Bookish Friday

29th May 202016th Aug 2020 Louise H

Bookish Friday… Animal Sidekicks.

This weeks prompt for Bookish Friday, hosted by Lauren and Georgi, is “Animal Sidekicks”. My initial thoughts were that the Famous Five was the last book I read with an animal sidekick, then I realised all those Dragons of Pern books would count too. I’m probably going to stretch the prompt so much that it will be in danger of snapping – would Rincewind’s Luggage, from The Colour of Magic, count? Maybe not but Lady Sybil’s swamp dragon’s would.

Hedwig, Harry Potter by JK Rowling

This is probably the closest choice, and most widely known choice, that will appear in my list. I loved reading the Harry Potter books and was so sad at Hedwig’s ultimate fate.

Novo and Boz, Cats of War by Carol Van Natta

Novo and Boz are genetically modified cats who help Kedron (H) and Ferra (h) in their bid to prevent a sinister plot coming to fruition. The fact that Kedron and Ferra fall in love along the way was an added bonus to this great little sci-fi novella.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44320639-cats-of-war

Tiger, Ruthless Sinner by AJ Adams

Ruthless Sinner releases today, so there will be a review on my blog tomorrow. The heroine, Spirit, is an exotic dancer who manages to upset Coop, the local organised crime’s chemist. Tiger’s love of hard wood floors and 2000 thread cotton sheets helps smooth things over and seal the deal between this quirky pair.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53410129-ruthless-sinner

Milo, Rogue Wave by Gwyn McNamee

At the start of Rogue Wave, Milo is the only ‘person’ that Cutter really has any time for. Except Milo is his dog and in this story he really is this man’s best friend. Brave, loyal, fierce, demanding and fond of treats, though whether that describes the man or dog I’ll leave for you to decide!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46034314-rogue-wave

Nibbles, Condemned by Cari Silverwood

Nibbles befriends our heroine, Avalon, whilst she ventures to complete a perilous task whilst in a foreign land. He is a mousebot and proves to be both a faithful friend and a useful ally in troubled times.
Condemned is one of the few reverse harem romances where the male characters have all had their own personality. It’s a Cari Silverwood book so you are automatically assured of great world building and a genuine sci-fi feel to the story.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52004118-condemned

Nora, Becoming His Pet by Measha Stone

If a mousebot pushed things this takes things beyond all reckoning. Nora is the heroine and this is one hot and steamy pet play book. It won’t be for every reader – I didn’t think it would be for me either, but boy oh boy Ms Stone wrote one scorching hot, erotic romance with this one.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43165562-becoming-his-pet

Fighting For This

18th Jan 202017th Jan 2020 Louise H

Fighting for This: The Last Resort Motel
by Gwyn McNamee

There is just something very special about Aurora and Max. Their story is compelling and perfect to snuggle up with on a dreary Sunday afternoon when you need a delightful pick-me-up read.

The story is very much set in the present, so whilst I knew who they were as people now (and what wonderful characters they are), I had very little idea of what had shaped their lives. However it’s a novella, so I can’t expect that type of depth when there is also a ‘suspense’ sub-plot.

I’m not normally a fan of insta-love, and technically this isn’t that, since the ‘L’ word isn’t bandied about. In fact Max is very clear on them focusing on the here and now, rather than the long term. But they do make some life altering plans and their mutual connection, passion and attraction was so incredibly well portrayed that I would have been fine HAD they declared they undying love for one another.

So in summary this is a great read, sexy, fun and with a hint of danger.

The desert’s secrets are beautiful…and deadly.

AURORA
Max Lawson doesn’t belong here.
The California surf boy has no business being up Spruce Mountain or anywhere near The Last Resort Motel.
There can only be one reason he’s hanging around—to search one of the old mines in hopes of striking it rich.
And as soon as he’s done, he’ll be gone fast enough to make my head spin.
But Max brings more than just a danger to my heart.

MAX
Aurora Clayton is the last thing I expect to find at The Last Resort Motel.
What in the world is a girl like this doing in the middle of nowhere, Nevada?
Search the land I inherited and get back to California—that’s the plan.
I never expected to find something here even more precious than silver.
But someone else is after what’s down that mine shaft.
And I’ll do everything in my power to protect what I’ve found, including Aurora.

***Fighting for This previously appeared in The Last Resort Motel shared world as Room One***

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PWLP46/
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B083PWLP46/
Amazon CA – https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B083PWLP46/
Amazon AU – https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B083PWLP46/

Favourite Reads from – Part One

27th Dec 201925th Apr 2021 Louise H

For the last few years I’ve written a post on my top 12 books of the year, and my top 12 series’ of the year. This time I’m going to do thinks a little differently and talk about my top 3 reads in various categories/genres/tropes.

First category is Contemporary Romance.

This is a genre I’ve found myself reading less and less of, at least in terms of ‘straight’ contemporary. My first, and greatest, love in reading was the sci-fi/fantasy genre with authors such as Anne McCaffrey, Julian May, Katherine Kerr, Andre Norton and David Eddings being amongst my favourites. Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams will forever hold a special place in my heart, and prominence on my book shelf. Of late I have found myself drawn back to the genre, but preferring those books which also combine it with a good love story.

However I have read some excellent contemporary romances this year, and actually struggled to narrow the group down to a top 3! Colour me surprised because I didn’t actually expect to find even that number to include.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

1. Bass-Akwards by Eris Adderly.

This is one seriously under-recognised author. Her writing is superb and I just wished she was more well known, Eris thoroughly deserves it.

It’s the story of a seriously messed up pair, who are dysfunctional to the extreme yet who somehow come together to create something wonderful. It’s one of those “so wrong, it’s right” stories and I loved every minute of it.

My full review can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/04/09/bass-akwards-eris-adderly/ – for what, to me, is a must read book.

2. Crazy on You by Amelia Wilde.

This is part of a series of books on the Bliss brothers, and oh what bliss they do bring. I really enjoyed the whole series, but Charlie and Leta just had that something extra special about them.

It’s a second chance romance, which has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I’m just a sucker for folks getting their much needed HEA and this story just ticked all my boxes.

The full review can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/05/31/crazy-on-you-bliss-brothers-4-by-amelia-wilde/. This is a book that will give you plenty of feels.

3. Rogue Wave by Gwyn McNamee.

This is part of an ongoing series, which really needs to be read in order to fully enjoy and understand the back story. Each book features one couple, Cutter, the hero in this one, is a complete alpha-hole but in the best way possible. He’s constantly brought down to size by the bad-ass heroine that is Valentina.

The book is full of twists, turns and steam. Find the full review here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/08/22/rogue-wave/.

I did have a fourth book, Rebel’s Redemption by Lexi C Foss, that I also need to mention. It is A-MAZ-ING and it’s only because I’m going to be featuring this author in other categories that I didn’t feature the book more widely here.

Next are my favourite 3 books containing BDSM. This was a category that I DID struggle with deciding on, I could easily have included many more books. In fact I’m featuring a series as one of my choices.

BDSM romance

1. Special Agent BDSM series by C.P. Mandara.

There are 6 books in the series, the final one was released a few days ago and I am currently reading (and loving) it. The first book, Sparks, is free. It is more erotic, less dark than the subsequent books, which take us into a dark, underground world full of danger and kink.

These have been amongst my most favourite reads of the year in any genre/trope. The author writes with a subtle humour and her characters are always strong. In fact along with Cari Silverwood, she has written some of my favourite heroines.

Sparks review link – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/09/03/special-agent-bdsm-1/
Smoke review link – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/09/04/special-agent-bdsm-2/
Flames review link – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/09/05/special-agent-bdsm-3/
Fire review link – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/09/06/special-agent-bdsm-4/
Embers review link – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/12/21/embers/
Ashes – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3104159478

2. Twisted Fates by Kitty Thomas.

Let’s face it, Kitty Thomas is the QUEEN of the dark romance. If you haven’t read Comfort Food I can only say – “Why?”. It’s not an easy read but it is amazing, as is Twisted Fates which is part of the interlinked Pleasure House series and may be read as a stand alone story.

Whilst it’s a morally dubious story, it doesn’t contain non-consent and the dubious consent isn’t all that dubious either. On paper we should hate the hero, and in real life I’d want to see him locked away from society for a very long time. However Kitty persuades us that not only is Lyndsay perfect for Shannon, but she made me love him too.

My review can be found here – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2654606.Kitty_Thomas – heaven only knows why I haven’t shared it on the blog yet. It must have been a busy arc period!

3. Black Light: Scandalized by Livia Grant.

Technically the Black Light books can be read stand alone, though part of this story builds on a short story by the same author in the Celebrity Roulette anthology. The book features two separate couples, mainly focusing on two new characters, Shane and Nalani, but also concluding Piper and Nolan’s story that began in Switched.

This book should have a trigger warning – there is a very violent and detailed rape scene. It wasn’t added just for the shock factor and the aftermath was handled well, in my opinion.

My review can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/10/30/a-journey-into-the-world-of-black-light/.

Romantic Suspense

1. The Savage Duet by Nicolina Martin.

The link will take you to all 5 books of the Russo Saga. It’s a series of interlinked books, all of which I can highly recommend, but the duet of Absolution and Redemption are definitely my favourites. T

he story takes you to hell and back, along with the anti-hero and heroine. There were times. whilst reading Absolution, where i had to take an “feelings break” in order to recharge my emotional batteries.

My reviews for this duet can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/08/08/redemption/ – and here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/08/24/book-review-absolution/

2. The Kingmaker Saga #2, 3 & 4 by London Miller.

Book #1, White Rabbit: The Rise, was listed amongst my favourite reads of 2018. The series has gone from strength to strength this year, with the release of 3 further books and the imminent release of book #5, Dark Horse.

White Rabbit: The Fall, Black Swan and Red Herring continue the story of Belladonna and The Kingmaker, otherwise known as Karina and Uilleam. And oh what a twisty, cat-and-mouse, game-of-chess, power-play story it is. London Miller has an amazing talent for weaving a complex tale where a seemingly random array of threads pull together at the last minute to form an intricately detailed tapestry.

My links can be found here – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2722883777?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1 , here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/05/27/black-swan-the-kingmaker-saga-3-by-london-miller/ – and here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/08/17/red-herring/.

3. Beauty (Part 1 & Part 2) by Kirsty Dallas.

Part of the Blaire’s World collection, and based on Anita Gray’s books of the same name, this is a dark and delicious duet. It delves into the underbelly of society, a world of pain, cruelty and evil and it doesn’t pull it’s punches.

One could argue that this belongs in the “Dark” catagory, below, but it’s my post so it’s my rules.

My reviews can be found here – https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2705398076?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1 and here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/05/19/beau2y-part-1-by-kirsty-dallas/.

Again, I need to mention a Lexi C Foss book, this time it is the amazing Scarlet Mark. Part of the Cavalieri Della Morte series, it was the book that brought the author to my attention. When I discovered this was her first foray into Romantic Suspense I was gobsmacked to say the least. I tell you, she hit this one out of the ball park, and then some.

Top 3 Romantic Suspenses of 2019
PS the quote isn’t mine!

I’m going to finish today’s post with my top 3 Dark Reads of the year, and will be back tomorrow with 4 other categories of goodness to share. I think this was the hardest group to pare down to just 3 books, but I did it eventually!

Dark Romance

1. The Five by Lily White.

No list is complete without a Lily White book, she is an expert at knowing how to mess with your mind. She’s had some personal struggles this year, so has been very quite for the last few months, but we are expecting a new release soon and I, for one, can’t wait to read more by this wonderful author.

The Five is typical Lily White, and was a very popular Book of the Month over in the Dark Erotica group on Goodreads. It’s not your typical romance and is very psychological, testing your morals, pushing your boundaries and challenging your judgemental side. It was a book that seemed to have a marmite effect, dividing readers into loved it or hated it. I was most definitely in the former camp and highly recommend it.

My review can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/03/20/the-five-by-lily-white/.

2. Crazy Broken Love by Jennifer Bene.

This story started life as Cocoon in the ‘Just Breathe‘ anthology, but has since been extended and improved, even though I didn’t feel that was possible as I thought the original was already perfect.

This is not as dark a piece of work as we are used to from Ms Bene. It does contain strong elements of dub-con, hence including it in this group. Crazy Broken Love spoke to me deeply and left me questioning my own prejudices, however unintentional they are.

My review of this amazing story can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/11/16/a-truly-crazy-story/.

3. Dark Necessities Prequel series by Felicity Brandon.

For some reason the link only takes you to the first two books of the trilogy. Book #3, Forbidden, can be found here. The trilogy of books are NOT stand alone and must be read in order, they feature Ethan and Lily, the parents of Conor, who is the anti-hero of the original Dark Necessities trilogy.

Despite not liking Ethan for most of the story, my love for Lily (and her love of Ethan) made this one gripping must-read series for me. It’s dark and Ethan is not a good man, not a good man at all. But he does love Lily and that was his saving grace for this reader.

My review of the books can be found here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/05/07/flawed-by-felicity-brandon/ – here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/06/26/fallen-dark-necessities-prequel-by-felicity-brandon/ – and here – https://louisesbookbuzz.home.blog/2019/08/10/forbidden/.

The Inland Seas Series

19th Nov 201918th Nov 2019 Louise H

Safe Harbor
(The Inland Seas Series Book 3)
by Gwyn McNamee

He’s the Preacher man

I adored Preacher and Everly’s story, they are a wonderful pair of characters, whose broken pieces fit together to make a beautiful whole. Whilst it might be possible to read the book stand alone, the series really does need reading in order for maximum enjoyment. The first two books are amazing and I highly recommend reading them.

For some reason, and it could totally have been me, the start of this book seemed to drag a little, I felt almost as though the story wasn’t going anywhere. It wasn’t full of the same action that the previous two books held and I totally appreciate that it did need to be different and carve it’s own path. However within a few chapters I was totally hooked and loving every minute of it.

The obvious aspects of the plot turned out to not be obvious at all. The threats and peril came from some very unexpected sources and whilst some trouble was easy to solve, others were not such simple cases. This story will draw you in, both your mind and emotions will be caught up by the clever writing, the finely crafted characters and their complicated love story.

The very mysterious E is up next and I can’t wait to continue on this amazing adventure.

Blurb

PREACHER
When it comes to firewalls, no one gets through my defenses.
For the past five years, protecting this band of f-ed up brothers has been my mission.
But Everly pulls me from my cave and does the one thing no one else ever has…
She makes me believe there’s a life outside the world on my screens.
Too bad actions have consequences, ones that threaten everything and everyone around me.
Including the beautiful tattoo artist who has managed to etch herself onto my heart.

EVERLY
The emotional upheaval of the last six months would be enough to break anyone.
And I can already feel myself cracking.
A tall, sexy, tattooed bad boy is the last thing I need thrown into the mix.
All I want is to keep my head down and pour my pain into my art.
But Preacher walks into my life and offers me safety in a world where I thought there was none.
Until our pasts finally catch up with us…

Preacher and Everly.
Fear and loss.
Hope and heartbreak.
This harbor may be their salvation.

HAWKE FAMILY #6

12th Oct 201912th Oct 2019 Louise H

STEELE RESOLVE by Gwyn McNamee – 4 stars

A hot and full of feels conclusion to the Hawke family saga

Luca and Byron are such a sexy and passion filled couple. Theirs is not an easy path to love and happiness, but then nothing worth having comes easy. What they do have is an incredible chemistry that burns up the pages of this story and scorches both their souls.

Byron owes the Hawkes so much, they have offered him friendship and a sense of family when his own let him down. Luca is the son of the enemy, the man whose father nearly destroyed the Hawkes and has caused them untold pain and misery. They are the Romeo and Juliette of the MM romance world, torn between their feelings for each other, their sense of honour and the influences of the outside world.

Despite Steele Resolve being a novella, it still packs a powerful punch. By focusing very much on the two main characters we still get to know them really well, along with getting drawn in by their feelings. It was a fantastic end to a wonderful series, with an epilogue that is very much the icing on the cake.

If you’ve read any of the other Hawke family books then you won’t want to miss this. Whilst it can be read as a stand alone it does contain a few spoilers for the previous books. It also runs concurrently with book #4 (Building Storm) and book #5 (Tainted Saint). It’s also a must read for those who love a well written MM romance.

BLURB

For one man, power is king. For the other, loyalty reigns.

Mob boss Luca “Steele” Abello isn’t just dangerous—he’s lethal. A master manipulator, liar, and user, no one should trust a word that comes out of his mouth. Yet, I can’t get him out of my head. The time we spent together before I knew his true identity is seared into my brain. His touch. His voice. They haunt my every waking hour and occupy my dreams. So does my guilt. I’m literally sleeping with the enemy and betraying the only family I’ve ever had. When I come clean, it will be the end of me.

Byron Harris is a distraction I can’t afford. I never should have let it go beyond that first night, but I couldn’t stay away. Even when I learned who he was, when the only option was to end things, I kept going back, risking his life and mine to continue our indiscretion. The truth of what I am could get us both killed, but being with the man who’s such an integral part of the Hawke family is even more terrifying. The only people I’ve ever cared about are on opposing sides, and I’m the rift that could end their friendship forever.

Love is a battlefield isn’t just a saying, for some, it’s a reality.

***Steele Resolve is the final book in The Hawke Family Series, but it is a continuation of the same story in the main series. While it is a complete story, it is NOT meant to be read as a standalone. The story of the Hawke siblings and the secondary characters who appear in Steele Resolve all build on one another and are intertwined. They need to be read in order to fully enjoy and understand the plots.

Reading order for The Hawke Family Series
Savage Collision
Tortured Skye
Stone Sober
Building Storm
Tainted Saint
Steele Resolve

AMAZON US / AMAZON UK / BOOKBUB / GOODREADS

ROGUE WAVE

22nd Aug 201923rd Jan 2021 Louise H1 Comment

ROGUE WAVE (The Inland Seas #2) by Gwyn McNamee

Amazing. Totally amazing.

In Squall Line I couldn’t really find much to like about Cutter, but we see the true depth of the man in Rogue Wave and he puts the Mariana trench to shame. He’s still a major a-hole but he’s a hot, sexy, messed up, courageous, idiot of a man too.

This is a decent length novel but I wanted more time with Valentina and Cutter because they are so fantastic. I absolutely adored both main characters, they are both strong, emotional and caring individuals, Cutter is more willing to cross lines but Valentina is not innocent either. Theirs is a fairly slow burn story but there is so much OTHER passion and action that it never once felt lacking. When they do eventually consummate their relationship the wait is definitely more than made up for.

The story just held my attention, staying with me when I had to put the book down, and quick to get back into when I picked the book up again. The writing is excellent, as usual, the plot twisty, fast paced and exciting and the story is wonderful. I think I loved this book even more than Squall Line and now I’m really excited to read the rest of the series.

CUTTER
Complete the mission.
It’s what I was trained to do—no matter what.
But when things go to shit right in front of me, my objective gets compromised by a set of fathomless amber eyes.
This isn’t a woman’s world.
Yet, Valentina refuses to see how dangerous the course she’s plotted really is.
How dangerous I am.

VALENTINA
The man who saved my life is just as lethal as the one trying to take it.
Maybe even more.
While he may have rescued me, in the end, Cutter is my enemy.
The one intent on destroying everything I’ve striven for.
But the scars of his past draw me closer even though I know I should move away.

Cutter and Valentina.
Anger and desire.
Fight and surrender.
This wave may drag them both under…

AMAZON US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RKR3QTN

AMAZON UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07RKR3QTN/r

GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46034314-rogue-wave

Start the series today with Squall Line!
Available now at all retailers: books2read.com/SquallLine

Cover image – Wander Aguiar
Cover models – Zack Salaun and Bahar
Cover design – BlueSky Designs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, writer, wife, and mother (to one human baby and two fur babies). Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).

Gwyn is the author of The Hawke Family Series, The Slip Series, The Deadliest Sin Series, The Inland Seas Series, and The Supernatural Love Stories in the Absurd (as her alter-ego D.P. Payne).

Website – http://www.gwynmcnamee.com/
Newsletter – www.gwynmcnamee.com/newsletter
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGwynMcNamee/
FB Reader Group – http://bit.ly/2ZFp9nQ
Twitter – https://twitter.com/GwynMcNamee
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gwynmcnamee
Amazon – www.amazon.com/author/gwynmcnamee

AFTER WRATH by Gwyn McNamee

24th May 201923rd May 2019 Louise H

4.25 Vengeance Filled Stars

After Wrath is written entirely from the main male characters pov. I say main male character because no way would I ever call Aleksander/The Dragon a hero! He is glowering, moody, aggressively alpha and deliciously dark. Unafraid to get blood on his hands and with very little patience, Aleks is the man you know will be very bad for you, but who you just can’t resist.

Written entirely from his point of view, and with it also being a novella, it is harder to get a full picture of Brynn/Kitty. I liked what I saw, a strong woman willing to do what it takes to get by but with a good heart and kind soul. I definitely need more of her in future books, more of her with Aleks but also more of her just being.

Having only just read Squall Line I can barely believe this is written by the same author. The entire feel of the book is different it is rougher, sharper, grimier and darker. Violence and torture is second nature to Aleks, living in his world of power, pursuit and pain.

The book is part of an ongoing series and whilst you could probably follow most of this book without having read Wrath first I would encourage reading the books in order. The ending is at a natural point, rather than a cliffhanger, though with the story definitely unfinished! With its captivating writing, enthralling plot, amazing characters, not to mention that doozy of an epilogue I will 100% be continuing with this series.

goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44432359-after-wrath

💀🔥 After Wrath is LIVE 💀🔥

They took something from me.
Something that can never be replaced.
They destroyed something.
Something that can never be repaired.
Only one thing can appease the burning rage in my soul.
Unleashing my wrath on those responsible.
The Dragon will rise.
Death will reign.
Because wrath is the deadliest sin.
💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥💀🔥

You can grab your copy today at ALL retailers: www.books2read.com/DeadliestSin2

Grab your copy of Wrath, book one, today:www.books2read.com/DeadliestSin1

SQUALL LINE by Gwyn McNamee

9th May 20199th May 2019 Louise H

Wow, definitely a stormy and wind-swept read – 5 Stars

Squall Line absolutely blew me away with it’s quirky, questioning heroine and its fiercely foreboding hero. Grace and War are two opposing forces caught in a battle of wills and wiles.

God, this is so wrong and so damn right.
This has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever done in my life. Yet, my heart races, and I feel more alive than I ever have in the arms of the man who could have killed me.
Grace, Squall Line

I absolutely adored this couple and I very much hope that you will do so too. They are both so flawed, one full of anger and vitriol, the other probing and persnickety. Yet both are just so special, they will steal your heart and refuse to return it.

Warwick is a good man who made a stupid choice for the best of reasons. That mistake eventually leads to a confrontation with Grace, who can’t leave well enough alone, can’t let things go. The result is a clash of personalities, a storm of emotion, a maelstrom of feelings and confusions amidst a sea of troubles. If they could only hate each other, and goodness knows there are plenty of reasons to, things wouldn’t be half as complicated.

Here, wrapped in his arms, lost to the entire world, the whispered apology erases all the pain the last few days have caused. This Warwick is the one I always knew was there. The one I always knew would be a danger.

I truly felt the winds of their passion and was swept up by the torrent of emotions that poured from them. Tossed like a pebble on the tide, the plot twisted and turned me up, down and around. This was a story that soaked into my soul, a couple that have lodged in my heart. It ended on a very soft cliff-hanger but I loved this so much that I will definitely be continuing with the series.

“Grace.” My name is a prayer. A question. A promise.

Sexy tattooed man back portrait looking at camera letterbox

BUY LINKS –
Amazon —  https://tinyurl.com/SquallLineAmz
Apple —  https://tinyurl.com/SquallLineApple
Nook —  https://tinyurl.com/SquallLineBN
Kobo —  https://tinyurl.com/SquallLineKobo

Buy at all retailers here: books2read.com/SquallLine
Enter the #Giveaway on Gwyn’s author page here: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGwynMcNamee/

★★★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★

WAR
Out on the water, I’m in control.
I don’t make mistakes.
But the fiery redhead destroyed my plans and left me no choice.
I had to take her.
Now I’m fighting for my life while battling my growing attraction for my hostage.
Grace may have started my downfall, but she could also be my salvation.

GRACE
The moment he stepped foot on my ship, I knew he was trouble.
He took me, and now, my life is in his hands.
But things aren’t what they seem, and Warwick isn’t who he appears.
The man who holds me hostage is slowly working his way into my heart even as greater dangers loom on the horizon.

War and Grace.
Dark and light.
Love and hate.
This storm may destroy them both…

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Cover image – Wander Aguiar
Cover models – Jonny James and Tiffany Marie
Cover design – BlueSky Designs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, writer, wife, and mother (to one human baby and two fur babies). Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).
Gwyn is the author of The Hawke Family Series, The Slip Series, The Deadliest Sin Series, The Inland Seas Series, and The Supernatural Love Stories in the Absurd (as her alter-ego D.P. Payne).

Website – http://www.gwynmcnamee.com/
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BUILDING STORM – Gwyn McNamee

8th Mar 201928th Jul 2021 Louise H

(A Hawke Family Novel)

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

“Never have I disliked a hero so much, yet still loved the book”

So don’t let the fact that I spent half the book wanting to throat punch Landon put you off this fantastic read. The writing, plot, heroine (Storm), the rest of the Hawke clan and the steaming hot sexy times kept me gripped.

I’m going to get my Landon issues out of the way, so that I can concentrate on the better stuff. He was just a bit too full on, at times, for me. The first time he met Storm, he didn’t know her story, so fair dues. However when he did discover she was a recent widow with a very young child, I just felt that his ‘sex will cure everything’ mantra, and his forceful pursuit was just a bit too much. Bear in mind, THAT WAS JUST ME – it’s a very personal and subjective observation, but he irritated me enough that I needed to rant a little.

What was less subjective was his insistence on knowing everything about Storm, whilst keeping a humdinger of a secret. So I’d be up in arms about his as-good-as-lying holding back, and then he’d admit he was out of line. Then he’d push again whilst deliberately not being honest, before admitting his hypocrisy. However this was fully acknowledged by the author, so I’m not taking any stars away and actually sneakily admire her for it.

Why is it so hard for her to just tell me what’s going on in that damn
beautiful head of hers?

…but I hate keeping this from Storm. I expect her to open up to me, but I can’t do the same with her. Not yet…….
Hypocrite much?

“All I want is the truth.” A bit hypocritical of me to be demanding it from her when I haven’t been fully honest.

Storm I absolutely loved, yes she blew hot and cold but this was TOTALLY understandable. She was a confused, grieving, depressed, hot mess. I felt her pain, I felt her conflict and I definitely felt her lust too 🙂 I also loved how the plot raised the issue of judging those who move on from loss ‘too quickly’ – especially as it brought me up short!

It was fantastic to catch up with the rest of the Hawkes and their SO’s. The banter, the subtle digs, the outright meddling made me laugh on more than one occasion. You can feel their love and respect for one another. The suspense was excellent, even when I semi-guessed some aspects, I didn’t have the faintest about others. And boy did Ms McNamee wring every drop of pain that she could from the situation. Bravo!

The heat levels in this are very high and the language is ‘industrial’, but they both fit the plot and characters extremely well. It never felt gratuitous, cheap or sleazy – just gritty and hot in all the right way! Roll on Saint’s story.

She hasn’t been living. He’s looking for a way to forget it all.

My life went up in flames. All I’m left with is my daughter and ashes. The simple act of breathing is so excruciating, there are days I wish I could stop altogether. So I have no business being at the party, and I definitely shouldn’t be in the arms of the handsome stranger. When his lips meet mine, he breathes life into me for the first time since the day the inferno disintegrated my world. But loving again isn’t in the cards, and there are even greater dangers to face than trying to keep Landon McCabe out of my heart.

Running is my only option. I have to get away from Chicago and the betrayal that shattered my world. I need a new life-one without attachments. The vibrancy of New Orleans convinces me it’s possible to start over. Yet in all the excitement of a new city, it’s Storm Hawke’s dark, sad beauty that draws me in. She isn’t looking for love, and we both need a hot, sweaty release without feelings getting involved. But even the best laid plans fail, and life can leave you burned.

Love can build, and love can destroy. But in the end, love is what raises you from the ashes.

***Building Storm is the fourth and final full-length novel in The Hawke Family Series. While it is a complete story, it is NOT meant to be read as a standalone. The story of the Hawke siblings starts in Savage Collision and continues in book two, Tortured Skye, and book three, Stone Sober before reaching the plot in Building Storm. These stories all build on one another and are intertwined. They need to be read in order to fully enjoy and understand the plots and characters. ***