hit man but do the authors gives us a straight answer? Of course, not.

Here again, the scenes were randomly cut, which drives me nuts and the only action scene in the book was so anticlimactic it made me bangs my head.



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