Sacred by S.L. Scott

SYNOPSIS

The war was waged. The king got his queen, but where did that leave me? 

When I thought there was no hope, that suffering this lonely life was my destiny, I saw her. The bubblegum pink skirt caught my attention, but her doe eyes captured my heart. Could she be my SAVIOR?

With her, I don’t have to hide the demons that haunt me, or to relive my darkest days alone. 

With me, she’s free to be whoever she wants to be. She’s amazing.

Together, we’re two people clinging to a ray of sunshine that only the other can see.

I let my guard down. I got too comfortable. I thought the war had been won when, in reality, it had just begun. When old debts accrue, past demons return to collect their dues. 

To find the SOLACE these young lovers crave, will they have to sacrifice the one thing they hold most SACRED?

From New York Times bestselling author, S.L. SCOTT, comes a new, emotionally driven, romantic suspense standalone. 

 

After reading the Kingwood Duet & Solace, I was happily surprised for more from S.L. Scott with Cruise’s story & she has delivered!  Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend that you read her The Kingwood Duet before Sacred – Cruise is a supporting character in the duet, & reading it will provide important background & ease you into Sacred.  See my 5 star reviews for The Kingwood Duet ~ Savage & Savior! 

 

Sacred, told in first person, from dual perspectives is a steady read that will have you hooked from the start.  Cruise is a rich kid with a dark past he can't seem to escape & Clara is the innocent girl next door type with secrets of her own. Can Cruise be her safe haven, can she pull him from the darkness into her light?  “…his dark melds into mine and together we become a lighter shade of gray.”

 

In this dark romantic suspense, emotions run deep with a story line that includes the very real effects of adoption, domestic & sexual abuse & the fight for survival. “I’ve experienced stuff I don’t want to talk about. Things that threaten to bury me daily.”  These characters are brought together by fate to meet their secrets & demons head on. “Lost. I’m lost to the demons that haunt me.” With flashbacks & twists from the start, in the end all is revealed.  So sexy “…together we like a little dirty with the love we make.” & romantic.  With strong bonds of friends who are “…more my family than my actual family ever has been.” & families that are broken.  A story of love, survival, & overcoming life-altering tragedies that threaten to consume, only to make you stronger if you let them.  “His rough to my soft. I wonder if that’s how we’ll always be. If two shattered souls are better apart or together.

 

For me, this was the best of the Kingwood Duet spin-off’s as of yet.  The instant mutual connection between these characters is palpable.  I love the easy soul baring banter.  Clara’s quirkiness & Cruise’s honest, protective nature.  Adored from start to finish, loved the ending & how everything comes full circle.  Another epic love story from S.L. & I look forward to her next. 

 

“We survive. We live. We love.” “Irrevocably.”

 

“Life is sacred.”

 

 ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

Amazon US/UK

#1 Player by T. Gephart

 

BLURB

Lila Callan had an unconventional upbringing—unavoidable when your mother owns a brothel. But while she’d inherited some of her parents’ ‘wacky and offbeat’, she was also strong, independent and incredibly intelligent. The fact she was tall, beautiful and blond was a bonus she never really cared to exploit. She wasn’t uptight; it’s just that long term was more her thing, with zero interest in one-night stands.

Until she met Ryan York and then she isn’t so sure.

Blindingly good looking.
Insane body.
Infectious sense of humor.
And charm for days.
Ryan York was movie star material.
Except that he wasn’t.

He’d turned his back on the idea of hitting the big time, more content with being Eric Larsson’s—his best friend who was a movie star—right-hand man. Despite his laid-back persona, he was a guy who could get stuff done. And women lined up to be done by Ryan. He did not have a problem with that. Not. At. All.

Except his magical panty dropping powers didn’t seem to extend to the lovely Lila. And she wasn’t sure if she was going to teach the #1 player a new game, or find one herself.

One way or another, they were both getting naked.

MY REVIEW

#1 Player by T. Gephart is a very sexy, very funny, contemporary romance you’d have to be crazy not to enjoy.  Written in first person, this page turner will not disappoint.  With witty, sexy & hilarious inner dialogue “…it had been so long since I’d had real sex it was possible I regained my virginity.”  That matches the banter between characters & makes you look forward to what will be said next!  Lila is a woman who is just coming into her own in her career, the kind of girl we all can relate to “There was only so much joy I was capable of before ten a.m. and I was currently maxed out.”  While Ryan – oh Ryan, “…hand on heart, he was legitimately the most attractive man I’d ever seen.”, a man who is loyal & confident.  The chemistry is “nothing short of smoldering sexy—“  A true friends to lovers story that will have you entrenched in flirty sexual innuendo & angst as these characters put “…the ability to have sex and not get emotionally attached…”to the test.

I loved the honesty between these characters & the ways they meshed so perfectly as friends – as the reader I was desperate for them not to mess it up!  Have I mentioned how sarcastic & funny this book is – couldn’t get enough! The supporting characters of family, friends – “loyal and fearless” & Dick add so perfectly to this well written & very enjoyable read. 

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon US/UK 

The Final Fight by JB Salsbury

 

BLURB

 

When life brings you the perfect person at the worst possible time…

On a weekend visit to Las Vegas to visit his brother, Marine Braeden Daniels meets a woman who challenges him in ways he can’t deny. The best part is she wants what he wants.

No strings. No feelings. Just fun.

AJ is a Las Vegas performer who is finally living her dream. Growing up poor, she’s determined to succeed at any cost. No one will stand in her way—not even a hot Marine who breezes into her life all confidence and a cocky smile.

A few stolen weekends and neither can deny the feelings quickly growing between them. But the obstacles that keep them apart become more devastating when the Marine Corps calls Braeden away for a six-month deployment.

It’s only six months.

What could possibly happen?

 

My Review

The Final Fight is just that, the final book in JB Salsbury’s Fighting series.  Although this story can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series – 1. Because it’s amazing & 2. Because of the cross over characters throughout the story.

Told in first person, from dual perspectives, this military romance will take you from laughing, to teared up, with heartache, gut wrenching moments, all the way to utterly encouraging you to do more than you ever thought possible in this life.  “…sexy and sweet and funny…”  What starts as a friends with benefits relationship between two people who are career focused & simply don’t have time for more. “He’s married to the military for God knows how long. And I will never give up my dreams of becoming a Las Vegas superstar.”  with a “…palpable chemistry…”, between them that is nothing short of hot “Edgy and sexy.”, “What started off as purely animalistic turned into something sweet.”.  With a love triangle that “…makes my heart revolt.”  Quickly becomes a story of hero’s, that will have you “…overwhelmed with emotion. Helpless to stop it.”  Intense emotion, tragedy, loss & deciding if there’s a way back from it all.  “Emotions war with my vulnerability and all the unanswered questions about my future.”    A story of love, family, broken dreams, fearlessness & surviving in a world that so often tests the limits of the human body, heart & spirit.  “We’re gonna fight our way through this because we know no other way. And we’re gonna do it together.”

This is the perfect finish to the Fighting series, I simply could not have asked for anything more.  I loved it from page one.  Everything from the witty-sarcastic-funny dialogue, to the super sexy romance, the bond of a family I’ve come to know & love throughout the series, all the way to the intense gut wrenching end.  I thought it was great how JB managed to close the loop on all the characters stories we’ve read about from the first book through the last.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

“Fighters supporting fighters…”

 Thank you JB, so looking forward for what you have for us next…

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

AMAZON US/UK

Sweet Talk - Audiobook: by S.L. Scott

BLURB

Everything you’ve heard about modeling is true, and you haven’t heard the half of it.

It’s glamorous.

It’s sexy.

And yes, the line between work and reality often blurs.

We’re not just prototypes of perfection. Models have feelings and desires, too. We may be genetically gifted, but we’re still human.

I’m only human. Yes, an extraordinary specimen that earns more in a day than most make in a year, but this eight pack didn’t create itself. I spend hours working on this body. The good looks just come natural. *Winks* Thanks, Mom and Dad.

I’m Danny Weston, Supermodel.

But one path was traded for another when I chose this career. Ten years later, I would trade my career to have it back. To have her back.

Reese Carmichael is the one woman I would give it all up for, and the only one I can’t have. Yet.

MY REVIEW

Sweet Talk is a sexy second-chance romance comedy standalone.  The story of college sweet hearts who are torn apart by dreams for success & misunderstandings.  Supermodel Danny, while grounded & realistic about his career, he’s never stopped feeling the void his college girlfriend left.  Reese, buried herself in an advertising career to distract herself from the love of her life she was driven away from by a jealousy she didn’t fully understand.  Ten years have passed & their paths cross once again, but will they be able to pushback priorities to make room for each other – they learned years ago that “Not all fairytales end with happily ever after”.

 

Told in first person, from dual perspectives, with a few flash backs, this second-chance romance has a deep love that feels like home & is full of hope of new beginnings – that they will have a tomorrow, finally together & “Ready for our forever.”  But they have to fight for happiness together, the struggle to put their relationship first continues to be real.  Very sexy, “full sizzle” hot - with intent to “make you miss me when I’m not here…”  Fun supporting characters that made me giggle “Oh my Mary, Candy girl…”.  Includes a serious twist of addiction, personal vendettas & potential severe consequences for careers & hearts – “Paying the price for making a deal with the devil.”

 

“What was once hollow is now overflowing with feelings, happiness, love, peace.”

 

This audiobook review is given without having read the book previously.  I love S.L.’s work & wanted very much to enjoy the audio version of this story, but it was a struggle.  I felt that the delivery of dialogue by the narrators did not flow well.  Many mechanical feeling & wrongly timed pauses, for me there was a sense that statements ended with question marks.  As the story progressed, these things seemed to either improve, or maybe I just got used to them – perhaps a combination of both.  It was difficult to identify shift from present to flashbacks.  Did I mention the handful of mispronunciations?  I’ve listened to many, many audiobooks & this one took almost a week to get through – which for me is unheard of. 


A good story in spite of the disappointing audiobook - 4 stars for the story & 3 stars for the performance, brought this audiobook to 3.5 stars from me. “It’s too much and not enough.”    

 

 Audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

AMAZON US/UK

The Consort (The Ascension Series Book #3) by K.A. Linde

BLURB

After the loss of a friend and false imprisonment in an Eleysian dungeon, Cyrene has no interest in destiny. Her heart was shattered, friends scattered, and her home is nothing but a pretty illusion. Even her magic won’t cooperate. When all seems lost, she turns to the one person she never thought that she would trust:

Prince Kael.

His darkness mirrors a growing force lurking within her. A struggle she never imagined threatens to consume her. And as friends and foes begin to show their true colors, she starts questioning whether anyone is who they seem. Even herself.

 

The Consort is book three of K.A. Linde's The Ascension Series.  Far from a standalone, you will need to read the first two books before diving into this epic tale.  Follow this heroine after my own heart…”It smelled like fresh parchment and ink, and Cyrene loved the place on sight. It was like stepping into the library, knowing the worlds she could venture into were limitless.”  And this is a series of limitless worlds…

Told in third person from multiple points of view, the dialogue flows remarkably well in spite of the complexity of the story line & movement from one characters perspective to the next.  Expect multiple journeys, taking you to “…worlds beyond our own,”.  Characters are pushed to the brink & face unrelenting obstacles between dark & light, good & evil.  “Broken and hopeless and never able to be put back together.”  So many defining moments “You choose your destiny.”.  The introduction of new twists, new allies, friends & foes, along with unexpected reunions.  Love triangles leaving you torn between who should be with whom. “I do love her. Desperately, unequivocally, maddeningly so…”  “He could never have enough of this woman. Not ever.”  Betrayal upon betrayal & oh my gosh, SO MUCH DEATH – take care who you get attached to!  One step closer to revealing the truth & uncertain futures.  An epic tale, be prepared for a dedication of time to this lengthy read that will leave you ready for more!  “Time was a wily beast. It stole. It destroyed. It healed.”

So well written, I love the way Linde works in mini recaps to refresh our memories regarding important background.    I love the truly fierce friendships that have been developing throughout the series.  And how the characters themselves have grown into their own – “…you can make your own destiny. Your life is not predetermined.”  I’m simply addicted to this world of magic, power & love… “A love story that broke the world,” 

“In times of hardship, the world needs a dreamer with their gaze cast to the stars to right the wrongs of this limited existence.”

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

AMAZON US/UK