Book Review - HOT SEAL: SWEET & SPICY by Cynthia D'Alba

 

Title:  Hot Seal: Sweet & Spicy
Author:  Cynthia D'Alba
Genre:  Adult, Military/Western Romance
Release Date:  July 27, 2021

About the Book:

She’s hankering for some happiness. He’s facing his fate alone. Together, can they find forever on the menu?

Addison Treadway needs time to heal. With her loveless marriage finally demolished by her breast cancer diagnosis, the talk-show host never expected to also lose her job. And since her weekend as a bridesmaid is her last before chemo, the thirty-three-year-old resolves to put her perky girls to good use… and the groom’s hunky brother is the perfect choice to kiss them goodbye.

Without orders to fulfill, Eli Miller feels aimless. With the former Navy SEAL’s duties now turned towards the family farm, he’s confused about what his future holds. And before he can figure out his next move, he finds the supposedly single woman he regretfully slept with at his brother’s wedding is staying in his parents’ apartment.

Grateful to have acquaintances offer their home for her recovery from reconstructive surgery, Addison is floored when the sexy guy who ghosted her walks through the door. But when Eli uncovers the truth and sparks fly again, he starts cooking up something he’s sure she’s going to love.

Can they get past their awkward introduction and serve up a sizzling happily ever after?

Hot SEAL, Sweet and Spicy is a sweltering standalone contemporary romance in the SEALs in Paradise series. If you like characters confronting change, laughter-filled confusion, and red-hot passion, then you’ll adore Cynthia D'Alba’s dish of desire.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

I am officially in love with Eli Miller. Please don't tell my husband because he just wouldn't understand about "book boyfriends". But seriously! How could anyone resist a hunky, strong, very attractive, Navy Seal, who is also a Cowboy and an all-around good guy who loves to cook!! And what's cooking in this latest novel by Cynthia D'Alba is smokin' HOT.

If you haven't grabbed one of these Hot Seals in Paradise novels, you are missing out! Each one can be read as a stand-alone, but you will frequently find a favorite character or two from previous books in the Hot Seals realm.

As for "Sweet & Spicy", author Cynthia D'Alba has created characters I absolutely loved. This storyline hit home somewhat and I loved how Ms. D'Alba told Addison's story, every heartbreaking moment of what she endured, both physically and psychologically, after being diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).

While reading this, I cried. Yes, big old alligator tears running down my cheeks. Sometimes I cried because of what Addison was going through and sometimes I cried because of how heartwarming it was to see how real friends and one very special man could make everything right in Addison's world.

Oh! And I need to mention that the romance scenes were hot! 

My Rating: 

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Cynthia D’Alba started writing on a challenge from her husband in 2006 and discovered having imaginary sex with lots of hunky men was fun. She was born and raised in a small Arkansas town. After being gone for a number of years, she’s thrilled to be making her home back in Arkansas living in a vine-covered cottage on the banks of an eight-thousand acre lake. When she’s not reading or writing or plotting, she’s doorman for her border collie, cook, housekeeper and chief bottle washer for her husband and slave to a noisy, messy parrot. She loves to chat online with friends and fans.

Learn more about Cynthia D'Alba and sign up for her newsletter on her website at www.CynthiaDAlba.com 

#BookReview - Victory on the Home Front by Lilly Robbins Brock

Title:  Victory on the Home Front
Author:  Lilly Robbins Brock
Genre:  History, Military
Release Date:  January 15, 2018

About the Book:

Love, Marriage, Separation. A young couple’s marriage is interrupted by war. Their idyllic life is about to change. Will their love survive?

After Priscilla and Dean celebrated their first wedding anniversary in October 1941, the unimaginable happens. Pearl Harbor is attacked on December 7th. They know it’s only a matter of time before Dean is called to serve.

Victory on The Home Front is an insightful and heart-warming Memoir/Biography that shines a light on the women who contributed to the war effort during World War II.

This is a story about one of those women. Through historical research, several hours of interviews with Priscilla, her personal diary that had remained closed since 1940, and Dean’s letters from the war front, the author narrates Priscilla’s life story. Her story begins in a small lumber town where she falls in love and marries her high school sweetheart.

When the United States entered the Second World War, the couple put their marriage on hold to support their country. Each played an important role—Priscilla worked in a Boeing factory building planes as a Rosie the Riveter, and Dean joined the Navy to become a new kind of soldier--a fighting Seabee.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Victory on the Home Front is more than just a historic novel.  It is more than a memoir.  It is more than a biography.  Victory on the Home Front is a personal account of what it was like to live as a young couple during the throws of World War II.  It is also a book that describes the turning point in the evolution of women in this country.  No longer are they the frail delicate flowers that must be protected by big strong men.  It was during this time that women realized their potential.  It was during this time that women realized their strength, emotionally and physically.

Lilly Robbins Brock, through her historic research and first-hand account with a real live "Rosie the Riviter", tells us the story of how women rolled up their sleeves, tied back their hair, and built airplanes at the Boeing plant... planes that helped us win WWII.  She takes us through the budding romance of a young couple, Priscilla and Dean Messinger, and how the war affected them both.  Dean went off to join the Navy as a fighting Seabee, and Priscilla went off to work building planes.

What the reader finds in this novel is so much more than you would find in a history book. The author quotes from actual letters written between Priscilla and Dean during the war, allowing the reader to feel what it was like to live through that time in U.S. history.  Not to get political here, but perhaps if our current generation could learn more about our "Greatest Generation", we could all be truly great again.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Lilly Robbins Brock and her husband live in a quiet country setting on the shores of the Columbia River in Cathlamet, Washington. She began her business as an interior designer in 1980, and has recently retired. Living in the country is the ideal environment for Lilly to pursue her lifelong desire to write. She also enjoys gardening, and realized her pioneer family’s planter blood is alive and well within her. 

Her book, Food Gift Recipes From Nature’s Bounty was inspired by the garden and orchard. Preserving the food evolved into the idea of sharing some of that food—the gift of food. 

Lilly loves history and one of her passions has been researching the genealogy of her family. She was born and raised in Olympia, Washington where her pioneer family homesteaded in the late 1800s. She has been working on a historical fiction novel, Intrepid Journey, about a family in the 1850s traveling on a paddle wheel steamship from New York to the rugged Pacific Northwest via the dangerous South American route. It’s a revealing glimpse into the past of what life was like at that time. 

Her book, Intrepid Journey, was put on hold when she discovered two letters written by her now deceased father while he was on the battlefront of World War II. The letters inspired her to find a World War II veteran still living and tell his story. She found her veteran and wrote Wooden Boats & Iron Men to honor him and all veterans. She recently finished her second book about another World War II veteran, Ever A Soldier. He turned one hundred years old in July 2017. Lilly feels that every veteran has a story, and at least she has been able to shine a light on these two extraordinary men. Now she is shining a light on the women who contributed to the war effort during World II, and has written about a Rosie the Riveter, now ninety-five years old, in her latest book, Victory on the Home Front.

#BookReview - The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing - Book 3 of 3 by Robyn Carr

Title:  The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing - Book 3)
Author:  Robyn Carr
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Military
Publisher:  MIRA
Release Date:  April 18, 2018

About the Book:

An exceptional storyteller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr beautifully captures the emotionally charged, complex dynamics that come with being part of any family. Readers will laugh and shed a few tears as they discover what it means to be loved, supported and accepted by the people who mean the most.

Having left the military, Dakota Jones is at a crossroads in his life. With his elder brother and youngest sister happily settled in Sullivan’s Crossing, he shows up hoping to clear his head before moving on to his next adventure. But, like every visitor to the Crossing, he’s immediately drawn to the down-to-earth people and the seemingly simple way of life.

Dakota is unprepared for how quickly things get complicated. As a newcomer, he is on everyone’s radar—especially the single women in town. While he enjoys the attention at first, he’s really only attracted to the one woman who isn’t interested. And spending quality time with his siblings is eye-opening. As he gets to know them, he also gets to know himself and what he truly wants.

When all the Jones siblings gather for a family wedding, the four adults are drawn together for the first time in a way they never were as children. As they struggle to accept each other, warts and all, the true nature and strength of their bond is tested. But all of them come to realize that your family are the people who see you for who you really are and love you anyway. And for Dakota, that truth allows him to find the home and family he’s always wanted.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Although this is Book #3 of the Sullivan's Crossing series, it can be read as a stand-alone.  Reading the first two books in the series is a plus, however, because it gives you more insight into the lives of the fabulous characters in this series. The Family Gathering highlights the inclusion of Dakota into the family circle in Timberlake, Colorado and although the story mainly revolves around the developing romance between Dakota and Sid, we are brought up to date on what is happening in the lives of the other characters in this series, including Sedona.  

Dakota, after leaving the military, is somewhat lost in what he wants out of life. He had not stayed in close touch with his family over the past several years, but seeing them and how their lives had grown in Sullivan's Crossing warmed his heart and made him realize how important family can be.  His attraction to Sid, the one single female in town who is not throwing herself at him, flourishes. It's a sweet romance that turns intense. I love these two together!

Not to give away any spoilers here, but a situation arises with Sierra and Connie that brought tears to my eyes.  And we see more of the sweet romance between Tom and Lola and how that turns out. Oh! The excitement and suspense of a female stalker who develops a crazy attachment to Dakota kept me on the edge of my seat.

Robyn Carr creates multi-dimensional characters who warm your heart and make you feel like you are part of the story.  This book definitely did not disappoint me.  Great series from an author I have grown to love!

*Disclosure:  I received a complimentary advance copy from NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, comments and opinions are my own.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of almost sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series. The third novel (THE FAMILY GATHERING) in her fan-favorite new series, Sullivan's Crossing, will be released in April 2018. Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn and her husband live in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at www.RobynCarr.com. 

#BookReview - Montana Seal (Brotherhood Protector Series Book 1) by Elle James

Title:  Montana Seal (Brotherhood Protector Series Book 1)
Author:  Elle James
Genre:  Adult Romance, Action & Adventure
Release Date:  November 17, 2015

About the Book:

Former SEAL and shining Hollywood starlet struggle against their burgeoning desire while trying to stay alive in the crosshairs of a murderous stalker.
Hank “Montana” Patterson never thought his call to duty would force him to leave his band of brothers in the Navy SEALs to return to the family ranch in the foothills of Montana’s Crazy Mountains. News that his father was shot sends him rushing home to take over the reins of the Bear Creek Ranch. His forever-belligerent father refuses his help, insisting Hank find the person who shot him. What Hank learns is the bullet was meant for the neighboring ranch owner, a Hollywood celebrity, and a beautiful actress who once stole Hank’s heart. 
Hometown girl, now a Hollywood mega-star, Sadie McClain shot to fame and fortune on the big screen, earning her star on the walk of fame and a stalker who won’t back off. Escaping to her ranch in Montana, Sadie hopes to avoid her stalker, only to be hunted there as well. In need of a bodyguard with combat skills, Sadie hires her old flame, Hank to do the job. 
Together they struggle to overcome their rekindled desire while fighting to stay alive in the crosshairs of a madman.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Great action packed adventure that took in all elements, with vivid descriptions of each scene. Elle James created an interesting story of an injured Navy Seal contemplating his future with the military, trying to decide if he wanted to continue or move on to something else. When his past love (who never left his heart) needs a bodyguard, Hank steps in.

The first half of Montana Seal was great! Lots of action, mystery and romantic tingles. Gosh! How I love those tingles! The very last portion of the book when everything comes to a head (no spoilers here) was also very exciting and well written. In between the first and the last parts... well...I have no objections to the sex scenes, but be warned that there are indeed some rather intense sex scenes. Those sex scenes, however, may have been a bit too much all lumped together, one right after the next. Just my opinion! Even with that, I truly enjoyed the book and love this author's writing.  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series or checking out other books by Elle James.

On a side note, this was not a very long book. A bit less than 200 pages, and can be read in a short amount of time. 

My Rating: 

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Elle James, spent twenty years livin' and lovin' in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. Now living in northwest Arkansas, she isn't wrangling cattle, she's wrangling her muses, a malti-poo and yorkie. When she's not at her computer, she's out snow-skiing, boating, or riding her ATV, dreaming up new adventures in stories.

#Book Review - Wooden Boats & Iron Men by Lilly Robbins Brock

Title:  Wooden Boats & Iron Men
Author:  Lilly Robbins Brock
Genre:  History, Military
Release Date:  September 11, 2016

About the Book:

When the author found two letters written by her now deceased father while he was on the battlefront of World War II, she knew she had to find a World War II veteran still living amongst us and tell his story. She found her veteran. 

Every veteran has a story. This is the life account of a World War II PT sailor whose love for the motor torpedo boat has lasted over seventy years. When the eighteen-year-old Oklahoman stepped onto the deck of the PT boat for the first time in 1944, his life was forever entwined with the PT boat. 

This is also the story of the rescue of PT-658 when a group of silver-haired Navy veterans set out to find and restore a surviving motor torpedo boat. When they found PT-658, she was half sunk and rotting in an estuary of San Francisco Bay. Through the efforts of this PT sailor and other veteran sailors and volunteers, the grand lady is back. PT-658 is the only fully operational World War II PT boat remaining in the world.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

This book was particularly moving to me.  I come from a long line of veterans.  My father was in the U.S. Army in WWII and my husband was a U.S. Marine in Viet Nam in the 1960's.  As I read the author's recollection of coming across some old letters her father had written during WWII, I could so easily relate as I remembered coming across letters my own father had written to my mother during that same time.  Yes, I had an instant connection to this author.

I don't usually quote from books while writing my reviews, but this paragraph was of real significance:

"According to The National World War II website, in their article "Honor:  WWII Veteran Statistics", there were sixteen million Americans who served our country in World War II, and now, in 2016, there are just under one million veterans still living (May 2016).  I value their loyalty to our country and consider them a national treasure.  There's still time to hear their stories, and to honor them."

Honoring a WWII veteran, is exactly what Lilly Robbins Brock did.  She discovered Maury Hooper, a stately grey-haired man, who told his story with style!  Here was a man, born in 1926, growing up on a farm with the farmhouse being built by his own grandfather.  His family struggled through the Great Depression and then the Great Dust Bowl.  In 1944, three years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Maury Hooper was sworn in to the U.S. Navy.  His story of the years he served, as well as the years that followed, warmed my heart with pride in this man.

This story was beautifully told by an author who shares the passion of many veterans.  I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed on the Dedication page that a portion of the proceeds of this book is donated to the non-profit organization, Save the PT Boat, Inc.  Their mission is to maintain, operate and display the historic relic PT-658, as a living memorial to honor the many U.S. sailors who manned these small wooden warships.

This is a definite 5-star novel for me!

*Disclosure:  A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Lilly Robbins Brock was born in Olympia, Washington where her pioneer family homesteaded in the late 1800’s. Her ancestral roots inspired her to research her family’s genealogy and have influenced her desire to write historical fiction. Lilly has had a passion for writing for as long as she can remember. Throughout her life she has written poetry and short stories, but never published any of her work.

Earning a living took priority. In 1980, she began her own business in interior design. She loved her work and her clients. She enjoyed staying connected with them and wrote and sent out a monthly newsletter to them for several years. It was then that she realized that writing had to be a part of her life.

Lilly and her husband are now retired and moved to a serene coastal setting which is the perfect place to pursue her long awaited writing journey. She also realized that the Planters’ blood of her pioneer family is alive and well in her. An orchard was immediately planted, and an organic garden is planted annually. Thus, her first book, Food Gift Recipes From Nature’s Bounty, was born.

Book Review: Sniper by Julie Morgan

Title:  Sniper (A Special Ops Series)
Author:  Julie Morgan
Genre:  Romance, Military (18+)
Publisher:  Self Published
Release Date:  August 2, 2016

From the Back Cover:

Sniper Tom Brody enjoys his life in the Special Ops. He also enjoys his best friend, Antonella, maybe a little too much. Brody and Antonella have an agreement: friends to never cross that line.

Toni has hidden her feelings from Brody for as long as she can remember. Both want to cross the line, so much so, they act on it just before his next deployment.

When life appears to pick back up upon his return home, tragedy strikes. When an idle threat becomes a reality, Brody will encounter a fight he never thought he would have to face; search and rescue for the woman he loves.

Buy Links: Amazon 

Note:  Sniper is currently available in a boxed set "Steamy & Dreamy" for 99 cents on Amazon or Free on Kindle Unlimited (posted 2/28/17).

  

My Review:

After reading Delta Force, the first book in Julie Morgan's Special Ops series, I just HAD to read this one. Although it is good to read Delta Force first to get a bit of background, Sniper can certainly be read as a stand-alone book too. 

Julie Morgan is awesome at character building. Unlike Logan in the first book who I loved to hate, Tom Brody in Sniper is absolutely lovable from start to finish. His relationship with Toni will melt your heart as they go from 'best friends' to so much more. And as for the amount of action, let me just say that once you start reading you won't be able to put this book down.  

This is another HOT romance from an author I plan to follow!

My Rating:

About the Author:

Originally from Burleson, Texas Julie always had a love of books, especially paranormal stories. Julie finally took the leap to begin writing with encouragement from her family. 

Having worked in IT her entire career, Julie now spends her free time writing. Living in Central Florida with her husband and daughter, her favorite pastime is reading children's stories to her daughter, especially those around animals.

Book Review: Owned by the Marine by Renee Rose

Title:  Owned by the Marine
Author:  Renee Rose
Genre:  Military, Romance
Publisher:  Burning Desires
Release Date:  October 14, 2016

About the Book:

NOT HIS TYPE. TOO SWEET...TOO INNOCENT...TOO VANILLA.
When Marine Sergeant Rob Gentry moves into his apartment, the last girl he wants to date is his new neighbor. Smoking hot and so cute it makes his teeth hurt, she's not his type. Too sweet. Too innocent. Too vanilla. But when her date with an online suitor goes south, he busts into her place to rescue her. Because that's what a Marine does.

The trouble is, now she requires comfort. A safe place to stay the night. Distraction. And by the time he's through owning her hot little body, he discovers a natural submissive, one he's not sure he can ever let go.

**This story was originally published in the USA Todaybestselling box set Hero to Obey.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:

Hmmmm.  Not my usual genre.  But I have to admit that once I started reading I couldn't put it down.  This was a quick read of only 79 pages.... 79 hot pages.

Marine Sergeant Rob Gentry, recovering from injuries incurred in Afghanistan when a bomb killed his entire unit, moves into an apartment building, still licking his wounds and dealing with PTSD.  All he wants is to be left alone.  When his neighbor, a sweet young thing, is attacked by a man she met on an online dating service, Rob swoops in to save her.  From there, things get hot.

Normally, I don't like erotica because most that I have read are all sex and no story.  But as short as this book was, there was actually a bit of a story to it.  And there were tingles.  Yes, lots of sex, but tingles went along with it.  Renee Rose developed these characters quite well.

Not a big plot or big story, but it was okay.  I would give this 3.5 out of 5, but since I can't do half glasses of wine, I'll give it a 4 based on comparing it to other books of this genre.

My Rating:

About the Author:

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR RENEE ROSE is a naughty wordsmith who writes kinky BDSM novels. Named Eroticon USA's Next Top Erotic Author in 2013, she has also won The Romance Reviews Best Historical Romance, and Spanking Romance Reviews' Best Sci-fi, Paranormal, Historical, Erotic, Ageplay and favorite couple and author. She's hit #1 on Amazon in multiple categories in the U.S. and U.K., is often found on the list of Amazon's Top Author list. She also pens BDSM stories under the name Darling Adams.

Delta Force (Special Ops series) (Volume 1) by Julie Morgan

Delta Force - Amazon Buy Link

From the Back Cover:

Special Ops soldier Logan Saunders is at the top of his game. He has led nearly impossible missions in the heat of war, while having a wife at home who waited for his return. Or so he thought. Receiving word of a fatal collision, Logan returns home and soon discovers her infidelity. Training missions, parties, and women become his life's focus. When the partying makes him a danger to others and himself, matters are placed into the hands of the military. When forced with a life changing decision, Logan meets a woman who will change his life. Problem is, she is his assigned therapist. And she is off limits. Will she be able to help Logan get over his past and forgive his wife? What about forgiving himself? In the line of fire, there is fight or flight. This is a fight Logan intends to win.


My Thoughts:

Okay, I have to admit.... I'm a bit of a book snob. If a book doesn't grab my attention in the first few pages I tend to set it aside. Stating that, I must tell you that once I started reading Delta Force I couldn't put it down. Not being a fan of military type books, I didn't really think I was going to like this, but Julie Morgan has a way of making her characters come to life, and I loved, loved, loved it! Even when Logan, the main character, did things that made me want to hate him, I soon found myself understanding what so many of our soldiers endure in their military lives. This book took me through all emotions. Be sure to have a box of tissues handy! I had tears streaming down my cheeks a few times. And one more thing.... there is a lot of sex in this book, so if you blush easily you may want to read this in private.

My Ratings: