4 stars  
Texas Thunder
by Kimberly Raye

Book Description

Set deep in the heart of Texas, bestselling author Kimberly Raye's sizzling new series proves that men, women, and moonshine make one dangerous combination…

RECIPE FOR DISASTER
The most infamous moonshiners in Lone Star history, the Tuckers and the Sawyers have been feuding for over a hundred years. Sure, the days of buckshot and bloodshed are long gone, but it's not over yet. To save the family business, Callie Tucker has to find the recipe for the legendary Texas Thunder moonshine. But first she'll need to make a devil's bargain--with a red-hot hellraiser named Brett Sawyer.

ROMANCE WITH A KICK
A Sawyer through and through, Brett was raised to never trust a Tucker--especially one as pretty as Callie. But desperate times call for desperate measures. With his ranch going bankrupt, Brett agrees to help Callie find the recipe, sell the rights, and split the profits. Of course, it won't be easy for these two enemies to work together. But it's even harder to ignore the sparks of attraction--when just one kiss delivers a kick stronger than any swig of moonshine…


My Review
The author grabs you attention with a mystery of Texas Thunder moonshine and they family feuding around it as she gives you a intriguing, complex beginning to the Rebel Moonshine series and the love that never was. Two people who have loved each other for a century to bullhead to see it as their families along with other issues torn them apart. It isn’t easy when families can’t get along because of a falling out they had before you were born. They had the best moonshine around, the best of buddies until one day it all fall apart they torn the recipe in half along with their friendship. Now with times being hard and the two families are about to lose their homes the only thing that will save them is the lost recipe for Texas Thunder.

Brett and Callie had a thing for each other in high school which turned out bad each going their own way. Years later with the home about to be lost they come together in the hunt for the recipe to sell it to keep their homes. The attraction between the two is stronger than ever it is just to late to forgive and forget the past. One night of misunderstandings tore their world apart as each walked away from the other neither being able to forget or forgive. When these two get together sparks fly as tempters rise, can they keep it together until they can find the recipe or will they give into the lust they hold for each other. What will they do when and if they find out that lust just might be more.

The author gives you mysteries of who did it and why. Some of the mysteries will be solved others will go into the next book or maybe even the next one. You see a lot of pain and sorrow from these two along with their grandfathers. Each of the sisters has issues as I am sure will come to light as the series goes on. Brett’s sister has been betrayed she isn’t looking for a love but she just might be getting it or will this new man break her heart as well. The author gives great characters from pappy who will break your heart as he goes through a trying time. I am sure many of you will relate to him and come to love him as you watch his pain. Brett’s sister is a sweetheart who I could relate to she is just down to earth wanting to do what is best for her family as she gets over her ex. The three sisters are a trip as each one deals with their fears, they keep you laughing at the things they pull. I found at times this to be a very humorous book as well as a very sad one. The author does give you passionate love scenes which I really did not feel but it doesn’t mean it was not a good read. I thought this was a wonderful read, I enjoyed the humor and getting to know these characters. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Ms. Raye is a new author to me that I feel will give us readers a wonderful new series to look forward to. If you are looking for a intriguing, complex for love lost and a family feuding this is the book for you. Sometimes you might just get a second chance to get your hearts desire…. 

About the Author 

I've always been an incurable romantic. While I enjoy reading all types of fiction, my favorites, the books that touch my soul, are romance novels. From sexy to thrilling, sweet to humorous, I like them all. But what I really love is writing romance--the hotter the better!

I started my first novel back in high school and have been writing ever since. To date, I've published over thirty novels, one of them a prestigious RITA Award nominee, Romance Writers of America's highest award of excellence. I have also been nominated by Romantic Times magazine for several Reviewer's Choice awards, as well as a career achievement award.

I've written for several different publishers, including Harlequin Books, Leisure Books, Berkley/Jove, St. Martin's Press and Warner Books. Born and bred in the Lone Start State, I still live deep in the heart with my real-life hero, Curt, and our young children.

Like any over-worked, under-appreciated wife and mother, I have very little free time. But when I find a few precious moments, I LOVE to read. Some of my favorite authors include Janet Evanovich, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Charlaine Harris (see my Favorite Reads page for more) and the exceptionally talented Nina Bangs. Give me a bag of Sugar Babies, a Toby Keith or Kevin Fowler CD (I love Texas music), and a great book, and I'm in heaven!

website

http://kimberlyraye.com/

twitter username

Kimberly_Raye

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5 Stars 

Veil of Secrecy (Shadows Book 1)
Written by: RM Alexander 
Narrated by: Shana Pennington-Baird

Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins 

• Series: Shadows (Alexander), Book 1

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:03-17-15

Publisher: RM Alexander 

Book Description

RM Alexander is an author of Sweet / Clean Romances that are sometimes contemporary, sometimes paranormal or suspense, but are always ruled by the heart of true romance.

With characters who look for love in wrong places and are victims of the worse kind of betrayals while fighting for what they want and believe in, RM's novels promise a good read with unexpected twists and turns.

When she's not writing, RM is spending time with her husband and two small children in Michigan. She loves to travel, especially to Walt Disney World, and can often be found on Twitter or Facebook chatting with other authors and fans.
When Rachel's home is ripped apart and a friend attacked, it's clear there is no safe haven. She is no longer running from her past, but trying to survive to make it to her future.

My Review
I thought this book was very interesting with a different twist. The author gives you some really heartbreaking scenes, betrayal no doubt of the worse kind along with starting over. It is never easy to start over when your love one has been killed. For it to happen why in the military to a almost new bride goes beyond the call of duty. I have always said the spouse serve our country just as the ones at war. This book shows that over again, what do you do when it feels like everyone is against you, his family blames you for his death, your military friends are no longer your friends. You pack up and go where? Home? There isn’t anything waiting there for you, with nowhere to go or run to lick her wounds Rachel decides to go to the one place she has never been. The grandmother she has never met left her a big estate. Everything, money, a big house and a note that said I am sorry. The mystery begins as Rachel starts over rebuilding her life. What she finds is life might not be as safe as she goes into the forest, she feel something there she is afraid, then it attacks, something or someone comes along, she passes out and wakes to a voice that said do not be afraid I will not hurt you, you are safe. She sees nothing but feels comfort, the voice keeps her there until morning than tells her how to get home and never come back. She doesn’t know what to feel or think. There is a man who is watching her making her feel uneasy, he comforts her which even unsettles her more. What is he talking about, what could this all mean….Danger is near, nearer than she thinks….There are to many secretes that she must uncover to find the true meaning and just what did her grandmothers note mean? She finds not everyone is happy she is there, to many things go wrong, to many people are on the hunt…but for what?

The narrator Shana Pennington-Baird I thought did a great job of narrating. Her different voices added a lot to the audio. It was easy to tell which was male and female and what emotions she was trying to betray. The only problem I saw in this audio was at the beginning of some chapters her voice was louder than the one she just finished. I am guessing this is when she took a break and came back to start recording again. I cannot say it took away from the audio it was more of wow that is different but it isn’t long before you get right back into this story. It was a story I did have trouble setting down and really wanted to continue it. There was no background noise at all just nice smooth listening with just the voice getting louder at the beginning of some chapters.  Would I listen to more by this narrator you can bet the bank I would. She really does have a smooth voice that pulls you in and holds you there, at times with your heart in your throat.

The author gives a story with many twists and turns that will keep you interested as she tells you a heartbreaking story of love lost and starting over. She takes you on a journey through the forest of the unnatural and Rachel pieces together her family, their lies, betrayal which will cause her lots of pain. It is heartbreaking to see these half human half animals and all they have had to deal with. Life is dangerous as a bounty hunter is following her wanting information she doesn’t have.  He will get his information at all cost whatever it takes.

You get to meet some wonderful characters that have their own painful story to tell. They come together to unite as a family keeping all those like them safe. Each are special in their own way but Leonardo stands out as he keeps Rachel safe through the many different issues that happen.  As a reader it is hard for your heart not to go out to these characters when you learn their story. Rachel at times I just wish I could have pulled her out of the book to safety and take her sorrow away. The author gives you characters you do not know if you can trust one minute and the next they are dearing and you just love them. Do not believe everything you see for it might not be. As I listened along thoughts started stirring and I thought this it is how it is. To find out I was correct I was like YES but I never thought it was going to be that way. I would have to say the ending is painful and heartbreaking but at the same time sweet and happy. You are torn between how you think it will go and how you want it to end. This is a series and I am so looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for me. This story can go many different ways and with this authors mind you just never know. If you haven’t read anything by RM Alexander this would be a great one to start with. The audio is outstanding as the book is. 

 About The Author

RM Alexander is an author of Sweet / Clean Romances that are sometimes contemporary, sometimes paranormal or suspense, but are always ruled by the heart of true romance.

With characters who look for love in wrong places and are victims of the worse kind of betrayals while fighting for what they want and believe in, RM's novels promise a good read with unexpected twists and turns.

When she's not writing, RM is spending time with her husband and two small children in Michigan. She loves to travel, especially to Walt Disney World, and can often be found on Twitter or Facebook chatting with other authors and fans.

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