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

 

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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. 

Website  |  Instagram  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads

Stolen Days in by Maria Lorca Review

 Cover design: Cherie Fox Design. 

 BLURB 

Laura Valdés is a 22nd -century time agent when the Consortium and the Opposition fight in a generational war for the last resources on a devastated Earth. In a world that’s moved underground, Laura longs for the 20th century, where love, life and loss proceed in the open, come rain or shine.

When a mission to Occupied France arises, Laura volunteers to jump to 1944 to stop Opposition agents from killing Le Renard, the charismatic leader of the Resistance. To let that happen would mean to change the course of history. The last thing she expects is to meet Henri Beaumont, whose movies have become an obsession – a preoccupation that could put her usual by-the-book approach to the test.

Laura and Henri are thrown together into a dangerous operation through Aquitaine to save their comrades. Not only must they avoid German patrols, they must avoid their feelings too.

In the face of isolation and danger, they’re on the verge of falling for one another. But unless Henri can be convinced to marry Marie and preserve the timeline, Laura and Henri might never meet in the first place.

Can a woman from the future and a man living a lie history chose for him be destined for each other?

Only time will tell.

BOOK LINKS 🔗 

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REVIEW

 

Stolen Days : How far would you go for the right person in the wrong century? by María Lorca
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

BOOK: Stolen Days by Maria Lorca (Format: ebook)

TITLE: Stolen Days  
Author: Maria Lorca  
Status: Read  
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

QUICK IMPRESSION  
"How far would you go for the right person in the wrong century?"
As a fan of time-travel agents (Star Trek: Picard’s watcher Tallinn comes to mind!), I was immediately hooked by the premise of Stolen Days.
In a bleak future, becoming a Time Agent comes with severe risks—but also massive perks, like traveling to eras where clean air and fresh food were abundant. Agent First Class Laura Valdés loves the early 1900s, using surviving classic cinema to prep for her missions. Her newest assignment takes her to WWII-era France near Bordeaux, where she must stop an assassination targeting Le Renard (The Fox), a key figure in the French Resistance.

QUICK NOTES  
One of my thoughts on the subject of going back in time, is how little or how much should the agent interact...
One intense scene really hurt, but I understood the moral dilemma of why Laura couldn't intervene.

QUOTES TO KEEP  
• “If it weren’t for duty and responsibility, I would say let’s take our boat and sail it to a desert island. Live on the island and make love all day.”

• “I’m a time traveller from the future!”

• “But the way I see it, is that every minute with you is a gift. We were never meant to be, but despite this, we found each other. Our love transcends time and space. That’s how strong it is.”

• “We were always meant to be and not even time and space could keep us apart. But it’s still not enough time.”

• “Maybe we meet in passing in this life, and I will see you in the next life,”

• “I’m ninety-seven years old. Most people don’t reach that age. I had a good life and have made my peace with dying. We all die one day and the rest of the days we don’t.”

• He kissed me again, and this time, the kiss was everything.  

KEY CHARACTERS  
• Character 1: Laura Valdés: Role/Class: Time Agent First Class. History major, has the knowledge that is crucial to adapt to the challenges of WW2, loyal to her supervisor Mike, she prefers her own company but has a best friend, Time Agent Second Class Lizzie Rossi is there to support her when needed. Her latest mission is to stop the 'Opposition' from assassinating the leader of the French Resistance near Bordeaux. His code name is Le Renard, (The Fox).
• Character 2: Michael Nelson, or just Mike: Role/Class: Supervising Time Agent. Mike has feelings for Laura, but she's oblivious to it at first. He is supportive of his agents and well liked. He is willing to go up against his superiors to ensure his team are ok.
• Character 3: Henri Beaumont: Role/Class: Principal in the Time mission objective. Henri worked for the French Resistance during World War II, and afterwards creates a career in Hollywood. Married to Marie and father to Sylvie. Laura is a big fan of his movies.

FINAL THOUGHTS  

• The Good:

• Seamless Worldbuilding: Multi-timeline stories can get convoluted, but the pacing and timeline shifts flowed naturally.
• Smart Protagonist: Laura uses her knowledge as a history major and classic film enthusiast to adapt to WWII challenges.
• Emotional Depth: The story presents genuine moral dilemmas around interference in the timeline—one scene in particular was heart-wrenching, yet completely understandable.
• The Bad: There really wasn't anything in particular.
Room for More:
I would love to explore more of the future timeline in upcoming books—specifically why neither the Consortium nor the Opposition uses their time-travel technology to fix their degraded present. Hoping for answers in Book 2.
• Verdict:A refreshing departure from standard Romantasy and a fantastic sci-fi romance read. Recommended for fans of time travel, WWII espionage, and star-crossed romance. "How far would you go for the right person in the wrong century?" That says it all...

TROPES  
• ⏳ Right person, wrong time
• ✨ Star-crossed lovers
• 🔒 Forced proximity
• ⚖️ Moral dilemma & war conflict

View all my reviews 

AUTHOR BIO

Maria Lorca is a Spanish author who lives in Germany. Raised between two cultures, she is a native speaker of Spanish and German. Maria began writing poetry in her teens before transitioning to short stories and novels. She also co-wrote the libretto for an award-winning musical. Introduced to fantasy and science fiction by her older brothers at a young age, her fascination with these genres never faded. In her free time, she enjoys flamenco and salsa dancing, as well as reading classic literature. She is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in English, with a focus on English literature.

AUTHOR LINKS 🔗 

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New Release: The Challenge by Penelope Ward

 

Title: The Challenge

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Single Dad, Second Chance, Forced Proximity

Friends to Lovers, Small Town, Found Family

Release Date: August 30, 2026

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

Nothing says welcome home like accidentally moving in with your first heartbreak…and his little girl.

Coming back to my small Wyoming hometown was supposed to be temporary. I only planned to stay long enough to help my ailing mother and sort through the mess of my family’s old belongings.

Instead, I somehow ended up living in Evan Ricci’s house. The single dad now owned a bunch of properties and one of them was the place I’d rented. He’d taken it off the market and moved in before I got there. I just never got the memo. Unfortunately, there was no other place in town available, so Evan let me stay.

Evan—the guy my parents took in years ago after his mother died.

The same Evan who used to dare me into ridiculous challenges that somehow always made me stronger—a game we’d dubbed The Challenge.

The same guy who ultimately rejected me before I left for college after I’d finally garnered the courage to shoot my shot.

Now Evan was a rugged single dad with an eight-year-old daughter, a cocky attitude, and a dangerous ability to make me forget every reason I should still hate him.

Sharing a house with him should’ve been unbearable. Instead, it felt dangerously familiar, nearly making me forget that I had a life and a job to get back to in Chicago. I realized the biggest challenge wasn’t surviving living with Evan Ricci.

It was not falling in love with him all over again.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PURCHASE LINKS

Special release price of $3.99

for a limited time only!

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited

DUET AUDIO

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

A model-cover paperback will be live on release day

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

SINGLE DAD

SMALL TOWN

FRIENDS TO LOVERS

SECOND CHANCE

FORCED PROXIMITY

FOUND FAMILY

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

AUTHOR LINKS

FACEBOOK
FACEBOOK GROUP
INSTAGRAM

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OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

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Excerpt Reveal for The Challenge: A Single Dad Romance by Penelope Ward.

Title: The Challenge

Author: Penelope Ward

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Single Dad, Second Chance, Forced Proximity

Friends to Lovers, Small Town, Found Family

Release Date: August 30, 2026

Take a sneak peek of THE CHALLENGE...

First Edition

Copyright © 2026

By Penelope Ward

There was so much I wanted to know about his life. More than anything, I wanted to ask what he’d dreamed about when he called my name. I was also tempted to ask about Effie’s mother. He’d said they were divorced, but was she still in the picture? Why was Effie living with him full time?

But instead of unloading all my questions, I scratched my pounding head and asked, “Do you have coffee here, by any chance?”

Rather than answer, he stalked over to a cabinet above the fridge—the one place I hadn’t checked.

With my arms wrapped around my chest, I watched as he pulled out a filter and placed it in the machine before scooping some grounds. I admired how the muscles in his back moved with the motion of his arms, the way his jeans hugged his ass.

After he started the pot, the room filled with the bubbling sound of coffee brewing. Evan turned toward me, and we stared at each other in tense silence.

“How did you sleep?” he finally asked.

“Not bad, all things considered.”

“All things being me?” He arched a brow.

“I have nothing against you, Evan.”

“Oh really? Because that unhinged letter you wrote me says otherwise. It’s not like time could change all that. Especially when we haven’t been in touch since then. I never reached out. And you never called, either.”

“I was very emotional when I wrote that letter.” I gulped. “And drunk. I wasn’t supposed to send it. It was just meant to be a way to let out my feelings.”

“So, why did you send it?”

“I wish I understood…”

“You mean to tell me you don’t still feel that way, even a little?”

My gaze fell to the floor. “It’s been a decade. Like I told you, I’d been drinking, so I don’t entirely remember what I wrote.”

Evan scratched his chin. “I don’t know if I believe that.”

I looked up. “Regardless of what unkind words I expressed in a drunken, regrettable moment…I’ve moved on.”

“Doesn’t seem like you’ve moved on given the way you raced out of here yesterday to find another place, just so you didn’t have to look at me.”

“Well, you weren’t exactly welcoming.” He was right that I’d raced out of here. But his assumption that I didn’t want to look at him? No. After all these years, it was still hard not to look at him.

The coffee gurgled to signal the end of its cycle. Saved by the gurgle.

Evan opened the cabinet. To my surprise, he set down two mugs and began preparing my coffee just the way I liked it: two sugars and heavy cream. He stirred and then handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t have to ask how he knew the way I took it. Back when he’d been living with us, Evan and I had often caught up over coffee in my family’s kitchen before the crack of dawn while everyone else was asleep. So this was far from the first time he’d prepared a cup for me. Little did he know, I’d actually had my very first cup of coffee with him. When I’d started getting up early to join him, I hadn’t tried coffee yet. But I’d pretended to need the caffeine just as much as he did, though the only morning jolt I’d wanted back then was Evan. The smell of coffee right now, the smell of him... I was drowning in nostalgia, tinged with a bittersweet knowing that so much had changed.

We stood across from each other, silently sipping our coffees as if this was some sort of duel—who could drink it the fastest without saying anything?

Eventually, Evan set his mug down. “There are fresh towels in the linen closet off the hallway. Effie has some girly bodywash in the shower, if you need it. Pomegranate scent or some crap.” He lifted his mug again and added, “You look like you could use a shower.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you. I guess I’ll take a shower before I head out to look for a place. I’ll let you know if I find one, so I can get out of your hair.”

He took a sip and saluted me with his mug. “Good luck with that.”

It was embarrassing to think I hadn’t taken a shower since I left Chicago. I grabbed a couple of towels from the closet and headed into the small bathroom.

After sliding the shower curtain open, I smiled at the sight of both masculine and “girly” bodywash side by side. As the warm water rained down on me, I squeezed pomegranate shower gel into my hand and thought about how cute and honest Effie had been last night when she’d come into my room. Closing my eyes and trying to relax, I took my sweet time lathering my body and massaging my neck. After I finished what turned out to be a twenty-minute shower, I stepped out and wrapped myself in a towel. But a loud crash just outside the door caused me to jump. “Is everything okay?” I called.

PRE-ORDER LINKS

Special pre-order price of $3.99

(price will go up after release)

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Will be free in Kindle Unlimited

DUET AUDIO

SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK

ADD TO GOODREADS

The current paperback preorder is for the alternate cover only.

A model-cover paperback will be live on release day.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

SINGLE DAD

SMALL TOWN

FRIENDS TO LOVERS

SECOND CHANCE

FORCED PROXIMITY

FOUND FAMILY

BLURB

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward comes a new, STANDALONE contemporary romance…

Nothing says welcome home like accidentally moving in with your first heartbreak…and his little girl.

Coming back to my small Wyoming hometown was supposed to be temporary. I only planned to stay long enough to help my ailing mother and sort through the mess of my family’s old belongings.

Instead, I somehow ended up living in Evan Ricci’s house. The single dad now owned a bunch of properties and one of them was the place I’d rented. He’d taken it off the market and moved in before I got there. I just never got the memo. Unfortunately, there was no other place in town available, so Evan let me stay.

Evan—the guy my parents took in years ago after his mother died.

The same Evan who used to dare me into ridiculous challenges that somehow always made me stronger—a game we’d dubbed The Challenge.

The same guy who ultimately rejected me before I left for college after I’d finally garnered the courage to shoot my shot.

Now Evan was a rugged single dad with an eight-year-old daughter, a cocky attitude, and a dangerous ability to make me forget every reason I should still hate him.

Sharing a house with him should’ve been unbearable. Instead, it felt dangerously familiar, nearly making me forget that I had a life and a job to get back to in Chicago. I realized the biggest challenge wasn’t surviving living with Evan Ricci.

It was not falling in love with him all over again.

AUTHOR BIO

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor. Penelope resides in Rhode Island with her husband, son, and beautiful daughter with autism.

With millions of books sold, she is a 21-time New York Times bestseller and the author of over forty books. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages and can be found in bookstores around the world.

AUTHOR LINKS

FACEBOOK
FACEBOOK GROUP
INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK
X

OTHER BOOKS BY PENELOPE WARD

SEE ALL BOOKS HERE