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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza? by Andy V. Roamer (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love by Alice Winters
The Hitman’s Guide: The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love – Alice Winters
What happens when a snarky hitman and a by-the-book PI cross paths?
Leland
Being a hitman has its perks, but I never thought getting an accidental mooning by an attractive PI while he’s caught on a fence would be one of them. While it’s not exactly love at first sight, he’s captured my interest and won’t let go.Suddenly, I find myself caught in a game of cat and mouse, determined to attract the attention of Jackson, the PI who should be my enemy. He pretends like he’s not flattered by my flowers and the mentions of my totally-not-fictitious blow-up doll Randy (or was it Dandy?), but I know better. Why else would he be teaming up with me to bring down Hardek, one of the city’s most ruthless criminals?
Jackson
Even though the cops are telling me that the hitman is a notorious contract killer, I can’t help but admit that I’m drawn to him. He’s funny, charismatic, and attractive. There’s no way this ridiculous man can be the person the cops are after.But when Leland ends up at my doorstep injured, I’m faced with a tough choice. It’s my duty to hand him over to law enforcement, but my heart has other plans. I want to keep him. To protect him. To be with him.
Though one question remains: why in the world does the man have so many d*mn guns?
Contains: shenanigans on a swing that you would NOT find at a playground, a car chase that sadly doesn’t have flips or explosions, a horsey ride sans horse, cuddles, an exuberant mutt, a suspicious chief of police, and lots and lots of laughs.
Expect a whole lot of cray in Alice Winter’s hyperactive novel, The Hitman’s Guide to Making Friends and Finding Love. Like any mania, it’s all damn good fun but it could leave you exhausted too.
I had a great time reading about Leland and Jackson’s shenanigans but I could hardly keep up with Leland’s ADHD? Question mark because I’m not qualified to say if he has it or not. The man jumps from one outrageous idea to the next with lightning speed. He is serious about every single one of them. He makes them happened too!
I don’t know how he keeps sane while doing so (maybe he’s not) but Jackson lets himself be swept away by the force of nature that is Leland. At the same time, he keeps the hitman grounded. I think that is the beauty of their relationship. Their snark and banter were hilarious AF. Their polar opposite dynamics really made the book.
I loved how OTT everything is. There were indeed moments when things got a bit tiresome and repetitive but overall the author was able to deliver action-packed insanity wrapped around a sweet and tender romance.
This novel is my introduction to Alice Winters’ work and definitely not my last. Recommended if you like lovers from the opposite sides of the law, (kinda) enemies working for the same cause and fence jumping with varied levels of success.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Pretty Little Psycho
Artist: Porcelain Black
Album: Mannequin Factory -
NEW RELEASE BLITZ: The Ball Boy by Lucas Guard (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Jeff, Karma, and Me by Jere’ M. Fishback (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Pros & Cons of Desire by A.E. Wasp (Excerpt)
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REVIEW: The Mystery of Nevermore by C.S. Poe
Snow & Winter: The Mystery of Nevermore – C.S. Poe
It’s Christmas, and all antique dealer Sebastian Snow wants is for his business to make money and to save his floundering relationship with closeted CSU detective, Neil Millett. When Snow’s Antique Emporium is broken into and a heart is found under the floorboards, Sebastian can’t let the mystery rest.
He soon finds himself caught up in murder investigations that echo the macabre stories of Edgar Allan Poe. To make matters worse, Sebastian’s sleuthing is causing his relationship with Neil to crumble, while at the same time he’s falling hard for the lead detective on the case, Calvin Winter. Sebastian and Calvin must work together to unravel the mystery behind the killings, despite the mounting danger and sexual tension, before Sebastian becomes the next victim.
In the end, Sebastian only wants to get out of this mess alive, and live happily ever after with Calvin.
The Mystery of Nevermore is the first book of the cozy mystery series, Snow & Winter, featuring an antique dealer who is completely colorblind and a closeted police detective with PTSD.
There are many things here that shouldn’t have worked. There’s Sebastian cheating on a boyfriend he has not officially dumped. Yes it was cheating, Seb, even if your relationship has been circling the drain for a long time now. There’s also his million and one borderline annoying I-know-it’s-stupid-but-I’ll-do-it-anyway moments. Calvin sleeping with the person of interest even though he was the lead detective in an active case. Him discussing details of the case to said POI.
Despite all of these, the book was too engrossing for me to stay away, even with the cheating part. Sebastian was brave but also stupid and very, very exasperating but there was something about the way his POV was written and his dorkish personality that drew me in. I guess that’s why Calvin couldn’t stay away
A big factor as well was that the mystery threw me in for a loop. I put good money on Max, the shop assistant. I was so sure it was him but I was wrong, wrong, wrong.
However, I think the story could benefit from a dual POV. Sebastian going from POI to baby in a snap was enough to give me whiplash. I wanted to get inside Calvin’s head and see how he got from point A to point B. There’s also his hot/cold treatment of Seb and the closeted issue to deal with but I liked Cal because he willing to take steps in the right direction.
I wouldn’t say I loved this but I definitely liked this a lot. Even with the wonky bits, majority of the book worked well enough for me to look forward to the rest of the series. Do read if you are interested in an amateur sleuth who sees the world in shades of grey
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Cold Cold Man
Artist: Saint Motel
Album: My Type -
BLOG TOUR: Ice Gladiator by Genevive Chamblee (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: No Parking by Valentine Wheeler (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: IM by Rick R. Reed (Excerpt & Giveaway)
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REVIEW: Promises Part 2 by A.E. Via
The Bounty Hunters: Promises Part 2 by A.E. Via
Roman “Quick” Webb is one badass bounty hunter on the crime-filled streets of Atlanta. He’s fearless when it comes to carrying out his dangerous job alongside his longtime best friend and business partner, Duke. However, there is one thing that has begun to cause Quick concern and it’s the dreadful thought of living out the rest of his life alone. Seeing his best friend and his son fall in love and sharing the special connection that only true soulmates can, has made him all the more aware of what’s lacking in his life.
Love.
Dr. Cayson Chauncey has been wildly attracted to the big, tattooed hunter for almost a year, ever since he performed the surgery that saved Quick’s best friend’s life. Cayson must’ve mistaken Quick’s gratitude for something more, because the one time he tried to make his desires known, he was harshly rebuffed and left on the man’s doorstep feeling stupid for hitting on an obviously very straight man.
Cayson never dated a man who was willing to come out of hiding and be with him. Now at almost forty, Cayson is intent on no longer being anyone’s dirty secret. Having experienced countless disappointments, and having taken a stand not to fall for any more tricks, Cayson is more than a little skeptical when Quick comes around asking for a second chance to prove himself. The gorgeous man had already made it clear that he was not interested in Cayson… or so he’d thought.
Dr. Chauncey stirred up Quick’s suppressed, most carnal desires from a place deep down inside of him. He’d reacted so badly the first time that now his sexy surgeon wanted nothing to do with him. It was going to take a fair amount of patience and a whole lot of wooing involved as Quick sets out to convince Cayson that he’s worth another chance and that he is the brave lover who Cayson has been looking for.
With a scorned ex and a very dangerous job thrown into the mix, Cayson’s happiness and all of Quick’s promises may not be as easy to keep as they’d hoped.
Let’s make this quick.
Like many A.E. Via characters, I loved her bounty hunters, Duke, Bradford, Brian, Dana and of course, Quick. Dr. Chauncey was a sweet man who badly needed some love Quick was now willing to give.
However, I wasn’t very impressed with Quick’s neanderthal caveman attitude when it comes to dealing with Dr. Joe, Cayson’s psycho ex-friend-with-benefits. It was less protective alpha more juvenile, IMHO. Quick and Cayson’s courtship could have been enjoyable but it was overshadowed that bit.
A major highlight were the appearances from the notorious duo God and Day (Nothing Special). My favorite part here was the King brothers. I ended up slogging through this installment just to get to Brian’s book. I can’t wait to find out why he had PTSD so bad he couldn’t speak.
All in all, this didn’t really hold up. Skip if you can.
P.S.
Promises Part 1 review here
A.E. Via books hereRating:
2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn bookSoundtrack: Doctor! Doctor!
Artist: Thompson Twins
Album: Into The Gap
