Controlled Burn by Amy Briggs

Title: Controlled Burn

Author: Amy Briggs

Series: Brotherhood of District 23

Genre: Contemporary Military Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: December 1, 2016

Edition/Format: eBook

Source: Amazon Purchased

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Blurb:  Seth Jackson, known as Jax to his friends and family, has always been the easy-going, loyal, and dependable friend to everyone. Marine Corps veteran and career firefighter, Jax enjoys a simple life, hanging out with friends, and chasing the ladies. Always the most level-headed of his friends, he suddenly finds himself spinning out of control, unable to sleep and suffering from nightmares and anxiety. When he finds out he suffers from PTSD, he second-guesses everything around him and starts searching for the normalcy he thought he was living.

Vivian Deveraux, a twenty-five-year old with a penchant for selling real estate deals like a seasoned agent, thought she was just negotiating another deal. While brokering a sale for his friends, Vivian meets Jax, who instantly stirs up emotions she had kept buried for years.

Jax pursues Vivian in an effort to fill a hole he didn’t realize he’d had, but will their connection actually create more darkness?

**Controlled Burn is the 3rd book in the Brotherhood of District 23 series, but CAN be read as a standalone**

Review: In this final installment, we meet Seth and Vivian, two great and loyal people who are trying to fight their way through the darkness.  Seth is working to come to the light and see his self-worth when he meets Vivian.  Vivian is also struggling through her own sense of darkness after the loss of her brother. 

With so many similarities they face, will they withstand the storm or crumble under the pressure?

Seth is trying to do the right thing but when confronted with the truth of Vivian’s past, will he fall back on bad habits or realize he is worthy.  Will it be too late to save themselves and each other?

I really think this book had a great storyline and I loved the characters but feel the ending was rushed.  I also felt an air of suspense around Vivian throughout the book as far as her job and wish the author would have tied up more loose ends since this is the final installment.

All in all, good book, great storyline, and great character development as well.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Don't miss out on any of the others in this series!

Fired Up and Fully Involved

Also, please check out my reviews for Fired Up and Fully Involved, here!

Review Consumed by the Dare by Casey Hagen

Title: Consumed by the Dare
Author: Casey Hagen
Series: Dare to Love Series (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Carly Phillips)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Release Date: Jan 25 2016
Edition: eBook
Source: Hidden Gems ARC Service
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Blurb/Synopsis:
London Abbott, head librarian of the Bronx Public Library, is determined to turn a reading initiative into a raving success, solidifying the career and financial security she craves. Adding the burden of a tag-along playboy trying to improve his tarnished image is a stressor London doesn’t need, but when a trusted friend calls in a favor, she’s saddled with bad-boy football star Ryker Christiansen.

Ryker never imagined his lucrative contract with the Miami Thunder would ever be at risk, but after too many nights of partying he’s told to repair his tattered reputation or be terminated. Sent to New York to preen for the media and show his altruistic side by working with children and seniors, he’s committed to sitting in a Bookmobile with antsy kids, ornery seniors, and taking orders from a snotty librarian.

Unsympathetic, London tests Ryker’s mettle without mercy. He earns her respect by meeting every challenge she creates, proving he’s more than just one more overindulged athlete. But there is one more prize he’s determined to win, so he dares London to step out of her carefully constructed world for a walk with him on the wild side.

London expects to bring Ryker down a notch or two, but as their slow-burning heat erupts into sexual flames, the intensity of the fire threatens to either destroy their hearts or forge them together. Discovering which comes with a price. Will they emerge stronger? Or are they destined to be…Consumed by the Dare.

Thoughts 

Sweet to Steamy all before the First Down

I LOVE sports romance and I enjoyed this book. It was a short fast read and I wished it was longer. It's a little rushed in parts but a good read. This story takes place in a world of Professional Football and the tight end needs to clean up his image. If not all of his hopes and dreams and everything he has worked so hard for will come to an end. What he didn’t expect was to actually fall for the one person trying to rebuild his reputation, but things are not always as easy as we would like, and Ryker soon finds out that winning the next game and conquering the next conquest as a playboy was not all that he wanted like he thought. Casey a sweet librarian turns Ryker’s world on its axis. Casey has Ryker wishing for and wanting things he never even considered. The character development, the vivid description, detail and plot draw you in from the beginning and there are enough twists and turns to keep you interested until the end.

**** Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Hidden Gems and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I will leave my Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". *****

Purchase Link

Amazon 

Review Time for Love by Laura N Andrews

Title: Time for Love
Author: Laura N Andrews
Series: Timeless Love Book 2
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing 
Genre: Contemporary Romance, M/M, LGTBQA, Erotic Romance, Gay Romance,
Release Date: May 20 2017
Edition: ARC Digital Copy
Source: Author in Exchange for Unbiased Opinion
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Blurb/Synopsis:

Endearing and shy, Nicholas Edwards prefers to stay in most nights. On one of his rare evenings out, he meets confident businessman Caleb Roimata.

Although at first he seems arrogant, charming and irresistible, Caleb encourages Nicholas to come out of his shell, and together they fall into a relationship full of passion and love.

When Caleb’s past causes doubts to rise and drama to unfold, will they be there for each other and be what the other needs?

And when all is said and done, will there still be... time for love?

Thoughts

Rough Start but a Beautiful Ending

This is my first time reading a Laura N Andrews Title and it won’t be my last. Her writing was heartfelt and her characters seemed so genuine. Though with that said I will admit I struggled with Nick’s character not that he was not genuine it was just his self-esteem was so low and at times his self-deprecating was a bit much. When I started reading Time for Love I felt it was a bit awkward, not at all smooth and completely consuming like other M/M books I have read. It quickly found its stride after a stumbling beginning and became what I have come to expect, a beautiful fairytale romance. Nick’s and Caleb’s story was without a doubt a beautiful one even with the rocky mishap. It is a story of two men getting out of their comfort zones and reaching for something neither expected to find. I absolutely loved the ending and these guys had me falling for them hard. I would recommend this book to all who enjoy a hard earned romance.

**** Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from the Author/Publisher with the hope that I will leave my Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". *****

Purchase Links
Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Kobo