Iron Canuck Reviews & More: December 2022

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Book Review: The Winter Biker (Royal Bastards MC National Chapter Prequel #6) by Crimson Syn

Blurb:

The Winter Biker

Paul Bulldog Jameson has lived a rough life.
Betrayed by his best friend and thrown in prison,
He fought to survive.
When he got out, all he wanted was to rebuild his life.
Creating the RBMC brings him a sense of freedom,
but his past still haunts him,
and when a murder occurs on his property, all eyes are on him.
Including the beautiful Detective whom, one night, walks into his bar.

Detective Aiyana Locklear has set her eyes on Paul Jameson,
the President of the Royal Bastards MC.
He's dangerous, cunning, and has a devious past that has been kept hidden until now.
One night is all it takes for Aiyana to fall for Bulldog's charms.
One night for him to become completely obsessed with the pretty detective.
One lie that could break them in two or make them stronger.
Will love conquer all between this detective and her felon?

This is Bulldog's story, the Founding President of the RBMC. The one who started it all...

Amazon: The Winter Biker: Age Gap Romance: AN RBMC National Chapter Prequel #6 - Kindle edition by Syn, Crimson . Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Bookbub: The Winter Biker: Age Gap Romance: AN RBMC National Chapter Prequel #6 by Crimson Syn - BookBub

Goodreads: The Winter Biker: An RBMC Age Gap Holiday Novel by Crimson Syn | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars -

A quick, steamy holiday read. Bulldog had been in a tough spot because of a friend. He got his life in some sort of order when he met Aiyana. Sparks led to flames in the middle of a legal and dangerous battle. I loved Bulldog's willingness to accept his feelings for Aiyana and protect her. He needed her to believe his innocence. Aiyana was smart and good at her job, except when it came to Bulldog. She had the strength to follow her feelings while trying to do the right thing. I enjoyed this story.

I received an ARC, and this is my unsolicited review.

Happy New Year!! Stay safe and enjoy!

Blitz: One Hundred Dreams (An Aspen Cove Romance #22) by Kelly Collins with an excerpt and a giveaway

One Hundred Dreams

Series: An Aspen Cove Romance, #22

by Kelly Collins

Release date: December 29th, 2022

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64417822-one-hundred-dreams

Blurb:

He’s a man trying to keep things under control.
She’s a woman yearning to break free.
Is this a disaster waiting to happen or a love story in the making?

Actress Cameron Madden is sick and tired of being tired. With her last movie failing at the box office and her career in question, she heads to Aspen Cove to lick her wounds. The small mountain town is the perfect place to escape the prying eyes of a critical public, the demands of her career, and the rules set by her team. Expecting a female bodyguard named Valery, she’s shocked to find the script has been flipped and Valery is a tall, dark, and annoying man who goes by Val. The first thing he does is hand her a set of rules—his rules. And she plans to break every one of them.

The last thing bodyguard Valery Armstrong wants to do is babysit an actress, but when the job comes in, he is the only one available. Saving the day and picking up the pieces is what he’s been doing since his father passed away. That single event ten years ago taught him one thing—prepare for every possibility. Before agreeing to take on Cameron, he asks himself how difficult could one woman be? When he arrives, he hands her the list, then watches as she gifts him with a heart-stopping smile—right before tearing the page to pieces. How difficult could one woman be? Cameron Madden is about to show him.

Aspen Cove, where rules are made to be broken…

Purchase:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Goe9Tf

Excerpt:

He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her. “These are my rules.”

She seemed to sink in front of him, but it was a momentary muscle lapse before that invisible string pulled her back up. Only this time, it seemed to drag her forward to stand in front of him. She swiped the envelope from his hand and tore open the flap. Once she drew out the single page with his rules, she let the envelope fall to the floor.

He watched as her eyes moved across the page. Second by second, they grew until he was sure they’d pop from her skull.

She raised her head and stared at him. “Are you serious?”

“Why would I give you that if I wasn’t serious?”

“It’s a page with one rule. You said rules.”

He smiled. “I don’t need more than one.”

She glanced at the paper and lifted her head. “You make all the rules?” She stared at him like he’d sprouted a horn in the center of his forehead.

“That’s my one rule. Take it or leave it.”

Her jaw dropped, and she took a step back. “What are you going to do? Leave?” She tore the page in half and let the pieces fall to the marble floor next to the envelope. “You’re not the boss, and you don’t make the rules.”

“Wrong.” He turned around, walked back to the elevator, pushed the button, and waited.

“You’re seriously leaving? How am I supposed to get to Colorado?”

He took several cleansing breaths before he spun around to face her. “Nothing has changed. You have a flight waiting at Los Angeles International Airport. It will take you to Denver, where you’ll have to get a ride to Aspen Cove. Rent a car. It’s only a few hours’ drive from there to your destination.”

She seemed to wobble on her heels. “You’re abandoning me?”

He shook his head. “I’m not. I gave you my rules, and you dismissed them. You don’t get to be the top private security firm in the country if you break your own rules, and my only rule is I make the rules.” The elevator door opened, and he stepped inside. “I’ll give you ten minutes to decide. If you’re not down in the lobby by then, I’ll leave. It’s that simple.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but the doors closed before she could get a word out.

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway (INT) ends January 5

$25 Amazon gift card

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251235251/

AUTHOR BIO:

Like FREEBIES? Join the VIP readers at http://bit.ly/KellyCollinsFreeBook for members-only exclusives!

~ Tip: Just hit "FOLLOW" for notifications about deals & new releases! ~

International bestselling author of more than thirty novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

Kelly has sold more than a quarter of a million books worldwide, and in 2021 she was awarded a Readers' Favorite Award Gold Medal in the Contemporary Romance category for A Tablespoon of Temptation.

You can learn more about Kelly at www.authorkellycollins.com.

Author links:
https://www.authorkellycollins.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorkelleycollins
https://twitter.com/kcollinsauthor
https://www.instagram.com/authorkellycollins/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kelly-collins
https://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Collins/e/B00H3JAYJ8/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1435982615&sr=8-2-ent

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7488895.Kelly_Collins

Friday, December 30, 2022

2022 Goodreads Challenge Wrap Up

I challenged myself to read 175 books in 2022. I ended up reading 290 books!! This includes audiobooks, short stories, novellas, and novels. My shortest read was 20 pages, and my longest was 574.

I never review a book if it is under 3 stars. I keep hoping that Goodreads and Amazon will allow for 1/2 stars. I did read several books that I wanted to give 1/2 stars (3 1/2, 4 1/2), but since I cannot, I click the lower of the stars. My average rating for 2022 was 4.2 stars.

Rating is always personal. A five-star review must keep me turning the pages, needing to get to the end to celebrate with everyone. Four-and-a-half stars may have been a bit too long, a bit overly descriptive, or was flat at some point. Four stars means it was a good story, slow or too descriptive in a few spots. Three or three and a half stars are given to those stories that could have been better, but I wanted to complete the story.

I do reviews for Enticing Journey Book Promotions, Elle Woods PR, Goddess Fish Promotions, Yours Truly Promotions, the RBMC group, Book Obsessed Chicks Review Team (a book club I belong to), and of course, for myself. I post my all reviews on the FB page Lazy Day Library Reviews as well as the Iron Canuck Reviews & More blog, FB page, and Twitter. Books I receive through Book Obsessed Chicks are posted to that FB page as well. My main places to review are Bookbub, Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, Kobo, Google, Netgalley, and Audible. Sometimes, I post to Chirp and Booksprout, depending on where I get the books from.

I belong to a few author street teams and read for them. I do buy books as well. Amazon, B&N, and Audible are my main places to shop.

In 2023, I will have four reading challenges that I will try to complete. The Goodreads Challenge, What an Animal Challenge, Audiobook Challenge, and Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge. Join a challenge yourself and see how you do.

Happy New Year and hope to hear from you throughout the year.

Book Review: Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong

Blurb:

Revolutionary War soldier, Gavin Cullane, has desperate choices to make. He vows never to give up the fight for American freedom, but his role as colonial liaison between the Americans and the British brands him a seeming traitor to his own country. When he discovers the woman he loves is part of George Washington’s secret spy chain, his only choice is to expose his own lies so she can escape.

Tansy Carter risks her life to send messages to George Washington from the captured city of New York. When she is discovered, she must flee the city, and trusting her life to the traitor, Cullane, is the desperate chance she must take.

Will their freedom come at the cost of their love?

Amazon: Desperate Hope - Kindle edition by Furlong, Susan Leigh. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

B&N: Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong | eBook | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

Kobo: Desperate Hope eBook by Susan Leigh Furlong - EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

Google: Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong - Books on Google Play

Bookbub: Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong - BookBub

Goodreads: Desperate Hope by Susan Leigh Furlong | Goodreads

My Review - 4 1/2 of 5 stars -

4 1/2 stars. A story that incorporated real history and a cast of caring characters. There were moments of gritty detail throughout, as the Revolutionary War was not a pretty affair. Yet, there were moments where I smiled and even cried. Gavin had a good heart, was a loyal friend, but made a series of mistakes. I loved his tenacity, his human side, and his need to be his own man. Tamsin was a strong woman, caring, and determined. They made a good couple through all the danger, death, and trying times.

I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

Release Boost: The Setup (A Lake Bittersweet Novel) by Jennifer Bernard

The Setup

by Jennifer Bernard

Now live!

https://geni.us/TheSetUp

Available on All Platforms

Blurb:

He left without warning in the middle of a Lake Bittersweet winter.
Now he’s back... just in time for the holidays.

For Gina Moretti, the holidays are bittersweet thanks to a history of romantic disasters. This holiday season, her friends are taking the reins and are setting her up. Little did she know the whole town would get into the act, but that’s Lake Bittersweet for you. When a date goes sideways, she’s shocked to be rescued by the one-and-only Kirk Williams–her brother’s best friend, who left town long ago and is now a celebrity hero.

Kirk is back in Lake Bittersweet for some peace and quiet, but once he sees Gina, that’s out of the question. His best friend’s tomboy little sister is now a gorgeous woman with secrets of her own. When she asks him for help tracking down someone from her past, he jumps at the chance to win her trust. As for resisting their intense attraction…he might be famous for his heroic rescues, but he’s not that strong.

Can Kirk and Gina banish the ghosts of holidays past and claim the future of their dreams …while dealing with family revelations, obsessed fans, and the endless parade of holiday setups?

About the Author:

Jennifer Bernard is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her books have been called “an irresistible reading experience” full of “quick wit and sizzling love scenes.” A graduate of Harvard and former news promo producer, she left big city life in Los Angeles for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husband and stepdaughters. She still hasn’t adjusted to the cold, so most often she can be found cuddling with her laptop and a cup of tea.

If you'd like to know when Jennifer's next book comes out, visit her website at www.JenniferBernard.net to sign up for her mailing list.

Release Boost: Hot Shot (Lauderdale Knights #4) by Kat Mizera

Hot Shot

by Kat Mizera

Now live!

https://geni.us/H0tShot

Available on All Platforms

Blurb:

Welcome to Fort Lauderdale—where the days are hot and the Knights are hotter.

Wolf:
I’ve been in love with the same girl since we were seventeen. Back before our careers took off and pulled us away from one another. No amount of fame, money, or puck bunnies could ever replace Scarlett. But she has a mind of her own, and dreams that don’t include me. We might not want the same things in life, but we still want each other. No matter how hard she fights it, she can’t deny that truth. I just need to prove to her it’s enough… we’re enough.

Scarlett:
I didn’t want to have to choose between Wolf and surfing, but I couldn’t have both. As much as he hates to admit it, neither of us might be where we are now if I hadn’t walked away. His life is about being the best on the ice, and mine is chasing down the next wave. I refuse to give it all up for a guy— even if he is the only guy I’ve ever loved.
A single mistake changes everything… turning both our worlds upside down. Now I have to figure out how to regain balance, not just in my life, but with Wolf. This time, there’s no bailing… even if it means a wipeout.

Author's note: There are some difficult themes in this story. For CW information, please check this book's page on my website.

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she's called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She's never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she'd probably choose the west coast.

A typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max), Kat can usually be found scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) - traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible.

Kat's been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article--a review of a rock concert--for $10 in 1985. Since then she's been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.

As you can guess from her Las Vegas Sidewinders series, Kat loves hockey and occasionally writes articles about her favorite team, the Florida Panthers. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There's something enticing about hockey players and romance...

Connect with Kat:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatmizera/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2lzRBG6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorKatMiz
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2li6zRe

Website: http://www.katmizera.com

Release Boost: The Secret of the Lost Pearls (A Useful Woman Mystery Series #1) by Darcie Wilde

The Secret of the Lost Pearls

by Darcie Wilde

Now live!

https://geni.us/LostPearls

Available on All Platforms

Blurb:

Rosalind Thorne may not have a grand fortune of her own, but she possesses virtues almost as prized by the haut ton: discretion, and a web of connections that enable her to discover just about anything about anyone. Known as a “most useful woman,” Rosalind helps society ladies in need—for a modest fee, of course—and her client roster is steadily increasing.

Mrs. Gerald Douglas, née Bethany Hodgeson, presents Rosalind with a particularly delicate predicament. A valuable pearl necklace has gone missing, and Bethany’s husband believes the thief is Nora, Bethany’s disgraced sister. Nora made a scandalous elopement at age sixteen and returned three years later, telling the family that her husband was dead.

But as Rosalind begins her investigations, under cover of helping the daughters of the house prepare for their first London season, she realizes that the family harbors even more secrets than scandals. The intrigue swirling around the Douglases includes fraud, forgery, blackmail, and soon, murder. And it will fall to Rosalind, aided by charming Bow Street officer Adam Harkness, to untangle the shocking truth and discover who is a thief—and who is a killer.

About the Author:

Darcie Wilde is the author of the Regency Makeover Trilogy of eNovellas as well as A Useful Woman, the first novel in a Regency-set historical mystery series inspired by the novels of Jane Austen. Her book Lord of the Rakes was a 2014 Romantic Times nominee for Best First Historical Romance.

Visit her online at darciewilderomance.com.

Release Boost: Blowout (Breakers Hockey #6) by Elise Faber

Blowout

by Elise Faber

Now live!

https://geni.us/Blowout

Available on All Platforms

Blurb:

She had no time in her life for a man.
Least of all a swoony hockey player who was allergic to commitment.
Jules was just trying to give her kid a good life. She worked hard, kept her head down, and avoided men like the plague.
Because men were a plague.
There was a reason she was a single mom, scraping together an existence, and faking it for her kid.
She’d been burned. Bad.
It didn’t matter that Cas was successful and smart and could kiss like a dream…
It didn’t matter that wanted her.
She wouldn’t put her heart on the line.
Not ever again.

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys.

She lives in Northern California. Connect with her in her Facebook group, the Fabinators or email her at elisefaberauthor@gmail.com.

Connect with Elise!

Website: https://www.elisefaber.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisefaberauthor/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fabinators
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elisefaber
Twitter: https://twitter.com/faberelise
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bdnmEj

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2Ilspyd

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Apex Predator (The Game #11) by Cara Dee

Apex Predator

Series: The Game, #11

by Cara Dee

Release date: January 24th, 2023

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64405811-apex-predator

Blurb:

Ring in the new year with Lane, Macklin, Walker, and Ty as a group of Mclean members head down to Florida for some fun. More info to come.

Pre-order: https://amzn.to/3I2qSMy

AUTHOR BIO:

I’m often awkwardly silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there’s so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex.

There’s a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly.

Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve.

I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, cooking, baking, and geeking. There’s time for hockey and family, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

Author links:

https://www.caradeewrites.com/newsletter
https://www.facebook.com/groups/caradeewrites
https://www.facebook.com/caradeewrites/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cara-dee
https://www.caradeewrites.com/
https://www.instagram.com/caradeewrites/
https://twitter.com/CaraDeeWrites
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6936449.Cara_Dee

Cover Reveal and Preorder: Binding Ties (Silverbell Shore) by Zoey Drake with a giveaway

Binding Ties

Series: Silverbell Shore

by Zoey Drake

Release: February 19, 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Small Town Romance

Cover Design: Alexandra Silva

Goodreads Link: https://bit.ly/BindingTiesSB

Bookbub Link: https://www.bookbub.com/books/binding-ties-silverbell-shore-novel-by-zoey-drake

Blurb:

Annagayle has found contentment working as a nurse and raising her son.

Julian has found success in stifling old memories, spending the last six years galivanting around the world on the Indy Car circuit.

When Julian’s father passes, Annagayle realizes that this will not only bring Julian home but expose the secret she’s been holding onto for years.

The chemistry they once shared still remains, making it feel like just yesterday when he left.

Once the secret is revealed, will they make amends, make peace with the past, and find a future in each other? Or will this secret burn what may have been to the ground forever?

PreOrder Links:

Universal: https://books2read.com/BindingTiesZD

Amazon US: https://bit.ly/3WRBcv7

Amazon CA: https://bit.ly/3Q4qA9R

Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/3GmjrP3

Amazon AU: https://bit.ly/3vj9Pht

Giveaway (signed paperback)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/81aa78942530