Invested By Iris Bolling

Synopsis:

Myles Dunning, the thirty-five-year-old CEO of Dunning Bank and Trust, is fighting off one takeover attempt after another to save his family's historical bank. Recently ranked the third largest bank in the world, the leaders in the financial industry conspire to prevent further growth by any means necessary. 

Chrystina Price is a voluptuous, lovable, powerhouse, whose sole purpose in life is to uplift and protect the man she has loved from the first day they met...Myles Dunning. Discovering enemies, close and afar, Chrystina throws everything she has into uncovering and blocking each attempt to bring Myles down.

After a boardroom victory raised the bank closer to the number two ranking, Myles and Chrystina share a victory kiss that unleashes an unstoppable flow of love that no dam could control. The bliss of love is short lived when Miles learns a tragic truth.

When the integrity of the family always comes first is it worth Investing in love. 

My Top Christmas Reads

It's something about the holidays that make me all warm & fuzzy inside. ( lame I know) But seriously this time of year I love reading a good holiday story. I decide to post my top seven holiday romances filled with alpha males, holiday cheer ( or some element of the holidays) and steamy love scenes. All books are available on Amazon. Happy Holiday & Happy Reading!!!

1. Iris Bolling: " A Lassiter's Christmas" 

2. Maureen Smith:  " Tempt Me At Midnight" 

3. Sienna Mynx : " Ti Amo"

4. Roxie Rivera: " A Very Russian Christmas" 

5. Farrah Rochon: " A Perfect Holiday Fling"

6. Victoria Wells: " A Second Chance At Love" 

7. Kristen Ashley: " At Peace" 

A Lassiter's Christmas By: Iris Bolling

A Lassiter’s Christmas takes place where Look into My Heart book three of the Heart series leaves off. Because this is a series I recommend that you read all the books in the series before starting this one. This book could be read alone but a lot of characters reappear from her previous books and in order to understand the family dynamic you must go back to the beginning where it all began.

Pearl: the hurt ain’t no good men around sista’ has very strong feelings toward men. Being hurt by her first love at the age of 16 she has hardened her heart to love. Always one to get them before they get her Pearl has made work her love.

Theo: the man for the job with the patience of a saint meets a stranded Pearl and offers his assistance. Pearl being who she is selfish and at times insecure builds up that wall against any man who she feels is a threat. At first being attracted to Pearl’s coke bottle shape, Theo finds that even though her personality is a turn off that there is more than meets the eye to this dark beauty. And Sally Lassiter’s cooking is just enough to seal the deal.

One thing about the Lassiter family is that when you take on one you take on all the gem’s and gent’s. The family has this tradition of doing a Q&A with each new suitor. Because Dr. Prentiss is assertive and the quintessential alpha male he did not waiver on his feelings for Pearl. Throughout the story he always checked Pearl on her selfish attitude although at times he should have been more forward with being put first. For instance this story takes place over a span of six years and in this time Pearl grew but not as much as she should have. Because of her own insecurities about the incident took place when she was 16 her wounds run deep and anyone who gets close is stuck in limbo with her.

Though this book has some heavy moments Phire the younger sisters always knows how to add the comedic relief. She is such a firecracker and I am awaiting her story next and the man she will end up with. This book is the reason I love romance stories it is a true story that love overcomes all.  

As much as I love the Lassiter family and believe me I do I am glad as a reader I got more insight to Theo’s family. I believe this is one of the first stories where the author has a hero who is non-black. Theo is mixed but identifies with being African-American but the author mentions that his father is Caucasian and that his mother and father relationship was considered taboo. You could tell with this story that the author stepped outside her comfort zone with this character and she is new to writing IR couples. For instance throughout the story she mentions that the father is Caucasian. At one point I wanted to say we get it already he is of the Caucasian persuasion. Further into the story after the mother Lenora is introduced it makes sense why the characters color is constantly being mentioned.

Lenora was a bit judgmental towards other blacks considering she was once in a “taboo” relationship. I liked the issues raised between black women who date white men and how some loose a sense of their blackness. Iris doesn't sugar coat the race issues it's very much in your face. Pearl had a lot of growing up and can be selfish in her thinking ironically Cynthia was the one to point it out to her. All in all this is a very great story with dynamic characters I cannot wait to see what else Iris has in store. Please judge this book for yourself and not based on this one review.

Heroes By: Loretta Walls, Iris Bolling, Nikkea Sharee

First let me say that when three power house authors come together in collaboration you know you are in for a treat. Although this is an anthology of short stories they pack a pretty powerful punch. Each book complimented the next this was an anthology of mystery, angst, and love.

The anthology starts off with Love Under Fire by Iris Bolling

We are introduced to Fire Chief Richard as he is investigating a series of fires in a down rotten area. No one seems to care about the string of fires as the buildings belong to bad guy King who has a series of issues. Shai the Elementary School teacher seems to have some connection to Richard “Ritchie” but she doesn’t let on too much as she is holding onto grief about the death of her family that happened 5 years ago. Not to give too much away but because Shai doesn’t want to face reality doesn’t mean Richard will allow her to cling on to the past. Richard is an Alpha male at his finest nothing will get in his way not even school Principal Ralph Murphy. I love that as a reader we get flashbacks into Richard and Shai past and why they are in the situation they are in now. We get to see a reappearance of some of our favorite characters from Mrs. Bolling’s other series. All the characters are interconnected somehow and what you think you know you don’t. This story is a perfect mix of mystery and redemption. Just when you think you know who is behind the fires and who is on top. Mrs.Bolling throws in a twist that will leave you speechless. Everyone has a past and still waters run very deep. My only complaint is that I wish this story could have been longer. I would love to see a full length novel on what happens to some of the characters I feel as though there is more story to be told.

Next in the anthology we have Nikkea Sharee’ story Hostile

I will admit this is my first time actually reading anything by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. This book starts off with a “situation” that has you on edge. In the first opening pages I was tempted to speed read just so I could figure out who this Eva character is and why is she so hostile for a lack of a better word. You have no idea what’s going on in the beginning only that Richard is a hostage negotiator and a child is involved. This book is non-stop angst and will have the reader asking more questions than getting answers. The story builds up and then WAM it hits you what the situation is and you are left thinking Oh My God!!!! This story had me questioning myself what would you do in a situation like this? How would you react with a gun, tears? I know I am being very vague but I don’t want to give anything away the story is just that good. What Eva encounters at her house is the ultimate violation of trust and Gregory the hostage negotiator is trying to help her but seems to be making the situation worst. It’s a bad situation all around. And Erykah Eva daughter is witnessing all of this. The twist is something out of reality television or something you have heard about off a talk show. Oh but what a twist it is. I was so frustrated with some of the characters and their behavior. But that’s what a good story does right have you talking aloud to the book? I couldn’t help but think as I read this book the trapped in the closet song by R.Kelly is very fitting. I know these are short stories but the way this story ending. I was left yet again wanting more of a story especially on these two characters an epilogue on how the situation ended. All in all this was a very good read.

Last but certainly not least is Loretta Walls story Perfect Respect

This story is more of a military romance and when things are not heating up on the battle field it is definitely heating up in the bedroom between Miri and Jayce. Miri is this tough outspoken I don’t take no foolishness Major. Especially when the unwanted advances of Danny a friend from high school comes her way. Danny comes off as such a player and has a side piece Nellie who starts to cause trouble for Miri in the form of bad mouthing and deceit. Talk about a messy triangle but in the end all wrongs are made right. Thrown into a military operation Miri gets some extra love and care from Jayce. Let me say if you haven’t read any of Mrs. Wall’s stories before you know one thing she can write a love scene. I was left wondering how any surveillance work get does especially with Jayce magical fingers. Because these stories are only 30+ pages in length each authors packs their stories with non-stop action. Mrs. Walls creates a situation between the budding couple that is quickly dispelled what we know is that when it comes to love and war all bets are off. Each of the ladies has done such a good job my only complaint again is that I wanted more.