🔖 REVIEW 🔖 Second-in-Command by Melanie Moreland

Second-in-Command by Melanie Moreland 

Release Date: November 11th 2021 by Moreland Books Inc

Series: Men of Hidden Justice #2

Genres: Romance, Suspense, Contemporary

Because love can bleed into the darkest heart

I found her when I least expected.

I should have let her go, but I couldn't.

My world is too dangerous for her.

But she needs the protection only I can give her.

And without her life has no meaning.

For the first time in my life, I'm taking what I want—

consequences be damned.

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My Review:

From the sizzling chemistry to the swoon worthy moments, Melanie Moreland delivers a must-read in Second-in-Command, the second book in the Men of Hidden Justice Series!

We are introduced to Marcus in The Boss, the first book in the series as Matteo’s second-in-command. Now Marcus is the leader of his team and he finds it difficult than he thought it would be. Yet, he takes his job seriously and every mission is a race against the clock. His goal is always the same, to save innocent people. It’s one day on a mission that his instincts kick in and he feels that something is off minutes before destroying the building. As he goes around the building trying to find anyone else alive, he is shocked to see a woman in a cage. She is terrified and bruised up. Marcus promises to protect her and for the first time, he can’t let her out of his sight. There is something about her that calls to him and he wasn’t expecting to feel so strongly about her right away. He wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone, his world is dangerous and yet is Missy that manages to change his life forever.

For twenty-four-year old Melissa “Missy” Evans, finding out that she is far away from home after being kidnapped comes as a shock to her. She tried fighting her captors, but that only resulted in her getting put in a cage away from everyone else. Yet, it’s the handsome stranger who saves her that gives her hope and safety. Missy finds comfort by being around Marcus and the more time they spend together, the more difficult it becomes to be away from each other. Nevertheless, the man behind her kidnapping is still out there and even though she wants to help find him, Marcus is set on keeping her away. She might not have that much experience, but she is good at what she does and wants Marcus to see that. It would take a turn of events to change the course of their lives and threaten their chance at a future together.

I throughly enjoyed reading Second-in-Command, Marcus is a total alpha ready to protect Missy at all costs. He wasn’t expecting to find her, but he did and their chemistry is magnetic! On the other hand, Missy has a fire in her that challenges Marcus every time and makes her want to prove that she can fight as well. It’s when they’re together that it’s truly explosive and I couldn’t stop reading the book. While Missy and Marcus have each other, there is the question of having actual future that come up and they have to decide if leaving everything behind is worth leaving or not. I loved the epilogue, it was sweet and it fit the characters very well. I would highly recommend checking out the series, you will not regret it! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

My Rating: 

Meet Melanie Moreland

New York Times/USA Today bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of thirty-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.

While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.

Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.

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🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 The Trailblazer by Gina Azzi

The Trailblazer by Gina Azzi

Release Date: November 11th 2021

Series: Boston Hawks Hockey #7

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports

I always knew I’d marry my first everything, Declan Yaeger, the Southern boy with Irish roots. That was before he became my first heartbreak, a NHL superstar with a playboy reputation I no longer recognize.

The summer he left our small, Tennessee town, to pursue his hockey dream is the summer my life changed. That was seven years ago, before he became a defenseman for the Boston Hawks. Before I became fixated on my career, losing pieces of myself along the way.

To protect my grandfather's legacy, I agree to marry my oldest childhood friend, Henry. But when I enter the Church on my wedding day, the grey eyes piercing mine aren’t my fiancé’s.

They’re Declan’s, the last person I expect to show up with an offer of his own. One I can’t refuse even though my heart should know better than to accept.

Will my marriage to Declan heal the broken between us? Or are we destined to repeat the mistakes of our past? 

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My Review:

Gina Azzi knows how to deliver truly emotional stories that will grip you and never let go. In The Trailblazer, the seventh book in her Boston Hawks Hockey Series, Azzi gives us all the feels in this second chance sports romance that will leave you waiting for more.

For Genevieve “Vivi” Kelley, taking leadership in the Harrison Foundation has not only being her salvation, but also a way to keep her grandfather’s life’s purpose going. Yet, her role in the foundation is put on hold the minute she finds out that in her grandfather’s will, her stake in the foundation is contingent upon marriage. Vivi doesn’t understand why the man that practically raised her would allow her future to depend on a man. She is worried of what it’s going to happen to all the philanthropic causes her grandfathers fostered in the hands of her cousin, Alfred. With no other choice and the clock ticking to get married before her twenty-fifth birthday, Vivi decides to give in. But her choice of groom has cold feet and the man that she thought would never see again steps up to marry her instead.

There is a lot of history between her and Declan Yeager, not only did they grew up together, but he was her first everything. Then he left and her life around her crumbled. He is set on convincing her that she should give them a second chance, but there is something that Declan doesn’t know and Vivi is afraid of how that is going to affect their future once he finds out.

Declan Yeager couldn’t be happier at the fact he was able to turn his childhood dream into a reality. As the defenseman for the Boston Hawks, he is grateful to have had Beau Harrison’s support growing up and now as he plays in the NHL. But it’s a phone call that Declan gets from his dad that completely changes his life around, when he finds out that Beau Harrison has passed away. This immediately makes Declan think of Vivi, the one he left behind when he when on to pursue his hockey dream. It’s been seven year since they’ve seen each other and when he finds out that she is about to get married, Declan sets out to find out what truly happened to them all those years ago. Little did he know that he would end up marrying her in front of those close to them in the same place they promised each other that they would growing up. This makes Declan realize that he can’t give her up, he just needs to make her see that they can have a future together.

The Trailblazer was sweet and romantic. I really enjoyed the overall story, it was touching and emotional. The characters go through a lot, especially Vivi, who finds herself going through traumatic experiences. The author did a good dealing with the subject matter while giving us a story about getting a second chance at love. It’s evident that Declan still has feelings for Vivi and is willing to prove to her that they belong together. The ending was my favorite, it brought the characters’ story to full circle. It fit them so well and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I would highly recommend checking it out if you like second chance friends-to-lovers sports romances. You will not regret it! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

My Rating: 4.5/5

Meet Gina Azzi:

I’m Gina Azzi, a book-obsessed, coffee-drinking, globetrotting, mama of soon-to-be three! I write sweet with a dash of spicy New Adult and Contemporary Romance full of good men putting in work to win the hearts of even better women.

A total Jersey girl at heart, I struggle with insatiable wanderlust and currently reside in Ontario, Canada with my family.

When I’m not dreaming up storylines or writing all the words, you can find me hanging with my littles, attempting to bake, or planning my next adventure.

Connect with me on social media or at ginaazziauthor@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you! 

Happy Reading!

Xo,

Gina

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🔖 BLOG TOUR 🔖 Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling {REVIEW}

Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling

Release Date: October 26th 2021 by Dangerous Press

Series: Dark Dream Duet #1

Genres: Dark, Romance, Contemporary

He arrives all dressed in black. Diamond cufflinks. A watch on his tanned wrist that cost more than we would ever see in a lifetime of work. He carries a single red rose for my mother.

Months later, Tiernan Morelli lays red roses on my mother’s grave. That same day, he tells me that he is my new guardian.

I should have known from the very start that he had more in common with the thorns than the rose. Now I know the truth: I’m a pawn in his dangerous game of revenge. I was too young and naive. Now it's too late to save myself from his clutches.

I belong to him. 

Amazon, Amazon INTL, B&N, Apple Books, Kobo, Google

My Review:

Not having read any other books by Gina Darling before, I didn’t know what to expect before reading Dangerous Temptation. Needless to say, this sizzling enemies-to-lovers forbidden romance took me by surprise and had me hooked until the very end.

The moment Bianca Belcante moved to Texas, she never imagined that she would be moving back to
New York City with her little brother and new guardian. She is finally in the city she’s always wanted to be without her mom and Bianca needs to figure out how to navigate her new life with Tiernan. He was her mom’s wealthy mystery man and Bianca never got along with him. In her head no man was going to fix their problems, until her mom passed away and Tiernan was the only one she thought to call for help. Now she is in Bishop’s Landing, living among the wealthiest people which includes the Constantines and Morellis.

There is so much that she wants to know about her dad’s family and get to know them. Yet, she is still in the shadows as she has always been growing up. Meanwhile, Tiernan is set on transforming her to become worthy of the McTiernan household. Giving her anything at her disposal, but she needs to follow his rules. Her life truly changing when she slowly finds out more about the man she calls her guardian. Beneath the monster he portrays, Tiernan is gentle and protective. There is also the fact that he is insanely attractive and no matter how much she wants to deny it, Bianca has develop feelings for him. It’s until they cross the line of no return when things go south and she finds out that Tiernan has been lying to her all this time.

It’s their imperfections that have made the Morellis a dark force in New York City’s high society. They don’t pretend to be clean like their rivals, the Constantine family. As the third son of Bryant and Sarah Morelli, Tiernan Morelli, is the black sheep of the family. He has spent the last thirty years trying to prove himself to his father and siblings. Yet, never once has he ever been called for help so he is surprised when Bianca reaches out to him when she needs him the most. He knows what’s like to be cast in the shadows as he was groomed to be a monster by his own father. The rivalry between the two powerful families goes way back and Tiernan thinks he can end the rivalry for good by brining down the head of the Constantine family. So he sets out to do just that and that includes bringing down Bianca and her brother as well. They are pawns to his dangerous game of revenge, until Bianca starts to see something in him that he hasn’t seen before, hope. Tiernan can’t develop feelings for her, but it’s too late and he finds himself wanting to protect Bianca from the plan that he started.

I liked the overall concept of the story, this is definitely an age-gap forbidden romance that’s steamy and hard to put down. There is so much to the characters as we find out more about their backgrounds and how their families play a role when it comes to their future. There are family secrets and a bit of a mystery as well. The book itself is short and it also end on a cliffhanger. All in all, it was a good start to the duet and I can’t wait to read what happens next! :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

My Rating:

Giana Darling is a USA Today Bestselling Selling Canadian romance writer who specializes in the taboo and angsty side of love and romance. She currently lives in beautiful British Columbia where she spends time riding on the back of her man's bike, baking pies, and reading snuggled up with her cat Persephone. She loves to hear from readers so please contact her at gianadarling@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments. 

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