Page 50 of 423

BOOK REVIEW: Forbidden Legacy (Fallen Fae #1) by Theresa Kay

October 14, 2022 / Jen / 0 Comments

Forbidden Legacy (Fallen Fae #1)
by Theresa Kay
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Stealing from the fae is easy, but working with one to retrieve the relic I was hired to swipe? Not so much.

The job was supposed to be simple: Sneak in, break the wards, grab the necklace, and get out. Being arrested for the murder of a high-profile Autumn Court fae was definitely not part of the plan.

After I’m cleared of the crime and sent home, the dead fae's arrogant grandson shows up at my door. He demands I help him retrieve the thing I never had a chance to take, though he neglects to tell me the item's true worth. In the battle for power between the fae Courts, the necklace is beyond priceless and there's more than one person willing to kill for it.

But my new associate is not the only person with secrets, and the teenage dragon shifter who lives with me in the human realm is only one of mine. After all, I haven’t spent the past six years hiding in a seedy section of post-Merge Chicago for fun.

Forced out of obscurity and on the trail of a blood magic wielding murderer, I’ll have to work quickly in order to prevent disaster. Because if we can’t find the necklace before it’s too late, then the fate of all the Courts may be at stake.

Forbidden Legacy is the first book of the Fallen Fae trilogy, an exciting new adult urban fantasy series with magic, mystery, and a slow-burn romance.

Review:

Forbidden Legacy was a fabulous start to this trilogy! With dread pooling in my stomach, the first chapter sucked me right in! Magic swirled within the story while deals were made, motives were unknown, and there were moments that I didn’t know if they would make it out alive. This story was impossible to put down and an instant fave!

My truths are one of the few things that belong to me and I refuse to give them up without a fight.

I absolutely loved Ari! She was from the Winter Court and kept a low profile in the human world. She did odd jobs, using her ability to take down wards, to survive. So when Declan swept into her world, I couldn’t stop smiling! Declan was from the Autumn Court and Ari had no problem putting him in his place! I loved watching her play with words, and I loved how confident she was of herself. Of her skills. And I loved her even more because she helped take care of Finn, a teenage dragon shifter. However, Ari held her cards close to her chest and protected those that she cared for fiercely. She would literally go to the ends of the world for them. But she didn’t let others in easily, or at all. I was nervous for Declan, if he would be able to knock down her walls.

If I had any sense at all, I’d walk away right now.
The problem is, I think it’s too late for that.

I am obsessed with Declan. He was a full blooded Fae who was arrogant and saw the world differently than Ari. He definitely made some assumptions that were wrong, like about Ari. But not only did Declan grow in leaps and bounds from the beginning of the first book to the end, so much of who he was beautiful. He took responsibility. He protected others. He was smile inducing and I loved some of the tricks he pulled on Ari. His words, his actions, his loyalty, and his ability to go all in made it so easy to fall for and love Declan. But I also loved that Declan pushed Ari. And tried his best to knock down her walls. I so desperately wish I could have known his thoughts!

I have to get away.
I can’t stay here.
I can’t breathe.
I’m going to die.

Forbidden Legacy had a slow burn romance that will definitely be worth the wait! Not only were Ari and Declan from different courts, but they both had lots of secrets. Being stuck in perilous situations forced them to trust and rely on each other’s magic, and one other, to survive. I loved how that led them to letting their guard down at moments or sharing something about themselves. It was smile inducing and gave me so much hope! Through it all, I felt desire laced in some of their interactions. Whether it was a look or a phrase, it left me so hopeful. Because I kept wishing that they could be together. They would be a formidable team. So the moments they went that extra length to do something for the other, I don’t even have words for how happy it made me. I just wanted to push them together and never let them be apart lol!

I reach up and take one of his hands, linking my fingers with his and squeezing his hand. “I’ve got you.”

Rounding out the story where side characters that came alive. Finn was my absolute favorite among them, and I am beyond intrigued by Agatha! There were also characters that I would love to see destroyed! So many moments I had sweaty palms as truths surfaced and paths were set in motion. And while I guessed one of the twists, there’s still so much for us to learn and figure out. Forbidden Legacy was an addictive story that will take you on a spellbinding adventure! Brimming with banter, fabulous characters and a story-line that makes it so easy to devour, this book was such a huge win! The ending of this story left us at the perfect stopping place. We can breathe but we’re also left beyond excited for that next book! If you’re a fan of slow burn romance, I can’t recommend this book enough!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: The Dark King (Deviant Kings #1) by Gina L. Maxwell

October 13, 2022 / Jen / 0 Comments

The Dark King (Deviant Kings #1)
by Gina L. Maxwell
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
For Bryn Meara, a free trip to the exclusive and ultra-luxe Nightfall hotel and casino in Vegas should’ve been the perfect way to escape the debris of her crumbling career. But waking up from a martini-and-lust-fueled night to find herself married to Caiden Verran, the reclusive billionaire who owns the hotel and most of the city, isn’t the jackpot one would think. It seems her dark and sexy new husband is actual royalty—the fae king of the Night Court—and there’s an entire world beneath the veil of Vegas.

Whether light or shadow, the fae are a far cry from fairy tales, and now they’ve made Bryn a pawn in their dark games for power. And Caiden is the most dangerous of all—an intoxicating cocktail of sin and raw, insatiable hunger. She should run. But every night of passion pulls Bryn deeper into his strange and sinister world, until she’s no longer certain she wants to leave…even if she could.

Review:

All is fair in marriage and war.

The Dark King was an extremely seductive tale about the Fae living in our world. With adult flawed characters, an enemies to lovers premise, a captive situation, and death constantly around the corner, this book was such a quick read! The Dark King was a memorable story that fantasy lovers will devour!

“I’d rather be sorry for taking a thousand risks than be safe for never taking any.”

Bryn Meara ended up with a free trip to the city of sin, Las Vegas. I adored her happy go lucky personality and how she could find so much positive even when the world knocked her down. Upon meeting Caiden Verran, a billionaire who owned the hotel she was staying at, there were sparks. And after a wild night with Caiden, they ended up married. But what Bryn didn’t realize was that he was Fae. And the king of the Night Court. Bryn found herself trapped and part of a deadly game. But are you truly trapped if a part of your heart wanted to stay?

I’m a selfish fucking bastard who wants to keep what he’s not supposed to have.

Caiden Verran was a multi-faceted man. He showed us he had compassion for his employees and to keep them safe. That he loved his brothers. But he also showed us how he had no problem being dark, controlling and an asshole. Caiden’s court was banished to the human world, and they made Vegas what it is today. And his court was also cursed. I loved watching how that played out as the story progressed. The Fae were so tricky, especially with their words! Caiden was sex appeal, danger and control all rolled into a beautifully powerful man. So when he showed us his heart or when he opened up to Bryn, it was impossible not to fall for him.

“So I was thinking, since I’m your prisoner—”
“Guest.”
“Hostage—”
“Roommate.”
She sighs.

Caiden and Bryn together were electric with their enemies to lovers romance. I loved how she had no problem standing her ground when it came to him. He definitely wasn’t used to that lol. But at the same point, they were trapped together. So Bryn became a hostage. One who still had feelings and a wild attraction to her captor. Yet her captor felt so much towards her too, even if he didn’t want to. Their moments together were beyond erotic. Sooooooo why didn’t I gave this book a higher rating, since I loved so much of it? It’s because the BDSM was way too much for me. I would have been fine with it once, but that was not how the story unfolded. Butt plugs, being called a slut, spanking, nipple clamps etc just aren’t my preferences when reading a book. Just like the moment below, I flinched when reading ugh.

As her next orgasm builds and twists inside her, tears overflow and cause her mascara to run. I use the fingers of my free hand and smear the black drops into messy streaks down her face, then I grip the front of her throat and apply pressure on either side. Lips and nipples both swollen and red, cheeks painted in black tears…

Mysteries, secrets, and fabulous twists filled this story. And there was a sacrifice that was beautiful! Plus the side characters, oh I have way too many lovely words for them to write it all here, but readers will be excited to learn that this world will continue with those other characters. I absolutely loved the story-line and the characters, I just personally couldn’t handle the BDSM. Not even a little bit. I read the synopsis on Goodreads, but lesson learned to also look at Amazon because on Amazon it states the book is similar to Fifty Shades. I wish I would have seen that. But here’s hoping my friends who love their fantasy with all the spice enjoy this book!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn

October 12, 2022 / Arielle / 1 Comment

The Unmarked Witch by Miranda Lyn
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
ALL RAVEN WANTS IS PEACE. BUT IN A MAGICAL REALM PLAGUED BY DECEPTION, THE ONLY THING HER WORLD KNOWS IS TURMOIL.

A land where witches wear their spells like tattoos is no place for a woman without a single magical mark—except for Raven, whose unblemished skin contradicts the truth of her power. Surviving under the scowls of her fellow witches has carved indelible scars into her mind over the years—just as the day she watched the Dark King's men murder her grandmother in cold blood.

But the Dark King's reign of terror is far-reaching, and Raven's grandmother won't be the last witch to die under his rule. After the death of a coven leader heralds the start of the infamous Witch Trials, Raven finds herself dodging death to triumph. The journey quickly descends into perils far greater than she'd ever imagined, including a war on her heart from a man she’d only ever known as a villain.

Still, trust is always fragile in kingdoms ruled by magic, especially when love enters the fold. Yet, something else is awry in the land of spells and shadows and Raven must decide whether she trusts her gut or her heart.

The Unmarked Witch is the first gripping book in the seductive and intriguing duology,Unmarked.

From the author of the heart-pounding fantasy series, Fae Rising comes this new darkly ambitious tale.

Review

This book….was so much more than I could have ever anticipated. Because I have been reading fanfic nonstop since, oh, about last May, I have barely made time for new authors that I’m not familiar with unless someone I know has read it first and “pushed” it on me. Luckily that happened to me here!

One thing that I feel pretty well versed in when it comes to fantasy is magic. I have always loved books with any kind of magic and I have very strong opinions on what I think works and doesn’t work within a given fantasy world. I thought Lyn crafted SUCH a unique system in this where witches can receive spells throughout their life and afterwards they are inked on their skin. More powerful witches are obviously then more marked and they can call upon any number of marks at any time.

The only witch to NOT receive any markings despite having numerous spells in her arsenal is, you guessed it, our main character, Raven. I LOOOVED Raven. She was such a real character who always tried to stay true to herself and would do anything for the people she loved. I am so excited to learn more about her magic in book two and hopefully to find out why she is unmarked!

Honestly every single character in this book was excellently crafted. Easy to love and easy to hate which to me usually is a great indicator of a talented writer because who wants to read about characters that you don’t care about? Kirsi was an obvious favorite and I can’t wait to see more of her in book two *side eyes emoji* LOL. Bastian….I could go on and on but I will keep my lips zipped other than to say two words–THE CHEMISTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAHH!!!!! And Grey. I am a sucker for Grey-like characters so I’m very intrigued where his storyline will go in book two as well.

This book made me feel a lot of things and the biggest feeling I have to express right at this second is that I NEED BOOK TWO LIKE YESTERDAY! I highly recommend to anyone who loves magic, witches, fantasy, a gripping romance, and a twisty plot.

BOOK REVIEW: The Perfects by Rachel Van Dyken

October 11, 2022 / Jen / 4 Comments

The Perfects by Rachel Van Dyken
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Everything was perfect.
Until it wasn't.

Until my family took on a foster girl and placed her across the hall from me. A charity case to look good and a person who should have never existed in my world.
I kissed her to get her to stop talking, and then I kissed her again because I liked the taste of her words—I liked her.
It was our secret until we got caught—that night changed everything.

We became strangers living in the same house, seeing the same ghosts of our past mistakes, but I can't stop thinking about us, about those forbidden moments.
I pretend to hate her, I tell her I'll never forgive her, and then Quinn, my ex-best friend, steps into the picture. I can't tell if he actually likes her or if he has a death wish and just likes pissing me off, but what do I say? Stay away from my foster sister?
She's mine?
I've already had her?
Saying that to him would expose what we were and ruin everything.
We're all three of us living multiple lies, and eventually, I know our ivory tower of perfection is going to come crashing down.

He knows my secrets.
I know his.
And now she knows both.

She wants.
He wants.
But I always—always get what I want.

And what I want is the girl, no matter what it may cost me.

Review:

The minute I walked into his life— mine began—his ended.
I’m shaking and don’t even realize it.

The Perfects was an emotional, angsty, fabulous read! With an enemies to lovers vibe, a tiny bit of a love triangle, and a twist that will leave you staring at the pages wondering where this story was going next, this book was so easy to binge in one sitting! If you like your young adult romance steamy, then definitely have this one on your tbr!

He stills and locks eyes with me. “Are you going to be an annoying little problem, Belle?”
“That depends.” I take a brave step forward. “Are you going to be a rich asshole?”

Mary-Belle made me love her right away, and my heart hurt for her. She was in the foster system and kept getting uprooted. She never had anything stable. When she ended up at her latest house, I was so nervous for her. She was thrown into the life of luxury, yet not everything was at it seemed. Emotions were faked. So much felt staged. And she ended up right in Ambrose’s cross-hairs. The son who lived at her current house. But as the story progressed, I loved watching how much Mary-Belle grew! She put people in her place. She found her strength. And she tried her best to do what was right and find love in her life.

His smile broadens. “How much will you hate me if I make this morning a bit better?”
“How would you do that?” I ask.
He smirks, and I notice a small dimple on his right cheek. “Such a dangerous question, Belle.”

Ambrose was a complicated soul. He was rich and hated that his dad practically owned the town they lived in. His mom was perfect, his dad was perfect and he had to act perfect too and was destined to go places. Yet Ambrose’s whole world got rearranged when a foster girl came and lived with him. Right across the hall from his bedroom. He wanted her. And Ambrose always got what he wanted. Yet fate had tragic heartache time and again in his future. His story was not easy. So Ambrose could be such an emotional ass. Or a dickhead, take your choice lol. He was so mean to Mary-Belle. But keep looking because there were moments where he showed us that he did have a heart. And I loved seeing that side of him!

The family will always look perfect despite the fractures in the foundation; she doesn’t have to know the dirty details.
So yeah, maybe I want something just for me.
Is that so wrong?

Mary-Belle and Ambrose were like fire and gasoline. There was hate, passion, lust and a whole slew of other emotions. When they physically got together, it escalated so quickly. I didn’t know where they could go from there. But a wrench was thrown in their lives. And their enemies to lovers relationship was done beautifully heartbreaking! Their antics were so crazy that I was glued to the pages because I couldn’t even guess what would happen next. I screamed out loud, I was freaked out, and was nervous as other events popped up in the story! Mary-Belle and Ambrose had an extremely passionate relationship, but just like Ambrose’s life, their story together wasn’t easy.

I wonder if it’s the worst move I could have accidentally made.
A challenge.
A wave of the red flag.
Because I’ve never seen Ambrose so angry.
And I’ve never felt so safe.
In Quinn’s arms.

And then there was Quinn. He went to High School with Mary-Belle and Ambrose. First impression, I loved him! He seemed like such a good guy! And I didn’t get why he technically couldn’t be friends with Mary-Belle. Or maybe friends was the wrong word because they were both attracted to each other. But it felt like there were a whole ton of secrets between him and Ambrose. And about Quinn’s past. But Quinn was a little too much for me with some of the physical things he did. So while he wasn’t my favorite, I did love the emotions he pulled out of Mary-Belle and Ambrose. And I loved how he helped them as the story progressed!

Damn.
I feel like an addict waiting for my next hit while still trying to push away the one thing that will destroy me.
We have no other option but destruction.
And yet, I give in.
I fold.
Maybe I always will.

Rachel Van Dyken’s writing hooks me every single time! This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions! Some of the moments were just wild, some were nerve inducing, quite a few made my heart beat faster and laughter kept bubbling up while in the next moment I was gasping while muttering cuss words under my breath lol. And I loved that we got to alternate between Mary-Belle and Ambrose, I desperately needed to hear all of their thoughts! So with heartache, love, friendship, hate and all of the angst wrapped into these pages, this book was so easy to binge!

This is our moment.
Our chaos.
Our frenzy.
Our imperfect perfection.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited:
Amazon:Amazon
Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/ThePerfects_GR

About Rachel Van Dyken:

Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times Bestselling, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 90 books ranging from contemporary romance to paranormal. With over four million copies sold, she’s been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs. For more information about her books and upcoming events, visit www.RachelVanDykenauthor.com

Connect with Rachel:
Facebook I Website I RVD Newsletter I Instagram.com I Twitter I Amazon l Goodreads l RVD Facebook Group l Pinterest l TikTok l Verve

BOOK REVIEW: A Little too Late (Madigan Mountain) by Sarina Bowen

October 5, 2022 / Arielle / 0 Comments

A Little Too Late (Madigan Mountain)
by Sarina Bowen
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
New from twenty-time USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen!

How to behave when the guy who broke your heart two thousand miles away turns up in your office:

One: Don’t drop your lucky coffee cup in shock, even though it’s been ten years.

Two: Don’t get defensive when he asks how you ended up working his family’s ski mountain… and why you kept it a secret.

Three: Give him the worst room in the resort. He deserves it for suddenly waltzing back in like he owns the place. (Which he kind of does.)

Four, five, six, seven, eight and nine: Do not kiss him in the hot tub.

Ten: Try to keep your heart intact after you break all of your rules.

Because Reed is leaving again. Hate can't turn back into love. And it’s a little too late…

Review

After being immersed in the World of True North for the past month it was fun to venture out into the mountains of Colorado with new characters. I am really excited to get more of the Madigan family after this, too, because like Reed, the two other brothers definitely have a lot to come to terms with in regards to their family dynamic.

This was honestly the perfect amount of angst for me. The topic of miscarriage and how that can cause the implosion of a relationship can make me nervous in a plot but the way that we were getting the present reconnection of Ava and Reed while also getting snippets into their past and what happened, was a balance that just worked for me. The way that both of them were still in such pain even after moving on with their lives the best that they could…sigh. I can’t even imagine the extent of Ava’s panic and depth of feelings when Reed walked into that office and she had no idea he was coming…I would have passed out I think, lol.

I loved every second of them being together in the present and how Reed kept realizing just how lonely and sad life was without Ava in it and had been since he left her. The scenes in which he apologized and explained to her what he was feeling and why he did what he thought he had to do were satisfying and just…all of it made me happy. There were some serious issues that multiple characters within this story dealt with throughout the course of this book and I really appreciated how all of it went down. Reed and his dad finally speaking about things, Reed learning more about his mom and her art, Ava and Reed talking about the past, Reed’s dad finding out about his and Ava’s past. My heart may have ached on several different occasions while reading this but overall I loved how everything was tied up within Reed and Ava’s story and I will definitely be coming back to read Yarros and Perry’s books, too.

P.s. I had an ALC of this and Andi Arndt and Sebastian York hit the narration out of the park, per usual!

Huge thanks to Tuxbury Publishing LLC for allowing me to listen to a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!♥