coz-en (kuz-uhn)
verb
1. trick or deceive.
• obtain by deception.

She was named most appropriately.

Cozen Taylor has more than earned her place as one of North America’s most successful thieves. Her name is whispered amongst criminal elite as the go-to thief when someone needs a heist.

She has never failed.

A call from the Miami-based Astor family could change all that with a job that seems almost impossible to complete. The mark should be simple—a stolen family heirloom, the man who has kept it hidden for over twenty years, and six months to return the piece to its rightful owners.

Nothing is ever that easy.

Three-hundred million for a successful heist. No smart thief would turn the offer down. Cozen didn’t expect a complication like him to put a kink in her plans, though. Sargon Makri—tall, dark, gorgeous, and entirely dangerous. For her life, her heart, and for the success of the heist.

The last thing Cozen needs to be thinking about is Sargon, and how she can get him into her bed … especially when he just happens to be her mark’s bodyguard. The thrill of the job has never been more addicting to Cozen, and she will risk everything to make the heist a success.

But at what cost?

***

From author Bethany-Kris comes a whole new world. A North American network full of criminals battling to stay on top, and painting the streets red in war as they dabble in the game of betrayal. Malicious, cunning, forbidden, and violent—welcome to The Empires and Badlands.

Amazon | Goodreads

My Review

I think this will be the simplest review I’ve ever written for a book I’ve read by Bethany-Kris. If you haven’t read anything of hers before, this is a perfect example of her exemplary prose and a wise choice to get your feet wet with. And if you’re a mega fan like me, you’ll love how seemingly flawless her segue from mafia romance to plain old romantic suspense is.

Cozen is a thief looking for her last job and it happens to land in her lap at just the right time. Her skills are highly sought after because she doesn’t just steal what you’re looking for. There’s no smash-and-grab. She has the unique ability to insert herself into her target’s life, identify the mark, take the mark, and exit without anyone being the wiser. Perfect. And her tactics should have worked just as effortlessly as ever before except for one snag - an irresistible man named Sargon. While trying to seduce her target, she was also seducing him, and from first sight, she was seduced by him. And it was sexy, incredibly hot, and absolutely beautiful.

I loved so much about this story and I wish it didn’t have to end. I loved Sargon’s frustration over Cozen’s pretense. I loved how Cozen couldn’t help herself when it came to Sargon. And I loved the twists and turns that this author fed me right up until the end. I admit that I was pleasantly surprised that I was intentionally left in the dark about so much and yet I felt that the surprises only validated how much I loved these characters.

Trapped.
Beaten.
Broken.
Adam destroyed himself to save me. At first, I doubt if I have the strength to go on. But with every second that passes, I seethe and curse the Prophet. My time as a Maiden is over. I refuse to be a toy in his game any longer. But there’s always more ways for the Prophet to get to me, to use me, and to keep me under his influence. Will I be strong enough to break free?

Join here: www.jointhecloister.com

Author's Note: If you have a trigger, this book will pull it. The Maiden is the first book of The Cloister Series. The Prophet will release in May, and the conclusion to the series, The Church, will release in June.

Find it here:
Amazon | Goodreads

FREE in KU

A tale as old as time: she needs a place to stay, he's a grump with a secret and an extra room...can love find a way?

Meet the Naughty Princess Club, a series from USA Today bestselling author Tara Sivec that brings readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that three women fall into once they decide to strut their stuff and bring on their own happily ever after.

Living in her overprotective dad’s basement, shy Belle lives her life through books. Being a part of the Naughty Princess Club is the first adventure she’s ever had, plus she desperately needs the money to save one of her favorite places - the local library.

But when her new friends and new business gets her kicked out of her dad’s house, Belle is rescued by the surly Vincent “Beast” Adams who invites her to be his house guest until she gets back on her feet. Despite his attitude problem and long list of rules, Belle finds herself warming to the muscled man with a penchant for growling and starts seeing a gentle side to him that wasn’t there before.

Yet there’s a room that Beast keeps locked and Belle keeps getting hints that Beast is hiding something…can a nerdy librarian tame the beast or will their romance be over before it has a chance to blossom?

Amazon | Goodreads

My Review

It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Tara Sivec, but from what I remembered, I thoroughly enjoyed each experience. This read was no different. In Bed with the Beast was a hilarious tale loosely based on Beauty and the Beast that tackled a woman’s growth and development into self-sufficiency and independence. It told a story of kindness and charity, of funny hijinks and antics, of the bond found with family and friends, of the intricacies of interpersonal relationships, and of faith in happily ever afters. There was romance, drama, and laughs to be found in its pages. I had a blast reading it!

I could tell that I could become a huge fan of Vincent and was begging to get his perspective. I couldn’t really connect with his character and I needed him to counteract the effects that Belle had on me. Every time she doubted his feelings or motives, I wanted to shake her for ignoring the obvious. In so many big and small ways, Vincent showed her his intentions and how very much he cared for her. It hurt so much when she would disregard this or treat him disrespectfully. Hello! You had no place to go, he gave you a home, and you are being unappreciative. RUDE!! I really liked that these characters, despite their immense attraction, didn’t just jump into bed. They were able to grow beyond the physical and got to really know each other. It made their relationship that much more special.

If you’re looking for a good laugh while watching someone try to sabotage their chances at everlasting love, you won’t want to miss this!

“What do you do when you meet your soul mate? No wait…that’s too easy. What do you do when you meet your soul mate and have to spend a lifetime loving him in secret?
I’ll tell you what you do.
You lie.”

REN

Ren was eight when he learned that love doesn’t exist—that the one person who was supposed to adore him only cared how much he was worth.
His mother sold him and for two years, he lived in terror.
But then…he ran.
He thought he’d run on his own. Turned out, he took something of theirs by accident and it became the one thing he never wanted and the only thing he ever needed.

DELLA

I was young when I fell in love with him, when he switched from my world to my everything.
My parents bought him for cheap labour, just like they had with many other kids, and he had the scars to prove it.
At the start, he hated me, and I could understand why.
For years he was my worst enemy, fiercest protector, and dearest friend.
But by the end…he loved me.
The only problem was, he loved me in an entirely different way to the way I loved him.
And slowly, my secret drove us apart.

F*ck with my family, and I'll destroy you.

Wealth. Power. Submission.
That's all I craved. Then I saw Olivia.
Pure. Innocent. Everything I'm not.
I knew she was mine.
To touch. To command. To possess.
I claimed her innocence and marked her as my own.
Before I could taste her sweet curves again, she disappeared.

Two years later, she's back.
But this time she has a big secret, my son.
We revisited our past.
And woke up with a ring on our fingers.
This marriage may be a mistake, but my vows are real.

Someone's still trying to keep us apart...
And whoever kept me away from my family will f*cking pay!

Amazon | Goodreads

My Review

Vincent and Olivia met while she was on vacation with some friends at his resort. In a little under 3 weeks, these two had some fun in the sun and fell in love. But the happiness didn't last due to a little bit of sabotage by the mean-spirited 'best friend', Charlene. Fast forward two years and these two one-time lovers meet again. Misunderstandings are explained away and the path is left open for some reconnecting. But their road to happily ever after had some Charlene-shaped obstacles to get through first.

I honestly had a good chuckle every time Charlene did something crazy. She was absolutely nuts but she definitely kept me entertained. If you're looking for an easy romance with bits of steam and tons of drama, you're looking in the right place!

San Francisco is going to burn if the coveted princess of California’s criminal underworld isn’t returned to her family in one piece…

Avery Capulet is missing.

Taken by a madman. Kept in the dark.

She might not survive.

He’ll use her body. Destroy her mind. All before he ever lays a hand on her.

******

Rome Montague is a drug dealer. A criminal. A thief.

And he needs the secrets Avery and her family are keeping – even if it means cutting them out of her pretty Capulet flesh.

Rome Montague is missing – but nobody will miss him.

Not that it matters; After the things he’s done to this girl, he doesn’t deserve to be found.

* * * * * * *

Prepare to step into the dark and bloody underworld of California, as Lili St. Germain brings you a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, in the same vein as her bestselling Gypsy brothers series.

The CALIFORNIA BLOOD series, set in the criminal underbelly of San Francisco, follows two warring families who are ruled by blood, power and twisted desire.

Verona Blood is the first book in the series.

You want some?

She snarls those words at him with barely concealed hostility the moment he arrives at her window to ask for her license and registration.

After a few choice words, he lets her go with not one ticket, but three.

Next time she should check the attitude at the door and realize that he’s a cop, and just doing his job.

Come get some.

Fast forward a week, and he’s still unable to think about anything else but her and her bad attitude—oh, and those sexy lips, angry eyes, and her promise to make his life hell.

Knowing he should stay away, he takes a step back and tries not to think about anything that has to do with those long legs, and that mouth that could be used for much better things than spewing venom.
Then she makes a mistake.

At an interview, she rattles off a random number to use as a reference for a job that she desperately needs, and that number just happens to be Johnny’s.

She’ll regret being so rude, and one day she’ll think twice when she decides to throw attitude toward a man like him.

Vowing to make her life hell, he decides to have a little fun.

Never get enough.

What he doesn’t expect is to fall for her.

The more Johnny learns about June, the deeper he digs his hole. Soon, he doesn’t know which way is up, and he’s just fine with that.

Over time, he learns that not everyone bothers to dig past her prickly demeanor and get to the woman that lives deeper.

When one too many citizens of Hostel, Texas tries to back her against the wall, he’s had enough.

After all, you don’t mess with what’s his.

Izabel and Naeva find themselves right where they wanted to be in Mexico: captured and held in the slave compounds owned by the Ruiz family. But the two are soon separated and forced into very different—but equally dangerous—situations. Izabel spends the next three weeks playing a role she never expected she would get the opportunity to play, but her luck runs out when Naeva’s life hangs in the balance, and only Izabel can save her. But at a terrible cost. If Izabel chooses to help Naeva, it will expose a lie she has been carrying on her shoulders since she met Victor Faust. A lie that will not only potentially make everyone in Victor’s Order distrust her going forward, but one that will also blow her carefully constructed cover In Mexico, and that could get her killed.

Fredrik, still looking for his serial killer, does not have to look long—the killer finds him. And Niklas’s past catches up to him when an old enemy comes back for revenge. But it will be Victor’s actions that shake up those left in his Order, and ultimately, be its downfall.

Amazon | Goodreads

I’ve loved Jade ever since I first laid eyes on her.
She’s always been mine.
And now a dangerous evil wants to take her away from me.
He wants to hurt her, cage her free spirit.
Over my dead body will he lay a finger on her.
No one takes what’s mine.
And no one hurts what I love without paying the price.
She’s my life, my love, my everything.
And I’ll be damned if I lose her.

I’ve been captivated by Knox ever since I met him.
He’s the only man who’s ever cared about me enough to protect me.
There’s no way I’d ever turn my back on him, or any of the Hellbound Lovers.
They’re not the traditional family, but they’re mine.
I’ll fight tooth and nail for them.
But I’ve been propositioned by an enemy
And now I face my fate.
Protecting Knox is the only things that matters.
No one will take him away from me.
And no one is going to keep me from the man I love. No one.

The last installment of the Hellbound Lovers - Resisting love has never worked out for any of the members of HLMC and Knox isn't any different. Get ready to fall in love with this irresistibly protective alpha.