arden-coutts – Jill's Book Blog

Review: A Nightclub for the Holidays

Title: A Nightclub for the Holidays
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Novella, Romance, LGBTQ, Contemporary
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Ebook
Release Date: December 6, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The holidays are approaching, and the gang is back in action! Join Gray, Hannah, and their loyal friends as they race against time to reopen the beloved Club Midnight before the festive season kicks off.

But it’s not all tinsel and mistletoe as they face unexpected hurdles. The local mafia has other plans, throwing dangerous roadblocks in their path. As tensions rise and the clock ticks down, our favorite crew must navigate treacherous waters to make their dream a reality.

Meanwhile, Gray harbors a secret that could change everything.

Will Club Midnight shine bright for the holidays? Can they outwit the mob and save their dream?

Prepare for a heartwarming, pulse-pounding holiday adventure filled with friendship, love, and a touch of danger. ‘A Nightclub for the Holidays’ promises to be the most thrilling celebration of the year!

Review:

Christmas is approaching, and the mobster Demitri is finally behind bars. Despite the traumatic memories from Club Midnight, Gray wants to buy it at auction and turn it into a better club. Hannah also has plans to start a new career path away from the hospital. However, Demitri’s friends want to stop Gray from restarting the nightclub. Gray must figure out how to defeat these villains while also preparing to ask Hannah a very important question.

This was a fun holiday novella about the characters from The Fall Trilogy. I loved revisiting Hannah and Gray, who were the couple from the first book in the series. Even though this is a short story, there were some spicy scenes. I liked how this story kept the suspense from the original trilogy, while also ending on a heartwarming Christmas note.

A Nightclub for the Holidays is a fun holiday novella!

Thank you Arden Coutts for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read A Nightclub for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)

Title: We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, Suspense, LGBTQ
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

With his infectious smile and optimistic outlook on life, Luke is like a ray of sunshine wherever he goes. James is the epitome of grumpiness, always wearing a scowl and seemingly immune to any form of happiness.

When their mutual friends find themselves in trouble, Luke and James join forces to take down Dimitri, the infamous villain threatening their friends’ safety.

As they work side by side, a surprising bond forms between them. Luke’s positive energy slowly breaks through James’ rough exterior, revealing a vulnerable side that few have ever seen. As for Luke, he discovers that there is more to James than just grumpiness – depth and vulnerability are hidden beneath his tough facade.

However, as their feelings for each other deepen, James grapples with unresolved trauma from his past. The walls he has built around himself sometimes seem impenetrable, making it difficult for him to open up to Luke fully. He wonders if he can ever overcome his past and find happiness again. But Luke isn’t one to give up easily. He stands by James’ side, offering unwavering support and understanding. He shows James that healing from the pain that haunts him is possible with patience and compassion.

Will James find the strength to confront his trauma?

Can Luke wait patiently as James embarks on this journey of healing?

Review:

Luke is the cheerful friend of Gray and Marcus, while James is the serious bodyguard who works with Kee to protect Hannah. Luke and James must work together to finally take down the villain Dimitri, who has threatened their friends for months. Luke is attracted to James, but he must break through James’s tough walls to get him to open up and start a passionate romance.

This was such a great MM romance! It was super steamy at times. The characters faced the most danger and injuries of any other book in the trilogy. I didn’t think they would all make it out alive. It had a satisfying ending, but I’d love to see more from these characters!

We All Fall is a steamy MM romance!

Thank you Arden Coutts for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: PTSD, broken bones, gun violence, homophobia (off page)

Other books in the series:

Have you read We All Fall? What did you think of it?

Review: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)

Title: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: CEI Media LLC
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A night of passion, a world of vengeance, and a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Will Marcus and Kee fall for each other or fall to the dangers around them?

Kee and Marcus have been playing a game of emotional cat and mouse and have finally surrendered to their desires. After a passionate night together, they find themselves falling for each other. However, their newfound happiness is abruptly shattered when Marcus disappears without a word.

Confused and hurt, Kee wonders why Marcus would leave her without any explanation or information about his whereabouts. Little does she know, he has embarked on a dangerous mission.

As Marcus plunges into the treacherous world of vengeance, he faces numerous obstacles and life-threatening situations. He relies on his cunning, physical prowess, and unwavering determination to navigate the murky waters of retribution.

Meanwhile, Kee struggles with her conflicting emotions—torn between worrying for Marcus’s safety and feeling betrayed by his sudden departure. She embarks on her own journey of self-discovery as she seeks answers about Marcus’s motives and contemplates the nature of their relationship.

Will Marcus survive the perils he faces along his path of revenge? Will he find redemption and make it back to Kee? And can Kee find it in her heart to forgive him for leaving her in the dark?

Review:

Following the events of Fall Into Midnight, Kee and Marcus have fallen for each other. After a night of passion, Marcus runs away to Russia without telling Kee. He’s on the hunt for his nemesis Dimitri’s daughter, who was connected to Marcus’s father’s murder. Kee joins Marcus’s friends to travel to Russia and save him.

This was such a great sequel in the Fall Trilogy. The characters were all introduced in the first book, so the action started right away. There’s romance but there’s also a lot of danger that the characters face. I’m excited to read the third book soon!

Fall Into Me is a great suspenseful romance!

Thank you Arden Coutts for sending me a copy of this book.

Content warnings: death, kidnapping, torture, blood, sexual assault

Other books in the series:

Fall Into Midnight (The Fall Trilogy #1)
We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)

Have you read Fall Into Me? What did you think of it?

Review: Fall into Midnight (The Fall Trilogy #1)

Title: Fall into Midnight (The Fall Trilogy #1)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, LGBTQ, Thriller
Publisher: CEI Media
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 30, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Gyrating to the beat and downing shots isn’t Dr. Hannah Winter’s cup of tea. But when a good friend drags her out of the sanctuary of her sunroom for a rare night out at Club Midnight, a chance encounter with an enigmatic bouncer ignites an undeniable spark of passion she can’t resist. Working at Club Midnight comes with a heavy price that Gray Alexander has grown weary of paying. But even as the treacherous underworld associated with her work threatens to destroy her, the love of a sweet-faced, ginger-haired doctor may be her saving grace. As Hannah and Gray seize their unexpected chance at love, they quickly realize the very place that pulled them into each other’s orbit may inevitably tear them apart…

Review:

Dr. Hannah Winters goes to Club Midnight one night with her best friend and her two bodyguards. Despite not wanting to be there, Hannah has a chance encounter with one of the security guards, Gray, and she can’t get her out of her mind. Gray’s job at Club Midnight also involves getting into dangerous situations with her boss. Hannah and Gray quickly fall for each other, but their relationship is tested when their lives are threatened.

This was such a great, intense romance. Gray and Hannah had steamy chemistry. There was a surprising twist at the end of the story that I didn’t see coming. I’m so glad there are more books in this series because I loved these characters!

Fall into Midnight is a great start to the Fall Trilogy!

Thank you Arden Coutts for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: stabbing, drugging, sexual assault, shooting

Other books in the series:

Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)
We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)

Have you read Fall into Midnight? What did you think of it?