Tag Archive | military romance

Kill Without Mercy by @AlexandraIvy #klover #thriller #romance

I received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis

Annie is in the small town of Newton, Iowa looking for answers. Her father is known as a serial killer from 15 years ago. When women begin to disappear in the same town. She wonders if she can help stop a killer.

Rafe went to Iowa to clear out his deceased grandfather’s house. Upon overhearing a conversation involving Annie, he decides that he needs to help her with her investigation. When there seems to be threats to Annie’s life, he is more convinced that he is doing the right thing.

Opinion

This book is one of the best thriller/suspense romance books I have read in a long while.

There were so many twists and turns, I almost got whiplash.

I really liked Rafe’s character. He was all alpha male and a protector. Rafe cannot deny the attraction between him and Annie, but initially he was intrigued because he is a sucker for damsel in distress.

“Rafe had a full blown case of savior complex…”

Annie’s life is a hot mess. I did not warm up to her at first, but I was able to understand her. Between the gaps in her memory, the nightmares, and the notoriety of her serial killer father, she was a mystery waiting to be solved.

Once all is revealed… Let’s just say wow!

I cannot say a lot about the story without giving anything away/ One of my favorite parts of the story was the camaraderie between Rafe and his friends. The five of them are Rafe, Hauk, Teagan, Max, and Lucas. I love them all so much. I cannot wait for them to get their own stories.

Should you buy? Absolutely yes! For me all of the ARES security stories are now on my TBR list. How Alexandra Ivy will top this story is beyond me, but I am eagerly waiting to find out.

Book Details from Amazon
File Size: 517 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Zebra (December 29, 2015)
Publication Date: December 29, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Can’t Shake You should be Can’t Understand You #contemporaryromance

Jul20

Can’t Shake You (River Bend, #1)

Synopsis

Carissa bought a house that she is remodeling to sell.

Josh is a contractor that helps Carissa after she fires her first contractor.

Carissa and Josh had a one night stand years ago, but decide that they cannot have a relationship now. Complicating things is the fact that Carissa dated Josh’s best friend. Plus Carissa’s best friend is marrying Josh’s brother.

Opinion

I think that Carissa thought that what she had with Josh was never going to happen again and that is why she decided dating his best friend was a good idea. Not a choice I would have made, but I guess she realized that she did not have many options in a small town. It is still confusing why Josh was not an option for a relationship.

What I could not understand about this story

Josh’s hesitancy to tell his best friend about dating Carissa. It was not as if they were still dating. What kind of ridiculous “I got dibs on her” type of childish nonsense was that? Josh and Carissa were sneaking around so that they could hide their relationship from one person. The way they were carrying on, it was as if one of them was married.

What really annoyed me about this story

Carissa’s best friend kept pushing her to sleep with guys as if she needed to be in a relationship to be happy.

Overall, this book was not the best, but was not the worst. The villain did not seem to have a decent grasp on reality. What stalker is a sane person? Josh’s reason for not making their relationship public was borderline ridiculous to me. But in the end, they get together and all loose ends are neatly tied up.

Should you buy? Yes as a time filler for an afternoon or while travelling, but do not pay more than 99cents (last I checked, it was free on Amazon)

Book details from Amazon

Print Length: 326 pages
Publisher: Molly McLain (February 21, 2014)
Publication Date: February 21, 2014

Available on Amazon

The Commander finds love

Jun25

The Commander (Red, Hot, & Blue)

Synopsis

Now that all the SpecOps team members have their happy endings (this is the The Red, Hot & Blue series), Hank, the commander, is the focus of the story. Everyone looks up to and respects Hank. He has been a constant in their military career, like a father figure to most of them. Since he is larger than life for them, he cannot talk frankly to them about his feelings or what he wants out of life.

Lois is the mother to members of Hank’s SpecOps team. Just because she has adult children old enough to get married, does not mean she is some dowdy, old lady content to sit at home in her rocking chair waiting for the grandchildren to come. She is spunky, spirited, and energetic. She loves her sons, their girlfriends, and embraces everyone she meets with open arms.

Since Hank does not socialize with his direct reports, the image he had in his head about the way Lois (called Mama by his men) looked and how she actually looked was totally different. Before this book they knew of each other but had not met in person. When they finally meet, Hank was not prepared for the fact that she was hotter than his matronly mental image.

Opinion

I have mentioned in previous reviews that I like it when the characters are mature. I cannot remember reading a romance where the characters were in this age bracket; however it totally worked for the story.

Lois is a hardworking woman who was unfortunate the first time around when it came to love. At least she has her sons that will do anything for her. She spoils them but not too much. I think I liked her so much because she sounds like my ideal book mom.

Hank is a rugged, mature man who touches my heart too. I think he was realistic enough to admit that his failed relationship was partially his fault. Given his position, he did not really have anyone he could talk to about personal matters.

It feels funny calling the characters by their names since up until this point, they were Mama and Commander. I was as happy that Lois and Hank found each other as I would be about my parents (or my friend’s parents) finding romance. I skimmed over the love scenes though. Who wants to read about their parents making out? Ughhh. I rather not think about that. Oh the visuals.

Overall, I liked The Commander (Red, Hot, & Blue) because it was different from what I am used to reading in the sense that the characters were more mature age wise. Bravo to Cat Johnson for this storyline. Like the other books in this series, there is some graphic language and love scene detail.

Should you buy? It is worth the prices. While this story is full length, read the other stories in this series to get the full effect of who Lois and Hank are. Out of all the books, this is definitely the sweetest of all the story lines.

Book Details
ebook, 81 pages

Published December 31st 2013 by Samhain Publishing

Series Red, Hot & Blue #12

T is for Touched #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr23

Touched By Midas (SEALs Going Hot Book 4) ♥♥

Synopsis

Michael (Midas) is a Navy Seal that is very superstitious. He sees lucky signs in everything. He credits his routines before missions with keeping his team safe.

Angie is a teacher at the Naval Station in Rota Spain. She will not give Midas the time of day. The more she shows her disdain, the more he wants her in his bed.

When Midas’ team members bet he cannot date her, he pulls out all the stops to charm her. If Midas wins the bet, his team members promise not to give him any grumbling when he forces them to follow his lucky routines. Little does Midas know, Angie resists him because of her secret identity.

“If she could get to the point where she really trusted him, she would reveal her identity.”

Opinion

Midas seemed to be a sweet, sincere guy, but I kept thinking that the only reason why he was mesmerized by Angie was because she made him chase her. While his quirks humanized him, they also detracted from his hotness. He went from being HOT to CUTE. Both are good, but, for me, it’s the difference between a book boyfriend and a book guy friend.

I just believed I friendzoned Midas.

I think that the author wants the reader to believe that Angie was this reformed wild child. I had a hard time believing she had been into anything so kinky it made her a “bad girl”. I guess I am jaded when it comes to kink. Angie so melodramatic, I thought she needed to chill.

Many of the elements of the story were predictable

Angie’s secret was not as radical as she hyped it up to be
Insta-romance: From hate to love in a week
Angie flips out over the bet – LOL no brainer there

The story was cute, but I was expecting better. I read Dagger’s Edge (by the same author) and was thinking that this book would have similar energy. I like that it was a romance featuring a SEAL but it was not steamy as I was anticipating.

Should you buy? It is light reading, without a complicated plot or conflict. In the course of a week, Angie and Midas decide they are in love but that is almost derailed when she finds out about the bet. Nothing new in the plot but sometimes (if you are like me) you might want to read something without too many surprises.

Book details from Goodreads
Kindle Edition
Published August 14th 2014 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
94 pages
Series SEALs Going Hot

Available on Amazon

K is for Killing #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr13

Killing Honor (Lucky Thirteen Book 1) ♥♥♥

Synopsis

Brody is a Navy SEAL who comes home after two years on a top-secret assignment. He is ready to be home, but the unfinished business of the mission causes him to worry that his family may be in danger.

At 21 years old, Devyn, was married and mother of twin 2 week old preemie girls when Brody left for deployment. Now that he has returned home, she has to figure out if she is still in love with him or in love with the idea of him.

Opinion

This was one of the more somber, serious romances that I have read in a long time. It is a military romance that does not glamorize what being married to a SEAL in active duty must feel like. While I do not usually prefer books told in the first person, this one works well because I felt like Brody and Devyn were telling me their story.

The young couple is dealing with several issues

Two year separation
Being parents as a couple
Post-traumatic stress

Brody has secrets from the mission that torment him but he cannot reveal what is worrying him. Devyn worries that his reticent behavior means that he does not love her as he used to do.

“What if…he came back different and didn’t love me anymore?” Devyn

It is some consolation that it is obvious to the reader that they still love each other.

“She owned my soul since the first moment I saw her.” Brody

“His kiss sent a relentless ache though straight to my core.” Devyn

However, it is difficult for them to verbalize their insecurities to each other. As a reader, I wanted them to openly communicate but I understood what was holding them back since these were not trivial issues. While the physical aspect of their relationship never lost its heat, the misinterpretation of nonverbal cues from the other person caused additional distress.

Should you buy? Yes. There is action and suspense, but the book’s main focus is the dynamic of a military couple who have to figure how to save their marriage. They learn how to reconnect and re-calibrate their relationship.

Book details from Goodreads
ebook, 250 pages
Published March 24th 2014 by Soaring Phoenix Press
series Lucky Thirteen #1

Available on Amazon