Butterfly Bayou (Butterfly Bayou #1) by Lexi Blake @authorlexiblake

Butterfly Bayou was a good start to what I'm sure will be a fantastic series. Lexi Blake delivered a remarkable and riveting romance brimming with scorching hot passion, angst, light-hearted humor, and all the feels. I enjoyed my visit to Papillion, Louisiana, where the sexy sheriff and single dad, Armie LaVigne, found the perfect woman who turned his world upside down ~ Lila Daley.  She comically and unexpectedly fell into this hot lawman's life, courtesy of a speed trap guarded by an alligator affectionately named Otis. Working as a nurse in Dallas, Lila witnessed a horrific tragedy involving her friend and colleague that left her (and me) completely shattered. Hoping to escape the nightmares of the past, she decided to leave the hustle and bustle of a big city ER and restart life in Papillion, as the town's nurse practitioner. Trying to fit in with the locals, and struggling to overcome several challenges, the last thing Lila wanted was to fall for Armie. Much to her surprise, he and his daughter, Noelle, were exactly what she needed. Their connection was instantaneous. The chemistry between them sizzled. But despite their intense feelings, Armie and Lila fought the attraction until they deliciously surrendered. A journey towards love that was extremely bumpy, but well worth the wait, I relished every moment spent with this couple.   I adored Lila. Strong-willed, compassionate, courageous ~ she was a heroine I truly admired. A woman so riddled with guilt over tragic circumstances that were out of her control, her sufferings pulled at my heartstrings. Rigid at first, Lila was all business when it came to her career, yet possessed a gentler side, especially when it came to her patients, Armie, and Noelle. Watching her character grow, gain confidence, and find the courage to fall love was touching. Armand "Armie" LaVigne was a loving and a swoon-worthy hero. A single dad, who was very protective when it came to his disabled daughter, Armie was also dealing with his fair share of guilt from the past. Despite all the complications in his life, meeting Lila was a game-changer, as his attraction to her was fierce and intense. His persistent chase to win her heart and earn trust was stirring. However, he frustrated me for a bit when his commitment to Lila faltered when a situation with Noelle arose. Regardless of the nerve-wracking relationship tensions, Armie managed to win back my affections eventually as he became the strong man Lila needed. In turn, Lila's love forever changed both Arnie and Noelle’s lives for the better. Butterfly Bayou was more than just small-town contemporary romance. There's lots of angst, drama, and tension to savor, as well as several story-lines that surrounded this couple and secondary characters, which had me on edge. All in all, this first installment in the Butterfly Bayou Series was an enjoyable, highly emotional, and sexy read. Amazon: https://amzn.to/327prnx AppleBooks: https://apple.co/34gSwhA Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ButterflyBayouLB Nook: http://bit.ly/2PAZCcC Kobo: http://bit.ly/2N8yu38 Google Play: http://bit.ly/2JG9KgE Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2C9nAUl I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this publication.

Absolution (Disenchanted 3) by L.D. Davis

Since reading Disenchanted, I became addicted to the drama surrounding Marco and Lydia's lives. So much passion, heartache, and regret consumed these characters in the first two installments, I was eagerly awaiting its conclusion and incredibly anxious for this finale. Absolution did not disappoint and, in my opinion, the best read of the series. An erotic romance filled with extreme relationship angst L.D. Davis set me on a volatile roller-coaster ride, which had me on edge, as she both shattered and mended my heart. A testament to this author's talents, my emotions were twisted into knots, and I loved every nail-biting and soul-crushing moment. In the previous installments, I've had my fair share of issues with Lydia, as I was both fascinated and extremely frustrated with her character. I understood she was consumed with guilt and regrets from the past, namely the unresolved problems with her sister and late husband. Her struggle to overcome those demons while falling for Marco pulled at my heartstrings as it undoubtedly affected their relationship. But it was difficult to sympathize with Lydia during the times she became too contentious and acted immaturely. However, the Lydia that appeared within this read was the heroine I wished for, and I fell in love with her. She evolved from a woman who repeatedly tried my patience to someone I truly admired. Despite her tragic circumstances, Lydia found the courage and inner strength to trust and fully open her heart to Marco. Falling in love with this sexy Italian was not without its challenges as some members of his family added to their mounting troubles. Their journey, although beautiful, was also heartbreaking, aggravating and incredibly messy at times. The more complications they faced, the more twisted my emotions became, and I savored every tension-filled second. A swoon-worthy and passionate hero with a heart of gold, I adored Marco. A man so full of love and hope, he was determined to pull Lydia away from her dark and joyless life, despite her ornery and stubborn attitude. Overly caring, I admired how he tended to his family's needs, especially his nieces, nephews, and Lydia's children. There was an intensity, a fierceness to his character that overwhelmed me - particularly the way he deeply loved his "Tesoro" - Lydia, his precious treasure. However, there were times his actions and bad choices wreaked havoc on my nerves. There was so much angst in this story-line, mostly when it came to dealing with his vile sister-in-law Celia clashing with Lydia that drove me completely insane, and I was beyond enraged. Regardless, Marco was amazingly gentle and loving, as he helped to heal Lydia's fragile heart and earn her trust.     To fully appreciate the true beauty of Marco and Lydia's tumultuous love story, you'll need to read this series in its entirety, as this is not a standalone novel. If you are looking for an emotional romance brimming with a fiery passion and angst, with a couple who strives for their well-deserved happily ever after, I highly recommend this series. Exquisitely written and with all the feels, L.D. Davis delivered a remarkable and unforgettable saga of destined love.  The release date for ABSOLUTION is April 25th  Add it to your TBR on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53153534-absolution I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this publication