April Asher

3.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Penny hasn't had a lot of close people in her life, so when her niece is kidnapped, she's booking passage on the first flight to Honduras.
Former Delta operative and now with the private Alpha Security group, Rafe has spent the majority of his life as a soldier. While on mission to shut down a drug lord, his path crosses with Penny and their worlds show more collide.
Its tropics, heat, attraction, and danger as Rafe and Penny battle for survival and their chemistry.

"You dirty up pretty good, Red."

April Hunt has debuted and I am here for it. Heated Pursuit, the first in the Alpha Security series, is romantic suspense that recycles a lot of sub-genre favorites: group of hot sexy military men, tough but vulnerable heroine, dangerous situations, sex in unrealistic side-eye moments, and villainy villains. There's nothing really new here but what it does well is give you what you paid for with the added bonus of fun, heart, and charm; tangibles that have been sadly absent in a lot of recent releases.

"Is this your way of telling me you're going to be touching my ass, Rafael Ortega? If it is, I should warn you that that perk better go both ways."

Penny is our tough but vulnerable heroine, she's a fairly new bail enforcement agent, so she has some moves but also winds up in over head and gives us some too stubborn for her own good annoyance. Her back story of cold uncaring father with absent mother was sketched out enough to make her trepidation towards Rafe believable if not deeply felt. She spoke her mind well and you'll like her spirited contributions to her conversations with Rafe.

He was bravery, loyalty, and a kick-ass attitude wrapped up in a six-and-a-half-foot mass of hard muscle.

Our hero Rafe is where this story is going to win you over. That heart and charm I was talking about, Rafe is its main source. He's the risk his life but never his heart alpha male that over saturates this sub-genre but crushes and kicks to the curb any cardboard cut-out notions. Rafe had personality, wit, and magnetism; he felt real to me and I found myself lusting right alongside Penny.

She was a complication in its truest form---and he didn't give a hundred fucks.

I loved these two together, whether they were engaging in back and forth dialogue, running for their lives, or having trouble keeping their hands off each other, their chemistry was always front and center. I do wish it could have taken them a little bit longer to hit the sheets and Rafe must have Viagra running through his veins instead of blood (seriously, let's tone it down with these Boneroes). I also really enjoyed how the secondary characters, mostly Rafe's Alpha Security team members with a couple friends of Penny thrown in, actually fit into the story and didn't feel like series baiting. They supported without cluttering or trying to steal the spotlight, we get introduced to all the men with enough personality given to each to make me want to read their own stories but didn't overwhelm. I would have liked Penny and Trey's (member of Alpha Security) past surrogate brother/sister relationship explained and explored more along with the appearance of Penny's Navy SEAL friend Vince, which ended up feeling very tagged on. The villain was a bit weak and the ratio of sex and story leans more towards sex but the action and story starts off right off the bat and I was with it every step of the way.

Like I said, there's not a lot new here, former military men looking to stop a madman from distributing a super drug while the heroine finds herself caught up in the crossfire, danger ensues, and lust and love with one of the men develops. However, even with its done before recipe, Heated Pursuit manages to break from the crowd and stand out with its humor and charm; this will reenergize and remind you why you love this sub-genre. I found it to be along the same lines as Tara Janzen’s Steele Street series, fast paced, fun, and hot.

The characters have character and the hero's charm is why we love reading about these good bad boys. As a debut, this has me super excited for future books in the series. The author's talent with chemistry between her characters is definitely evident and I look forward to her gaining confidence and experience to step outside the usual romantic suspense elements. There's a line in the book that I felt encapsulates it very well:
It was intimacy and total abandon disguised as a marathon of hot touches and hotter kisses.
I can't wait for the next in the series. show less

If you’re looking for a cozy escape filled with quirky characters and magical mishaps, look no further than April Asher’s latest gem, A Simple Twist of Fate. It is a delightful rollercoaster ride of fun, romance, and a sprinkle of chaos.

I love second chance romances and when it comes to Harry the witch and Jax the cougar shifter, it’s like watching a slow-motion trainwreck in the best way possible. Early on, the long-held misunderstanding between the two is laid out like a neon sign, show more and yet, they tiptoe around each other like they’re on a first date. The tension is palpable, and the humor? Don’t even get me started on how their flirty banter had me swooning and laughing out loud at the same time.

And if you thought the story couldn’t get any more entertaining, just wait until you meet the Fearsome Four. Their competition against the Big Bads is pure gold. It’s fierce but so much fun, like a playful rivalry that keeps you turning the pages while you root for your favorites to come out on top. As the undercurrent of a magical shift looms over the town, it feels like everything’s building toward something explosive and exciting.

The way Asher crafts these moments of both miscommunication and camaraderie is brilliant. It’s lighthearted enough to keep you giggling, yet there’s an undercurrent of depth that keeps you invested in the characters. As someone who loves a good mix of laughter and heart, this novel really hits the spot.

There are many supporting characters that flow together so well. Young Grace is a great addition and I loved her journey to find her shifter identity. Elodie the fierce angel and Silas the broody demon are a hot enemies team that I can’t wait to read more about. Lenny the tattooed seer and Gavin the librarian vampire will be a wild ride. And Harry’s delightful Aunt Nora is a very sneaky matchmaker who has many magical surprises up her sleeve.

So here’s hoping April Asher gives us a new book soon! I can’t wait to dive back into this magical world and see where the characters take us next. Well done, April! You’ve captured my heart once again. If you haven’t read this book yet, get on it! You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Ms. Asher for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

For more of my reviews, visit The Eclectic Review. show less

Holy Hex! I needed a paranormal rom-com fix and this one provided that and more. The grumpy/sunshine vibe is sexy and strong and I was laughing throughout the whole book at the hilarious antics. Yet another new favorite author to add to my list.

Rose Maxwell has handed over the reins of Prima Apparent to her triplet sister, Violet who came into her magic late in the game at the ripe old age of thirty-two. This leaves Rose feeling lost and unsure of where her future leads. So with time on her show more hands, she goes on a horse-saving mission that lands her in jail and community service, she participates in a no-pants subway event and tries her hand at bounty-hunting nasty supernaturals. What do all these have in common? They involve the hot sexy half-demon veterinarian Damian Adams, aka Dr. McGrumpy Pants. The man was an unforgettable one-night stand who happens to be Rose's appointed boss at his animal sanctuary and her self-proclaimed protector from nefarious supernaturals and Rose's own bad choices.

There's nothing more satisfying than watching the sexy grumpilicious demon doctor fall for a fearless and confident witch who is looking for her thing in life. However, teenager Damian had a witch hex placed on him by his angry witch girlfriend which means he cannot fall in love with anyone or he will lose his soul. Avoiding relationships most of his life with no repeats, he cannot risk his soul. Damian's broodiness is warranted due to the only time he got his father's approval was when Damian embraced his dark side becoming a bounty hunter known throughout the supernatural realm as The Hunter. But he's put those days behind him after his friend Miguel saved him from giving in to his demon side completely. Rose is staying single until she can change her "sucktastic luck", including a narcissistic ex-fiance tiger shifter, and figure out her life. All her life she's been trained to be the Prima Apparent and when that was passed along to her sister and rightful holder, she felt relief as well as regret at missing out on a normal life. So out with the old predictable and boring Rose, and in with the sexy and free Rose. Neither Damian nor Rose want a long-term relationship, therefore they settle for FB status (that's fuck buddy for those not in the know). Yeah, we all know how that's gonna turn out. Relationships with no strings attached are even better when they fall head over heels in love.

Let's not forget the fantastic group of supporting characters including Rose's ride-or-die sisters, Violet and Olive, her strong and feisty Granny Edie, and her mouthy demon succubus friend Harper. Damian's support team includes his friend and mentor Miguel and his friends Lincoln (Violet's fiance and North American Pack Alpha), Adrian the lion shifter, and "Guardian Angel extraordinaire" Bax. And though his sophisticated and self-serving demon brother Julius doesn't seem supportive at first, he does come around. I can't wait to read their stories.

From their first meet sex to the memorable Cusack grand gesture, I devoured this delightful story about starting over and finding your niche in life all on your own. I started with book 2 of the Supernatural Singles series which is fine as a standalone, but I'm definitely going back to read Vi's and Linc's story and I plan to keep tabs for stories to come.

Thank you to Ms. Asher for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

There is not much better than a good romance except maybe one involving a witch and Not Your Ex’s Hexes by April Asher was filled with all the witchy goodness I could want. The second book in the Supernatural Singles series, this book was funny, flirty, and oh so good.
Rose is one of the Maxwell triplet witches. She was trained to be the next Prima on the Council until recently when she stepped down. Now trying to find a new life for herself, she runs afoul of Damian Adams, a sexy show more half-demon veterinarian, when she attempts to steal a horse she thinks is being abused. Her punishment? Community service hours at the aforementioned vet’s animal rescue.
Sparks are flying between these two and they agree to be F-buddies. Yeap, friends-with-benefits, no strings attached and no commitment because the hunky half demon vet has been hexed by his Ex. But, as we all know, the heart wants what the heart wants.
This book has a solid plot with a few twists that keep my interest. So good, it only took me a couple of days to read this one. I loved the banter between the two main characters and Rose’s names for Damian, like Mr. McGrumpy Pants, had me laughing out loud. As an animal lover, the fact that part of the story involved animals was an unforeseen bonus.
The character development was solid and I loved learning more about Rose and getting enough of Damian’s history that I understood his actions and why he was a grumpasaurs. Even the minor characters, such as Damian’s brother Julius, were well thought out and added to the story.
The only negative thing is, I have to wait to read the next book! I hope the author does not make me wait long. This was delicious and I need more soon!
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good romance with a bit more edge to it and it works well as a stand-alone. Also a great choice for that summer vacation reading list.
I received a free copy, via Net Galley, in exchange for my honest review. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my book blog at www.therecently when shespineview.com. show less