Quinn
Two things happened on my thirteenth birthday. My older sister went missing. And I told Smoke Callahan, the Iron Outlaws Road Captain, that it was his fault she was gone.
Fourteen years later, I still hate him.
But hate doesn’t keep me safe when the Bratva sets its sights on me.
I need protection. The kind only a ruthless, broken man like Smoke can provide.
So I make him an offer. I’ll help him recover from the burns that nearly cost him his life. In return, he keeps me breathing.
It should be simple. It isn’t.
Because the more time I spend in his orbit, the more I see the man behind the scars. The one who carries a past as heavy as mine. And when he looks at me, it’s not hatred I see in his dark eyes anymore.
It’s something far more dangerous.

Smoke
Quinn Moran was just a kid when she came at me, fists flying, blaming me for her sister’s disappearance. I let her. I deserved it.
Now she’s all grown up—sharp-tongued, stubborn as hell, and standing in my cabin, asking for my protection.
I should say no. I should send her away.
But I don’t. Because even if she still hates me, I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt her.
Even if it means she learns the truth.
Even if it means she never forgives me.
Because she was never meant to be mine. But that won’t stop me from taking her.

The Fire We Crave is hot and very sweet in places, with Smoke’s underlying troubles coming to the front slowly but surely.

Of course, I had already ‘met’ both Quinn and Smoke, and I was anticipating their full story – grump, gumption and all. And my gosh, did I get a good story! Smoke had to go through something horrific before he was able to come back from fighting fires from the air, and he felt himself slipping, but he had no idea how to deal with it all. He was used to being the one who had the solutions, not the one who might become a problem. The Fire We Crave deals with that inner turmoil very nicely.

Quinn was scared to go back home, and even if she thought she hated Smoke, being in his house – with him – made her feel safe and calm. And when had he become so hot? And nice? She already knew the people from the Club, as her best friend is the president’s daughter, but she hadn’t truly seen herself become a part of them.

I loved how mental health truly took a front seat in The Fire We Crave, especially because it was the male protagonist who appeared to need help more than the female protagonist. I totally got why Smoke was trying to deal with everything on his own, but some of his brothers really got to him, and when he finally started opening up, he realized that it was much easier to have people at his back.

Quinn also had a lot to deal with, getting her back story, and the reason why she felt a little trapped in her bakery got to me in a big way. I wanted to help her fight, or fight people for her, that’s how mad I was in some places. However, she was able to deal with her own demons with Smoke’s help, which made The Fire We Crave even better

If you are looking for a hot Colorado motorcycle club, with some ladies who can keep up, The Fire We Crave, and the Iron Outlaws Colorado should make it to your TBR pronto!

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The post #ARC #Review: The Fire We Crave – S. Cole appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

Our favorite white trash zombie, Angel Crawford, has enough problems of her own, what with dealing with her alcoholic, deadbeat dad, issues with her not-quite boyfriend, the zombie mafia, industrial espionage, and evil corporations. Oh, and it’s raining, and won’t let up.

But things get even crazier when a zombie movie starts filming in town, and Angel begins to suspect that it’s not just the plot of the movie that's rotten. Soon she's fighting her way through mud, blood, bullets, and intrigue, even as zombies, both real and fake, prowl the streets.

Angel’s been through more than her share of crap, but this time she's in way over her head. She’ll need plenty of brainpower to fit all the pieces - and body parts - together in order to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

And the plot thickens…(suspenseful music playing)…White Trash Zombie Apocalypse finds our plucky heroine, Angel, up to her frizzy, only partially bleached hair in the nefarious goings-on within the zombie underworld. Will she be able to determine why real zombies and fake zombies are roaming the streets of her town? Will she and her boyfriend(?) Marcus find themselves on the same page regarding their relationship? Will Angel figure out the reason behind a coworker’s intense hatred of her? And will she pass that dreaded GED exam?

Okay! So I’m enjoying the heck out of this series. Angel is such a pleasure with her foul mouth, smartass and whip-smart personality. She’s matured so much since becoming a zombie and is living…er zombie-fied proof of what you can become when you find yourself a tribe of people who love, support, and believe in you.

White Trash Zombie Apocalypse, of course, has a mystery to solve which plays into the over-arching plot. Watching as Angel, who always believed she was, well, white trash, puts all the pieces of the puzzle together, was fun. Seeing her kick ass with her brain and brawn is even more so.

The supporting cast is well crafted and adds so much richness to the story. I was happy to see her and Marcus making strides as well as maybe better understanding some of problem causing behavior. Angel’s dad has also come a long way since his drunken actions in the first book. Nick, a friendly co-worker of Angel’s and her GED coach, is a doll. I’m still not sold on Uncle Pietro being a good guy but innocent until proven guilty and all that. There are so many other characters, both those we’ve met previously and some new faces, that add depth and texture to this story and the series overall.

Allison McLemore narrates this series and does a fantastic job! She perfectly embodies Angel’s personality and does well with maintaining voices for familiar characters. I’m thrilled to be listening to this series.

I feel badly that I avoided this series because…zombies, but I’m ever so grateful it was chosen as one of the readalongs for COYER. I’m equally grateful to be buddy listening to the series with Anne and Berls. This is a series I highly recommend. It has action, mystery, deals with some weighty issues like classism and prejudice with aplomb, a little romance, and lots of humor. White Trash Zombie Apocalypse was an absolute delight!

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• COYER Readalong 2024

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The post Audio Review ~ White Trash Zombie Apocalypse ~ Diana Rowland appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.

It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.

When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”: She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils—and rewards—of putting her heart on the line.

Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.

I can’t believe Maame is a debut novel nor that I waited so long to read it. Maddie’s story is told with charm and wit, warmth and compassion. It was enlightening to walk in someone else’s shoes as they go through daily life enduring the high expectations of family, the weight of responsibility for family, as well as racism, and sexism. My heart broke for Maddie at times, but I was also able to laugh along with her. JGeorge is an author to watch!

Maddie Wright, a Londoner by way of Ghana, has spent a large portion of her life caring for others. Being the responsible one in her family. The very definition of the name Maame, in her parents’s native Twi. She was forced by circumstance to grow up too fast. Now, at age 25, she finds herself with the opportunity to start living, really living, her life. To figure out who she is, what she wants to do, and who she wants to do it with. But she encounters quite a few obstacles along her path of self discovery. I adored Maddie and sympathized with her. When she’s given the chance to find the path to the life she’s been dreaming of, she realizes she doesn’t know herself all that well. Dealing with elements such has her family’s culture, her religion, mental health, and simply looking different from most of her peers, all combine to slow her down on this journey.

Maame was an engaging read. It was illuminating to be in Maddie’s head as she dealt with and explained her differences and/or lack of knowledge and experience in certain areas. For instance, she hesitates in accepting a date because she was going to wash her hair…for Maddie, hair washing IS an all-day event. And then there was the Google-ing of interpersonal situations that she’d not experienced such as the appropriate number of dates before having sex OR is my boss stealing my ideas? And her reaction to the responses? I laughed out loud many times. I admired Maddie for putting herself out there at work, wanting to prove her worth. And I appreciated how JGeorge conveyed the pressures of life – family, work, friends – complicated by the hardships of mental health and finances. She did it in a way that aptly described the sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and mostly messy path to finding your place in the world.

Maame was such a great read! I’m quite impressed with JGeorge’s writing and, as a debut, Maame was fantastic. Engaging, thought-provoking, and emotional. I look forward to reading more from JGeorge in the future.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2023 New Release Challenge
• COYER 2023

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The post ARC Review ~ Maame ~ Jessica George appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

Kate, Curran and their son, Conlan have left Atlanta, vowing to keep a low profile, and are settling into a new city and new house…but some things never change! Magical mayhem is about to erupt when Kate undertakes the rescue of a kidnapped youth, while Curran guards the homefront.

It should be a simple retrieval, but with monsters on land and sea, Kate’s got her work cut out for her. Still, she's never let her blade dull or her purpose falter. And that low profile? It’s about to wash away with the raging tides!

Magic Tides has a big change in scenery from other Kate Daniels novels, and it’s fun to see Kate trying to fit in…

Magic Tides starts with Kate having a meeting with someone from Conlan’s school. And Kate is not necessarily a happy camper. It’s clear from the beginning that fitting in might not be in the cards for our little family. Then again, did anyone actually believe that was going to happen?

I loved how the action started straight away in Magic Tides. And this time, Conlan was kind of the instigator, and Curran needed to have a stern conversation with him about that. The novel was filled with action, new and old characters, the strong bonds between Kate and Curran – and between them and Conlan.

I loved how Kate is still the same Kate I fell in love with Magic Bites. Of course, she has gained a lot of experience, but at the core, she’s still intrinsically her. With her strong moral values, and need to help those who can’t always help themselves. Magic Tides is the first in the Wilmington spin-off, and I can’t wait to see what else will happen. And also, how this might change the relationship with the pack.

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The post ★★★★★ Review: Magic Tides – Ilona Andrews appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

Hale Wheeler inherited billions from his father. He’s decided to take those resources and change the world for the better. He’s married to his mission, so he doesn’t have time for love.

There’s more lurking behind this decision. He hasn’t faced the tragic loss of his father, or the bitterness of his parents’ divorce. He doesn’t intend to follow in his father’s footsteps, breaking a woman’s heart in a way it will never mend. So he vows he’ll never marry.

But Hale is intrigued when he meets Elsa Cohen, the ambitious celebrity news journalist who has been reporting on his famous family. He warns her off, but she makes him a deal. She’ll pull back in exchange for an exclusive interview.

You know that comfort you feel when you hang out with good friends? People who fully understand you, and always have your back? That’s how I usually feel when I read a Kristen Ashley novel. And that’s how I felt while reading Fighting the Pull.

I have been waiting for Hale’s book for a while (and now, I’m totally waiting for Sasha’s book!), and it was definitely worth the wait (pun intended!). Fighting the Pull was definitely what I wanted for Hale’s story, and that’s also because Elsa is a fantastic character. And of course, all the characters I’ve come to know and love from prior books in the series were present here and there throughout the story.

Fighting the Pull is all about falling in love, but not really wanting to. Having family drama and needing to deal with that. And about friendship, people who support each other and build each other up. Loyalty. Protecting the people you love. And at times, this put the people who were there for Hale and those who were there for Elsa slightly at odds. And the way they dealt with that was amazing, too!

Kristen Ashley has this very specific way of writing that I love. It is always so comforting to read her novels, and Fighting the Pull was exactly what I needed right now I was scrolling through my kindle, having not been very active online for a while. And bam – there was a new Ashley title? In my favorite series? Yes, pretty please with cherry on top. Loved it!

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The post ★★★★★ Review: Fighting the Pull – Kristen Ashley appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

Weekend Wrap-up is where I share my new books, as well as what happened here at (un)Conventional Bookworms and elsewhere in the blogoshpere. I’m linking up with the usual suspects, AKA Team Tynga’s Reviews and Caffeinated Reviewer.

STS #349

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and Reading Reality is all about the latest additions to my library – virtual or actual, with books that are  bought, borrowed, won or ARCs  I will (probably) be reading soon. Without further ado, here’s what I added to my bloated shelves this past week:

The Sunday Post #278 – Weekend Wrap-up

Kim @ The Caffeinated Reviewer, is our hostess with the mostest for the weekly Sunday Post where I’m wrapping things up. It is the perfect opportunity to share what happened here on my own blog, as well as some of the happenings elsewhere in the Blogosphere.

I can’t believe I haven’t posted a wrap-up post for over a year! I don’t understand where the time has gone. I’m on sick leave right now, after I had surgery on August 24th. I’m finally starting to feel much better, and hope I’ll be able to get back to work at the end of October.

Brandee and I were supposed to go to RARE Florence in September, but we had to cancel because of my health. That also means we haven’t seen each other at all in 2023, and I have a big sad about that!

This Week’s Puppies in (in)Action:

• [2 Oct] I'm Your Guy by Sarina Bowen
• [6 Oct] Weekend Wrap-up #349 – Slow and Steady

• [10 Oct] Fighting the Pull by Kristen Ashley ★★★★★
• [12 Oct] Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews ★★★★★

Did you get some good books last week? What have you been up to this past week? Thanks for stopping by, I hope you’re enjoying your weekend, and that next week will be filled with awesome!

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I’m Your Guy is the perfect autumn romance, there’s hockey, there’s a whole lot of anguish, and there’s definitely romance galore!

I fell in love with both Tommaso and Carter as soon as I met them at the very beginning of I’m Your Guy. Tommaso because he was that grouchy, serious-looking hot hockey guy who just needed a little TLC. And Carter because even if his life had just been turned upside down, he was totally faking it till he was making it. And because their first look was sizzling.

Of course, Tommaso was so far into the closet that even he wasn’t 100% sure he liked guys. Apart from the fact that he felt some fierce feelings for Carter. And that just made I’m Your Guy even better in my opinion. And because Carter was able to transform Tom’s house into a safe space and an actual home, Tom was able to let go just a little bit.

There were several sightings of Newgate and Gavin, who live just across the street form Tommaso. Which led to both some fun scenes and some sad scenes. Of course, understanding where all of that anguish Tom had to live with came from took time, both for the readers and for the other characters.

Side characters I loved the most in I’m Your Guy was Gia – Tom’s sister, and also his mom. These two women are amazing, and I want to see more of them. If you’re looking for a hockey romance between two guys, with a lot of activism to make sure that LGBT+ athletes can have better lives, I’m Your Guy is the book you should pick up.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2023 New Release Challenge
• COYER 2023

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The post ★★★★★ Review: I’m Your Guy – Sarina Bowen appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

"You betrayed your brother to steal a broken crown."

The kingdom stands on the brink of chaos. Atticus' grip on the realm is faltering, and as threats arise ever closer to home he is driven to increasingly desperate acts to hold onto power.

With Islor's fate now in the balance, Zander stands to defend the Rift from the oncoming Ybarisan army. With the king's forces scattered, he must risk unlikely new alliances.

And behind the walls of Ulysede, secrets wait for its new queen. Romeria knows that the paths of the hidden city will lead her to answers. But will they be enough to save the realm – or is their fate already sealed?

A Queen of Thieves and Chaos is fast-paced with many loose threads followed up on through the eyes of various characters.

I loved how vivid the imagery was in A Queen of Thieves and Chaos, because I truly felt like I was running next to the characters, or hiding with them, or just generally being in their vicinity. The colors, the textures, the feelings – I felt it all, which made me enjoy myself that much more while reading this story.

Tucker has built an incredible world with the Fate & Fire series, and this is something I think was particularly well done in A Queen of Thieves and Chaos, because it was easy to get into this new installment, even if it has been a while since I read the second book.

Romeria’s character arc is also so well done, the way she has grown, and how she is finally starting to fully trust herself and her abilities came to an important culmination in A Queen of Thieves and Chaos. I also loved that we followed Atticus and Gracen fairly closely, we also followed Zander, and other characters had their own plot lines as well, albeit not as important as these four.

The action scenes were so well done, and again, I felt like I was in the midst of everything that was going on. The only thing now is that I have to wait several months for the next story, thank goodness for pre-order possibilities, right?

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• COYER 2023

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The post ★★★★★ Review: A Queen of Thieves & Chaos – K.A. Tucker appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

SAGE MARISOUX
Fresh out of college, the beautiful but clumsy valedictorian of American University is ready to step out from under her famous father's shadow and take on the world. Little does she know, the big city holds more adventure than she bargained for. What's a girl supposed to do when her heart is torn between two completely different men?

ZEUS INTERSTELLAR
The New York City billionaire is astrology's most infamous bad boy. He's smart, he's polished, and he's only got two things on his mind at any given work and sex. When beautiful virgin Sage walks in for a job interview, Zeus realizes she may have just provided him a way to combine the best of both worlds. Oh, and also he's really into BDSM.

JAVIER CALIENTE
An Olympic athlete with a heart of gold. Not too much character development to report, here. Basically, he's hot and stupid and he has a big dick that he wants to use on Sage, but he likes her enough to want to take the relationship slow. But like, not for the whole book or anything, so it's all good.

Contains a love triangle, misrepresented BDSM, mistaken identity, a secret twin, hospital visits, a kidnapping, a murder, a dinosaur, amnesia, lots and lots of gratuitous sex, unfathomable stupidity, blatant plot holes, overused tropes, clichéd characters, excessive adverbs, and repeated use of the word "moist." Consider yourself warned.

Good golly but Dumb F*ck was all kinds of fun! With 90’s references, Scooby-Doo vibes, and equal parts silly and HOT, Dumb F*ck delivered everything I expect from T. Torrest. Well, everything except the serious. T. Torrest dubbed this an eroticomedy and I like that description. Dumb F*ck is the perfect way to kick off your summer reading!

I laughed my head off so many times! It did take me a while to read, but that’s mostly because I was not motivated to read at all for a while. So busy with work, exams, year-end reports and everything else. Eroticomedy is the perfect word for Dumb F*ck, though.

Sage was an interesting bird. She was super smart (valedictorian) and something of an astrology savant. I admit to thinking for at least half the book she was an astronomer. LOL And it seems that all the stars have aligned for her. She scored a new job and not one, but TWO HOT GUYS! I quite enjoyed all the shenanigans she got into. What was your opinion of Sage?

LOL, astronomer – I’m not sure I think Sage was as smart as she tried to get us to believe… I think she also kind of thought she was an astronomer for part of the book. And she never did mention what school she went to, right? I laughed so hard at her inner dialogs, it was the virgin romance heroine taken to the nth degree

Zeus was fun. Intense but fun. I adored his lines about romance book billionaires and the way he was immediately taken with Sage. Oh, and his intimidation tactics – black armoire? He was smart (owner of a successful company), and successful (billionaire). He was also HOT. And he made me laugh.

He was definitely HOT. And he was fun, too. And very, very inappropriate – which was exactly what he needed to be for this story.

Javelin (Javier) was quite different in temperament to Zeus. He also differed in how he treated Sage. He was equally successful (Olympic curler!) but maybe not as smart. He was just as HOT and he was absolutely smitten with Sage. I guess you could say he was sweet to Zeus’s spicy? I think maybe I preferred him to Zeus but why choose? How did you feel about Zeus and Javelin?

Oh, Javelin *grins* he was trying to be sweet and respectful, and his eye-color would change to fit his mood (or Torrest’s mood – I think his eyes were described in every possible blue hue there is.) which made me snort more than once. He was definitely sweet to Zeus’ spicy / grumpy. And truly, why choose? I think a romance heroine deserves everything she wants.

The plot was “trite and paper thin” but did have me laughing. Oh, I just realized there was a “poor” victim with regards to Rob. LOL His lunch may not have been as bad as I was thinking. (You readers will have to check out the book to see what I’m talking about) The plot did facilitate the romance – with a little help from the stars. The romance was fast, fun, and steamy. I’d say totally unrealistic (tongue in cheek) but then I have no clue about planets and moons and houses so maybe I don’t know a think about love when you stars are right. Your thoughts on the plot/romance?

The plot was definitely thin, but I think that is partly what made it so much fun! Did you fill out the words in that one chapter? We should do that and have a chat about it before we share it on FB. I’m not an expert about astrology, so it just may be that all that happened in Dumb F*ck was totally plausible

Okay, as I said before, Dumb F*ck is not serious. NOPE. Not at all. It is a serious bit of hot, silly fun. What Dumb F*ck is is a fluffy, short read that will have you alternately laughing and fanning yourself. It was a quick read that absolutely brightened my mood.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2023 New Release Challenge

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The post Blogger Wife Chat Review ~ Dumb F*ck ~ T. Torrest appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.

Linda and I wish T. Torrest the happiest of Release Days for her latest eroticomedy, Dumb F*ck. We had the honor of reading an ARC and our chat review will post SOON. (I’ve been out-of-town moving one of my kids so didn’t have time to get the post ready) Here are a few teasers for your pleasure.

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The post Release Day Promo ~ Dumb F*ck ~ T. Torrest appeared first on (un)Conventional Bookworms.