ljamison01's reviews
1184 reviews

His Enforcer by Cora Rose

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

Holy smokes, what a first chapter! This is the third book in the Unexpectedly Twisted series. Each book has been so good. You don’t need to read them in order but it certainly helps because it’s the same secondary characters in all the books and events build upon each other. This book is spicy. Wow. Viktor is working for Luca as his bodyguard. Luca witnesses Viktor’s behavior at a sex club and then spends the next three years taunting, teasing and tempting him. But, Viktor knows that Luca is straight and he’s upset that Luca just knows how to pull his strings. The banter is hot but Luca really does come across as a big jerk. It’s so apparent that Viktor wants him and his behavior makes him look like a cad. However, as we get to know Luca and witness his transformation, we can appreciate his growth and change. This is a MM mafia book with violence, a mystery, and lots of spice. I think of the three books in this series this was the spiciest. Very enjoyable series anxious for the next book. I’m really looking forward to Bane’s book because he is truly bizarre and twisted. 

Hustler by Mackenzy Fox

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

This is only the third book I have read in this NOLA Rebels series and there are 11 book in all (so I have some reading to do). I picked this book because I love reading about mature couples. I’m mature, so I like to read something that reflects my life. Hustler (West) is a silver fox, he’s 54 and has grandchildren. He’s a nice guy, owns a cafe and is part of this NOLA club. He’s not a pushover, but he’s not an aggressive guy either. Audrina works in his cafe and even agrees to help him with his bookkeeping. Audrina’s son is part of the NOLA club, she is currently staying with him and wife. Audrina divorced her husband a year ago. She has only been with one man her whole life. She’s a lady, she’s doesn’t cuss, she wants a man to make the first move and she’s been waiting and hoping that West (what she calls him) will make it. When West finally makes him move, prompted by Audrina thinking he was messing with a young 20 year old, things go well. West is adorable and sweet towards her, caring and possessive. It’s was great to have some spicy scenes with a mature couple. This mature couple had the same issues younger couples had. Here’s hoping other authors realize that writing a mature couple is a good idea and that there is an audience for those books. Loved this book and especially the dedication.

Skate the Line by S.J. Sylvis

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

4.5

This is the second book in the Blue Devils Hockey series. You don’t need to read the first book but it does help to give you background information on the team and players. This is a grumpy/sunshine, single dad-nanny romance. Poor Rhodes cannot find a reliable nanny who won’t throw themselves at him. Woman are captivated by his wealth and he need a dependable nanny for his previous daughter. Along comes Sunny who is a dependable as they come. She is really a sweet person who would help anyone. Now Rhodes is rightly skeptical of her and their relationship is rocky because he is grumpy and doesn’t trust her. Sunny is sweet but has secrets. This is a slow burn as they get to know each other and her sweet demeanor wears down his grumpiness. There is some steam later on and it’s good. This was great book and if you love those tropes you will definitely enjoy this book. 

Behind the Scenes by Kathryn Austin

emotional hopeful informative 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

4.5

I am a reality show junkie. I watch them ALL except dating shows. Now for some reason they give me an icky feeling. But, when I read this blurb I desperately wanted to read this book because it reminded me of a tv show called UnReal. Now I went into this book expecting lots of angst and I enjoyed every minute of it. Ginger is the producer of a dating reality show. She is strong, focused and driven. She is ultimate career woman, task, success, and promotion (that’s all she’s thinking). However, Elliot our bachelor was on the previous show and worked with Ginger but he did not find love on the show. Elliot found love with Ginger who he had a secret affair with last year. So Elliot has come back for Ginger. But, they both have contracts and allowed to be together. So you just imagine the looks of longing, stolen touches and moments. It was delicious. As a reality fan it made me happy. It was like experiencing a reality show in a whole different way. I loved getting that background view of something we never see and the side characters were certainly entertaining. 

Love on Ice by J.A. Low, J.A. Low

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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 first book in the Manhattan Mavericks series. We have Harper who is a very rich woman who also works in public relations. She’s going to Paradise Island to get over a bad breakup. Now Pierre our hockey star who is also a bad boy is also going to Paradise island to get over his own breakup. Harper has been to Paradise Island before but it’s Pierre’s first time. So Harper decides to show him what the Island is all about and what it offers. This is a very spicy story that takes place at a sex club (island). The attraction between them is certainly explosive and very open. Harper is about 8 years older than Pierre and she makes it clear this “thing” is just for now, a summer fling. She is a little bothered by the age gap and doesn’t really want anything serious. Pierre is a golden retriever and he definitely falls fast and hard for Harper. Of course they return home and events occur that make them decide to fake date to Pierre goes off to training camp. But fake of course turns real and what started as a fling ends in HEA. Great story. I loved the unique idea of having them meet at a sex club not just for a night but for a week of salacious and unique entertainment. 

Buried Dreams by Natasha Madison

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

I am enjoying and loving this Dream series. This is the 3rd book in a series of interconnected books. I think it’s better if you read each book in order.  Now every book focuses on a car accident that happened years ago but had lasting effects to the people and the town. In this book we meet Brock and Everleigh who were happy together and talking about their future prior to the accident and then something changed. Both are extremely bitter, lonely and unhappy. Oh cue the angst. It’s so good. Brock is now a single dad of a young girl. Everleigh had moved out of the town and never returned until her mother suffers a heart attack and she comes back to help her and run the town’s very popular bakery. Now Brock is currently working and managing the car shop directly across the street from the bakery. So you can just imagine the longs of longing that happen in this book. The first time they meet alone is smoking hot, nothing better than acrimonious sex. Along with all the bitterness and hatred between these two, we have a mystery. This story is very good. I loved the characters. Brock was such a wonderful dad and so loving. I even enjoyed seeing Miss Maddie enjoying some male company. I love how the author has taken one event and shown how the after effects can ripple and cause additional devastation. If you like spice, small town, single dad romance with a mystery read this book. 

By The Letter by Julia Wolf

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first chapter. Julia Wolf has become an author that I want to read everything she wrote. This is probably only the 7th book of hers I have read but I enjoyed every word. She has such an amazing way of getting you wrapped up in the story and so concerned with the characters that you are deeply engrossed until the last word on the page. This book is the 2nd in the Mile High Billionaire series and I hope the remaining books focus on Roman’s brothers as well as Shira’s best friend Bea. Shira is a widow and forced to run her deceased husband’s company and Roman’s father was friends with Shira’s husband. So Roman has left his career as a rugby player and is now taking over companies and salvaging and restructuring them. So he wants to make GoldMed what it once was. Roman has heard nothing but bad stuff about Shira she was this young gold digging woman who didn’t care about the company or her grown stepdaughter. Shira is incredibly shy and she has some things she needs to work on but she can’t seem to communicate this with Roman. Now these two have a very secret dalliance which is so secret they didn’t even know it was with someone they knew. This intimate encounter leads to an unplanned pregnancy and these two people co-parenting. Such a great story. I loved how they communicated with each other using notes. I loved all the side characters especially Roman’s twin brother Ben. I wish I could haven given this book a 6 it was so good. I highly recommend this book. 

On Loverose Lane by Samantha Young

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Callan and Beth knew each other years ago in school, there was some chemistry but things did not work out. Years later Callan is a famous football player and he moves into the apartment above Beth. This is not a happy situation for either of them. This causes Beth’s stress and anxiety. Callan is not happy because he believes that Beth betrayed him, but she taught him a valuable lesson that he doesn’t need love. The two of them go out of the way to avoid each other and of course this works in the reverse because they keep meeting up. Callan is forced to say that him and Beth are dating when he happens upon a difficult situation for her. So they must pretend to date for Beth’s job. While fake dating the two of them begin to talk and discuss their past and a new relationship is formed. This story is told in flashbacks which is usually not my favorite literary device but is appropriate here to explain why there is so much animosity between these two. I love second chance and enemies to lovers stories because I love the angst. I love when one character can’t stop thinking of, wanting or longing for the person who makes their heart sing. I enjoyed this book and the steam. I did not realize this was a second generation book and that Beth is the daughter of two previous characters from the book On Dublin Street. Now I want to go back and read that first book. 

The Bloke by Jacklyn Parker

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

The Bloke is the first in three standalone books in the Men Under Revue series. Colby is our MMC he comes from Australia and he is soon a dancer in this male revue show. He works hard but he notices his fellow dancers are living a good life with expensive cars and apartments. One night after a show he is invited by a fellow dancer to go with him so that he too can have more and enjoy the finer things in life. Colby has to successfully execute several tasks to be accepted into this group. He manages to do this and five years later, he’s living in a penthouse and driving an expensive car. He has everything but a partner. Suddenly, Sienna shows up at one of his dance shows and the attraction between them is instant. She is mesmerized by his eyes and he can’t stay away from her. Now Sienna is out with friends and she is just a little intoxicated. Colby is so interested in her that during his dance set he grabs her and these two bump and grind on the dance floor. After the set is over he brings her back stage to continue. The next morning Sienna awakes to find out that her and Colby are married. She is livid, she has just begun to live her life, escaping her controlling parents and their rules. Sienna doesn’t want to stay married and she wants to fight this attraction and desire. Colby wants to be with her and can’t imagine not being with her. The problem is that this relationship was not sanctioned by the MUR (men under revue), what tasks will Sienna be forced to do to stay with Colby and will she want to or successfully complete them. This was such an amazing concept. I love reading stuff that surprise me because it different. I really enjoyed this. There are some dark aspects so please read the trigger warnings. Great book anxiously awaiting the other two books. 

Double Fault by Ella Wren

emotional 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

4.25

I think this is my first tennis romance story. I enjoy watching tennis and have gone to many matches. But, it’s rare to find a romance set around it. This is a familiar trope of nanny/single dad. I am a sucker for a single dad who is involved in their child’s life. Now Sabrina is struggling to find a teaching position and she is experiencing hard time and applies for a nanny position. Sabrina is a very happy sunshiny person who looks for the good in life. Now luckily for Sabrina, Noah’s (another Noah that’s the male name of the year) daughter needs not just a nanny but a teacher/tutor as they go on tour. Noah is determined to play and win but he also wants to keep his daughter with him. Noah’s wife died from cancer so he hasn’t had an easy time. I enjoy this trope because usually there is the unspoken longing and angst as they try to navigate a relationship with a lot of outside influences. This is a great steamy book with two people who appreciate each other as they both struggle with the things that held them back.