Tag: Review

New Release · Review

Dark Gods: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance Anthology – My Review

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Title: Dark Gods: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance Anthology

Author: Various Authors

Release Date: March 1st 2022

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Dark…delicious…devilish and ready to be worshiped

Be seduced in a world of angels and demons, monsters and men, and above them all, the gods that rule them.

Grab this kindle-melting set of stories about the darkest of men and the hottest of gods, where all males are alpha and where angels are fallen. Choose your bookish fated mate among these pages where everyone is a sinner and no one is a saint.

If you enjoy dark spicy romance, enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, hot gods, and the women that worship them, pick up Dark Gods today and give into temptation

Holy hotness!! *fans self*

This collection has some pretty great reads! My favorite by far is Love and War by Ariel Dawn & Terisa Johnson. Loved the tension between Imogen, Ares, and Colton. These me are hot! Like how do you choose? 

I highly recommend this collection. There’s something for everyone! I give it 5 stars. 

Review

Taken: A Vampire Mafia Paranormal Romance (The Vampire Syndicate Book 3) by Rebecca Rivard – My Review

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Title: Taken: A Vampire Mafia Paranormal Romance (The Vampire Syndicate Book 3)

Author: Rebecca Rivard

Release Date: February 4th 2022

Genre: Vampire Romance, Paranormal

THE VAMPIRE SYNDICATE ROMANCES
*The hot new vampire mafia romance series from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Rivard*

The Dark Angel Trilogy concludes with Zaq and Ridley’s story.

RIDLEY

Vampires killed my mother and sent me on the run. Now I’m the mysterious slayer known as Reaper.

I have one mission. Wipe vampires and their half-human cousins, the dhampir, from the face of the earth.

My current target? Zaq Kral, one of the famous—and inhumanly beautiful—Dark Angels.

ZAQ

I may be a Kral Vampire Syndicate prince, but I never asked for this life. Still, I play the game when my vampire father requires it.

Until the day another syndicate captures me with Reaper’s help. Vampires chain me to a wall with silver cuffs and feed from me. The silver eats through my skin—and poisons my soul. When I finally get free, the people behind this will pay.

Starting with Reaper.

What a wild ride this book was! 

Betrayal, loss, and secrets is how Zaq is living his life. There’s someone out to get him and his family. He has to figure out what is truth and who he can trust. I felt like I traveled the world along side the characters. Lots of action to keep me on my toes! Nothing is what it seems and I was there for it. I wasn’t too sure about Ridley but by the end I was all for her. Speaking of endings, all I have to say is wow. 

Phenomenal storytelling and wonderful writing makes this book one fantastic read. This whole series is a MUST READ! If you like your vampires with a bite, these books are for you! I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Of Glass and Ashes (Twisted Pages Book 3) by Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle – My Review

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Title: Of Glass and Ashes (Twisted Pages Book 3)

Author: Elle Madison & Robin D. Mahle

Release Date: July 23rd 2021

Genre: Fairytale, Romance

They say a dream is a wish your heart makes, but what happens when you’re trapped in nightmares?

Aika is playing a dangerous game.

Torn between the loyalties she thought she had and revelations she wishes she didn’t, she will burn the city down to get the answers she needs.

To get the vengeance she craves.

But when the boy from her past starts asking questions that could get them both killed, she is forced to choose between the people she needs to die and those she wants to save.

Even if it costs her the only thing true in a lifetime of lies.

Even if it costs her him.

A Cinderella retelling unlike any you’ve read before, where the stroke of midnight is just the beginning.

*The Twisted Pages Series continues with Aika’s story for books three and four, but don’t worry, Zaina and Einar have their scenes as well! This series does need to be read in order, beginning with Of Thorns and Beauty.

**Please note: This is book three in a series of six books. This story will take you right up to the edge of a cliff, but we promise not to leave you there for long!

This series is truly spellbinding. I was entranced from the first book. Reading Aika’s story was both intriguing and heartbreaking. These authors know how to get you all in your feels. I went through so many emotions while reading. The vivid storytelling and the characters, made for a stellar story. That ending!! I knew to expect it but once I got there, I was like noooo!! 

There’s time to catch up before the next book releases! I’m telling you, this series is a must read. Skip adding it to your TBR and just grab them today. Fall in love with a new series today! You’re welcome. I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Audiobook · Review

Prophecy Girl: Camille Bishop, Book 1 (Audiobook) – My Review

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Title: Prophecy Girl: Camille Bishop, Book 1 (Audiobook)

Author: Ravin Tija Maurice

Narrator: Christina Jones

Release Date: October 26th 2021

Genre: Urban Fantasy

I never thought my life could get any weirder, then Jane Lowry came into my office.

It seemed like a straightforward paternity case; something simple for my first solo assignment as a private investigator. Everyone has secrets. Jane Lowry’s would lead me down a path that would completely change my life. I knew the world was full of crazy things, but nothing would prepare me for how crazy it would get.

The Prophecy Girl series is one of my favorites! When I saw it was available on audiobook, I was excited!! I was hoping the narrator would bring Camille Bishop to life. Boy did she! The narrator did a fantastic job! The story and the characters came alive and I was easily transported into their world. I can’t wait for the next one! 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

The Sister-in-Law: A Novel by Pamela Crane – My Review

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Title: The Sister-in-Law: A Novel

Author: Pamela Crane

Release Date: August 10th 2021

Genre: Domestic Thrillers

From the USA Today bestselling author of Little Deadly Secrets comes a gripping story about the frailty of family and a battle of wills between a wife and a sister-in-law, bent on revenge.

She stole my husband. So I’d steal her life.

The Wife
Lane won Candace’s heart over chocolate martinis and karaoke. But weeks into their whirlwind marriage, Candace realized Lane came with burdensome baggage in the form of his possessive live-in sister and her eerily watchful six-year-old son. Lane had a secret that seemed to hold him hostage, and Candace would do anything to uncover it.

The Sister-in-Law
Harper was the kind of woman who cooked homemade meals and dusted under the furniture. It was the least she could do for her brother after her husband’s mysterious death, and Lane took her and her kids in. Then Candace showed up like a tornado passing through, threatening and destructive. But Harper had other plans for her new “sister,” plans Lane could never find out about.

The Husband
All Lane had ever wanted was a white-picket-fence life. The wife. The two-point-five kids. The happy little family. Everything seemed to be falling into place with Candace … until Harper’s jealous streak got in the way, again. But choosing between his sister and wife would be costly … and knowing Harper, the price would be blood.

I really needed to reflect after finishing this book. I was trying to sort how I felt about it. I’ll start with the issues I had. The characters, none of them likable. While some of them had experiences I could relate it, I found it hard to connect and even feel for any of them. The back and forth between certain characters was exhausting. I felt like jumping in there and putting them in a time out. I have mixed feelings on the twist. I saw it coming and then hoped I was wrong. I felt like it could have been executed a bit better but I didn’t hate it.

The story is entertaining. Some of the flashbacks gave me insight to certain characters. The writing is good. The author was able to bring out some strong emotions from me. Mostly anger and sadness because.…you’ll have to read the book to find out. I did like that she was able to do that.

As a whole, this book is a good read. Like I mentioned before, it was entertaining. While some of the back and forth made me cringe, I kept reading because I wanted more. I had to see it through to the end. If you’re a fan of thrillers, check this one out. I give this 3 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

A Good Day for Chardonnay: A Novel (Sunshine Vicram Book 2) by Darynda Jones – My Review

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Title: A Good Day for Chardonnay: A Novel (Sunshine Vicram Book 2)

Author: Darynda Jones

Release Date: July 27th 2021

Genre: Mystery

From the New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones comes the second novel in her laugh-out-loud Sunshine Vicram mystery series, A Good Day for Chardonnay.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff—and even fuller-time coffee guzzler—Sunshine Vicram, didn’t get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that’s about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny’s got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he’s not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She’s seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn’t know when to quit, Sunny’s life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

I love the Sunshine Vicram series! It’s addicting and I’m totally hooked.

The mystery continues as Sunshine searches for answers to her past. She’s also solving a new case that seems to have more than meets the eye. We also get more of Levi Ravinder! He’s totally book boyfriend material. I love the chemistry and the push and pull between Sunshine and Levi. There’s a lot of snark between the characters which is funny cause I love a good snark. However, at times it was a bit too much. The beginning is slow going. Which I now know is how these books will go. Once it gets going, there’s no putting the book down. Twists I didn’t see coming and that ending! Whyyyy!! I need the next book asap!

This book has it all! Suspense, snark, book boyfriend material, and murder. Start this series today! You’ll be entertained and falling in love with a new series. I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Coming Soon · Pre-Order · Review

The Golden Couple: A Novel by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen – My Review

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Title: The Golden Couple: A Novel

Author: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Release Date: March 8th 2022

Genre: Domestic Thrillers

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.
When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

You’ve seen those couples. You know which ones I’m talking about. The ones who have the perfect life. Or so it seems…..

I never really know what to expect when I pick up a Hendricks/Pekkanen book. I was intrigued by the description and was excited to dive in. The story begins and you meet the characters. Right off the bat, I don’t like any of them. I know I’m supposed to feel that way but I couldn’t help feeling irked. Yet it’s not enough to turn me off from the book. More like, let’s see where this is going. The story unravels lots of suspense and turns. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, it’s a dead end. LOVED THAT! What an ending! Totally satisfying. It felt like the sun came out after being hidden by the clouds. Very nice.

This is a great read! You have suspense and that thrilling feeling like something bad is going to happen but you’ll get all your answers. I highly recommend this book! I give it 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

The Anatomy of Desire: A Novel by L.R. Dorn – My Review

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Title: The Anatomy of Desire: A Novel

Author: L.R. Dorn

Release Date: May 11th 2021

Genre: Thrillers, LGBTQ+

A Publishers Weekly Best Mystery/Thriller of 2021

For fans of riveting true crime docuseries a la Serial and Making a Murderer, The Anatomy of Desire is a modern tale of crime and punishment exploring unbridled ambition, blinding passion, and the dark side of desire

Ambition. Passion. Betrayal. Murder?

Claire Griffith has it all, a thriving career, a gorgeous boyfriend, glamorous friends. She always knew she was destined for more than the life her conservative parents preached to her. Arriving in Los Angeles flat broke, she has risen to become a popular fitness coach and social media influencer. Having rebranded herself as Cleo Ray, she stands at the threshold of realizing her biggest dreams.

One summer day, Cleo and a woman named Beck Alden set off in a canoe on a serene mountain lake. An hour later, Beck is found dead in the water and Cleo is missing. Authorities suspect foul play, and news of Cleo’s involvement goes viral. Who was Beck? An infatuated follower? Were she and Cleo friends or lovers? Was Beck’s death an accident . . . or murder?

Told in the form of an immersive investigative docuseries, L. R. Dorn’s brilliant reimagining of Theodore Dreiser’s classic crime drama, An American Tragedy, captures the urgency and poignance of the original and rekindles it as a very contemporary and utterly mesmerizing page-turner that will keep you guessing… Did she or didn’t she?

This story seemed to check most of my boxes. Murder, check. Dark side, check. Let’s get started. Right away I noticed how the book would be told. Documentary style, which took some getting used to. Two people go out in a canoe and only one comes back, alive. The story was interesting even though it had a lot of lull scenes. Despite that, it kept me reading more. Cleo Ray wasn’t a likable character to me. In fact, I thought she was horrible. We keep bouncing between did she really do it to who could have done it? As the story progressed, I found myself getting bored. I reached a point where I didn’t care who had done. The ending fell flat. There wasn’t any surprise or wow factor and I was disappointed.

The story is an okay read. I expected more and it’s most likely my fault for being disappointed. I recommend checking out this book for yourself. It may be the read for you! I give this two stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Our Fearful Roots by Carmilla Voiez & Faith Marlow – My Review

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Title: Our Fearful Roots

Author: Carmilla Voiez & Faith Marlow

Release Date: October 1st 2021

Genre: Gothic Fiction

Dark memories are carried on the scent of roses.

Mary wants a better life for her family and hopes the house she inherited from her aunt in Alabama will be a sanctuary for them all, but Mary and the house share a terrible secret.

Roots run deep in the south, but secrets run even deeper.

Join the Anderson family in a tale of Southern Gothic Horror in four voices.

Our Fearful Roots

A beautifully crafted story that will have you yearning for more…or sleeping with the lights on.

When I read the blurb, I knew I HAD to read this book. Everything about it spoke to my black heart.

Mary inherits her Aunt’s house. Her family makes the long trip to Alabama. The house that holds secrets of the past, also brings back memories that were long forgotten….or were they?

Everything about this story called to my spooky soul. It had a dark gothic vibe and I was there for it. As the story progresses, you could feel it building towards something wicked. The story is very well written. Loved the vivid scenes that were straight out of a nightmare. The story telling style is fantastic. The two authors compliment each other wonderfully. I didn’t not expect that ending and I wasn’t disappointed. I had a major book hangover after I was done. I still think about it!

If you love a story with a gothic horror vibe, this book is for you! Don’t hesitate, get your copy and read it today. You won’t be disappointed. This is the first book I’ve read by either author and it won’t be my last! I fully intend to check out their other books. I give this 5 stars.

Review

Holiday Hotel (Simona Island Book 1) by Poppy Minnix – My Review

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Title: Holiday Hotel (Simona Island Book 1)

Author: Poppy Minnix

Release Date: November 23rd 2021

Genre: Holiday Romance

Sometimes, it takes a corset and an island getaway to bounce back from a disastrous breakup.

In the winter chill of New York City, Cozette Fay attempts to turn up the heat with a fun and sexy Ms. Claus roleplay. Unfortunately, her aloof boyfriend is more confused than aroused.

She says fa-la-la to her fizzled relationship and escapes to the tropics for Christmas where she meets Nico, a van-driving beach-hunk who secretly owns the hotel on private Simona Island. He upgrades her room, takes her on adventures, and can’t seem to keep his eyes or his hands off of her despite claiming there’s a non-fraternization policy.

It shouldn’t matter that Nico won’t share anything about himself outside of their tropical snow globe—she’s there to reunite with herself, after all—but the closer they get, the more it seems he may be the Santa to her Mrs. Claus all year round.

Readers who enjoy Christmas with You from Tracy Alverez or The One Night Stand Before Christmas from Jana Aston would enjoy Holiday Hotel.

If you’re looking for a feel good read, this book is it!

Imagine escaping to a beautiful island to regroup after the disaster back at home. Then you’re greeted at the airport by a very handsome man. This could be good…or bad.

I loved the chemistry between Cozette and Nico. Nico is charming but guarded at times. Made me want to know more about him. Cozette is a relatable character. She’s funny and also smart. I love that she’s successful! I was easily transported to Simona Island. I could visualize it’s beauty and also the many people who worked there. There were many moments I laughed so hard and others that had me tearing up. A lot of smiling also happened. Once I finished, I knew I was heading to book hangoverville but I couldn’t help but sit and smile. Reflecting on the incredible story that I just finished. Good times.

From the story to the characters, this is a magnificent read! I’m a huge fan of the authors writing and story telling style. I eagerly await what she writes next! If you love romance and a feel good story, grab this book and get lost on Simona Island. I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*