vicki_williams's reviews
2716 reviews

Kill Me Sweetly by Davidson King

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Love the Saint brothers! 

Shep and JJ love their life with the bakery they own, living with their brothers and just being together. When kindhearted JJ sees a young person in need of help their life becomes one of intrigue and danger again. There’s nothing they and their brothers won’t do to right a despicable wrong and take down the rich and powerful persons responsible for it. It’s very much a rushed operation short on intell but after a twist or two the villains are thwarted and Shep and JJ find their new version of normal. 

This very enjoyable and intriguing book had me invested from the very start. With plenty of steam, drama/action and of course some scenes that are heartbreakingly raw I cheered on every win until these two wonderful men once again found peace together again. Of course all the Saint brothers have their roles to play and I look forward to more for this at times gritty bit filled with love family. 

Inheriting Miss Fortune by Lucy Lennox

hopeful relaxing medium-paced

4.0

This is the third instalment in the Billionaire Brotherhood series and what a wonderful read it is. Once again Lucy Lennox had me falling in love with her characters and cheering them on from start to finish. 

Circumstances bring Dev and Tully together after having a one night interlude 2 years prior. This time there is a third person added to the mix, a gorgeous daughter of Dev’s named Lellie, who is a result of Dev helping a dear friend. 

Both Dev and Tully have backstories that hurt my heart but they also made it happy as they started to learn more about each other, learnt some truths and explored the chemistry that still sizzled between them. It wasn’t all smooth sailing on the way to their HEA as some selfish unsavoury family members cause some angst but they can’t derail Dev, Tully and Lellie from their future together. 

This is a very enjoyable and engaging read with a great cast of main and secondary characters to keep things interesting, a dash of drama and I was one very happy reader at the end. 

There’s also a sneaky peek into the next book featuring Zane and Ryan which I’m very much looking forward to. 

Rough Country by Kelly Fox

relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

The story telling ability of this wonderful author had me wanting to pack my bags to go and explore the Texas Hill Country and hopefully “accidentally on purpose” bump into Woody and Emery. These two wonderful men are the perfect sunshine/grumpy couple. Circumstances have city boy Emery moving to the Hill Country and becoming the neighbour of the cranky and surly Woody who is very much less than welcoming when they first meet. It takes some time before Emery discovers the sensitive and vulnerable man beneath the protective hard shell the Woody uses for protection. A hard shell that slowly but surely crumbles beneath the loving attentions of Emery. I loved the sizzling chemistry between them which not only meant plenty of steam but also plenty of tenderness especially as Woody craves affection. Their HEA has a minor blip along the way but nothing that isn’t overcome with helpful friendly advice and communication. 

This is a very enjoyable read and had me hooked from the first page. I adored Stevie, loved Woody’s t-shirt collection and the cameos from other Hill Country residents. I’m very much looking forward to Kessler and Rowdy’s story. 

Conflicted by Lark Taylor

emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

So many feels! 

What an emotional ride this book is. My heart was broken into too many pieces to count, I cried too many times to count and I was left with the sappiest/happiest smile on my face at the end with my heart in tact. The Archangel Micah and Higher Demon Nox are fated mates but that doesn’t ensure them an easy HEA. These wonderful men start off as enemies, with sizzling chemistry,  who gradually look beyond what’s on the surface to discover the hidden layers beneath. A discovery which shows that they are worthy of an all encompassing love and that they are prepared to fight for. A fight they believe they have to face alone, until shown otherwise. 

This is a wonderful read with lots of steam, angst and a hard earned HEA. With so many interesting side characters and some from previous books, plus an intriguing and well written plot made for a truly enjoyable reading experience. I can’t wait for more of this series. 

“Loving you is like breathing - instinctive and impossible to stop.”

Hired by the Enemy by Jax Calder

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

What a fun and enjoyable read. Liam and Matthew were prank war enemies during their school years and I was laughing out loud at the innovative pranks they pulled on each other. Circumstances have them entering each other’s orbit at the age of 25 and their life long loathing for each other morphs into something completely unexpected. With undeniable chemistry sizzling between them, these two wonderful men take fake dating to a new level of blurred boundaries whilst sharing cheesy pirate jokes and falling in love. I loved the tropical paradise locale, the steam between Liam and Matthew but also how they recognised the real connection between them and how they are still have the snarkiness between as they did during the pranking years. I laughed a lot and finished this wonderful novella with a full and happy heart. The most unexpected and hilarious line for me belongs to their former grade 6 teacher Ms Beauton - I snorted! 

The Pretenders of Copper County by May Archer

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Brilliant start to a new series. 

Chris and Reed have burrowed their way into my heart and will always stay there. Their story just resonated with me and hit all the right notes. It warmed my heart, made me laugh and had me smiling from start to finish. All the tropes I love are here - sunshine/grumpy, small town, fake husbands, bodyguard/protectee - a mix that results in a very entertaining and enjoyable rom com that kept me engaged from start to finish. 

Chris is an adorably sweet and quirky charcuterie specialist who also happens to be generous beyond measure and a magnet for trouble. Think along the lines of inadvertent bar mishap with bikers whilst attempting to do a good deed. Circumstances have the very vigilant and very dedicated bodyguard Reed Sunday enter his life causing them to relocate to the small town of Copper County and its delightful inhabitants. (Copper County just so happens to be next door to O’Leary so there’s plenty of cameos from the O’Leary residents to add some colour.) Chris and Reed find themselves attracted to each other and it’s not long before the chemistry between them sparks ⚡️. Of course the road to their HEA is not without some external drama but nothing that can derail these two wonderful men from having the life they want together and I couldn’t stop cheering for them along the way. 

I can’t wait for the next book in the series. 

Forbidden Puckboy by Eden Finley, Saxon James

funny relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Easton has crushed on Knox since he knew he liked boys. Knox has feelings for Easton but won’t go there as he is his Besties (Connor) brother. Easton doesn’t have a very good relationship with older brother Connor who is way overprotective and won’t let Easton be the man that he is. The frustration Easton feels is palpable and I really felt for him not feeling seen as the amazing individual that he is. When circumstances have him and Knox working together the chemistry is definitely there but Knox won’t act on it because……Connor!  There’s plenty of steam, tension, frustration and some angst as Easton and Knox work their way to an HEA. It takes a lot of effort and understanding for them to balance their differing work schedules to finally become the couple they’ve always wanted to be. 

Once again the Collective play their role and had me laughing as did Lachie - the youngest brother of Easton/Connor. I found this to be a very interesting and enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages and left me smiling at the end. 

How to Flirt with a Hellhound by Shannon Mae

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

I absolutely adore the sweet, absentminded author Toby. He’s socially awkward with a lack of people skills that’s so endearing and at times highly amusing. Hellhound Dex is his neighbour and he does struggle at times when relating to and the understanding of humans. These two wonderful men are just perfect for each other and share a rather unique love language. The road to their HEA has a dash of angst due to external sources with plenty of steamy times and sweet cuddly moments. I cheered them on from their first fumbling attempts at flirting all the way to their well deserved HEA. 

I laughed and giggled throughout this very enjoyable and engaging romance and my heart was filled with happiness at the end. There’s plenty of interesting side characters just waiting in their stories to be told and I eagerly await the next in this new and exciting series. 

Power of the Mind by Nicky James

hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

Absolutely brilliant 

The very sassy Tallus and grumpy Diem are back together in that “partnership you have when you’re not having partnership” way. A non partnership non boyfriend way. Tallus finds himself needing Diem’s assistance when he comes across a possible “case” requiring a lot more investigative skills than he has. Tallus can still ramble and talk nonstop and Diem still has major communication problems and limited social skills but during this very intriguing mystery with all its little twist and turns, Diem slowly and begrudgingly begins to open up. Between his boundaries being pushed and his desire to be better, Diem’s personal growth in this instalment is a mix of heartbreaking and hopeful with a very warm and satisfying HFN ending. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next for these two wonderful men. 

Beautifully Savage Butterfly by K.M. Neuhold

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

Mafia underboss Elio is a self-assured person whose bratty tendencies are unleashed when his persistence finally gets the attention of MMA fighter Orion. Orion really really doesn’t like Elio but circumstances have them spending more time together and soon enough Orion’s dominant nature have him and Elio igniting the sizzling chemistry between them. When both start peeling back the layers discovering what lies beneath their version of sweetness is added to the mix. 

The romance/mafia/familial elements of this enjoyable read are well balanced and kept me engaged from the very beginning. Elio and Orion had me cheering them on and their HEA made my heart happy. 

We are also gifted with a sneak peak re the next couple to get their story told and I can’t wait.