ljamison01's reviews
1104 reviews

Burn the Wild by Ava Hunter

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Reese is a country superstar who unfortunately has lost her way. Her manager controls her work life, signing contracts and managing her money. However, her personal life is a complete mess. She drinks way too much, she eats a lot of junk, she allows men to have too many liberties when she is inebriated. One night after a drunken stupor her manager tries to get her ready to perform and she decides to run. A friend gives her his car and tells her where she can go to hide. Now I hadn’t read the first two books in this Runaway Ranch series so I feel somewhat lost with all the brothers and how they interact and work this ranch. So Ford (who is a twin) is appointed as the man who will watch over her. But, Ford has his own issues. He was a famous baseball pitcher but after a very embarrassing incident with a girlfriend he left. So Ford isn’t exactly accepting of Reese. In fact he compares her to ex thinking she’s a spoiled brat. This enemies to lovers story is quite entertaining. There are some very funny moments between these two and some very sad and tragic issues that both need to address and overcome. I love damaged characters because watching their journey to emotional wellness or to at least achieving peace is such a satisfying experience. Great story. Really enjoyed it but I personally recommend reading the books in this series in order. 

The Apple Tree by Jewel E. Ann

emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the second book in the Sunday Morning series. I loved the first book and wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one. Eve our MFC is an 18 year old who just graduated from high school, she works at the town motel cleaning the rooms. She really has no ambitions or aspirations yet. She doesn’t want to go to college and is struggling to find herself as she lives with her parents and sister. Her father is a pastor who is very strict with her giving her a curfew and punishing her by sending her to her bedroom for being fresh. I had to remind myself often this book is set back in the 1980’s before cell phones and a host of electronic devices. Kyle’s and his son Josh move in next door. Kyle is twenty eight, a new high school math teacher and a football coach. Eve fascinates him and she reminds him of himself. Her smart mouth, her jokes even her outlook on life. Kyle is very closed mouth about Josh’s mom. Most of what we learn about Kyle’s comes from his friend Adam. 
Age is truly nothing but a number. I thought initially I might have difficulty with a 18 year old dating a 28 year old man but this story really was very sweet. You can sense Kyle’s difficulty with accepting their relationship and then understanding he just can’t resist her and nor does he want to. You begin to admire the tenacity of an 18 year old to go after what she wants. I enjoyed this story immensely the age became irrelevant and it was more about the characters and how they just fit together and completed each other. I cannot wait to read gabby’s story. 

Ghost by Eva Simmons

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I believe this is only the third MC book I have read. Im still a newbie to this trope and with each book I learn a little more and can learn to appreciate them. This book is about Luna a young girl who was passed from one foster home to another. She is currently going to school but she’s a hacker. Her hacking into the MC database is what caused Ghost to meet her. Ghost is also a hacker. He spots her trying to infiltrate and obtain information and he stops or blocks her repeatedly but when he is able to get a peek of her he can’t resist meeting her. They meet she sees his cut and asks where he is from and he says Vegas and later she looks him and his MC family up. Now  Ghost has had a terrible life and believes that he causes death and destruction. Although he desperately wants to be with and connect to Luna he declines because he doesn’t believe he is worthy of her. Now Luna followed him to Vegas because she felt this strong bond but Ghost won’t entertain it. Cue the angst please. It was so stinking cute how they both wanted the other one. However, there are some outside factors and issues because Luna is involved in a mess that she has bought to Ghost’s family. Loved the mystery and the slow unraveling of details and events. I enjoyed the characters and this story. 

Reckless Love by Willow Aster

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the third book in the Single Dad Playbook. We have Rhodes who is parents were a famous model and actor. He is a biracial man who parents were black and white. I enjoy reading books about couples that cover all ethnic backgrounds. Rhodes is a single dad and a football player he met his best friend Elle in their freshman year of college. She was invited to a party at the house he lived in. They talked all night and promised to be friends and never let anyone or even themselves get in the way of their friendship. However, currently Rhodes and Elle are working for the same football organization, she is a cheerleader and they have a very strict non fraternization policy between players and cheerleaders. But, these two friends are discovering that they may be more than just friends and that’s scary to Elle. Add in the mix of Rhodes’s son Levi and this great story of two friends who struggle with invisible bonds as well as work rules to find true love together. I enjoyed the story, especially the male bonding between the football players. 

The Way We Score by Tia Louise

emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I love second chance romances. Garrett and Liv were high school sweethearts. Garrett was destined to play football like his father and older brothers. Liv wanted to dance unfortunately they didn’t want to go to the same college. They tried to make it work but it didn’t. Years later Liv is a divorced lawyer who has to go back to town for a friend’s wedding and to help her mother who is ill. These two reconnect and the feelings are still there. The desire overtakes them and they spend a magical night together which results in an unplanned pregnancy. Liv was already jaded with life in the city decides to go home to her small town. Will Garrett want to be involved and can he around his football schedule. Great story with great characters and some steamy moments. 

The Wrong Husband; A Sister's (Ex) Boyfriend, Marriage of Convenience Romance by Maya Alden

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I’m an angst seeker. I love a book that is gonna rip my heart out and then slowly put it back to again. Poor Emilia was a door mat and allowed everyone to run over her and unfortunately Damian was no better at the beginning. But then he begins to see what a prize he has. Truly a wonderful story of a woman who comes into her own after some time and finds a man who will love and treasure her. This will certainly be a book that I will go back and reread when I need my heart broken. 

Emperor of Havoc by Jagger Cole

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This is the final book in the Memento Mori series. I have read every book and loved every one too. This book moved a little slower than the other books and although the beginning of the book definitely grabs a hold of you. Then the pace of the story seems to slow down. Kat at the beginning of the book is hoping to meet up with a match from Venom, where a man in a mask will chase and deflower her. In the middle of this matchup she has to cancel to try to infiltrate her enemies training camp but her primal match is there as well. However, he is forced to let her go. Now Kat doesn’t speak but uses sign language at first I thought she was talking until they would mention she signed. In the previous book where we first meet her, she appeared to be more meek and docile. I was glad that was not the case, she is a strong, fighter very opinionated and ready to rule her father’s empire but, she needs a spouse. Along comes Takeshi who has decided that he will marry her, find the answers to what happened previously, dismantle that empire and kill Kat’s father. However, a man who becomes so obsessed with you that he learns how to sign so he can communicate with you must have some feelings for you. Like Damien where keep hearing how these men are so deranged and morally black and off kilter, well I wanted that. I thought Kat could handle a bizarre man but he just wasn’t as bad as I wanted him to be. I’m sorry to see this series end because it was very enjoyable but, I’m definitely looking forward to Jagger Cole’s new dark mafia series.  

Savage Reign by Monica Kayne

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the second book in Bratva King series. I did not read the first book, but I wasn’t lost at all. This book follows Nikolai who helped to rescue Sofiya and her sister in the first book. Sofiya hasn’t seen Nikolai in years, she’s been busy pursuing dance and become a lead dancer. Nikolai however needs her in order to expand his business and open a new casino. Her brother in law is part of a closed group that will not allow him to open a casino in their area. So Nikolai decides to kidnap Sofiya and hold her hostage. However, she isn’t just any hostage but his wife. Now Sofiya isn’t one of those meek female characters, she challenges him, she’s always thinking and trying to find a way to escape. Nikolai obviously throughout the years never really forgot about her. Because the time they spend together becomes so sweet and romantic. Although she’s his hostage he wants his wife to be happy and he does his best to keep her happy. I think Nikolai liked the backbone that Sofiya demonstrated. This book has some very steamy, sexy scenes. The mouth on that man is incredible. This is a mafia story but most of the book focuses on the relationship between the main characters and the action was given at the end of the book. Great love story with wonderfully complex characters. 

Buddy System by Ariella Talix

emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. This was a military MMF romance. While in Afghanistan Levi and Skylar are in a combat situation and they protect each other. But, both are injured and sent home. Skylar has an injury to his arm, whereas Levi’s injury is to his pelvis area. Levi is married to Brooke and he feels like he can no longer satisfy his wife and he is really having a hard time adjusting and getting back to how he was before. Brooke can’t be more accommodating and helpful trying everything to get things back to normal. Skylar had been calling Levi once they were both discharged from hospital but he hadn’t been taking his calls. So Skylar collects Levi and Brooke and brings them to his home in Honeybee Hollow. This small town warms them and embraces them and suddenly Levi is relaxing. However, he is now focused on having Skylar and Brooke become intimate and soon that intimacy involves all three of them. I enjoyed the plot and the characters were great. I loved all the knowledge about PTSD and learning new things such as silent fireworks. The story was informative about how we need to respect our military and their service and how assimilation back into society is hard and challenging. 

Stolen Chances by Clio Evans

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the second book in the Citrus Cove series. I didn’t read the first book and it probably would be beneficial to read it before this book. But, after a few chapters you start to understand what happened previously. In this book we have Sarah a single mother of twins having to deal with the aftermath of the terror her ex husband and his brother caused in the town. Sarah is just finding herself after being emotionally abused by her husband. Colt is a boy she knew from high school that she wanted to pursue a relationship with but on the night they planned to meet she saw him kissing someone else. So Colt has be wary of approaching Sarah for a date or relationship but, he realizes he can’t wait when his best friend’s brother starts to show signs of being interested and dating Sarah. Soon both men Sammy and Colt realize that not only are they interested in Sarah but each other. However, suddenly Sammy’s place is vandalized, Sarah’s car is tampered with and her ex husband David has been released from jail. Is he behind all these problems? Or does Sammy have a stalker from his cooking segments on social media? This was a great story with a little bit of BDSM throw in. Can this small town accept a polygamous relationship? Can the three of them actually make this relationship work? Great story with a lot of steam with a wonderful bisexual character (Sammy) who is thoughtful, sensitive and yet still dominate.