Renegade Alpha by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sexy and Mysterious Lijah Smith Finds His Mate

THE STORY: Callie Morgan has come to Grayson Security because her father is missing and told her to contact Garyson if something happened. Sixth months ago, Callie was the victim at robbery where her boyfriend was murdered. She has been in fear for her life as the criminals are still on the loose. When her father goes missing investigating the identity of the murderer, Callie comes looking for help.

She runs into Lijah Smith. Also know as the Renegade, Lijah owes Callie’s father a great deal. Lijah has a secret that he is keeping from from many people and he disguises himself in plain site with his cowboy hat. When Lijah meets Callie, the two have an intense and instant attraction. But they also have a mystery to solve.

OPINION: This was a good book. I enjoyed reading it. LIjah is an intriguing character and I actually wish that we had gotten to investigate more about his background rather than Callie’s story.

Most of the tension in the story is created by the danger that Callie faces. There is little of these two getting to know one another on any normal basis. At the same time, the suspense tension is good and the pacing of the story felt natural and not rushed.

The book is hot with several graphic sex scenes.

WORTH MENTIONING: There are some appearances and updates on the previous ALPHA couples.

FINAL DECISION: A decent one time read. Enjoyed it but probably won’t read it again.

CONNECTED BOOKS: RENEGADE ALPHA is the fifth book in the ALPHA series. This book can be read as standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3.5 stars.

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The Taming of Xander Sterne by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not as Good as the First Book

THE STORY: Xander Sterne is a billionaire who was injured in a car accident. Sam Smith moves in to act as his caretaker for two weeks. She brings her five year old daughter. Xander doesn’t really want Sam there but he quickly becomes entranced by Sam and her daughter. Sam, however, is threatened by her ex-husband who is determined to control Sam but using their daughter against her.

OPINION: I wanted to like this book because Xander’s story intrigued me in THE REDEMPTION OF DARIUS STERNE. Unfortunately, I learned more about Xander in his brother’s book than I did here. The story and romance was adequate, but I wouldn’t pick up this book to read again. I liked Sam’s little girl who was adorable and I really liked how the three of them interacted.

WORTH MENTIONING: I really liked the epilogue which gives an update for both brothers.

FINAL DECISION: This book was set up to be a great story: a tortured hero who meets a woman trying to make it on her own and raise her sweet little girl. Ultimately, however, Xander remains too unknown as a character to be interesting which means that the romance is not as good as it could have been.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE TAMING OF XANDER STERNE is the second book in the Twin Tycoons series. This book can be read independent of the other.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

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Midnight Alpha by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sexy Story, Alpha Hero

“Gaia had never been spoken to so coldly or so harshly, and despite the precariousness of her situation, it took every effort of will on her part not to reply in kind. Who the hell did this man this he was?”

THE STORY: Gregori Markovic is known as the head of the Russian side of the London criminal underwood. Gaia Miller has gotten a job in his club to find out if he might be responsible for her half-sister’s death. Gregori knows from the moment that he meets her that she is up to something. He also knows that he wants her. Danger surrounds them both as old enemies return.

OPINION: There is much to like in this novel. Gregori and Gaia have an intense relationship. I liked this book. For its genre, it is a good book. It is not a deep book but it has an interesting story and some good characters. I liked the action in the story and the relationship. I thought that the characters have similar strong willed demanding personalities that match one another well.

WORTH MENTIONING: For fans of Dair and Kat from SHADOW ALPHA, they make an appearance here.

FINAL DECISION: This was a good story and similar in tone and structure to the others in the series. I enjoyed the interaction between Gregori and Gaia especially with their contentious relationship.

CONNECTED BOOKS: MIDNIGHT ALPHA is the fourth book in the ALPHA series. This book can be read as a standalone but is closely connected with the third book in the series, SHADOW ALPHA, and is better read after that book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

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Christmas Alpha by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Different Type of Book From Mortimer

Longtime readers of Carole Mortimer should be aware this this book is sexier and more explicit than her previous books.

THE STORY: Eva Shaw is a delivery person and brings a package to a house when the door is answered by a half dressed man who instructs her to undress and go to another room and lay down. Eva is shocked to realize that this man believes her to be a call girl. Finn Devlin has been stalked by an ex-girlfriend and is in hiding. When Eva and Finn are trapped together by a snowstorm, the heat between them rises.

OPINION: I liked this story as one time read. The characters and the plot were not compelling enough to compel me to read it again, but I did not regret the time and money I spent on it. The sex in this book is more explicit than previous Mortimer books and I thought that the transition was a little awkwardly expressed in this book. I did like the beginning situation between the characters and I was really interested in the first half of the book. Once the book became focused on the stalking story, I was less interested because I don’t think that the book had the length to fully develop as a suspense story.

WORTH MENTIONING: I loved the beginning of this novella which kept me guessing about what was going on.

FINAL DECISION: I appreciate that Mortimer is stretching out into a different type of romance. The beginning of this novella was a really good setup. I did feel that as the book went on, I was less interested in the outcome of the stalking story than I should have been. The tension just didn’t seem to build up in a way that made me want to turn pages. I liked the new direction Mortimer is taking with this series and I want to see how she develops.

CONNECTED BOOKS: CHRISTMAS ALPHA is the first of the ALPHA series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3.5 stars.

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Rogue Alpha by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fast Read Novella That is Hot

FINAL DECISION: This novella is action packed and very sexy. The story is very straightforward and simple, but I liked the connection between the main characters. This is an easy and enjoyable read.

THE STORY: Diana Moore believes someone broke into her apartment although no one else does. Eight months ago, Diana’s world fell apart when she was kidnapped and held for ransom and then her husband was killed. Fearful of what might be happening now, Diana turns to the only person she can think of — Seth Armstrong. Seth works for Grayson Security and was the one who rescued her from her kidnappers.

OPINION: This is a straightforward and quick read. For a novella, there is a strong storyline with a lot of action and suspense. This book, however, is rooted in the relationship between Diana and Seth. The two have an immediate connection (which works because of the short length of the story). The story is hot and sexy. The connection might be too quick for some readers, but the length of the story gives some excuse for the quick progression of the romance between the characters.

WORTH MENTIONING: There are no appearances by the main characters from the previous novels only brief mentions for some.

CONNECTED BOOKS: ROGUE ALPHA is the seventh book in the ALPHA series. Although there are overlapping characters, ROGUE ALPHA can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

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A Lost Love by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Just Too Crazy a Plot to Ultimately Accept

FINAL DECISION: While I have always loved some of Carole Mortimer’s old books because they are just big and emotional and with some crazy plots. This book isn’t one of my favorites because the crazy plot is not well resolved.

THE STORY: Rafe Charlwood is a widower who everyone knows hates his dead wife. Her infidelity led him to taking sole custody of their son. HIs wife then died in a car accident. At that car acccident, Brooke Adamson was born. With a new name and a new face, Brooke has returned to be close to her son. Her marriage fell apart because of Rafe’s controlling nature and Brooke’s own youth. Now, she finds that Rafe is just as irresistible to her now. Can the two find a different path forward with their past and her lies between them.

OPINION: The plot of this book is unrealistic and simply crazy. Rafe and Brooke have such a twisted past that it seems impossible that the two could have a future together. The setup to this story was good. I wanted to see how things would be resolved. My problem with the book is that the story was so crazy that it needed either a longer length or a a more dramatic nature. Because of this the story felt unsatisfying to me. It was never clear enough what destroyed their marriage in the first place and how the reader is supposed to believe that things will be different a second time.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book was originally published in the 1980s as a category romance.

CONNECTED BOOKS: A LOST LOVE is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.

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Pursued by the Devil by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short, Sexy Novella About Alpha Male and The Woman Who Can’t Resist Him

FINAL DECISION: This novella is short and sexy with a protective alpha male and the woman who is being stalked. The length of the story doesn’t allow for much character development, but the chemistry between the hero and heroine makes this story a good read.

THE STORY: Lindsey Carlisle is a career woman. A lawyer, she is representing a company opposing a corporate takeover by Mikhail Lysenko. Mikhail is a Russian billionaire, alpha male and intensely attracted to Lindsey. Lindsey is attracted to Mikhail as well but knows that professional responsibilities mean that she cannot become involved in Mikhail. When Lindsey begins receiving mysterious black roses, Mikhail insists on protecting her from her stalker. The mystery of who is threatening Lindsey and the sexy romance between Mikhail and Lindsey are the focus of the story.

OPINION: This novella is short and as a result, there is not as much character development and I would like. The attraction between Lindsey and Mikhail is immediate and it would have been nice to understand more what Mikhail sees in Lindsey that makes him want to immediately toss aside everything that is important to him in order to pursue her.

I did very much enjoy the chemistry between Lindsey and Mikhail and he is so completely devoted to her that it was impossible for me not to like him. The story is simple, but effective.

I thought that Mikhail especially was a very interested character and I would have liked to get to know him better as a character. He does have very good qualities, however. His determination, protectiveness and single minded pursuit of Lindsey are attractive. He is a definite alpha male but Lindsey can handle him.

WORTH MENTIONING: Mikhail identifies strongly with the bear. I wish the title would have reflected that rather than using “devil” which doesn’t really have any connection with the story.

CONNECTED BOOKS: PURSUED BY THE DEVIL is part of the International Bad Boys series. These books are loosely connected only by theme and concept without overlapping characters. Therefore, this book can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions herein are my own.

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Shadow Alpha by Carole Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable Sexy Quick Read

“Dair could only hope, for everyone’s sake, that no harm had come to this man’s sister. Sweet little Katya.”

THE STORY: Dair Grayson is connected to one of the underworld families in London. He has spent over a decade trying to build a life away from that life. When he is asked by the head of the Markovic underworld family to help find out what is going on with Katya Markovic Orlov who married into another underworld family as part of an arranged marriage orchestrated by their father. Dair remembers a sweet innocent Katya from when she was fifteen and he was eighteen. Those memories of that sweet girl get him to agree to find out what is happening. When Dair discovers Katya he finds out that her husband has had her placed at a private clinic where she is essentially a prisoner. When he rescues her, the two take off on a world adventure hiding from the forces of her husband’s family.

OPINION: I liked much about this book. The relationship between Kat and Dair is hot and spicy. Kat is no shrinking violet despite her history. She is strong and I loved how she and Dair fight and argue and how that quickly turns into sexual heat. Dair is heroic and yet has a dark past. I liked that they have a great connection and I really did believe that they had chemistry between them. This is a shorter book and thus does not have the great development in story and characters that a longer novel would. That being said, I did enjoy these characters and will continue reading the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: My biggest complaint about this book is that for a woman who was terrorized by her husband and lost a child only two months ago, she quickly turned to a new relationship with Dair. Perhaps too quickly for me.

FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book as a quick uncomplicated read. Will it be one I want to read again and again? No. But I enjoyed it while I was reading the story.

CONNECTED BOOKS: SHADOW ALPHA is the third book in the ALPHA series. There is not necessary to have read any of the prior books in the series. Although characters from Book 2, DARK ALPHA, are mentioned briefly, they make no appearance.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

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