Review: Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco

Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however I am really behind on reviews and opted to borrow the audiobook from the library instead.  I really enjoyed the narrator for this, he did a good job bringing Remy and the rest of the cast to life.  As always all opinions are my own.  This book was released back in September 2022 and is available in multiple formats via multiple retailers.

I really enjoyed this adult paranormal romance.  It is a tad on the long side, but the pace and action are there the entire time to keep you engaged the entire time.  I've read several of the author's YA books and this is definitely m ore on the adult side when it comes to the intimate scenes and the violence and horror aspects.  This book has a bit of everything going on there is court intrigue, a little bit of a mystery aspect, some science, and of course vampires and vampire hunters.  It thing Chupeco did a good job telling the tale and brining it all together in the end.  I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

This follows Remy, son of a duke and vampire hunter.  Due to the suspicious circumstances of his birth and his father's status amongst the Reapers (the vampire hunters) Remy is an outcast among the Reapers.   He is sent to do the jobs no one wants to do, and he is good at it.  He longs for his father's approval, so when the opportunity comes along to serve the Queen and make an alliance with a vampire lord and lady who are brokering peace between humans and vampires Remy is tasked to accompany them.  The land is plagued with a new strain of vampire that is impossible to kill and the unlikely trio is determined to uncover the source of this new strain and stop the spread.  As Remy gets to know his companions Zidan and Xiaodan, they all begin to develop feelings for each other which only complicates their mission as they uncover the truth behind the plague and who is pulling the strings.

I thought this had good world building and good character development.  Remy started out a bit unsure of himself.  As the story progresses he becomes a bit more comfortable with himself and his desires, especially as he learns of all of the deceit and betrayal that has surrounded his life.  I thought the paranormal/fantasy elements were well done.  I haven't read a good vampire book in a long time and I really enjoyed this one.  I liked the concept of the covens/courts and look forward to seeing how that plays out as the rest of the story unfolds.  I also appreciated the scientific aspect of the book.  I always like when there is a flushed out reason, realistic or not, for what is happening and the author gives us that with respect to the Rot.

While I enjoyed the relationship that developed between Remy, Zidan, and Xiaodan, I could have done without the sex scenes between them.  I don't feel that they really added to the plot other than to add a level of smut to the book and make it more adult.  They aren't super graphic so the level of spice is pretty low, so I feel like those scenes could have almost been closed door or fade to black. The relationship that develops between the three of them didn't really need the lust filled intimate scenes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm very much looking forward to Court of Wanderers.  I'm only disappointed that it took me so long to read this.

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Review: The Case of the Secret Spirit-Half

The Case of the Secret Spirit-Half by Lucy Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Edelweiss+, all opinions are my own.  This book releases October 11, 2022.

This is the fifth and final installment of the Dr. Ribero's Supernatural Agency Series.  I would highly recommend reading the previous books in the series, as this one picks up where book four left off and finally gives us some long awaited answers to many questions that we've had about our lovable cast of characters.  This particular installment mainly focuses on Kester and his mother as we learn about Gretchen's backstory and all of the secrets she kept.  The last book left us with a pretty big cliffhanger, and this book will give you the answers you are looking for in quite an unexpected way.  I really enjoyed the creative way that the author told us Gretchen's story and in turn we learn alot about Kester.

If you've been following the series from the beginning Kester has come such a long way from the terrified boy he was when we first met him.  He has finally accepted his abilities and sticks up for himself and what he feels is the right thing.  He's really grown as a character and he's learned alot.    He hurt alot of people with his decision in the previous book, but he knew it was the right thing. 

 He wouldn't have been able to do that in the first book.  His friends at the agency felt betrayed for good reason, but Kester felt that if they understood his reasoning they would forgive him or atleast understand why he did what he did.  This has a great underlying message about teamwork and working together when you have different approaches and ideas to solving a problem.  I also liked the message about giving people a chance when they are different (be that a spirit or a human).  

This keeps in like with the other books and still has the cozy feel with a paranormal aspect.  I did miss the rest of the characters as they weren't present for much of the book.  Their antics on their supernatural missions were so funny and I missed their banter, but this was the ending the series needed to wrap up all of the loose ends.  I loved this series and this was a great way to end it.  

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Review: Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an audio arc of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I loved this book!  I'll be 100% honest, I did not care for The Hazel Wood, and it honestly only just occured to me that the same author wrote both books.   This is a tad dark, but still fits in the YA bucket.  

I'm normally not a fan of alternating timelines, but this is an example of how to do it right.  This follows Ivy and her mother Dana through some mysterious events.  Ivy's POV is told in the present day while Dana's POV is told in the past.  Eventually the POVs meet up in the present as secrets and lies are uncovered and  Ivy learns about things that Dana and her beloved Aunt Fe were part when they were teens.  

I thought the magic was well explained as the girls (Fe and Dana) learn to use their natural gifts as well as those they develop with their friend Marion.  I thought the character development was great and the world building was well done.  Albert did a great job with the creep factor when it was needed and definitely gave this book a little bit of a horror vibe.  

This book has all of the things I'm looking for, it has a little bit of a mystery element, the pacing was good, the narrators were great, I enjoyed all of the characters, the plot was creative and engaging.  I didn't want to stop listening to this!  If you are looking for a quick read this summer I highly recommend this!

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Review: Shadow Fallen by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Shadow Fallen by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I am a long time fan of Sherrilyn's, and I like many of her fans am extremely excited to see her writing again.  This is her first book in several years back in the Darkhuner/Dreamhunter world, and it centers on new characters that we haven't see before.  As the story progresses, old characters that long time fans are familiar with are introduced and play a part in the storyline.  As with all of the books in the Dreamhunter and Darkhunter, you can read this one as a standalone, but as many of the books and characters are so interconnected, I feel like I would have been a bit lost had I not read the previous books in the series.  This one does stand pretty well on it's own giving the reader enough information about who people are and enough background to figure out what is happening.  Ariel and Valteri's story ties nicely into the already established storyline that many of us have been reading for a very long time and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

This started out a bit slow for my taste, but as things developed and more characters were introduced things started to pick up around the half way mark.  I do feel that that narrator of the audiobook also contributed to the slower feeling.  While not a bad narrator, I feel like he was a tad monotone throughout the book and that led to the book feeling a bit slower than I prefer.

This particular installment in the series feels a bit more like historical fiction, whereas many of the other books in the series have a more urban fiction feel.  This book felt more like one of her Kinley MacGregor medieval romances, but I expect that has to do with it being more of an origin story for Ariel and Valteri and that we will see them again in future installments.  There is also quite the religious overtone present, as Valteri is constantly accused of being demon-spawn.  Ariel is an Arel, basically a type of angel, and she isn't the first Arel we've seen between The Chronicles of Nick, The Darkhunters, and the Dreamhunter books.  The war between good and evil has been brewing for quite sometime among the interconnected series and I expect our two main characters to resurface as it comes to pass as we get more books.

The worldbuilding wasn't overly complex as this was set in the real world with a few fantasy elements.  The "magic" system isn't overly complex in the series to begin with and this particular installment doesn't have the same mythological backing as some of the other books it is more centered around Christianity and the Norman-Saxon conflict.  

Overall, I think this is a good comeback for the author.  This book gave us valuable information about characters we've wanted to know about for years, and sets the stage for future books.  I'm excited that she's back and can't wait for future installments.

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Review: From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished my re-read of From Blood and Ash as we get ready for the release of The War of Two Queens and realized I never posted a review. I listened to the audiobook this time around and thought Stina Nielson did a great job with the characters. There were some minor mistakes in the audiobook where the narrator misspoke, but it really didn't detract from the storyline. You would have only noticed if you were reading along with the book or had read it previously in print. I went on to listen to A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire and there weren't any noticeable mistakes in the audiobook. I'm about 20% into The ​Crown of Gilded Bones and she's done a great job maintaining consistency with the voices of the characters throughout the series.

This book has been out for quite a while and has become pretty popular. I read it initially right after it was released in 2020 before all the hype. I love the series, but I can see why some people do not. It is trope heavy and parts of it are predictable. There are other parts that are unique and interesting. Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my favorite authors, so it is no surprise that I loved this.

The synopsis lays out the plot pretty well so I won't really go into that too much. Poppy is "The Chosen One", though she isn't really sure why. She's lived a pretty sheltered life, but she finds ways to rebel against the rules set for her. Poppy is terrified of the future that has been chosen for her and she isn't quite sure that she wants what is in store for her. As the book progresses we see that Poppy is so much more than the demure Maiden that she is supposed to be. Hawke is her personal guard, but it quickly becomes clear that he's not fully bought into Poppy as "The Maiden" either.

If you are a traditional fantasy lover, this may not be to your liking. The world building is ok, but we don't get the detailed descriptions you might expect in a high fantasy series. It is more atmospheric and character driven. The magic system isn't fully explained yet (we learn more in the later books). If you've read some of Jen's other PNR books you will know that she often sets up things to be learned later on in the series. This is going to be 5 or 6 books in total so I expect things to be revealed as we go much like they did with the Lux series. While it is set in a fantasy world with fantasy elements, it has more of the feeling of a paranormal romance or urban fantasy. Many of the tropes you expect to find in a PNR are present here. The romance element is front and center with the fantasy parts taking a secondary role. I like both high fantasy and PNR, so you get no complaint from me on that front. The characters speak in modern terms which didn't bother me, but I know that can irritate some readers. Parts of this world have electricity and running water while other parts rely on lanterns and candle for light and pitchers of water for washing. It walks the line of traditional high fantasy and urban fantasy. That will not be to everyone's taste.

As I said the romance is what really shines here. JLA is really good at writing intimate scenes at the YA, NA, and adult level. This book gives you a taste of what is to come in the later books and while Poppy and Hawke get a little steamy here, the books only get more steamy going forward. I do feel there are several situations that had questionable consent between Hawke and Poppy, and that continues through the 2nd book. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way as I've seen it mentioned several times in the more negative reviews. I don't think I noticed on the first read, but I definitely notice the 2nd time. The author tried to clear it up with Poppy's inner monologues and what was supposed to be witty banter between the main characters, but I feel clear consent is really important in books as is use of protection. They do discuss birth control as protection isn't really an issue as far as disease is concerned between the two of them. That being said the banter between the characters is excellent! I was laughing out loud constantly while listening to this.

Overall, this is the start to a fun fantasy romance series. I really enjoyed it. It is easy to read, has great banter, and I thought the pacing was good. This does end with a cliffhanger, so be prepared. If you've read Jen's other books you should expect that, but if you are new to her books you've been warned. I'm anxiously awaiting the remaining books in the series to find out what happens.

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Review: The Seven Kings of Jinn by S. Young

The Seven Kings of Jinn by Samantha Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided a copy of this book to review via the author, all opinions are my own. This is my second time reading this as I read it when it was originally published as Smokeless Fire about 10 years ago. This is a relaunch of the series, my understanding is that it is being relaunched under Samantha's pen name S. Young where she is publishing her paranormal and urban fantasy books and the series. The books are being edited and relaunched under The Seven Kings of Jinn series title. I didn't read them side by side for differences but the general storyline is the same.

This follows Ari in her last few days of high school. As her days of high school come to a close she is having alot of anxiety about her future, her friends are excited about going off to college and starting their futures, but Ari isn't sure college is what she really wants. She is trying to put the puzzle pieces of her life together but something just isn't fitting together just right. Her dad wants her to study business at his alma matter, but that isn't clicking. When she tries to talk about it with him he doesn't want to hear it and he is often travelling for work and she doesn't really have anyone else to talk to about it. Her best friend is still deep in mourning for his younger brother, and all she wants is to save Charlie from himself. Ari's other friends want her to move on from Charlie but she can't let him continue to self destruct. Graduation happens to coincide with her 18th birthday, the biggest surprise for Ari is that she isn't human but a lost princess of the Jinn and her biological father is a King in a world of magic and chaos. He wants to use Ari as a pawn in his plans.

Ari is thrown head first into a world of political intrigue, magic, and complex alliances. To keep her safe she is assigned a Jinn bodyguard, who happens to be broody and complicates her human life. When Ari's human dad falls ill because of a Jinn enchantment, Ari must choose to embrace her heritage or let him wither away.

I really enjoyed revisiting this world. I'm not sure if this series will stay in the YA realm or if it will transition to something more adult as the series progresses. This first book is very much young adult, there are mentions of characters having sex but it is off page and there is some violence but it is not graphic. There is some petulant teenage behavior, which is appropriate for the situations they are in given the age of the characters. This sets the characters up for good character growth throughout the series. We get a taste of the mythology of the Jinn, which you don't often see in books and it sets the scene for the remaining books in the series. There isn't a much romance in this first installment, but there is a hint of a love triangle brewing.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Sam does with the edits for the rest of the books in this series. I really enjoyed them the first time through, and I'm looking forward to revisiting these characters and this world again.

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Release Blitz Serendipity by Kristen Proby

 

Serendipity by Kristen Proby is now live!

 

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes Serendipity, the final installment in her gripping Bayou Magic series...

My sight is a gift and also a curse. It cost me the love of my life. We may have been young, but some things you don't get over. Like being the cause of the biggest tragedy of your boyfriend's life. It's something I'll never forget, and a reflection of who I am.

But now that Jackson's back in town, with scars and a hero's badge of honor, it's time for me to be brave, too.

A malevolent evil hell-bent on making my sisters and me pay for rebuffing him is still stalking my family, and some ancient writings portended that the six were the only ones who could defeat him.

Jackson Pruitt and I round out that magical number, which means I have to face the evil and the things Jack makes me feel, to save my family and my city.

I never sought to reconnect with Jack. Working with him now means opening myself up to my feelings for him.

Refusing means destruction for us all.

 

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Narrated by: Samantha Brentmoor, Jason Clarke, & Lee Samuels

 

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Meet Kristen

Kristen Proby has published more than forty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.


Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two cats.

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Review: Serendipity by Kristen Proby

Serendipity by Kristen Proby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC, all opinions are my own.

This is the final installment of the Bayou Magic series. While I think you could read this as a standalone, I do highly recommend reading the previous books in the series first. There is quite a bit of background information that you would want to know before diving into this story. The author does do a good job giving you enough to go on, but to get the full picture of what is going on with Horace and everyone else in the story you'd want to start with Shadows and then Spells.

Like the other books this focuses on one of the Landry Sisters and her beloved. If you've read the other books you will remember Daphne and Jackson and their love-hate relationship. We aren't sure why Daphne is mad at Jack, but we know there is a history there, in this installment we learn what happened between them and how they will find their way back to each other. Daphne, Millie, and Brielle have been battling their father Horace for the last few years and he is back to his evil ways. They thought they had more time before they had to banish him for good, but he is powerful and he's found a way back to the mortal plane to practice his gruesome ways and torment his daughters. This time he has chosen to focus his efforts on Daphne who is terrified of him.

As Daphne and Jackson spend more time together, their romance reignites and their powers grow stronger. They also start spending more time with the other 2 couples. It is important that the 6 work together to defeat Horace, and they use all of the resources at their disposal to figure out how they can banish him for good. They have to use all of their unique gifts as well as gifts from other talented witches if they want to win the fight between good and evil. I thought the spells and powers were all really unique and the magic was well explained.

This installment is a little more graphically violent than book 2, but a little less so than book 1. Horace is back to torturing people so if you didn't enjoy that in book 1 I'd skim or skip those paragraphs. As a horror reader, I've read worse, the scenes aren't really that bad, but I feel like fair warning should be given if you aren't a fan of gore at all.

I really loved this series and I think the author has done a great job branching out into the PNR genre. I'm really excited to see what she comes up with next.

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Review: Stalking His Mate by Dianna Love

Stalking His Mate by Dianna Love
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided and audible code in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy this series.  This is book 3, and follows Rory who is a member of a black ops shifter organization.  Shifters are out in the public, but this group has abilities and power above and beyond normal shifters.  Rory can shift into a jaguar who he calls Ferrel, and he hasn't really come to terms with the fact that he has this power and can shift.  The Gallize as the group is known, suffer from a curse if they don't mate by a certain age, and Rory has decided that even if he is lucky enough to find a mate, he won't.  This causes a major problem with his ability to heal, which becomes a real problem as he is always diving head first into dangerous missions.

Siofra was captured at age 6, and held as a slave for most of her life.  She only knows what she has been told by the Cadell's (enemies of the Gallize), and her adoptive brother who is another captive.  Siofra is not a shifter, but she has power of her own, and it chooses to show itself at odd times.  When she is attacked by one of her captors, her powers surge and she is able to escape with her "brother's" help.  While on the run, she encounters Rory, and they connect in an unexpected way.  From that point forward they are both connected to each other lives whether they like it or not.  Siofra needs help finding her brother, and Rory is committed to helping her.

This was a fast paced, entertaining installment to the series.  We get updates on the characters from the previous installments as well as meet characters from future books.  You can read them all as standalones.   I've read the series completely out of order and I'm following along just fine.   Dianna gives a recap on how the Gallize came to be and their mythology in this book so you aren't completely lost.    I really appreciate that in series, especially with standalones or books in long running series.  

This has a little bit of everything.  It has a nice paranormal aspect with the shifters and magic, it has romance, good character development, action, and great pacing.  The characters have to face internal struggles as well as external struggles.  Rory and Siofra had to deal with their trust in each other as well as their ability to rely on others.  They both had to come to terms with their own abilities while also dealing with a ton of stressful situations.  

I have both read and listened to these books and can't recommend them enough in either format.  I really love the premise of this series and can't wait to read the next one!

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Review: Bound by Forever by S. Young

Bound by Forever by S. Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review.

It is no secret that I love this series! This installment is no exception, I thought this was the final book but there is one more which is a happy surprise. So far each book in this series is a standalone with an interconnected storyline. The ending of this book gives you a glimpse of what you can expect in the next book, but I would say you could have read this without having read the previous two books in the series. This book does stand on its own two feet and while it does have some foreshadowing for what comes next, doesn't have a cliffhanger ending. The story closes nicely, but promises that there is more to come.

This follows Niamh, who has been present in the previous books helping both Thea and Rose in their previous journeys. Niamh is one of the few remaining fae born children left, and she is burdened by her knowledge of the fae world and her gifts. She's been in hiding for most of her life, but when her brother is killed and she can't use her gift of visions to save him she loses herself. Enter Kiyo, an immortal werewolf who has been hired to protect Niamh from other supernaturals who may want to use her or harm her and protect her from herself as she's going down a path of destruction in the wake of her brother's death. The two of them don't immediately hit it off and grate on each other's nerves until Niamh has a vision involving Kiyo. Realizing that he is somehow involved in the path she is supposed to take to save the remaining fae born, she agrees to work with him. Kiyo realizes that if he is going to succeed as her protector, he has to open up to her a bit if they are going to build any trust. Having been a lone wolf for so long, he hasn't put his trust in anyone in a long time, but he finds it easy to confide in Niamh even when she does things that infuriate him.

As they follow her visions to Tokyo, things heat up as old debts are called in to be paid and new enemies surface. Niamh and Kiyo have to continue working on their trust to make their partnership work as they try to uncover what is going on and how they can save the other fae born and the world. All the while dealing with all sorts of difficulties, Kiyo and Niamh can't fight the blossoming attraction forming between them. When they finally give into their feelings, the sparks literally fly and let me tell you the steam factor is through the roof. Their relationship is a slow burn, but it is so worth it when it finally happens. All I have to say is that hair washing scene was amazing!!!

I absolutely adore this series, the characters Samantha has created, and I can't wait for the next one!

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BLOG TOUR: Spells by Kristen Proby

 

Spells by Kristen Proby is now live!

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Kristen Proby, comes Spells, the next installment in her gripping Bayou Magic series...

As a powerful hedgewitch and psychic, there isn't much I can't work to my advantage and finesse with a spell. Love, fortune, and even the perfect cup of coffee are all possible with the snap of my fingers.

But some things are utterly beyond my control.

Like the powerful and broody warlock who's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember--and even the lifetimes I often can't. Things almost as dangerous as Lucien Bergeron's hold on me and the breathtaking smiles only I get to see.

Or the evil still stalking the streets of New Orleans that beckons to me to see. To feel. To die.

With everything riding on a razors-edge, and things that have been portended coming to fruition, threatening both me and those I love, I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to resist my fate. Or his charm.

If I work with Lucien, it could mean the end for both of us.

If I don't, those I love most will pay.

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Meet Kristen

Kristen Proby has published more than forty titles, many of which have hit the USA Today, New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestsellers lists. She continues to self publish, best known for her With Me In Seattle and Boudreaux series, and is also proud to work with William Morrow, a division of HarperCollins, with the Fusion and Romancing Manhattan Series.

Kristen and her husband, John, make their home in her hometown of Whitefish, Montana with their two cats.

Connect with Kristen

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Review: Spells by Kristen Proby

Spells by Kristen Proby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this second installment to the Bayou Magic series. This one sticks to what Proby does best, romance. The romance between Lucien and Millie is front and center, and the paranormal and thriller elements move the plot along really nicely. They have such great chemistry and work really well together as a couple. This isn't quite as dark and gruesome as the first book. It still has its moments but they aren't quite as grisly. I really feel like the author has found her stride mixing romance and paranormal together and I can't wait for the third book.

This follows Millie, owner of a local coffee shop and the only practicing witch of the three sisters that star in this series. They each have unique powers, but Millie is the only one who has really embraced her power and uses it regularly. After escaping a horrific childhood, and banishing the evil spirit of their father all seems well, but when strange things start to happen again the sisters fear that their evil father has returned to haunt them. Millie has always had feelings for Lucien, so it comes as no surprise when secrets about their mystical past come to light linking them together. They must work together if they want to defeat the evil once and for all, but each of the sisters must find her partner and close the circle before the prophecy can come to fruition.

I feel like romance readers and paranormal readers alike will enjoy this. I'm very much looking forward to the final installment to see how the fabled six finally come together and defeat the lurking evil. This series is really fun despite being a bit dark. I really like the characters and the magical aspects. If you need a spooky read for Halloween or anytime of year, pick this up!

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Review: The Case of the Twisted Truths by Lucy Banks

The Case of the Twisted Truths by Lucy Banks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via Edelweiss in exchanged for an honest review.  This book comes out on October 6, 2020.

This is book four of the Dr. Ribero's Agency of the Supernatural Series.  I thought that this was the final book of the series, but was pleasantly surprised to find that there will be more books.  I really enjoy this series.  The cast of characters is hilarious, and they are terrible at investigating the supernatural and sending them back to whence they came.  This book does end on a cliffhanger, however I'm glad to know that we will finally uncover some of the missing pieces of the backstory.

Like the other books, this follows Kester, a lovable character who kind of stumbles along his newfound life in the realm of the paranormal after his mother's death.  His mother was involved in the paranormal world, but kept it all from Kester and now that he has reunited with his father he has been thrust into the paranormal world and is trying to find his place in it.  Unlike the previous books in the series, where his father's "ghost hunting" agency is actively working on a case, this book is mainly focused on Kester and following up on events of the previous book [book:The Case of the Hidden Daemon|44556436].  Kester is still facing his fear of the spirit world, which terrifies him, trying to learn his father's business, and going to the university to learn about all things paranormal.  While juggling all of his responsibilities he finds himself in the middle of a moral dilemma and he can't tell anyone what he is doing.  Hrschni, the daemon who kidnapped him, has an agenda that Kester doesn't support, but he also has information that Kester is desperate to learn.  

I really liked that Kester is finally accepting his fate as a spirit door opener and starting to believe in himself.  He is still scared of his own shadow, but he is starting to find his stride.  I loved seeing him finally stick up to his father when it came to running the business.  Kester's development is slow, but he makes steps in the direction in each book.  It is mentioned in this book that he is only 23 years old, so he is still figuring out who he is as a person and he's had a lot thrown at him in a short amount of time.  While I didn't appreciate the cliffhanger (who does), I do like that we are finally going to find out more about Kester's mysterious mother and perhaps why she kept so many secrets in the next installment.

I love this series and highly recommend it if you are looking for a paranormal, mystery type of series.  This series sort of fits into the cozy genre as there is some comedy and it is fun and easy to read.  I've really come to love the characters and really like the humor.

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Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I'm torn between a 2 and a 3 star for this one.  I really liked parts of it and other parts were either over the top or repetitive.  Parts of this were really funny, and parts were really grotesque and gruesome.   Another reviewer said this was a mashup of the Stepford Wives and True Blood and I think that is a good way of describing this book.

There is definitely an overarching theme of southern ladies being kept in their place and minding their business.   This theme was exaggerated through the whole book to the point where I think it was supposed to be comical, but it just made the main character seem really dumb.  It was like watching old horror movies where the main female character is so stupid and has zero common sense, but she goes into the room where you know Jason or Michael Meyer is waiting.  I feel like that was what the author was going for, and he achieved that.  The male characters were not exactly likeable either, they were kind of ridiculous.  

While there is a paranormal aspect to the book, I wanted more of that.  Most of the book is centered around the coming and goings of the book club ladies and their daily chores.  Anything that doesn't fit in their nice, neat daily routine is brushed off and ignored.  The paranormal aspect takes a long time to develop and when we finally get to the horror part of the book it reads more like the true crime books the ladies of the book club like to read, again I feel like this was deliberate on the authors part.  In the end I thought the writing was good, but I wanted more of the paranormal and horror element, while this had more social commentary and the stuff I wanted took a long time to develop. 

The narration of the audio was excellent.  Bahni Turpin as always is amazing!

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Review: Wild Wolf Mate by Dianna Love

Wild Wolf Mate by Dianna Love
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review.

This follows Adrian who we met in book two as he was struggling to control his wolf.  After sort of coming to a workable agreement to stay under control Adrian and Mad Red begin going on missions again.  This time Adrian is working on a personal mission trying to figure out who murdered the brother of a friend.  When he comes across an old acquaintance from a previous mission, he doesn't understand how she can be the culprit.  Wanting to give Jaz, another wolf shifter, the opportunity to tell her side of the story and clear her name, Adrian and his wolf find that they not only believe her, but they are drawn to her and her wolf.  Jaz on the other hand, is on a mission of her own to prove that she isn't a cold blooded killer, and to find out why women in the area are being kidnapped.  She and her wolf are also drawn to Adrian and Red, but she doesn't want him to get drawn into what she's got going on.  When the Guardian tasks Adrian and the Gallize to find out what is going on in the area, he finds himself tangled in the same tangled plot as Jaz.  Torn between duty to his job and his sense of wanting to protect Jaz, Adrian and Red find themselves in a fight for their sanity to save both. 

There is alot going on in this book, and I really enjoyed the ride.  Not only was there a pretty steamy romance between the two main characters, there was a fairly suspenseful plot.  With most of the Gallize shifters, it is the case of insta-love/insta-lust.  In this case Jaz and Adrian knew each other previously, so it felt like they came crashing together fairly quickly.  I think had I read the previous book I might feel differently.  The character development was good.   Both Adrian and Jaz have a lot of baggage, and they deal with quite a bit of it throughout the story.  I will say parts of the story left me confused at times, but by the end all was made clear.  Like I said there is a lot going on and there are quite a few characters to keep track of throughout, but I felt like the story wrapped up with a pretty clear understanding of who was who and what happened from start to finish.  I found this hard to put down because I had to know how things were going to work out for Adrian and Red and Adrian and Jaz.

This is book 5 in the series, and while it is a standalone, I would recommend reading the previous books in the series so you have some of the background of the two main characters prior to starting this.  I have read books 1 & 2, but skipped 3 & 4.  While it is not necessary and the author does a great job giving you enough of the backstory for you to follow along without having read the prior books, I kept wondering what I missed by skipping out on those two books.  As the book progresses, you do get all of the information you need to put all of the pieces together without having read all of the prior books, but I still recommend reading them.  On a positive note, I'm now hooked on this series and want to go back and read the books I've missed because I really like this series and the characters.  I'm very much looking forward to future books with these characters especially some of the mysterious characters we met in this book. 

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Review: League of Gallize Shifters: Box Set One by Dianna Love

League of Gallize Shifters: Box Set One by Dianna Love
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is for both Gray Wolf Mate and Mating a Grizzly. I really enjoyed this boxed set. Since this is a review of both books, I'll review some of the things I that were common in both then review each book individually.

Both books are standalones, but are part of a larger shifter universe that has a common cast of characters with some interwoven plotlines. The box set, ebook and audio, includes books 1 and 2 of the series and you could have read book 2 without having read book 1. The author does a great job explaining the mythology behind the Gallize Shifters and the background you need to pick up the second book without having read the first. I hope this continues with the rest of the series. I'm not a new reader of Dianna Love's and she's always done a good job making sure there is continuity within the series.  I'll let you know if that continues, as I have book 5 which comes out on the

Both of these books get pretty steamy at times so if you are looking for a good paranormal romance with some heat, check this series out. This series is a bit different than other shifter series as not all of the characters shift into the same animal and the animals they turn into have their own personalities. I thought that was a nice touch and something different that you don't normally see in PNR. Both the shifter and their animal have to develop as characters through the story and I thought Love did a really good job making sure the personality of the human and the animal side got ample time for the reader to get to know them and develop. I also appreciate that the women in this story are just as powerful as the men. So far they each have abilities and strengths of their own as well as being intelligent and fierce. The couples compliment each other and make each other stronger.

Gray Wolf Mate - This is a second chance romance featuring a wolf shifter, Cole. Cole belongs to a sort of black ops organization of elite shifters who have powers above and beyond the normal shifter. His college sweetheart, Tess, works for a government organization that studies shifters in an attempt to protect humans. Tess is an extremely fair person so she wants to make sure that the law extends to shifters as well as humans. Cole left her when he found out he was a shifter, knowing that would not sit well with her family. Neither of them have gotten over each other, so when a case brings them back together they have to work together to solve the case and work through their feelings for each other.

Mating a Grizzly - This was actually my favorite of the two books. The narrator did a better job distinguishing between the characters in my opinion than in the first book. There was also a lot more humor in this book than the first one. The bear personalities of Justin and Elianna added some whimsy to the book that really came through in the narration. As you can tell Justin and Elianna are both bear shifters. He works with Cole from book 1 as a member of the Gallize, that black ops elite special forces group of shifters. Elianna is a bastard and an outcast because of her mixed blood. She makes a deal with her father to move to America to protect her brother, and Justin is tasked with protecting her. The two of them immediately don't get along because of their preconceived notions about one another, but they quickly have to get over their issues when it becomes clear that someone is after Elianna.

I really enjoyed this boxed set. I had a hard time putting it down once I got started with the audiobook. I think I listened to both books in 2 days. I'm looking forward to catching up on the rest of the series and finding out about the other members of the Gallize and their mates.

I was provided an audible code in exchange for an honest review. 

The boxset ebook is currently free on most platforms for the remainder of April, so go grab it and check out this entertaining shifter series.

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Blog Tour: Kiss of Vengeance by S. Young

A standalone paranormal romance from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young, writing as S. Young.

This post was supposed to go up this morning, but apparently I forgot to hit publish on the post when I put it together the other day.  Better late than never right?  

Review

This is the second book in the True Immortality series by S. Young. This is a slow burn paranormal romance. Our characters, Fionn and Rose, are drawn to each other the first time they see each other, but they brush it off as lust. Fionn has lived for centuries and is driven by a quest for vengeance, while Rose is a nomad. She has always felt that she was looking for something that was missing in her life. When Fionn mysteriously shows up, Roses is trust into the world of the paranormal that she never knew existed but she has always secretly been apart of. Rose may be the key to Fionn finally achieving his revenge against the Queen of the Fae, however the more time they spend together the more he realizes he may not be able to sacrifice her for his vengeance. The bigger question is will he be able to give up his quest for revenge in order to keep her? You have to read the book to find out.

It is no secret that I'm a huge fan of Samantha's books. I am so happy she's decided to return to the paranormal romance genre. I loved this. The characters were well developed. As always, Sam writes great banter between her characters and she always creates excellent side characters that you'd want on your team in a dire situation. The story has a good pace and the plot developed nicely, giving Fionn's backstory as he and Rose get to know each other. We really get to know why he's so angry and why he feels vengeance is his only option. I really like that she's using all different sorts of paranormal creatures in this series. I also appreciated that this book tied back to the first one. This is 100% a standalone, but it does make mention to things that happened in the first book. It isn't necessary, but I recommend reading War of Hearts not because you need to, but because it's a good book. I'm really looking forward to the next book.

Excerpt

A thudding, prolonged bass, followed by electronic pop filled the club. The ethereal voice of Ruelle echoed around the room. Rose knew the song. It was called “Live Like Legends.”

She looked out into the crowd of dancers to see they were writhing together, their movements becoming more sexual as the music built to a crescendo. Wondering at the strange feeling that had descended over her, Rose searched the dancers for something—she didn’t know what. Perhaps for something that was out of place in the sixteenth-century building turned nightclub.

“Hej, ti, naša pića!” A customer snapped his fingers in her face.

It successfully yanked her from her study of the dancers. “Don’t snap your fingers at me.” She didn’t care if he couldn’t understand her. Her tone was of the universal language of, “I don’t take shit from anyone.”

He sneered but thankfully shut up.

She’d just finished serving the rude guy when the music hit its peak, the bass and drums deep and booming, strings—most likely violins—frenzied, beautiful, and the electronic pop sound Ruelle was known for building to a climax in the same style of an epic movie trailer. Awareness scored her spine, turning the damp, warm skin of her nape cool. It felt like strong fingers clasping her neck. 

The feeling was so ridiculously powerful, for a moment Rose thought there was someone touching her. She spun away from the cash register, nostrils flaring as she took in the space around her, finding not even her colleagues near. Both Petra and Josip were on the other side of the circle.

And that’s when she felt it.

Like all the air had evacuated the room.

Chest tight, Rose gasped as her gaze shifted over the parting crowds. Her feet moved without her command, stumbling toward the bar counter—as though someone had tied a rope around her, lassoing her. Holding her captive.

Then she saw him.

Head and shoulders above everyone else, she saw a hulking figure, hair of indiscriminate color illuminated every few seconds by the dancing beams of light. The crowd parted for him as he glided through the sea of bodies. For such a big man, he moved gracefully, light as air, impossibly so … almost otherworldly. 

Longish hair framed his bold face, the ends tickling his angular jawline. His nose was a sharp blade to match the sharp angles of his cheekbones. Thick stubble covered the lower half of his face, surrounding a mouth pressed tight with concentration as his head swung from left to right, as though he were searching for something or someone.

Rose swallowed hard, her mouth dry. The man was mammoth. He had to be over six and a half feet tall. If his height wasn’t enough to draw attention, the way he dressed was. The club was hot, yet he swept through the rabble wearing a dark three-piece suit and a long, black wool overcoat. 

He paused, his heavy brows drawing together. His body language reminded her of an animal catching a scent, alert, rigid—a hunter beneath that civilized attire. Then his head snapped in her direction and their eyes locked.

An invisible weight slammed into Rose’s chest, and she wheezed. Thankfully, the loss of breath lasted seconds, and she sucked in a huge gulp of air. “Fuck,” she whispered, shaking as the stranger continued to stare at her.

The lasers of light bounced off his face, highlighting eyes so green they couldn’t be human.

It’s the lasers, Rose told herself. No one’s eyes are that color unless they’re wearing contacts.

Nothing, however, explained the intensity of feeling that held her still beneath the man’s regard.

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Kindle US – https://amzn.to/2M8JjSq

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Kobo US – http://bit.ly/2B6AMsP 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S. Young is the pen name for Samantha Young, a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller On Dublin Street. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-eight languages in thirty countries. True Immortality is Samantha’s first adult paranormal series written under the name S. Young.

Visit Samantha Young online at

www.authorsamanthayoung.com

BookBub

Instagram @AuthorSamanthaYoung

Twitter @AuthorSamYoung

Facebook @AuthorSamanthaYoung

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Release Day Launch: Kiss of Vengeance by S. Young

A standalone paranormal romance from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young, writing as S. Young.

Fionn Mór was once a high king of Ireland; a fierce warrior who led his tribes against the invading fae. It was a war he couldn’t win and to save his family he turned consort for the Fae Queen. Fionn escaped as the thing he once despised, and the people he loved betrayed him for it. Now, centuries later, it’s time to reopen the gates to Faerie to take his revenge against the Faerie Queen.

At sixteen Rose Kelly discovered family secrets that changed her forever. Years after, she’s still lost, traveling across Europe in search of that elusive missing ‘something’. When she’s attacked by a vampire, not only is she wrenched into a supernatural underworld she never knew existed, a knock on the head releases a spell on her mind and unlocks powers beyond her wildest imaginings. And with them more questions. Questions Fionn Mór claims to have answers to.

Following the powerful and enigmatic Fionn to Ireland, Rose quickly realizes she’s a pawn in his plan for vengeance. What begins as a passionate battle of wills leads to an inexplicable but undeniable connection. One that will force them to face an impossible choice between the deepest love… and the darkest revenge.

DOWNLOAD LINKS

Add it Goodreads – http://bit.ly/2pjjKF2

Apple Books – https://apple.co/2MFzUAC

Kindle US – https://amzn.to/2M8JjSq

Kindle Worldwide – mybook.to/KissOfVengeance

Nook – http://bit.ly/35v8I04

Kobo US – http://bit.ly/2B6AMsP 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S. Young is the pen name for Samantha Young, a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller On Dublin Street. On Dublin Street was Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-eight languages in thirty countries. True Immortality is Samantha’s first adult paranormal series written under the name S. Young.

Visit Samantha Young online at

www.authorsamanthayoung.com

BookBub

Instagram @AuthorSamanthaYoung

Twitter @AuthorSamYoung

Facebook @AuthorSamanthaYoung

Facebook Reader Group

Goodreads

COVER REVEAL: Kiss of Vengeance (A True Immortality Novel) by S. Young

COVER REVEAL

Kiss of Vengeance (A True Immortality Novel) by S. Young 

Photo: Wander Aguiar

Cover Design: By Hang Le

A standalone paranormal romance from New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young, writing as S. Young. 

Fionn Mór was once a high king of Ireland; a fierce warrior who led his tribes against the invading fae. It was a war he couldn’t win and to save his family he turned consort for the Fae Queen. Fionn escaped as the thing he once despised, and the people he loved betrayed him for it. Now, centuries later, it’s time to reopen the gates to Faerie to take his revenge against the Faerie Queen.

At sixteen Rose Kelly discovered family secrets that changed her forever. Years after, she’s still lost, traveling across Europe in search of that elusive missing ‘something’. When she’s attacked by a vampire, not only is she wrenched into a supernatural underworld she never knew existed, a knock on the head releases a spell on her mind and unlocks powers beyond her wildest imaginings. And with them more questions. Questions Fionn Mór claims to have answers to.

Following the powerful and enigmatic Fionn to Ireland, Rose quickly realizes she’s a pawn in his plan for vengeance. What begins as a passionate battle of wills leads to an inexplicable but undeniable connection. One that will force them to face an impossible choice between the deepest love… and the darkest revenge.

Out March 3rd 2020 

Preorder Now: 

Add it Goodreads – http://bit.ly/2pjjKF2

Apple Books – https://apple.co/2MFzUAC

Kindle US – https://amzn.to/2M8JjSq

Kindle Worldwide – mybook.to/KissOfVengeance

Nook – http://bit.ly/35v8I04

Kobo US – http://bit.ly/2B6AMsP