Fire & Ice: A Guns & Hoses Novel by Brenda Cothern

Fire & Ice: A Guns & Hoses Novel by Brenda Cothern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Cothern is one of THOSE authors. We all have them. The authors whose books we cannot get enough of. The authors who when I’m asked if I want to review their latest book I don’t even bother to ask what it’s about or when it’s due (because I will give up sleep to read it). The authors whose writing pulls you so fully into the story that you’re perturbed when you have to return to your dull and boring life (at least compared to their characters’ it is). You know, THOSE authors. The latest novel from Cothern’s Guns & Hoses series was no exception as I found myself so completely wrapped up in Austin and Lukas’s lives that I stayed up way too late to finish Fire & Ice.

For those who have read Guns & Hoses, you will be delighted to know that we get to catch up with Tig and Flame as Austin is Flame’s cousin and he is trying to get a job as an arson investigator in Tampa. While Austin is more than happy to stay with his cousin as he’s always looked up to him and credits him for making his high school years survivable, Austin finds it hard to tolerate Flame’s heavy handedness when Flame’s protective instincts are triggered. And it turns out that Austin’s new partner Lukas sets off all of Flame’s protective instincts. Fortunately, Austin is more than willing to tell his cousin to back off and mind his own business, even if he’s not willing to share his biggest secret with his cousin. But Flame isn’t the only person Austin is keeping secrets from and I found his deception with Lukas rather entertaining. Normally I wouldn’t consider Austin’s deception appropriate, but Cothern makes it work because Austin’s intentions are good and not coming from a place of malice. That didn’t keep me from worrying about the fallout that was sure to accompany his secret being exposed, but the author does something that was so unexpected that the fallout was practically nil.

I loved almost everything about Fire & Ice and I’ll get to the teensy weensy issue that I didn’t enjoy momentarily. The chemistry between Austin and Lukas is intense, but Lukas spends so much time fighting against it that when they do connect it is explosive. And it’s even more intense when they scene together. The BDSM scenes are off-the-charts hot. I seriously enjoyed that it took Lukas so long to figure out Austin’s secret and that it was his denial of his attraction to Austin that kept him from seeing what was right in front of him. I loved the serial arson investigation that Cothern included in the book. It not only elevated the novel’s level of realism, but it also provided Austin opportunities he needed to prove his mettle as an investigator. But the arson investigation also brought in the teeny tiny part of the story I didn’t enjoy. Cothern does such a good job of bringing in the FBI and utilizing their reputation for taking over local cases that I was a little let down with how that scenario played out. For once, it was more realism than I wanted simply because I wanted to see Lukas and Austin break the case. But that’s just me pouting and it wasn’t enough of an issue to reduce my rating because I loved the way Fire & Ice played out in the end. I cannot wait to see what Cothern has in store next for the Guns & Hoses series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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The Summer House by R.J. Scott

The Summer House by R.J. Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As a fan of Scott’s Texas series, I was excited for the opportunity to review The Summer House. I was pleasantly surprised that this new series has such a different feel than Texas does. I know, Texas and England are an ocean apart (literally) and should feel different. But this is not always the case when an author writes within the same genre, which in this case is M/M Contemporary Romance. Please don’t take that as a complaint either, because I often enjoy the familiarity such a writing style provides. But in the case of The Summer House I enjoyed the difference immensely and Ashby and Connor have already taken up residence in my reading heart.

When Connor and Ashby first meet sparks fly, but not the good kind. This actually gets worse as the day progresses and culminates in one of the saddest statements I’ve read from a character in a long time “normally people hate me after they meet me, not before.” Seriously, I wanted to cry for Ash when he said that, but it’s a good thing I didn’t because I ended up needing those tears much later in the book. While initially we don’t know the particulars of why Connor detests rich entitled playboys like Ash appears to be, it’s clear from the beginning that Ash is being judged by someone else’s actions toward Connor and fair or not, Connor doesn’t let go of his dislike easily. Thankfully Ash sees something in the veterinarian that calls to him and is not easily deterred. Once Ash comes to understand that Connor’s past is coloring his perception of Ash, he decides to start with friendship. Because he and Connor find themselves spending time together because of Ash’s brother Landon entering into a relationship with Connor’s best (possibly only) friend Rachel, Ash gradually works his way past Connor’s walls. As the summer passes and the men get to know one another better and eventually succumb to their attraction, Connor feels that he owes Ash the truth about his past because he doesn’t think their relationship should be allowed to progress further without Ash knowing what he’s getting into. And I absolutely loved Ash’s reaction and how he dealt with Connor’s fears.

Watching the romance between Ash and Connor play out was oftentimes heartbreaking. Each man brings his own baggage and issues to the relationship. Despite his enviable upbringing, Ash is unhappy with his life. He’s fulfilling the role he is expected to fill in the family business while living up to a social identity he’s no longer happy with and I found his brother’s assessment as to why quite insightful. While I don’t want to ruin the read for you, I will say that Connor’s baggage was quite damaging and once I learned (and confirmed some of my suspicions), I understood why he had such a knee-jerk reaction to Ash and why it took so long for him to overcome it. Despite their obvious differences and issues, Ash and Connor complemented one another well, making The Summer House a really enjoyable read for me. I look forward to checking out the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Summer House (English Hearts #1) by R.J. Scott blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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The Unseelie King by Heather Killough-Walden

The Unseelie King by Heather Killough-Walden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have to say that I feel sorry for all of Killough-Walden’s fans who read The Seelie King and then had to wait eight months for the release of The Unseelie King because I could barely wait the five minutes it took my Kindle to download and open the book. Okay that’s an exaggeration … it probably took a minute and that was too long of a wait. While it’s true that I have wanted the next book in the series each time I finished reading an installment, the fact that books five and six are so closely entwined made the need to go from one book to the next even stronger. And in true storyteller fashion, the author kept me on edge and at rapt attention the first page to the last.

The Unseelie King picks up where The Seelie King left off, with the discovery of the death of Selene and Minerva’s parents, but this time we’re seeing firsthand Minerva’s reaction and when her grief turns to rage, you come to understand why the old fae kings feared the power of the wishers so much. Unlike her sister, Minerva taps in to her innate fae knowledge almost immediately upon her transformation and sets out to make the world pay for its injustices. Fortunately Caliban understands his queen’s darkness better than his brother understood his bride’s and he’s ready to do what it takes to keep her from regretting her actions, even if it means he’ll never be able to claim his queen. And I must admit, even knowing that the queens are fated for their kings, I was right there with Caliban in doubting that their pairing would come to pass. Surprisingly, it was something as simple as food that breaks Minerva’s resolve and I for one want to know what the heck rainbow crepe cake is and where I can get some. But it is witnessing the potential of her power that shatters Minerva’s final wall and Caliban begins to make inroads in the claiming of his queen. And oh what a claiming it was!

I appreciated the author’s symmetry between The Seelie King and The Unseelie King. While all of the queens have been targeted once their identities were discovered, in both Selene and Minerva’s cases the threat against them came from within the fae realm and we finally learned who it was and why. And I just have to say … creepy! I really liked the author’s take on the myth of the unicorns. It’s not the first time that I’ve seen unicorns presented as the less than idyllic magical and gentle creatures we like to see them as, but it is a rarity and I found the reason behind it to be quite fascinating as was Minerva’s wish. Lalura’s discovery that there is another traitor among the kings’ ranks was disheartening to say the least, especially if it is as they suspect, motivated by jealousy. But it does keep the suspense level high in the series, especially in light of Imani’s divination. We also learned a bit more about the realms of the various kings and that the ever elusive Shadow King will soon be revealed as his bride is the next to be found. But the best part – aside from Caliban and Minerva – was learning Lalura’s secret and I was both surprised by it, yet not. As always, I’m ready for the next installment now!

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Unseelie King (The Kings #6) by Heather Killough-Walden blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Discovery by Thianna Durston

Discovery by Thianna Durston

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a fan of Durston’s writing, I was excited to get the opportunity to review Discovery. While I love paranormal romances, most of my reads have been of the MF variety. After finishing Discovery I now have another MM vampire book to add to my reread list. While human-vampire hybrids are not new to the genre, I liked the way in which the author added her own personal twist to make the creatures her own (or at least it’s nothing I’ve encountered before). Actually I enjoyed it so much that I was again up until 2am reading and was nearly late to work because I got caught up in the story while I was reading it over breakfast.

Discovery is an odd combination of intense actions scenes balanced with really calm day-to-day life scenes as the author introduces us to Jaret and Aaron. Jaret is a centuries old drakyl who really doesn’t remember how old he is but knows it’s been at least five centuries since his change. Aaron is a 32 year old Montana man who suffers from a sun allergy and feels as though he may very well beat his 86 year-old uncle to the grave. Or at least he thought he was human until Jaret stumbles upon the Drakyl Ranch and finds out that the man who so entranced him a few nights earlier has no idea of what he is. Once Jaret learns why Aaron’s uncle kept his true nature from him, Jaret stays on to help out at the ranch and to be closer to Aaron because while he understands why Davis didn’t tell Aaron that Drakyl is more than his last name, he will no longer allow the man to suffer as he has been for over a decade. And while Jaret’s clock is ticking for Davis to ‘fess up, there’s an even deadlier countdown taking place that may put everything that Jaret’s found at risk.

That the author chose to open the book with a fast-paced action scene as Jaret is attempting to evade capture by vampyrs sucked me right into the book and my attention never wavered, not even when the book was forced to slow down. Because this is the first book in the Drakyl Ranch series, there is a bit of world building which provides for a slow build to the book (after its initial scene). The author takes the time to introduce us to the main players amidst the action and the day-to-day workings of the ranch. I liked the chemistry between Jaret and Aaron and obviously enjoyed their sexy fun times. I also liked how well Aaron handled his transition and was willing to reassess his stance on human blood when Jaret’s continued survival was at risk. The lengths to which a man in love will go is almost always entertaining. I LOVED that the author chose to include the attack on Jaret and Aaron at the end of the book rather than making readers wait for book two and the scene itself was intense (and highly satisfying for my blood lust). Discovery was an excellent read for me and I need book two NOW!!!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Discovery (Drakyl Ranch, #1) by Thianna Durston blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Master of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair

Master of Freedom by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Can I just say that I love it when Sinclair writes a “novella” for the 1001 Dark Nights series? Why? Because fans are treated to a full-length novel (over 200 pages here) for the price of a novella and the author does not skimp on the action, the domination and submission, the erotica, or the romance just because it’s called a novella. And Master of Freedom was an excellent addition to the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series and the 1001 Dark Nights series.

Because Master of Freedom was written for inclusion in the 1001 Dark Nights series, it can be read as a standalone (like most of Sinclair’s novels). That said, fans of the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series will enjoy it even more because we get to find out more about Atticus, whom we met in Edge of the Enforcer when he assisted in finding Lindsey after she was abducted. A bonus being that we get to catch up with many of the doms and subs from the earlier books in the series. I will readily admit that while I understood the mental components of sadism and masochism due to my degree in psychology, when I first began reading BDSM romances years ago I had a similar mind-set to Gin’s – this can’t be real. Of course I was quite jealous of Gin in the way she found out just how real BDSM was. Holy heck! Between Atticus’s dominant nature, military background, and assuming the mantle of adulthood at too young of an age, the natural submissive in Gin did not stand a chance when he began issuing commands. Boy howdy was she a lucky girl. But Gin’s daddy issues and Atticus’s well, daddy issues, made for several misunderstandings and miscommunications that nearly derailed their fledgling relationship more than once. Thank goodness doms are all about the communication [insert sarcastic eye roll there because Atticus needed a swift kick in the rear at times] and they power through the incidents to come out the better for it. Yet the greatest threat to their relationship comes from outside forces and Sinclair kept me hanging for far too many pages before I found out what kind of happy ending she had in store for the couple. I’m glad I can always count on this author for a happy, if somewhat unconventional, ending

I loved the chemistry between Atticus and Gin. Despite their mutual hang-ups, when they let go and relaxed they were such a comfortable couple to read about. Their banter had me cracking up regularly throughout the book. This is what made their misunderstandings so intense – it was as though I could feel the anxiety, hurt, and distress rolling off my Kindle. Of course this made for a couple of really hot bouts of make-up sex on top of the already steamy BDSM scenes. As for the events that made up the action and suspense part of the storyline, I saw part of it coming but I didn’t expect Sinclair to take it quite as far as she did, which kept that part of the storyline from being predictable. Needless to say the author crafted the perfect ending for Gin and Atticus – one that had me laughing out loud, jealous of Gin, ready for the next installment in the Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series, and praying that it’s already in the works. Another enjoyable read.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #WhipIt: Master of Freedom blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Groomzilla by Sam Kritzer

Groomzilla by Sam Kritzer

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I feel the need to explain that a 2-star rating does not mean that this is a bad book. For me, 2 stars is indicative of a book that is just okay and that’s how I felt after finishing Groomzilla – it was just okay. There were several things about the book that kept me from enjoying it more, the biggest being Aaron. I had a really hard time reconciling the hard-nosed ADA Aaron was supposed to be with the child-like brat that often appeared when things didn’t go his way. At one point in the story, Aaron pouts because Peter gets called in to work a homicide – this was too childish, especially for an ADA who prosecutes homicide cases. This is not a matter of Aaron being submissive to Peter, but more that Aaron’s work personality and brat personality are so contradictory that it didn’t ring true for me. There’s a difference between submissive behavior and childish behavior and Aaron’s behavior was often too juvenile for the adult he was purported to be. Now had Groomzilla been marketed as age-play rather than (or in addition to) spanking, it would have perhaps been more believable. I wouldn’t have read it because I don’t enjoy age-play books and while I won’t say that it’s full-on age-play, it is close enough for me to keep me from enjoying it. Those who do enjoy age-play books may find this to be a very enjoyable read.

My other big issue was the memory of the first time Peter spanked Aaron. Except for Aaron yelling at the rookie cop – the offense which triggered the spanking – there was absolutely nothing about that scene that was believable to me. Even though they had been dating for a while and the reader is told that there is an understanding between the two men regarding the power dynamic in their relationship, there was nothing to indicate that spanking had been discussed, much less agreed upon. Furthermore, the spanking occurred in Aaron’s office – which is a public office where his subordinates could hear it. The whole scene violated professional workplace standards as well as consent between the parties and it really bothered me.

Other than that one scene, Peter was actually what I enjoyed most about the book. He was attentive to Aaron’s moods and followed through on punishment when earned, even when he didn’t want to. That said, I felt there was too much of an emphasis on punishment in the book. Yes, I get that this is a spanking book so spanking will be a large part of it. But for me there was not enough emphasis placed on the actual relationship between Peter and Aaron. It seemed that most of the scenes between the two revolved around Peter punishing Aaron for yet another infraction. I just didn’t feel the connection between Peter and Aaron that I should have from a long-term couple about to get married. I feel like Groomzilla has been marketed wrong, with too much emphasis being placed on the spanking and not enough on the brat/age-play aspect. Groomzilla is not a bad book, it’s just not a book for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Groomzilla by Sam Kritzer blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers!


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Nuts by Alice Clayton

Nuts by Alice Clayton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Clayton has done it again! Granted I have only read her Cocktail series, but that will soon be remedied as the brief meeting of Grace and Jack in Nuts has guaranteed that the Redhead series (which I apparently snagged on sale) will be gracing my vacation reading list this holiday season. But I am happy to report that the same level of humor that Clayton brought to the Cocktail series is as present as ever in Nuts and I for one am already salivating over the plethora of plots that Hudson Valley has to offer. Before I get to the actual story, I STRONGLY recommend you read the Acknowledgements. I rarely do, yet for some reason I found myself reading (and snorting) my way through it and it gave me a frame of reference that I think increased my enjoyment of the book.

Roxie is a blast. She’s a hoot. A one-woman comedy act, whether she means to be or not. She’s the kind of woman you want to count as one of your closest friends because you know your life will never be dull as long as she’s in it. Yes, I may very well have a girl-crush on Roxie. But it’s only fair as I was seriously crushing on Leo too … that man could farm my dell any day. What starts out as an extremely reluctant (and that’s putting it mildly folks) Roxie returning home to Hudson Valley for the summer to run the family diner while her mother runs The Amazing Race (I know!!!) quickly shapes up to be one of the best summers of Roxie’s life, all thanks to a man who really knows his nuts … and fruits and vegetables and come on, you might as well get used to it because Clayton’s writing insures that there are more opportunities for double entendres than I can possibly resist. But seriously, Leo’s passion for organic and sustainable farming was well-matched by Roxie’s passion for cooking, so their relationship made sense. Despite the built-in expiration date on their relationship – because Roxie was going back to California as soon as the summer was over – Roxie found herself falling for Leo and beginning to wonder if maybe, just maybe, the small-town feel of Hudson Valley was less suffocating and more comforting than it was in her youth. Yet when Roxie learns Leo’s secret, she feels as though her world is imploding once again and she’s left feeling confused, betrayed, and stung.

While there are tons of laughs throughout, it’s Roxie’s reaction to bees that had me chuckling fondly as they reminded me of a childhood friend. The chemistry between Leo and Roxie is perfect both in the bedroom and outside of it. Their first and second meetings were priceless and had me in stitches. Roxie’s reaction to Leo’s secret felt realistic and we learned far more about her in that moment than I think she was even aware of herself. Even when she decides to give Leo a chance to explain, the resolution isn’t instant as they are both hesitant as to how to move forward. Although the book is told from Roxie’s point of view, I love that Clayton tends to reserve the Epilogue for a different character’s point of view and in the case of Nuts we are treated to Leo’s. And it was perfect as was this book. I cannot wait for the next book in the Hudson Valley series. Until then, I leave you with this: ZOMBIE PICKLES!!!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Nuts (Hudson Valley #1) by Alice Clayton blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Sharing Jewel by P.S. Love

Sharing Jewel by P.S. Love

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


With the increase in BDSM in mainstream novels, Sharing Jewel is, as the warning states, a rather vanilla ménage. That said, it was a fun and light-hearted read. There are no deep childhood issues or severely damaged characters within. What we have is a pair of very free-spirited identical twins and the sexually conservative wife of the oldest, and the story of how they gradually expand her sexual horizons. While I enjoy MFM ménages, I liked that there was an additional non-sexual reason why David wanted his brother to sleep with his wife. The sexual conversations and interactions were steamy and the book was enjoyable. This was not a deep, thought provoking read but it was what I needed after the last book I read; plus I picked it up for 99¢ and certainly got my money's worth.


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The Seelie King by Heather Killough-Walden

The Seelie King by Heather Killough-Walden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Seriously?!?!?! I’m starting to believe that the author is now determined to make her readers cry with each book in this series. Even with Lily’s vision at the beginning of The Seelie King, I was wholly unprepared for what it meant when it came to fruition. And holy heck did that scene hurt like a mother. But noooo, ripping my heart out once wasn’t enough for the author. What’s astounding is that all of the emotional hits I took as I read through this installment in The Kings series is that they didn’t directly involve the focus couple. Rather they were part of the series arc that continues to run through each book as we learn more and more about the master that Rafael answers to – Kamon – and what his end goal is. I was completely devastated and the only thing that kept me reading was I had to know how Killough-Walden “fixed it” and what trials Avery would face as he claimed his Seelie Queen.

Hopefully this isn’t too much of a spoiler, but the novelty of The Seelie King is that the biggest threat the king faces when claiming his queen does not come from Kamon and his quarter. I won’t say who was responsible, but the attack on Avery and Selene nearly ends the Seelie King before he even has a chance to meet his queen, much less claim her. But it’s what allows for Avery to undergo the bit of change he needs so that he can help his queen through her transition. I found The Unseelie King’s theories regarding the attack to be as terrifying as the other kings did, but the truth was just as fascinating once it was revealed. Yet not nearly as entertaining as when Avery embraced his newfound darkness for a bit of mischief that led him to his queen.

The Seelie King proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. With Avery being a bit off his normal game (and you’ll understand why when you read the book), it makes his “courtship” of his queen even more amusing. In part because she thinks he’s crazy, and in part because he’s more open to encouraging her transformation than I would have expected. That is, after he gets over his shock of what kind of fae she is and that The Wishers are no longer extinct. It was fun watching Selene get a bit of karmic justice while Avery guided her and kept her safe. And Killough-Walden demonstrates once again that she can pen a steamy mating scene that will leave no doubt about the claiming of the queen by her king. I love the way the author moves both the story arc and the series arc forward in The Seelie King, intertwining them when appropriate so that the other queens and kings can meet the new Seelie Queen and she can claim her place among the ranks – even if the author does make me cry as she does it. This was another great addition to The Kings series and I’m off to read The Unseelie King to find out what Killough-Walden has in store for the dark court.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Seelie King (The Kings #5) by Heather Killough-Walden on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair

Edge of the Enforcer by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


There is nothing like finally reading a book that you bought and never got around to reading when it first came out. It’s an awesome feeling. It’s an even better feeling when it’s a Sinclair novel. Truth be told, I’m kind of baffled that I hadn’t made time to read it yet, but Edge of the Enforcer was well worth the wait – even if I didn’t know what I was missing.

Having met both Lindsey and deVries in previous books, I loved getting to learn more about them. I was shocked by the opening scene because I had no inkling about deVries’s extracurricular activities. But the scene was vital in making me understand his mindset in how he played and why he rebuffed Lindsey’s attentions – it didn’t excuse the unnecessarily harsh way he did it, but at least I understood it. It also made his collection of her debt from the Masterson’s picnic believable. And freaking hot as heck. However his freeze out the next day nearly gave me (and Lindsey) whiplash and once Sinclair gave the reader access to deVries’s thoughts, I was shocked by just how judgmental the dom could be. Yikes! Talk about frostbite. Thank goodness the Xavier and Simon don’t limit their meddling to just the subs and deVries got the kick in the pants he needed. And just in time as Lindsey’s past catches up with her and she finds herself in a life and death situation that doesn’t look good at all.

I must say that I’m not sure whose character surprised me more – Lindsey and her secrets OR that deVries, Dark Haven’s resident sadist and enforcer, had such a soft side to him. I’m not suggesting he was a pushover for Lindsey. Oh far from it. But when things got tough, his instincts and desires were in sync when it came to protecting the little submissive who showed him that life with a pain-intolerant sub might be a worthwhile venture after all. As for Lindsey, her secrets threw me for a loop. I was astounded by the predicament she found herself in and even more so that she managed to keep a lid on it considering who she worked with. It certainly added far more suspense and action to the novel than I expected and I loved how it gave us the chance to catch up with so many of the characters from the previous books in the series. But I cannot believe it took them so long to figure out how to have a relationship and still give deVries the outlet he needed for has sadism. At least they were both equally shortsighted when it came to identifying that solution. Regardless, I absolutely loved Edge of the Enforcer and am ready to sink my teeth into Master of Freedom in a few days.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the #WhipIt: Edge of the Enforcer blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Her Shirtless Gentleman by M.Q. Barber

Her Shirtless Gentleman by M.Q. Barber

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a fan of Barber’s Neighborly Affection series, I was both excited and nervous to read Her Shirtless Gentleman. Excited because I love the author’s writing style, yet nervous because the book is unlike the Neighborly Affection series and I worried that I would discover it was the series and characters and not actually the author’s writing I enjoyed. However, within mere pages my nervousness was obliterated as I fell under the spell of Rob and Nora and their unfolding romance.

We first meet Nora as she is out with the girls from work, and she means that literally as there is almost a decade between her and her 22 year-old coworkers. But as a divorcee, she doesn’t feel she can be too choosey if she wants to avoid hitting the dating scene alone. Even though she’s striking out when compared to her friends, an encounter with a young man who can’t hold his liquor insures that her evening will be memorable (<= that’s a serious understatement by the way). It was Nora’s ability to laugh off the incident that endeared her to me because I’m not sure I would have been as understanding. But this unfortunate incident leads to her meeting Rob and him offering her the shirt off his back … literally … so that she doesn’t have to suffer the indignity of the incident further. Unable to risk missing out on a chance with a woman that has finally caught his interest, they exchange numbers and a couple days later Rob invites her to lunch. And thus begins their courtship as Rob sets out to discover if Nora is all that she seems, if she could indeed be his forever girl.

Unlike the Neighborly Affection series, Her Shirtless Gentleman is a vanilla romance, but don’t for a minute think that equals a lack of steam. Barber reminds us what it’s like to discover new love and a new lover – the joys of kissing, touching, making out when it can only go so far, and finally embarking upon a new sexual relationship – and just how erotic it can be to learn someone new as they learn you, especially when that someone is invested in your pleasure. I loved watching Rob woo Nora, and that’s exactly what it was … a wooing. He paid attention to what she said, what she didn’t say, and how she reacted to him and situations, and because of this he realized rather quickly that his skittish Nora needed a soft touch. Fortunately for Rob, he was looking for a woman to settle down with for the long haul, not just a night or two, so he took his time with Nora. That he was also truly a gentleman made it that much easier for him to woo her because Nora’s ex-husband was so not a gentleman it wasn’t even funny. I loved the interactions between Rob and his parents and how inviting Rob’s family was of Nora. Her Shirtless Gentleman was a sweet romance with just the right amount of steam and a good dose of laughter. I cannot wait to read what Barber writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Her Shirtless Gentleman by M.Q. Barber blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Dance With Me by Heidi Cullinan

Dance With Me by Heidi Cullinan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dance with Me is only the second of Cullinan’s books that I’ve read, but having loved Carry the Ocean I was excited for the opportunity to read another M/M romance by the author. I am delighted to say that was not the least bit disappointed as this is a book I can see myself reading again and again and again.

The Overture (or prologue) does a wonderful job of introducing us to the main players – Ed and Laurie. We get to see them both at the height of their careers and experience their nerves and excitement as they step out onto their respective stages. Then we get to see what it is that brings their careers to a screeching halt and the scenes play out with so much emotion that I was invested in both men within pages. Considering how different their backgrounds are, it’s not the least bit surprising that they rubbed each other the wrong way in the beginning. With Laurie appearing to be the stereotypical flaming gay man, the exact persona that makes Ed cringe, and at the same time, Ed appearing to be the stereotypical jock to Laurie, the kind of guy that likely made his adolescence and early adulthood miserable, there’s no way these men will ever get along, much less be friends. Yet when the two men come together in dance, they’re beautiful. By that I mean that all of the judgements and preconceived notions fall away and they are simply two men who share a love and passion for the same thing – dance.

I have to say that I loved that Ed wasn’t an in-the-closet gay man. Considering his athletic career, this actually shocked me, but it was a pleasant surprise that I thought played out very well in the novel. No, he wasn’t in your face about it, but he didn’t hide it from his teammates, friends, family, or the kids he worked with. Ed’s easy acceptance of himself is what made Laurie’s disbelief so amusing. While on the surface, there is nothing about the two men that would make it seem as though they would work, the way their relationship developed was entirely believable. It wasn’t so much of an opposites-attract situation as it was one in which a shared passion provided common ground on which they got to know one another. They dropped their walls and judgements and got to know the man in front of them. I had a hard time reading Ed’s depressive episodes as they were too realistic for me, hitting a bit close to home at times, but this just added to my connection with Ed. His mother’s reaction when he said he wanted to clean his apartment was priceless as was her excitement as to the WHY. Both men’s families added to the realism of the romance in their support and by driving them each nuts in the way only family can. I really enjoyed Dance with Me and look forward to the novella the author’s note at the end says is on its way because I want more Ed and Laurie!

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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The Lies Between Us by M.N. Forgy

The Lies Between Us by M.N. Forgy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was ecstatic when the review opportunity for The Lies Between Us came up. I have enjoyed how Ms. Forgy weaves romance with the action and danger that accompanies a one-percenter motorcycle club. That said, I really had a hard time getting into this one. I suspect part of that was on me because even though I have been anxiously awaiting The Lies Between Us to pop up on my schedule, I was dealing with a headache when I started the book and found a lot of the interactions between Cherry and Lip to be annoying – actually I found the characters themselves to be annoying. Based on my past enjoyment, I stuck with it though because Ms. Forgy has proven her skill time and time again, but once I hit the mid-point and wasn’t any less annoyed with Cherry and Lip (you can stop smirking now), I knew I had to step back for the night and try again the next day.

While I’m happy to report that the level of action in the second half of the book increased immensely and made the read more enjoyable for me, I never connected with Cherry or Lip. Considering what we knew about Lindsay (aka Cherry) at the time, I was astounded with how quickly things progressed between her and Lip. Not the one-night stand because uh … yeah, hello? I totally got the whole bad boy biker thing. Rather my issue is that within a week’s time she’s moved into his home and he’s bought her a car, yet her concern is that they might have had sex too soon. This is a woman whose father physically abused her, who got knocked up on her first time, had her baby legally “stolen” from her by its father simply because he could, and who’s homeless because someone’s trying to kill her so she can’t go home to her brother. Girlfriend is seriously lacking in the self-preservation instinct department. But hey, she’s still really young so I forgave her for her hormone driven behaviors, even if she seemed on a direct course for a repeat of the past. While I found Lip’s head-over-heels courtship of Cherry to be uncharacteristic of the men we’ve come to know from the Devil’s Dust MC, I tried to go with the flow. Honest, I really, really did and thankfully it paid off when it came to Lip because once he gets out of prison we find out why he was so smitten with Cherry. THAT was shocking. But Lip wasn’t the only one with a secret and The Lies Between Us delved into what was the breaking point of their relationship – when is your trust shattered irrevocably?

Despite the spike in action, I still never connected with Cherry. I think had the author shown us some of what Cherry did on behalf of the club during the six years that Lip was in prison, I would have had a better understanding of her character and been able to connect with her – yes, we were told some of what she did but a sentence here or there really doesn’t make the same impact. As it were, I sympathized with her plight to get her daughter back and figure out whether or not she had a future with Lip, but I just wasn’t as invested as much as I have for the past heroines. I did enjoy the twist that Lip’s brother introduced and I look forward to seeing how that story thread unravels. The ending the author crafted for the couple was perfect for them and it as well as the action is what saved the book for me. Although The Lies Between Us is not my favorite of the series, I am looking forward to the next book and spending more time with the Devil’s Dust MC.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out The Lies Between Us by M.N. Forgy Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Theirs to Take by Natasha Knight

Theirs to Take by Natasha Knight

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


So this was a much better read than I expected. That sounds awful and isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, but bear with me as I explain. Four months ago, when I signed up to review Theirs to Take I was in and out of the mood for dark books. For the last month (possibly longer) I haven’t had any interest in reading books featuring dark subject matter and as this book neared the top of my schedule, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Heck, I even read another book out of order on my schedule to delay reading Theirs to Take because I wasn’t ready to face it. No one wants to read a book in a genre that they’re not feeling at the moment, especially when a review is expected, and I really don’t like to do it because it’s not fair to the author. So it was with great trepidation that I queued it up on my Kindle last night.

Fortunately for me (maybe), Knight managed to suck me into the story so fully that I was up until 2am reading and only stopped then because I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. While Theirs to Take certainly contains dark subject matter – we are dealing with human trafficking after all – the author didn’t take it too dark. Human trafficking is a story element that can be used to show the redemption of the trafficker or slave owner via love, to show human cruelty and suffering through the unnecessary abuse of the slave, to show criminals brought to justice, or, in the case of Theirs to Take, to show how a relationship that begins as Stockholm Syndrome can become a “real” relationship. When Eva suspects her fiancé of an affair and follows him to a meeting, she soon learns that his love was all an act as he has her added to the shipment of women with instructions that she is not to be there when the truck reaches its final destination. I cannot imagine the terror she felt as her life was turned upside down by the man who was supposed to love and protect her. But her situation gets worse when the “shipment” is hijacked and the women trade one set of captors for another.

Knight does an excellent job of combining Eva’s first person point of view with the brothers’ side of the story being presented in the third person. Had you asked me if an author could successfully combine first person and third person points of view in a book I would have said it was doubtful. Yet it works wonderfully for Theirs to Take as the main focus of the book is Eva and how she handles her abduction and falling in love with not one, but both of her kidnappers, and the first person POV is crucial to making it work. In the same vein, enabling the reader to see what the brothers were doing kept them from seeming evil and made Eva’s feelings toward them make sense. And while we were privy to some things before Eva, there was much we didn’t learn until Eva did which kept me connected to her plight. Most of the ménage scenes are heavy on the BDSM elements and I found them to be quite hot, again mainly because I knew the brothers’ intentions. I really enjoyed Theirs to Take and will be adding Knight to my shortlist of dark authors so I can check out more of her work the next time I’m in the mood for the genre.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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The Goblin King by Heather Killough-Walden

The Goblin King by Heather Killough-Walden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I. Bawled. My. Eyes. Out! Good grief I was not expecting that at all. To make matters worse, I was reading at work so I had to stop reading and compose myself before continuing on. Guess what? It didn’t work. Fortunately for me, I work in a setting where I can read without issue so my puffy eyes only bothered me … and my heart because THAT scene was one of the most devastating scenes I’ve read in both the Big Bad Wolf series and The Kings series. The Goblin King gives the author an opportunity to push the boundaries of the realms and she does so with fervor, or so it would seem. And I for one, could not read this book fast enough to find out what kind of woman was destined to be the Goblin Queen.

As I’ve only read one other series featuring a Goblin King, I was fascinated to read Killough-Walden’s spin on this enigmatic man. Because I have virtually no basis for comparison and lack knowledge of this particular fae (truth be told, I didn’t realize/remember he was fae prior to this book), I cannot comment on how closely the author holds to the myths and legends. What I can say is that Damon Chroi is a fascinating man who rules over a dark and equally interesting realm. It stands to reason that if our Goblin King is fascinating, his Goblin Queen would be even more so and the author does not disappoint when Diana Piper proves just why the fates have chosen her to rule over the Goblin realm – whether she thinks herself special or not.

Even as Damon sets to convince Diana that she is meant to be his queen and why she is needed in the Goblin realm, the battle with the master and his minions continues. There was a time or two when I felt as though The Goblin King focused more on Evie and Roman than on Damon and his queen, but that was mainly because I wanted to see the Goblin King claim his Goblin Queen. When the actual physical claiming occurred … Oh my word!!! That man knows how to clear a table, that’s for sure. Fortunately the kings and their newly found queens seem to be holding off the threat, but Rafael’s plans and machinations on behalf of the master are frightening to dwell upon because I’m not sure I’m up to the crying that would ensue should he prove successful. The Goblin King was an excellent addition to The Kings series and I cannot wait to read on. Fortunately I have The Seelie King and The Unseelie King loaded on my Kindle and all ready to go so I can find out what happens next.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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My Liege of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair

My Liege of Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You know how they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”? Although I bought My Liege of Dark Haven three years ago, I know it’s the book’s cover that caught my eye because seriously that man’s muscled back and long braid are freaking HAWT! The fact that I had finished my master’s degree the year prior with a heavy emphasis in data and research made Abby’s plight speak to me … LOUDLY. I was intrigued by the idea of a well-educated, professional woman learning more about BDSM for research purposes and finding out more about herself in the process. As My Liege of Dark Haven was my first such novel, it set the bar for this particular theme and while I have found some that I liked, so few have met the Sinclair-standard that I was beginning to question if I remembered my enjoyment of the novel as well as I thought. After rereading it I realized that nope, the standard is set that high because the book is that freaking good.

Besides understanding Abby on an intellectual level, I connected with her in regards to her believed physical shortcomings as well and this is why I so was so amused by the wardrobe issues that arose throughout the book. It’s also why Xavier’s unapologetic appreciation of her curves upped his appeal for me (if that was even possible). While their chemistry is intense and this makes for some seriously hot BDSM scenes that just get hotter throughout the book, it is their non-sexual relationship that begins to break down their walls and blur the lines of Xavier’s well-established boundaries for his women. Because Xavier still loves his deceased wife he doesn’t feel that he can offer Abby an emotional commitment. While he does tell her this and she accepts the arrangement, his actions as their relationship progresses belie this. This is what makes his seeming betrayal so devastating to Abby and even knowing what I knew as the reader, I couldn’t blame her for her reaction. That of course is what makes the ending that much sweeter.

One of the things I liked about My Liege of Dark Haven that led to me read the previous books in the series was the intelligence and maturity of the heroine. This holds true for all of Sinclair’s leading ladies (at least that I can recall) and gives them an inner strength that helps them stand up for themselves and others when needed, yet still submitting to their man’s sexual dominance in the bedroom. This strength is what sees Abby through the trouble that her ex causes her when he blows the whistle on her research project. It’s also what enables her to see her punishment through for violating the club members’ trust. I also enjoyed getting to know Xavier outside of the club and finding out how compassionate the man was and the programs he ran in memory of his mother’s struggles. Learning of Xavier’s background showed why he and Abby were so well-suited for one another, thus making the progression of their relationship feel right – detours and all. I still love My Liege of Dark Haven and am so looking forward to reading Edge of the Enforcer, which I apparently bought when it came out but never read. DOH!

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Repentance: The Story of Kace Haywood by Meghan Quinn

Repentance: The Story of Kace Haywood by Meghan Quinn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Flippin’ heck!!! Repentance was awesome! Having read the Bourbon series, I was quite familiar with Kace and jumped at the chance to review this book (which I also bought). At least I thought I knew Kace. While I knew that our moody, broody, sexy as sin former boxer’s story was going to be intense, I was not prepared for the rollercoaster ride that Ms. Quinn took me on. Truth be told, I should have been because the author has ripped my heart out and repaired it with each book in the Bourbon series, from which Repentance hails, and yet I was still taken by surprise time and time again as Kace’s story unfolded.

To begin with, I had drawn my own conclusions as to the events of the night that changed Kace’s life. Fans of the Bourbon series know that Kace killed a man while he was drunk one evening and I had always assumed that it was a drunk driving incident. The truth of that night was both better and worse than I imagined. Yes, Kace killed a man. Yes, he was drunk when it occurred. But it wasn’t the black and white situation that I had believed it to be based on Kace and Jett’s conversations about the past. While Kace did indeed feel a boatload of guilt over his actions, the main reason was because of the family he destroyed – taking away a husband and a father. I had wondered how Jett managed to cover up Kace’s crime and when we see that night play out, any doubts I had about Jett’s actions that night were obliterated. Even though Jett managed to keep Kace out of jail, he couldn’t keep Kace from living in his own self-imposed prison. What made this whole situation even more devastating was that it came on the heels of the loss of Kace’s boxing career. I nearly cried when Kace learned that his trainer had been doping him without his knowledge. To have your dreams stolen by the person you’re supposed to be able to trust – I can’t even imagine. I was devastated for him. I knew that Kace’s life had not been a good one, but until this book I had no idea of just how bad of a hand he had been dealt. The one thing that Repentance did reaffirm for me was that despite his outward demeanor, Kace Haywood is a good man.

Ms. Quinn presents Kace’s story by alternating between the past and the present and it works beautifully. We get to see the work that Jett, the girls, and Kace have put into the community center that Jett decided to open so he could help more people than just the Jett Girls. This format allows us to see the damage that Kace is doing to himself and those around him as he drowns in his guilt that has been increasing over the years. We get to see him try to destroy his relationship with Lyla even as we see how it started. Thankfully Lyla is just as spunky as Goldie and despite Kace throwing some seriously damaging blows to their relationship, she soldiers forth until she can make him see that she wants him – Kace, the man – bad moods, emotional baggage, sexy abs, and all. Let me assure you that Ms. Quinn still has it when it comes to writing steamy sex scenes. Yowser! Though I won’t say that I knew that the healing revelation was going to be what it was, I will say that I had begun to hope with all my heart that the situation would turn out that way because I could see no better way for Kace to find his redemption. And those scenes were made even better by Kace sharing them with Jett, his best friend and the man who had walked the journey with him, refusing to abandon him. And yes, tissues were needed. While Repentance is not officially a part of the Bourbon series, it is a must read for Bourbon fans because you not only get Kase’s story, but you also get to keep tabs on the lives of Jett, Goldie, and the Jett Girls. If you haven’t read the Bourbon series don’t worry because Repentance easily stands on its own, but you may find yourself adding three books to your to-be-read list. Well done Ms. Quinn! I cannot wait for the next spin-off.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Check out the Repentance: The Story of Kace Haywood by Meghan Quinn Blog Tour post on Wicked Reads.


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Sinner's Steel by Sarah Castille

Sinner's Steel by Sarah Castille

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This series just gets better and better. As the war between the Sinner’s Tribe and the Black Jacks rages on, Zane finds himself facing a future he gave up on almost a decade ago. Evie, the girl who got away, pops up on his radar and she’s dating the president of the Black Jacks. Even a blind man can see this situation spells trouble with a capital T. If that weren’t enough, secrets and betrayals from their pasts have caused them both to build walls around their hearts and both are scared of letting the other in. But if we’ve learned nothing else about the Sinners, we know that it takes a strong woman to be a Sinners’ old lady and it’s not an easy road for either of them to travel.

The book opens with a glimpse into Zane’s past and the girl who stole his heart. Fast forward nine years to the present, and the Sinner’s finally have the traitorous Axle in their sights and as they are about to bring him to justice – one percenter style – Jagger and Zane realize that their childhood friend Evie is working in the body shop they’ve cornered him in. Both men are stunned and in their distracted state, Axle gets away yet again (that man is turning out to be slipperier than an eel). When Zane refuses to reveal himself to Evie or accompany Jagger to see her the next day, we learn that there is a good chunk of Zane’s past that Jagger hasn’t been made privy to. As the story unfolds we find out why Zane has no interest in bringing Evie back into his life and his decision is understandable. But as someone who should know better than to judge someone without all of the facts, Zane finds out that he misjudged Evie’s situation years prior. The fact that the chemistry between them seems to have only intensified over the years makes it almost impossible for them to stay away from one another and makes for some seriously steamy scenes throughout the book. Unfortunately when the Black Jack’s president learns that Zane is sniffing around his property (so to speak), Evie gets a crash course in the outlaw biker lifestyle she never wanted and her life goes from tame to terrifying in no time.

There is a ton of conflict in Sinner’s Steel yet not the angsty kind, but rather the gritty drama you expect from an MC romance. Due to their past, there is some major relationship drama that plays out between Zane and Evie and the way in which Castille writes the story, I found both characters to be sympathetic. Neither’s life has been ideal since their parting and each has made compromises for the life they now lead. Add to that the escalation of the Black Jacks attack on the Sinner’s Tribe’s territory and the madness and mayhem add to the body count on both sides. And Viper’s involvement with a civilian (Evie) makes matters worse on so many levels. In fact, Viper acted so differently than we’ve come to expect that I thought I was remembering the wrong character; that or the man had a massive personality transplant. As terrifying as it was, it was almost a relief when his true colors shined through because he was seriously freaking me out. Fortunately the author balances the dark with the light and in Sinner’s Steel, the light happened to be Evie’s son Ty. I absolutely adored Ty (and his swear jar) and laughed my butt off when he realized how much money he could rake in around the bikers. Sinner’s Steel was a great addition to the Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series, because even though I knew that Zane and Evie would get their happy ending, Castille kept an element of danger throughout much of the book that had me on the edge of my seat as I read as fast as I could to find out how their story played out. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to find out which of our Sinner’s is next up to find his old lady.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out the Sinner’s Steel (Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club #3) by Sarah Castille blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Monster Unleashed by Shakuita Johnson

Monster Unleashed by Shakuita Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Monster Unleashed is the solidly written sequel to Dark Indiscretions. Like the first novel, it is dialogue heavy, action packed, and contains one seriously hot sex scene. The focus of this installment is Krista and how she deals with the torture that was inflicted upon her by her father and her relationship with her two mates.

As the title suggests, Krista is not dealing well with her father's torture and she is becoming the monster that Mystics are known to be. She has no regard for others and is cruel to those in her life, including her mother and her mates. She begins killing for the pleasure of it, completely disregarding 400 years of her mother's teaching.

Personally I didn't like the storyline but that was because I didn't like to see the changes in Krista and how she treated everyone. Nor did I like the way the Jenny kept reacting to Krista's behaviors – she was not the same strong woman we met in Dark Indiscretions. That said, Krista's character development is in line with the Mystic race and Jenny is reacting as one would expect a pregnant mother to respond, which is what makes Monster Unleashed a solid sequel. Fortunately Ms. Johnson introduced new elements to the storyline and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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Best-Laid Plans by Willa Okati

Best-Laid Plans by Willa Okati

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have to say this and get it out of way so I can move on from it. I nearly did not read this book because of the cover. I have a tendency to scan past books with cartoonish covers for some reason – they literally repel me. Fortunately I noticed the author’s name and as a fan of Ms. Okati’s writing I ignored the cover and dove right in and I am so glad that I did because watching the romance between Teddy and Jefferson unfold was absolutely delightful.

The blurb states that “Teddy and Jefferson get along like a house on fire.” – that’s an understatement. Jefferson can’t open his mouth without ticking Teddy off and while at times Teddy’s anger may seem a bit exaggerated (read “drama queen”), there are just as many times when it’s not unwarranted. But as we get to know the two guys better it becomes apparent that Jefferson isn’t an intentional arse, he just doesn’t think about how what he says can be hurtful. But nothing unites enemies like a common foe, so when the ex-fiancé and ex-best friend Beau shows back up in town and threatens the relationship of Teddy and Jefferson’s besties, they call a truce and unite forces to keep Beau from ruining everything. When they decide to add sex to the truce, what a united front they present?!?!? Their natural antagonism toward one another equates to some intense passion inside the bedroom. But as they spend more time together outside the bedroom, they find that they are far more compatible than either ever believed.

I loved Teddy and Jefferson’s pre-truce antics. Their pranks had me chuckling on more than one occasion and I loved watching them fall in love. I adored Teddy and his snarky attitude. I liked how the author integrated the relationship triangle between Noelani, Emmett, and Beau into the story, making it important without letting it overshadow Teddy and Jefferson’s romance. The “A-HA” moment was entertaining but not nearly as so as when Teddy found out that Noelani was playing him – I wasn’t sure if Noelani was brave or stupid for telling him. Either way it was hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed Best-Laid Plans and it has joined the author’s other books on my re-read list. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Okati’s writing.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
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The Warlock King by Heather Killough-Walden

The Warlock King by Heather Killough-Walden

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!!! I cannot believe all that happened in The Warlock King. I began the book knowing that Jason was finally going to claim his queen, but I had no idea just how special his queen would be. Yes, so far Evie and Siobhan have proven that the women destined to be queen were special. But Chloe is even more special than I would have thought possible. And it is killing me not to say why. Seriously, the world may be lucky that Chloe has basically starved herself for most of her existence because once the truth of her Akyri roots were revealed, I can only imagine what her future holds. And it seems fitting that an Akyri as special as she would deserve an equally special warlock as her “partner” so the Warlock King is a fitting choice by the fates.

We first encountered Chloe in The Vampire King and I say encountered because she was there and gone so quickly it doesn’t count as meeting her. The Warlock King quickly rectifies this as we spend time with Chloe while she tries to figure out how best to avoid Jason and whether or not she really wants to. Fans of both the Big Bad Wolf series and The Kings series are well acquainted with Jason Alberich – the former leader of Dannai’s coven and the current Warlock King. While we have seen his character evolve over the books and definitely for the better, it is easy to understand why Chloe is trying to evade him. Once you learn the truth of what Chloe is, it’s even more understandable as to why she fears tying herself to ANY warlock, much less the Warlock King. But as Chloe is the woman who has been chosen to be queen (not by Jason, but he’s quite happy with the choice), her claiming by Jason is inevitable. Although both endure an extremely harrowing journey before the claiming, Chloe does a nice job of turning the table on Jason and this made for a highly charged erotic scene.

In addition to the Warlock King claiming his Warlock Queen, Killough-Walden gives readers more information on who is behind the attacks on the kings and a glimpse into what his plans are. I say a glimpse because we are only given a limited amount of information, so while some questions are answered, the end goal still looms. We also discover the secret of who was responsible for Ophelia’s turning and attacking the kings on the “master’s” behalf. The vampire’s identity stunned me to the point I had to walk away from my Kindle momentarily. But I couldn’t stay away long because the reason WHY we learned who he was freaked me out and I am ready to begin The Goblin King next because I have to know the fate of the mystery vampire’s latest captive. The Warlock King was another excellent addition to The Kings series that was an ever better story than I had hoped for and I had pretty freaking high hopes for Jason.

I reviewed my personal copy of this book.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

Check out The Warlock King (The Kings #3) by Heather Killough-Walden blog post on Crystal's Many Reviewers.


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Revenge by Bailey Bradford

Revenge by Bailey Bradford

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


While Revenge was supposed to be about Ryder and Maarten’s mating, it seems to be an equal split with an unexpected and cowardly attack on Marcus and the shifters’ headquarters in New Mexico. But this isn’t a complaint because I found the way in which the two storylines were woven together to be exactly what was needed for many reasons. With the influence and support that Marcus provided to resolve the European Alpha Anax conflict in Revolution it was only natural that he take steps necessary to teach Ryder how to act as an Alpha Anax so that he’s prepared to take over in South America when the time comes for him to issue a challenge to the current Alpha Anax. The attacks on Marcus and the compound provides a perfect “on-the-job” training opportunity for Ryder to see how dangerous the Alpha Anax position can be and the chance to see how he responds under pressure – especially when his mate is at risk.

I must say that I absolutely loved the way in which Ryder and Maarten discovered they were mates. As one of the shifters who was turned against his will, Ryder has VERY limited knowledge of the shifter culture. So when he finds himself wanting to rip out the throat of a guard he has nothing against, he’s appalled by his response. Fortunately Sissy was there at the time (loved the pegging conversation by the way) and was able to prevent Ryder from doing something he would regret and guide him toward his mate, even if Ryder didn’t realize that was what was happening. While Ryder might not understand the significance of being mates, he has no problem responding to the sexual attraction between him and Maarten and wastes no time getting down to business. Yowser! Unfortunately the attacks against Marcus begin almost immediately thereafter, the first being the brutal murder and mutilation of a pack member. Because of what was going on, Ryder and Maarten didn’t have the luxury of getting to know one another slowly after their mating, but this doesn’t keep Ryder from reacting strongly (<=understatement) when his mate is injured. As the attacks ramp up, Marcus proves why he is the North American Alpha Anax and Ryder shows that he is indeed qualified to serve as the South American Alpha Anax.

While this is not the first book in the series with elements of action, suspense, and violence, Revenge certainly seems to outdo its predecessors in these areas. I was quite surprised when the identity of the attacker was discovered and considering all of the damage and destruction he wreaked on the pack, his death was over far too quick for my liking. Oh yes, Revenge made me quite bloodthirsty in that aspect because that coward deserved to be drawn and quartered – literally. The burden of the loss clearly weighed on Marcus’s heart and Nathan’s support as his mate was invaluable to Marcus (and the series). I thoroughly enjoyed Revenge and cannot wait to see what Bradford has in store for the Southwestern Shifters in Reluctance.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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