Enticing Journey Book Promotions Presents: Phoenix Rising by Giulia Lagomarsino; #ReleaseBlitz, #NowAvailable, #OutNow, #TBR, #Live, #Review

Title: Phoenix Rising

Series: Reed Security Series

Author: Giulia Lagomarsino

Genre: Contemporary Security Romance

Release Date: August 26, 2019
Rating:  5 Stars
Told in the first person.  Alternating persons.
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Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received this book for review from Enticing Journey Book Promotions and the author. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising".

Phoenix Rising is book 16 in the Reed Security Series and it is suggested they be read in order.

The men and women of Reed Security are back, but after all the turmoil of the past year, how do they adapt and move forward? For some, it's easy, but others, the past year is only the beginning of what they'll have to deal with. A few were shot and almost died. Morgan and Chance were taken and tortured, in their own respects, and now must deal with the after effects. Payton was torn from her mother and spent a year and a half without her. The wives lost their jobs, and many had to run from their families and friends to keep them safe. But one thing remained the same through all of this, they are each others' family and will do anything to help each other through. They are Reed Security, and they will rise from the ashes.

The author writes a special note to her readers – please take the time to read it.  It gives you a brief insight into what went into this story as well as touching your heart.  You may want to keep tissue close at hand because you’ll find that it may become an emotional rollercoaster ride.

This story seems to show that sometimes the past doesn’t stay in the past.  Sometimes it comes back to haunt and taunt.  I liked that the author lets her readers catch up with some of the men of Reed Security and their extended family.  I almost thought that she was building things until we got to the heart of the story but changed my mind.  The whole book is the heart of the men and women who put things on the line for each other.  This may be the toughest read to date of the series because of all the pain and I’m not talking physical.  And someone feels that he has to handle it alone.

There’s so much emotion – anger, sadness, anxiety, frustration but fighting through all of that is love.  With all those emotions flowing through the story, it won’t be hard for your heart to get involved.  Even though you get to see where the men of Reed Security are at, Morgan and Chance’s story continues here.  With all these stories going on here, you don’t want to try and start the series here.  It would be too much like reading the ending of a story first.  You need to read these people’s stories first to really see how they all got to this point.

This is one book where I could see it being a trigger for some.  Chance went through a lot, both physically and emotionally, in his book.  Here he’s still trying to deal with things and some may understand what Morgan’s going through both mentally and physically.  So this part of their relationship may be hard to read.  It also shows how the title of the book comes into play.  The author’s very good at not letting her story get too dark.  She knows just the right moment to turn it around and to give her readers a chuckle.  But don’t expect a happy ending – just an ending that has you wondering, what next.

“Alexa, play Sam Tinnesz.”

I waited as it was searching and cringed when Mmm Bop by Hanson came on.

“What the f*@k? Alexa, play Legends Are Made by Sam Tinnesz.”

Alexa searched again, this time playing John Legend.

“You’ve got to be f*@king kidding me. I just want something good to listen to. Alexa, play Hold On For Your Life by Sam Tinnesz,” I said slowly, accentuating every word.

“Searching….” 

And then the opening strands of Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On started to play.

“F*@k it.” I sloshed back down in the water, trying to ignore the girly song that was playing while I was trying to relax. I actually found that it was working. The soothing melody had me sinking into such a relaxed state that I didn’t even notice the door opening.

“What the hell are you listening to?” My eyes flew open in surprise. Chris was standing in the doorway with a smirk on his face. “Want me to get you a cocktail?”

“Actually, I’d love one,” I retorted. “I tried to get the f*@king thing to play something else, but like any woman, she just did whatever the f*@k she wanted.”

“Alright, let’s see what we got here.” He walked over to a mini fridge in the corner. I had expected to find water, but instead saw some kind of girly cooler. 

“Toss me one.” 

Chris popped the top and handed one to me and then got one for himself. After draining half of it, he got undressed and got in with me. “Is this weird?” he asked as he settled in.

“Sitting in the hot tub together?”

“Yeah. You know, it’s kind of like bathing together. You’re sweaty. I’m sweaty….”

I nodded. “I gotcha.” I reached over to the ledge and grabbed a bottle of body wash, pouring in a generous amount. Bubbles filled the tub and I grinned, pleased with myself.

“Yeah, that’s not at all weird,” Chris muttered. “Now we’re taking a bubble bath together.”

“But we’ll be clean,” I pointed out. “What’s worse? Sitting around in each other’s filth or sitting in soap together?”

“Soap is only clean as long as it’s in the bottle. Once it’s in the water, it’s just dirty soap.”

“It’s self-cleaning.”

“Oh, God.” Chris and I turned to see Jules standing in the doorway with Alec and Rocco. “Are you two taking a bubble bath?”

“It’s a hot tub,” I corrected. “The bubbles are just to get us clean.”

“That’s what a shower is for,” Jules pointed out.

“Hot tubs are very good for the muscles,” Rocco said as he yanked off his shirt. “I’m in.”

“Grab me another cooler before you get in,” I said. 

Rocco stripped down to his shorts and climbed in with a cooler for each of us. “Ah, this is great. My body is killing me today.” He closed his eyes and then opened them, narrowing in on me. “Are you f*@king listening to Celine Dion?”

I shrugged. “You get the b*%ch to play something else.”

    

   

   

  

I'm a stay at home mom that loves to read. Some of my favorite titles are Pride and Prejudice, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Horatio Hornblower. I started writing when I was trying to come up with suggestions on ways I could help bring in some extra money. I came up with the idea that I could donate plasma because you could earn an extra $500/month. My husband responded with, "No. Find something else. Write a blog. Write a book." I didn't think I had anything to share on blog that a thousand other mothers hadn't already thought of. I decided to take his challenge seriously and sat down to write my first book, Jack. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed writing. From there, the stories continued to flow and I haven't been able to stop. I hope my readers enjoy my books as much as I enjoy writing them. Between reading, writing, and taking care of three small kids, my days are quite full.

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