Monday, May 26, 2025

READ-2-REVIEW - CONTEMPORARY - CHEAP SHOT (Portland Timberwolves, #2) by AJ Alexander

 Coach has one rule: don’t touch his daughter

Cheap Shot, an all-new brother’s best friend, single mom, small town, hockey romance from USA Today bestselling author AJ Alexander is now available!



BLURB

After a heartbreaking loss in the Western Conference Championship, I’m stuck with an ultimatum: play for the Timberwolves or kiss my professional hockey career goodbye. Left with no other option, I move back to my small town, determined to prove I can make my own way—free from the shadow of my older brother’s success. Then I literally run into Michele Mercer.

Sparks ignite between us the moment I lay eyes on her—frustration and attraction blending into something I can’t ignore. Michele is headstrong, independent, and refuses to take crap from anyone, especially me. But when she’s assigned as my physiotherapist, I think I’ve found my chance—until I discover she’s the coach’s daughter and completely off-limits.

I should focus on making it into the starting line up. I should remember that the only person I can count on is myself. But the closer I get to Michele, the more I forget everything but her.

Coach has one rule: don’t touch his daughter or you’re off the team. My problem? I can’t stop thinking about her, and the last thing I’m going to do is let her go. 

𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝟐 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐄𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞.



The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . CHEAP SHOT (Portland Timberwolves, #2) . . . Forbidden Ice: The Coach's Daughter is a Cheap Shot of Undeniable Heat! "There was just something about the coach's daughter that he could not resist or obey a direct order," and this book is a steamy penalty box of forbidden desire! As a fan of hockey romances and AJ Alexander's incredible storytelling, this one delivers on all counts. I especially appreciate how this is another authentic and heartfelt interracial romance. Our hero, a hockey player facing an ultimatum after a heartbreaking loss, moves back to his small town to play for the Timberwolves. He's determined to prove himself, but then he literally runs into Michele Mercer. The spark between them is instant—a blend of frustration and scorching attraction that he can't ignore. Michele is everything the hero needs: headstrong, independent, and unwilling to take crap from anyone. But when she's assigned as his physiotherapist, the stakes get dangerously high. He quickly learns she's the coach's daughter and completely off-limits—with the strict rule: don't touch his daughter or you're off the team. The heat is deliciously palpable as the hero fights his attraction. He should focus on the starting lineup; he should keep his distance. But the closer he gets to Michele, the more he forgets everything but her. The desperate struggle to maintain distance while their passion ignites is absolutely intense. He can't stop thinking about her, and the last thing he's going to do is let her go. This is a must-read, sexy, brother's best friend, single mom romance that proves some rules are meant to be broken.


Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://geni.us/cheapshot

Add Cheap Shot to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/cheapshotgr  


For more information about AJ Alexander and her books, visit her website: 

https://www.authorajalexander.com


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Monday, May 12, 2025

READ-2-REVIEW - CONTEMPORARY SUSPENSE - HIGH VELOCITY (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #4) by Freya Barker

High Velocity

High Mountain Trackers HMT 2G, #4
by Freya Barker 
Release Date: May 13th 2025
Cover Designer: Freya Barker Images: Jean Woodfin - JW Photography 
Model: Brandon Thyfault 
Genre: Romantic Suspense 


When the FBI sidelines Special Agent Stephanie Kramer over health concerns, she sees her hard-won dream career go down the drain. Suddenly adrift and without purpose, she jumps at the chance when a friend offers for her to stay in their trailer by a quiet, secluded creek near Libby, Montana. As much as she tries to enjoy the tranquil settings, it’s not long before local wildlife—and the man chasing it—invade her sanctuary. When it appears the job she’s trying to leave behind is following her to Libby, the illusion of her solitary retreat is shattered.

After that last special ops assignment cost Jackson Hart his leg, he’s had a hell of a time getting back on his proverbial feet. Being hired as a member of the High Mountain Trackers team went a long way to reclaiming his sense of identity. He’s back in the saddle and adapting to a pared-down, mostly solitary existence. So the sudden jolt to his gut, when he encounters the blond federal agent he remembers well, is a harsh reminder of what is missing from his life.

Still, as much as they try to avoid the other, they seem destined to cross paths. Whether it is the intimidation of a local predator, or the threat of a former nemesis, it becomes clear they stand stronger together.

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The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . HIGH VELOCITY  (High Mountain Trackers: HMT 2G, #4) . . . Shattered Careers and Second Chances: An Explosive Finale!

"I am not ready for this series to end. I have loved both High Mountain Trackers (original and HMT 2G)," and this latest installment delivers a fantastic blend of emotional depth and thrilling suspense!

HIGH VELOCITY brings together two fiercely competent people struggling to reclaim their identities. Special Agent Stephanie Kramer is sidelined by the FBI over health concerns, watching her hard-won dream career go down the drain. She retreats to Libby, Montana, seeking a quiet sanctuary, only to find her life is about to be invaded—both by danger and by a protective hero.

That hero is Jackson Hart, a member of the High Mountain Trackers team who is fighting his own battle to reclaim his sense of self after a special ops assignment cost him his leg. Being back in the saddle as a Tracker helps, but his solitary existence is suddenly jolted by a harsh reminder of what is missing from his life when he encounters the blonde federal agent he remembers well.

The attraction is undeniable, and the stakes are real! As you mentioned, Jackson and Stephanie find themselves working together, with the chance to have more than just a working relationship. And as per usual, Freya Barker makes this a romance with suspense tapping on the doors at almost every turn. They may not be able to do their job in their chosen professions anymore, but protection is their specialty. Whether it's the threat of a former nemesis or an intimidation of a local predator, they stand stronger together and will absolutely get the job done.

If this is indeed the end of the line for HMT 2G, it’s a high-impact conclusion that beautifully wraps up the themes of sacrifice, healing, and finding a new purpose in love. 

USA Today bestselling author Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

With forty-plus books already published, she continues to create characters who are perhaps less than perfect, each struggling to find their own slice of happy.

Recipient of the ReadFREE.ly 2019 Best Book We've Read All Year Award for "Covering Ollie, the 2015 RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for Best First Book, “Slim To None”, Finalist for the 2017 Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, and Finalist for the 2020 Kindle Book Award with “When Hope Ends”, Freya spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

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