Fearless Heart (Starlight Cove #3) by Brighton Walsh

 

Quinn Cartwright sees me as nothing more than her rival...her enemy. But I've been obsessed with her since we were teenagers. She's gorgeous and brilliant with a tongue sharp enough to cut glass...and she has no idea I love it as much as I do. So when she needs someone to put a ring on it because her a-hole boss, I marry her without hesitation. We draw up a contract on a napkin. This marriage might be fake, but no one in our small town has to know. She may never see me as anything more than a playboy, but sleeping in the same bed together night after night makes me want to put my skills to use and prove just how good this fake marriage can be. Fearless Heart by Brighton Walsh was published in April 2023. This is book three of the Starlight Cove series. 

This book make me giggle so much while reading it. The love-hate relationship from the very beginning. The two main characters Ford and Quinn have a lot of history as they grew up together. But their point of views of that history is quite the opposite. Quinn thought Ford hated her and wanted to make her life miserable. Where Ford actually had a massive crush on her and annoyed her to get her attention. The plot in this story is amazing and how Ford stands up for her at the right time and others to let her stand up for herself. Their romance came slowly but it is worth it in the end. The smut is just enough to leave you hanging but still in great details. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

 Quotes That I Loved 

The woman was knock-you-on-your-ass gorgeous, and instead of getting used to it like I should've been after more than fifteen goddamn years, I got hit harder with it every time I saw her. With that ass and those lips and the thick thighs I wanted to wear as earmuffs...She ruined me, and the devil woman took pleasure in it. 

"You're delusional. I wouldn't jump into bed with you if it was the only respite from ten thousand cockroaches crawling all over the floor." 

"I see the gleam in your eye. You're thinking about murdering me, aren't you?" 

"Don't tell me I'm the one who won't make this believable. All you have to do is breathe and I'm hard. " 

"A Pleasure Party, huh? You ever go to one of those?"

"Nice try, but I'm not talking to you about my sex toy collection."

"You have a whole collection...Not gonna lie, I love a good assist." 

"Oh, kitten, I can promise you I won't be disappointed by anything that's under there. But I wasn't talking about your panties. I was talking about that ass I want to sink my teeth into and those thighs I think about wrapped around my head ninety-five percent of the day." 

"I want to fuck you, kitten. Badly. I've wanted to for a long fucking time. But now that I'm wearing this ring?......I want it even more. It's my job as your husband to release this tension that's been tying you up in knots. My job to make my wife come harder than she ever has before." 

"That's my good girl." 

Starlight Cove Series in Order 

1. Defiant Heart 

2. Protective Heart 

3. Fearless Heart

4. Reckless Heart 

5. Possessive Heart (Tbr) 

Tropes 

Small Town

Marriage of Convenience

Fake Dating

He Falls First 

Enemies to Lovers 

Shelter for Adeline (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes #7) by Susan Stoker

 

Saddled with a job she hates and a detestable boss she likes even less, Adeline Reynolds could use a break. It doesn't look like she'll get one today. Her service dog, Coco, is alerting her she's about to have an epileptic seizure - and her frustrated blind date has left her to deal on her own. Enter firefighter Dean Christopherson, who escorts her to the nearby fire station, where she can suffer her ordeal safe from injury and prying eyes. Shelter for Adeline by Susan Stoker was published in January 2017. This is book seven of the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series. 

I read this book awhile back but forgot to review it. So bare with me on this one. I love Adeline and how much strength she has with her disability. I love how she was doing a lot of things to be able to be not scared of her seizures. It really feels like Susan Stoker did her research on the disability to portray it the right way. I lost a friend in college to epilepsy 12 years ago, so I saw some of the hardships that she went through. I loved how Dean was so protective of her and realized that he also had to let her have her own strength. That she didn't need him 24/7 and wanted her independence. The romance in this book is sweet and there is some smut but not a ton. The plot in this story is amazing and really flows into each other. I couldn't put the book down to deal with every day life. I highly recommend falling with Adeline and Dean. 

Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series in Order 

1. Justice for Mackenzie

2. Justice for Mickie 

3. Justice for Corrie

4. Justice for Laine

5. Shelter for Elizabeth 

6. Justice for Boone 

7. Shelter for Adeline 

8. Shelter for Sophie 

9. Justice for Erin

10. Justice for Milena

11. Shelter for Blythe 

12. Justice for Hope

13. Shelter for Quinn

14. Shelter for Koren

15. Shelter for Penelope

Tropes

Men in Uniform -Firefighters 

For More Books in Susan Stoker's World

Protective Heart (Starlight Cove #2) by Brighton Walsh

 

I've lied to myself for years about being in love with my best friend. Everly Bowman and I don't make sense. She's sunshine personified and I hate everyone. Well, everyone but her. It's easy to pretend like she isn't my whole world. Or it was until she needs a place to stay, and my apartment is her only option. Suddenly, she's everywhere I turn. Even her scent is branded into my sheets. And thanks to our unofficial romance book club, I've also amassed an encyclopedia titled Everly's Pleasure Buttons. Each week, it gets harder to ignore how much I want to make her fantasies come true. Especially when we crawl into my bed every night. But I won't jeopardize what we have for anything, so I'm fine with lying to myself and pretending like I don't dream of calling her mine. At least, I was until I see her with him. Protective Heart by Brighton Walsh was published in September 2022. This is book two in the Starlight Cove book series. 

This book made me chuckle so much knowing how both of them were fighting their attractiveness for the other. I married one of my friends and we now have four kids. So this one brought back all of the feelings that I tried to keep hidden growing up with him. The characters in this book are well rounded both with a lot of faults as well as strengths. You can actually picture them walking around like the rest of us. The steamy scenes in this book are perfect combination of familiarities but also steamy. The plot in this book is perfect with a little history before the book took place. As Everly and Beck meant before the book and already built their friendship. This book has perfect flow that it eases and flows. I loved this book and I can't wait to read book three. 

Quotes That I Loved 

"What?"

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing. If it were nothing, you wouldn't have that stupid look on your face."

"I just think it's interesting, is all."

"How much you manage to irritate me every day? I wouldn't exactly call that interesting, but maybe you need to get out a bit more." 

Whether I'd intended to or not, I'd amassed an encyclopedia titled Everly's Sexual Pleasure Buttons, and each week, I added more entries. If not directly from her mouth, then form the dog-eared, highlighted, flagged sections on her physical copies. And there I'd sit, stone-faced, and pretend like I didn't want to do every goddamn one of those things to her. 

I couldn't believe this was Beck-my Beck-kissing the absolute life out of me, and I was loving every second of it. My God, how had I not known my best friend was a kissing prodigy?

"Tell me how I'm supposed to turn you away when you come in here looking like a fucking dream and then suck the tip of my thumb like you wish it was my cock." 

"That's right, sunshine....move my mouth exactly where you want it. Use my tongue to get off. I want you to ride my face until you come all over it. I don't want to stop until I'm drowning in you." 

"Beck. Oh my God, you can't talk like that." 

"Don't try to pretend you don't love every filthy word coming out of my mouth. I know exactly the kinds of books you read exactly the dirty talk that gets you off." 

"You feel so fucking good, and I'm not even inside you yet. Your pussy's going to ruin me, isn't it, sunshine? Never gonna be the same after I slide inside this tight little cunt." 

"Good Girl." 

Starlight Cove Series in Order 

1. Defiant Heart 

2. Protective Heart 

3. Fearless Heart

4. Reckless Heart 

5. Possessive Heart (Tbr) 

Tropes 

Grumpy / Sunshine

Small Town

Friends to Lovers

Roommate 

Opposites Attract 

For Grumpy Sunshine Trope Books

Defiant Heart (Starlight Cove #1) by Brighton Walsh

 

As the sheriff of Starlight Cove, I shouldn't crave her, but I do. She's chaos mayhem, and sunshine wrapped up in too-tight yoga pants. The lawbreaker might have the town enamored with her free spirit, but she's a thorn in my side, even if she is the sexiest woman I've ever seen. I want her out of my town and out of my head. Trouble is, she's made it perfectly clear she's not going anywhere. And her spree of minor infractions-who runs a yoga class without a license? - is hitting dangerously close to home. Her latest protest has her chained to a tree on the boundary of my family's resort. The last thing we need is bad press ruining the short tourism season when the resort is already one bad month away from bankruptcy. I'll do whatever it takes to save Starlight Cove. Even if that means handcuffing Luna to my bed. Defiant Heart by Brighton Walsh was published in June 2022. This is book one of the Starlight Cove series. 

So I started this book series totally out of order, I am though going to post the series in order. I loved the characters in this book so much. Especially Luna (though Luna name has a soft part of my heart thanks to Harry Potter). Luna is such a complex character that you can't help but fall in love with her. She's so smart but she also really quirky. I mean with the name of Luna you have some quirkiness involved. I also loved Brady in this book. He made me chuckle at some of the things he did and said to Luna. He is the guy who is grumpy and wants everyone to follow the law straight forward but you know he needs to lighten up. Someone to care for him when he gets in one of his moods. I also loved how Luna was loved by his whole family in some way. Also let me tell you the smut in this book is very good. It's not like some books where it's in depth but it's just enough to leave you hanging. I highly recommend checking out this book. 

Quotes That I Loved 

One minute, I wanted to strangle him, and the next, I wanted to climb him like a tree and see what all that pent-up aggression would feel like in the bedroom. 

"Or you can come over here and show me if today is a panty day or not." 

"I'm not going to 'get on with it'....I'm going to fuck you exactly how I want to, and you're going to love every minute of it."

"Oh my God, would you lick my clit already?"

"Shut up and I might." 

"Be a good girl and hold this for me."

"Your pussy's soaked up all your sweetness, so that's why you're such a harpy all the time." 

"You are. I worked up this pussy, made you dripping wet. This orgasm is mine. I earned every bit of it, and I want to feel it around my cock. Now, give it to me." 

"That's my good girl. Just like that. Fuck." 

"You're playing a dangerous game, lawbreaker."

"Those are the best kinds to play." 

"Just because you're on top doesn't mean you're in charge."

"I don't know.....This feels a little like I'm in charge."

"Does it......'Cause I promise you're not. Now, put your hands on the headboard and ride my tongue like a good girl. Gotta make sure this pussy is nice and soaked if you want to take my cock again." 

"Christ, you're squeezing me so fucking tight. You're gonna soak my cock, aren't you, pretty girl? Gonna come all over me and prove I'm the one in charge of this pussy." 

"That's my good girl." 

"Even if she weren't, I'd choose her. I have to choose her. She's it for me." 

Starlight Cove Series in Order 

1. Defiant Heart 

2. Protective Heart 

3. Fearless Heart

4. Reckless Heart 

5. Possessive Heart (Tbr) 

Tropes

Enemies to Lovers

Grumpy / Sunshine

Small Town

Men in Uniform - Police Officer 

Forced Proximity

Opposite Attract 

Check out more BookTok books

Protecting Maddie (The Omega Team #4 / The Protectors #1) by Desiree Holt

 

When Maddie Winslow talked a student out of his gun in her classroom, she never figured it would set off a chain of events that put her life in grave danger, and the lives of her parents. Hiding in WitSec for thirty years, her parents thought they had beaten the odds--until the image of Maddie, an identical replica of her mother - hits the television airwaves and the people who have been seeking revenge all those years find her. Intent on learning where her mother is hiding, they break into her home and then try to kidnap her. Frightened, she goes to her friend, Zee, who once dated someone in Delta Force. She calls him to explain her friend's situation, but he's prepping for a mission and can't leave base. Hunter "Hawkeye" St. John, a Delta Force member, is on medical leave recuperating in Tampa and chafing for some action. When he and Maddie meet, the sparks flying between them sizzle the air. But if Hawkeye wants to move forward with Maddie he first has to keep her safe and then eliminate the bad guys. Protecting Maddie by Desiree Holt was published in July 2016. This book is book four of The Omega Team series and book one of the The Protectors series. 

Another book that broke off from Susan Stoker book series. I really enjoyed this book and I love how we get to meet two characters that we don't know from any books. Hawkeye has a lot of anger because he was injured and because of others I know Delta guys don't like to be not busy. So for him to be able to be helpful and keep someone safe is perfect. I loved Maddie in how she softly talked to her student to get him to put down the weapon before he caused more issues. It's a teacher I would want my own kids to have. Of course she has her own faults in the book but I loved that she took charges and became the hero in the beginning. The story-line is amazing in this book, while there is not much of smut in the book. There is a lot of romance involved. I highly recommend checking it out. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"First, let me introduce you. Ghost, this is my friend Maddie Winslow. Maddie, meet my cousin, Keane "Ghost" Bryson. The star of Delta Force." 

Hawkeye solved the problem for her. He took the glass from her hand, set it on the counter, and cradled her head in his hands. Holding it steady, his mouth descended and claimed hers. This was no gentle kiss, no soft press of lips. He stroked his tongue over her mouth once, twice, then...."Open for me." 

The Omega Team Series in Order

1. Raw Edge of Danger

2. Mission Control 

3. Lethal Design 

4. Protecting Maddie 

5. Man of My Heart 

5.5. One Wild Ride 

6. Flying High

7. Guarding Jenna 

The Protector Series in Order 

1. Protecting Maddie

2. Protecting Cassie 

3. Protecting Amy

4. Protecting Arizona 

5. Protecting Terra 

6. Protecting Susan  

Tropes 

Men in Uniform - Military

For More Books in Susan Stoker's World

Learn About Ghost

Twisted Games (Twisted #2) by Ana Huang

 

Stoic, broody, and arrogant, elite bodyguard Rhys Larsen has two rules: 1) Protect his clients at all costs 2) Do not become emotionally involved. Ever. He has never once been tempted to break those rules...until her. Bridget von Ascheberg. A princess with a stubborn streak that matches his own and a hidden fire that reduces his rules to ash. She's nothing he expected and everything he never knew he needed. Day by day, inch by inch, she breaks down his defenses until he's faced with a truth he can no longer deny: he swore an oath to protect her, but all he wants is to ruin her. Take her. Because she's his. Twisted Games by Ana Huang was published in July 2021. This is book two in the Twisted series. 

Can I just say that this series is always throwing curve balls. I really enjoyed Alex and thought he was this amazing tough guy then Ana Huang had to throw in another tough guy. Rhy. He had his own issues and then add the princess who wanted nothing to do with her family's kingdom being thrown straight into becoming Queen. There was so much happening in this book that my head was being tossed all over. Then throw in the love between the future Queen and Rhy's who were fighting to be able to be a couple amongst all of it. The characters in this book are amazing and so well written. I felt like I want Bridget to be one of my friends (especially when you know she helped Ava get Alex back). I loved Rhys and I felt like he was perfect for my friend Bridget. He can stand her snootiness and keep her down to earth which she needs when she becomes Queen. I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to check out book three. 

Quotes That I Loved 

To all the girls who said fuck Prince Charming, give me a scarred knight. 

....but it would've been nice to have eye candy without wanting to drop-kick him into the next century. Men. They always ruined it by opening their mouths. 

"You gonna keep ogling me, or you got something I can help you with, Princess?" 

"What.Did.I.Tell.You.?"

"I'd rather you hate me alive than love me dead." 

"I suggest you stop lookin' at me like that, Princess...Unless you plan on doing something about it." 

If Bridget were anyone but my client, I'd drag her into the bedroom, bend her over, and spank her ass raw for her insolent tone.

"Because you're right. I do want you. But I don't want to kiss or make love to you. I want to fuck you. I want to punish you for mouthing off and letting another man put his hands on you. I want to yank up that tiny fucking dress of yours and pound into you so hard you won't be able to walk for days. I want all those things, even though I can't have them. But if you don't stop looking at me like that...I might take them anyway." 

"I didn't sign up for a heart-to-heart, Mr. Larsen. Either fuck me, or I'll find someone else who will." 

"Do that...and you'll be responsible for a man's slow, bloody death. Is that what you want, Princess." 

"Now be a good girl and take off your bikini for me." 

"That's it, take every inch down your throat like a good girl." 

"But first, I want to make one thing clear. From this point on, you're mine. No other man touches you. If they do...I know seventy-nine ways to kill a man, and I can make seventy of them look like an accident. Understand?" 

"No underwear. Good girl.....because if you'd disobeyed my order....I'd have to punish you." 

"Remember. In public, you're my princess, but in private, you're my whore." 

"Keep your underwear, gloves, and heels on....and crawl to me." 

"Good girl." 

Twisted Series in Order

1. Twisted Love

2. Twisted Games 

3. Twisted Hate 

4. Twisted Lies 

Trope

Age-Gap

Forbidden

Grumpy / Sunshine

Bodyguard

Dark Romance

Forced Proximity

Royalty 

Saving Sarah (Cajun Connection #1 / Special Forces: Alpha) by Kathy Ivan

 

Haunted by memories of war and strangely prophetic dreams, Gaston "Ranger" Boudreau spends his time alone in the Louisiana bayou he calls home. When his former SEAL teammates calls in a favor, Ranger can't refuse - because a Boudreau always pays his debts. Romance writer Sarah Sloane is in New Orleans on a mission: To find her missing sister who disappeared during Spring Break. She needs somebody who knows the city - but more, she needs a bodyguard who can keep her safe. One sexy former Navy SEAL might be exactly the person for the job. As Ranger's dreams evolve, the dangerous search for Sarah's sister quickly becomes a race against the clock. Saving Sarah by Kathy Ivan was published in July 2016. This book is the first book in Cajun Connections series and apart of the Special Forces: Alpha series. 

I really love an author named Susan Stoker and I found out that she gave other authors permission to use some of her side characters in their books. So of course, I had to find those books and see how well they incorporated characters that I fell in love with. I really enjoyed this book, it was different then other books in Susan Stoker books. This book had a mystery, in the fact that you were trying to find Sarah's sister. The romance between the two characters were not love at first sight that you commonly see in romance books. So it was nice to see how the two of them developed through out the book. I highly recommend checking this book out. 

Canjun Connections Series in Order

1. Saving Sarah

2. Saving Savannah

3. Saving Stephanie

4. Guarding Gabi 

Tropes 

Men in Uniform - Military

Bodyguard 

Check out other Stoker World Books

So Not Meant to Be (Cane Brothers #2) by Meghan Quinn

 

Am I friends with JP Cane? Ha! That's laughable. Besides the fact that he's adopted some far-fetched notion from the movie When Harry Met Sally that says men and women can't be friends and work together, it's safe to say we're not friends. He's annoyingly loud, obnoxiously handsome, and has made an art out of poking all my hot buttons...multiple times a day. So you can imagine how disgruntled I am when I not only have to fly to San Francisco with him for work, but stay in the same penthouse. Yup, we're sharing the same air, twenty-four-seven. We're talking full-fledged working roommates. The man doesn't know what it means to wear a shirt, thrives off protein bars, and you guessed it, moans loud enough for people to believe he's Meg Ryan in a restaurant. Spoiler Alert: I won't be having what he's having. So Not Meant to Be by Meghan Quinn was published in June 2022. This is the second book in Cane Brothers series. 

It took me awhile to start this book after the first one. I wanted to wait till I needed a break from dark romances so I can get a good start on some humor. This book though, started slow but I was so happy once it felt like it was at a good place. I loved that it was two characters that we already had a connection with. Also love how we knew somewhat of their backgrounds before this book because of their siblings background. The two characters at first felt flat and that their relationship was hiding in the shadows. Then once the book picked up around the middle of it the characters started to round out more. They became people that I knew and started to really like. I love how both characters at first were against them having a relationship outside of the workplace. But how he fell first and and asked for help. I really enjoyed this story and the humor throughout. I can't wait to read about the last Cane Brother because I have a feeling he is going to hit the ground running. 

Quotes That I Loved 

"A man and a women who find each other attractive and who work together will never be able to be friends. There will always be a giant elephant in the room, and that elephant's name is Sex. It's basic human math, Kelsey. We all need to climax, and when we find someone who's attractive, we want that person to help us climax." 

"And I wouldn't be wearing underwear, either, on the off chance that you pulled me on top of this conference table and spread my legs for a small taste." 

"...Because, JP, if I wanted you, I would want to steal, consume, and savor every second I had with you." 

"Fuck." 

"Are you okay?"

"Mmm..."

"Did you bite your lips? You know, I do that sometimes. It might develop into a canker sore, so be mentally prepared for that."

"Fuck.....yes.....Yes, baby, right there....mmmm, you feel so good."

"Are you really doing this? Are you really doing the scene from When Harry Met Sally?" 

"Fuck. That mouth of yours. Yes, suck me deep."

"Hey, yoo-hoo, you can stop that now. I get your point."

"Yes, baby, your pussy is so fucking good. Uhhhh, yes, fuck, I need to pump harder."

"No, no, that's okay, no pumping necessary." 

"If this was a real date, I would've bent you over the table and spanked your ass for the way you've spoken to me."

"A perfect gentleman isn't going to make you come the way I can." 

"Ahhh!!!!.....Your penis is on my face. Your penis is on my face."

"I know. Fuck."

"Where is your underwear?"

"I don't wear underwear at night." 

"Dear God! It's on my nose! Your genitals are resting on my freaking nose!"

"I fucking know!....But I can't get up because you're still holding on to me."

"I've been tea-bagged."

"Let the fuck GO, KELSEY!" 

"I've been defiled."

"You've been defiled....I'm the one who's been stripped bare." 

"When I knew you couldn't take it anymore, I'd part you with two fingers and eat your pussy. Fuck, I can taste it right now, sweet and salty, fucking delicious on my tongue." 

"Good girl." 

Cane Brothers Series in Order

1. A Not so Meet Cute

2. So Not Meant to Be 

3. A Long Time Coming 

Tropes

Enemies to Lovers 

Forced Proximity

Slow Burn

Boss / Employee

He Falls First 

Opposites Attracts

Rom Com 

Billionaire 

Protecting New York (Special Forces: Operation Alpha / New York) by Lainey Reese

 

When New York is under attack, a Navy SEAL, a group of Doms, and their feisty subs are there to save the day. Navy SEAL Faulkner "Dude" Cooper and his wife Cheyenne (As Found in Protecting Cheyenne by Susan Stoker) are in New York City for a working holiday. Lectures at the police conference by day and exploring the local BDSM clubs by night. What could be better? When Dude meets Detective Brice Marshall his first day in town, the Dom and his tightknit circle intrigue him. He and Cheyenne decide to join with their new friends in order to further explore the heights of their relationship and the incredible depth of their devotion. But, when the past comes back to haunt them it will take the help of new friends and old to come together in order to face it. Protecting New York by Lainey Reese was published in July 2016. This book is part of the Special Forces: Operation Alpha series and New York series. 

Forgive me but I actually read this book awhile ago and since I borrowed it from the library, I can't grab quotes out to share. I loved Dude and Cheyenne story when you first meet them. It's a great book if you haven't read It I recommend it before checking this book. I also read of the other New York series. Anyways Dude and and Cheyenne come from the mind of another author who let's others use them as characters in their book. So I was a little uneasy that these two characters were in another book. I have to say...Lainey Reese did do these two justice. She kept with who the characters are and their story. She did bring a little more of their personality...Cheyenne getting courageous to in the bathroom. I also loved how Lainey Reese original characters were apart of this and I could tell how everyone was becoming good friends. The smut scenes are spicy and I loved it. Lainey did amazing with the plot of this story and I can't wait to read more books by her. She's now on my radar. 

New York Series in Order

1. A Table for Three

2. Damaged Goods

4. Embracing the Fall

Tropes

BDSM

Men in Uniform - Military

For More Stoker World books