Friday, February 23, 2018

Susan's Review of Driving Whiskey Wild by Melissa Foster


"Welcome to the Whiskeys series, where all the men are larger 
than life and sexy as sin!" - RT Book Reviews


DRIVING WHISKEY WILD
The Whiskey's series
Melissa Foster
Releasing February 21, 2018
World Literary Press


A captivating new sexy standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster.

Special Forces veteran and Dark Knights Motorcycle Club member Bullet Whiskey lives to protect his family, their bar, and the residents of his small hometown. He’s rough, unapologetic, and haunted by a secret, painful past. He’s also a master at keeping people away, and when his sister hires gorgeous and sweet Finlay Wilson to help expand their biker bar, he knows just how to get rid of her.

After losing her boyfriend and her father, Finlay moves back to her hometown to be closer to the little family she has left. She needs her temporary job at Whiskey Bro’s to get her catering business off the ground, and she’s determined not to let the gruff, arrogant mountain of a man Bullet Whiskey scare her off.

Finlay is everything Bullet has never wanted. She’s afraid of his dog, afraid of motorcycles, and sweet enough to give him cavities, but as she weaves her way into the hearts of everyone around him, he’s powerless to resist her charms. Passion ignites, but trust doesn’t come easily, and when their pasts collide, Bullet finds out the true meaning of protecting those he loves.



Don't miss the other Whiskey's series titles




Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and new adult romance with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented–perfect beach reads for contemporary romance lovers who enjoy reading about wealthy heroes and smart, sassy heroines.






Who is Bullet Whiskey?

Bullet Whiskey is an enigma. At first, he appears to be a big, tattooed, tough biker dude with a dark, moody personality. Through his actions, it’s obvious that he cares for his family and friends deeply. A Special Forces veteran, Bullet has experienced life and death first hand and he has kept these dark experiences to himself. He struggles with PTSD flashbacks, guilt and believes he is weak. Melissa Foster creates the perfect back story for Bullet and it drew me into the novel. Bullet’s demeanor shouts out—stay away from me…until he meets Finlay Wilson. The perfectly paced opposites attract romance between the couple captivated me.

I really liked Finlay. After her father’s death, she has returned home to start a catering business. Finlay is hired by the Whiskey’s to renovate their kitchen and revamp their bar menu. Finlay is a breath of fresh air at Whiskey’s—she quickly wins everyone over with her smile, cookies and appetizers. She has an open heart and cares for people. And I loved how she fought her attraction to Bullet and that she was afraid of his big dog, his motorcycle and didn’t really understand his connection to the Dark Nights club. Bullet’s patience is tested throughout this story— as he copes with Finlay’s fears and ultimately his own.

Loved the author’s use of imagery and color throughout the novel. Bullet is dark and angry while Finlay dresses in pink, frilly dresses and exudes happiness. Finlay is drawn to Bullet’s tattooed body but at first the animals, words and darkness conveyed by the images scare her. As Finlay and Bullet’s relationship develops she figures out that Bullet’s tattoos tell his story. One of the most poignant scenes occurs towards the end of the novel when Finlay traces the names of Bullet’s fallen brothers on his chest—it brought me to tears.

Bullet and Finlay have experienced tragic loss. Their passion enables them to understand each other on a much deeper level. Melissa Foster is known for her strong male characters. Bullet is a perfect example of a dark alpha male. With the character of Finlay, Ms. Foster is able to bring light, joy and happiness to the brooding Bullet. Finlay brings Bullet peace. The conclusion to this novel is fabulous—heartbreaking, funny and oh so romantic. The grand gesture at the end of the novel was a tear jerker!

Reviewed By Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher





“Do you want to go out with me, Finlay? Or are you playing some sort of game?”

“I don’t know,” she said honestly, throwing her hands up, frustrated with her own confusion. “Yes…Wait, no. Yes…”

He cocked his head with a perplexed expression.

“I’m sorry! I’m really confused. You mess with my head. Or rather, you’ve been messing with my head since the wedding. But that’s not your fault. And now I’m rambling, but I want to be honest with you. The truth is, I’m curious about you. Maybe more than curious,” she said, moving around him so she could pace. “But I don’t know what you expect from women, and I don’t know anything about your biker lifestyle. I don’t think I’m a biker girl. But I don’t really know that. I do know I’m probably not like the women you’re used to, and motorcycles scare me. And sometimes you scare me. Not you, you, but the idea of you, because I’m not sure who you really are. But you also turn me on, which makes it all even more confusing.”

A slow grin spread across his face.

“See? That smile makes my stomach go all sorts of crazy.”

“Call me nuts, but I think that’s a good thing, Fins.”

The endearment also made her insides flutter. But none of that came close to the worries welling up inside her right that second as the big, confident caretaker to all around him stood looking at her like he was hanging on her every word, and the truth came tumbling out. “I haven’t been with a lot of guys, and like I said, I don’t know what you expect. You’re all power and”—she tried to use her hands to emphasize her thoughts, but she ended up looking like she was imitating a bear, with claws extended—“sexuality, like you’re ready to swoop in and devour me. But I’m not sure I can handle being devoured, because it’s been so long since I’ve even kissed a guy that I might have…”

He stepped closer as slow as could be and placed a hand on her hip. She was mesmerized by his gentle approach and the touch of his hand as he brushed her hair over her shoulder, holding her gaze so intensely, she couldn’t speak. His hand slid softly to the nape of her neck, then into her hair, until his long fingers cradled the back of her head. His other arm circled her waist, holding her against him.

“Forgotten how…” she whispered.

He gave her plenty of time to pull away, to tell him no, but her voice was silenced by the throbbing of her heart, the wanting in her head. As he lowered his face toward hers, she went up on her toes, bracing for a fierce, possessive kiss. But his mouth came gently down over hers, drawing a breathy sigh. His lips were warm and soft, his hands hard and hot, and her body was a vibrating mess. His beard scratched her cheeks, sending swirls of desire spiraling through her core. He pressed her tighter against him, angled her head and kissed her harder. His tongue swept across the seam of her lips, and she surrendered to his masterful seduction. His whole body beat against her like a pulse, bringing a surge of lust from some forgotten place inside her. He took the kiss deeper, tasting every dip and swell of her mouth, and a heady sound rumbled in the back of his throat. And oh, how she loved that! She’d never been kissed so thoroughly, been wanted so desperately. She never imagined that the man who was forward motion personified could harness that power and deliver it with such all-consuming passion. She couldn’t resist lifting higher on her toes, clawing at his shoulder, trying to taste more of his sweet and sinful desire. He was right there with her, gripping her waist as he lifted her off her feet, holding her against his hard frame, her legs dangling off the ground as he kissed her breathless.

She was so lost in the slide of their tongues, the purely male, utterly unique taste of him, time failed to exist. They could have been kissing for hours, maybe even days. By the time her feet touched the ground, her noodle legs refused to work. But they didn’t need to. Bullet was still holding her tight, kissing her softer now, his scratchy beard trailing after his lips across her jaw, all the way to her ear.

His warm breath seeped into her skin as he whispered, “I think you remember how to kiss just fine. Go out with me, lollipop. You don’t have to be a biker girl. Just be my girl.”



Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Woman in the Camphor Trunk by Jennifer Kincheloe - Audible version

The Woman in the Camphor Trunk
by Jennifer Kincheloe
Audible version
 ☆☆☆☆☆☆
The story set in 1908 Los Angeles. A different time. 
But women were finding their voice and their life plans.
Anna Blanc might have been one of those women.
Anna is fearless and clever and unstoppable.
She has a faith that is just planted in her
Anna doesn't even think about it. She just lives it.

 
 Anna is police matron on the LAPD. She has a clever
mind and she out does the men on cases. They do not 
appreciate her. Well, except for Detective Joe Singer.
He knows how smart she is. How capable. How shrewd.
And he is tortured with how sexy she is. Along with
the rest of the LAPD.
 
Anna and Joe work together, begrudgingly, to solve
this very important case. She feels as though she
owes a debt to a long time friend. They both are
trying to stop an all out war between races in LA.

 
Jennifer Kincheloe has written another Anna Blanc tale
that has it all. Humor. Drama. Surprise. Life lessons.
Family. Romance. Anna will never fail to shock you.
The Woman in the Camphor Trunk is narrated by the
wonderful Moira Quirk. Ms Quirk is genius with her voice.
She is perfect for this story. While she is exactly right
for Anna Blanc, she does a great job for everyone in the
story. I was so glad to hear her doing this second
Anna Blanc story.

 
 
I bought my copy from Audible.com
Review by Lisa Hutson
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Once Upon a Spine by Kate Carlisle

 
Once Upon a Spine
by Kate Carlisle
☆☆☆☆

This is a long running very popular series. Once Upon a Spine
is the 11th book in the series.
The main character is Brooklyn a book lover and a magnet for
murder scenes apparently. She is a part time sleuth and
she makes interesting things out of homemade paper.
Seriously, she could not be a more interesting character.
Her love is Derek. And his character alone makes me want to
try out an audible version of this series.
They are a terrific couple and only want to 'help' the police.
In the end, their assistance turns out to be what solves the case.
Kind of.

 
It was a fun mystery story. And my first Kate Carlisle story.
The neighborhood sounds like the perfect place for a
murder scene. Plus there always seems to be good food
just across the way.
The shop owners and other characters are hilarious
 and unpredictable.
"I went scooting up and down the aisles looking for
anyone who might be bleeding or moaning.
So where had the bullet gone?
I just hoped it hadn't killed any books."
 

Review by Lisa Hutson