Love on Camera (Wonder Boys Series) by Dana LeCheminant

 

Madi doesn’t have time to date. Oliver has all the time in the world.

When wedding photographer Madi is challenged to find herself ten dates in three months, she turns to her older brother’s three best friends to be her stand-ins. It helps her win the challenge without having to deal with the stress of dating. What could go wrong?

Oliver hasn’t had much to do since selling his company, and helping Madi has given his life meaning again. But when she asks him to pose as her boyfriend—more than just a date here and there—he suddenly finds himself questioning his feelings toward the girl he always saw as a little sister. Feelings that would get him murdered by his best friend.

No one sees the real Oliver the way Madi does, and Madi has never been as comfortable around anyone as she is with Oliver. With the fake part of their relationship feeling less and less fake, they both have to decide if they’re brave enough to take that first step toward something real. Is a chance at love worth risking a lifetime of friendship?

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

Cute, cute, cute, cute.  This book is honestly just so cute (and so is the cover!! 😍).  Author Dana LeCheminant really nailed this friends to lovers story between Oliver and Madi who have known each other since they were little.  Both Oliver and Madi are gentle people who keep feelings and difficulties close to themselves.  They aren't loud or showy, but steady and wicked good at what they do.  I really loved them both- separately and together, as friends and then as more.  My heart was seriously chanting all the hopeful things, "risk it!  Do it!  Kiss her!"  You get the idea.  😉

I think one of my favorite scenes was when Oliver was running in a park and saw Madi doing a photoshoot.  He watches her and then gets caught so he pretends to be stretching.  He was trying to play it so cool.  It played out in my head like a scene in a movie.

Good news!  This is the first book in a new series.  We are introduced to the Wonder Boys in this book and man, their stories are going to be fun!  I can't wait to read them!

This book is on KU if you have that.

Content:  kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Shield and Blade: A Fate of Eyrinthia Novella by Heather Frost

 

His to protect

When Vera broke Venn’s heart, he was shattered. When she was abducted by mercenaries, he vowed to tear Mortise apart to find her. Now, reunited, he is determined to keep her safe–and win back her heart. Of course, things are never that simple.

Hers to defend

Vera has regretted hurting Venn ever since that fateful night in Wexon, but finding the right time to tell him is proving difficult. Traveling with him to Duvan should give her the perfect opportunity, but things take an unexpected turn when they find young children abandoned near a roadside.

Theirs to save

Helping the children isn’t in question, but the detour leads Venn and Vera into the heart of a sinister mystery. The truth they fight to uncover could change everything in Eyrinthia–and may cost them their lives.

Shield & Blade is book 3.5 in the Fate of Eyrinthia YA fantasy romance series. It is best enjoyed after reading Royal Captive.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

It's no secret that I love this series.  I seriously tell anyone who will listen to me.  So of course I am excited about this new novella (which is honestly long enough to be a novel) and even more excited because it fills in a part of the story from Royal Captive that we were left wondering about.  It's Vera and Venn's story!!  

I'm not even a bit embarrassed to say that I sat in my comfy chair all day and devoured this book.  I read it from beginning to end with almost no interruptions.  How lucky is that?!  I adore both Vera and Venn.  And when those children enter the picture?  The adoration levels skyrocketed.  Through the roof.  The danger keeps coming, relentless in nature, but Vera and Venn hold steady.  They are strong, loyal, brave and kind.  The very best kind of heroes.

Love, love, love, love.  💙

Content:  violence, peril, death, mention of torture.  Kissing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book but have since bought my own copy.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Heather Frost is a #1 Amazon Bestselling YA author who loves epic stories with breath-stealing romance. She is the author of the Seers trilogy and the Fate of Eyrinthia series. Her books have been Whitney Award Finalists and Swoony Award Finalists. She has a BS in Creative Writing and a minor in Folklore, which means she got to read fairy tales and call it homework. When she’s not writing, Heather likes to read, travel, and re-watch Lord of the Rings. She lives in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering mountains in northern Utah. To learn more about Heather and her books, visit her website: www.HeatherFrost.com

The Deadly Shallows (Coastal Guardians #3) by Dani Pettrey

 

A DEADLY ATTACK.
A STOLEN WEAPON CAPABLE OF IMMENSE DESTRUCTION.
A PAINFUL SECRET THAT THREATENS TO TEAR TWO HEARTS APART.

CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is rocked to the core when several of his valued team members come under fire on his Coast Guard base. He and his remaining team race to the scene and end the attack, but not before innocent lives are lost. Furious and grief-stricken, he vows to do whatever is needed to bring the mastermind behind the attack to justice.

Stunned by the ambush, Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler evacuates in a helicopter carrying the only surviving gunman. The gravely wounded man whispers mysterious information to Brooke that immediately paints a target on her back.

As Brooke and Noah race to uncover answers, emotions between them ignite. Noah struggles to protect Brooke at all costs and to conceal the secret that prevents him from becoming what he longs to be--the right man for her.

Everything is at stake as a horrifying truth emerges. . . .

The attack wasn't the end game. It was only the beginning.

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

When you decide to read this book, you should block out a solid chunk of time because you aren't going to want to put this book down.  It's fast paced and full of danger, action and mystery.  I love romantic suspense and this author does it so well.  

This book starts out in the thick of the danger and the plot grows with intensity and scope throughout the book.  The bad guys are obvious to the reader but not the characters, so that gave me anxiety.  haha.  The tension was strong and I was reading so quickly I had to purposefully slow myself down and remind myself to savor and enjoy.  It didn't really work. 

Brooke and Noah are friends.  They both want more but neither of them is laying it on the table in the beginning. Then, all the bad things happen and that sure has a way of changing how you look at relationships and life.  I love the way Noah shifted to protector mode.  He is smart and loyal and good.  The same can be said of Brooke.  They both jump into danger to protect people and they have an awesome team of friends and coworkers around them to assist them in this.

This is the third book in this series and I would recommend reading it in order because I think you will be happier if you do.  Characters from previous books are in this book so it will make those personal connections even better.

Content:  peril, violence, death.  Torture mentioned but not describe in great detail.  Kissing.  Christian elements.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.