Independent reviewer for Archaeolubrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. Thornton runs into the side of Asher's car and neither man will ever be the same again. Thornton is a Daddy, and he wants Asher for his boy, but Asher doesn't have a clue about the lifestyle or what being a little means. Can Thornton make Asher see that he needs him, that they need each other? I really REALLY enjoyed this book! I've been struggling with a lot of reading at the moment, and to be honest, Daddy/littles haven't really been my thing but this one twanged something when I read the blurb, and I am so glad I gave it a go! Poor Asher! He really is a wreck about most things, everyday things cause him into meltdowns and he is struggling just to function. Cue getting sideswiped in the rain, and Asher is losing it, big time. Then a voice cuts through the panic and Asher can just breathe (as much as fractured ribs will allow) and Asher falls hard and fast for Thornton. Thornton, while feeling incredibly guilty for crashing his car into Asher's, feels a pull to Asher that he never felt before. Just seeing him in that wreck calls to his inner Daddy so far and so deeply, Thornton cannot resist. But Asher thinks he is damaged, and Thornton knows that isn't the case, he just needs to make Asher see. I've tagged this BDSM but there is actually very little of the "usual" stuff, just some spanking, and talk about power exchange and a Dom/sub relationship that is in this book for Thornton's best friends. It is HEAVY on the emotional side of things though, and I think that's what carried me through, watching Asher get out of his head, and into his little for his Daddy. Thornton's emotions are all over the place too, but I didn't feel them as deeply as I did Asher's. It is also incredibly SWEET in places, hence the warm and fuzzies tag. Both voices are clear and you really do get into Asher's head when he starts to meltdown. Very well written scenes when Asher loses it and Thornton brings him back. I'm interested in reading about Damian and Syed (the D/s relationship here), Thornton's best friends, but MORE so about another pairing that blossomed towards the end of this book. Madi, who is Asher's best friend, and Trent, who is Thornton's younger brother. That pairing would be a Mummy/little relationship, and I'm really rather curious about that one! Not quite hitting those 5 stars, but so very nearly! 4 stars **same worded review will appear elsehwere**

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. For the most, I did enjoy this. Couple of things let it down, for ME, and I'll enplain shortly. Dallas is called up by an acqaintance, is best to describe him, to cash in on a favour owned. Someone needs protecting, and the acquaintance needs something from this someone to keep her safe. There follows a lot of double crossing, back stabbing and general underhandedness you would expect from an organised crime boss, and an organisation that walks under the radar of most things. From what I can gather, this is actually a spin off from another series, The Nicci Beauvior series and Dallas plays a huge part in the 2nd and 3rd book in that series. Some reviewers of THIS have said you should read THOSE books to get the full picture of what Dallas went through, and how he came to where he is now. Personally, I don't think it's really necessary. There is enough recapped and retold here, for you to get the picture, or for ME anyway, to get enough of the picture to fill in the gaps and for this story to flow. I was a little concerned at first that this would be a bit too complicated for my addled brain (April 2020, you get my drift?) to cope with, but it's good. There is a good, intriguing plot to follow, but it's not ever so complex that you have to concentrate too hard on, you know? It's ENOUGH to make you think, to excerise the grey matter, and just enough to keep you engaged til the end. What let it down for ME were two things. Only Dallas has a say. I would like to have heard from Gwen, the someone who Dallas is called to keep safe. I get maybe some of the plotline would be given away, yes, but still I wanted to hear from her, and (job aside) what she thought of Dallas and what leads her to make the offer she does. And Dallas himself was very . . standoffish? . .maybe not quite the right word, but I struggled to connect with Dallas, made more difficult because only his voice is heard. Had Gwen had a say, I could have coped better, or maybe connected earlier, with Dallas. I LOVED Cleveland and Stokes, two of Dallas' operatives. Their banter has, I'm sure, far deeper roots and far further reaching branches, than is currently showing. A very engaging 4 stars **same worded review will appear elsewhere**

I was gifted the AUDIO file of this book. This is book 2 in the Deviant Hearts series, but it can totally be read/listened to as s stand alone book. Dashel and Billy from book one do pop up, but they are not central to the plot. I do, however, suggest you DO read/listen to Captive Hearts, cos you know, I said so! Lee is out of the police force, after one particular undercover operation tips him over the edge and is currently building his security business. Finding the cafe to wait out the storm brings Dominic into his life, and things are not ever going to be the same again. Dominic is head of a campaign to save a rundown pub from development, and its floundering. A saviour comes to help, but is he all he seems? So! Again, I need to say, usually I try to keep two seperate parts to my audio reviews, one for the book and one for the narration. Increasingly, especially with first person books, I can't do that. So not gonna really try to! Lee is part of the plot of Deviant Hearts, and I knew when I was listening to that book, I needed to hear his story. So glad I got the chance! There is immediate attraction between lee and Dominic, that much is obvious, but what I particularly liked about this one is that much of the "action" is off page! Go figure, me, who likes her books down and dirty, and this one . . .isn't so much! Oh don't get me wrong, it's hot and it's sexy, it's all just that little bit out of reach and I really did love that. There was MUCH going on, aside from the romance between Lee and Dominic. MUCH. There is the campaign to save Charlie's. There is Dominic's ex, who he has to work with, still trying to get back with Dom. Lee's ex, causing him problems too. There is the new guy taking up the baton for Charlie's too. Dom's dad is trying to make amends with him for what he did all those years ago, and Lee's business is taking up a lot of his time. All of these items come together in a spectactular fashion! Dan Calley again narrates. The man is growing on me, big time! He gets over all of Lee's need to be ENOUGH for Dominic, to be the best he can, regardless of what his ex said. Calley gets over every single alarm bell that Lee has about *everything*! But I loved that Lee is listening to his instincts, and Calley gets that feeling across beautifully. Calley gets over every single thing Dom thinks of his father, of his brother, and how much he loves his little sister. What Dom feels about Tiger, the ex. What Dom feels when all becomes shockingly clear and how much that hurts him. And Calley gets over every single thing Dom feels when things come to a head. You can READ the words, and you get a picture, you know, but LISTENING to them? Paints a totally different picture to the one you read. It's why I really enjoy listening to a book AFTER I've read them. There is a third book, but I'm not entirely sure where the characters in that book fit in with Billy and Dashel, or with Lee and Dominic, but I look forward to listening to that, when it comes out in audio. I don't like to flip between listening and reading in the same series, it sor of spoils it for me a bit. 5 stars for the book 5 stars for the narration 5 stars overall. **same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. This is book three in the Arizona Raptors series. It says that it is not a stand alone and you should read books one and two first, however, I don't think its entirely NECESSARY, but it certainly would help. I have read those two books, and they were both solid 4 star reads. THIS one, though, is a whole different kettle of fish! I LOVED this book! You feel for Henry. His life has taken a turn he didn't expect. The man who was using him, almost killed him. His money is all gone, and he is living in someone else's house, mansion, all by himself. His hockey is on the line, because of the accident and his mind is on a downward spiral. Enter Apollo. Apollo is the best friend of Adler, the man paying for the house, who is Henry's brother's friend. Apollo is at a loose end since Adler is all loved up, and Apollo needs some sun. So Apollo goes to Arizona to look after Henry while he gets backs on his feet and back onto the ice. Apollo is just the kind of man Henry wants, but who would want a washed up hockey player who might go blind? Apollo clearly wants Henry, but he is supposed to be going home at the end of the summer. Can he let his heart take the break? This one is my favourite of the three, it really is. It had me crying in places, laughing in others. Shouting at the kindle, and cheering away. I wanted to wrap Henry up in cotton wool and I wanted to smack him upside the head. Apollo too! There are numerous references to The Harrisburg Railers players and pop ups from all the major players and team from this series. I loved that. The relationship between Apollo and Henry is slow and sweet, and I loved that. They grow into each other, you know, as the book progresses. It's beautifully written, and gave me so many feels! Ryker Madsen is Henry's team mate, he plays the same line (although, to be honest, I have no idea what that actually means, I just thought someone MIGHT!) and HIS book was in the Owatonna U Hockey series. I did NOT like Ryker in that book. He does redeem himself in that series somewhat, but HERE? As Henry's best friend, that kid done good! So, as a totally irrelevent point, Ryker? I forgive you! So, my favourite of the three so far, but I know there is one more out later this year. 5 stars **same worded review will appear elsewhere**

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book. So, there I was, merrily reading away. Enjoying this book, not a 5 star read, but a very good solid four star. Some minor typos, but they might be cos of the changing file thing. A good solid 4 star read, that piqued my interest enough to keep going. And then, in the VERY last chapter, followed by the EPILOGUE, it all changed! I mean, it made the whole bloody book flip on it's head! And it's gonna be really REALLY hard not to write spoilers into this review, so if it's vague, I ain't sorry! Paislee takes a job as a blood donor, a donateur for Michael, a Cardinalis, (not EVER a vampire!) When Michael's vicious half brother takes a shine to Paislee, things become deadly, both for Paislee and Michael. Then The Order become involved and Michael has a fight on his hands to keep Paislee safe, and more importantly, to keep her HIS. Like I said, plodding along, nicely. Moving at speed in places, and little slower in others. Sexy at points, but deadly in others. Sufficiently different in the 'vampire' (Sorry, Michael!) lore to be interesting. These guys don't combust in the sun or sparkle, either! They have a usual sleep pattern, they eat food. So, I enjoyed all that. Both Michael and Paislee have a say, as do a couple of other characters. The story concludes, or so I thought, in a way I expected it to, mostly. Michael's brother doesn't quite get the ending I was expecting but still. It all comes to a head and is wrapped up nicely. THEN! Michael's mother says something, and the doctor says something and then the doctor says something else and . . . . .cliff hanger people! I mean a proper, spit you dummy out, throw your toys out the pram and throw your kindle at the wall so hard it bounces off and scares the cat! I had to double back a couple of times, to reread what was said by whom, to put the pieces together, and still I have no bloody idea what's going on! So, for a first book . . .very well played Ms Sterling! For a first in series, because there is much unfinished here, very well played. For that bloody cliff hanger . . . 5 full and shiny stars! **same worded review will appear elsewhere**