Take by Anna Hackett [Review]

Take (Fury Brothers #4) by Anna Hackett
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 25, 2024

Fury Brothers
1. Fury
2. Keep
3. Burn
4. Take - Paperback | Kindle
5. Claim

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Billionaire Heists
1. Stealing from Mr. Rich

Sentinel Security
1. Wolf

Anna Hackett
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I share a perfect kiss with a handsome stranger…only to find out that he’s my brother’s best friend.

New Orleans is an exciting new start for me. When I’m not in my lab working on my project, I’m determined to enjoy all the city has to offer. That’s how I ended up at a party hosted by the Fury Brothers.

That’s how I ended up kissing Reath Fury. Six-feet something of dark, handsome, and gorgeous.

When Reath finds out I’m the little sister of his best buddy from the military, he’s not happy.

But then I get attacked in my lab. Someone is after my project. Did I mention I have top-secret military funding? Turns out some very bad people plan to auction my work to the highest bidder.

Now Reath vows to keep me safe. The former CIA agent gives new meaning to the words overprotective and bossy. But spending every hour of the day together makes it impossible to keep our hands off each other.

We agree to keep it our little secret—all sex, no emotions allowed.

But the criminal after my project has a history with Reath, and he’s out for revenge. My brother’s best friend, the man who tells me he doesn’t do love, is the only one who can protect me.

And the only one who can break my heart.

Thoughts on Take: Former spy and all around protective dude, Reath is up and his special someone is his best friend's sister. Honestly, the best friend's sister thing isn't their biggest hurdle. I mean Frankie has VERY BAD PEOPLE trying to get their hands on her work and that's way more life changing than accidentally kissing someone who knows your brother, if you ask me.

Still, Reath and Frankie shared a scorching kiss before they knew who the other was. Then they got thrown together when Frankie ended up in the crosshairs of the bad guys and forced proximity is GLORIOUS, isn't it? At least it is with these two. The only downside is every time they think Frankie's safe things take a turn.

Which does NOT make Reath happy. He's a security specialist, after all, and his business is keeping people safe. Yet the bad guys keep getting too close and both Frankie and her work are in danger.

A big project that could do a lot of good, a bad guy who is making things personal, the brothers dropping everything to help when needed, a man who will do anything to keep his special someone safe, and a lady who knows a good thing when she sees it. GOOD TIMES!

Amber Gambler by Hailey Edwards [Review]

Amber Gambler (The Body Shop #2) by Hailey Edwards
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 23, 2024

The Body Shop
1. Fair Market Value
2. Amber Gambler - Paperback | Kindle
3. Midnight Auto Parts
4. Cheater Slicks

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
The Beginner's Guide to Necromancy
1. How to Save an Undead Life

Black Hat Bureau
1. Black Hat, White Witch

The Potentate of Atlanta
1. Shadow of Doubt

Hailey Edwards
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The other family business at The Body Shop is slow after word gets out that Frankie had clients die—cease to exist?—on her watch. Considering they were dead to begin with, she understands why the news shook the spirit community’s faith in her, but it’s a hard hit to her bottom line.

When a spirit appears in her office, ready to sign a contract, she’s eager to please. Until she learns why he wants to hire her. He heard about her clients’ deaths, yes, but he also learned Frankie was instrumental in bringing their killer to justice.

The spirit’s human granddaughter has gone missing, and he wants Frankie to find her before it’s too late. Frankie’s no detective, but her schedule is wide open. The job is to save the girl, but with so many gods and monsters prowling the streets of Thunderbolt these days, she’ll be lucky if she can save herself.

Thoughts on Amber Gambler: Frankie's life is definitely complicated. Her body-borrowing business has taken a hit since she dealt with Harrow's uncle, she might be starting an almost-relationship with someone who's the PA to a death god, and she has no idea what she capable of from a magical perspective since her abilities seem to be pushing the boundaries of what she's used to.

Oh, and she's pretty sure Harrow has it in for her maybe-boyfriend and she has to keep a close eye on him whenever the two are near one another.

Yeah. Complicated. Investigating the disappearance of a young woman who's been living on the street is not exactly in her wheelhouse, but the spirit who hired her is desperate and Frankie has time on her hands. As it turns out, Frankie's experience on the streets when she was younger help her understand the kids they're trying to track down.

More than a few twists, a turn or two no one but Badb probably saw coming, an endearingly awkward individual with lots of power, ghosts, supernaturals, and Frankie trying to hold everything she cares about together when things start to fall apart. *thumbs up*

When She's Handy by Ruby Dixon [Review]

When She's Handy (Risdaverse) by Ruby Dixon
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 14, 2024

Risdaverse
When She's Ready
When She's Married
When She Purrs
When She Belongs
When She Dances
When She's Bold
The Alien's Mail-Order Bride
Pretty Human
When She's Lonely
Prison Planet Barbarian
When She's Pregnant
When She's Merry
When She's Fearless
When She's Wary
When She's Common
When She's Handy - Paperback | Kindle

Related Novellas:
Bad Guy
Worse Guy

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Five years ago, an alien saved me from a cruel master. He rescued me and I fell in love instantly, only for him to turn around and dump me on Risda III.

I both love and hate him for that choice.

I've moved on and created a life for myself on this strange alien planet amongst the other refugee humans. I create things for them out of scrap, things from home, things that humans want and aliens don't understand. I'm happy enough.

But then the alien I can't forget...returns.

Thoughts on When She's Handy: Oh my goodness. Brux and Melody were ADORABLE. He's an alien who has some serious self esteem issues and a cargo-hold sized bucket of guilt for the things that happened between him and Melody five years ago. She's a spunky human dropped on a farming planet who's figuring out how to make things work for her even though she's VERY MUCH not a farmer.

Brux had no intention of seeking Melody out when he scored a job on Risda III (because of that aforementioned guilt), but she's THRILLED when their paths cross. Thrilled. In fact, she's so happy about it that she's determined to make the most of their time together and show Brux exactly how much she missed him. EXCEPT...Brux has all those self-esteem issues and all that guilt and he can't understand why someone as bubbly and wonderful as Melody would be interested in station trash like him.

No lie, Brux is a sweetheart and the way he couldn't wrap his head around Melody liking him was rough. Fortunately for him, Melody didn't care about family names or bloodlines. She cared about the male who treated her with compassion when everyone else treated her like a dog. She cared about how gentle he was with her and how he made her feel safe. It took time and a lot of getting to know one another before these two got where they needed to be. (Honestly, that was adorable in its own right. Brux didn't want to just hit the sheets. For him, he needed to get to know Melody before he was comfortable taking things to the next level.)

On Melody's end, she's a scrapper living on a farming planet. She tinkers and makes things the other human refugees want (like toasters and bicycles!) and she's found a place for herself. Brux showing up on her planet just makes everything better and she throws everything she has at getting him to see they would be great together.

A lady who's good with her hands and a male who needs to get to know his special someone before they can crank up the heat. MAN, I like spending time on Risda III.

When She's Common by Ruby Dixon [Review]

When She's Common (Risdaverse) by Ruby Dixon
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read:

Risdaverse
When She's Ready
When She's Married
When She Purrs
When She Belongs
When She Dances
When She's Bold
The Alien's Mail-Order Bride
Pretty Human
When She's Lonely
Prison Planet Barbarian
When She's Pregnant
When She's Merry
When She's Fearless
When She's Wary
When She's Common - Paperback | Kindle
When She's Handy

Related Novellas:
Bad Guy
Worse Guy

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

It's lonely for an extrovert on Risda III, the human refuge on the edge of the universe. Maeve craves company and friends, but she knows she can't keep harassing the locals for attention. What she needs is a pet to love on.

What she gets is...a stowaway. Sorta. Zhur is actually a praxiian prince on the run, and the cat alien needs a place to hide out. Maybe not this place, though, because it smells and it has animals and all his bespoke clothes are missing. He needs to get out of here

....Except he can't, because he's stranded without a credit to his name.

They're going to have to work together to fix things. Luckily for Zhur, Maeve has a plan. Maeve always has a plan. Unluckily for Zhur, most of Maeve's plans are bad.

...and this latest plan ends up with them being married?!?

Thoughts on When She's Common: I read this as it came out in serial format and MAN I loved watching Zhur and Maeve figure things out in their messy, by-the-seat-of-their-pants way. Zhur had a lot of growing up to do (understandable given that he's getting his first taste of freedom in his life) and Maeve was the perfect match for him because she really didn't care who he was before, just who he could be now.

Which isn't to say things went smoothly. Zhur is a spoiled, entitled male when he first lands on Maeve's doorstep. Or, well, when she first awakened him from stasis. Regardless, his family status means he's gone through life as a pampered prince with servants and retainers who find a way to provide anything he requires. Maeve is the exact opposite of that. She refuses to wait on him, questions him about things people have never questioned him about, and pushes back in the most infuriating way. Except, it becomes a whole lot less infuriating the longer Zhur spends with her.

On Maeve's end, she might not have ended up with the pet she expected, but Zhur definitely keeps her from being bored. He's arrogant, entitled, and doesn't know how to do the most basic tasks. Despite all that, he somehow ends up growing on her. He gives her something to focus on other than her crushing loneliness and he's not THAT bad of a guy. She just has to keep in mind that he's an alien on the run and he won't be sticking around. Which means she absolutely can't fall for the arrogant guy and his strong arms.

Absolutely not. She wouldn't fit into his world AT ALL. And both of them know this.

An antagonistic beginning, family drama of a rather lethal sort, an unhinged meeting with Zhur's celebrity fanboy crush, a few familiar faces, a spoiled prince in hiding, and a lady who finds Lord Hairball growing on her in the best way. I <3 these Risdaverse stories so hard!

RtP's Week In Review (03/02/25)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• A Claim for Calix by Lynnea Lee [Review] - Alien love!
• Not by Oolong Shot by Eryn Scott [Review] - Murder most foul!
• Love 'em and Leaf 'em by Eryn Scott [Review] - More murder!
• For all Eterni-tea by Eryn Scott [Review] - Even MORE murder!
• One Steep Forward, Two Steeps back by Eryn Scott [Review] - SO MUCH MURDER!
• Friends and Amenities by Eryn Scott [Review] - A little B&B murder!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile
• I was vacationing in Disneyland this week and bought NOTHING (book-related. I mean, I bought some Disney ears and stuff.)
• Currently reading 
• A Caribbean Murder by Agatha Christie

Friends and Amenities by Eryn Scott [Review]

Friends and Amenities (Pebble Cove Bed-and-Breakfast #3) by Eryn Scott
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 23, 2024

Pebble Cove Bed-and-Breakfast
1. Breakfast in Dead
2. An Unexpected Vacancy
3. Friends and Amenities - Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Pebble Cove Teahouse
1. Steeped in Suspicion

Eryn Scott
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When Callie took over the Gull’s Nest Bed-and-Breakfast, she thought life would be stable and predictable. Instead, the last few months have taken her on a journey of some of her highest highs and lowest lows. Looking for some semblance of peace, Callie focuses on the things within her control. So, when a man sitting on the boardwalk outside the B and B dies from what looks like natural causes, Callie should be able to leave it alone. Except that the man’s spirit implored her to solve his murder as he passed on, and she can’t get the mystery out of her head. But as Callie searches for answers, the truth might shatter everything she’s worked so hard to build for herself.

Thoughts on Friends and Amenities: We're back in Pebble Cove and Callie is pulled into another investigation when a man dies outside her B&B. As if tracking down clues for a death that looks to be natural (but which Callie is pretty sure is anything but) isn't hard enough, Owen has become distant since the ambush that ended with him injured and his partner dead.

That said, Callie trusts Owen to ask for help if he needs it, so she quietly frets and lets him go about his business. Meanwhile, she's following the scant crumbs she can find with the help of Olivia. Which leads to Callie uncovering a BIG surprise during the investigation that changes things in a whole bunch of ways.

This book nicely ties up Owen's investigation on the drug task force and brings Callie and Owen closer together overall. Pebble Cove might be practically ghost free now, but everybody got their HEA, so that's definitely nice.

One Steep Forward, Two Steeps Back by Eryn Scott [Review]

One Steep Forward, Two Steeps Back (Pebble Cove Teahouse #8.0) by Eryn Scott
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: September 18, 2024

Pebble Cove Teahouse
1. Steeped in Suspicion
2. Matcha Do About Murder
3. A Score to Kettle
4. Chai, Chai Again
5. Dazed and Infused
6. Not by Oolong Shot
7. Love 'em and Leaf 'em
8. For All Eterni-tea
8.5. One Steep Forward, Two Steeps Back - Paperback | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Pebble Cove Bed-and-Breakfast
1. Breakfast in Dead

Eryn Scott
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Return to Pebble Cove with this fun follow-up novella which takes place after book 8, FOR ALL ETERNI-TEA.

Thoughts on One Steep Forward, Two Steeps Back: Rosemary and Asher have a chance to make a go of their relationship and they're making the most of things. Mostly because they don't know if this chance is of the forever variety or just a temporary thing. Which would suck, because these two are gooooood together.

Looking to make Asher more official (because, you know, he doesn't have ID or documentation that would work in the modern world), the couple set out to grease a few palms and get what they needed done. Which is to say, the Rickster knows a guy who can get them what they need.

That's all fine and dandy except the Rickster's guy is in a bit of a spot and Rosemary and Asher can't walk away when they know someone's in danger. So they step and do their thing and use the local spirits to help those in need.

A little danger, some new ghostly acquaintances, a don't ask, don't tell policy between another couple, and Rosemary and Asher making the world a little better for both the living and the dead. GOOD STUFF!