Review: Born for Starlight by Caitlyn O'Leary #10 - Jasper Creek series

Blurb

What if someone finally loved every chaotic, brilliant, untamable part of you?

Before she was a movie star, Angelica Drakos started her life as an abandoned baby in a Brazilian orphanage, where she was found by her four adoptive brothers who refused to leave her behind.

Fast forward three decades, and Angelica Drakos is part of the biggest, most chaotic family on Earth. That family — her parents and her big brothers — have been her safety net and rock as she worked her ass off making a name for herself in Hollywood. Now she had made it, but she was tired. It was time for a break. Time for some reevaluation, and where better than Jasper Creek, Tennessee, where some of her family and friends were calling home?

So she high-tailed it to Tennessee, figuring a couple of weeks would recharge her batteries, and then she could tackle whatever Hollywood threw at her next.

She sure didn't expect Matthew Grainger.

Laughing eyes. Tender heart. Big hands. Sometimes gruff. Always patient. And those shoulders.

Holy Hell.

But Matthew has secrets of his own, and Angelica's past isn't as far behind her as she thinks. When it pulls her back to Brazil, to a little girl named Luzia who needs someone to refuse to leave her behind, Angelica finally understands what her brothers gave her all those years ago. And she's about to find out whether Matthew is a man who stays.

book Link 🔗

AMAZON  | GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH 

Review

Born for Starlight: Small Town Romantic Suspense by Caitlyn O'Leary
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Born for Starlight by Caitlyn O'Leary (Format, e-book)
Status: Read | Rating: [5/5 ⭐] 
Total Pages 341
QUICK IMPRESSION  
This is book 10 in this series, I adore this series Jasper Creek is the perfect blend of small town romance and action and suspense.
QUICK NOTES  
(view spoiler)[
• [Chapter 14]: key scene note.
•I absolutely bawled through Zoe and Adam's wedding 💍 💒... Gosh Ms O'Leary's keyboard was on fire!
(hide spoiler)]

QUOTES TO KEEP  
• Milo – "I’m taking the train next time.”  
• Marty – “I am not paying for this flight.”  
• Zoe – "It turns out the best part of my story was a plot twist."  
• Matthew – "I took my time. And the moment when she went still and silent, like she was listening to something far away, I felt like a king."  
There are loads more I highlighted, but they're too spoilery!

KEY CHARACTERS  
• Angelica Drakos: [Role: Movie Star] Angelica started her life as an abandoned baby in a Brazilian orphanage, where she was found by her four adoptive brothers who refused to leave her behind.  
• Matthew Grainger: [Role: Consultant at Onyx Security] Guarded, with his past in the shadows, but he only has eyes for Angelica. Sometimes gruff. Always patient. And the perfect book boyfriend 🥰.

HONORABLE MENTION
• Little Grandma: [Role: Matriarch of Jasper Creek] Fiery and fiercely protective. Matchmaker, protector of outcasts and strangers. She's 102, and I'm convinced she's a fairy godmother 🤩.  
(There are more, and we get even more delicious alpha males, sassy ladies, and fun 😁!)

FINAL THOUGHTS  
• The Good: Ms. O'Leary's books just hit the sweet spot for me: the worldbuilding, pacing, plot twists, and characters... The town of Jasper Creek, Tennessee, is a fictional place I'd love to live in 😁. The book opens with a nail-biting scene, and when the storyline heads to Brazil, the tension mounts and I just got swept into the pages. Every scene with Little Grandma in it... and the wedding 💒 ❣️. Perfect.  
• The Bad: It ended 🤣... but there's Book 11 (Bruno Drakos's book) on pre-order now! And ooh, I predict this one will be 💥🧨 a 🎯 too. Plus, a spin-off series 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🤩.  
• Verdict: I LOVED IT—the tension, the tears (happy and sad). I've devoured every book Ms. O'Leary has written. I love a military/security/romantic suspense trope, so if you do too and haven't read any of Caitlyn O'Leary's books 📚, jump in and clap your hands, as she has an extensive back catalogue 🎯😍.

NOTE to Ms O'Leary I would love to read about Little Grandma... I bet she had a very interesting youth 🤣🕵🏼‍♀️ Jasper Creek OG series ❓

View all my reviews

Author Bio 

 Caitlyn O’Leary is a USA Today Bestselling Author, #1 Amazon Bestselling Author and a Golden Quill Finalist from Book Viral in 2015. 

Hampered with a mild form of dyslexia she began memorizing books at an early age until her grandmother, the English teacher, took the time to teach her to read -- then she never stopped. 

She began re-writing alternate endings for her Trixie Belden books into happily-ever-afters with Trixie's platonic friend Jim. When she was home with pneumonia at twelve, she read the entire set of World Book Encyclopedias -- a little more challenging to end those happily. 

Caitlyn loves writing about Alpha males with strong heroines who keep the men on their toes. There is plenty of action, suspense and humor in her books. She is never shy about tackling some of today’s tough and relevant issues.  

In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic suspense novels, she is a devoted aunt, an avid reader, a former corporate executive for a fortune 100 company, and totally in love with her husband of soon-to-be twenty-five years.

 

She recently moved back home to the Pacific Northwest from Southern California. She is so happy to see the seasons again; rain, rain and more rain. She has a large fan group on Facebook and through her e-mail list. Caitlyn is known for telling her “Caitlyn Factors”, where she relates her little and big life’s screw-ups. The list is long. She loves hearing and connecting with her fans on a daily basis.

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts Review (personal TBR Read)

 

466 pages, Paperback 

First published May 30, 2017

Literary awards :Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romance (2017)

Setting : Montana (United States)

Characters : Bodine Longbow, Callen Skinner, Alice Bodine

BLURB 

Love. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWN

Bodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...

But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance?

As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.

BOOK LINKS 🔗 

Amazon |  Goodreads | Storygraph 

REVIEW 

Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Come Sundown by Nora Roberts (Format, Paperback)

Nora Roberts is always an author that can whisk me away to another continent or world in a gripping story.

TITLE: Come Sundown

Author: Nora Roberts

Status: Read | Rating: 5/5 ⭐

QUICK IMPRESSION  

This book was so nail-biting! At first, it felt like reading two separate stories: a present-day romance and a past-timeline thriller following Alice. Switching back and forth between past and present gave a much-needed breather from Alice’s torment. But when those timelines finally converged?

What a ride! I do love a Nora Roberts book. I usually rate her fantasy and paranormal titles higher—like Year One or the Guardians Trilogy—since fantasy is my favorite genre, but this one officially takes top spot for my favorite of her non-fantasy books. I guess the gorgeous mountain setting, glorious sunsets, and horses didn't hurt either 🥰.

QUOTES TO KEEP  

• [Quote 1]“You kicked ass that needed kicking tonight, and you topped it off with the best hot and crazy floor sex in my personal experience.”   

• [Quote 2]“I’m going to keep my red hair, just like yours. I’m going to bake biscuits and ride at a gallop. I’m going to sing with my sister and not be afraid. Because I got away, and I came home.”"  I absolutely broke down in some of Alice's scenes.

KEY CHARACTERS  

• [Character 1 Bodine Longbow]: [FMC Runs the resort]. Bodine Longbow finds solace in the early morning light, dedicating herself to the family ranch in Montana.

• [Character 2 Callen Skinner]: [Horse Wrangler/worked in Hollywood with horses on films before coming home]. His father gambled away the family farm, The Longbow ranch bought the land and now the remainder was bought by the resort, Cal grew up with the Longbow kids, Bodine had a crush on him

• [Character 3 Alice Bodine]: [Missing Aunt of Bodine]. Alice packed a bag and headed to Hollywood after her sister's wedding to make a more exciting life, a few postcards were sent, then nothing...

(There are more, but these are the main characters)

FINAL THOUGHTS  

• The Good: The worldbuilding, setting the scene and characters, whether it was in the present, or in the past where my heart was hurting for Alice. The pacing was just right, switching from the trauma to the slightly more cheerful romance between Bodine and Callen.

• The Bad:"Honestly couldn't think of anything!"

I would point out that this book will trigger some readers, but it was written in 2017 before everything was broken down to tropes and triggers on the blurb.

• Verdict: It may have taken me years to finally pull this off my TBR shelf (so many indie author commitments!), but I’m so glad I did. Now that we’re living the caravan lifestyle and traveling around NZ, I’ll be dropping this copy into the nearest Little Free Library for someone else to enjoy 😊.

View all my reviews 

AUTHOR BIO 

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard Review

 

BOOK: Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard

Pub Date: 12 Nov 2025

 BLURB

Cassandrea has never doubted her king.

Not when she spied for him. Lied for him. Killed for him. Not even when it cost her her husband... She would do it all again.


Because peace demands sacrifice. Because traitors deserve no mercy. Because enemies must be hunted down before they disrupt order and cause chaos.


However, Cassandrea's unwavering loyalty is put to the test when she is sent on a mission to take over a coastal town critical to her king's war effort. Accustomed to working alone, she finds it hard to trust another. Especially when the charming kelpie spy she is paired with has an infuriating habit of asking the very questions she has spent a lifetime avoiding. But as the war rages on, one doubt becomes two.


Two become a crack.


And sometimes...


That's all it takes for someone's world to start falling apart.

 

BOOK LINKS 🔗

Amazon | Goodreads | Storygraph 

 REVIEW

  

Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

BOOK: Oaths of Land and Sea by Evelyn A. Bernard (Format: eBook)
Pub Date: 12 Nov 2025
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

• What character did I love? Kerr... 😣
• Feeling bored? No
• Feel frustrated? No
• Lose interest? Definitely not

QUICK IMPRESSION
From the start, you get a strong sense of Cassandrea’s unwavering loyalty to her king. Alone, isolated, and shunned by humans and her own kind alike, her determination to rise above discrimination stands out right away.
Civil war broke out when the dragon king's heir, Terren, rebelled against him. The war rages on with neither side gaining ground for long. Cassandrea's latest orders send her to Renglow to infiltrate the walled city and sabotage its defenses—but this time she has a partner, a kelpie named Kerr. With only three days together in constant close proximity, Cassandrea finally allows herself to feel and care for someone else.

PLOT TWISTS
Chapter 14: Major twist, OMG 😱 I didn't see that coming! I had to re-read a page in Chapter 14 twice because I couldn't believe what I was reading. It’s not often I’m completely bowled over by a plot twist! 👏🏼

QUOTES TO KEEP
"You are my shadow, child. My shadow that I send across the land to cut short the cries of the dissidents, traitors, and rebels."

"Fear," the handsome dragon said, "is the key to their souls."

"Does everybody and everything you meet swoon over you?"
"That’s a loaded question, coming from a siren."
"Yet you still haven’t answered it."
"Are you falling in love with me?"
"No!"
"Then no. Not everybody."

"I’m trying to distract you from yourself," Kerr countered. "The work we do is hard. You’re going to burn out if you don’t allow any fun into your life. So, let go. For one night? Just be here. With me."

KEY CHARACTERS
• Cassandrea Thalarin: A half-blood siren, spy, saboteur, and lone guerrilla operative for her dragon king, Valderan. She has long golden hair, green eyes, and a scarred neck running to her chin that mars her siren beauty.
• Kerr: A handsome, brash, and dangerous kelpie. He has a mane of wavy brown hair, red eyes, broad shoulders, and a mischievous, sensual side. The attraction between Cassandrea and Kerr is powerful, driven in part by their mythical natures.
• Dragon King Valderan: An ancient ruler and one of three triplet siblings. As a dragon, he is a massive black beast with golden eyes, a huge maw that could swallow ten men at once, and a voice that can shatter windows. In human form, he is tall and broad-shouldered with ebony hair and molten gold eyes. He is beautiful in both forms, but utterly brutal. His army relies on ruthless obedience, strength, and enslaved labor.
• Dragon Heir Terren: The young dragon prince who rebelled against Valderan. He leads an army of patriots that grows larger as he sweeps through towns and villages. They fight and work tirelessly for him because they genuinely believe their cause is just.

FINAL THOUGHTS
• The Good: Incredible worldbuilding, vivid character descriptions, and a very detailed glossary at the back. The plot builds a clear picture in your mind, and that plot twist was totally unexpected! 🫨👏🏼
• The Bad: That plot twist 💔... KIDDING! Honestly, I couldn't think of anything!
• Verdict: I found myself thinking about this book and its characters even when I wasn't reading. It's rare for a story to play in the background of my mind like that, but this one did. If you like sirenic water lore, a duty-versus-desire romance, assassin/spy protagonists, and high-stakes royal politics involving dangerous mythical beasts, I highly recommend this! I already have Book 2 on my TBR and cannot wait to read it!

TROPES & AESTHETICS
🔸 ❤️‍🔥 Duty-versus-desire romance (Fade to black)
🔸 🌶 Medium-burn / insta-lust
🔸 💔 Betrayal
🔸 🧜🏼‍♀️ Magical beings & lore
🔸 🥷🏼 Assassin/spy protagonists
🔸 🚨 High-stakes royal politics

View all my reviews

BOOK ART 

Let Me See: Lockwood Legacy Book 2 by Kaylee Navarro

 

BLURB 

When stolen glances turn into an unstoppable obsession...

Harper Beckett, small town girl, park ranger and wildlife enthusiast. She never felt seen or understood or chosen at all, until Connor. Her brother's girlfriend's much older brother burst into her life and turned it all upside down...

Connor Lockwood, cybersecurity genius, protective older brother, enamored with his sisters, boyfriends much younger sister. With green eyes, golden blonde hair and a body that could stop traffic, Harper is everything he never thought he'd have and the only thing he refuses to lose.

When their worlds collide, can he do what is necessary to protect her? Can she accept him as he is?

BOOK LINKS 🔗 

Amazon | Goodreads 

REVIEW 

Let Me See: Lockwood Legacy Book 2 by Kaylee Navarro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let Me See: Lockwood Legacy Book 2
by Kaylee Navarro
4/5 ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I have not read book 1, and the author stated that it isn't required. 😁 I completely agree! The author includes enough backstory to keep you informed, but more importantly, it intrigued me enough to want to go back and read Calliope and Oliver's story. (Let Me Go) Is found here 👉🏼 https://amzn.to/4gQBz4A

BUT this book does literally start with the Male protagonist discussing 'Fred' from book 1. So I felt like I was missing something for a quick minute. Thankfully I soon got into the storyline and as the plot reveals itself, anything relevant to this story was explained 👏🏼. I have found in the past this doesn't happen, and then I am feeling slightly on the back foot.

The author does list the Tropes/warnings: so I've written my thoughts on those below:

*Age Gap 🩶 2/5 (the artwork makes Connor look younger) than his age in the book - 43 but he definitely got all the alpha male dominance traits that make him swoon worthy.
Harper, is 28 but she's definitely smart, independent and knows what she wants in a relationship... I also liked that even though she had never been in a dangerous position, she was smart and used her knowledge to keep herself in control.

*High Spice 🌶️ 4/5 Definitely spicy but I've read spicier , but I think the author has got the spicy/suspense and sweet mix just right 👍🏼, I've really enjoyed reading this book.

*Mafia (mentioned) 🕴🏼⚰️ 3/5 This was a good blend of small town country vibe with Mafia infiltration to create a suspenseful story set in the rural parkland where Harper works. Sergei was a favorite character too 😁
*Violence (on page) ⚔️🛡️🔫 3/5 I've definitely read darker, but the scenes are intense without being overly graphic 👏🏼 I think Queen is my favorite of Connor's team, but Thing 1 &Thing 2 are the ones that are most interesting 🧐
Note to Author: we need a Lockwood Cybersecurity series 😆

*Snakes (mentioned) 🐍 type 😂 and definitely the other type 🤪 (sorry couldn't resist)

*Kinks/Rough Sex 🪢3/5 We have some hot 🔥 scene's inside and outside 😁 gotta explore the woodland opportunities 😉 and Connor is definitely the one calling the shots 🪢🌶️

My final thoughts:
This is the first book I've read of this authors, and I think that considering this is Kaylees second book, and book 1 was released earlier this year (July) I predict we will be seeing more of this new authors works in the future 👏🏼🥰.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

View all my reviews

AUTHOR BIO 

Hey y'all. My name is Kaylee Navarro. I was born and raised in a small town in north west Washington state. After marrying my husband we moved to the south. We have lived in Oklahoma and Texas since 2015. I am a wife, mom and dog mom. Avid animal education advocate and animal lover. I am not just a writer but avid reader as well. I write small town stories because they are what I know. I pour my heart and soul into my characters and hope you love them as much as I do.

When I write, I write what I'd like to read. No extensive miscommunications here. All HEA's and no cheating! I like reading a third act breakup but can't bring myself to write one.

Follow Kaylee Navarro on Instagram 

Embedded by J.L. Drake Review

 

 

 BLURB

From the author of the bestselling Broken Trilogy and Dark Water Series comes Embedded—the second book in Stonewall, the heart pounding action and suspense series, where brotherhood binds them, and passion drives them even in perilous times.

Nicole Winter has many facets—a war correspondent, a protector, a mother in all but blood.

But those are just titles.

Nicole's relentless drive for the truth was forged in war zones and honed by years of experience. Her instincts catch the shifts others overlook, and what whispers now is clear— the Cartel is gathering strength, and war is coming. Once, she would have chased the story, but for the first time, she is in a position more dangerous than she has ever faced.

A secret.

A bond.

A betrayal.

Paul is recovering from his wounds, but the scars no one can see cut deepest. He can’t forgive Nicole for putting his son in the spotlight, yet the child he never claimed is bound to her. She’s a risk he can’t afford, yet the only one who can protect his future.

Fueled by vengeance and ambition, Bruno Perez’s recklessness gives Nicole the chance to do the unthinkable and return to the viper’s pit, even if it costs her life.

As the team closes in and loyalties fracture, the green light unleashes the unimaginable. Blood is shed in the most unlikely places, and no one is beyond the line of fire.

* Intended for 18+, may contain triggers, ends with a cliffhanger *

Topes: Military Romantic Suspense - Slow Burn - Protective Hero - Betrayal - Cartel War - Found Family - War Correspondent Heroine - High-Stakes Romance

 BOOK LINKS 🔗 

Out now 

Book 1 Amazon US

Book 2 Amazon US 

Pre order 

Book 3 Amazon US 

REVIEW

  Embedded by J.L. Drake
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

BOOK:Embedded: Stonewall Trilogy #2 By  JL Drake.
Note:This is book 2 in this series and you most definitely need to read them in order.
Status: Read
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Published: 18 Nov 2025

QUICK IMPRESSION  
The book continues right from the drama of book 1, and the heart-pounding action and suspense keep going!

REVIEW  
Paul is recovering from his injuries and having a hard time forgiving Nicole for endangering his son by revealing his heritage to the world. What he doesn't understand is that it was her only way to get Chase out safely. This causes a lot of tension between Nicole and Paul, as well as with his teammates as they realize she’s keeping secrets.
As they recover from their escape from Mexico, an uneasy truce is formed and  secrets are finally revealed and then Bruno Perez’s obsession gives Nicole the chance to finish what she'd started and return to the Cartel underworld,  Paul is divided, he knows she's been in this for years, but after they finally admitted their feelings for each other they are more than aware tomorrow is never guaranteed.

QUOTES TO KEEP  
• "To Paul, Sorry, man, but it was time to shake shit up." - the dedication just cracked me up  
• "I don’t care what happens to me, but can you promise to get this little guy to safety?"  
• “Mr. Gates, I hardly recognized you without blood dripping from your hands,”  

KEY CHARACTERS  
• Character 1 - Paul: Role: Agent. Paul, our MMC he's struggling, with injuries and his feelings towards Nicole
• [Character 2 - Nicole Winter: Role: War Correspondent.
Our FMC Nicole is documenting the Mexican Cartel wars but had to burn her position for the sake of Paul's son Chase ( she's unaware Paul is the father)
• [Character 3 - Bruno Perez]:Role: Son of Ezmarelda Perez, Head of the Perez Cartel. His obsession with Nicole is his Achilles' heel.
(There are a lot of characters in this series, the author kindly listed them at the beginning of the book.
Another favorite for me was: Chili: Role: Undercover Agent ( l love how he was with the ladies in the truck and his constant support to Paul).
And these get an honorable mention because they make me want to read their books:
Grim Gates: Mafia King [Havoc of Sins Trilogy]
Trigger: MC President of [Devil’s Reach Trilogy] 😁)

FINAL THOUGHTS  
The Good:the intense continuation of the plot, my stomach was tight as Nicole and Chase escaped Mexico, the twists of not knowing who you can trust. The Mexico scenes are undoubtedly more tense and thrilling because of the situations.

The Bad:  Nothing "bad" as such... but I did feel the plot slowed down a whole lot when they got back to Shadow's safe house (though trouble soon invades their once-safe haven anyway!).

As we get to the end of the book this is where the parts that made me cry 😭 happen.
And that ending 🤯😱  Not really spoiling it ... This is in the Blurb... Blood is shed in the most unlikely places, and no one is beyond the line of fire.
When I turned the page and saw that it ended on a cliffhanger, I was 😱🤯! But thankfully, the author gives you a sneak peek of Book 3, Breached—which is the final book and comes out in just 2 weeks! 😅

Verdict:A solid sequel to book 1,
If you’re looking for a high-stakes romantic suspense that you can fly through in one sitting (I'm really happy it's been chucking it down with rain all day 🌧️) add Embedded to your TBR immediately!

View all my reviews

AUTHOR BIO 

If you wish to read the authors books in order click here 

J.L. Drake, born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California. Though she loves the weather in Cali, she would sell her left kidney for a good rainstorm. Jodi’s love of the seasons back home in Canada definitely appear in her books. When she’s not writing, you can often find her sitting somewhere along the coast of Huntington Beach, reading, or at home curled up on a couch with her two children and husband, binge watching a good movie. 

AUTHORJLDRAKE.COM 

Extraction by J.L. Drake Review

BLURB 

From the author of the bestselling Broken Trilogy and Dark Water Series comes Extraction—the first book in Stonewall, a dangerous suspense series in the World of Mayhem, where brotherhood runs deep, and the fight for what matters most only gets harder when the heart is on the line.

Agent Paul is a soldier of many faces—

a ghost, an undercover operative, a team leader.

But those are just titles.

When a letter lands in his hands, everything changes. The past he buried resurfaces with a single revelation—his son.

Returning to the cartel world he barely escaped is a mission he can’t face alone. His brothers rally behind him, shifting their current operation to follow a trail that leads into the darkest corners of Mexico. What they encounter is far more than intel.

A pawn.

An heir.

A child.

Nicole Winter is a war correspondent with a reputation for chasing the truth. Smart. Relentless. And already three steps ahead. When their paths collide, she’s holding the one document Paul needs—and carrying secrets of her own.

As trust is tested and loyalties blur, the mission spirals. When Paul vanishes mid-operation, Nicole is left with one impossible task—to get the boy out alive.

Even if it costs her everything.

BOOK INFORMATION 

Published June 26, 2025

Series: Stonewall Trilogy (#1)

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published: June 26, 2025

Amazon. |  Goodreads.  |  Storygraph 

REVIEW

 

This is the first book I have read by this author, but I love this trope and the series sounded right up my alley.

​Extraction is the first book in this series, but it’s set in the author’s previous World of Mayhem universe. That could have been confusing, but thankfully it wasn't! I always appreciate when an author considers new readers and provides enough background to make the story stand on its own while still making you want to go back and read the original series.

​The main MMC, Agent Paul, is a "ghost." He worked as an undercover operative and is technically dead. He’s worked out a system to lead his men behind the scenes without putting his face out in the world where it could be caught on surveillance—a setup that really highlights how modern tech like smartphones, social media, and CCTV has made the world of covert operations so much more complicated.

​When Paul finds out he’s a father and that his son is in danger, his old life comes back to haunt him. He risks everything to join his team on the ground, following a trail that leads straight into the Mexican cartels. Paul’s situation is so heavy—he carries immense trauma and guilt from his undercover days. Having to sit back and let others take the lead in his own son's rescue was agonizing. Reading his POV made my heart hurt as he reflected on his relationship with Talya and their missing boy.

​Our FMC is Nicole Winter, a war correspondent with a reputation for chasing the truth. Thanks to her contacts, she’s already three steps ahead of Paul. She gets caught up in a dangerous situation with one of the cartels while searching for the child, and when her path collides with Paul’s, the tension jumps off the page. Both can’t deny their attraction, but with a child's life hanging in the balance as an heir and pawn of the cartel, they have to focus on what matters—even as the mission spirals.

​The situation Nicole ends up in when Paul disappears led to some of the most intense scenes in the book for me. The struggle, the sheer exhaustion... I felt every bit of it as I read. To me, that’s what makes a fantastic book: when you’re so invested in the characters and story that you feel like you’re right there beside them (or in their shoes) as they fight to survive.

​Favorite quote:

​"My world had just been shaken like a snow globe, and I still waited for all the flakes to settle."

​If you like enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, military romance, romantic suspense, slow burns, and redemption arcs, this book will be right up your alley!

View all my reviews       

Available now in the Stonewall Trilogy

 

UK Amazon 🔗 

US Amazon 🔗

CA Amazon 🔗 

AU Amazon 🔗 

Breached by J.L. Drake releases October 6! 

 

War isn't raging south of the border.

 

For Blackstone, this isn't just another mission. It's the fight for everything they've built—and everyone they love 

 

It's coming home.

Pre-order today! 

 US: https://amzn.to/4ggiGsA

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/0iUpbMKk 

CA: 

AU: https://amzn.asia/d/08H79AdJ  

AUTHOR BIO 

If you wish to read the authors books in order click here 

J.L. Drake, born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California. Though she loves the weather in Cali, she would sell her left kidney for a good rainstorm. Jodi’s love of the seasons back home in Canada definitely appear in her books. When she’s not writing, you can often find her sitting somewhere along the coast of Huntington Beach, reading, or at home curled up on a couch with her two children and husband, binge watching a good movie. 

AUTHORJLDRAKE.COM 

Review: The Overbooked Suite by Michael Wolsiefer

 BLURB 

Neil endures his soul-crushing corporate job, placates his demanding family, and suffer through a relationship with a girlfriend who constantly gaslights him. His only sanctuary is his daily coffee break with his coworker, Sonya. Sonya is fierce, blunt, and beautiful—everything Neil secretly wants.

When a scheduling disaster at a San Diego conference leaves Neil homeless, Sonya offers to share her upgraded suite. Suddenly, the safe distance of the office is gone, replaced by late-night balcony confessions and the undeniable electricity of shared space. But the conference brings ghosts: Neil’s toxic girlfriend is blowing up his phone, and Sonya’s abusive ex-boyfriend has arrived, determined to lure her back with a lucrative job offer. To protect the woman he loves, Neil has to stop playing it safe. He’ll have to face down her past, sever ties with his own, and finally admit that he doesn't just want to be her best friend—he wants to be her forever.

The Overbooked Suite is a steamy, dual-POV, forced-proximity romance for anyone who's ever fallen for the person who was quietly, patiently there all along — perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. 

REVIEW 

  The Overbooked Suite by Michael Wolsiefer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

BOOK:The Overbooked Suite by Michael Wolsiefer (Format, ebook)

A Slow-Burn Romance Driven by Drama and Indecision

Title: The Overbooked Suite
Author: Michael Wolsiefer
Status: Read
Rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Spice level:🌶️

QUICK IMPRESSION

​Michael Wolsiefer’s debut novel, The Overbooked Suite, is a classic dual-POV, forced-proximity romance with workplace drama, toxic exes, and slow-burn angst.
The setup is full of potential: Neil and Sonya go from daily coffee-break co-workers to sharing a suite at a San Diego conference, forcing their long-harbored feelings into the open.

QUOTES TO KEEP

• “You two will grow with each other, but it takes time to grow something. A tree isn’t strong in weeks, it takes years, it needs roots, nourishment, care. You will get there. You need to let someone nourish you for a change. Moving or not moving, same job or new job, it doesn’t matter as long as you have someone who loves you and supports you through it all."

FINAL THOUGHTS

​While the premise sets up an ideal environment for instant sparks, much of the narrative focuses on the agonizingly slow burn between the two leads. In fact, roughly 80% of the book is spent watching Neil and Sonya dither around their true feelings.

Sonya seems to be the more focused presence. She has been there for Neil listening to him and his issues with Tessa (an influencer, totally self absorbed... I couldn't understand why he hadn't got out the relationship months ago). Sonya has morals so she has been giving Neil the space he needs to make his own decision, she doesn't want to push him.

For me Neil was a frustrating male lead, he is plagued with self-doubt, his upbringing makes him prioritize family obligations, and guilt over leaving a bad relationship before his own happiness. This for me was very frustrating and I was literally wanting to slap him around the head a number of times.

I am used to reading books where the male protagonist is bold, self assured, Neil’s constant overthinking and passive behavior was my biggest issue with this character. He struggles to step up, make the right choices, or own his feelings without spiraling into panic, leaving you practically yelling at the pages for him to finally "man up" and take action.

When breakthrough moments finally happen, the sudden leap into intense commitment feels jarring after so much hesitation, only for his signature cold feet to return almost immediately the next morning.

​That said, l did have one character that I loved. Sonya’s mother has a brief but standout presence, offering genuinely wise advice (see quote)

The subplot with the other conference attendees, one being Sonya’s ex Brian keeps the plot moving forward even when the romantic progression hits a lull.

Verdict: For me both characters were too indecisive, I spent most of the book muttering at them, there wasn't much comedy but if you enjoy heavy angst, emotional hesitation, it might be more your style.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review

View all my reviews

AUTHOR BIO

I live in Indiana with my wife and five children. I am very passionate about writing, art, and creativity. I love telling stories about social barriers and how characters overcome them. This is the first of several ideas that am crafting into larger stories and series. 

When I'm not writing or working a full-time job, I'm playing board games with my family, working outside with my garden and koi pond, or finding the next location to travel to. I'm a big advocate for those with Celiac Disease ( I have it myself). I'm a huge ally for those suffering from mental health issues and write opinion pieces online about my journey. 

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