Review: The Rival Pact by Olivia Hayle

The Rival Pact by Olivia Hayle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

This was a unique rivals to lovers, that finds James who is the quiet, stoic member of the Billionaire group menaced by Florence a government representative who is overseeing the restoration of his historic estate. James became a Duke at a young age, and he and Florynce went to boarding school together as young kids and again at university. They always competed to get the best grades and highest praise from their teachers. Neither one of them likes to talk about emotions or communicate their desires or needs, but when she is forced to stay on premises to oversee the historic renovation, they learn to communicate in an unexpected way.

I really enjoyed getting to know James and Florence. While they started out enemies, it turned out they were similar instead of opposites. We learn slowly why James was mean to her as a child and why he is so closed off as an adult. It all makes sense after things are explained. Florence on the other hand, is a constant overthinker and doesn't know how to communicate her innermost desires. Through their forced proximity and completely by accident, they find common ground where he has experience in the exact subject she wants to learn. I didn't think I would enjoy the BDSM aspect of the novel as I have not enjoyed previous reads where that was an aspect, however I thought the author did a good job explaining the rules of play before, during, and after as well as mutual trust needed for such an arrangement to work between partners. The spice is off the charts, and while BDSM is still not my thing, I thought it was well done here. It also set the stage for good communication, which I always love in a romance novel between characters.

You can read this completely as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books. It will introduce you to the other billionaires and their partners, with the exception of Alex. Alex's book is next and I can't wait.

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Review: Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts

Birth of the Witch by Nora Roberts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the first book in a new magical trilogy from Nora Roberts following two witches who have met in past lives beginning at the Salem Witch Trials. This book sets the stage for the rest of the trilogy as Neve and Caden explore their powers and their role in what looks to be a much larger battle between good and evil. Neve lives with two other witches who are essentially her aunts and have always been with her through time. This life is different as both she and Caden begin to remember things from the past and are tasked with finding things that will help them defeat the enemy. They both live separate lives, but they know that eventually their paths will cross and everything they do leads to them working together in the end.

This was a bit of a slow burn as the story unfolds. We see Neve and Caden in the present and the past. In the present they are both building successful businesses, spending time with loved ones, and training. In the past they are reliving scenes from their past lives, some where they have met and others where they haven't. Our leads don't meet until the end of the book, so there is still alot of story left to be told in the trilogy and there is still much more to be revealed. That is going to annoy some readers and completely turn them off to the series because it ends on a cliffhanger. On the other hand this may to hook you with the interesting characters and premise like it did for me. I enjoyed getting to know each of them individually knowing that there is going to be more to the story, plus I'm intrigued by stories with witches and witch trials. Now that our couple has met I'm interested to see where things go, while there is almost no romance in this book, there is promise of one coming between Neve and Caden in the future. I love the aunts and Caden's family and I look forward to seeing them as the story grows.

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Review: Midnight Mooring by Samantha Young

Midnight Mooring by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author, all opinions are my own.

This is the 4th and final book in the Scottish Isles series, which are all interconnected standalones. There are events and characters mentioned in this book that might make sense if you read all of the books in order, but the author does a good job giving you enough information to either remember what happened or if you started with this book to understand what is going on. The only thing that really won't make sense if you haven't read the previous books is the 2nd epilogue which is a nice wrap up of all of the couples and a where are the now at the end of the series.

This is probably the darkest book in the series, please read the trigger warnings if needed and take care of yourself first as this covers some dark topics. This follows Cameron and Forde as the main characters, who if you've read the previous books have had an enemies to lovers vibe going on for years. She's his best friend's younger sister, which at surface level seems like what is keeping them apart. Turns out it is so much deeper than that. Cameron has been traveling for several months, which has allowed both of them to do some soul searching and maturing when it comes to what they want in life and relationships. What neither one of them expected was to be pulled into a murder investigation and a stalker that no one is taking serious.

I really enjoyed getting to know Cammie and Forde. They have been pushing each other's buttons for years, and when finally given the chance to air their grievances and true feelings things are explosive. Of course there are years of trauma to sort through, so there is a lot of angst especially when it comes to the murder investigation and stalker. Young really delivers on the suspense aspect here and takes us on a couple of different trails that make wonder who is at the heart of all of our couple's turmoil. I also appreciated all of the detail she put into the descriptions of the island and the surrounding areas, as I've been reading her books over the years it cements my desire to visit Scotland. If you want something with great banter, dark suspense, and wonderful characters give this a chance. I love this and the entire series and can't wait for the Montrose series!

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Review: Mark of the Warrior by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee

Mark of the Warrior by Shannon Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the second book the the Breathmarked duology and picks up where book 1 left off. I do not recommend reading this as a standalone as there is quite a bit of setup and explanation in the first book.

This was such a wonderful conclusion to the duology. If you love martial arts this is a great novel. This delves into different fighting styles, I'm not sure if they are real or fictional, and how they are used to combat other styles. We finally learn how the twins Jun and Sai are connected and why they are so talented. I had my suspicions reading book 1, and the authors give us the answers about the brothers and the scrolls of Heaven and Earth that readers are looking for. This has plenty of action balanced with politics and drama to balance it out.

This has a nice found family vibe on Jun's side. The friends and allies he made in the first book are still travelling with him as he tries to find the stolen Scroll of Heaven. He also wants to reunite with his estranged brother and stop the war that is brewing if opposing forces get the Scroll of Earth that Sai aka High Keeper Mirror has been entrusted to guard. The brothers who used to be so close have to come to terms with the fact that fate has different plans for them. Unless they can figure out how to work together war will devastate the lands that they both want to unite and protect.

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Review: This Shattered Tempest: A Novel by Thea Guanzon

This Shattered Tempest: A Novel by Thea Guanzon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the third and final book in the Hurricane wars series. This book cannot be read as a standalone, as the prior books provide so much information that lead up to this one. There is so much set up in the characters and the plot that would leave the reader lost if they started here.

This picks up where the last book left off. Talasyn and Alaric are both struggling with their feelings for each other after their political marriage has lead to something more than enemies with benefits. They are also struggling with their duties to their respective countries and the promises they've made to keep their people safe. It is clear that one if not both of them are going to have to betray the other and the fragile cease fire that their marriage enacted is quickly going to end. While we get to see Talasyn and Alaric's relationship develop, we also get Talasyn's inner monologue about how she truly feels about him and about what she is supposed to do and how that is going to impact their relationship. They have wonderful tender moments and passionate angry ones as well. There are well described action scenes with magic and warships. And as we have seen across the series political maneuvering by each and every player on the chess board, the question is can Talasyn and Alaric physically survive, and can their love transcend all of the pain and hurt that everyone, themselves included will cause before it is all over?

This was full of yearning, betrayal, action, emotion, magic, and dragons! I wasn't sure how Guanzon was going to end this without complete tragedy a la Romeo and Juliet or with everyone dying in complete apocalypse which they just stopped, but I was pleasantly surprised with the way she took it. It didn't feel rushed or like anything was left out. The author took her time appropriately addressing the betrayals from trusted insiders, explaining things she could have left alone for the reader to ponder, and giving us a really satisfying ending. I really loved this series!

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Review: Mortal Things by Marie Lu

Mortal Things by Marie Lu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC and ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the first book in a new YA series by Marie Lu. I assume it is a series, there are still alot of things left open. It is a unique take on gods and the powers they wield over humans and how they interact with the human world. Rose has been chosen by the god of death, and she hates her job and her patron. She wanted to be a doctor before she gave up her life to be a Harbinger of Death. She wanted to save lives, not take them. She constantly challenges her patron, but in the end she does what she is told. The harbingers of the gods only have each other as friends and family after they are chosen, so when one of their own is murdered in front of Rose and Étienne regent of the god of lies they are naturally driven to find out what happened. Death's own regent was recently killed and Rose is set to be promoted, but the gods call for her to tested first. Rose knows there is more to her test and the murders than anyone is willing to say, and Étienne who is always challenging her seems to be at the center of it. It doesn't help that he is administering her test and as much as he annoys her she is completely attracted to him.

This was great! There were parts that were a bit repetitive. I did get annoyed with Rose with her almost obsession with her former best friend Laine. I think that was a choice to show Rose's trauma of being given up as a baby and never feeling like she belonged, so when she finally had someone she latched on for dear life. I would like to see Étienne and Rose's relationship develop more. They don't actually spend alot of time on the page together doing couple things to build up the yearning and chemistry in my opinions. The scenes during the test were cool and getting to see his powers in action was very well done. We see his feeling for her on display, but not so much her feelings for him develop or them develop together. The display of all of the different god and harbinger powers was really cool, and Lu's writing shines in this department. We get lots of good world building.

I forgot to mention that this is told in alternating timelines from the current timeline when Rose is being positioned and tested to be the Regent of Death and the past when she was human before she knew anything about the gods and she had just met her best friend Laine who she sacrificed her life to save. I actually thought she an Laine were in a romantic relationship for most of the book the way those chapters were written and the way Rose obsesses about her. We come to learn that there is more to Laine, more to Étienne, and more to Rose and that her suspicion was correct that there was more to the story than anyone was letting on.



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Review: The Blood Queen by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

The Blood Queen by Sara Raasch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This is the sequel to The Crimson Throne and you cannot read this as a standalone. This picks up where book 1 left off and there is too much information and setup in the first book that would leave the reader completely lost if they started with this one.

Alyth and Samson, knowing who the High Blade is now are trying to gain the help of the fae to save Scotland from her plans and her Red Cap army. They must evade the High Blade and prevent her from entering the fae court before all is lost. The fae princes, Alyth's father included, will only help so far as their own interests are threatened. The lovebirds can only trust each other as both sides seek to use them for their own gain.

I really enjoyed the lore that the team of Revis and Raasch wove into this story. If you have read my reviews before you know I love anything related to any kind of mythology or folklore. This leans into Celtic lore and their version of the fates, which I had never seen depicted this way. You always hear about the Roman/Greek fates, and the similarity of the weaving aspect of the Celtic trio was even mentioned in the book. I thought that was really interesting. I thought the authors did a great job mixing the historical court politics in with the fantasy elements of the fae and magic with the lore and romance. This was action packed and kept me engaged the whole time. I really loved this duology and hope to see more from this author duo in the future.

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