Review: Resistance by K.E. Osborn

Resistance by K.E. Osborn

Series: Chicago Defiance MC #1

Publication date: May 20th, 2018

Pages: 312

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

Life can alter in the blink of an eye.

My club -- constantly under siege by the Italian mafia.

My city -- in a war lasting two generations caused by our fathers.

Yet, in amongst the turmoil, I met her.

In a froyo store.

This sassy woman who's ready to throw down and defend her friends against my brothers and me.

But we aren't the enemies in this story, and little did she know our chance encounter would set us along a different path.

This story isn't full of partying and fun -- it's chaos, carnage, deception, and lies.

War -- it's brutal.

Can you resist?

In this gritty MC romance, it's a fight for their city, their club, and above all, their women. Enter the world of Chicago Defiance MC by internationally bestselling author, KE Osborn.

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Review:

Torque and his club have been long time enemies of the Italia mafia in their town of Chicago. They are constantly warring for property and patrons for their drug business. It is in one such instance that Torque and a few of his men find themselves hiding out in the backroom of a Frozen Yogurt store. The daughter of the owner, Heeley, equipped with a whipped cream can, is ready to throw them out on their asses but something but there is something about Torque that intrigues her. But with the two groups at odds and a new entity entering town, will Heeley be able to eke out some sort of normalcy with the MC President or will they be destined for destruction?

Torque and Heeley had chemistry, that is undeniable but I feel that a lot of their problems were made to be this HUGE deal but then just kind of... shoved away like they weren't so big afterall without much work towards rectifying them. Heeley was struggling with the life Torque lives and the danger he puts himself in but then all of a sudden she has one conversation with someone and all her worries are put to rest? That just doesn't happen in reality. We as humans dwell and it takes more than one person saying "you can do it" to get us to fold in our beliefs. 

I also feel a lot of the drama was superficial and seemed just like a decades long grudge over nothing really of import. The story was kind of hard to get through for me. It dragged a bit and it definitely felt like a lot of fluff with only the beginning of the actual story actually touched upon. It fell into that odd middle ground for me where it was not quite a first installment book but also not quite a prequel either. 

I did find Heeley's bratty personality refreshing. I do love heroines who aren't afraid to be sassy and push the boundaries with their domineering guys. She did that in spades. She was not afraid to speak her mind and not afraid of who Torque was as an MC President. She stood her ground and was a great heroine. 

I think the saving grace for me was the connection between Heeley and Torque. The rest of the story just felt... generic and as if it were something I have read a dozen times before. I enjoy MC books because I like seeing the inner-workings of an MC from parties to guns dealing. This had just the barebones of it and didn't really read MC as just a group of dudes who do illegal things sometimes. I think if that was fleshed out more and the story would have been a bit more enjoyable for me.

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Giveaway: Pity Date by Whitney Dineen @whitneydineen @XpressoTours

Pity Date by Whitney Dineen

Series: Pity #1

Publication date: May 18th, 2023

Synopsis:

Faith

I should've known it wouldn't work out.

In all my twenty-nine years, life has never been smooth sailing when a man was involved. Astor Hill was everything I've ever wanted in a partner--handsome, successful, and interested in me. Until he started cheating. The cherry on the sundae is finding out the truth less than two weeks before we've supposed to stand up for our best friends at their wedding.

When a staggeringly good-looking and kind stranger comes to town and offers to take me to the wedding, I jump at his proposal. Who cares if he's gay? Astor doesn't need to know that.

Teddy

She thinks I'm gay?!

I'm taking a vacation from Hollywood and going back to Elk Lake. My grandfather hasn't been doing well after Gram died and he needs my support. Luckily, I'm between blockbuster movies so I can make the time.

My first stop is Rosemary's Bakery for one of the gingersnaps I remember so fondly from my childhood. The only problem is that the girl at the counter has eaten them all. After spilling my tea on me, she bursts into tears and tells me her troubles. I should be annoyed but I'm oddly charmed.

I know what it's like to be dumped by a cheater, so I do the only thing I can think of: I offer to take her to the wedding to make her ex jealous. Unfortunately, with the help of the tabloids, things quickly spiral out of control...

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Excerpt

Teddy

Shopping with Faith is like giving a toddler free range to buy whatever they want. So far, she's added three kinds of sugary cereal to the cart, along with kettle corn, dry-roasted peanuts, fruit jerky, a jar of black olives, and a can of spray whipped cream. When she throws in a family-size package of bologna, I have to ask, "Do you normally eat like this?"

"Gross, no. But when I'm sad, I crave all the things I used to love when I was a kid. You know, like bologna can magically whisk me back to a carefree time when my heart wasn't broken."

On impulse, I toss a package of salami into the cart. My dad used to make fried salami sandwiches. He even made me one for breakfast on the day of his accident. I haven't allowed myself to eat one since, as though the sandwich was the reason that semi hit him from behind.

Once we get into the checkout line, I spy a tabloid with my picture on the cover. The headline reads "Alpha Dog Teddy Helms is on the Prowl!" Oh. My. God. They're using a picture of me thumping melons at the farmers' market. It's so suggestive I can't help but grimace.

As I step between the magazine rack and Faith, so she doesn't see it, a kid standing behind us tries to bodily move me out of the way to get to the bubble gum display.

When I don't budge, he says, "Dude, what's your problem? I need a Hubba Bubba." Faith grabs a pack and hands it to him. Taking it, he offers a reluctant, "Thanks." Then he gets back in line while giving me an odd look. I can't tell if it's because he recognizes me or he thinks I'm a jerk for not moving. Either way, it leaves me on edge.

"I used to love Bazooka bubble gum," Faith says. "It was wrapped in those silly comics, but that always made it feel extra special, you know?"

"I loved it too, but it's hard to come by these days," I tell her.

"They carry it at the Purple Cow down the street." She picks up several packages of fruit-flavored Tic Tacs and puts them on the conveyer belt with her order.

I start to unload the cart. "My grandfather used to take me there for grape soda floats. I can't believe it's still around."

"You'd be surprised how many places are still here from our childhood. Once people open a business in Elk Lake, they rarely close it."

"Summers are still pretty busy then?" I ask.

Putting the extra-large bottle of Cuervo Gold behind her Tic Tacs, she answers, "Oh, yeah. Now that there are all those websites that rent places by the night or week, there's a steady traffic of new faces everywhere you look."

"My grandparents used to rent by the month," I tell her. "They'd come at the end of May and leave after Labor Day."

"How long did you stay?" she asks.

"I was usually here from mid-June to mid-August. I wanted to have some time at home with my friends."

"Where did you grow up?"

"Scottsdale. That made leaving during the summer months extra enticing." I tell her, "I'm not a fan of a-hundred-and-twenty-degree days. Our poor dog had to pee inside, so he didn't burn his paws."

"Did you have a lot of summer friends in Elk Lake?" she wants to know.

I push the cart forward in line. "A few. But honestly, I was here to spend time with my grandparents." She looks at me oddly. "I bet that makes me sound like a real dork, huh?"

"I think it makes you sound like a nice guy. I love my grandparents too, and I don't know what I would have done without them."

As the cashier starts to ring up our purchases, I ask, "Are they still alive?"

"My grandmother is, but Gramps died over ten years ago."

"How's your grandmother doing with that?" I ask.

"It was a tough transition at first, but she went back to work so that helped fill some of her time."

The cashier gives Faith an odd look as she rings up her order before asking, "Break-up?"

Faith nods her head. "What gave it away?"

"The lack of tampons," the older woman says. "When I used to shop like this, it was either my period or a breakup."

Faith doesn't seem at all insulted by this personal information being bandied about. Instead, she asks, "Are you happily married now?"

"No way. Honey, I realized twenty years ago that the only man I needed was Tom Selleck. He does more for me on the television screen than any real man has ever done in person."

Sliding her credit card into the payment machine, Faith tells her, "If only I didn't want kids."

"Cats are a very viable alternative," the checker tells Faith. The she eyes me before asking her, "This isn't the loser who broke your heart is it?" Her hand hovers above the "This Line Closed" sign like she's going to refuse me service if I am.

WHITNEY DINEEN loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.

Whitney is a multi-award-winning author of romcoms, non-fiction humor, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables. 

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2017.

Silver Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016.

Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017.

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards, 2017.

Finalist Top Shelf Indie Book Awards, 2017.

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Release Blitz with Excerpt + Teasers: Contractually Yours by Nadia Lee @nadialee @GiveMeBooksPR

Contractually Yours by Nadia Lee

Publication date: May 18th, 2023

Synopsis:

Jewelry heiress Lucienne Peery needs a husband in order to take full control of her company and arranges for a mutually beneficial marriage. When she catches her fiance in bed with her sister, she demands to marry his older brother instead. And his family agrees to avoid handing over 30% of their own company for breaking the marriage contract.

She only plans to stay married until her control is firmly established. But she does the unthinkable and falls in love with her husband...

When the ruthless and iron-willed Sebastian Lasker is forced to marry a woman fully as scandalous as his embarrassing, disreputable father, he vows revenge. Nobody manipulates him and gets away with it. He's going to strip her of what she wants from the marriage and get rid of her.

But pride and fortune aren't the only things at stake as he realizes he can't let her go...

Contractually Yours is full of a yummy arranged marriage, dislike-to-love, forced proximity, my wife moments, man-grovel and a happy ending.

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Excerpt

My ex gives me a once-over and smirks. "Oh, I get it. Looking for a husband."

I try not to snort. He doesn't watch the news--thinks it's boring--and his family apparently hasn't updated him about my new status. Maybe they disowned him. Wouldn't that be great?

He continues, "I don't know why you waste your time like this. Look, I'm happy to let it go if you'll just see the light and change your mind about our--"

"Don't hold your breath." He's dumber than I thought, bringing up the engagement when I still can't find enough mind bleach to erase seeing him with my sister.

"There you are," comes Sebastian's voice from behind me. "Oh, hello, Preston."

When he stops next to me, I put my arm around his waist. "What perfect timing." I smile up at him.

He gives me a mildly curious look, but wraps an arm around my shoulders.

See? This is what you get when you're with a smart man. He knows the role you'd like him to play without your having to spell it out. The fact that he's willing to play along without some prior commitment to reciprocate warms my heart. So many people want something first before doing anything for me.

Preston's brow knits as he takes in the tableau. "You guys are together?"

I triple the wattage of my smile. "Preston, have you met my husband, Sebastian Lasker?"

"What?" His shout rings in the wide-open space. "You can't marry him!"

"I can't? Oh, that's too bad." I tighten my hold on Sebastian, pressing my side against his. "'Cause I kinda already did." I extend my left hand, so Preston can see my gorgeous Toi et Moi ring and the wedding band.

Sebastian flashes his as well. Man, we make a great team.

Preston blinks rapidly, his eyes fixed on our hardware. Finally, he jerks his head up, his face blotchy. "Why would you want him when you could have me?"

"Seriously? Are you blind?" I ask.

"I can see well enough to know those diamonds are tiny compared to the one I was going to give you!" He points at my finger.

I drop my gaze to his crotch for a second before lifting it back up. "His is both bigger and better than yours."

Preston looks like he just got punched in the face by Mike Tyson. Sebastian shakes against me in silent laughter.

"What's so funny?" Preston snarls.

"You." Sebastian lets the laugh out. "You're third-rate comedy, but at least you're entertaining." He wipes tears from his eyes.

Preston turns to me. "You bitch! It's all your fault he's mocking me!"

Sebastian steps forward, pulling away from my arm around his waist, as the mirth melts from his face. "Watch your tone if you want to keep your teeth. Nobody talks to my wife with disrespect."

I pat his back a few times, to let him know it isn't necessary for him to react like this. Part of me is flattered and moved that he's defending me, but another part feels a bit unworthy of his protection because... Well, I did force him to marry me.

Preston slashes the air with his arm. "She's my fiancée!"

"She was. You call my wife your fiancée again, and I'll break your face."

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author NADIA LEE writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.

Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she's not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.

Stay in touch with her via her website or her blog.

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Release Blitz with Teasers: Sinner's Perdition by Bianca Borell @bianca_borell @GiveMeBooksPR

Sinner's Perdition by Bianca Borell

Series: Syndicate of Sinners #2

Publication date: May 17th, 2023

Synopsis:

When desire and temptation collide, passion consumes.

Forced into an arranged marriage with a man even more dangerous than her father, Chiara Bertinelli is not having it. Nothing will keep her from freeing herself of the shackles of the mafia world. Not even the ruthless man who tries to sneak in her heart. And her bed.

Cato Moretti is the head of the Famiglia and a part of the trio ruling their dark and deadly syndicate. He's ruthless, vicious, and he always gets what he wants. And he wants Chiara. But winning his wife over is harder than he expected. He's patient and follows a strategy: make her see a life with him is better than the elusive chase of freedom. Yet, she's reluctant to give in. 

She's everything he's wanted in a woman.

He's everything she has been trying to escape.

Their nights are filled with passion, their days are filled with plotting.

All is fair in love and war.

Except betrayal.

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Sinner's Obsession by Bianca Borell (Syndicate of Sinners #1) -

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BIANCA BORELL is a contemporary romance author, voracious reader, nature lover, and unapologetic daydreamer. She spends her nights deciding between getting up to write or trying to silence the voices of her characters. The battle is never-ending.

She has a weakness for tormented characters, second chances, and happy endings.

She currently lives in Germany with her amazing husband and indulges in way too many pastries than she should.

For updates, news, and releases, be sure to visit Bianca's official website.

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