When Nia Nash got involved with Drake Paradise, heir to the Paradise Construction empire, she never thought that she’d end up raising their son alone.
Hurt and furious, she’s spent four years trying to forget everything about him. From the way his piercing blue eyes would follow her every move, to the way he set her body on fire with only one kiss. Drake Paradise not only broke her heart, but he changed the course of her life forever.
Now he’s back and demanding to be a part of their son's life, the son that he once had no interest in. Or so Nia thought. Refusing to let Drake in is not an option when he has power and money to his name.
As Drake mourns his own losses and tries to navigate his new roles in his business and professional life, they are both forced to deal with everything they thought they knew, and the whole truth that begins to unravel.
Can Nia ever trust Drake again? Can they figure out a way to turn their lives into their own paradise?
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . ALMOST PARADISE . . . Drake? Drake? Where did I hear that name from? Ahhhhh. I got it. He had a brief appearance in a previous Sola book. He had a look on his face of loss, but what did he lose. We find that out in this story that for me was worth the wait.
Paradise was a lot of hard work
Almost Paradise - Paradise was a lot of hard work Drake Paradise has gotten the biggest surprise of his life and a very big disappointment. It has been four years since he has seen the one woman that had captured his heart. She just up and left his life. She took something that was very valuable to him when she left. He had no idea until the day he went to a birthday party at the last place he wanted to be. This one event changes his life.
Nia was moving in with her life. She had the love of her family. She had a job she loved. And her greatest love was that with her son Carter. No matter that her biggest heartbreak came from his father. She would never regret the relationship she had with him.
Just when Nia was moving forward with her life. Her past comes back and demands a very large chunk of her current life.
I love watching how all things began to unfold for Drake, Nia, and Carter. I loved the instant love Drake had for his son. I loved the interactions between Audre and Wyatt. What I did not like there were no answers to what was the excuse Mr Paradise had for the wrongs he committed to his own son.
I got the mini read on the couple and found it to be a good complement but still no insight to the questions we were left with at the end of the original story. I do look forward to any more news on the Paradise family.
I love getting new stories from Evelyn Sola. She keeps it real and entertaining.
Reasons I enjoyed this book: Realistic Entertaining Page-turner Wonderful characters Easy-to-read Strong female Cute kids Protective family
I learned early in life that love is an illusion-- it’s a tool people use to get what they want. I never trusted anyone until I met the three guys that would become my best friends, my true family.
Aside from them, I’ve kept my guard up...until her.
The last week of our senior year in high school, I fell hard and fast for a girl I had no business wanting. We spent one incredible night together...and then, nothing. I awoke alone the next morning with no trace of her in my bed.
To say I’ve been fucking up my life ever since is an understatement. I come from chaos, so that's what I’ll become. There was only one time I thought I had a shot at something better and...well, look how that turned out.
So, I’ll party my way through college, and worry about the consequences later.
But unexpectedly, the woman I fell for turns back up in my life, and it turns out that our night together had consequences of its own.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . UNKNOWN (Bainbridge University, #2) . . . We step into the world of Bainbridge University. Our new adults embark on a new world and make their way through it the best they can. At Bainbridge University, we meet four young men that have forged a bond between them that was more than the family they were born into. In Unknown we experience life through Knox's eyes. Life had taught him early what to expect and love was not real. Then life shows him another lesson. Will he learn his lesson? Or will the early lessons win out?
Knox was lost and out of control. He did have a compass. He was self-aware. He just could not stop. He was spiraling and his friends/brothers knew it. The was so much damage and neglect that he could not see his way past it all, except. There were two exceptions. Soon to become three. His little brother, Rona, his lost love, Willa, and one beautiful surprise, Rose.
Willa find that her already hectic, unsettled world becomes bearable with the meeting of Knox the last few days of school. The two of them find a connection. The connection takes them on a whirlwind of meeting. They connected and bond on a soul deep level. All this changes with one action of someone we don't even get to meet. The pushes Willa to run. All of that gets compounded by the actions of another very spiteful person. That puts Willa on a new and very different path for her life.
Willa and Knox find their way into each other lives again eighteen months later. This brings some heavy emotions of shock, jealousy, anger, hatred, concern, confusion, and love. Love pure and strong.
What I did not like about the story was the timeline and age issue. I find myself drawn in by details. For Knox to have been only a year younger than Ty, he should have been 20. That means a year and half before could he have been 18. I don't know why my head gets stuck with ages, dates, and time lapses. That is my cross to bare when I read. It did not spoil the story for me.
*****
For more information about Andi Burns and her books, visit her website:
WARRIOR REDEEMED Cadi Warriors, #9 by Stephanie West September 26th 2023 Science Fiction, Romance
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Ava had long ago given up hope of being rescued from the scaly aliens. She’d have to be her own hero. So, when her captors start evacuating, she sees her chance at freedom. Living in the wilds of a foreign planet is better than the abuse she and her fellow humans suffer. Except, the escape doesn’t go exactly as planned.
While fleeing, Ava runs right into the cause of her captors’ flight. The aliens infiltrating the base are strange. The exotic man towering over her is built like a tank. Literally, he is covered from head to toe in bony armor. Even more amazing, he is there to rescue her people. Too bad she can’t go with them.
Scala didn’t plan on finding his mate when he infiltrated the enemy outpost. He never wanted a mate or to settle down. Then he discovered the brave female captive. When she runs, he chases, desperate to save the human female from herself.
Giving in to the growing hunger is out of the question. There is a mission to accomplish, and only a savage beast would pounce on a vulnerable, newly liberated female. Apparently, he is a beast.
Ava cuts to the quick, softening Scala’s hardened shell, making it impossible to resist her. She is his weakness and his redemption.
“You forgot Yitu’s things?!” Vicarius Kur hissed as he paused stride in the hangar and spun toward her. Anger sparked in the outpost commander’s beady yellow eyes, his scaly tail thumping the floor threateningly.
Leaving the bag behind had been a last minute but calculated move. Kur literally just sprang this trip on her, not that he ever told her any of his plans ahead of time. The scaly asshole was all demands and swift reprisals if she didn’t act fast enough. Still, when Kur told her to pack, she assumed he meant just his travel gear, but he meant Yitu’s as well. It was completely unexpected. Kur never took his son anywhere. It was an even bigger surprise that she and Lucas were coming, too. In the two years since she’d awoken on this godforsaken planet and been made the Vicarius’ slave, she’d never been taken anywhere outside of Fuzyre.
It only confirmed what she suspected; something was going on. For the last few days, the mood in the outpost was more tense than usual and Kur was twice as surly. Now the Vicarius and his top lieutenants were loading into the massive ship in the seaside hangar.
I knew it. This is what we were waiting for.
She was accustomed to her enslavement and even the abuse, but that didn’t mean she accepted any of it. There was no disputing, she along with dozens of men and women were abducted from Earth. She’d seen the wrecked spaceship at the bottom of the canyon, when the alien lizards pulled her out of the freaky pod. She’d witnessed firsthand the volcanoes, green clouds, and the planet reminiscent of Saturn hanging in the sky. It all screamed this was not Earth. She clearly remembered the debilitating terror and clutching Lucas tight as the overgrown iguanas herded them into a cruiser. Anyone who resisted died. Anyone who refused to get the language implant died. Anyone who didn’t work died. This was her reality. She’d lived it. Except there was no way in hell she was living the rest of her life like this.
I don’t fucking accept any of it!
The thoughts and memories swiftly shifted through her mind like a pep talk. Her hand tightened on Lucas’s and Ava focused on the yellow-eyed scaly bastard.
“Apologies, Vicarius. I will run with Lucas to fetch it right now. I’m sorry for my stupidity,” she swiftly bowed her head.
Kur tugged Lucas away and shoved him toward the loading ship.
“We will be quick.” She again reached for Lucas, her panic rising.
“Go get it!” Vicarius Kur hissed, slapping her across the face.
Ava staggered backward. Her cheek stung and stars flickered before her eyes. At least the Jurou Biljana’s claws hadn’t connected with her cheek, but his next blow would flay skin.
Pain that had nothing to do with her cheek ripped through Ava as she looked at Lucas being led onto the lizard’s ship. The plan was falling to shit. He was supposed to be by her side. She really had no intention of going to fetch the bag. They were supposed to be escaping the outpost.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . WARRIOR REDEEMED (Cadi Warriors, #9) . . . I have found me a new class of aliens to want more of. And by the way I think that David Brenin would be a very good narrator for this series. After finishing Warrior Redeemed, I want to get this series under my reading cap. I will be going back to the beginning and binging them all. The vivid detail. The world that was building before my eyes was fantastic. I would not say perfect, but it was the imperfections that made me want more.
Ava won me over before I finished the first chapter. Scala was different, yet he was not. He was strong, protective, and maybe a little outside of his comfort zone. Luka and Yitu were darling. Then there were enemies that became allies. That was a story all in itself. Then there was the Vicarius. He got everything and more. The other couples from previous stories (I assume) were interesting to see from my one side. I want to know more about the Cadi Warriors.
Thank you Stephanie for the world you built and allowing me that opportunity to see a new universe through your eyes/imagination.
Read the Cadi Warriors series from the beginning: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Lm0XjE Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/cadiwarriors For more information about Stephanie West and her books, visit her website: https://stephaniewestauthor.com/
EIGHTYEARS GONE by Cate Beauman RELEASE DATE: September 20th 2023
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A steamy second chance…
Jagger Tennyson never had it easy, but that all changes when Dr. Steven Evans knocks on his front door. Leaving poverty and hopelessness behind, Jagger creates a life he’s been too afraid to dream of. But tragedy strikes late one night, and everything falls apart. Jagger is forced to walk away, leaving the woman he loves.
Grace Evans grew up with wealth and privilege, but she’s no stranger to loss and pain. When she meets the gorgeous boy from the wrong side of the tracks, everything changes for the better. Grace has never loved anyone the way she loves Jagger. But he vanishes on the night that nearly destroys her.
Eight years later, Jagger comes home, and nothing is how it was supposed to be. Dreams were shattered, and trust was broken, but he wants to make things right. He’ll do whatever it takes to fight for Grace, but proving he still loves her won’t be easy.
When tragedy befalls Grace again, Jagger can help her pick up the pieces. But can Grace forgive the past?
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . EIGHT YEARS GONE . . . I felt honored to pick up a new read from Cate Beauman. This was a little new for her I hear. This was more romance and less action. This was a second chance romance that span some years. Childhood to adults these two had something more between them than lost opportunities. Grace and Jagger were going to begin a journey that was left incomplete. I want to give nothing away. I do want to say that it was well worth the two days it took for me to complete this story. It also has me wanting more stories like this from Cate.
I found the characters engaging and responsive. I found that both primary and secondary characters had been full and rich. There was many words in the silence and in the sidelines. Each event lead me closer to that something. If you know nothing more than this, wealth cannot stop grief, violence, tragedy, loss, or pain. We all have to experience life as it comes. Its how we handle it that will tell who we are and what we are made of.
Author Info Cate Beauman is the multi-award-winning, international bestselling author of The Bodyguards of L.A. County series and the Carter Island Novels. She is known for her full-length, action-packed romantic suspense and contemporary stories.
Cate’s novels have been named Readers’ Favorite Five Star books and have won the Booksellers’ Best Award, Maggie Award for Excellence, the Holt Medallion Award, two-time Aspen Gold Medal, two-time Readers’ Favorite International Gold Medal, three-time Readers’ Favorite International Silver Medal, and the Readers’ Crown Award.
Cate makes her home in North Carolina with her husband and their St. Bernard, Jack.
To make things worse, she has no idea who I am or how our lives have intersected.
I tell myself none of that matters. We’re attending the same university, but we’ll never see each other. Different years, different majors, and different social circles mean I can stay in the shadows and out of her way.
Until I can’t.
A few weeks into the semester, she needs a tutor, and I’m the only one available.
But it’s fine. I can do my job without getting involved in her life, or getting lost in her pretty gray eyes. At least, that’s what I tell myself. All too soon, I'm falling hard for a woman I have no business wanting. She’s perfect for me in every way and loves me like no one else ever has. The problem is, I’m keeping a secret that will ruin everything.
I need to tell her who I am--there’s no way around it. But I know that the moment I do, I'll break her heart beyond repair. And she’ll shatter mine, too.
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . UNCOVERED (Bainbridge University, #1) . . . We step into the world of Bainbridge University. Our new adults embark on a new world and make their way through it the best they can. At Bainbridge University, we meet four young men that have forged a bond between them that was more than the family they were born into. Our first stand-up guy was Ty. Ty had the world on his shoulders. He was young, wealthy, and in a family that did not see him until it suited them. We tap the screen to watch as Ty's story unfolds. His story would be nothing without Phoebe.
Phoebe and Ty shared a tragic past, only one knew about the connection. Phoebe's world changed with the actions of someone she never met. Ty's conscience and heart would not allow for the tragic incident to destroy the bright future that could have been ahead of the young girl, Phoebe. With time and patience Ty was able to make some moves to get the young woman, now, to have a chance at the future she had planned for herself years ago.
Phoebe's world changed the day her brother died. Her world was still upended by the deeds of others years later. Now, she has the chance to move forward with her life and dreams. In none of those dreams did she think she would have more than her hopes and dreams. Nothing prepared her for actually going to school, meeting new friends, making connections, needing a tutor, and falling in love. Nothing prepared her for her world to come crashing down around her again.
Phoebe and Ty were interesting characters. I loved Ty because he was able to be more than what his family was. He had a heart and compassion. He was more than the rich and privileged. Phoebe had to learn to grow and fly. She took some hits and with time she was able to grow.
The writing was good but there was something about some of the transitions and the way the ebook was formatted that threw me off. Even with these things I did enjoy the story enough to finish it.
*****
For more information about Andi Burns and her books, visit her website:
The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . SHATTERPROOK (The Shatter & Shock Duet, #1) . . . Action. Intensity. Attraction. Friends-2-More.What can I say? Well, let me first start with no you do not need to read Bulletproof, but I would suggest it. I will be making that trip back to that one before the next one of this duet comes out.
Slater and Arley left me wanting more. Yes, I knew this was a duet. I knew a cliffhanger was coming. It still did not make me happy to actually get to it. The story built up and then it was really getting intense. And bam. It was the end. An excellent point to make the cliffhanger on. Left you with questions, doubt, and wanting more. I am waiting excitedly for the rest of Slater and Arley’s story.
I enjoyed the best friends to lovers, forced proximity, bodyguard romance aspect of this one. The one thing that had me really wanting to read was that this was best friends falling in love, but she was the ex- of his boss. This was a different kind of mixing business with pleasure and work. I had to have it all. I was not willing to give up. Tap after tap of the screen until I got to the end.
Author Info
Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub-genre to sub-genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.
In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self-improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).
She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack”.
BLURB Sparks fly between a PR rep and an A-list actor who want nothing to do with each other. Leni Steele might be looking for love, but she’s definitely not looking to be someone’s fake date. Especially not one of the most infuriatingly handsome and annoyingly cocky actors on the planet, Duncan Raz. But when the owner of the PR firm for which she works forces her to walk the red carpet on his arm, she has no choice. Neither wants to be there, much less with each other. They’re like oil and water, and he gets on her last nerve. But after a few tequila shots, that’s not all he gets on. What was supposed to be one date turns into a media frenzy they can’t afford to ignore, and Leni has no other option than to continue the ruse. All the fake kisses, furtive glances, and seductive touches eventually start to feel very real. But Raz didn’t earn his A-list-actor status for nothing. Is he just doing what he does best? Playing a role? Or is Leni the leading lady in Raz’s real-life love story?
Goodreads series link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/282375-the-steeles-at-silver-island
Buy Links:
➜KINDLE: https://lnk.to/WIL_Kindle
➜APPLE: https://lnk.to/WIL_Apple
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➜KOBO: https://lnk.to/WIL_Kobo
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➜STANDARD PAPERBACK: https://lnk.to/WIL_Pb
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Audio coming soon! Narrated by Zachary Webber and Savannah Peachwood
➜AUDIBLE: https://lnk.to/WIL_Audible
➜AMAZON: https://lnk.to/WILa_Amazon
➜APPLE: https://lnk.to/WILa_Apple
The Book Junkie Reads . . . REVIEW . . . WILD ISLAND LOVE (The Steeles at Silver Island, #5) . . . Silver Island where love takes bloom. This was somewhat of a enemies to lover. Leni Steele has been on the backburner for several stories. When have seen her from a secondary character through many a love stories. Now, now is her turn to light up the pages and burn up your e-reader. Leni and Duncan, yes that Duncan. Duncan Raz hot, sexy, cocky and per Leni, annoying actor. We get to see how these two not so friendly pair go from enemies to friends to lovers. Leni and Duncan may just give you a new definition of romancing your enemy.
Reasons I enjoyed this book: Entertaining Easy-to-read Wonderful characters Realistic Love Silver Island
Author Info Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling 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.
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