Unwilling to Break by Teresa Schulz

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Emma Johnson thinks she has a good marriage. Everyone has their problems, right? 

However, all this changes when she becomes payment to Albanian drug dealers, in lieu of her husband Greg's debt.

Emma is not that easy to break though.

With a fire in her belly that can only be quenched by revenge, she will do whatever it takes to rescue her children and make him pay.

My review:

If you want a quick exciting read, then this is the book for you. It’s fast paced, and makes your blood boil more than once. I was warned that there are violent scenes within this novel, but really there is only one uncomfortable part and the rest of the book is fine. I have read some much more explicit books that carried no warning so this was a walk in the park and I would recommend readers to ignore the warning and enjoy the book.

Emma suspects that her husband Greg is up to no good and she also knows deep down that he lying scumbag. She also knows that she still loves him so when he surprises her with a second honeymoon trip to Sydney, she feels flattered.

Not for very long though. Greg has a plan to get Emma’s life insurance money to pay of his debts and before long Emma is in the hands of a human trafficking circle. But as the title suggest she is quite clearly unwilling to break.

Fueled by the love for her children and the hatred she now has for Greg, Emma manages to survive her ordeal and her only focus remains those two kids back at home and justice that needs to be served to her the man she called husband.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will definitely look out for the author again.

Thank you to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Skewed (Mercenary #1) by Marissa Farrar

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The most powerful mobster in New York wants me dead—trouble is, he’s also my father. I'm a woman on the run from the most feared mobster in the country. Worse, he's my own father. I have my sister to keep safe; and a hot, deadly hit man on my trail. Only one thing to do - see who gets the first shot. But don't worry about me, I'm no sweet young thing. In fact, I may just be as deadly as the guy who's out to end me. 

My name is Verity Guerra. I'm on the run from the most ruthless mafia Don in New York—my father. For the past few months, my sister and I have been in Witness Protection, and I’m determined to live long enough to testify against him. I knew he'd send someone after me. But I didn't bank on a hit man known only as X, with cheekbones sharp enough to grate Italian cheese, and muscles that won't quit. But what he doesn't know just may kill him. Behind my pretty façade, I’m a cold-blooded killer. Too bad X is determined to end me, or I might just fall for those piercing blue eyes. 

Call me X. I’m a contract killer, hired to make sure Verity Guerra turns up dead. A beautiful face won’t stop me from doing my job. Killing isn’t just my work—it’s in my blood. But her dark eyes, silky hair, and tattoos mask a lethal killer. Finally, someone worthy to be called my mark. When her little sister goes missing, we have only one question—do we stop trying to kill each other long enough to get her back? 

Turns out love and hate aren't so far apart. Can we fight our desire for each other … or will we both end up dead? 

My review:

Skewed is the first book in the Mercenary series of books about the dark world of New York mafia. The novel concentrates on the meeting of two lost souls Vee and X. X is the hired help supposed to kill Vee and Vee is the daughter of a mobster who hired X to kill her.

When X is ready for the kill he is interrupts two men, braking into Vee’s house and shoots them instead of Vee, who then attacks X, knowing he must have been sent by her father to finish her off.

X things he has all the facts about Vee, the cold bloodied killer, but when he sees how much she cares about her sister, he starts changing his mind. In the end it’s either working together to survive or die.

There is an instant attraction between Vee and X and it feeds the story throughout. Theirs becomes a journey of survival, revenge, love and sacrifice. It’s a clever story line, quick read and a great start to the series for anyone who enjoys crime, mafia, romance kind of story.

Thank you to the author and TBConFB for access to this book in return for an honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

All I Ever Wanted by Lucy Dillon

Synopsis from Amazon:

Caitlin's life is a mess. Her marriage to a man everyone else thinks is perfect has collapsed, along with her self-esteem, and breaking free seems the only option.

Nancy, her four-year-old daughter, used to talk all the time; in the car, at nursery, to her brother Joel. Then her parents split up. Her daddy moves out. And Nancy stops speaking.

Nancy's Auntie Eva, recently widowed and feeling alone, apart from the companionship of two bewildered pugs, is facing a future without her husband or the dreams she gave up for him.

But when Eva agrees to host her niece and nephew once a fortnight, Caitlin and Eva are made to face the different truths about their marriages - and about what they both really want . . .

My review:

All I Ever Wanted is the most heart-warming book I have read in 2016 and probably in about the last three to four years. It really touches you right at the core, warms your cockles and makes you believe in love, hope and happiness.

For me, the real stars of this novel are the two children, ten year old Joel and four year old Nancy. Following their parent’s estrangement, Nancy stops talking in public. She will only talk to her mum in whispers and in the safety of their home. Joel is the only one to really understand Nancy throughout this time and the two together just melt your heart. Lucy Dillon has managed to portray the importance of letting children be children and work through their emotions in their own time. Sometime you have to become a child to truly understand one.

All the characters in this book were brilliantly developed and I gained a real insight into their lives. From Caitlin, always feeling like a failure, Eva who has to re-learn everything about herself and the people she loves and Patrick, the controlling workaholic, who actually has a heart of gold and always wants the best for his children and wife.

Of course, in more ways than one, it is the children (and the pugs) that save this family. I won’t say anymore as not to spoil the story for anyone but I can wholeheartedly say that this book will make you laugh and cry and want more. It is simply beautiful.

Thank you to the author, publishers NetGalley for access to this book in return for an honest review.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US