nikkisbooknook's reviews
4797 reviews

Kyran is less bad boy/good man and more reformed teenage rebel into hard-working business owner.  But his small town sheriff just can't rid himself of the image of Kyran as that rebellious teen and is out to drop anything he can on his head.

Thankfully his remote home does have a neighbour in the shape of Lucie.  She is the local yoga instructor and can thankfully confirm his whereabouts when the Sheriff wants to hang a theft on him. Isn't it lucky that the victim is his nephew?!?!!?

This opposites attract, small town neighbours to lovers romance is yummy.  There is plenty of smexy times and the mystery of who is causing the problems for Kyran is resolved in satisfactory fashion.  It's a shorter romance but still a great read.

I was really happy that Lucie saw past Kyran's teenage misdemeanours to the fabulously hard working and loving man he is.  

Oh those Fury brothers serve up hot, spicy romance every time.  This time round it's former army veteran, former CIA spy and current security firm owner, Reath, to get the girl!

Frankie and Reath have a hot and heavy lip lock when they first meet but once they realise who the other is they resolve to never do that again (yeah right!)  But genius scientist Frankie has some dangerous adversaries after her and her breakthrough tech.  They'll just have to get through Reath first!

This may be insta-love/attraction but these two do know OF each other for years and did meet when Frankie was an awful lot younger. The chemistry between them is flaming hot and Frankie is no damsel in distress.  She's quite capable of getting herself out of some sticky situations, she's just a tad too independent on occasion and gets in over her head, lol.

I love the strong found/created family vibes with these former foster brothers.  They are always each others strongest allies and will drop everything for family.  Once again Daisy is stealing every scene she is in, the kid is cuteness overload.

Quicker read but fully fleshed story, emotional aware characters and some epic banter. No elevator scene in this book but there is a flaming hot couch scene!

A step away from my normal paranormal/fantasy type books.  This was a darker romance with a Gothic vibe.

Take a family who make their living dealing with death magic, add in a murdered mother, a financial struggle  and a mysterious but very dangerous game.  One with a prize worth risking everything for.  When Ophelia's sister enters the game ahead of her, Ophelia feels the need to go in after her and save her from herself (and the game).

Necromancers, deals with devils in disguise, Phantoms, secrets and amnesia like memory lapses all combine into a fantastic fantasy romance.  Who can you trust in a haunted mansion when anyone could be out to get you?  Who do you make a protection pact with?

I loved the world building and the FMC dealing with OCD so thoughtfully handled and really helps to tie the entire storyline together.  This was definitely darker than my usual reads and there was plenty of danger and unaliving but it wasn't a straight-forward horror like story either.

Blackwell was the epitome of tall, dark and handsome with a mind with more holes than Swiss cheese!  He exuded "Who did this to you" vibes and you're never really sure where he stands - he does take morally grey and runs with it!

Spicy without being over the top and a great paced romance.

As a frequent flyer of the NHS, I know all too well about the politicking and skullduggery that goes on behind the curtains!  

I was completely absorbed from the get go with the storyline.  It's actually based in an area of Glasgow quite near to me and therefore I really felt like I was running along Great Western Road with Ashley and Chris (metaphorically anyway, lol).

As a fellow 999 worker I see people like Professor Stone all the time.  Glory Hounds but work shy, great at schmoozing but wouldn't leave them in charge of the tv remote control!  The consultants on Ashley and Chris's side are more human than most that I've met!  

I really enjoyed the way that Ashley and Chris are just friends, they are comrades in arms and that competitiveness between them is hilarious.  Some of the patient tales are all too believable and I must admit I was completely sold on the whole "oceans eleven" heist type story weaving through the book.  I actually thought it was quite comparable to some episodes of the New Amsterdam show. Yes, I had to suspend my belief that this would all happen in a hospital today but let's face it - bits of it possibly could!

If you ever thought that doctors and nurses just turn up and solve your problems with the click of some fingers, this story will soon put your right.

Olivia has survived the Dying, hiding out on her ranch.  But when a djinn warrior, Omar, catches sight of her she knows that she has a dogged foe on her heels.  She takes the only action she can - it's shoot before she gets captured!

Omar was determined to rid the Earth of the humans.  Why then does this infernal woman entice him so!  Omar is in awe of her strength of character and bravery in the face of a mightier opponent.  He finds himself protecting her, going from safe haven to safe haven, attempting to keep her from the very same hunting parties he was part of.

Omar may be morally dark grey but Khalim?  Well, he's pitch black!  There are no redeeming qualities at all about him - making it much easier to watch Omar and Olivia outsmart him.  Omar is capable of growth and learning new things but choosing Olivia to be his chosen may be a step too far, even for him.

A dystopian world, after a pandemic was released and ravaged the world (sound familiar!) the story has wonderfully desolate backdrop.  The intense attraction is off the charts hot, even when these two loathe each other!  Can't wait to get back for another visit.

Another new fantasy romance to grab my attention.  Dark, mysterious, well crafted and completely potty is the best way to describe The Under!

The story was well paced but did feel as though it dragged slightly at the start, most likely as I was trying to keep all the new people, places, etc in my head straight!  The vibe of Under was kind of Steampunk, a mish mash of old and new, ancient and modern.

Lydia may thinks she unravels and is completely useless but I think she and Nick keep it together remarkably well!  She is shaping up to be one determined FMC - she leaves the panicking until she has time and just soldiers through. I loved the fact that she and Nick are firm friends - there is no friends-to-lovers or love triangle in the offing that I've managed to determine anyway.

There is no romance as such in this 1st book but the vivid dream connection between Aon and Lydia is the set up for the future romance. 

Beware this does end in a cliffhanger...

Vera, Joe and co. are back in fine form.  Sadly they are all still grieving the loss of their colleague, Holly.  A new DC has been deployed with the team and she is big, brash, bold and everything Holly was not.  Which is probably just what they need!

Called out to a local private children's home, they find the body of Josh, student and volunteer, and 
 one of the young residents is missing.  Is she a victim, witness or suspect?

The hunt for Chloe leads the team around Northumbria and into the remote hills.  Another murder of a resident of Rosebank muddies the clues and Vera has to make some logic leaps to unravel the mess. 

I love that Vera is so untypical of most fictional detectives.  She's straightforward, down to earth and can be awkward.  She is gruff and caring at the same time.  As someone who actually works with these kinds of teams I can vouch for the warring personalities, dark humour survivor skillset and the pints in the pub after work! 

There are numerous twists and turns and red herrings. I can honestly say that I did not guess the murderer this time (don't tell my colleagues!). It illustrates the wash of money lining private companies pockets instead of looking after their vulnerable charges.

The description of the remote Northumbria is so evocative and really adds to the atmosphere of doom surrounding the area.

Another worthy read!

 This is part of the Long Road Home series, which is multi-authored.  However this book is closely linked with the Jasper Creek series by the same author.

Blessing is at it again.  From her perch at the USO in Atlanta's airport, she is dispensing wisdom and warm feelings for the future!  When Kai happens upon her at the instance of his demon physiotherapist, he's told that his traumatic past may have led to a happier ending!

Kai didn't have the best of childhoods in remote Alaska, with an even remoter and casually cruel father.  When he learns that he had more family than he originally thought he heads to Jasper Creek to try and find them.  Small Town Tennessee, where everyone knows not only your name but also your business - Jasper Creek appeals to him and he soon fits in with the locals.  Then he learns that his brother rents their childhood home out and he would like to meet the new tenant and see if the place stirs up memories.

However, meeting Marlowe stirs up more than memories.  He soon can't get enough of the high school Maths teacher.  She's running from something and when danger comes calling again, Kai inserts himself as her interim bodyguard.

There are plenty of thrills along the way to their HEA!  Marlowe's dog is the epitome of a "good girl", she steals every scene she is in!  As usual the Jasper Creek folk rally to the cause and Marlowe has never had so many protectors.  Kai also calls on his larger special operative network for assistance, allowing us to get a little visit with some of our favourites. The action sequences blend so well into the overarching romance.  Can't wait to see what befalls his brother and a certain Avery sister! 

 Harper is a witch with a teeny tiny amount of magic.  She can open locks and summon little bits of metal but that's about it.  She loved her great gran's bookshop but she hasn't been able to visit much lately and has a lot of regret that she hasn't seen her gran in a long time.  But inheriting a bookshop is Harper's dream.  There is one slight wrinkle though as the inheritance isn't as straightforward as she thought!

Dead bodies, talking rabbits, cats the size of large dogs, centaurs, a shifter sheriff and a whole host of other magical and supernatural inhabitants of the town are superb backdrops to a great little murder mystery!

Harper is a wonderfully likeable character and she may be a bit on the young and naïve occasionally but she has a good heart and doesn't want to stoop to her cousin's level to win the bookshop. Thad really was a sleaze!  There were enough twists to keep my brain occupied and I love the final plot twist!

A cosy, warm hearted, mystery with a dash of supernatural to keep it interesting! 

 Callum is in dire need of a bride!  His grandad meant well but that stipulation in his will! Why in this day and age does he need to be married! But Callum will do anything to save the family business and keep it out of the hands of his money grubbing father!

Lark ran to Ireland to get away from the grief and memories that surrounded her after the death of her husband.  New Job, New Country, New start is her now creed.  But she really should have googled that new address of hers, cos the woman who won't walk through a cemetery is now living next door to a funeral director!

Callum is a breath of fresh air.  He's not bulky, muscled or alpha.  He's a sweet, slightly nerdy, workaholic dealing with a speech impediment.  He's also demisexual - an orientation I haven't seen repped that much. There is also a great array of secondary characters of every gender and orientation.

Really enjoyed the gentle humour and the way that Lark finds friends when she goes to buy a piece of furniture!  

Friends-to-lovers, dealing with grief & anxiety, learning to ring your own bell!