ljamison01's reviews
1104 reviews

Secrets, Lies and Love by D.A. Lemoyne

emotional mysterious 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 Kostanidis family series. In this book we have Dionysus who is a widower with a young son and he is looking for a night nanny. Now Cici stumbles into his life in a most unusual way and she lived a so called Cinderella life at home with her stepmother and stepsister but there are many analogies of her being a cat and having nine lives. Cici is able to talk her way into being the nanny of Dionysus‘s young son. Now, Joseph is not the biological son of Dionysus but he considers him to be fully his son and will do anything to protect his rights. Cici is a bold brassy woman and she wraps Dionysus up in their attraction for each other. She wants only one night he wants a couple of weeks. She’s afraid that once he finds out the truth he will banish her from Joseph’s life forever.  These books are engaging with a wonderful plot that has you wondering how they are going to solve the problem and still stay together. I love the characters and especially like how previous characters from this author’s two previous books are recurring side characters. As this family of brothers are so close and loving yet so determined to remain single and not fall in love that I eagerly look forward to reading how each brother finds his HEA. 

Empire of Temptation by Mila Finelli

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

3.5

Luca has come to New York to find his cousin and he believes that Val’s father will lead him to his cousin. So he decides to visit Val’s restaurant which is the antithesis of everything truly Italian. He dislikes the food, the wine, the decor and after a mild fiasco every one from her restaurant is fired and he hires new people to assist her who will inform him what’s going on. Val is very much attracted to and yet intimidated by Luca. Luca is intrigued by her but he doesn’t want to get involved with a very young virgin. Luca was all those things we love our mafia men to be: possessive, tough, capable, demanding but incredibly attentive to her needs. The flirting between them was cute and the romance was steamy. Loved the interactions with Luca and his sons, so nice to see an involved and concerned father. 

Taken by Storm by Mari Carr

lighthearted slow-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

3.5

This is the first book in the Perfect Storm series. We have Levi and Kari who have known each other for years. In fact Kasi is best friends with his cousin and use to run around on his farm. Kasi is thirteen years younger than Levi. So he really didn’t pay too much attention to her although she had a crush on him. For the last three years Levi has been stopping by her farm stand and buying a pie. No matter how late, Kasi has always saved at least one perfect pie for him. One day while picking up his pie, exhaustion causes Kasi to pass out and Levi catches her. Suddenly, he notices her and begins to pursue a relationship with her. But Kasi and her family have a lot of issues and things going on. This is a very lighthearted small town romance with friends who become lovers. There is little drama, no angst but some steamy moments. 

The Butcher by Penelope Sky

emotional mysterious fast-paced

5.0

Bastian is a hitman for the Republic. He is a straight shooter, forthright and honest. I loved how passionate he was about Fleur. He wanted her to be his woman and wasn’t ashamed to let her and everyone know. I love a morally gray guy who can still be honest with his woman. He gave her space when she needed it but he was always completely honest with her. Fleur was a woman separated from her husband that she discovered cheating on her. She was hurt, depressed and devastated. She kept filing for divorce but her husband was able to keep blocking the filing so that they couldn’t divorce. Now admist all this emotional stuff. Bastian is fighting against human trafficking of young girls. He can’t seem to find this guy and is really torn up because if he does locate him, will he be able to eliminate him. This was a fast paced excellent story that keep me engaged from the first page. I’m eagerly waiting for the next book. Bastian is my new favorite book boyfriend because he is passionate, possessive and honest. 

Cherry Auction: Angsty Dark Romance by Stasia Black

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

This is truly a dark book. Please check your trigger warnings before reading. Needless to say I really liked this book in spite of some of the sick, twisted events in this book. Now Brooke has amnesia and she has no money and is in desperate need to get money so that she investigate her life and find out who she is. So an auction is set up at her friend’s sex club because the club is in desperate need of money. So they decide to auction a virgin although Brooke doesn’t know if she is a true virgin. While on stage waiting for the bidding she is drawn to a very attractive man, who is beyond shocked to see her there, since they knew each other years ago. So Domhall bids an outrageous amount to win her. Domhall takes her and brings her to his home where he precedes to chain and lock her up. He intends to make Brooke pay for her transgressions. These two damaged people have suffered so many traumas that it is amazing that they survived. I love how the mysteries of this book are revealed slowly. Just giving us a bit and making her speculate until revealing more. Great story but very dark. 

Delicious Surrender by Luce Sutherland

emotional funny medium-paced

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

3.5

This is the first book in the Dominant Billionaire series. Brynne is a hopeful author, an editor and a server at BDSM club. Brynne has written an erotic novel and sent it to an editor however, they believe her characters need help. Brynne’s writing involves the BDSM scene of which she knows little to nothing. So she convinces her best pal Jared to get her an interview. While there she becomes determined to thwart her boss Gage. Gage is the owner of the club and an original grump, he just got out of a toxic relationship with a blue blood woman and his mother is running for some office. So Gage is grumpy and a little obsessed with Tinkerbell (Brynne). Gage and his club is focused on submissive men and women who serve others. Brynne is really not sure she’s submissive, especially since she is so bratty. She attracts the attention of a very wealthy mafia guy who really wants her. Many times I wasn’t sure if the mafia guy was supposed to be bad or just appear that way. I’m not sure if he will make an appearance in another book. But personally I liked Dimitri. The story has moments where the story seems to lose focus. However those BDSM scenes were very hot. I’m curious about the next book in this series. 

A Simple Life by Melanie Moreland

hopeful lighthearted 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

3.5

John is a very busy farmer who is also an owner or several houses that he rents out. Quinn is new to town. She divorced her husband who wasn’t very nice and her and her daughter moved to a small town. She is renting one of John’s houses. Quinn is also renovating and opening a sandwich shop in a building that a friend of his owned. He has a lot of mixed feelings about her changing the shop, the food and even the name of the cafe. At first John and Quinn are like oil and water they can’t seem to get along and be civil to each other. But soon they warm up to each other and then they were on the path to true love. This is a drama free, angst free lighthearted romance. I enjoyed this book and I especially loved John’s interactions with Quinn’s daughter who he called pumpkin.  

My One & Goalie by Kara Kendrick

emotional fast-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

3.5

This was a fast paced book ,I think it may be considered a novella since it was under 150 pages. This book focuses on Xander the bad boy goalie. He’s always fighting off and on the ice. He’s a bad boy with women. So after his last stunt he is given a huge suspension and told to clean up his act or he will be traded. So Xander is sent to a small town where he will coach little children in their hockey league. While there he meets Rachel the mom of one of the boys. The attraction is instant and although he knows it’s a bad idea he can’t help but pursue her. Their relationship is quick and fast paced. I always love a reformed bad boy. Cute, fast enjoyable story. 

Steal My Heart by Laura Pavlov

emotional 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

3.5

This is the first book in the Rosewood River series. This book is about Henley who is a recent law school graduate who is working in her father’s law firm. She is assigned a mentor who is Easton. He’s a grumpy lawyer on the fast track to partner. He certainly doesn’t want to be saddled with a the boss’s daughter who he has many misconceptions about. Their first meeting is indeed hilarious. However, these two are drawn to each other. The attraction is strong, can they have a relationship with her being the boss’s daughter and them being coworkers too. The story had great banter. Easton was a really complex guy with a lot of issues that he needed to work through, luckily for him Henley was the right person to be there for him. 

Buttercream and Second Beginnings: A Short Romance by C.K. Darling

lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

Don’t judge a book by its cover. I really don’t like the cover of this book. It reminds me of books I read when I was a teenager. So I liked the blurb of the book so I decided to read it despite the cover. This novella is a sweet small town romance between the football star and a nice girl who loved to bake. The football goes off to college and the two don’t keep in contact anymore. The football star has a child and fades from existence and the baker has to learn to move on. Macon and Callie had a great thing years ago, can they reunite and get past all the hurt from years ago. Can Callie accept his child and be a great mother to her? This is the first of probably several stories about a group of friends all looking for love.