Tag Archives: janisf

Into the Nothing (Broken Outlaw Series Book 1) by BT Urruela

Book Reviews, Series Books, , ,

Into the Nothing is the first solo novel by BT Urruela and is a Contemporary Romance with some Military and Mystery/Suspense thrown in.  This book has it all: wonderful writing, a sexy leading man, a strong and independent leading woman, romance, a loving family, a little mystery, amazing military men and a loving dog!!

It is intended for readers 18 years and older.

Thank you, BT Urruela, for your military service.

IntoTheNothing

My Five Star Review:

So a friend of mine asks me if I’ve read BT Urreula‘s book.  My first reaction was, “you mean the really good looking military man, with the great body, excellent tattoos, and keeps popping up all over social media?”  Yes that’s the guy.  To be honest, I’m not really sure what I was expecting when I picked up Into the Nothing, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I truly enjoyed it.  To me, it was obvious it was written by a man (because let’s be honest, they speak completely different than woman do) but it was refreshing and exiting at the same time.

From the moment I met Xander, I absolutely loved him.  He is your typical alpha male but he also has this softer caring side that was wonderful to read.  He’s been traveling for nine years working his way someplace so he can find closure on his past.  Along the way he runs into Paige Watson and her family.  Paige is a feisty woman who I immediately thought was perfect for Xander.  They did quite a bit of “dancing” with a great deal of sexual tension going on between these two characters and since this is a romance you can imagine where the “dancing” finally leads.   Paige’s written voice was very similar to Xander’s with the use of strong language and some male jargon but to me I thought it fit this woman’s personality. Paige goes through a really rough patch towards the end of this book and my heart was breaking for her but I was very happy with how the book progressed.  (And that’s the only spoiler you’re going to get from me.)

BT takes you on several twists and turns throughout the book and you meet some great secondary characters that I’m hoping pop up in the second book.  To me this book did not leave me with a cliffhanger feeling.  The initial story ends but it’s obvious BT has more story to tell.  I’m looking forward to reading the second book in his Broken Outlaw Series.

About Into the Nothing: 

“Xander Evans has been on the road for many years. Never settling. Always moving from one place to another, unable to let go of his past. He lived a tragic childhood, spending most of those years in foster care. He’s never felt like he’s had a home. That is until he stops in the small town of Truman Valley, Missouri, where he meets a woman who will change everything he’s ever known.

Paige Watson has it all. A loving family, beautiful home, and a great career. The only thing she’s missing….is love. After escaping an abusive relationship, she opens her heart up to a stranger. He is unlike any man she’s ever met. He came into her life and turned it completely upside down. Everything is perfect. That is, until one fateful night.

A night that would tear the Watson family apart, never to be put back together again.

A night that would send Xander away to prison for life.”

into the nothing teaser

Want to know more about BT Urruela?  Click here: http://www.bturruela.com/about/

You can also find him here:  Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Goodreads

Pick up your copy of Into the Nothing on Amazon.

You can find other male romance writers over on Facebook in the Romance & Erotica Author Fraternity group page.  It currently has 8 male authors who love to interact with their fans.  It is a hilarious group, so plan to laugh a lot, and it’s also one of my favorites.

Check out BT’s first book co-written with K.L. Grayson – A Lover’s Lament

BT is also the Brand Ambassador and & Co-Founder of VetSports. Find out more here: http://www.vetsports.org/

As Always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~ janisf

 

shelter Me (A Shelter Novel-Book 1) by Stephanie Tyler

Book Reviews, Series Books, ,

shelter Me is the first book in a new Trilogy by the amazing Stephanie Tyler.  It’s a contemporary romance suspense/mystery and filled with secrets, well defined characters and of course romance.   shelter Me grabbed me right from the very first page, it sucked me in and never let me go!  I am in desperate need of the second book, pieces of Me!!

Recommended for readers 18 years and older.  Shelter Me is available July 25, 2016.

shelter me

My FIVE Star Review:

Cathryn “Ryn” Taylor is an up and coming artist who has no memory of the first 17 years of her life.  As with many artists, she gets lost in her painting for hours at a time and that’s just how she likes it.  She’s a strong female who can defend herself but she’s still considered the “crazy artist.” Her best friend, Brayden, owner of his own art gallery and who has been selling Ryn’s paintings for a few years, wants her to come to NYC for her very own showing.  Brayden is her family and he goes out of his way to keep her protected.

Lucas Caine is a complete mystery.  He’s gorgeous, danger vibrates off him in waves, violence surely follows him, he has alpha male written all over his body and facial features but Ryn can’t seem to get him out of her system.  It turns out, Lucas can get Ryn out of his system either.  The chemistry between these two characters is off the charts hot!

As with any of Stephanie’s novels, the writing is amazing.  She paints such a clear picture of what’s happening and weaves a story together so well that I couldn’t help but get pulled right in.  Her characters are very well developed and keep you guessing throughout the book.  Secondary characters play a very big role in this book and that’s something I truly love in a novel.

Shelter Me is the first in a trilogy and the ending left me wanting the next book immediately.  I wouldn’t say it was a “cliff hanger” ending because the story unfolds with each chapter but it definitely leaves you wanting more of this intriguing story.  I will say that it’s obvious to me that you must read this book before any others in the series.

I absolutely love Stephanie’s story telling style and I would highly recommend all of her books.

More about shelter Me:

“There are ghosts in my past—ghosts I can’t recognize.

My painting heals me, but Lucas Caine has made me come alive. My past could take both those things away forever. What started out as an undeniable need to create was quickly turning into danger as my longing for memories fed the rough canvases I filled.

Falling for Lucas will force me to revisit my lost memories—and possibly lose myself, my art, and him in the process.

And now he has me skating the thin edge between desire and fear as I use a past I don’t remember to leverage a future I’m not sure I want.”

Excerpt:

“I’m prickly with sensation as goose bumps rise on my skin.  Blood rushes, pounding a beat between my ears until it’s all I hear.  The scene in front of me plays out, wordless.  Soundless. Silent slow motion.

And there’s nothing but a palpable danger vibrating through me.  My skin crawls, throat tightens.  I’ve backed up to the bricks which scrape along my jacket, almost catching me to the surface.

It’s like I’m watching something with another layer over it, an overexposed negative of one thing superimposed over another.

In front of me, Lucas is fighting three men.

But in my overexposed memory, I’m fighting someone – something else, even though Lucas isn’t letting any of these men near me.

A sob racks through me but I stifle it.  I need to be strong.

Activity resumes at its normal volume.  The gauzy curtain lifts to reveal real life and I see and hear the fight happening inches form me.  The sounds of bodies scraping against concrete and fists making contact with flesh and bone overwhelm my already fragile senses.

I look down and realize that, at some point, I’ve pulled the knife out of my bag to protect myself in case they come near me, but Lucas was fighting like he could take all of them.

And he could. Because he did.”

Want to read more?

Head over to Stephanie’s website to read Chapter 1.  http://stephanietyler.info/books/shelter-me/

Reading Order: 

shelter Me – Book 1 – Amazon Link – releases July 25, 2016

pieces of Me – Book 2 – Releases November 2016

Book 3 – Releases January 2017

Find Stephanie Tyler Here: Facebook, Internet, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram.

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

Heart Strike (Delta Force Book 2) by M. L. Buchman

Book Reviews, Series Books, , ,

Heart Strike by M. L. Buchman is an action packed, military suspense romance with an explosive ending and lead characters you can’t help but fall in love with.  This is book 2 in the Delta Force series and you can absolutely read it as a stand alone, which is what I did, but I do plan to pick up book 1 – Target Engaged.

Heart Strike Releases August 2, 2016

heart strike

My Five Star Review:

This book has it all, strong Delta women in leading roles, strong Delta men trying to keep up with them,  a mission, action packed gun fights, explosions, team conflict and let’s not forget the hot and steamy falling in love part.

M. L.’s writing is amazing.  He puts so much detail into his stories that I always have a clear picture of the action and the scene before me.  It is fast paced, the writing is easy to follow and it always leaves you wanting more of his stories!

I immediately loved Melissa “The Cat” Moore. She has a tough mission coming onto an established team and trying to determine how she fits in.  This is also the team with the first female Delta Operator, Carla Anderson.   I loved how the woman hit it off right away but I think that had a great deal to do with Carla.  (Who was featured in the first book Target Engaged and who I need to read more about.)

Now Richie Goldman, the smartest soldier in the world (in my opinion), Mr. Geek who basically has a head full of knowledge and is also a major warrior, completely stole a place in my heart.  I absolutely enjoyed this character and watching him fall in love with Melissa.  His scenes are so much fun to read and I love the way his mind works. The Unit is extremely lucky to have him on their team.

As you can probable figure  out, I enjoyed this story and I highly recommend it.  Grab it, take it to the beach this summer, you will not be disappointed.

More about Heart Strike:

DELTA FORCE: The deadliest elite counter-terrorism unit on the planet
• A precision strike force
• The most out-of-the-box thinkers in any military
• Will die to get the mission done

SERGEANT RICHIE “Q” GOLDMAN: The smartest soldier on any team
SERGEANT MELISSA “THE CAT” MOORE: Newest on the team, determined to be the best

Rescued from an icy mountaintop by a Delta operative, Melissa Moore has never met a challenge she can’t conquer. Not only she will make Delta Force, she will be the best female warrior in The Unit, and woe to anyone who says otherwise. Technical wizard Richie Goldman is Bond’s “Q” turned warrior. A genius about everything except women, he takes point on the team’s most dangerous mission yet. When the Delta Force team goes undercover in the depths of the Colombian jungle, surviving attacks from every side requires that Richie and Melissa strike right at the heart of the matter…and come out with their own hearts intact.

Find M.L. Buchman here:  Internet, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter.

Reading order and Links to Amazon: 

Target Engaged – Delta Force book 1 – https://amzn.com/B011SPAJ74

Heart Strike – Delta Force book 2 – https://amzn.com/B01G5UCXM6

 

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

 

Check out this Fantastic Giveaway!

Ramblings,

The amazing Julie Ann Walker is doing a giveaway on her Facebook Page.

Check it out here – Julie Ann Walker Giveaway 

Sign up for her Thunderclap Campaign Here.

(A Thunderclap Campaign is a way to help spread the word on social media about the things you love.)

Click here to see some of my reviews of Julie’s books.

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

 

Devil and The Deep (The Deep Six Book 2) by Julie Ann Walker

Book Reviews, Series Books, , , , ,

Fast-paced, action-packed, romantic suspense with sexy ex-Navy SEALs, strong woman and the search for buried treasure.  The search for the Santa Cristina continues in Devil in the Deep the second book in Julie Ann Walker’s Deep Six series which is a spin-off series from Julie Ann’s popular Black Nights Inc.

Release Date:  July 5, 2016

Recommended for readers 18 years and over.

devil and the dep

My FIVE Star Review: 

Devil in the Deep is the story of Brando “Bran” Pallidino (Ex-Navy SEAL and Madison “Maddy” Powers (daughter to the owner of the largest oil company in the US) but you also get a nice dose of Mason McCarthy (Ex-SEAL) and Alexandra “Alex” Merriweather (an educated historian and historian translator) in this book as well.   Devil and The Deep starts 3 months after the first book Hell or High Water.  Six former SEALs join forces to search for the Santa Cristina and the vast treasure she carries in her big belly deep below the sea.  In book one, the search is full on but in this second book, we take a little 24 hour break for some action and of course falling in love.

Bran and Maddy first met in Hell and High Water when Maddy’s father’s yacht was hijacked. Three months later and several e-mail messages back and forth, neither one of them can get the other out of their heads.  Adventure and danger seem to follow Maddy wherever she goes and brings these four amazing characters on an action packed ride.

Julie’s writing is truly amazing.  It is witty, refreshing and just all over fun to read.  The men are of course sexy and the women have no problem keeping the military alpha men in line.  This book didn’t get us any closer to finding the Santa Cristina but I still enjoyed every minute of it.

Mason and Alex’s characters added some amazing comedy to this story and I am so looking forward to their book and story.

Be sure to pick up and read the first book, Hell or High Water, before you dive into Devil and the Deep.  You don’t want to miss out on any of this adventure.

More about Devil and the Deep:

A COVERT MISSION
Maddy Powers’s life revolves around cocktail parties, political fundraisers, and charity events – but she can’t forget the daring former SEAL who appropriated her father’s yacht a few months ago … or the scorching kiss they shared before he disappeared into the deep blue sea.

SPARKS A FLAMING DESIRE
Bran Pallidino carries a dark secret behind his lady-killer eyes – one that keeps him from pursuing a serious relationship with Maddy. But when she’s taken hostage during a trip to the Dry Tortugas, the men of Deep Six Salvage drop their treasure hunt for a sunken galleon and embark on a dangerous mission to save Maddy.

WITH EARTH-SHATTERING REPERCUSSIONS
As they fight her merciless kidnappers, they discover this isn’t a simple hostage situation, but something far more sinister. Passion boils between Bran and Maddy, but what good is putting their hearts on the line if they don’t survive the dawn?

Find Julie Ann Walker here:  Internet, Facebook, Goodreads

Reading order and Links to Amazon:

Hell or High Water Book 1 – https://amzn.com/B00Q571YD4 

Devil and The Deep Book 2 – https://amzn.com/B01AO207BU

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf

 

 

Book Reviews janisf and leisha is one year old and we’re giving away books!

Ramblings,

blog 1 year

I can’t believe this blog is a year old.  

Me, the girl who wrote two book reports her entire high school career, me who only read what was absolutely necessary in college, has a blog that’s a year old and has 57 posted book reviews of which I personally made 56.  It’s received over 1000 hits, has 22 followers, and has given away over 25 books.  Also, Per Goodreads, I have read close to 300 books in the last 2 1/2 years.  Who would have thought.

To honor this milestone I am, of course, going to giveaway books during the month of May!

Below is a list of E-books to be gifted through Amazon to the lucky winners.  To be eligible to win, simple tell me what book you would like to win and then random.com will do the rest.  You can comment on this blog page or you can comment on the Facebook Book Reviews janisf and leisha page.  (To see my review, simple click the title below.)

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon – New Adult, Historical Fantasy Romance

The Summer Remains by Seth King – This is the first book I reviewed one year ago.

The Seventh by SD Wasley – Young Adult Paranormal

Justin’s Season by S. M. Sawyer – Young Adult – Miracle and Journey of Discovery

Wicked Ride by Rebecca Zanetti – Paranormal Romance – Witches, Vampires and More

This is the first in many giveaways coming during May, so stop back often to see what’s up next.

Winners will be pick on Wednesday, May 18. 

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading

UPDATE:  I’m already giving books away, so keep entering to win! 

 

The Bird and the Sword by Amy Harmon

Book Reviews, Series Books, , ,

Amy Harmon’s Historical Fantasy Romance novel, The Bird and the Sword, is live TODAY!  This story is magical in the way Amy wove the words together to give us this amazing story of strength, determination, survival and most of all love.   

I would recommend this book to readers 16 years and older.

bird and sword janis (3)

My FIVE Star Review: 

It’s not a secret, I am a huge Amy Harmon fan and winning an advanced reader copy of this book absolutely made my day.  I’ve read every one of her books and each one has left me feeling every emotion possible deep down in my soul and this book is no different.

Amy’s words flow so well all I had to do was take them in and let them build the world she created so vividly in my mind.  Her scenes are very descriptive but I never felt overwhelmed or confused.  The story kept moving along with every chapter and I had a few moments of yes I was right and a few where I was shocked.  As I got closer to the end of the story, all I could think was I’m not ready for it to be over. I know you know what I mean. You’re reading a book with just one chapter left and you don’t want to read it because you know the story is coming to its end.  Every one of these wonderful characters sucked me in and I didn’t want to let them go.  Amy is an extremely talented storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her work with an additional publication coming out later this year.

One of the things that fascinated me most about the story were the names of her characters.  They are all unique and different.  Thank you, Amy for putting a Pronunciation Guide right at the beginning of the book.

I try very hard to never include spoilers in my reviews but I want to give you some words I think describe The Bird and the Sword.  There are good guys, bad guys, lifelong friends, protectors, secrets, kings, queens, castles, horses, animals, bloody battles and most of all, Love.

Go to Amazon right now and click buy on The Bird and the Sword.  You will not be disappointed!

More about The Bird and the Sword:

Swallow, Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, Daughter. Stay alive.

The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would trade his soul and lose his son to the sky.
My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free.
But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird?

bird and sword teaser

Find Amy Harmon here: Internet, Facebook, Goodreads

For more novels by Amy Harmon, visit her Amazon page Here.

Below are two of my favorite Amy books with the link to my review.  Enjoy! 

The Law of Moses – My Review – Amazon Link.

Making Faces – My Review – Amazon Link.

As always, Keep Writing/Keep Reading ~janisf