Ruth Anne Benziger's Blog, page 28

Asher’s Promise COMING FEBRUARY 2021

I’ve written a ton of novels and have agonized over publishing. I’m putting my foot in the water and I’m going for it.

Coming FEB 2021 The first book in the Burke series will be available on Amazon.

Asher’s Promise:

Asher Burke runs the family business with his brothers. He’s hard-working, determined, and stubborn. Traits all the Burke men share. Asher’s father is putting pressure on him to marry his business partner’s daughter. He’s known about the deal for years but he’s dragging his feet. He’ll have to use all the charisma and courage he can muster to convince her to go along.

Lori Walker is a nutritionist in the small Texas town of Meadow Ridge. Her father has brought her up by himself, taught her to be self-sufficient, and to work towards her goals. When Asher Burke, her childhood friend takes in interest in her, she starts to think she may have room for another goal; marriage. Until she finds out his motivations and the promise he made to her father without her knowledge.

[image error]Still working on the cover

Book Review: Burn for Me by Lea Coll

We went from working on opposite sides of the courtroom to working for the same law firm. Working together reveals a whole new side to Logan Gray. Is he playing me or is he not the man I thought he was?

Now we’re in competition for the same promotion and nothing will stand in my way…not his sparkling blue eyes, cocky smirk, or those dimples.

He says I’m a challenge he can’t resist. The problem is…he’s gorgeous, charming, and irresistible…and he knows it.

Underneath the charming façade, Logan is a man I could fall for. As I get closer to him, I feel like I’m playing with fire and I’m going to get burned.

When the lines between us are blurred, are we competing for a job or each other’s hearts?

My Thoughts

Logan Gray is a charismatic attorney who seems to make an impression everywhere he goes. He’s got blue eyes, dimples, and good looks. He’s never had to ask a woman on a date and he uses his charm to let them down easy when he’s not interested. He’s determined, works hard, and charms his way through his career.

Ashley Cook is driven, career-minded, and guarded. Her goals were at the forefront of the decisions she makes. Her group of friends is small and tight. They know her and they put up with her rare visits and long hours.

Logan and Ashley work on opposing sides of the district attorney’s office. Everything is a competition. So, when they compete for the same position to make a partner, things get intense. Instead of working on opposite sides, they are working the same angle. Logan tries to charm Ashley but she’s immune to his flirtations. It drives him crazy because he knows she’s interested in him.

I can say that I enjoyed watching her try to hide her feelings and his unique way of knocking down the walls she built. I enjoyed the friendships and the dog, Bailey. I’m interested in reading more from this author. I loved it.

Book Review: Minus by Jack Davenport

Burning Saints MC outcast, “Minus” Vincent, has been summoned out of exile by the Club’s President for reasons unknown. Upon his return, he finds himself tempted by forbidden fruit of the past that has only gotten sweeter with time.

Christina “Cricket” Wallace knows exactly what kind of life she wants, and it’s far from the chaos and mayhem of an outlaw motorcycle club. She’s worked hard to get where she is, and she won’t let anyone keep her from getting there…especially her over-protective biker brother, or the sexy as hell Club rival she thought she’d never see again.

As Minus and Cricket pursue their own roads, they find their paths intersecting in a violent and passionate collision that will forever change their futures.

My Thoughts

Minus is a stand-up guy, smart, and incredibly sexy. I was into the story from the start. The story was sensual, sexy, and full of adventure. The story was fast-paced, and I found the connection between the brothers was intriguing.

Cricket seemed like she knows what she wants out of life. In her career, she’s solid and strong. Even if she’s not crazy about what she’s doing now. Her longterm goals are clear to her. Her only weakness? Minus.

The connection between these two shares are off the charts. It’s a history that spans years and is on fire. It seems the years they spent apart does nothing to the heat they ignite when they meet again.

Book Review: Bitter Heat by Mia Knight

A cruel twist of fate leaves Jasmine Hennessy stranded in a remote cabin with her worst nightmare—her ex-husband, James Roth, who she hasn’t seen in five years. He isn’t acting like the man she married, but did she ever really know him?

One night together kicks off a series of events that threatens her freedom as Roth seeks vengeance on those who ruined him seven years ago. He’s determined to bring her back into the world she left behind where money is king, reputation is everything, and people will kill to keep their secrets.

Author’s Note: This is a dark romance novel with triggers and mature themes that may make some readers uncomfortable.

My Thoughts

4.5 stars
If you don’t want to wait a year to get your fix…I’d wait to read.

Starting with my pet peeve…Endings without resolved issues. The story was juicy, sexy, and I loved it. What I found a little frustrated about was there seemed to have been little resolution. I found things left unsaid but I’m going to keep reading the series because it was that damn good.

Jasmine was strong, feisty, and I found her to be put into an impossible situation.
Roth was mysterious, pious, and closed off emotionally. I’m looking forward to seeing some of his feelings brought to the surface in the next book (I hope).

The chemistry they have is explosive.

Great Story…I’m a little sad I have to wait a year to read what happens next but I’ll deal.

Book Review: Night after Night by Lauren Blakely

Their world was sex, love, and lies.
He intoxicated her. Commanded. Consumed.
With a dirty mind and a mouth to match, Clay Nichols is everything Julia never knew she wanted and exactly what she cannot have. He walked into her life one night and unlocked pleasure in her that she never knew was possible. Possessing her body, captivating her every thought. Which makes him way too dangerous for Julia to risk her heart, given that she has a price tag on her head. She ran after one mind-blowing week with him, but now he’s back, and determined to make her his own.
No matter the cost.
She was a sexy drug to him. Fiery, unforgettable, and never enough, Julia is an enigma, and Clay isn’t willing to let her go without a fight. But she’s got dark secrets of her own that threaten to destroy any chance of happiness. She’s a wanted woman—the stakes are high, her every move is watched, and yet the lure between them can’t be denied. Can two people burned by love trust again when desire and passion are met by danger at every turn?

My Thoughts




Holy smoking! This was hot short and steamy. The secrets and uncovered resolution has me intrigued.

The only pet peeve of mine is when the story doesn’t end and you have to read the next book to find out what happens.

Book Review: Tempting Levi by Jules Bernard

Levi Cade’s firefighting career burned up after an accident on the job. Then his father died and left him in charge of the family’s multimillion-dollar resort. Now he’s forced to work with financially uptight advisors telling him what to do, and he needs someone he can trust at his side.

The perfect candidate walks through the door in her pencil skirt, fitted white blouse, and a mass of wavy blond hair she tries to contain.

The only problem? She’s his cheating ex’s younger sister.

Hell no. The last thing Levi needs is another Wright female in his life.

Then again, he always liked playing with fire.

My Thoughts

The story was okay, but I found myself more interested in the club and how it functioned than the romance for the first half. I get that the writer was going for them both having feelings for each other and then finally bringing them together. However, I found it a little frustrating to read. The second half redeemed the first. I found that Levi was redeemable and I enjoyed his revelation with Emily toward the end.

The relationship that Levi had with his brothers was tumultuous and I found it more entertaining than the romance. Good story and a good ending.

Book Review: Taming Natasha (The Stanislaski’s #1) by Nora Roberts

Broken promises, shattered dreams

Natasha Stanislaski left youthful indiscretions far behind when she settled in rural West Virginia. Her way with children made her toy store a success; her fiery temperament kept men safely at bay. Then brash Spence Kimball and his adorable little girl joined forces to nudge their way into her shop…and her closely guarded heart.

Sensing that a hidden wound was what made Natasha such a tigress, Spence cautiously probed her gentler emotions, nurturing the feelings she both longed for and dreaded. Slowly he felt her sensuality stir, felt her pain yield to passion. But when he vowed to love her always, make her his wife and the mother of his child, she bristled in terror. What would it take to tame her fears? 

My Thoughts




Natasha Stanislaskis owns a toy store where she meets Spence Kimball and his daughter. Spence has an automatic attraction and tries to pursue it. Natasha has some deep scars and open wounds while they navigate between them and try to find their footing.

A tale of family, heartbreak, love, and understanding. Looking forward to reading the next Stanislaskis book.

Book Review: Just Roommates by Charity Ferrell

Our relationship starts as a game.
I sneak into his bar underage.
He kicks me out.
Repeat.

Maliki Bridges is the town’s hottest bar owner.
He thinks I’m the mayor’s troublesome daughter.
I think he has a stick up his a**.

Once I turn twenty-one, we become friends.
Nothing more …

Until my world is turned upside down, and he offers me his guest bedroom.
It’s a bad idea, moving in with him, but any opportunity I get to be around him I’ll take.
Consequences be damned.

Becoming roommates is the riskiest game we’ve ever played.

My Thoughts




I thought this book had potential when I first began reading it. However, I found that as I read on, there were glaring problems within the story. First, there were too many time jumps. At times from one chapter to the next. I get for the effect of changing her age, it was okay but later it seemed there were too many jumps. The characters were superficial, the trope was played out, and there was too much going on. It seemed that the characters had too many things happening and despite them, the story ended as a “happy ending.” The book could’ve ended halfway through but it kept going. The longer the book went on, it seemed it was less plotted out and more erratic in nature. The dialogue was cringeworthy and immature. I think if the writer had planned it better and had more irredeemable acts for the characters it could’ve been better and more enjoyable.

Book Review: Long Road Home by J.W. Ashley

Description:

Ten years ago Lincoln Calloway broke me.

A single, terrifying phone call is all it takes to change the trajectory of my life. But what I thought would be a short trip home, quickly turns more serious as the secrets my family has tried to keep hidden finally come to light. Starting with their new handyman. Lincoln Calloway…my best friend, my biggest heartbreak.

After ten years, he’s changed from the boy who ran away to a dangerously sexy man with the body of a marble statue. His insanely blue eyes and chiseled features may have everyone fooled, but I’ve been down this road with Lincoln before. He made it clear how he felt back then, so why is he so determined to fix the broken pieces of my heart when he’s the one who shattered it in the first place?

My Thoughts:

What I enjoyed about this story was that the author was intentional in creating characters who were complex and had depth. I will say there were times that I found the characters a little too childish as adults, but given the way they grew up and resentment they held for their childhood, I was willing to give it a pass. The pace was slow at times for me and I kept wanting more to happen, but the author makes up for it with scenes that mirror the childhood that Macey and Lincoln share.

What I find interesting is that I went into this book expecting to read a familiar trope and knowing what I was getting myself into. I was pleasantly surprised that the characters had more depth and even in the cheesy moments of the book, the author was skilled at bringing their humanity to the surface. It was tasteful and well-written. I’d be willing to read this author in the future.

I received an ARC from book sprout in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: On Common Ground: Book 1 in the Grounded Series

Description:

A woman destroyed his ability to trust. A man destroyed her ability to care. Can love unlock their fear and heal their wounded hearts?

His marriage over and his career in jeopardy, Trevor Donaldson seeks sanctuary at the Diamond D Ranch in Arizona. After gunning down the man who shot his partner, the accusations hanging over his head, the hounding media, and his own inner turmoil keep him awake at night.

Ketra Weston sought sanctuary at the Diamond D to escape the ugly backlash she suffered after a violent assault following a Good Samaritan act gone wrong. Time at the ranch promises to provide the peace and anonymity she needs to help her heal.

Trevor and Ketra are careful to keep their distance from one another. Trevor’s contempt for women, after his failed marriage, and Ketra’s skittishness after here brutal attack, leave them both wary of the opposite sex. But, everything changes when Trevor discovers that their lives are intertwined and he learns that her past just might hold the key to his exoneration.

My Thoughts:

Trevor is a man who has had his heart broken and his career put on hold. Arriving at Diamond D ranch, he figures he can work and get his mind off it all. Upon arriving, he’s shocked to find a woman is at the ranch and has more issues than he does. Feeling his innate police instincts to protect, he ends up taking on more than he should be handling. It takes some time, finagling, and vulnerability to lower his gaurd.

Ketra is a horse trainer living on the ranch. She works hard and keeps to herself. When Trevor arrives on the ranch, he looks like the man who broke her spirit years ago. It takes some anger, self-analyzing, and family to bring her emotions to the surface.

The author did a good job at keeping the reader engaged. The romance was intertwined with the investigation around Trevor’s job. It was nice to focus on each character’s past and not focus solely on the romantic aspects. I found the writer gave enough time, healing, and growth to make it a well-rounded story. I’ll be interested in reading more from this author.