BOOK REVIEW: BLACK AS NIGHT by J.C. ANDRIJESKI - QUENTIN BLACK MYSTERY # 2 - PARANORMAL MYSTERY

By: J.C. Andrijeski

Published By: J.C. Andrijeski

Released: Available Now

Details: Kindle Purchase, 294 Pages

RATING: 4.75 QB STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Forensic psychologist Miri Fox travels across the globe when her now-employer, psychic detective, Quentin Black, calls from a police station in Bangkok and asks for her help.

She arrives to find Black undercover inside a gang of local criminals, determined to discover which of them is killing street children and ritualistically burning their bodies inside Buddhist shrines. But Black isn't the only one with an interest in the crimes, and soon his investigations get the attention of the local sex traffickers, along with a crime syndicate out of Russia that doesn't appreciate his meddling one bit.

When Miri shows up to help, she manages to catch the attention of all the wrong people. Events quickly spiral out of control...until Miri soon finds herself the hunted.

The second book in the paranormal mystery romance series starring brilliant but dangerous psychic detective, Quentin Black, and his partner in crime, forensic psychologist, Miri Fox.



BOOK REVIEW:

What I so enjoy about this series is Quentin Black. Miriam Fox aka Miri is a great character and they make a great team, but Quentin is gorgeous to read. I will admit I do cringe when he begs for sex from Miriam when he is such an alpha character otherwise, but that is my only complaint. I hoped JC wouldn’t repeat it after book 1...but...

I am gonna say the only reason I am not giving this installment 5 stars, is because of the trigger scene. Not because it is a trigger scene because authors, by all means, go ahead and be brave with your content, but... (cue the dramatic music) I needed more than a shower and a few band-aids with the after-care.

OMG!

This is a very graphic chapter where Miri is put through the most horrific things, for many days, over and over and...I'm not upset it's written so detailed, but I wanted her at least checked over afterward by a professional.

GOOD LAWD!

Holy shit on a pumpkin stick!

QB has people who he trusts and dude must need medical care at some stage of his long life, if not write one in, and make it a  female doctor. 

Seriously, I find this quite lacking and in need of sufficient words to make it better. A sentence that explains whether there are causes for alarm from diseases, pregnancy... damage within the inner girlie department. 

Something!

Don't get me started on what your mental state would be afterward.

As I said, this is a very graphic chapter. It is brutal on Miriam. I can see a lot of readers have dropped stars for this, but I can only bring myself to drop a quarter star because taking that one chapter into consideration, compared to the rest of the story, I won’t dock more.

I just think if you are gonna go detailed and I mean DETAILED, then you gotta whip some more words out, JC. 

Rant over.

We do get told Miriam is an ex-soldier and she has martial arts skills. I would like to see that side of her coming into play more.

Other than that, I am coming back for more as I do adore QB teaming up with Miriam and the sexual tension thrown in among the mystery.

#addicted

BOOK REVIEW: ELIZABETH AND THE CLAN OF DRAGONS by AVA MASON - RH FATED ALPHA # 1 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Ava Mason
Published By: Ava Mason
Released: Available Now
Details: Kindle purchase, 114 Pages

RATING: 4 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

A female Wolf in danger. Four Sexy Dragons determined to protect her. A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance.

Elizabeth is certain she’s not meant to rule the Southeastern White Tooth Pack. Since birth, she’s been told she was the wolf pack’s fated leader. She is, after all, the first-born of the pack Alpha. But how can she lead them if she’s never shifted? She doubts herself, but her fate is tied to the moon and Elizabeth is honor-bound to fulfill her destiny. To help Elizabeth, her mother presents her with a secret diamond necklace, magical jewels that have adorned the neck of every female in her family for hundreds of years.

But evil forces lurk in the shadows.
Not every wolf shifter in the pack wants Elizabeth to take power. When the Wolf Council sanctions Elizabeth as the official Fated Alpha, enemies attack her family, killing her parents. When they discover that Elizabeth survived, she must flee for her life. With nowhere to go, help comes in the form of four sexy and powerful Dragon shifters.

The fierce warriors offer her their protection in their secluded mountain home.
As Elizabeth mends, it’s clear the four Dragon shifters crave more from her. All four men desire her. Each wants to claim her body and heart and soul.
As her enemies close in, can the men keep Elizabeth safe by their side and help her reclaim her place as leader of her pack?



BOOK REVIEW:

This story starts off in one direction, and I actually forgot dragons were going to be involved and then we make an abrupt right angle.

Enter the dragons.

I did like the idea for this story. I do understand it is a shorter read, but within these pages, I would have liked a little more time spent in some areas.

I really liked Aaron’s character, but then…

I ended up pretty much forgetting about the lad in the first part of the story as I'm now in the reverse harem of sexy dragons, which I likey, maybe a little bit too much.

Hunter is a fave.

I did feel like Elizabeth's character was more seventeen than twenty-four, but then there is what felt like a rather large leap in maturity towards the end of this first installment, which I found a little hard to grab hold of.

I think what I am trying to convey is the story felt a little hurried along for me to be able to give five stars.

I will be reading more in this series as I am intrigued and the covers are beautiful.

I will say this was a good start, but for me personally, I would have liked the change in direction to have been a little more curved—not so hurried and more depth to Elizabeth's character and some of the scenes.

I did enjoy this read.

BOOK REVIEW: KISS OF A DRAGON by ALISA WOODS - FALLEN IMMORTALS # 1 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Alisa Woods

Published By: Sworn Secrets Publishing

Released: Available Now

Details: Kindle purchase, 281 Pages - FREE

RATING: 4 LUCIAN STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

LUCIAN 
I am a Dragon Prince of the House of Smoke… and I am dying. 
Five hundred years is truly enough for a man like me. A monster. Yet a ten-thousand-year treaty will die with me if I don’t spawn a dragonling to take my place. My two brothers are no use in this task. It falls to me, the eldest by a hair’s breadth, and yet, I cannot face the horror of another sealing. Another death. Another woman’s blood on my hands. 

ARABELLA 
I was saved from death in a dark Seattle alley by an impossibly beautiful man who swooped in on golden wings. Now he’s taken me to his lair, opened my eyes to a world of immortals I didn’t know existed, and given me an impossible task—find him a mate. Then, and only then, will he set me free. 

He needs her more than he wants; she wants him more than she should; and the fate of both the mortal and immortal worlds depends on not just repairing their hearts, but finding a Love that’s True… 



BOOK REVIEW:

This was my first Alisa Woods read and I really enjoyed meeting Lucian, Leonidas, and Leksander, the three dragon prince triplets.


He and his brothers, princes of the House of Smoke, existed for literally one purpose—to keep the mortal and immortal worlds apart, as they should be.


Lucian Smoke was the crown prince of the House of Smoke. He was responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the treaty, which included finding a mate ASAP and producing a dragonling heir—or end up wyvern—on top of managing all things in the realms.

Arabella finds herself in a pickle in an alleyway and before long she finds herself in Lucian’s lair, striking a deal with the crown prince.

All truths may not have been disclosed.

Alisa throws in a few villains to spice up the pages and make us want to know more about Zephan the Fae Prince and Tytus, the leader of the House of Drakkon.


Not least the House of Drakkon, an unsavory nest of black dragons that had been plaguing the city and battling with the House of Smoke for years.


I will be coming back for more because I gotta know what happens in this series. The writing was really good, I just would have liked more depth to this first installment in the plot, but I still enjoyed Kiss of the Dragon. I just found some things a little too convenient. I think that is a fair comment to make.

BOOK REVIEW: WITCH'S DAWN by CRYSTAL ASH - UNHOLY TRINITY # 1 - PARANORMAL - REVERSE HAREM

By: Crystal Ash

Published By: Crystal Ash

Released: Available Now

Details: Kindle purchase, 130 Pages

RATING: 4.25 UNHOLY STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

One day, I’m nobody. The next, I’m a witch. And I’ve caught the attention of three smoking hot demons.

I left home to start over, to escape a world I never fit in. I soon learned that my past was a lie. My parents suppressed my magical abilities and tried to make me forget my true nature. They almost succeeded.

Now my real grandmother is back in my life and teaching me the craft of our people. After living my whole life without magic, I feel like a blind woman seeing for the first time.

But three devilishly handsome men are saying there’s more to my story. I see them everywhere, even in my dreams which are starting to feel like distant memories.

They say I’m not an ordinary witch. My grandmother says not to trust them. Who do I believe?

18+ reverse harem Some scenes may be triggering to some readers

BOOK REVIEW:

I’ve been scrolling about on Amazon in the paranormal romance genre and picked Witch’s Dawn up for .74c US. The cover caught my eye.

This is a short story at 130 pages and in saying that, I did feel I would have liked a touch more of the story moving me a little more into the series in this first installment to latch onto.

Now, I know some readers aren’t overly pleased with the erm… way Crystal has written the religious tones to this story, but that would be the triggers she adds at the bottom of her blurb. 

You just gotta look at the series title 'Unholy Trinity' which gives you the first hint, things are gonna go a little in reverse (no pun intended).

I’m a person that believes anything is possible and I don’t put a label on it. So that is where I stand with religion. I’m not batting for the devil team though. I am thinking along the lines that there is something out there waiting for me when it’s my time and I’m being very open to what is waiting for me on the other side. I am hoping it is all good though and we get to meet up with family members and everything is rosy.

Having said that, I do like how brave Crystal is and I will say unique in bringing a different spin to the reverse harem storytelling. Sure it might trigger some readers and I also understand why that would be so.

I am going with how I felt about reading this first installment and even though I did pull one of those oOOookkkaaaay types of faces in certain parts, it is a fictional story and I am basing my review on the quality of what I read.

Not if it made my eye twitch a few times.

Ash, Raum, and Sal would be the spunky demons and Deja would be the twenty-eight-year-old chickie-babe who does not know what she really is until…



Raum, the one with the shoulder-length dark hair and a raven tattoo on his forearm spoke first. His eyes, dark and deep as a midnight lake, gleamed mischievously. He was the troublemaker, the one I really had to watch out for.



Sal, the one with the stunning green eyes and auburn hair took the seat on the other side of me. His power was the most volatile, ready to strike at any moment. The aura surrounding him crackled with energy that felt like a mixture of simmering rage warning me to stay away, and fiery passion daring me to come closer.



Only Ash remained standing, the quiet, aloof leader of the bunch. He regarded me with icy-blue eyes that burned with curiosity and seemed to take in every detail of me. A hand stroked his short blond beard thoughtfully. The motion made him look like some wise Viking scholar who also happened to be tall and broad enough to go into battle.



Anywho in reverse harem style, the demon lads get a little sexy with Deja and she starts to kind of awaken in little bits along the way.



“Deja,” one mouth growled possessively against my throat.

“Who are you?” I moaned, barely able to breathe with my pulse hammering so hard, my insides so hot on the verge of exploding.


Once you've read this story, the cover art reveals a lot more. This I likey.

Overall I did enjoy this short read, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm looking forward to knowing more.

BOOK REVIEW: DOG WITH A BONE by HAILEY EDWARDS - BLACK DOG # 1- URBAN FANTASY

By: Hailey Edwards

Published By: Hailey Edwards

Released: Available Now

Details: Free Kindle Purchase

RATING: 4 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Half-bloods with Thierry’s skill set are given two options. They can join the conclave’s marshal program, or they can pack their bags. Turn down the job offer, and you’ve just shredded your residency pass for the mortal realm and booked yourself a one-way ticket to Faerie.

Texas is the only home Thierry has ever known, and she’s not going anywhere. Even if it means following in her notorious father’s footsteps as a peacekeeper. But pinning on the badge opens her eyes to the fact sometimes fae need protection too, and that sometimes humans are the real monsters.

BOOK REVIEW:

I’ve not read any Hailey Edwards before Dog with A Bone. I picked it up because A) It was a freebie and B) It is a short read. I’d just come off reading two books, one after the other, 400+ pages each, and I needed a short read in my system. Hailey’s book caught my eye, while scrolling about Amazon (not that I needed to look for any more books to purchase if you knew how many I have on the cloud).

This story starts off with a brief jaunt in the scrapyard where Thierry passes her cadetship and becomes a marshal. In the scrapyard opening scene, I meet Shaw and Mai and then after a few days off… (no spoilers here)

Bam! Marshal Thackery (Thierry) of the Southwestern Conclave was reporting for duty and receiving OJT (on the job training) with Marshall Shaw on Monday morning. Then we are rushing head first into a case, that wasn’t a whodunit. I was looking forward to having some suspects, throwing about other characters and getting into the thick of it, but it didn't actually go that way.

I did enjoy this introduction to Thierry and Shaw and a rather erm… confusing start to this series. When I say confusing, I am not easily confused, but I kept feeling a bit baffled as to the rushed world-building and the Richardson case. I felt like I was missing some pieces and I was floundering about, but I kept rolling with the story and then my eye was twitching because I felt a bit lost with the speed and lack of solid world-building to put me in that comfy place.

Finishing the ebook, the end book matter actually states: Dog With A Bone is a prequel to the series in the sense that the novella cuts a hole into the ceiling of Thierry’s past and gives us a glimpse of those first steps that set the events of the trilogy into motion one year later.

Cool. I appreciate those words from the author. I think I would have preferred to get to know Cadet Thackery a lot more in this prequel and the hints dropped by the author between Thierry and her instructor having some sort of crush or something that happened during that cadetship.

Thierry is eighteen and Shaw is…I may have missed his age, but he is a lot older or felt that way in this prequel. Not that that matters.

I feel I missed actually getting that introduction into Thierry and her cadetship at the marshal academy. It was totally a glimpse and then we were onto the Richardsons without really learning much about the world the author has created and those hints of something between Thierry and her instructor.

I have purchased several more books by this author from her other series' as well as this series for me to sink my reader teeth into. 

I did like the action and I do like Thierry and Shaw. 

I enjoyed this read and I will be onward bound for more Hailey Edwards’ books in the future.

BOOK REVIEW: VISION IN SILVER by ANNE BISHOP - THE OTHERS # 3 - PARANORMAL/URBAN FANTASY - ROC

By: Anne Bishop

Published By: Roc

Released: Available Now

Details: Hardback from the library, 400 Pages

RATING: 4.25 OTHERS STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before; both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…




BOOK REVIEW:

This series is raved about and gets so many five stars and glowing reviews, and that is absolutely freakin’ fantastic!

I do personally find it very, very slow-paced.

I am addicted to reading the series…but not a lot happens inside each book for such thick books.

But I’m addicted.

This series is so different, and it really is Simon’s series, he kinda owns it with Meg playing side-character, even more so in this installment, but yet she is the reason for the series. But this story was also shared with Monty and Lizzy.

I don’t have any quotes that stood out and that annoys me because I feel as though I should have some.

Visually I see everything so clearly, but it is like a slow stroll in the park the action side to the story, and that kinda bothers me too for a paranormal/urban fantasy read.

There was one fighting scene that stood out for me. Simon got hurt, shit went down, and tragedy happened. But Meg is still giving out sugar cubes, sorting the mail and thinking about her feelings for Simon. Now the girls have banded together to help the other Blood Prophets survive outside of their previously controlled existence.

Simon is a smart wolf, but he seems so clueless with Meg. He owns a bookstore, he needs to order in a self-help book on ‘How to have a relationship’ and have a thorough read. I get that Anne is showing us two individuals having a hard time working out how to hold hands and what it means, but, this is the third book in the series.

Time to grab that hand and… well, we are halfway there. ;)

I like the introduction of the mysterious ‘other’ above Simon and the da…da…da…daaaaaa moment.

I feel as though I need a break and will continue Marked In Flesh at a later date.



Signed: Addicted

BOOK REVIEW: DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by SHERRILYN KENYON - DARK HUNTER # 3 - PIATKUS - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published By: Piatkus

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback, 343 Pages

RATING: 4.75 ZAREK STARS!!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Zarek's Point of View:

Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.

Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.

Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.

Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me, and I tremble. She smiles, and my cold heart shatters.

Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?

BOOK REVIEW:

This book is my fave in the series to-date because of Astrid and Zarek.

Yup, I’ve had a little trouble personally with the female leads in Fantasy Lover, Night Pleasures, and Night Embrace, but Astrid did me proud. I love how she is blinded so she can judge fairly.



He turned to face her. “Don’t push me, princess.”

“Ooooo,” she said in a less than impressed voice. “Next thing you’ll be talking like the Incredible Hulk. ‘Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.’” She cast a haughty look in his general direction. “You’re not scary to me, Mr. Zarek. So you can just check that attitude at the door and play nice while you’re here.”



You tell him, sister! Break down those walls with your power of kindness and understanding and patience.

Whether you’re Zarek or Zsadist from Black Dagger Brotherhood (J.R. Ward) the ‘Zs’ have had it freaking tough, tortured and downright been given a horrendous past. I still think Zsadist possibly had it tougher, but Zarek is a close second for me.

Doesn’t stop me loving Zarek any less.

Artemis… I really want to stick it to this biatch. She has a lot to answer for when it comes to Zarek (this equals good writing by Sherrilyn).

I am too nervous to look ahead to see if it is Acheron and Artemis getting it together because I can’t stand her. In the next ten plus books, if he winds up with her, she better be worth it. At this early stage in the series I am all about, ‘Biatch, keep walking.’

I enjoyed Simi’s character and Sasha’s. Seeing Acheron in a different light when it comes to an almost father-like persona with Simi was unexpected.

An excellent addition to this series and I’m looking forward to starting Kiss Of The Night, but also fitting all the little novella stories in the reading order in the book Dark Bites.

Totally digging this series.

BOOK REVIEW: NIGHT EMBRACE by SHERRILYN KENYON - DARK HUNTER # 2 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - PIATKUS

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published By: Piatkus
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback 424 Pages

RATING: 4.25 TALON STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Setting: Modern New Orleans

"Night Embrace" spins the story of Talon, an ancient Celtic warrior who killed the son of the god Camulus.

Camulus cursed Talon, decreeing death for everyone he loved. Now a Dark-Hunter in modern-day New Orleans, Talon meets Sunshine, who is key to ending his curse once and for all. Not to mention helping him to save New Orleans from an ancient god bent on total destruction.

See original cover listed below. The cover shown here is the reissued cover that was done seven years ago.



BOOK REVIEW:


It was kinda hard reading this story and staying focused on Talon and Sunny when there were Zarek and Acheron.

What book number do I have to plow through to read Acheron’s HEA?

14! You say?

So glad I only had the book after this one to read Zarek’s HEA. Another book closer to Acheron's. #win

Anywho, I tangent, back to Talon and Sunny. I liked this couple…but Zarek…I mean Talon… what was I saying?

You gotta love a guy who has pet alligators who guard his swamp home. You wouldn’t think a swamp home sounds cool—but the alligators!!!

I could go on about Talon’s past and the curse and such, but eh, I’m like the gazillionth reader and it’s all been said before.

Talon and Sunny do like to get crazy and make like bunnies, and that is okay.

Let’s talk Vane Kattalakis, the werewolf of werewolves. We get introduced to him and my lady boner radar went off.



He entered the cabin wearing a pair of faded jeans and a white T-shirt with a weathered motorcycle jacket, black cowboy boots, and a body that would cause a traffic jam.



He rocks the hair highlights too. ;)

And then we get a science lesson about warp space because the dude is full of surprises.



He shrugged his jacket back on. “Baby, in this world, I’m the all-powerful OZ and there’s not much I can’t do.”


And then there was Bride McTierney… I think I may have lost Vane already. *sigh*

This was a great installment in the series. I really am digging this whole dark hunter world and the Gods that pop in and out causing trouble and telling porky-pies.

Gotta say I did open up Dance With The Devil straight away.

*whispers* Zarek.

*squeee*

Stay tuned I shall tell you my thoughts on his book next.

BOOK REVIEW: MURDER OF CROWS by ANNE BISHOP - THE OTHERS # 2 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - HARPER VOYAGER

By: Anne Bishop
Published By: Harper Voyager
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from the library, 369 Pages

RATING: 4.5 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Return to New York Times best-selling author Anne Bishop’s world of the Others - where supernatural entities and humans struggle to co-exist, and one woman has begun to change all the rules.

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murder of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard - Lakeside’s shape-shifting leader - wonders if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now, the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet - and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.


BOOK REVIEW:

This series has such a different paranormal world, and I really do enjoy it. The pacing at times can be quite slow, but when things start to happen, they really start to happen.

I have all the books ready to read and will move onto Vision In Silver # 3.

This would easily be a 5 star read for me if the pacing was tightened up because I can’t fault how amazing the world is that Anne has brought to life.

The different groups of ‘others’ are fantastic.

Meg is still not a very big character, considering she is on the front of the covers, she seems almost secondary sometimes to Simon’s character. The ‘others’ seem to do more in the book, action wise.

Meg is a blood prophet. She’s still trying to understand her limits, and who she is. I understand the ‘others’ more now. They are written so well.

I’m watching the ‘others’ as they become more tolerant of the humans. They make allowance for those in the courtyard but still will kill those who set out to harm, kill or simply stand by and watch ‘others’ being hurt. Towns will be wiped out.

I’m glad I know more about Meg now. She’s twenty-four. In Written In Red, she read to me personally like she was sixteen or thereabouts.

This is a very good series to-date, it just can be painfully slow in areas for me to rate higher than 4 stars. I think I want Meg to be more than she is at the moment, even though I did get a little more from her character in this book.

I see Simon and the ‘others’ growing more.

Meg is sweet and unique and sweet and caring, confused with Simon as a man, confused with friendship and what it means. She still does her mail delivery.

I liked reading about humans and how they really do play with their own fate when it comes to the ‘others.’

The Elementals are still in my mind the most dangerous, next to Tess. They really are the ones controlling life because not even the ‘others’ like Simon can survive what they could unleash on the world.

I always take a break before reading the next book, in fear of the pace making it difficult for me to stay committed to this series, but I can already feel I am addicted. Anne has quite the creative mind, and I need to know what she has in store for these characters.

What I liked was we got to know more about the Controller. In book 1 he was just words in the background of the story, but he is more in this installment. He became that villain we want to hate.

Introducing some new sub characters like Skippy, was fun. Monty, Burke, and Kowalski always make great additions to the storyline. Dominic Lorenzo and Steve Ferryman I enjoyed knowing more about. And as always, I do love it when the Elementals pop up.

I have developed a healthy curiosity about this series.

I need to know more.

BOOK REVIEW: BORN OF ICE by SHERRILYN KENYON - THE LEAGUE # 3 - PIATKUS - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - SCI-FI

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published By: Piatkus

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 352 Pages

RATING: 3.75 STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

In the Ichidian Universe where The League is law, most live in fear. We fight back. Welcome to a world where corrupt assassination politics dominate everyone. It’s kill or be killed. Welcome back to the future…and meet hell's new breed of heroes.

Devyn Kell spent his life in service to the League until he learned of the double dealing and backstabbing that was costing innocent people their lives. Refusing to play those politics, he became a Runner; someone who makes sure planets get the weapons, medicine and supplies they need to survive. May the gods have mercy on any who get in his way, because he definitely won’t.

Alix Garran is a woman on the run from a past she can’t escape. Signing on to work for Devyn as a System’s Engineer, she finds a cause she can fight for—and a man she can respect. But as Alix’s past catches up to her, and Devyn’s old enemies turn lethal, they have to fight together…or fall alone, in Born of Ice, the third bestselling League novel from Sherrilyn Kenyon.

BOOK REVIEW:

Okay, here’s the deal: I do LOVE Sherrilyn Kenyon’s writing and I am making my way through both The League and Dark Hunter series. I am coming in very, very late to both series and I love all the five and four star reviews. Bravo!

I just referred to my reviews of the first two books in this series and I gave them 4 and 4.5 stars. I enjoyed them very much.

This book took me by surprise…fast forward at a guess thirty plus years and we have Devyn, son of Syn and Shahara, which is great , but being the third book in the series, it was a leap into hyperspace. Bahahaha. It felt kinda weird going there after only two books in the series prior, but it was okay. I got used to it and I forgot about Syn being an older man.

I had a little trouble with connecting with Devyn and Alix as a couple. I was trying to deal with it as I read, but there wasn’t that reader/character connection for me personally.

You win some; you lose some.

Born of Ice got my eyes a little twitchy, especially when pages 173, 175, 177 and 181, Claria does a switcheroo and becomes Claire on several occasions. I read from the Piatkus published copy. These are the ones I could quickly find.

At first I thought, eh, they are being silly with her name, but then the more I read, my eyes started twitching.



“Thanks, Claire.”



“I’m not your bitch, Claire.



Devyn took a step forward. “Claire—”



Devyn motioned for Zarina to follow him so that he could give Sway and Claire privacy.



I still enjoyed it enough to give it 3.75 stars. Not as good as the first two, but still I read cover to cover and glad I did read it.

I just found this on Google, it explains the time jumping. https://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book/league-reading-list/ 

Original Publication Date: January 01, 1990

This is the correct reading order for The League® series that Sherrilyn means for the series to be read in. For those who are wondering why the series jumps ahead in time from League®: Nemesis Rising® to League®: Nemesis Legacy®, the reason is simple. Back in 1991 when Sherrilyn first sold Born of Night, her original publisher tied up the Nemesis Rising books with the option clause of her contract for many, many years. Since the books were so original and unlike anything currently published back then, they were delaying the publication dates and refusing to release the books back to her (again, the book sold in ’91 and wasn’t released for publication until ’96). Unable to touch the series since the main characters were under contract, Sherrilyn went on and began the second set of League characters under the Nemesis Legacy® banner and started writing about the children of the first set.

She quickly sold those books to two more publishers. But because they were tied to the first, she was advised to change their names and break them away from the original books so that no one would know the Legacy books were tied in any way to the Nemesis Rising books. As a result, Paradise City (League: Nemesis Legacy) was released in 1993 by Dorchester and Fire & Ice (League: Nemesis Legacy) was released in 1995 by Time-Warner. After their stellar success, Born of the Night (League: Nemesis Rising) was then finally by its original publisher in 1996 who saw that there was indeed a market for Sherri’s work. Sherri was then able to get the rest of the Nemesis Rising books away from that publisher and Born of Fire (League: Nemesis Rising) became the first ebook in history by a bestselling New York published book author when it was released in the summer of 1996. Then, in 1999 Born of Night (League: Nemesis Rising) and Fire & Ice (League: Nemesis Legacy) were both rereleased by Time-Warner where it immediately skyrocketed to #1 and stayed there for months. However, their program was summarily cancelled the next year and all their editors let go. Sherri was again cast adrift with the series and her e-rights, as well as the print rights were again tied-up.

In 2004, Fire & Ice (League: Nemesis Legacy) was then bought by Penguin Group, USA where it immediately it more bestseller lists and was again republished in 2010 as part of an all Kenyon anthology collection entitled In Other Worlds.

Due to contract restrictions on the original Born of Night, Sherrilyn had to wait for all her rights to be returned to her before she could continue writing the League®: Nemesis Rising novels®. But in 2009, once her rights were again her own and she had all of the original books back, except Fire & Ice, Sherrilyn returned the titles and the character names to their original ones and was able to republish the first three published League books as a cohesive unified series and the first three Nemesis Rising and Nemesis Legacy books (which at that time were selling on eBay for thousands of dollars a copy) were brought out back to back. Born of Night (League: Nemesis Rising), Born of Fire (League: Nemesis Rising), Born of Ice (League: Nemesis Legacy).

From that point on, Sherri has continued the series as she wanted to originally in the ’80’s, starting with the League: Nemesis Rising characters and then moving to the League: Nemesis Legacy once she finished the Nemesis Rising arc that takes place during the League-Sentella war.

NemesisLegacy books begin approximately 30-35 years after the war ends.

As to why all the books aren’t listed in the front of other League books is simple. The series has never been published by a single publisher. And sadly, publishers only list the books that they publish in their own company. Therefore, the only place the get the full list of all the League books is here on Sherri’s site.

If you want to read the books chronologically, you can choose that option on the menu bar above, but please note that Sherri didn’t write them that way. She wrote them out of sequence and that is how they’re meant to be read. So it’s safe to read them in the order she wrote them in, as she was very careful in how she gives out character details. So while the books might go back in time, there is a carefully thought out reason for this. She doesn’t do that arbitrarily.

Nemesis Rising Books setting: Before & during League-Sentella War i.e. Nykyrian/Nemesis rising to become emperor of the Andarion and Triosan empires

Nemesis Legacy Books setting: 30-35 years after the League-Sentella War ends. The are about the reign of Nykyrian/Nemesis as emperor.

BOOK REVIEW: THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF by MOLLY HARPER - NAKED WEREWOLF # 2 - SIMON & SCHUSTER - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Molly Harper

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Released: Available Now

Details: Hardback from local library, 338 Pages

RATING: 3.75-4 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Baring It All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone’s throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley’s pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. Maggie just can’t seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can’t convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can’t afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous. . . .

BOOK REVIEW:

This is my first Molly Harper read and she is very tongue-in-cheek with her humor.

I did start at book number 2 because my local library only had books 2 and 3. I didn’t really miss out on anything by not reading book 1. Sure there are mentions of little things from the previous book, but not enough for me to feel I needed to read the first one. This book was centered around Maggie and the ever cute, geeky Nick.

I did read some reviews for How To Flirt With A Naked Werewolf and I do understand Maggie may have come across with a different personality as she did in this book, due to the circumstance of HTFWANW ( I had to abbreviate). She's now alpha and has a pack to look after.

I am giving this book between 3.75 stars and 4 stars. For me this was an okay/good read. I really enjoyed the twist that you can’t pick coming, because there is no reason for you to see it coming.

Touché!

I did find the storytelling a little predictable and a little too convenient in places and I really didn’t connect that well with Nick and Maggie as a future couple. He’s a great guy, sweet and intelligent, and a little sexy, but I wanted to believe in Maggie and Nick.

The cover art is fun and I do realize this is a very light, fluffy sort of story when it comes to paranormal romance and that is great. I enjoy the fluffier side of reading quite a lot, but I do also have to be invested in the characters a little more than I was.

This is certainly a great poolside read to enjoy.

BOOK REVIEW: NIGHT PLEASURES by SHERRILYN KENYON - DARK HUNTER # 1 - PIATKUS - ADULT PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published By: Piatkus

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from libary, 338 Pages

RATING: 4.5 KYRIAN STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

The Dark-Hunters are ancient warriors who have sworn to protect mankind and the fate of the world is in their hands. . .

He is solitude. He is darkness. He is the ruler of the night. Yet Kyrian of Thrace has just woken up handcuffed to his worst nightmare: An accountant. Worse, she's being hunted by one of the most lethal vampires out there. And if Amanda Devereaux goes down, then he does too. But it's not just their lives that are hanging in the balance. Kyrian and Amanda are all that stands between humanity and oblivion. Let's hope they win.

BOOK REVIEW:

I’m a little behind on this series by like another 27 books, plus all the novellas hidden inside Dark Bites and in Other Worlds. I have to get my Dark Hunter Universe map out to guide me to keep me on track. And also I have to pull out my Chronicles of Nick paperbacks and sort out where I read them among all this.

Speaking of Nick, I do like the kid. He has wit and a great personality, plus he doesn’t give a shit about rollerblading around Kyrian’s massive home.



“You’re the only man I know who can have sex with a woman who looks that good and be in this bad a mood ten minutes later. Damn, didn’t you know sex is supposed to make you feel better?”

Kyrian rolled his eyes at his impudent Spire. Rules and regulations had never applied to Nick Gautier.



“I need you to take Amanda shopping for clothes. The Daimons burned her house down and she has nothing except the clothes on her back.”

Nick arched a brow. “From what I saw, she had no clothes whatsoever on her back. Her front neither.”

Kyrian narrowed his eyes on his Squire.

“Don’t have a hissy fit.” Nick held his hands up in mock surrender. “I know she’s yours and I would never encroach, but man, I’m not blind, either.”

“One day, Gator bait…”

“Yeah, right. That threat might actually carry weight if I didn’t know how much you live to order me around. You’d go insane if you couldn’t page me at all hours of the night.”

I have heard so much gushing over Acheron aka Ash (seems Kyrian gets away with calling him Ash) and Styxx that I rather enjoyed every time Acheron popped up in this book. I immediately felt he overshadowed Kyrian, but I stayed #teamkyrian for this book—although Acheron is rather yummy.



He was lying on his back with his legs dangling way over the arm of the sofa and his hands behind his head as he watched her from the darkness.

Shirtless and barefoot, he wore a pair of tight leather pants. He had long, dark green hair and a stylized small birdlike tattoo on his left shoulder, the tail of which curled down and around is biceps. His skin was the same golden tone as Kyrian’s and it set off to perfection the small gold necklace he wore around his neck.

“And you are?” she asked.

“Acheron Parthenopaeus,” he said in that steady, deep voice. “Pleased to meet you.” His words were devoid of any warmth or emotion.

Okay, this was no Yoda. Well, except they both had green heads.




Giddy up!

Anywho… back to the main characters of this book: Kyrian and Amanda, who are a great couple of characters to get to know. I really enjoyed the small scenes we got of Kyrian, being his dark-hunter self with the back flips and fighting. Before that, he seemed just a sexy guy and I needed the action rather than the sexy times to shine through. It took a while for the story to show me what a two thousand year old dark-hunter was capable of. Visually I enjoyed seeing that in my head as I read.

I really liked Julian and Grace popping up in this book and the little bits of Talon and his motorbike. Rawrrr.



Patting the white and black dog, Amanda looked up to see the man who had arrived on the motorcycle. He was every bit as handsome as Hunter, yet there was something ethereal about him. Mystical.

His blond hair was cut short except for two long braids that fell from his left temple down to the middle of his chest. He wore a zipped-up black motorcycle jacket that had red and gold Celtic scrollwork painted all over it and a thick torc around his neck.



A great second installment. I was told to read Fantasy Lover first and I use that as my # 1 in the series, although technically Night Pleasures appears to be, so that became my second in the series.

Eh.

I’ve got the next two on my shelves in paperback so I’ll get onto Talon’s story next in Night Embrace, but I feel I need to crack out a few of the novellas first, which appear in Dark Bites. I’ve ordered it from my local library.

I'm in for the long line of books and am eager to get to Acheron's story. It is a whopping thick book.

Until the next installment...

BOOK REVIEW: LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS by CHARLAINE HARRIS - SOOKIE STACKHOUSE # 2 - GOLLANCZ - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Charlaine Harris
Published By: Gollancz
Released: Available Now
Details: Omnibus paperback from library, 722 Pages
Living Dead In Dallas is 217 pages of this omnibus.

RATING: 4 STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is having a streak of bad luck. First her co-worker is killed, and no one seems to care. Then she comes face to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

The point is: they saved her life. So when one of the bloodsuckers asks for a favor, she obliges - and soon Sookie's in Dallas, using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved, but she makes one condition: the vampires must promise to behave and let the humans go unharmed. But that's easier said than done, and all it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly....



BOOK REVIEW:

I’m going to start by saying I decided to watch 3 episodes of Trueblood after I had finished the second book. I think I so far prefer watching the show.

This was a good read, but I am so not connecting with Bill and Sookie in the paperback, thus far, but now I have seen 3 episodes on TV, I feel they express more emotion as actors playing their characters.

I am trying with Bill, but I find him dull in the book. It was great being introduced to Stan and some of the other vampires and there was a great story attached to that.

I think about halfway through this book I started to get into the swing, no pun intended (refer below paragraph) with Sookie and her detective type mission.

I still enjoyed this instalment, but I wouldn’t rave about it. *hides under pillow*

I felt a little awkies with the orgy scene. Not because it was an orgy scene. Pffft! I devour erotic books, but because the characters felt awkward in the scene. Eric in pink lycra…hmmm…I shall say no more. Maybe I need to look at the year this book was written and the clothing styles of the era. I get it was supposed to be funny? But this is Eric!!!

I sometimes feel (and this is me and my personal expectations), that parts need to be fleshed out more in this book between Bill and Sookie. I felt that a bit with book 1, too. I know there is a massive fan base for this series, but I personally would like some more emotion with Bill on paper and I feel he’s not your typical ‘dream’ vampire book boyfriend—yet.

The sexual content seems to overshadow where more fleshing out could be inserted. I want to believe in these two and I feel like I am floating rather than getting depth.

I’ve got the omnibus from my local library because I can’t find books 2 and 3 in my library but they seem to have book 1 and 4 onwards.

Go figure.

I have purchased paperbacks for 4 onwards to keep me happy for a while from my local newsagent, but they didn't have 1-3.

This omnibus is really an uncomfortable weight to read snuggled in bed. It’s like a big, heavy brick. I think it would be the heaviest book I have ever held as a fictional novel, and I have to grip it hard it’s that heavy.

Note to publishers: Don’t release such a whopping heavy paperback. Reading is for snuggling in bed, or snuggling somewhere. Not getting knocked in the face with the book or struggling to hold the thing up. It’s really a lay-on-your-tummy read or sit at a table.

I am very intrigued to know more about this series, so I will heft this whopping book back up ( it will be left side heavy this time) and crack on with Club Dead.

BOOK REVIEW: DEAD UNTIL DARK by CHARLAINE HARRIS - SOOKIE STACKHOUSE # 1 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - PENGUIN

By: Charlaine Harris

Published By: Penguin

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from library, 312 Pages

RATING: 4.25 STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea.

BOOK REVIEW:

Folks, I’m a virgin to the Sookie Stackhouse (I keep wanting to say Steakhouse) series and I have never watched True Blood, so I am reviewing without comparison.

I’m not sure how I feel about Sookie and Bill’s coming together at this stage. I will leave that open. I will say it didn’t make a great impact on me in Dead Until Dark.

To be truthful I thought Bill may have needed a little more oomph injected into his character, but I shall hold no judgement until I read more in the series.

Eric’s character, although only a very small part he played in this first book, made me pay attention a little more.

Visually in my head, when I first read his description, I felt he came across in my mind more like a biker looking guy with his jeans, boots and vest. Then I googled True Blood and saw their Eric.



The vampire he indicated was handsome, in fact, radiant; blond and blue-eyed, tall and broad shouldered. He was wearing boots, jeans, and a vest. Period. Kind of like the guys on the cover of romance books. He scared me to death.



I do understand this series has sold a bazillion million copies and I am coming into the series very late in the game. My thoughts are but a drip in the ocean.

I was entertained, and that is all I can ask for, but I would have liked a little more from Sookie and Bill in regards to their relationship (?) and not just the sexual content. I kind of craved more, wanting to connect with them as the reader.

All up, it was a quick read that has me intrigued to know more… especially about Eric.

BOOK REVIEW - HAUNTED ON BOURBON STREET by DEANNA CHASE - JADE CALHOUN # 1 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Deanna Chase
Published By: Bayou Moon Publishing
Released: Available Now CURRENTLY FREE
Details: Kindle purchase, 262 Pages

RATING: 4.25 JADE & KANE STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Jade loves her new apartment—until a ghost joins her in the shower!

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn't count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord.

Being an empath has never been easy on Jade's relationships. It's no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it's up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she'll need Kane's help to do it—and he's betrayed her with a secret of his own. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?



BOOK REVIEW:

This is my first foray into Deanna Chase’s written work. This book is lighter on plot and may appear at times a little rushed in areas that could have been fleshed out more, but I did still enjoy this first book and the characters, very much.

Jade is a very likable character and so is Kane the sexy strip club owner. There is a great line-up of sub characters to fill the storyline and an interesting ghost situation.

What I really liked was reading about Jade’s other job as a glass bead making teacher. It was nice to see a really different job for a female lead as opposed to the bartender job that a lot of female leads seem to get given.

Throw in a villain and some violence and you have yourself a paranormal mystery/romance.

I am looking forward to continuing this series.

Book 1 is currently free on Amazon HERE.

BOOK REVIEW - BREAKING THE STORM by SEDONA VENEZ - CREDENCE CURSE # 1 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Sedona Venez
Published By: One Wish Publishing
Released: Available Now
Details: Kindle purchase currently FREE , 254 Pages

RATING: 3.75 KNOX & RYKER STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

A fae witch, a rock star, and a passionate paranormal affair…

Stormy is cursed. If the fae witch ever finds true love, the man is sure to die a terrible death. Five years ago, she left her sexy rock star of a boyfriend Knox to save his life.

When her escort service for paranormals puts her face to face with Knox again, her passion grows like never before. Can she possibly keep it together when Knox insists that she be his escort? Will her curse make it all fall apart?

Breaking the Storm is the first book in the Credence Curse Saga, a series of adventure-packed shifter romance tales. If you like dark magic, powerful women, steamy love scenes, heart-pounding romance, and piles of sexy shifter secrets, then you'll love the latest romp from author Sedona Venez.



BOOK REVIEW:

This book caught my eye when I was randomly scrolling about on Amazon a few days ago. I picked it up for #free and it still is free.

I really liked the prologue and I was fascinated to know more, but that is where that ends and the first chapter rolls forward to ‘Centuries Later’. We do get a teeny bit more near end of book.

Now I thought I had this whole Credence Curse worked out in my head…but then maybe not.



In our defense, we’d had no choice. Humans were our last resort for the continuance of the Credence bloodline. The magic in our fae blood bound us to expose ourselves as Others to any human we loved, or we’d be risking our death. It was a double-edged sword that gave us a chance to love and be loved. A chance at happiness, but it would be ruthlessly stripped away by death of any man we’d loved.



Okay so I thought I got that under my belt when I was reading the prologue, but then by the end of the book—I don’t think I got it, because of Knox. Rock star Knox.

You see, Stormy aka Storm leaves him as she believes he is human, for fear of his death, but later…even though she still thinks he’s human… (scratches head a little) I may have totally missed something. I was concentrating hard.

I really liked the whole world building of this book. It was interesting. What let me down was how dumb Storm was over one thing and only one thing. 

This is the most frustrating thing about this story. OMG! Storm is a very intelligent woman, runs a business and comes across very smart…except for this one thing.

She knows Ryker is head of the Other Council and he is a wolf shifter. He knows Storm and Light are fae-witch. Ryker’s bodyguard dudes know what each other is—but…

GAHHHH! The frustration of continuing to read while this dumbness went on, was hard and eye roll worthy. It was selective dumbness. I was banging my head on a table (inside my head) when continually reading this. She could pick out every other Other, but not Knox.

@(#*@)(#*@)(#*)!!!

I know it was easier for the author to write it this way to fit in with her story…but it was not for the reader. So many freakin’ hints are dropped for the reader and Storm, but Storm is totally oblivious.

SMH

Then there is the BDSM part of the story. I read BDSM and this was hot sex. Research needed to be done on what is BDSM. Telling Storm what to wear and being a little bossy is not BDSM.

Being an alpha male character does not make you a dom.

I did enjoy this story, and for those that have no idea about BDSM, then cool, you will be happy reading these sex scenes. 

What I really wanted from this story was to know Knox more. He really is a great character. There is like a five year gap between the last time they saw each other and then all of a sudden it is this BDSM and I am dom and you are sub stuff. I needed a bit of fleshing out. It felt very random to insert this without a build-up of some kind.

There was the curse and another side story going on. There was a death and a nosy reporter. I needed those parts given more time, too.

This was a good start to this series, but I felt there where plot jumps that needed care and also fleshing out of characters.

Lightening aka Light was a great character. I really like her and I do like Storm, Knox and Ryker, but I wanted more than maybe the emphasis being on the so called BDSM parts. Give me the sex, but give me the fleshed out story too.

Some readers will be more than happy the way it is written from cover to cover, but I needed more. I did really like the overall world building and the kinda zany mother and aunt.

Harper is a really great character too, written very well. There were so many things to like about Breaking The Storm. I kinda want to shove it back into an editing process and context proofreading process. I have looked at many of the reviews on Goodreads to see if I was the only one…and I’m not. I feel my review is very fair.

I am looking forward to Ryker and Light's story, because those two were great in this book.