Jess—aka Reviews by Jess—is a sassy, top-ranked Goodreads reviewer who reads a little of everything. From steamy romance to dark fantasy, plus stories featuring mental health, hidden disabilities, and LGBTQ+ rep, she brings bold, unfiltered reviews readers can trust. Expect sass, sparkle, and a TBR that’s about to explode.

Reviews by Jess- Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Unforgettable Reviews.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Michael's Passion A Series Of Angels Boost



Michael's Passion
A Series of Angels Book 1
by Joel Crofoot
Paranormal Romance





"If you like paranormal romances this is a must read!" -Author K. Munson When the archangel Michael is forced to rely on his estranged brother Gabriel for help after a demon attack goes wrong, Gabriel places him before the throne of God for healing and it doesn't go quite as planned. Soon they find themselves cast out of heaven and at each other's throats when Michael meets a demon that he can't bring himself to kill. Jahi is a demonic seductress who uses sex to steal people's souls. It’s not exactly her dream job, but it keeps her boss at bay until a chance meeting with Michael changes her fate forever. Winner of a Best of 2017, Reviewer's Choice Award, from the Paranormal Romance Guild! Winner of a Best Romance award from the Wild Dreams Publishing 1st annual Indie Awards 2018. Fans of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood Series and Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series will love this!



“A little more,” he said. She lifted a little further. “I’m going to unhook this, just so I can reach the cut.” She nodded, feeling him reach for her lacy bra, then it released. The water on the wash cloth was warm and he pushed it soothingly against the cut on her back, removing both the dried black blood from the chase and the recent wet blood. She felt a little guilty knowing that her black blood was going to ruin his wash cloth. He was standing very close to her and looking at her skin. His left hand was on her shoulder, while his right caressed her with the cloth. The tender touch and care that he was placing into his task were not wasted on her. There was an angel washing her clean.




“What’s your skill?” Butator asked Jahi. She felt her face grow red and she ducked down toward her plate. Michael tightened both of his fists and she heard him kick Butator under the table. “Ow! What was that for?” Time to face the music. She put her hand on Michael’s fist to get his attention and save Butator any more pain. “It's okay Michael. He doesn’t know.” She released his hand before he could trap it with his other one in another attempt for intimacy. "Seduction," she said without raising her gaze from the table, though she managed to keep her voice steady and strong. “I’m a whore.” Jahi could feel the tension in the room. Thousands of years of prostitution had hardened her, prepared her for the questions. But the funny part was that she’d never been ashamed until today. They’ll be judging me now, or worse, pitying me. She knew they would be piecing together the implications. How many men had she slept with? Had she ever tried to seduce me? Was she just being seductive when she did whatever kind act? What had she wanted from me? And then there was that ever burning question that every man always had in the back of his mind… how much? Jahi’s embarrassment grew as she considered what angels must think of a demon whore. Everything good she’d ever done would be suddenly negated by the revelation of her power. “Was.” Michael’s voice boomed through the dining room. “Today she’s a flight instructor,” he stuck out his chest and raised his chin as if daring anyone to challenge him. Jahi’s jaw slackened at his defense of her, and his compliment under the pier came back. When was the last time anyone thought of her as anything but a whore? She lifted her face to catch his eyes. He looked so sincere, he might actually believe what he was saying. She felt her lips tremble as soon as eye contact was made. Oh not again…She pushed her plate away and dashed toward the stairs to her room.










Joel Crofoot was raised in northern New York state on a large family sheep farm, then left home to join the United States Marine Corps at 18 years-old. After spending four years in Japan as a radio operator, Joel re-enlisted into the bomb squad (explosive ordnance disposal) and was stationed out of California. Two tours to Iraq later, Joel decided to leave the Marine Corps to pursue higher education and recently graduated with a doctorate in psychology in the summer of 2017.






Saturday, March 23, 2019

The Newbie Release


Temptation andTroubles in Downers Grove:
The Newbie
by J. Haney & S.I. Hayes
Contemporary New Adult Romance




Homecoming is gonna get complicated…
It’s not easy being a single mom, and for Jennifer, (Jo) Delgado it’s sometimes a doozy. The new school year is already off to a rocky start. Her fifteen-year-old is having sex, with the new girl down the street, who’s dad is the new English teacher. What’s worse is every woman in Downers Grove is salivating over him. Sure he’s hot like makes your thighs go squish kind of hot, and he looks good in shorts and all wet… but who’s got time for that? Certainly not Jo… Right?

New town, new set of problems for English Teacher, Nico Grant. His daughter Kyra is bedding the locals, and already the vultures are circling. But there are a couple of mom’s that seem sorta normal. Maybe he can make a friend? You know someone to talk to besides the kid? She’s great but adult time would be nice too.
What happens when the kids take over and the parents lose control? It’s time to hold on tight and go along for the ride. That’s life with a teen when you find yourself the newbie in town.
*Trigger warning
*Violence



Copyright © 2019 J. Haney & S.I. Hayes The Newbie (Temptation and Troubles in Downers Grove, Book 1)

 Jo

Oh, my God! What do I do? What do I do? I can’t just go off now, too much time has passed for that. No, I’m just going to go back down to the living room like everything is just A-Okay. It’s all I can do at this moment. Oh, he must feel so awkward. I covered my eyes, but it can’t be unseen!
“Hey, Jo? What’s goin’ on?” I hear Jennifer call out before she rounds the corner, seeing me standing outside Benny’s room with one hand on my head and the other on my belly. “Is that nephew of mine being a lazy ass again? Move I’ll drag him outta bed- Are you alright?” She grasps me by the arms looking me in the face curiously.
I’ve instinctually blocked entry to Benny’s room with my whole body. I snap out of it with a chuckle. “Yeah, he um- Gonna need-.”
The bedroom door opens and out comes Benny. My sloppy haired brown-eyed boy. The boy I just caught a trampy looking girl hopping out the bedroom window of.
“Mom? I- let me explain.” Benny pleads, looking desperately from me to Jennifer. I smile. One of those obviously fake smiles, as I place my hands on his cheeks. “Benny? Not now. Can’t you see your Aunt Jennifer is here?” I kiss his forehead and turn to Jennifer. She’s not really his aunt, just like she’s not actually my sister. We’ve been friends since grade school. The two Jen’s. Jenny Oliver, that’s Jennifer Grand and me, it’s how I got Jo as a nickname, the teachers were always callin’ me Jenny O, and eventually, Jo just became the norm.
Jennifer looks at us, and a wide smirk works its way over her creamy flawless skin. At thirty-eight you’d think that it would have cracked by now, but no, and here I am using every Retinol cream I can, to chase away the crow’s feet, but this is life, and it’s about to get more complicated. For Christ’s sake, I’m not ready to be a grandmother.
“What’s going on?” She asks suspiciously as I funnel her back toward the living room.
“N-Nothing, everything’s just fine and dandy. Why would anything be wrong?” I’m forcing a laugh now, my face turning thirty shades of red.
“Was he- Ya know?” She jerks her hand in an up and down motion near her crotch, and I cover my face in humiliated horror.
“You were, weren’t ya?” She cackles. “Please just tell me you didn’t use a sock!”
“Aunt Jennifer! Oh my God!” Benny cries out, while I shake my head.
“There was a girl!” I can’t do anything more than laugh hysterically, at this point I believe I’ve lost my mind. I collapse into the sofa, hoping to meld with it.
“Benny? I think you’ve broken your mom.” Jennifer lifts my hand, and it just drops as I stare at my fifteen-year-old son.
“Mom, I- It just- sorta happened. I’m- She was-”
“Please tell me you at least used a condom.” I hear Jennifer, but my eyes have sort of glazed over, and there’s a ringing in my ears now. Oh, I wish Benjamin were here. He’d have had a game plan for this. He’d have had it all worked out, walked in, taken care of it and told me after. He’s not here though, it’s just us, and now I’ve got to be adulting when I just wanna hide.
“I didn’t plan on that happening, I swear. I mean this week is the first time anything’s come out!”
“Seriously Benny, who was she?” I ask trying to wrap my head around all of it.
“The new girl, from down the road.”
“Talk about your welcome wagon.” Jennifer sighs patting Benny on the back.



Copyright © 2017 J. Haney & S.I. Hayes The Newbie (Temptation and Troubles in Downers Grove, Book 1)
Nico


I’LL BE DAMMED IF JO DIDN’T LEAVE me in the middle of the night again. She came over last night after I’d shown up at her house looking for Kyra. I was pacing the house when she knocked on the door. She helped me calm down, that is to say, she got me out of the murderous stage I was in and let me work out my frustration on her. I’d say we both enjoyed it. Now I’m waiting for Kyra to get home.
It’s getting close to one by the time Donnie pulls up with Kyra in the truck. I open the door and lean against it as Kylie comes out of her house with Benny hot on her heels. Donnie and Kyra are standing on the sidewalk when Kylie starts shouting.
“You better not have had Elvis do it. I swear you better get this shit annulled!”
Kyra holds up her left hand. “Too late, we just need to get Donnie a ring.” She shouts back.
“M-M-M-MOM!” Kylie shouts
I let out a whistle to get the attention of Kyra and Donnie. They look over their shoulders at me. “The both of you get in this house.”
Kyra stops at the steps keeping Donnie behind. I look at Donnie. “Did you have sex with my daughter?”
“No sir, I can honestly tell you that your daughter and I have not had sex.”
“There was absolutely no penetration in that way.” Kyra states.
“Kyra shut up. You’re not making it any better.” Donnie says through his teeth.
Kyra looks at him. “It’s fine.” Then she faces me. “You told me not to have sex without condoms and I didn’t have any, so we didn’t have sex.”
“I can’t believe you stayed out all night. You lied to me! To say your grounded is the understatement of a lifetime.”
“Uh, about that.” Kyra interrupts.
“About what?”
“I’ve decided I’m not grounded?”
“And why’s that?”
Kyra goes into her bag and pulls out a bra and shakes it in the air. I purse my lips, it’s Jo’s. “This, this is why I’m not grounded. You can’t go around sleeping with the neighbors and expect me to be a saint. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I come by my actions honestly. I’m your daughter, you can’t get mad at me for being just like you.” The bra is ripped out of Kyra’s hand. “Oh, hi Jo.”
Donnie swallows. “I thought you were kidding.”
“Both of you get in this house. Jo, come on and bring the other two.” I say trying to control the madness.
Jo folds her bra under her arm before smacking Benny in the back of the head and pointing. All the kids are in the house and I stop Jo at the door.
“This is not how I wanted this to go down.”
Jo looks at me and shakes her head. “You know this was a matching set.” She shoves the bra at me before walking into the house.
I shut the door and walk into the Living room where the kids are sitting together with the boys on either end. Jo is leaning against the arm of the couch nearest Benny.
“First things first, what is wrong with Kylie?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? Those two got married last night.” Jo points at Donnie and Kyra.
Kylie starts sputtering and crying, as Benny is trying to calm her. I turn my focus on the other two. “Is this true?”
“Sir, she was just having a bit of fun with Kylie,” Donnie speaks up.
Kyra smacks his leg. “Don’t lie to your father in law. If you’d have seen his bathrooms you’d have married him too.”
“I like big tubs and I cannot lie,” Donnie says in a sing-song manner with a laugh.
“What the hell are you two going on about?” I shout.
“No dad, we didn’t get hitched, but it got Kylie to quit harping on me for a bit.” Kyra finishes as Kylie shoves her so hard Donnie has to catch her.
“Hey now, hands to yourselves. Kyra that’s not funny you really upset Kylie.”
Kyra turns to Kylie. “I’m sorry. I made a joke and you didn’t catch it. Do you still love me? I’ll tell you all my secrets.”
Kylie shoves her again. “No, getting married without going dress shopping.”
“I promise if I get married you can help me pick out the dress.”
“Why would you tell her something like that?” Benny finally speaks up.
“Who said I’m getting married? I’d have to find someone who could put up with me for longer than a month.” Kyra says.
“Challenge accepted.” Kyra and I both look at Donnie.
“Boy, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into,” I say to Donnie. “Benny, you want to tell him where the chocolate is and how to use it?”
“Ah, just take her to the Dairy Queen,” Benny says.
“Are you talking about the day crazy was trying to get you to bed her? Hell, no that wasn’t happening. I can only handle one crazy at a time.” Kyra starts.
“Moving on,” Jo says.
“Yes, let’s move on. Jo, how long have you and my father been shacking up?”
“’Bout as long as you and my son haven’t been.”
All I can do is stand there with my head bouncing between Jo and Kyra.
“Are you as crazy as your best friend?”
“I don’t know, you’d have to ask your father?”
Kyra pauses a moment. “You slept with the crazy lady too? What that hell is wrong with you?” I give her a look to say really then look from Benny to Donnie and back to her. “I told you I haven’t slept with Donnie.”
“Okay, can I go now? You’ve tortured me enough. I really don’t want to hear that my mom is a super freak.” Benny says.
My head turns as I hear the opening lines of Super freak being hummed.
“Don’t you dare!” Jo whips her finger into Donnie’s face as he starts dancing in his space.
He frowns with a sulk as she smacks Benny. “Out, home and take your girlfriend with you.”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Kyra tells Benny and Kylie as they are making their way to the door. “Dad are you done with us? We’re not having sex. I’m home and alive. I’m sure Donnie needs to ya know go home at some point unless you want him to sleep in my bed with me.”
“I’m sure he’d much rather been in his bed then down the hall from mine.”
“Actually, Nico, there’s three generations in that house and the geriatric ones are at the point in their senility that they say whatever they want.”
“Yep, my grandfather has gone out to get the paper once or twice with no pants.”

I run a hand through my hair. “Get out- the both you and don’t ever let this happen again or next time I’ll have the shotgun out.”




J. Haney was born and raised in Kentucky, currently residing in Greenup County, Kentucky with her family, where she is the proud momma to Jessalyn Kristine and co-owner of Proud Momma Designs, which she runs with her amazing Momma. J. Haney’s work tends to lean toward sweet and sexy, with suspenseful undertones, giving her readers something to hold onto. 
S.I. Hayes was born and bred in New England and is currently living in Ohio. Running around Connecticut, she used all of her family and friends as inspiration for her many novels. When not writing Paranormal Drama or Erotic Romance, she can be found drawing one of many fabulous book covers or teasers. To see them, check out her website. 
The pair met while working for a former publisher and became fast friends. Their split dynamics and views on life, family, and love in general, led to the idea of Stolen Moments: A County Fair Romance their foray into the Rocker Genre with A Sex, Drugs, and Rock Romance and their newest Working-Class Beauties. They do hope to bring you more in the months to come, so keep your eyes open and a fresh pair of panties close by. You know, just in case.




J. Haney 
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Thursday, February 14, 2019

Catching Creole


Catching Creole
by J. Haney & S.I. Hayes
Contemporary New Adult Romance


Goodreads:

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Style, grace, charm and a pretty face. This is what Zeta Tau Alpha girls are made of.
School’s out and so is Aviana River Moore’s luck.
Having moved to New Orleans after
Katrina, Aviana met Xavier Thomas Rousseau.
Between his smart-aleck remarks and her sassy ways, they bonded like shrimp and gumbo.
They’ve done everything together. Dances, family affairs, even college. It was her way of keeping him. College is out, and he’s joined Doctors without Borders, leaving after the summer break.
Aviana has three months to do the one thing she’s never done. Tell him how she feels. Can she get her courage, and show Xavier what he’s been missing?  Will Xavier see past the girl down the road facade and let love in or will Aviana forever be just a friend?
*Erotic Element





Copyright © 2019 J. Haney & S.I. Hayes Catching Creole)
I get him up the stairs and into my home, then help him to the couch. “Why didn’t you come to me? I spoke to you after everything. You seemed okay. I thought something was wrong, but you played it off, and I just assumed it was because you were still mad at me,” I say, getting a bottle of water from the fridge and taking it back to him.
He waves the bottle away. “I was the last one. Ya know?” He falls off the couch and sits with his knees in his chest.
“The last one for what?”
“I talked to him, he was happy. He’d just gotten into medical school. He was out of the rut. He promised…” Xav sniffs, wiping his face with his hands. “He pulled away too.”
“Pulled away? Who else pulled away?” I hold the bottle out to him again as I sit beside him on my couch. “Please drink this.”
“Non! Sispann! Koute! You don’t listen… Jessop, he didn't drop out… He hung himself in his dorm room. They hushed it. Swept him under. I don’t want them hushing you.” He’s getting loud, sounding desperate.
I set the bottle on the table and put my hands on Xavier’s face to try to keep him looking at me. “Nobody's hushing me. I haven’t found anyone who could keep me quiet for long either.” I try to make a joke, but he doesn’t like it. I pull him to me, which I’m sure is a funny sight. “Xavier, I promise you, nothing is going to happen to me. Please calm down.”
He grabs me tightly. It hurts, but I’ll take it. His head is against my arms, and I can feel the tears. “I can't lose someone else that means so much to me.”
I run my fingers through his dreads. “Never, you’d never, ever completely lose me. It doesn’t matter if we’re a world apart, if you need me, I’ll drop everything to help you. Always, I’ll always come when you call.”
“Not lately.” He sounds so broken.
“You’ve wanted to go out at night, and I’ve been too tired. You’re really upset with me? Two weeks! I don’t stop everything and come to you for two weeks, and you show up like this!” I push him off me and stand. “What about all five years of college? You were always too busy for me.” Now I’m the one raising my voice.
He lurches forward. “I may have been busy, but I knew what you were up to. Who do ya think took care of Billy Newman? Or Mike Birbiglia? I always knew who you were cattin’ with, so I didn’t worry! You might not have seen me, but I was there!”
“UGH! You’re so fucking blind! All you think about is me, me, me, me, me! Oh, let’s make sure Aviana isn’t fucking anyone I don’t like. Why keep tabs on me? What’s the point?” I turn my back to him, I’m starting to get upset, and when I get upset, I cry. I wipe at my face before turning back. “You make me so mad I could just smack you, but then I’d be the one hurt because I hurt you when you hurt me all the time.”
He pushes his dreads back out of his face. Christ, we’re both blubbering messes. Only it looks good on him, the bastard. “Hurt you? How have I ever hurt you?” Sniff. “I’ve only ever stood in your corner, rallied for ya. Celebrated when ya did well, took out any who fucked with ya that you couldn’t handle. All I’ve ever done was try to keep my best friend happy and whole.” He stands up. “This- comin’ here. Comin’ back to this place- I shoulda just left. Since all I’m doing is fuckin’ it up for everyone. You, my family, my mentors.” He starts fishing in his pockets. “Fuck are my keys?”

I poke Xavier in the chest. “You aren’t going anywhere! You really want to know how you hurt me? I can tell you. It’s not like you’ll remember it in the morning. You’ve hurt me because you’re blind! I’ve shown you, in every possible way I can think of, how I feel. You don’t feel the same, I’m getting it now, it was a lost cause. However, I’ve been in love with you for YEARS! I was right in what I said coming home. We may talk in passing, but you’ll get too busy, and I’ll be here or somewhere trying to get on with my life.” One last poke to the chest and he hits the ground. I turn and walk away, the tears coming down my face, making me look a mess.









Copyright © 2019 J. Haney & S.I. Hayes Catching Creole
Bon Seyè a, kisa m 'fè? Mama Isa, she said the Lord was plannin’ somethin’. Wouldn’t tell me what. I bet the leaves and the bones showed her. I kissed my best friend. I sit up and the living room is dark, but the smell of gumbo invades my nostrils. Not just any gumbo, but Mama Isa’s. I know her spices anywhere. How long was I out? I look at my cell and see it’s after nine. Last I remember looking, it was like five-ish. That was before she spilled her guts. Told me she’s in love with me. Has been. Has been? That’s how I feel. I feel like the last one to the party, and now everyone expects me to be the entertainment. She’s gonna wanna know how I feel. How do I tell her I don’t know? I love her, but am I in love with her?
Can't I just pretend it didn’t happen? Stand up, go looking for her, and act like I don’t remember until I suss it out? She said it herself, she doesn’t expect me to remember it. I touch my mouth. I still feel her lips, soft, plump and juicy. They taste like salt and flesh. I can't help but imagine what the rest of her may taste like. I crack my neck. Do we owe it to ourselves to explore what could be? Is it worth ruining an almost twenty-year friendship over a little thing like a kiss? I get up, following my nose. There’s the food, untouched, but simmering on the stove. I turn on the light, find the baguette, and cracking it, I smother it with herbed butter before fixing the bowls. Gettin’ them and a couple beers on a tray, I head for Ana’s room.
I knock and wait. I’m pretty sure I just heard a sniffle and a throat clear before the door opens. “Feel any better?” she asks, opening the door wider. From the light behind her, I can see the puffiness under her red-rimmed eyes.
“It’s yet to be determined, but I figure Mama Isa’s gumbo will clear both our heads. C’mere and eat with me.”  I hold up the tray as I pass her and set it on the bed.

She grabs her computer, moving it to the bedside table, then speaks with her back to me. “If you're going to tell me you only think of me as a friend, just do it and get it over with, please.”








J. Haney was born and raised in Kentucky, currently residing in Greenup County, Kentucky with her family, where she is the proud momma to Jessalyn Kristine and co-owner of Proud Momma Designs, which she runs with her amazing Momma. J. Haney’s work tends to lean toward sweet and sexy, with suspenseful undertones, giving her readers something to hold onto. 
S.I. Hayes was born and bred in New England and is currently living in Ohio. Running around Connecticut, she used all of her family and friends as inspiration for her many novels. When not writing Paranormal Drama or Erotic Romance, she can be found drawing one of many fabulous book covers or teasers. To see them, check out her website. 
The pair met while working for a former publisher and became fast friends. Their split dynamics and views on life, family, and love in general, led to the idea of Stolen Moments: A County Fair Romance their foray into the Rocker Genre with A Sex, Drugs, and Rock Romance and their newest Working-Class Beauties. They do hope to bring you more in the months to come, so keep your eyes open and a fresh pair of panties close by. You know, just in case.




J. Haney 
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