crystal_dark's Reviews (669)

I have read several other books by Lilah Hart that take place in Blackbear Bluff and enjoyable backtracking to this book although I do still need to read the prequel to this one as well. All the books that take place in Blackbear Bluff are instalove standalone short stories and can be read in any order. I look forward to reading more of these books and getting to know more of the wonderful characters that live in this world.

Bachelors of Blackbear Bluff Series
Prequel: Finding the Mountain Man: Granger & Skylar
Seeking the Mountain Man: Will & Kenzie
Marrying the Mountain Man: Phoenix & Cherry
Loving the Mountain Man: Jared & Zoey
Trapping the Mountain Man: Jude & Brooke
Forgetting the Mountain Man: Christian & Maura
Teaching the Mountain Man: Bo & Emerald

This was my first book by Astrid Eliasen and I really enjoyed it. The characters were well written and it was fun seeing the human expressions and and activities through Kulfirth and how he misunderstood them. I plan to read more of these books in the future particularly the two previous books in the "Alien Love Encounters" series that were written by this author that center on Bridget's friend and sister.

Georgie's story is in A Fool For His Star: A Bite-Sized Alien Abduction Romance

Rachel's story is in A Trick to Love By: A Bite-Sized Alien Abduction Romance

This book is about Tucker & Hannah and like the rest of the books in the Blackbear Bluff world it is a fast paced standalone instalove novella and even mentions some of the other characters from books in the previous two series set in this town during chapter 7. I enjoyed reading this book and while it got a little more serious than the books in the second series Bachelorettes of Blackbear Bluff it came back around quick and had a really sweet epilogue at the end. While I did read most of the second series set in Blackbear Bluff I haven't read the first yet and the references to those characters is so small that neither are needed to enjoy starting this one first, they just add a little something extra. I look forward to reading the next book in this series about Aiden & Tinley.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Lumberjacks of Blackbear Bluff Series
Prequel: Battling the Mountain Man: Paxton & Reese
Tempting the Mountain Man: Tucker & Hannah
Soothing the Mountain Man: An Age Gap Instalove Romance: Aiden & Tinley
Satisfying the Mountain Man: An Age Gap Mistaken Identity Romance
Thrilling the Mountain Man: An Age Gap Instalove Romance
Pleasing the Mountain Man: An Age Gap Instalove Romance
Catching the Mountain Man: An Age Gap Bodyguard Romance

Bachelors of Blackbear Bluff Series
Prequel: Finding the Mountain Man
Seeking the Mountain Man: Will & Kenzie
Marrying the Mountain Man: Phoenix & Cherry
Loving the Mountain Man: Jared & Zoey
Trapping the Mountain Man: Jude & Brooke
Forgetting the Mountain Man: Christian & Maura
Teaching the Mountain Man: Bo & Emerald

Bachelorettes of Blackbear Bluff Series
Prequel: Resisting the Mountain Man: Dax & Erica
Teasing the Mountain Man: Maverick & Abbie
Saving the Mountain Man: Shane & Meredith
Trusting the Mountain Man: Dallas & Phoebe
Touching the Mountain Man: Gage & Jilly
Admiring the Mountain Man: Slade & Cheyenne
Meeting the Mountain Man: Brody & Addison

This was another great addition to the Xarc'n Warriors Series. This book can be read as a standalone and while I have read other books from this series (Books 01 - 04, Books 06 - 09, & Book 11) I haven't read them all yet. This book focuses on Heather & Nov’k and starts with Nov’k meeting Heather when he goes to rescue a fellow Xarc'n Warrior named Kan’n that is being held prisoner by the human survivor group Heather lives with. It was fun to read their story and see how Nov’k was attempting to understand human courtships since he got his advice from reading various romance novels that were unrealistic in reality. I also enjoyed the glimpses of how other characters from previous books were doing as well as reading the interactions between Pip, Kan’n, & Sam since I have already read their story and had backtracked. The epilogue at the end was a really cute. I look forward to reading more from this series as well as reading the spin off series Xarc'n Warriors: Mountains.

Xarc'n Warriors Series
Claimed by the Hunter: Alice & Kaj’k
Wanted by the Hunter: Natalie & Rajiv’k
Taken by the Hunter: Connie & Jorg’k
Cherished by the Hunter: Evie & Tarv’k
Rescued by the Hunter: Nikki & Koriv’n
Stolen by the Hunter: Meghan & Mal’k
Captured by the Hunter: Tilly & Rayk’n
Hunter's Quest: Morgan & Rhaz’k
Protected by the Hunter: Siobhan & Zec’k
Desired by the Hunter: Aanya & Haax’l
Coveted by the Hunter: Heather & Nov’k

Xarc'n Warriors: Mountains Series 
Hunter’s Fate: Sandy & Turr’k
Hunter's Quest: Morgan & Rhaz’k
Hunter's Price: May & Xik'n
Hunter's Promise: Gabby & Tal’n
Hunter's Wish: Sarah & Fen’k
Hunter's Trial: Yvette & Bre’k
Hunter's Bounty: Sammie & Drak’l

This is an interesting Retelling of The Goose Girl that was a quick read with well written characters and a fast moving pace. I am not as familiar with the original fairy tale of The Goose Girl but have read a few other variations and found this one enjoyable. I plan to look into more of this series as well as future fairy tale retellings by this author.

Tales of Askarr Series

This is the fourth book in the Forbidden Bonds Series by Cara Bristol and can be read as a standalone but is better after reading the previous books. This book centers on the relationship between Kat Whalen & Prince Lomax. We got a glimpse into their flirtation in the previous book so it was nice to get to see a full book centered on the two of them and getting to know their characters better as well as getting to see glimpses of how the characters from previous books are doing. There were some mysteries and a few unexpected twists that kept me guessing about what would happen next. I have loved every book so far and look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out.

Forbidden Bonds Series 
Alien With Benefits (Forbidden Bonds Book #01): Holly Winters & Prince Aeon
Alien Incognito (Forbidden Bonds Book #02): Giselle Cartier & Joule
Alien Undone (Forbidden Bonds Book #03): Millie Rogers & Nadir
Alien Disgraced (Forbidden Bonds Book #04): Kat Whalen & Prince Lomax
Forbidden Bonds Book #05 To Be Released Late Spring / Early Summer of 2024: Jessie Sayles & ?  

I really enjoyed this Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Abigail Manning. This is the second book in the Emerald Realm Series and while it can be read as a standalone it is better after reading Poisoned Heart since we first get to meet Lady Aurelia Lockly in that book. I really enjoyed Aurelia & Elias' story in this book and Elias' dog "Bear" was such a fun addition as well. I look forward to reading more books from this series as well as this authors other fairy tale series.

Series Character and Story Connections for Bearly Free (The Emerald Realm Book #02)
Queen Arabella & King Peter's story is in Poisoned Heart (The Emerald Realm Book #01)

This was an interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast that took place in Louisiana in the bayou with the curse being the work of a voodoo witch.

This book is part of the Grimm Academy Series of Stand Alone Fairy Tale Retellings and so far it is only the third I have read although I do intend to read them all. I enjoyed reading this Retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses and getting to know Audrey & Eugene in this story. It was fun that Audrey had a cousin from a previous book in this series that we got to interact with although I haven't read Pumpkins And Proms: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Cinderella yet so I look forward to backtracking and reading Florian & Ella's story later. Three of Audrey's Twelve younger sister's also joined the story partway through the book and Karen also has a fairy tale connection by introducing elements of "The Red Shoes" which is a Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen that also revolves around dancing that I was less familiar with although the two worked together here really well. In the end notes the author says she may write more about Karen later which should be interesting.

Series Character and Story Connections for The Winter Ball: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Grimm Academy Book 18)
Cordelia's story can be found in Princess Of Peas: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Princess And The Pea (Book 17)

Morgiana's story can be found in Dance Of Daggers: A Fairy Tale Retelling of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Book 19)

Marie's story can be found in Slippers and Sugarplums: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of The Nutcracker And The Mouse King (Book 20)

Florian & Ella's story can be found in Pumpkins And Proms: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Cinderella (Book 03)

Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere all appear in The Almost Queen: A Legend Retelling Of Guinevere and Lancelot (Book 10) and The Rightful King: A Legend Retelling Of King Arthur (Book 11)

Prince Enver is the love interest in Lamps And Lies: A Fairy Tale Retelling Of Aladdin (Book 08) = A Gender-Flipped Aladdin.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This was another great addition to the Xarc'n Warriors Series. his book focuses on Aanya & Haax’l while they are moving some of the members of the New Franklin group to another group who needs more help now that the New Franklin nest of scourge has been cleared. This book can be read as a standalone and while I have read other books from this series (Books 01 - 04, Books 06 & 07, 08, Book 11) I haven't read them all yet. The epilogue at the end was a really cute and mentions some characters from the Xarc'n Warriors: Mountains spin off series that I look forward to reading in the future along with Nov’k & Heather's story in the next book.

Xarc'n Warriors Series

Xarc'n Warriors: Mountains Series