booksandmeforevermore13's reviews
297 reviews

Okay, MM romance with Jacob Morgan AND Teddy Hamilton as the narrators??? How could I not pick up the audiobook? And I would highly recommend it because I had the best time. I need more audiobooks with these two narrating together.

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Narration: 5⭐️
Spice: 2.5🌶

Moving into a new home was the easy part. The difficult part is to get it furnished, and Tommaso would rather have his tooth pulled than go around shopping for new furniture when he didn't know the first thing about what he wanted his place to look like or what "welting" was supposed to mean. He comes across Carter, who is an interior designer while he's out shopping, who offers to help him out of this situation.

Being raised in the kind of environment he had, Tommaso had learned to bury his deepest feelings for the longest time to be able to fit in with his family. But years of being told that it was wrong to like men had instilled a fear in him of accepting that fact about himself, which is why his attraction to Carter throws him off balance. It was a long journey for him to admit things to himself first, then Carter, and finally his family and friends, and I loved watching that growth for him.

Carter is this close to losing his battle against his doom spiral after his boyfriend dumped him when their business went sideways, leaving him with a lot of debt and on the verge of being evicted. He'd reached a point where he felt like he couldn't trust his own instincts. So when Tommaso reaches out to hire him to do the interior work for his home, he grabs at this opportunity with both hands.

The romance between Tommaso and Carter built gradually. Carter was the calm to the chaos in Tommaso's mind. He had a lot going on, but talking to Carter and being in his presence grounded him and made him breathe easier. He also understood Tom's struggles and gave him the space and safety to open up about feelings he'd never voiced out before. Tommaso's confidence in Carter helped him regain some of the optimism and love for his work again after feeling lost and almost giving up on his dreams. I also liked how Tommaso was the first to admit his feelings and also apologized when he messed up, and he was ready to wait for Carter to take his time to figure out things before moving forward.

The way these two did sweet little things for each other was adorable. All that talk about "sportsing" and getting Tom's opinions for the interior made me smile a lot. The way Carter did silly things to cheer Tom up after a rough match and how thoughtful Tom was of Carter and his friends too was so freaking sweet.

There was a lot of self-reflection for both characters, as individuals and as they navigated their relationship, and I liked that they communicated and took their time to be sure of their feelings.

The spice was good without it being overwhelming. It was kind of a slow burn with them testing the boundaries and exploring. Getting intimate with a man went against everything Tom had convinced himself of wanting for years, so being with Carter finally felt freeing, and he was able to understand the hype around sex. I liked that he was finally able to experience intimacy with a partner he actually wanted.

I also loved how Tom's teammates were supportive of him and the LGBTQIA+ community and weren't ashamed to show it.

I liked the conversation Tom had with his ex-wife, which was a closure he needed to put his past behind and embrace his sexuality without being drowned in guilt and regrets.

The -0.5 is because I wanted a confrontation between Tommaso and his uncle. After tormenting him all his life, I wanted there to be that moment between them that felt like a closure for Tommaso. And I wanted more interaction between Carter and his family. I wanted to know more about his family, to understand their dynamics, and for Carter to introduce Tom to them too.

I listened to the audiobook, with Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton as narrators in dual narration. So I most definitely enjoyed and recommend the audiobook since these two are some of my favorite narrators.

Growing up with addicts and then the circumstances that led to him being sent to foster care had scarred Colton deeper than he'd ever let on. His brothers knew, but he much preferred never thinking about it. Now all he wanted was to do right by his daughter and give her the best life he could. He feels like he's tainted by all that he's seen and lived through to ever be with someone who is so free and vibrant as Macy.

Macy is Colton Fury's office assistant manager. Moving to New Orleans wasn't something she'd planned on, but losing her mother and then being in a difficult situation with her last boyfriend had been the push she needed to finally start over. I loved her character and how funny, adorable, strong, sweet, loyal, and protective she was. She loved teasing Colt and had the sweetest relationship with his daughter Daisy.

The romance between Colton and Macy had been a long time coming. I loved their dynamics and how her sunshine personality balanced out his grumpy one. The origami bears she made for him made me smile. The way she was so unbothered by his gruff exterior, even though he was a bounty hunter and dangerous in general. I found that super funny. Colton tried to keep his distance from her due to his own past and insecurities, so there was some push and pull, which only added to their angst. But things fall into perspective for him when someone starts targeting Macy, and things really start building between them from that point.

The back and forth and Colt's conflicting feelings added a lot to the sexual tension between them, which made the spice that much better.

The suspense blended really well with the romance and kept me hooked till the end. I liked that the characters don't just chalk up things to being a coincidence and actually use their brains to connect the dots. Things got really intense towards the end, and Macy didn't just wait around; she took charge and did what needed to be done for Colt's sake, which I loved. 

This is one thing I'm loving in Anna Hackett's books: that the FMCs take charge and aren't just damsels in distress who wait to be saved. Yes, the men do save them and have the whole "touch her and die" thing going, but the women are just as fierce and never give in.

Again, the Fury brothers always have each other's backs, and I love the family bond between them. The way they wanted to spend time together and plan family dinners was precious. They all worked together to help Colton and Macy out, no questions asked. I also loved the way Beau and Kavner kept teasing Colt about his crush on Macy. He definitely did not last even three days before giving in, and I was cackling at that turn of events.

Book: 4.5⭐️
Narration: ♾️⭐️
Spice: 3.5🌶

Can I tell you something?
Tell me anything and everything, and don't everrr stop.

Okay, I will absolutely, 100% recommend the audiobook for this one. It enhances the entire experience, and you'll love it. Adam Gold and Evelyn Rose were both phenomenal. Also, this is a duet narration, which I always love.

Cameron was a total snack and so thoughtful, sweet, sexy, and charming. He was attracted to Hannah from the moment he met her, but it grew when he found out that she knew about his erotic audio channel and followed him. I loved the way he teased her after he found out her secret but also was mindful of not making her feel awkward. I also loved the way he bonded with Ryan's parents and felt a belonging with them. Every time Cameron said, "Can I tell you something?" in that voice… oh God, I was a puddle on the floor.

Hannah is eager to get to her family's chalet to spend Christmas with them. After the way she'd been cheated on by two of her ex-boyfriends, it had taken a toll on her mentally and emotionally and had deeply affected her confidence too. The only man she has in her life is the audio erotica star Mac'n'please. So when her brother Ryan turns up to their chalet along with his best friend Cameron, who happens to be the very man she's been obsessing over, she feels flustered and cornered.

It takes a while for Hannah to admit to Cameron that she knows him, but once she does, she feels more relaxed and herself with him. Being with him also helped her come out of her shell sexually in a way she hadn't felt comfortable with before. I loved watching her be more confident and ask for what she wanted without feeling uncertain.

The romance was so sweet and tender between them as they slowly started getting to know each other in real life. Watching them trying to sneak around to find whatever alone time they could while being in the presence of Hannah's family was cute too. Cameron felt like Hannah saw the real him and not just the voice artist that people saw and wanted to claim. She put in the effort to teach him things, take care of him, and know more about him. For Hannah, who didn't want to fall for the wrong guy again while dealing with the insecurities of being cheated on, Cameron made his feelings very clear from the start and was always honest and direct with her.

The little bits of Mac'n'please we got at the start of the chapters were an amazing addition, and I was sooooo here for it.

I adored the Richmond family and how much they loved each other and looked forward to spending time together. The traditions in their family were so endearing and heartwarming—the father-daughter shopping spree, family puzzle night, the endless feasts, the fights over candies, the book gift exchanges, the skiing, the sledging, and everything else. Hannah's parents were so open, loving, and supportive, and it was so sweet to see them welcome Cameron into their fold so easily.

The spice??? Where do I even begin?? The audiobook was top-notch, and Adam Gold as Cameron was BEYOND perfect. Oh god, this man, his voice, the narration. Adam has done such a splendid job with the narration, with his accents and variations for different characters, which were easy to distinguish. AND the spicy scenes. HOLY FUCK!!! That was something else altogether. The smut was mind-blowing, and I had to stop everything I was doing because I couldn't concentrate to save my life. I really, reallyyyyy need Adam Gold to narrate a lot more romance novels.

I do wish we'd gotten a bit more into Hannah's need to work herself to the bone and why she felt like she had to always win. The winning thing was just an instance, but there was a remark she made there that kind of felt like more and also had some connection to her workaholic nature. I also wish Hannah didn't fumble so much around Cam and had more thoughts other than being horny for him.

The audiobook was really good. I think this is the first time I've heard Aiden Snow, and he was brilliant as Dante, and his voice fit the character perfectly. Erin Mallon was amazing as always, and I loved her as Mila. Would recommend the audiobook.

Dante Fury had clawed his way up to where he was today. Going through what he had growing up, being abused by his father and abandoned by his mother, then being in foster care, was truly terrible. He still carried those scars but was still grateful because that journey led him to his brothers—Colton, Kavner, Reath, and Beau. Now he wants to focus on running his club and keeping his people safe. 

After losing her family so tragically and then being betrayed by those she trusted, Mila wanted to hold on to her secrets and control. Trusting others was not an option for her, and the only person she could count on was herself. It was painful what she had gone through, all that she'd lost and given up. I loved that she took up self-defense classes to be better prepared if the people chasing her caught up.

Mila took a while to open up to Dante due to her need to stay in control of her life while also fearing for his life if people came for him because of her. But she eventually does, and Dante helps her feel safe, cherished, and protected. For Dante, who'd been abandoned and thought of very little for all his life, he never expected someone to see him, love him, and choose him. But Mila saw him for the person he was and not his wealth and status or as someone to go to for a good time. 

The romance seemed a little too instant for me. Like things progressed too quickly from him being her boss to being her fake boyfriend to her real boyfriend. I still enjoyed it, and I liked Dante and Mila together. The book was short, and there was the plot revolving around people hunting Mila, so it made sense too, but I just wish the transition had been more gradual so it felt more believable. I did enjoy the banter between them and how bossy Dante was and how Mila teased him for it. The spice was good, and it was just the right amount for the book.

This book was fast-paced, and the romance and suspense went together well. I loved how Mila didn't back down when the time came and fought her way out of the situation. However, it was a little unrealistic in my opinion, given how she'd only been taking self-defense classes for like 3 months and managed to take down like 3-4 men who were criminals. So yeah, certain parts were unrealistic, but I still had a good time listening to it.

Loved the Fury brothers, who aren't related by blood, but their bond is something that's much deeper. Honestly, I can't pick just one because they're all so amazing, and I loved how involved they all were in this book.

This was a very enthralling read and differed from the other vampire books I've read recently, which I loved. There was so much drama, action, betrayal, plotting, and scheming, and I was hooked.

Tatyana was really smart, determined, and strong-willed. Even knowing things could go either way, she still chose to gamble when it came to striking a deal with Oleg, and it paid off. She was always careful, and she delivered on her promises. Her attraction to Oleg was gradual, and while she was wary of him from the first moment, she became even more mindful once she found out about his true nature. But I liked that she didn't cower or back down even after she found out the truth. I also loved that she didn't wait around for others to save her, but she did everything she could to save herself.

I liked getting an understanding of Tatyana's relationship with the people in her life, although there were very few, but she knew she could count on them. Her relationship with her mother was complicated and not the best given her mother's struggles, but I still loved how her mother always came through and was the rock Tatyana needed while facing any uncertainties. They were a good team despite everything.

I was captivated by Oleg from that first page, and I only grew to like him more as the book progressed. He's a puzzle, and there's still so much left to learn about him, which I can't wait to get to. His interest in Tatyana was evident from the start, even when he tried to convince himself that it was only to get to Zara. But he was there for Tatyana every step of the way, always protecting her and unable to keep away from her even when he knew he should. I also enjoyed learning about his relationships with the different people in his life—his former mate, his daughter, his <i>Druzhina</i>, his employees, and obviously Tatyana. I also liked seeing his feral side come out, and watching him annihilate people to keep Tatyana safe was amazing.

The world-building was really interesting as the author blends a fantasy world along with our real world by creating some new cities and territories, which honestly made me understand and relate to this world better. The made-up parts were intriguing, and I loved discovering the new places and how they were detailed. The way book one ended, I'm waiting to see more of this world-building that will be continuing.

The book had so much going on, and it was riveting. I loved learning all about the vampires, the treaties, the rules, how their kind operates with each other and the humans. I liked the way the elements of nature were a part of the vampires, each one taking to a different element that defined their abilities.

The romance was a slow burn with everything else that was going on, and while they did get together, book one ends on a cliffhanger, and they still have a lot of navigating to do to figure out where they go from here. There are a lot of possibilities, so I'm waiting to see what happens next. The spice was good, though, and I enjoyed their chemistry and all the tension between them.

I loved Elene's character a lot and how she ran everything so effortlessly. She knew just what needed to be done, and there was no one—human or vampire—that could deter her.

I liked the side characters, and it took a while to get a hang of them, but they all added a lot to the plot, and I liked seeing their bonds with both Oleg and Tatyana. I'm hoping to see them in the next book and have more interactions with these two. 

The book ended in such an interesting way, and I'm so eager to find out what will happen next. Again, the possibilities seem endless at this point, and I don't know what trajectory their journey will take. I get why Tatyana did what she did, and I respect and admire her strength for pulling off everything given all the chaos and heightened emotions.

Thank you to Elizabeth Hunter and Valentine PR for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mia's ex is stalking her, and when things get too serious, she decides to leave town for a while and wait for things to cool down. Her friend Layla offers her a place to stay with her brother Eric.

Eric reluctantly agrees to this situation but is wary of Mia because he doesn't trust anyone after his past experience. With time the two get into a routine of sorts and slowly start opening up to each other. When Eric finds out about her situation with her ex, he vows to protect her and keep her safe.

I liked Mia. She was the kind of person who was always there for everyone she cared for without asking for anything in return. After growing up with 3 brothers and feeling invisible all her life when the limelight was on them, all she wanted was for someone to see her for her, choose her, and fight for her.

Eric has major trust issues with the way his last relationship ended and the emotional abuse he suffered, which deeply impacted him. He wanted nothing to do with relationships or love. It also led to him tying his self-worth to his job and climbing the ladder by working himself to the bone even if he wasn't too thrilled about it.

As Mia and Eric fall into a routine while she stays at his place, he slowly starts feeling a sense of ease and comfort with her, which allows him to open up in a way he never has with anyone. The dinners together, watching movies, and talking late into the night lead to a growing sense of attraction, but it also feels like more. I liked how Mia took care of Eric when he was hurt and how refreshing that was for him for someone he barely knew to do so much for him for nothing in return. The spice was good, and there was back and forth with all the blurring lines, but it was definitely hot.

I loved how Mia bonded with Eric's family so easily and felt a sense of belonging with them. They were all so supportive and protective of her, which was sweet. I also liked how they all called Eric out when he screwed up and gave him the push to get his head out of his ass.


On to the things that I didn't enjoy so much (please avoid if you plan on reading this+minor spoilers):

The "stalker" situation seemed to fizzle out in a very anticlimactic way. How was Don not arrested after what went down? Her family was wealthy and had the connections, so how was he not in jail after that B&E???? And how was it that her FOUR brothers couldn't intimidate him enough to stay away from Mia, but one visit and 2 punches later from Eric, and he promised to stop??????

Where was the groveling? The third act conflict went on for far too long in my opinion, and I wasn't too happy with how it was resolved because I was still pissed at Eric for being such an asshole. Doing a calendar photo shoot is not how you win a woman back after hurting her the way you did. Also, things got resolved too quickly towards the end for how long it was dragged out.

I actually liked these two together and how their relationship grew up until the third act conflict. That is what ruined this book for me. I had to skim through the last few pages because I was pissed and honestly couldn't care less if they got together or not. I would prefer if they didn't.

Can women in books PLEASEEEEEE, for the love of God, not go back to shitty, emotionally unavailable men who hurt you as soon as they say sorry once??? The fact that she was so desperate that SHE apologized to HIM while he was groveling for not accepting him back the second he apologized. I mean, she had a valid reason because she wasn't sure about his feelings with the way he so easily dismissed her and didn't reach out for WEEKS. The way she starts doubting herself when he doesn't reach out and contemplates reaching out herself and even shortly considers being happy with whatever he was willing to give her. Like NOOO!!!!!! Why can't we get stronger women who are independent and capable and don't take men's bullshit and make them work for it?

Also, his temper tantrums were not a good look, and I didn't like it. It felt borderline abusive how he twisted her words and concerns just because he had trauma from his past. I was not happy with the way he used to snap at her whenever she tried to address his issues only so she could help him. The audacity of him saying she was trying to force him to make changes in his career after knowing him less than two months when, in fact, she was the ONLY person who had ever understood his passion and saw how good he was at it and believed in him to be successful. So fuck you, Eric, and Go. To. Fucking. Therapy.

Thank you to Nicole Baker for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, I don't know about this being a romantic comedy, which is mentioned in the blurb. Both characters are dealing with trauma, as were the kids who were reeling from the recent loss in their lives, and they were all just trying to find their footing again.

I wish Jay and Gabrielle had just tried and established some sort of friendship first rather than the forced attraction. For Gabrielle, she was attracted from the first moment, and she made it very clear, which seemed too insta-lusty for me. She kept trying to push him to act on his feelings even if he was reluctant. I didn't like that. She could've just accepted and respected that he's got baggage and doesn't want to act on it even if he's attracted to her.

Everything between Gabrielle and Jay felt surface level till the 50% mark. They'd barely had any conversation. And any conversation they do have ends with Jay running away. I understood why he was that way once he opened up about his past and what he experienced was truly terrible. I did like their relationship after they actually acted on their feelings and got together. The late-night conversations, banter, dates, and thoughtful gestures were all so very cute, and I absolutely loved it. This is when we got to see a different side of Jay. One that was happier and sweeter, who started opening up more and started being more vulnerable.

Jay was someone I liked even if his actions gave me a whiplash. But once I learned the reason for his reluctance, it made sense. He was drawn to Gabrielle and her kids from the start, but he did his best to keep his distance. But watching her and her kids struggle after such a loss and trying again made him want to reach out and help, which he does. He was really sweet, considerate, understanding, and careful. Although his love for her kids wasn't exactly clear on-page. It was more tell than show. He didn't even interact with her kids all that much for him to want them too.

Gabrielle was an okay character for me. She kept going on and on about how she'd been feeling stuck and like she'd stopped living her own life after her ex passed away and how she wants to feel like herself and have fun and live again. But she doesn't even really work on it. She just has girls nights with her friends who are across the street, goes to the bar once, anddddd..... that's it.

I wish Gabrielle had focused more time and energy on her kids (who actually needed her) and what they were dealing with than on her lust-fueled feelings for Jay. Especially with the move to the small town where they knew no one and were sort of struggling to settle in while also grieving the loss of their father. I feel like that topic needed more focus, which it wasn't given, and it felt more like an afterthought.

Dylan was clearly struggling the most, and I wish his struggles were focused on more and there were more conversations had to understand what he was going through and address them instead of letting him get away with his behavior. She should've put him in therapy knowing it'd help even if he didn't want it. You're the parent; you know better how effective therapy would be for him to let go of all the built-up emotions in the right way. I wish Gabrielle had actually made her kids mental health a priority on-page like she kept saying it was.

Carter wasn't even bothered with the loss of his father. He didn't even mention him or his relationship with his father, and he was just happy with his basketball and baseball, gaming, and chatting with Jay, so we don't know any of his thoughts regarding his grief. I get that he was seven, but to be that unaffected just didn't seem believable.

I wish there was a gradual shift in Jay's relationship with both kids, and we got to see how he bonded with each kid in their own way. I wanted Dylan to lean on Jay to slowly talk about the things bothering him if he couldn't open up to his mom. I did like the conversation that eventually happened between Jay and Dylan and how Jay handled it. It was such a sweet and raw moment for both of them. I just wish it had happened much sooner in the book so the ending didn't feel so rushed and we got a chance to see more of this change in their relationship.

I also wanted a little more insight into her relationship with her ex-husband. I didn't know much, and I needed more answers since they apparently fell out of love and amicably split and still remained best friends and co-parented. There was just nothing more to understand about her life before returning to Alden; she seems to have no connections to people from the city—friends, her ex's family, work, or anything.

Also, I'm all for fierce, capable, independent women. Hell, I've been raised to be one. So the way Gabrielle tried to act all independent, trying to fix shit in her house but only ending up causing more mess, was embarrassing. I mean, it's okay to try, but if every trial is a failure and you don't even bother researching how things need to be done, it's plain stupid. It's not quirky or cute in any way. And you're 38; act your age. She could've hired someone to do it after how many times everyone around her said how bad she was at the projects she took up and ended up botching the job or getting hurt, so watching her randomly trying to fix shit around her home and screwing up every single time was so fucking annoying. It doesn't scream capable or independent; it screams irresponsible and idiotic.

The book felt like it was stagnant towards the middle, and it was just random back and forth that didn't keep me hooked, and I found myself spacing out multiple times.

I liked the girl gang, especially Della. They were the highlight of the book, and I enjoyed how different they all were from each other but just fit.

Thank you to Adriana Locke, NetGalley, and Valentine PR for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lorenzo 'Ren' Santoro has retired from the military and now spends his time on his ship, away from the world and specifically a certain woman who is off-limits. Said woman being his best friend and mentor, Tom Bradshaw's daughter—Halle Bradshaw. When he agrees to help a research team to test out a top-secret Navy project on his ship as a favor for his best friend, he doesn't expect to find Halle as one of the team members joining him, especially after he'd spent the last 3 years trying to avoid being anywhere near her after the kiss they'd shared.

But someone on the ship is trying to get a hold of the highly classified project, and Ren and Halle aren't sure if the culprit is from her team or his. They can only trust each other right now while they try to figure out who is behind it all. With the threat of the secret project falling into the wrong hands, they escape to figure out a way to get it to safety while also finding the mole.

Being a troubled teenager with a knack for getting into messy situations, Lorenzo's life would've taken a very different turn if it hadn't been for his mentor and later best friend, Tom Bradshaw, who guided him in the right direction. The direction was joining the military as a Navy SEAL. Which is why he can't consider anything with Halle, no matter how right things feel. And he tries denying his feelings for a long time, even going so far as limiting his visits with Tom. But when Halle becomes a target, Ren is ready to go to any extreme to keep her safe.

Halle knew what she wanted, and she wanted Lorenzo. She made this abundantly clear to him, and I loved how direct and honest she was. She was persistent with Ren about giving their relationship a chance and wanting him no matter how many times he tried to give her all the reasons he shouldn't want her. She didn't let him hide behind his excuses, and eventually he came around. I liked how she constantly reassured him and made him see that she only had eyes for him.

There was some push and pull from Lorenzo's side given his conflicting feelings about Halle being his best friend's daughter and much younger than him. He struggles with the feeling of betraying the man who'd saved his life. He also doesn't want to taint her life with all his darkness and baggage or for her to see the kind of things he's done. But as they fight off the men after them while trying to get to safety, Halle embraces every side of him. She makes him see just how safe and protected she feels because of him. She helps him realize that he deserves more for himself after all that he's gone through and that he deserves to live his life after surviving everything he had in the military. She's so gentle and patient yet firm with him, which I loved.

The action was amazing in this book, and Lorenzo fighting all the men coming after Halle was honestly so hot. He was a predator, and the way he took them all out was incredible. What I loved even more is how Halle helps him out through it all. She doesn't just hide or sit idle, but she fights with him to the best of her ability.

The spice was good, especially with the little slow build-up between them and due to their history. I also liked that the spice doesn't take away from the plot or overwhelm it.

LOVED Sawyer's entry when it happened and the way it happened. I was like YESSSS!! So obviously I'm super excited for his book next.

Shepherd 'Shep' Barlow is done with his military life and now wants to spend his life in solitude in his mountain, away from people. But when Hayden Sinclair—the daughter of the President of the United States—is taken while working on a job site in Nicaragua, his former commander reaches out to him to send him on a rescue mission to save her before she gets handed over to the highest bidder to be used as leverage against their nation.

Shep and Hayden are now on the run, trying to find a way out of the jungle and to safety. Every turn seems like a dead end, and the people hunting Hayden are too close for comfort. Shep has too many demons from his past that still haunt him to ever consider being with someone, and Hayden has seen her fair share of liars and betrayals to let her guard down for anyone, but as the two try to find their way out of this perilous situation, they start forming a connection that neither was expecting.

Hayden had found it difficult to trust anyone in her life when all most people wanted from her was a way to get to her father. The latest in this long line of people was her ex-boyfriend. Now she'd vowed to stay away from anything resembling a relationship, focusing instead on her work as an archaeologist. But as she spends more time with Shep, she starts appreciating his no-nonsense and straightforward attitude. He was always honest with her without downplaying or sugarcoating anything, trusting her capabilities, and doing whatever it took to keep her safe every step of the way.

After the way he lost his sister and feeling responsible for not reaching to save his men on time during his last mission with the Ghost Ops, Shep had chosen to keep to himself in the mountains. He felt undeserving of having someone in his life while also fearing that he'd let them down or worse—lose them. He had seen and done a lot during his time in the military, which he also didn't want to burden anyone with. However, he had a lot of self-reflection the more he got involved with Hayden. Being with her made him feel like he could want more for himself for once, and he slowly came to the realization that the people he'd lost in his life would want him to move forward and truly live his life instead of merely existing.

The situation between Shep and Hayden starts off with them giving in and acting on their attraction with all the chaos and uncertainty they were dealing with. But as the story progresses, Hayden's trust in Shep shifts from him just being there to rescue her on her father's orders to something deeper. With everything else feeling out of their control and unsure, the only thing Hayden seems to be sure of is Shep.

Like book one, this was packed with so much action that I couldn't put it down. I finished this in one sitting, and I loved it so much. It was so intense, and every near escape had me at the edge of my seat. It was so much fun.

What I'm liking in this series is how the women aren't damsels in distress but do what needs to be done to survive. Hayden worked with Shep as a partner and formulated their plan of escape, also taking charge when needed. The situations were really stressful, but they worked together well to come out of it.

The spice was really good, and I enjoyed the way Hayden took control and pushed Shep when he was too conflicted. It was exactly the push he needed, and they were great together.

Lorenzo is an interesting character, and the hints I got from this book about his story have my interest piqued.