Code Name: Luminous by Natasza Waters

I finished this book about an hour ago and I'm still overwhelmed with emotions.

What I love most about Natasza's writing is how she brings her characters to life. Each one is real to me, and I feel a part of their SEAL family. The next thing is while this is fiction, she keeps things real. Very real. Painfully beautifully real. I feel everything deep inside.

I have enjoyed getting to know Tony through the whole series, and then absolutely adored him in his own book. Experiencing how he took one of the SEAL's mantras (never give up) and applied that to his lady - melted my heart. Watching Lumin bloom and blossom under Tony's care: breathtakingly beautiful.

I loved how even though Tony and Lumin were the main characters in this story and definitely stayed the primary focus, we got to spend lots of time with Thane Kayla, Mace, Nina, Cobb, and Marge. I kept giggling seeing how Thane was *still* having to chase down his woman!

This is a wonderful addition to the Code Name Warrior's Challenge series - you cannot go wrong with any of these books!!

And just as a side note: I loved how Natasza chatted with me through the story as I was sharing my thoughts, both filled with love and filled with growls. ;)

Hunted by Kaylea Cross

2020 reread (audio)
Catching up on some series from years past and the HRT series caught my eye again. I remembered loving the books I made it through back in 2014. When I decided to dive back in, I also wanted to refresh my memory on the first books and fell back in love with Clay and Zoe. I love the devotion and attention and protective nature of both and how they got under each other's skin. Beautiful story and I'm glad I got to hear it all over again.

====== original review ======

Another amazing book brought to us by Kaylea Cross!!

Bauer and Zoe stole my heart from page one! I knew from book 2 that I would enjoy their story and I was not disappointed in the slightest! This book just became my favorite of the series! It also includes some cameos of some of my other favorite characters of KC - which was just the icing on the cake.

I totally swooned over Bauer and adored Zoe! Watching how they grew closer and gave to the other what they needed was amazing. There was just the perfect amount of action, suspense, fun, sweet, and spicy with these two.

Bauer and Zoe also gave me one of my favorite scenes - I'll probably always think of Bauer whenever I do (haha! or see!) push-ups. ;)

Veiled Fantasies by Anna Lowe

Cute and fun and spicy and hot and a great lesson in grabbing a hold of whatever adventure is set in front of you and living in the moment.

Uncharted by Anna Hackett

I absolutely totally adored every second of this Indiana Jones vibing story, watching Callum and Dani fall for each other while they went off in search of a forgotten city (and more!). I connected to Dani on many levels and loved having Cal's focus on me. And riding the bike with him, and running through the jungle by his side.... and more. I enjoyed watching them work through things quickly and how they recognized that they were it for the other. I loved Dani's toughness but softness and Callum's huge sense of life and protectiveness and strength. There's just something about this story that WORKS for me. I look forward to rereading it often!

I also love the take on the very real and tragic evilness that's out there, and the respect for other culture's histories and treasures.

Undiscovered by Anna Hackett

"The Mummy" meets "Tomb Raider" meets one bad@$$ Navy SEAL "Indiana Jones" mix.

I ADORED this story!! Declan and Layne took me on an adventure with them where I could feel the sand blowing against my skin, feel the heat beating down on me, experience the rush of uncertainty, breathe in the relief, and feel the sizzle of spark between them. I loved the mix of history weaved in with adventure, a hunt, and a touch of suspense. They played off each other well, both strong and smart and vulnerable in their own ways, perfectly mixing together into something amazing.

This was the perfect length - once I started I couldn't stop!! (perfect to be read in one longish sitting, but yet fully developed and detailed and amazing)

With a start to the series like this, I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the team's stories. I'm ready for more!!

Unexplored by Anna Hackett

Unexpected things with Sydney gave the story quite the twist. And also gave Logan quite the run for his heart. And boy, can they set fire between themselves. I loved Logan's sense of protectiveness. The depth of the bond between Logan and Declan made my heart melt. But what I loved most was the lesson in what real treasure is.

Letters to Ellie by Loreth Anne White

Heart wrenchingly beautiful. Kinda don't have words for the depth and the feels and the beauty contained in just a few short words. I loved it just the way it is, and also kinda would love to have a little longer of a story for them, flesh out more of their lives now that Max is back. But I can use my imagination and give them lots of goodness. 

Read in the SEAL of my Dreams anthology        

SEAL of My Dreams anthology

I love military stories, especially SEALS. I definitely was gonna pick up an anthology that went to help our military folks.

I love how these stories not only highlighted the super-hero aspect, giving honor and respect where it's due, but it also impressed their vulnerabilities, their mortal-ness, and how much they also need grace and tlc. Our military personnel and their families deserve our appreciation and support, however that comes.

Letters to Ellie by Loreth Ann White
Heart wrenchingly beautiful. Kinda don't have words for the depth and the feels and the beauty contained in just a few short words. I loved it just the way it is, and also kinda would love to have a little longer of a story for them.

Panama Jack by Tara Jansen
Fun and quick, but lots of action and hot vibes. I liked the tie into Steele Street (a series I've had on my tbr list for forever!!)

Sealed with a Kiss by Cindy Gerard
Love the honeymoon story with a bit of heart racing anxiety.

There's a few more stories I may circle back to at some point.

Securing Avery by Susan Stoker

Quite the adventure

Loved it!! The book felt split into two parts, the rescue adventure and the home adventure/fall out part. And I loved each for separate reasons. Avery and Rex's connection and relationship was amazing to experience.

I also enjoyed getting to know Phantom a bit more and see more developed with his story.

And I loved seeing whsrs become my mantra/theme expressed in this story:
There’s just something about the sun rising in the morning sky that makes me think of new beginnings and hope.

If you love action adventure /Light suspense stories filled with alot of heart, this is a great story to pick up. Either as a stand alone (I haven't read the entire series, and I followed along perfectly fine) or as part of the series.

SEALed With a Kiss by Cindy Gerard

Read in the SEAL OF MY DREAMS anthology.

This is a sweet little glimpse to a tropical honeymoon. Even though I didn't know the characters (as this is my first CG book) I still could feel the love and connection between Luke and Val, and heart pounding anxiety as things quickly go wrong.

Way of the Warrior anthology

April 2020
Hot as Hell by Julie Ann Walker Deep 6 0.5
Good things come in little packages. Loved this first little intro story to the series. We got a taste of shoot-em-up action with a yummy burn-the-building-down scene, and all the hea goodness and feels you'd need to connect to the characters. I'm looking forward to the next books.

May 2020
In Plain Sight by Catherine Mann (Elite Force 4.5)
Loved it! A special twist on the hero, and I simply adored how the 2nd chance came about. Just enough mix of emotion, heat, and suspense.