Melissa Foster has revealed the covers
for The Trouble with Whiskey!

    

Releasing July 20, 2022

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa Foster comes The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Redemption Ranch, a new small-town, big-family series of standalone romance novels featuring fiercely loyal, insanely sexy bikers who give horses—and people—a second chance. Buckle up for a wild ride in Hope Ridge, Colorado, as these big-hearted badasses and their sassy sisters wrangle in their forever loves. No cliffhangers, no cheating, and always a happily ever after.

She’s the only woman he’s ever loved, and the one he could never have…
Years after losing one of their best friends to a dare gone wrong, Devlin “Dare” Whiskey continues to live up to his name, endlessly testing fate, while Billie Mancini buried the best parts of herself. Billie is beautiful and tough, and battling demons Dare has no idea exist. But Dare is done watching her pretend to be something she’s not and takes on his most important challenge yet—showing the woman he loves that some dares are worth the risk.



Preorder your copy today!
Amazon: https://smarturl.it/TWW_Kindle
Apple Books: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Apple
Nook: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_BN
Kobo: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Kobo
Google Play: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_GPlay
Audible: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Audio
(narrated by Jacob Morgan and Savannah Peachwood)

Standard Paperback:
Amazon: https://smarturl.it/TWW_Pb
Barnes and Noble: https://melissafoster.com/TTWW_Pbn

Special edition paperbacks and hardbacks (with bonus content):
Special Edition paperback Amazon: https://smarturl.it/TTWWsp
Special edition paperback Barnes and Noble: https://melissafoster.com/TTWWspb
Hardback Amazon: https://smarturl.it/TTWWsh
Hardback Barnes and Noble: https://melissafoster.com/TTWWshb

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3CqTbPV


Meet Melissa Foster



Melissa Foster is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than 100 novels. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance and women's fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Melissa's emotional journeys are lovingly erotic, always family oriented, and feature fiercely loyal heroes, smart, sassy heroines, and complex relatable issues. Melissa enjoys chatting with readers and book clubs. Send her an email invitation to your next event!
 
Connect with Melissa
Website | https://melissafoster.com/
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Review: Savor

Savor by Isabel Jolie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Trevor and Stella

A one-night stand that is totally out of the norm for Stella. A new job with a boss she met just last night.... And a reverse age gap that is the centre of this sweet tale.

Stella, a 40-year-old single mother of a teen boy, met Trevor, a younger ex-seal in a hotel bar. Stella is celebrating a new job and moving into the next phase of her life. Their conversation led to an invitation to Trevor's room for a heated sexy encounter. Disappointingly to Trevor, Stella got up and left without saying a word. Of course, the reader already has a good idea of what Stella will find at her new office.

The progression of the relationship between Stella and Trevor makes up the bulk of the book. The suspense element had a bit of a back seat up until the very end.

There is some hesitancy from Stella to pursue a relationship with Trevor given their age gap. This gap, however, did not feel as if it could not be overcome. Trevor pursued Stella with a single-minded focus. Stella's insecurities and fears almost became a bit repetitive but the author managed to pull back on this just in time.

This is a fun read but did not have enough action spread throughout the book for my own personal tastes.

I received an ARC but this is my honest review.

Review: Her Mercenary (Steele Shadows Mercenaries): A Romantic Thriller

Her Mercenary (Steele Shadows Mercenaries): A Romantic Thriller by Amanda McKinney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Her Mercenary is an action-packed protector romance. The story takes place with the underbelly of society as the backdrop.

The author does well to place the reader in the midst of the angst and action while weaving the emotional reactions of our main characters into the fabric of the story. In Roman, we have an H with a lot of baggage, and going rogue at the start of the book, has the reader unsure as to his true motivations and if he will save our h, Sam, or if his need for revenge will win. Sam’s inherent light and goodness, though, pull the two together.
The author’s prose is always descriptive, and this book has action and twists I did not see coming. A deserved HEA for our couple who have to fight through dark and intense situations both physically and mentally.

Review: The Commander

The Commander by Melanie Moreland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unpopular opinion, but this book did not work for me

I am a romantic suspense junky. It is almost all I read. I appreciate the tension suspense creates in a book. Relationship angst leaves me a bit cold. The action in romantic suspense helps pull the story forward while you have a building relationship (and lots of heat with all the adrenaline flowing!)

The Commander is book 3 in the Men of Hidden Justice series. I admit I did not read the first two books and after this, I am even less inclined to do so.

Although the blurb promised me all the elements I love in romantic suspense, this book did not deliver on any of that. I never felt Tally's fear, her hesitance at being out in the world. I also could not get a good handle on her as a person and character. Who was she really?

And Julian - our supposed alpha male that protects the innocent and deals out vengeance? All the reader gets is that he is a creepy stalker. It never felt as if he was keeping eyes on Tally for her safety but rather as an obsession - and not because of her personality either as he knew even less about her than the reader. And his vulnerable moment when the two are supposed to pull together? Well, there is vulnerable and then there is weak. He goes to the bar Tally works at after an emotional Op and gets blind drunk even after Tally tells him to ease up and cuts him off. And then off-page she has to get him home and care for him. His actions are not vulnerable, it is concerning that he deals with strong emotions in this way.

The organisation of the book was also weird. If you are a fan of Melanie Moreland
I think you will still enjoy the book so perhaps skip the spoiler below. 

The book starts with a scene where Julian is told his ex-wife has been spotted in an airport with a baby. So going in you know that they were together and then broke up. However, the build-up of the relationship holds little emotional connection. There are no hints or emotional build-up towards the break-up. There is only talk of the action and suspense and the reader is never really shown much of the inner workings of "getting the bad guy". And then we jump back to Julian picking Tally up from the airport. Oh and don't forget the final token "bad guy" thrown in for good measure. 

I felt a real disconnect with both the suspense and the emotional connection the couple is supposed to have. In all, this book left me feeling Blah.

I received an ARC from Grey's Promotions. This is my honest review.

Review: Rookie: A Firefighter Romance

Rookie: A Firefighter Romance by Laramie Briscoe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A light read

The Rookie was a light forbidden romance read with a low angst level. It is the first book of an interconnected series and thus some time was spent to introduce you to a couple of secondary characters.

I loved the blurb but I don't feel that the book really lived up to the hype. Although well written and still sweet, the angst of the "forbidden" part was very low level. And the forest fire? It barely registered as a blip in my reading, although it seems to have influenced the characters tremendously. In all honesty, it felt as if there was a huge chunk of the story missing. I agree with other reviewers that some of the storylines fizzled out without a resolution.

What I did appreciate from the story was the progress Danny made in character growth. Having a chip on his shoulder from being from the "wrong side of the tracks" and his family unacknowledged by his mom's side was an important element to the story that brought much-needed depth to a book that would otherwise have been quite blah. Although I did expect more cultural references in relation to Danny and his family's interactions. Except for boisterous, colourful family get together and running a family landscape business, being Hispanic is just told to us.

Review: Scarred Regrets: A Dark Mafia Romance

Scarred Regrets: A Dark Mafia Romance by Adelaide Forrest
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book brought the art of Kintsugi to mind

Please heed the trigger warnings for this book. This is a dark and emotional read.

The story of Scar and Irina is both painful and poignantly beautiful. Childhood trauma has ensured that Scar will be a stoic adult, eschewing physical touch, affection and ultimately love. Irina may appear to be a pampered princess, but her mask to the world hides a profound disconnect with the people around her, vacillating between feeling too much and being numb. The meeting between the two starts an obsession that Scar fights against. He refuses to claim Irina, in the process hurting her immensely.

A turn of events changes Irina forever, and even as she struggles, Scar is bent on revenge in her name yet still refuses to give her the safe haven of his claim. That Irina needs to reach the lowest of lows for Scar to accept his truth:

"I would die for you-but you?...You're going to live for me."

Together, they both take an arduous journey of healing, one that may not be conventional but works with the chemistry between them. It is in their journey to healing becoming a forged couple, but still broken individuals, that Kintsugi comes to mind. Their pieces fit together, and they embrace the jagged edges of each other and, in fitting them together, form a beautiful piece of art.

ARC received from Grey's Promotions and the author.

Review: Snowed Inn for Christmas Anthology

Snowed Inn for Christmas Anthology by Elle Christensen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reviewing anthologies are always tricky. And this book had 9 stories!

So, Saint Nick decides to play Cupid in the town of Winter Falls. And while a blizzard makes the world cold but magically white, our couples are heating up the pages of this book.

The stories are fast-paced, and many are insta-lust/love. And let's not forget, these are stories that need to come with a heat warning! However, there is enough diversity of characters and tropes not to make the book repetitive. And don't forget the unique writing styles of our contributing authors that makes this a real gem. To me, this will become a reread. I can easily see myself going back to the different stories depending on the mood of the day. But, you will not be disappointed in this keeper!

Can I pick a favourite out of the bunch? No!!!! Here are some thoughts on some of the stories that were more impressionable to ME.

Given the girthy novella of Brynn Asher, it is sure to dominate thoughts on this book. Logan and Demi are the brainiac couple, but Logan has a good dose of Alpha protectiveness. Demi is a sassy smartass, and together we get panty-melting heat and a good amount of the feels.

Fiona Davenport arguably delivered the hottest read in the bunch for me. Laidback snowboarding champion Lincoln had quite a bit to teach uptight mayor Bethenny. But when inhibitions are overcome, the snow will melt away!

Ella Goode does an excellent job of bringing all the feels to the flagging marriage of Rowan and Charlee. Reading about their pain and frustration and following their healing through some filthy kinky times was a satisfying departure from the other meet-cute stories in the book.

Layla Frost gave me the best happily ever after. Eli is the tattooed alpha H that is perfect for Posey. Possessive while bringing in the soft sweet yumminess we so adore!

But read them all and tell me your favourites!

Review: Code Name: Aries

Code Name: Aries by Janie Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book for a true escape from the ordinary

This is the first book in the new series, Zodiac Tactical. This is a spin-off from the Linear Tactical series, also by Janie Crouch.

Ian and Wavy meet when Ian is in town to get evidence on Mosaic (the bad guys) from Linear Tactical. While Ian wants to stay aloof, given his focused mission to destroy Mosaic, Wavy still worms her way inside Ian's heart. That Ian carries a heavy burden due to his history with Mosaic is clear. However, Wavy brings colour to his life, and I love how her art is used to represent her emotions throughout the book.

As this is romantic suspense, you can easily guess what happens next. Wavy is taken. This part of the book and her subsequent recovery is quite gritty. The suspense and action elements are well done, and you have a great, if rather farfetched, twist almost at the end.

The end of the suspense, however, does not mean that we have an automatic HEA. Our characters still have to work towards this. Both characters have to overcome tremendous trauma, and it is clear that they are suitable for each other. I loved that Ian connected so strongly with Wavy's art. You have brilliant characterisation in this book.

So why only a hesitant 4 stars if both the suspense and romantic elements separately were excellent? The book let me down as it felt long and drawn out while reading. I even checked, and the print length is only 333 pages. Maybe the story just hit too many elements, which on their own made for great reading but put together was just a tad overwhelming. Still a solid romantic suspense recommendation with a medium heat level.

 Get your copy now!

Review: Running on Diesel

Running on Diesel by Melissa Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emotional, with a sizzling side of heat

Running on Diesel is the 9th book in The Whiskeys: Dark Knights at Peaceful Harbor series. The story stands well alone, but fans of the series would definitely enjoy it more.

Diesel is the quintessential biker; drawn to the open road, stoic, scary in appearance, with a super marshmallowy centre. Tracey is the survivor of domestic abuse, having grown stronger in the protective embrace of the Whiskey family in Peaceful Harbor. Their chemistry is off the charts. However, Diesel is feeling the call of the open road as he battles the pull of Tracey. He is afraid to open himself to love and the possibility of hurt. As a nomad, he has never stuck around as long as he has in Peaceful Harbor.

Diesel helps Tracey learn how to stand up for herself in a healthy way and in a safe space. Not only that, but he gifts her something priceless. In turn, Tracey breaks down some of Diesel's walls; accepting that it may not be so bad to become part of the community of friends in Peaceful Harbor and opening his heart to her. This does not mean that there are no hiccups along the way. Diesel has to acknowledge sometimes he needs to lean on Tracey; that a relationship is always a two-way street.

The book differs from most other MC romances as there is little action and no suspense to talk of. Here the story really is all about the couple, character growth and the emotional connection. It does mean that there is a dip in pace about a quarter through the book, but read it out!

And for fans of the series, you cannot miss the reveal in this book!!!!!

Other tidbits:

The cover is a depiction of one of my favourite scenes in the book. 

The Hobbit makes a couple of appearances in the book; given that the Hobbit is one of my all-time favourite top reads, it endeared the story to me even more.

Favourite quotes:

"You are the peace I never knew I was missing."

"You know a girl likes to be asked, not told."

I received an ARC from the author through Grey's Promotions. This is my honest review.

Get your copy now!