RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Fallen Ink (Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs #1)

Fallen Ink (Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs #1), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: April 17, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) The Montgomery Ink series continues with a spin-off in Colorado Springs, where a familiar Montgomery finds her place in a new tattoo shop, and in the arms of her best friend.

Adrienne Montgomery is finally living her dreams. She’s opened a tattoo shop with her brother, Shep, and two of her cousins from Denver and she’s ready to take the city by storm with her art—as long as she can handle the pressure. When her new neighbors decide her shop isn’t a great fit for the community, however, she’ll have to lean on the one person she didn’t expect to fall for along the way… her best friend.
Mace Knight takes pride in two things: his art and his daughter. He knows he’s taking a risk by starting over in a new shop with the Montgomerys, but the stakes are even higher when he finds himself wanting Adrienne more than he thought possible.
The two fall fast and hard but they know the rules; they can’t risk their friendship, no matter how hot it is between the sheets and how many people try to stand in their way.

The Montgomery cousins are open for business at Montgomery Ink Too, which is nothing but awesome for we readers, since that means that the well of stories based around this amazingly close-knit family hasn't even come close to running dry. 

The first book in the Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs spin-off series, Fallen Ink, centers around Adrienne Montgomery, one of the two new owners of the satellite tattoo shop (she owns it with her older brother Shep). Adrienne and Shep only have a small staff right now which includes tattoo artists Ryan and Mace. Mace happens to be Adrienne's best friend, and after some opening day stress and a rainy night, things between these two escalate to seriously hot heights. 

It seemed as if Mace and Adrienne were poised to take that next step, even if both of them were in total denial about it. No one was surprised when it finally happened. It reminded me so much of Maya Montgomery and Jake Gallagher's relationship (Ink Enduring). It is a good thing they have that strong basis as friends, because stress is coming at them from all sides, and it makes starting a new relationship with your best friend all that more challenging. 

First, the new shop is targeted relentlessly by someone who doesn't appreciate people with tattoos in their otherwise idyllic white bread neighborhood. The vandals become increasingly violent and hateful, and it's difficult to find out who's behind it all. 

On top of that, Mace suddenly has to care for his daughter on a more permanent basis, so he has to balance work hours, quality time with his daughter and personal time with Adrienne - who also happens to technically be his boss. It's crazy and dangerous and the whole time I was reading I kept thinking that, if anyone can make it, a Montgomery can. 

The one hold-over from the original Montgomery Ink series is the presence and importance of family - both by blood and by heart. It's my favorite part of this series. I love how close the Montgomery siblings are and how they're always there to watch each other's backs and to meddle when necessary. 

Fallen Ink is a well-thought out spin-off of a beloved series and is rife with tons of plot bunnies just waiting to take off and make the Colorado Springs series just as amazing as the original. 

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Eternal Mourning (Talon Pack #7)

Eternal Mourning (Talon Pack #7), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) In the seventh book of the Talon Pack series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan, a Healer is forced to come to grips with the idea that he can’t save everyone…including the woman he loves.

Walker Brentwood vowed to the moon goddess that he’d protect his Pack and Heal with every last ounce of his power. He’s watched his siblings and cousin battle the worst circumstances to find love and is now afraid that the one woman who could be his might not have much time left. The rules of mating have changed, and Walker will do what he has to in order to protect the bonds that have eluded him for so long.

Aimee Reagan knows there’s something wrong with her. She’s known since the first time she found out shifters were real and magic existed. When the Talon Pack’s enemy sets his sights on her, her battle to survive becomes even harder.

Walker and Aimee must turn to each other when the powers around them change and the paths that had been laid before them are no longer clear. But when their passion threatens a curse far older than anyone dreamed, they’ll only have one chance to save something worth more than a mating bond. Their future.

OMG, I love where Carrie Ann Ryan is going with the Talon Pack series. In the last book, she introduced a new game-changer element to the Talon Pack's on-going challenges, and that was expounded upon and made a key element in Eternal Mourning.

I've been dying to get Walker's story. He's the Talon Pack's Healer, and has been a stalwart presence in every book. He's a calming presence and has an amazing and very useful ability to heal most wounds for those in his pack. He's seen his brothers and cousins find their mates, and he wants that for himself so much. He finally finds that in Aimee, but there's a big problem - she's dying. 

Aimee knows she's dying, but she has no idea why or what to do about it. When she meets Walker and has this instant connection to him, she wants so much to explore that, but her limited time complicates matters. Walker can't heal her since she's a human and not a part of the pack. And she doesn't want him to mate with her just so he can heal her. It's an impossibly difficult situation for both of them, and I can't imagine all the hard decisions they had to make. 

Meanwhile, the threats from another new enemy are escalating, which adds yet another complication to Walker's and Aimee's potential HEA. These two certainly have the deck stacked against them.

I don't want to say too much about the new elements that Carrie Ann Ryan has thrown into the mix or about the new enemy that the Talons and Redwoods are facing - it's better if you experience it yourself without me giving away the surprise. I'll just say that the ways that she is keeping this series fresh and exciting are awesome. I'm with her 100% as we explore them more in coming books. In fact, if I had one complaint about Eternal Mourning, it would be that I wanted more of these exciting changes than what we got. But, there's still two books left in the series, so I'm hoping I'll get more details soon.

Walker and Aimee are a great couple, and I loved their story. Walker is one of the sweetest Talons, and the way he cared for Aimee made my heart flutter. He might be super sweet, but when he needs to turn on the sexiness, he's on fire. This is a great addition to the Talon Pack series, and a great set-up to the final two books that are yet to come.  

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Whiskey Secrets (Whiskey and Lies #1)

Welcome to a brand new series from Carrie Ann Ryan! WHISKEY SECRETS kicks off her Whiskey and Lies series about a trio of brothers living in Whiskey, Pennsylvania.

Whiskey Secrets (Whiskey and Lies #1), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Sparks fly between a former cop-turned-bartender and his new innkeeper in the first installment of a Montgomery Ink spin-off series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan. 

Dare Collins is a man who knows his whiskey and women—or at least that’s what he tells himself. When his family decides to hire on a new innkeeper for the inn above his bar and restaurant, he’s more than reluctant. Especially when he meets the new hire. But he’ll soon find that he has no choice but to work with this city girl and accept her new ideas and the burning attraction between them.

Kenzie Owens left her old life and an abusive relationship behind her—or so she thought. She figures she’ll be safe in Whiskey, Pennsylvania but after one look at her new boss, Dare Collins, she might still be in danger, or at least her heart. And when her past catches up with her despite her attempts to avoid it, it’s more than her heart on the line. This time, it might mean her life.

I am so glad Carrie Ann Ryan decided to write this series. We met the hunky Collins brothers in Ink Exposed when they came to Colorado to help out their little sister Tabby. They were three strapping men whose overprotectiveness and overall wonderfulness kinda stole the show. So, Carrie Ann gave them their own show.

Dare is the ex-cop who left the force when he lost his partner. You might take the man out of the police force, but you can't take the police force out of the man. Dare takes care of the people and things around him. He manages his family's restaurant and bar almost single-handedly. His son is the light of his life, even though he doesn't get to see him much. So, when his parents hire an woman to manage their inn, he's initially not to happy about that. But, when he sees that Kenzie also needs someone to watch out for her, he takes that role seriously. 

Kenzie's doing her best to escape the toxic people in her life, and that starts with her new job at the Collins' inn in Whiskey, Pennsylvania. But, she's skittish and nervous and not a fan of the hostile welcome Dare gave her when she arrived. All those things should've combined to make him completely unattractive to her, but Dare's love of his family and his work ethic (and his hot body) broke down her walls pretty quickly. 

Carrie Ann Ryan frequently adds a bit of mystery and danger to her books, and I love it when she does that. It's not nearly enough for this to be classified as a romantic suspense book, but there's the right amount to give the reader something else to turn around in their heads while they're waiting for Dare and Kenzie to get their acts together and realize they were meant for each other. 

Whiskey Secrets gives us a really good introduction to the two other brothers that make up the Collins family - and the two other stars of their own upcoming books. Each brother is very different with distinct personalities and lives. I expect we will see a lot of Dare and Kenzie in the next two books, and I'm looking forward to that. 

Carrie Ann Ryan brings her usual flair for writing heartfelt stories and passionate people to Whiskey Secrets. It's a fantastic introduction to this fascinating family. 

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
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COVER REVEAL: Inked Memories (Montgomery Ink #8)

Did you catch the cover of the newest - and final - Montgomery Ink book? It's going to be SO hard to say goodbye to this family, but I have a feeling Wes' story will take us out with a bang...

Inked Memories (Montgomery Ink #8), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: October 31, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) Wes Montgomery watched his entire family fall in love, and now finds himself ready to settle down. Except the one person he seems to find chemistry with is not only his twin’s ex, she also works for Montgomery Inc. But when the two find themselves in one compromising situation after another, Wes realizes he’s having second thoughts about the dynamic woman who’s burst her way into his life. Sure she sets off his temper, but she also makes him hot in every other way possible.

Jillian Reid never loved her best friend like everyone thought she should, so she pushed him away so he could have his future. Now, despite fighting it, she finds herself attracted to the one man she shouldn’t. When her father’s health takes a turn for the worse, and a danger no one saw coming show its face, she’s forced to turn to Wes for help. The two of them have fought off their attraction long enough, and each cave to the desire. But this enemies-to-lovers tale might have an ending no one ever dreamed of.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
Newsletter: http://carrieannryan.com/newsletter
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BLOG TOUR: Hope Restored (Gallagher Brothers #3)

Read on for my review of Carrie Ann Ryan's final Gallaher Brothers book - HOPE RESTORED.

Hope Restored (Gallagher Brothers #3), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: July 25, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) The Gallagher Brothers series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan concludes with the final brother who thought he had everything to look forward to, and the one woman who can handle him.

Life isn’t worth living if you don’t fight to live. That’s what Murphy Gallagher learned at a young age when cancer ravaged his body not once, but twice. Over the course of his survival, he lost his parents and his childhood, but he’s been healthy for years and has become a man he hopes his family is proud of. But when his world tilts on its axis yet again, he’ll have to learn what it means to fight not only the unknown but also his attraction to his best friend.

Tessa Stone works hard and plays harder. She’s spent her life trying to figure out who she is in the present rather than looking back. Yet when she’s forced into close proximity with Murphy, she’ll have to not only be his rock but learn how to relax enough to maybe let him be hers, as well. But seduction doesn’t stop when the world seems to, and close encounters of the naked kind might just be the first step in something much more complicated than either of them bargained for. Life, though, is for living, after all.

It seems fitting that Murphy Gallagher's story was saved for last. We've known about him and his two previous successful battles with cancer since before the Gallagher Brothers series started (Murphy's brother Jake mentioned it in his book in the Montgomery Ink series). He's stood by while his three brothers found their soul mates and started families. He's had the hardest road of all of them, and yet he's always been the most positive. I've been wanting him to find a good woman since the very beginning.

Hope Restored is one of those special books where I absolutely adored both main characters the whole way through the book. Murphy is hit with some news that rocks his world pretty early in the book. It's impossible not to root for this awesome guy. His attitude is admirable. He leans on his family and friends for love and strength and encouragement and advice. And when the chance for love comes his way, he opens his heart to it instead of fighting it. Well... mostly. Because it's always fun when they resist just a little bit. The fall is totally worth it. 

Tessa and Murphy are adorable as BFFs. They always have this underlying sexual tension and flirty banter going back and forth that tell you that all the sexual things they say to each other in jest have a ring of truth to them. But neither of them are willing to risk the friendship for a roll in the hay. That is, until circumstances cause them to start living together. Being in such close quarters together with Murphy's new struggles causes that sexual tension to snap, and oh my. It's just the best thing ever when that happens. Because these two are just SO good together.

I love how close the Gallaghers are to one another. They don't always agree with the things they do, but they love each other fiercely and support each other unerringly. The girls that they love become best friends and the whole group of them rally when both Murphy and Tessa need them. No matter what awful thing might be happening to one of them, this family dynamic always adds hope to the mix, and Carrie Ann Ryan is awesome for doing that.

I'm hoping we might still catch glimpses of the Gallagher brothers and their wives in the Montgomery Ink series, thanks to Jake, Maya and Border. Because I need to keep tabs on this incredible family.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Dropout (Bad Boy Homecoming #1)

The Bad Boy Homecoming series is here with five brand new romances from five killer romance authors. Check out my review of DROPOUT by Carrie Ann Ryan!

Dropout (Bad Boy Homecoming #1), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) A high school reunion is about to get down and dirty and a whole lot more complicated in this new erotic romance from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan.

Grayson Cleary left town before graduation day and never looked back. Most people back home pegged him as a dropout. Over time, he’s worked to make something of his life and leave his past behind, so when his ten-year reunion comes up, he has no intention of attending. When his best friend begs him to go, Grayson finds himself confronted with a past he’d rather forget and the one woman he’s always craved.

Kate St. Dalton had everything when she left her hometown. Not only was she Valedictorian with a full scholarship, but she was also engaged to the boy of her dreams. Then, life threw a wrench in her plans, and she had to find a way to live the new life fate handed her. The last thing she needs is the hot boy from high school returning to town as the sexy man of her dreams.

When the two take a chance and use the reunion week to burn up the sheets, they’ll have to remember that it’s only for a few nights—not for a lifetime. And decide if what they have is just a fling…or something far more than a mere reunion.

I love the Bad Boy Homecoming premise - five authors take 10 different people from the same high school and write their story as they all come back to their 10 year reunion and pair up. Each book features a "bad boy" of sorts - of course they all have good hearts that end up beating for one special girl by the end. 

Dropout, by Carrie Ann Ryan, is labeled as the first book in this series. It centers around the kid that everyone thought of as poor white trash in their Texas high school. Before he could graduate, he abruptly left town with his family, and settled in Denver. He had no intentions of ever going back, but Gray's best friend drags him along with her. Once there, he realizes not a lot has changed in ten years - the stuck-up jerks are still stuck-up jerks, people still think he's nothing, and Kate St. Dalton is still beautiful and nice to him. 

Kate was the one everyone thought would amount to something. But, poor life choices have landed her back in her tiny town with two kids, a horrible ex-husband and no college degree. She's just biding her time until she can get out with her babies, when Gray Cleary re-enters her life.

At its heart, Dropout is a great second chance love story. Although these two never were a couple before - in fact, I wouldn't even say they were friends, per se - they each admired the other from afar. And, their high school reunion has given them a second chance to act on those feelings that seem to have only grown.

I like that the physical attraction is there, but that it's the mutual respect for where each of them has been the past ten years and how it has made them who they are now that turns out to be the biggest turn on for Gray and Kate. I also loved that neither of the are done trying to better themselves. They both have big plans for the future, and for both of them, their plans will take them away from their tiny Texas town once again.

Dropout, as the official first book in this series, introduces most of the other characters in the other four books in the series. I saw places where I know Gray and Kate's story will intersect with the others in different ways. This must've taken some crazy coordination on the part of the five authors involved, so major props to them for pulling it off in a big way. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series now!

Find out more about the other four books in the BAD BOY HOMECOMING series on the website here: http://badboyhomecoming.com/.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
Newsletter: http://carrieannryan.com/newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieAnnRyan
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RELEASE DAY REVIEW & EXCERPT: Inked Expressions (Montgomery Ink #7)

The Storm is here. Inked Expressions is out and I can't wait for you to read about the latest Montgomery to fall in love. Check out my review!

Inked Expressions (Montgomery Ink #7), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) The Montgomery Ink Series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues with the brother who keeps his secret and the one woman he shouldn’t want.

Everly Law married the love of her life and on the eve of giving birth to their twins, lost him in a tragic accident. Now she’s a single mother working overtime at her bookstore trying to make sure her boys have the life they deserve. Her life is busy enough without her adding dating a Montgomery. As past secrets come to light, she’ll need Storm more than ever—even if she doesn’t realize it.

Storm Montgomery has spent his life atoning for sins that only few know he’s committed. When he lost his best friend, he promised his widow that he’d always be there for her—even when she wanted nothing to do with him. But when a single touch ignites passions they’ve both buried deep inside, he’ll have to remember exactly who is in his arms and that taking chances might be far more dangerous than they bargained for.

Twins Storm and Wes Montgomery are the last two Montgomery siblings who haven't yet found love. To be fair, Storm has had a lot going on in his life for the last 20 years to really give love too much of a focus. He's had flings and most recently, Jillian has been his best friend with benefits. But, it's not the same as what his brothers and sisters have. 

Storm is a really conflicted man. He's been keeping this big secret from 20 years before that has affected every single thing he's done since then. I honestly don't know how Storm kept a secret that big from such a large, nosey family. Especially since it messed him up both physically and mentally. But, he did, and how it's starting to come to a head. Wes is sick of not knowing what's going on with the man he's the closest to in the entire world. And Storm's physical limitations are getting harder to hide. 

I get why Storm wanted to keep what happened from his family, but honestly the fact that he did was also very frustrating. This family has proved to be rock solid over and over again. It makes me crazy that he thinks that they would somehow judge him or shun him.

And then there's Everly. She lost her husband the night she gave birth to her twin boys. They're now three years old and have some pretty big health problems. It seems like Everly's life is all of a sudden falling apart. Her boys are ill, her livelihood goes up in smoke, she finds out a devastating secret about her husband's past, and someone is trying to kill her. In addition, her attraction to Storm, who was her dead husband's best friend, can't be contained anymore. This poor girl cannot catch a break. 

Things are very hot and cold between Everly and Storm for awhile. There's always this simmering sexual tension between them, but it isn't acted on until later in the book. It's definitely a slow burn - slower than in the other Montgomery Ink books. But, don't worry - there's plenty of other stuff going on while Storm and Everly figure their stuff out. 

In addition to Storm finding love, we get to catch up with all the Montgomery Ink couples that have formed so far (thank goodness for those big monthly family BBQs). We also get the set up for Wes' story, which looks like it's shaping up to be a great enemies to lovers story. 

Until then, we get to finally enjoy seeing Storm join the ranks of his brothers and sisters who found wedded bliss with their other halves. Inked Expressions was a really good addition to the Montgomery Ink series. 

Instead of heading home like he probably should, Storm went to Everly’s kitchen and got out a couple of mugs and packets for hot cocoa she kept around for the boys. This late, he knew Everly liked chocolate with extra marshmallows rather than coffee, and he wanted to get something warm in her before he left.

By the time she came into the kitchen, he had two steaming mugs of hot cocoa on the counter and a can of tomato soup on the stove. It sounded like a gross combination, but it was the only soup he could find that didn’t have pasta shapes.

“You didn’t have to do all of this,” Everly said, her arms wrapped around her middle.

“I know, but I wanted to.” He didn’t know what else to say, so he handed her a mug.

“Thank you.” She took the hot cocoa from him and wrapped her hands around the warm ceramic. “I don’t think I’m fully processing yet.”

“You don’t have to process yet. You need to get warm and get some sleep. You can deal with things and figure out what you need to do tomorrow.” He let out a breath. “I’m just so fucking sorry, Ev.”

She met his gaze, her eyes filling with tears. “I hate to cry. I hate it. And yet all I seem to be doing lately is crying.”

Storm cursed and set down his mug then pulled hers from her hands. He cupped her face, and she stiffened. “Your store just burned to the ground, and it looks like arson. Cry, Everly. That’s okay. You’re allowed to.”

She pressed her lips together, a single tear falling down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb, and her eyes widened. When she took a step back, he knew it was for the best.

Before he could say anything else, she frowned and picked up her purse from where she’d set it on the kitchen table. “There was a note.”

He froze. “A note?”

She pulled a piece of crumpled paper out of her bag. “I don’t know if I picked up the envelope since I just threw things in my bag as I ran out, but I got this letter today. It was addressed to Jackson, so it’s not connected to this I don’t think, but it’s still weird.”

She handed it over to Storm, and he frowned.

I’m still waiting.

“Huh. We should show this to the cops just in case.”

Everly blew out a breath. “I have no idea what I’m going to do.”

He set the note down on the table and pulled her close. “You don’t have to know yet. But I’m not letting you do it alone.” He’d promised himself he’d always be there for her, and yet he hadn’t been enough. He still wasn’t enough.

She wrapped her arms around his middle, and he slid his hand up and down her back, calming himself as much as her. When they pulled away from each other a few moments later, their faces were only a few short breaths apart.

Almost as if he were someone else, as if he didn’t know the consequences, he lowered his head, brushing his mouth along hers. She froze for the barest moment before pressing her lips against his, the pressure a sweet agony he couldn’t comprehend until it was too late.

When his tongue slid along the seam of her lips, she opened for him, their breaths mingling, their bodies pressed tightly together. He almost deepened the kiss until he realized what the fuck he was doing and pulled away, his body shaking.

“Fuck. I’m sorry, Ev. I’m so fucking sorry.”

She blinked up at him, confusion clear on her face.

He didn’t let her speak, didn’t let him say another thing. Instead, he brushed past her, trying to get himself under control and fled from her house.

He’d kissed his best friend’s wife.

His dead best friend’s wife.

There wasn’t a level in hell good enough for him. He’d burn, and he’d deserve it. And yet… and yet he knew he’d never forget the softness of her lips, the taste of her tongue.

Yeah, he would burn.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
Newsletter: http://carrieannryan.com/newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieAnnRyan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrieannryanauthor/
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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Love, Honor and Ink (Montgomery Ink #6.6)

Love, Honor and Ink (Montgomery Ink #6.6), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: February 14, 2017
Publisher: Pink Ink Books
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Wedding planner Arianna King had everything planned out down to the last detail until her father’s ultimatum changed everything. Now she’s alone, trying to open her own business, and seemingly failing at every corner. Just when things start to look even bleaker, she’ll find out just how much she can rely on her best friend—and herself.

Being in love with your best friend isn’t always easy as Harper Rosso knows. He’s been by her side since the beginning, but now that she finally has time to breath, he might just be able to show her what he could be for her. Only he’ll have to make sure he’s ready to take that chance and perhaps lose her forever.

Sparks fly between the two of them once they finally take their relationship to the next level. Only the burning temptation than fills them might not be enough in the face of what they left behind and what threatens their future.

Love, Honor, and Ink was originally found in the Once Upon a Valentine Anthology.

Love, Honor and Ink was a fantastic short story told in the Montgomery Ink world. It read like a full-length book, chock full of awesome friends-to-lovers goodness. 

Arianna's father is absolutely the worst of the worst in the parental hall of fame. I promise you will want to murder death kill the dude in about two pages flat. He denies her the promotion she deserves in his big-time wedding planning company unless she marries a slime ball. Thank goodness she has the presence of mind to tell him to stuff it and quits. So, she starts her own company and decides to run it the way she always wanted to. 

Her biggest cheerleader, support system, shoulder to cry on is her BFF, neighbor and the slime ball's brother, Harper. Harper has secretly been in love with Arianna forever, but of course has never told her so. Now that she's away from her father and needs some help - so, Harper is there ready to step in and be her knight in shining armor. 

Harper suffers in silence. He sees Ari every day. He loves everything about her. But, he's spent years dating other women and watching her date other men because he's afraid that if he makes a move and she shoots him down, it will ruin what they have. But, all of a sudden, it seems like Ari might return his feelings. And if that's even possible, he's going to go for it. 

And because Harper went for it, I was totally in his corner all the way. Even when Ari tried to resist him - I was cheering for Harper. Because it was SO OBVIOUS these two were totally meant for each other. Even though the story was short, it had a great lead-in to the story, a substantial amount of sexual tension, some pretty great drama and mystery, and of course some super hot sexy times. And also some appearances from some of our favorite Montgomeries. 

Regardless of whether you're a die-hard Montgomery Ink fan or if you've never read a single book in this story, this novella will take you away for an hour and leave you with a smile on your face when you're done.

REVIEW: Passion Restored (Gallagher Brothers #2)

Passion Restored (Gallagher Brothers #2), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: February 28, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3.5 STARS

(Synopsis) The Gallagher Brothers series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues with the one brother who thinks he can handle it all and the one woman who could change that.

Owen Gallagher likes everything in its place and is organized to a fault. While his brothers have each dealt with their own personal tragedies and stresses, Owen figures he’s had it pretty easy. That is until his perfectly ordered world is rocked at its foundation and he’s forced to rely on others. Now, he must heal his body and his soul while trying to ignore his delectable and utterly off-limits neighbor.

Liz McKinley is stressed out, exhausted, and not in the mood for a bearded and growly man in her ER. When she patches him up to the best of his ability, she’s prepared to push him firmly from her thoughts. Of course, that would be easier if she and her best friend hadn’t bought the house next to his. Now their paths seem to cross daily, and she is finding it harder and harder to say no to the injured and angry man next door. But she’s been scarred one too many times in her life, and even though this Gallagher looks good enough to eat, she knows that sometimes, sating that craving is the worst thing she can do.

Owen Gallagher is the most wonderful sort of dichotomous man. He's a bearded, tatted, pierced hottie who thinks order, logic and color-coded planners are his happy place. He is the brains behind the restoration and construction business he runs with his brothers. He runs the office, keeps them on schedule and organized and makes sure the bills are paid. Despite his obvious necessity, he sees himself as the weak link - the one without any special skills or abilities.

Liz McKinley also doesn't see herself as anything special. She's just a nurse who works way too many hours with crappy co-workers. She just bought a house with her best friend and is trying to piece together a semblance of a normal life after suffering some rough experiences with her family and other relationships. She's determined to just keep her head down, be a good worker, and survive the budget cuts at the hospital she's working in. She doesn't have time for any sort of relationship with a man.

I have to say - I had a hard time with Liz. I just flat out didn't like her. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it - past traumas and tragedies do not give a person free license to be a jerk. And yet, that's exactly what happened here. Even though Owen was nothing but nice to Liz, she treated him like crap. And worse yet - he excused her behavior as a result of her past and kept pursuing her. So many times I wanted to tell him to just give it up and find a nice girl who actually likes him and respects him and wants to be with him. And that's frustrating, because I like Owen and his brothers and their family dynamics. I wanted him happy. I just didn't want him with her.

Owen and Liz ran very hot and cold throughout the book (mostly because of her, of course). They would get in either her house or his under perfectly platonic reasons, one thing would lead to another, and all of a sudden there would be some hot and sexy times. And there were some HOT and SEXY times. That Owen Gallagher might love his color-coded files, but when it comes to dirty talk, he throws caution to the wind. But, as soon as the hormones settle, Liz freaks and runs away and doesn't talk to him for days. Rinse and repeat.

There are quite a few villains in Passion Restored too. First we have Liz's awful father. We also have the dude that hit Owen with his car. And finally we have Liz's two co-workers whose mission is to make her workplace as hostile as possible. Sadly, none of them get the punishments I wanted to bear witness to. I love when a bad guy gets his or her comeuppance, and our hero or heroine is finally vindicated. It's a wonderful feeling of satisfaction, isn't it? So, when that doesn't happen, it's definitely noticed, and I noticed it here.

The best part about Passion Restored is the family dynamic that Owen has with his brothers, their wives and their children. I would love to be a part of the Gallagher family. They're supportive and funny and loving and completely dedicated to one another. Why Liz wouldn't want to be a part of that from go is beyond me.

I liked the lead-in to Murphy's book, and his is one I've been anticipating since the very beginning. Since it appears he's going to have something going with Tessa, Liz's best friend and housemate, I'm guessing that we'll be checking back in with Liz and Owen a lot. I'm excited for that, actually, since Liz was finally able to get her head on straight in the end and realized what really was important. I'm excited to see where they are in a few months. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Adoring Ink (Montgomery Ink #6.5)

Any story I get from the Montgomery Ink gang is an awesome one, and Adoring Ink is no different. Check out my review!

Adoring Ink (Montgomery Ink #6.5), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: January 17, 2017
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) The Montgomery Ink series continues with the most unlikely of romances between the one that got away and the man who can show her the world. 
Holly Rose fell in love with a Montgomery, but left him when he couldn’t love her back. She might have been the one to break the ties and ensure her ex’s happy ending, but now Holly’s afraid she’s missed out on more than a chance at forever. Though she’s always been the dependable good girl, she’s ready to take a leap of faith and embark on the journey of a lifetime.

Brody Deacon loves ink, women, fast cars, and living life like there’s no tomorrow. The thing is, he doesn’t know if he has a tomorrow at all. When he sees Holly, he’s not only intrigued, he also hears the warnings of danger in his head. She’s too sweet, too innocent, and way too special for him. But when Holly asks him to help her grab the bull by the horns, he can’t help but go all in.

As they explore Holly’s bucket list and their own desires, Brody will have to make sure he doesn’t fall too hard and too fast. Sometimes, people think happily ever afters don’t happen for everyone, and Brody will have to face his demons and tell Holly the truth of what it means to truly live life to the fullest…even when they’re both running out of time.

Holly is the sweet, introverted girl who gave it a go with Jake once upon a time, but because of his true feelings for Maya, they never went anywhere. But, I have a feeling that once you're adopted by the Montgomery clan, it's a permanent thing. And because both Jake and Maya are much better people than I am, Holly has remained a member of their clan. 

Even though it's been awhile since she's been with Jake, Holly has remained single. She's born witness to several Montgomeries finding the loves of their lives and living out their dreams. Who wouldn't want that for themselves? But, breaking out of her twin-set-shaped box is harder than she imagined. She needs help. And tattooed bad boy Brody Deacon is just the man. 

Brody is another Montgomery by proxy. He's become friends with the siblings through his frequent visits to Montgomery Ink. And now he's determined to help Holly get more in touch with her inner bad girl. 

The great thing about these Montgomery Ink novellas is that they give us a glimpse into the side characters that we come to love as much as the star siblings. It's true that the full length novels are about the Montgomery children, but as we get their stories, we also learn about the other people in their lives that are important to them. Carrie Ann Ryan paints them so brilliantly that we can't help but want to see all of them get their own HEAs too. 

Holly and Brody have been around for a few books now, but we haven't learned much about either of them. As they work through the bucket list they create together in order to get Holly feeling more alive, they first become good friends, and then much more than that. I loved how Brody seemed to know exactly what Holly needed and when she needed it. If she needed a nudge he gave it to her. If she didn't, he let her be. They were a great couple, and it was awesome to see them together like this and like the rest of their friends. 

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Ink Exposed (Montgomery Ink #6)

Welcome to my stop on the tour for this incredible book! Read on for my review, then go get it for yourself!

Ink Exposed (Montgomery Ink #6), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: November 29, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Alex Montgomery lost his first love and then proceeded to leave himself in the bottle. Only he and his ex-wife truly know why he fell so hard and so fast down a path he never thought he’d take. Now he’s clean, out of rehab, and learning how to be a Montgomery once again—a task that isn’t quite as easy as some of his family assumes.

Tabby Collins is an honorary Montgomery and the organizational mastermind behind Montgomery Inc., the family’s construction company. She loves her planners, friends, and a certain dark-haired man who’s never given her a second glance.

Alex is slowly re-immersing himself back into the world, but the demons he faced before aren’t out of the picture, and he’ll have to learn to rely on others to make it out whole. When Alex discovers that Tabby’s life is in danger, he not only finds a way to help her but also learns the true woman behind the soft smiles he’s always seen. Their romance won’t be an easy one, but nothing this passionate and heart-pounding ever is.

Finally, FINALLY, we get Alex Montgomery's story. Since book one, he has been an absolute mess, drowning his troubles at the bottom of a bottle while his family watched helplessly. Since that very first book, Alex's story was the one I wanted the most. His was the one whose eventual HEA would be the most fulfilling and satisfying and well-deserved. I wasn't wrong. 

There's a lot of time that passes between Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5) and Ink Exposed - 16 months, actually. It marks the amount of time that has gone by since Alex got out of rehab and got clean. Immediately you can tell the difference in him from how he was in the first five books in the series. Although he's still broody and troubled, he no longer has this seething anger under the surface of his barely-there composure. Alex is sad. And he made me sad too. 

His family loved him. He knew that. They were the ones who'd forced him to look at himself and had been there to pick up the pieces when he'd fallen apart. He hadn't been strong enough to do it alone, and while he didn't resent them for it, he did resent himself. 

Luckily, Tabby was waiting in the wings to help him. She's always been there, and only now is Alex in a position to be there for her too, even if he doesn't believe that's true at first. First, Alex had to come to a place where he believed he was both worth and capable of a relationship. And that process wasn't aways an easy one for either he or Tabby.

Alex has already gotten a hold on his addiction, and he's determined to never get addicted to anything ever again, be it alcohol, greasy food, or a woman. He's so determined to stand on his own two feet, that he takes his dedication a bit too far, refusing to eat even the tiniest bit of bad food, and refusing to acknowledge his attraction to Tabby for fear he could get addicted to her presence in his life. 

She deserved someone who hadn't carved his path through the world with a broken bottle. And he deserved... well, he wasn't sure what he deserved, but it wasn't her. It would never be her. 

Tabby has the patience of a saint, and is willing to wait until he figures his crap out. Alex was so frustrating at times! I get his logic, but with the truth in the form of sweet, capable, loving Tabby standing right in front of him, I wanted to shake some sense into him more than once. But, seeing his protective nature come out when Tabby needs him made it all better again. And then when the truth comes out about all his horrible, HORRIBLE ex-wife has done, I wanted nothing more than to wish him real so I could give him a hug. Truly - I've read a lot of books with a lot of despicable villains but what this woman did might just be the worst thing of all. 

It's fun watching the Montgomery clan continually grow and expand with spouses and children. They're all in Ink Exposed, along with the heads of the family. And the great thing is, there's still two brothers left who need a story...

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Love Restored (The Gallagher Brothers #1)

Get your Carrie Ann Ryan fix with the first in a brand new series. Check out my review and enter the giveaway for a Kindle Fire!

Love Restored (The Gallagher Brothers #1), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: September 13, 2016
Publisher: Pink Ink Books
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) In the first of a Montgomery Ink spin-off series from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan, a broken man uncovers the truth of what it means to take a second chance with the most unexpected woman… 

Graham Gallagher has seen it all. And when tragedy struck, lost it all. He’s been the backbone of his brothers, the one they all rely on in their lives and business. And when it comes to falling in love and creating a life, he knows what it’s like to have it all and watch it crumble. He’s done with looking for another person to warm his bed, but apparently he didn’t learn his lesson because the new piercer at Montgomery Ink tempts him like no other.


Blake Brennen may have been born a trust fund baby, but she’s created a whole new life for herself in the world of ink, piercings, and freedom. Only the ties she’d thought she’d cut long ago aren’t as severed as she’d believed. When she finds Graham constantly in her path, she knows from first glance that he’s the wrong kind of guy for her. Except that Blake excels at making the wrong choice and Graham might be the ultimate temptation for the bad girl she’d thought long buried.

Love Restored is the first in a new series that is a spin-off from Carrie Ann Ryan's Montgomery Ink series. It follows the three remaining unattached Gallagher brothers, Graham, Owen and Murphy (fourth brother Jake already found love times two in the Montgomery Ink series book Ink Enduring). 

Oldest brother Graham is the most complicated of the three, but given his past, it's understandable that he would be. It's also understandable that he would have trouble getting involved with Blake Brennen, Montgomery Ink's new piercer, but the attraction he feels to her keeps overriding his caution. 

Graham isn't the only one exercising caution due to a complicated past. Blake's reticence to forming a relationship with Graham and tying herself permanently to the town that she's currently working and living in has to do with a clawing necessity to keep herself hidden from people who are out to hurt her, and Blake isn't willing to drag anyone else into her own personal drama - especially someone who seems to have enough of his own already. 

Love Restored does a great job setting up the rest of the series. While Graham and Blake were most definitely the stars of this book, we also had lots of chances to get to know Owen and Murphy, who will have their own stories soon. We see that, although there are many similarities between the brothers - mostly that they're all bearded, tatted, pierced and ridiculously hot and talented - it's also clear that they are all very different and have very different roles in their construction business because of their strengths. 

Graham is the biggest brother and the least sociable. So, he's perfect for the hands-on projects on their restoration gigs. Owen is the public face of the company. He's professional, buttoned-up and organized. So, he talks to vendors and peers and does the paperwork. Murphy is the lead architect and seems to be the bridge that is needed sometimes between Owen and Graham, who handle problems and jobs very differently. Murphy is the peacemaker, and together with Jake, they are the creative force behind Gallagher Brothers Construction. 

One thing that I can always count on Carrie Ann Ryan for is a crazy amount of heat. Graham and Blake dance around one another for awhile while they each deal with their own hang-ups about relationships. So, what that means for us is some wonderful sexual tension that just explodes when they finally decide to quit messing around. 

There's a lot more going on with both of these two than what appears on the surface. I loved all the time and attention devoted to seeing these things through to a satisfying conclusion. However in the wake of that, some of the peripheral details (like, the status of Blake's family house and what will happen to it when it's done being restored) were dropped. Having all those loose ends closed up would've made the book perfect. 

I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series, and hopefully catching up on Graham and Blake. Mostly, I'm just excited to see put-together Owen lose it over a woman. It's going to be a fun series.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
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EXCERPT REVEAL: Ink Exposed (Montgomery Ink #6)

If you're like me, then you are DYING for Alex's story. He's been slowly falling apart at the seams since book 1, and it looks like it's ready for him to start clawing his way up from rock bottom. I can't wait to see what happens! If you didn't catch the exclusive cover reveal earlier this week, then check out the cover below, and then read this early excerpt from INK EXPOSED by Carrie Ann Ryan.

Ink Exposed (Montgomery Ink #6), by Carrie Ann Ryan
Publish Date: November 29, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Genre: adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) The Montgomery Ink series continues with the brother that deserves a second chance, and the woman who has always loved him.

Alex Montgomery lost his first love and then proceeded to leave himself in the bottle. Only he and his ex-wife truly know why he fell so hard and so fast down a path he never thought he’d take. Now he’s clean, out of rehab, and learning how to be a Montgomery once again—a task that isn’t quite as easy as some of his family assumes.

Tabby Collins is an honorary Montgomery and the organizational mastermind behind Montgomery Inc., the family’s construction company. She loves her planners, friends, and a certain dark-haired man who’s never given her a second glance.

Alex is slowly re-immersing himself back into the world, but the demons he faced before aren’t out of the picture, and he’ll have to learn to rely on others to make it out whole. When Alex discovers that Tabby’s life is in danger, he not only finds a way to help her but also learns the true woman behind the soft smiles he’s always seen. Their romance won’t be an easy one, but nothing this passionate and heart-pounding ever is.

“Mrs. Montgomery?”

Alex turned at the sound of the soft voice behind him, his heart suddenly beating just a bit faster though he didn’t know why.
Tabitha moved toward them, a hesitant smile on her face as she studied the two of them. She wore her light auburn hair up high in a ponytail though he was pretty sure at one point she’d been a blonde. It might have just been the trick of light. He couldn’t quite remember much of the past couple of years if he were honest with himself. She was a little above average in height and all legs—legs he’d checked out more than once in the past year.

But he’d always pushed those thoughts aside like he would do now. He was in recovery damn it and though he was past the year mark that most people suggested addicts wait to start a relationship, he knew that Tabitha wouldn’t be the woman he started up with once he was ready.

She worked with his brothers, Storm and Wes, at Montgomery Inc. She was the administrative assistant for the construction company his parents had started before he was born and he was pretty sure ran the company to the efficient standards it held. Wes might be super organized and diligent, but Alex knew Wes and Storm wouldn’t be able to function without Tabitha.

“Tabby!” His mother moved forward and brought the other woman into her arms.
Tabitha smiled fondly, this time not as hesitant, and hugged his mother back. “Hi, Mrs. Montgomery. I thought I’d come a bit early and see if you needed help cooking today. Mr. Montgomery let me in.”

Alex stuffed his hands in his pockets and watched the way his mother fawned over Tabitha. He couldn’t really blame her either. There wasn’t a bad bone in Tabitha’s body and every time he saw her she was always put together and helping someone. He didn’t know if she had anyone at home waiting for her or family around here, but he knew the Montgomerys had taken her in anyway. They tended to do that to anyone they liked and admired near enough to their web.

“How many times have I asked you to call me Marie, Tabby?” Marie held Tabitha’s hands and shook her head though he could tell his mother was smiling.

“Every time I see you, but I have a bad habit I can’t seem to shake.” Tabitha looked up and over at Alex and smiled though it wasn’t the same smile she’d giving his mother and he couldn’t quite read it. “Hi, Alexander.”

“Hi.” He always found it weird that they were the only ones that called each other by their full names but it had been one of those things that had stuck years ago and he didn’t know how to change it. And frankly, he didn’t want to.

Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.

Website: http://carrieannryan.com/
Newsletter: http://carrieannryan.com/newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieAnnRyan
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AUDIOBOOK SERIES REVIEW: Redwood Pack Series

This will be a slightly different review from what you're used to seeing. I'm not going to review a single book, but rather an entire series - and I'm reviewing the audio version of that series to boot.

A few months ago, I read a 1,001 Dark Nights bundle that included WICKED WOLF, a novella set in both Carrie Ann Ryan's Redwood Pack series and the spin-off Talon series. I had never read any book by this author before, but I really loved what I saw in that novella, and went in search of more.

I've always been a huge fan of shifter books. I love the super alpha males, and I especially love the pack element - how these beings work and live together as a group and rely on each other for support and love and community. The Redwood Pack series is high on all these things, which makes it an outstanding series overall for me. Goodness, I love those wolves.

The other thing I really liked about the Redwood Pack series is that there is one major story arc that centers around the evil Central Pack and their efforts to take down the Redwoods by any means necessary. Each book in the series is its own encapsulated story centering around each member of the Jamenson clan as they find love. But, the thread that ties all the books together is how those new relationships impact their fight against the Centrals and the demon they hired to work black mojo. Each book is dramatic and exciting and crazy sexy. 

I thought that each book gets better and better as you move through the series. As relationships form and the war between the Redwoods and the Centrals intensifies, there are more and more layers to add to the books. I loved some books more than others in the series, but when you look back on them all as a whole, it's one hell of an awesome story. 

I listened to the audio version of each of the books in the series. I started with an Alpha's Path (Redwood Pack #1) because the Kindle version is only $3 and the Audible version is only $2 when you own the e-book. Every other book in the series can be bought for around $4 or $5 for the e-book and $2 for the audiobook. That's some pretty awesome cheap entertainment. 

Gregory Salinas narrates very one of the Redwood Pack books. He's a good narrator who even does the girls' parts pretty well. He narrates all of Carrie Ann Ryan's books, so between the Redwood Pack series, the Talon Pack series and the Montgomery Ink series, I've listened to a lot of books read by him this year. He has a beautiful deep voice that really embodies the Jamenson family. 

If you love shifter books, you really need to give the Redwood Pack series a try. And, if you're a lover of audiobooks like I am, you REALLY should give the Redwood Pack series a try. 

An Alpha's Path (Redwood Pack #1) - Amazon * Barnes & Noble