Tara Sivec - Spare Me (Summersweet Island #6)

Spare Me by Tara Sivec
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Nerd and the Firecracker .....

Like a modern version of Romeo and Juliet, you have a reversal of positions. The Nerd is the quiet, rule conforming "wall flower" until he is swept off his feet by the Firecracker who is claiming her life in a spectacular fashion.

I didn't think I would like this couple since we knew nothing at all about her, and almost nothing about Him. But what a surprise they were! Super fun, passionate, challenging, and imaginative. And I love that he is the nerd and she's the firecracker, the role reversal makes this couple a favorite. Add in the previous couples and a wild night with the guys, it was a perfect addition to this series.

***And if you are a fan of Tara Sivec, the only warning I will give you is this, when starting Chapter 20 DO NOT be drinking or eating anything. If you know, you know!

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Amo Jones - In Silence She Screams (Midnight Mayhem #3)

In Silence She Screams by Amo Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

spoilers ahead .....

I rarely give away spoilers, but I will admit that I am an emotional reader. I will get angry and even cry over the things that happen to beloved characters. I read to escape, and I really do escape into the world of the book I'm reading and become attached to the characters.

With that being said, this story broke me. The trauma that happens to Lilith and Eli is cringe, close your eyes, painful. At times it's a little hard to handle, but my love for this series pushes me on. EKC, Patience, and Midnight Mayhem crews and all involved in this tale, but I know that Amo Jones will bring us out the other side to where we need to be. It's the road to get there that breaks your heart along the way. I cried when it happened. Put the book down wondering why would she do this. How can you? We need him. But all I had to do was keep reading and keep hoping. All will work out. And along with that, more secrets that will lead us into the next book.

Amo Jones will always be a top author for me no matter how dark the road is, I'm always emotionally invested and hoping the next book comes out soon.

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Tara Sivec - With This Fling (SummerSweet Island #5)

With This Fling by Tara Sivec
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I was late in reading this series. But when I was graciously given an ARC for an honest review, well I can't read a series out of order. So I have binge read this whole series in one week.

Series review:
I have always been a Chocolate Lovers series devoted fan, but this series comes in a very close second. Especially with the cameo of Millie from a Christmas Cliché (a must read for all Tara Sivec fans). I feel like I identify most with Tess, and admittedly I've dated a few Bodhi's in my life. This whole cast of characters is hilarious, my favorite dialogue are the text messages. Somehow that just makes it so much more laughing with tears funnier.

With This Fling review:
But for With This Fling, as I'm around the age of Laura, I would like to believe that there is hope for all of us stubborn, do it ourselves women, who could still find our HEA. Great couple, Dean just somehow melts right in to the crazy cast of characters and doesn't even blink with their insanity.

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Lili St. Germain - The Field of Wrongdoing

The Field of Wrongdoing by Lili St. Germain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Apparently this is a re-release of the original book, titled Gun Shy (hated the cover), which I already owned and never got around to reading. So I wish I had known I already had it before purchasing it again.

Anyway, this story is true Lili St. Germain dark, and I mean DARK. Trigger warnings everywhere with this one. But it's also a story of survival despite the horrible things you had to endure for years at the hand of your abuser. If you aren't willing to jump off the cliff and go on the long road ..... then this may not be for you. I don't mind the dark road, and I really liked how this all played out.

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Callie Hart - Riot Act (Crooked Sinners #3)

Riot Act by Callie Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Out of the three Riot House boys, Wren was my favorite. That was until I met Pax.

Dangerous, Dark, Obsessive, Broken. He has built a suit of armor around himself to block out the world. His anger and hostility to everyone but Wren and Dash is his weapon to keep people at bay.

But that all changes in the blink of eye with squealing tires and a girl thrown from a car bleeding to death. Somehow she sparks something in him, something he doesn't know how to handle. But Pres no longer has any fear and pushes him to places he never thought he would go.

It was a long road of working thru the armor and removing it piece by piece. And I really loved all of it, this is my favorite story of the series and I really hope we get more because that ending left me hanging by a "thread" (LOL).

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Karin Slaughter - False Witness (standalone)

False Witness by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have been a fan of Karin Slaughter since the first Grant County series book, and even in to the Will Trent merge. With those series we have a dark mystery. A thriller that you have to put the pieces together to get to the end. I always liked the "chase" to the end.

But, with her standalones, not so much. I have had trouble "clicking" with the stories. I did finish this one, but it was difficult. I skimmed chapters of it. Because honestly, I read to escape life, not be reminded of the pandemic we are living through or the needle by needle lesson in how to be a junkie 101.

We always knew who the bad guys were, and there were more than one. But what this turned out to be was a story of two girls whose lives started out with a spectacularly shitty mother, and then being molested by the same horrible man. One daughter went in one direction, the other (who had the worst of the sexual abuse) went down a very dark road of self destruction. And how they both crashed together in the end.

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