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erinarkin20
Forbidden is the third book in the Deep Connection series by Sierra Kincade and if you haven’t yet read the first two books, you need to go do that now. I love all the books in this series but I think Forbidden might be my favorite…
This book focuses on Elaina and Garett. Both have issues and due to things in their past but this is why these two work so well together. They are quickly drawn to each other and eventually get past the walls they have put up to protect themselves.
Elaina is the youngest Talent (Cole and Marsella are introduced in the prior books) and she has been her father’s right hand in running their businesses and has found herself in a bind with one of her father’s more dangerous partners. With her father in jail and Lynch believing Elaina has turned on him, she is officially on the run and doing whatever she can to not only stay out of sight but also avoid bringing the danger to her brother and sister’s doors. Unfortunately, things don’t necessarily go as planned and she finds herself injured and in Ambrose, Ohio.
Garett is one of those characters that snuck up on me. I have known him since book one, but he never really stood out for me. Until now. When he ends up finding Elaina, he immediately takes her home to not only help her, but to protect the people he cares about. As they spend time with each other it is clear that they both have kept some secrets and it was as if they had resigned themselves to a life slightly disconnected from others to protect themselves and those around them but once they start to open up to each other, their relationship changes.
I loved the chemistry between these two characters. Garett is patient and while he asks things of Elaina, he doesn’t push her too hard and I think that is why Elaina eventually comes around. Once these two do finally come together…Yowza! Kinkade writes some great sexy times between these two but there are some swoony bits that I loved too.
Kincade did a fantastic job to developing these characters out and then integrating their stories into those of the characters from the other books in the series. Not only were we able to see more of Marsella, Jake, Cole and Kenzie but we got to see them interacting with each other and Garett and Elaina. It really did tie the entire story together (because they didn’t just vanish) as well as give me more of these characters that I enjoy. I loved getting to experience the dynamic between the Talent siblings.
At the heart of this story, the Talents are still mixed up with Lynch and I thought Kincade did a great job of bringing the group back into the mix with the bad guys and ultimately wrapping up the story. I don’t want to say a lot about what specifically happens but I admit I was a bit on edge wondering what was going to happen and how everything was going to get resolved.
Sierra Kincade is an auto-buy author for me and if you enjoy your romance with a great plot and characters you will love, you should definitely put her on your list too. I am looking forward to whatever Kincade writes next and can’t wait to find out what it is.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!
This book focuses on Elaina and Garett. Both have issues and due to things in their past but this is why these two work so well together. They are quickly drawn to each other and eventually get past the walls they have put up to protect themselves.
Elaina is the youngest Talent (Cole and Marsella are introduced in the prior books) and she has been her father’s right hand in running their businesses and has found herself in a bind with one of her father’s more dangerous partners. With her father in jail and Lynch believing Elaina has turned on him, she is officially on the run and doing whatever she can to not only stay out of sight but also avoid bringing the danger to her brother and sister’s doors. Unfortunately, things don’t necessarily go as planned and she finds herself injured and in Ambrose, Ohio.
Garett is one of those characters that snuck up on me. I have known him since book one, but he never really stood out for me. Until now. When he ends up finding Elaina, he immediately takes her home to not only help her, but to protect the people he cares about. As they spend time with each other it is clear that they both have kept some secrets and it was as if they had resigned themselves to a life slightly disconnected from others to protect themselves and those around them but once they start to open up to each other, their relationship changes.
I loved the chemistry between these two characters. Garett is patient and while he asks things of Elaina, he doesn’t push her too hard and I think that is why Elaina eventually comes around. Once these two do finally come together…Yowza! Kinkade writes some great sexy times between these two but there are some swoony bits that I loved too.
Kincade did a fantastic job to developing these characters out and then integrating their stories into those of the characters from the other books in the series. Not only were we able to see more of Marsella, Jake, Cole and Kenzie but we got to see them interacting with each other and Garett and Elaina. It really did tie the entire story together (because they didn’t just vanish) as well as give me more of these characters that I enjoy. I loved getting to experience the dynamic between the Talent siblings.
At the heart of this story, the Talents are still mixed up with Lynch and I thought Kincade did a great job of bringing the group back into the mix with the bad guys and ultimately wrapping up the story. I don’t want to say a lot about what specifically happens but I admit I was a bit on edge wondering what was going to happen and how everything was going to get resolved.
Sierra Kincade is an auto-buy author for me and if you enjoy your romance with a great plot and characters you will love, you should definitely put her on your list too. I am looking forward to whatever Kincade writes next and can’t wait to find out what it is.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!
Dark Embrace by Eve Silver is book six in her Dark Gothic series and if you haven’t checked this series out yet, you definitely should remedy that. They are historical, gothic, romance and I love everything about them.
This book is centered on Sarah Lowell who has been left on her own when her father dies unexpectedly. She is just getting by as a day nurse at King’s College Hospital but her love of medicine and caring for people is what keeps her going. In her role, most of the staff don’t respect Sarah’s opinion but there is one person, a surgeon, who does. I will talk about him in a moment but I have to say, I love Sarah’s drive and motivation. She is willing to take risks to care for those who need it and she is smart too. As a young woman on her own in the 1800’s, she has very few options to support herself so she relies on what she knows, everything her father taught her about medicine.
That surgeon I mentioned is Killian Thayne and he has definitely seen a lot in his time but Sarah catches his attention at the hospital. As I mentioned, he is a surgeon there and one night, he sees her caring for a man under the radar of the other surgeons on staff at the hospital. Killian was an interesting character. He has been through a lot and, against the odds, has survived. Up until now, he has cut himself off from developing relationships because he knows they won’t last. Despite that, he can’t help being drawn to Sarah.
I loved how the relationship between these two was developed. It is definitely a slow burn but when they finally figured things out, it was great. The fact that Sarah was so accepting of who Killian truly is was what eventually had Killian open himself up to her. That and the fact that she was willing to stand up for him no matter what happened to her.
There are a few mysteries in this story on top of the romance. The first one is who is following Sarah home from work every night. She can sense someone following her and one evening she is so frightened that when she finds Killian outside her home, she couldn’t be more relieved. Silver does a fantastic job of building the tension and Sarah’s fear around who was stalking her.
The other mystery focuses on what is happening to patients at the hospital. A number of them have been found dead with their blood completely drained. As this continues to happen, the finger is pointed at Killian and Sarah, sure he had nothing to do with the deaths, stands up for him. As a result, puts herself in a bad position and things change drastically for her due to her decision. As the story continues, we find out that these mysteries are actually linked and I loved how Silver tied it all together.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you like historical romance that has a darker feel to it, definitely check not only this book out, but the entire series. Silver does a great job of developing these characters and building in enough background to understand where they are coming from and how that impacts how they move forward. In addition to that, there are swoony bits that will make you love Killian, regardless of his background. I am definitely looking forward to more from Silver and will be checking out more of her books in the future.
This book is centered on Sarah Lowell who has been left on her own when her father dies unexpectedly. She is just getting by as a day nurse at King’s College Hospital but her love of medicine and caring for people is what keeps her going. In her role, most of the staff don’t respect Sarah’s opinion but there is one person, a surgeon, who does. I will talk about him in a moment but I have to say, I love Sarah’s drive and motivation. She is willing to take risks to care for those who need it and she is smart too. As a young woman on her own in the 1800’s, she has very few options to support herself so she relies on what she knows, everything her father taught her about medicine.
That surgeon I mentioned is Killian Thayne and he has definitely seen a lot in his time but Sarah catches his attention at the hospital. As I mentioned, he is a surgeon there and one night, he sees her caring for a man under the radar of the other surgeons on staff at the hospital. Killian was an interesting character. He has been through a lot and, against the odds, has survived. Up until now, he has cut himself off from developing relationships because he knows they won’t last. Despite that, he can’t help being drawn to Sarah.
I loved how the relationship between these two was developed. It is definitely a slow burn but when they finally figured things out, it was great. The fact that Sarah was so accepting of who Killian truly is was what eventually had Killian open himself up to her. That and the fact that she was willing to stand up for him no matter what happened to her.
There are a few mysteries in this story on top of the romance. The first one is who is following Sarah home from work every night. She can sense someone following her and one evening she is so frightened that when she finds Killian outside her home, she couldn’t be more relieved. Silver does a fantastic job of building the tension and Sarah’s fear around who was stalking her.
The other mystery focuses on what is happening to patients at the hospital. A number of them have been found dead with their blood completely drained. As this continues to happen, the finger is pointed at Killian and Sarah, sure he had nothing to do with the deaths, stands up for him. As a result, puts herself in a bad position and things change drastically for her due to her decision. As the story continues, we find out that these mysteries are actually linked and I loved how Silver tied it all together.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. If you like historical romance that has a darker feel to it, definitely check not only this book out, but the entire series. Silver does a great job of developing these characters and building in enough background to understand where they are coming from and how that impacts how they move forward. In addition to that, there are swoony bits that will make you love Killian, regardless of his background. I am definitely looking forward to more from Silver and will be checking out more of her books in the future.
3.5 stars
The Unlikable Demon Hunter by Deborah Wilde had my attention at the description - Bridesmaids meets Buffy…I’m in. I have enjoyed Wilde's books in the past so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read this series by her.
Nava Katz isn’t really destined for anything anymore…until she is. Her twin, Ari, has been groomed to be the chosen one in her family and when things go completely wrong, the entire family is thrown for a loop.
Nava was an interesting character. There were times where I found her annoying and other times where I was on her side. She never asked to be in the situation she was thrown into and she did what she could to make the best of it. As the only girl in a group of all male demon hunters, she is definitely at a disadvantage. Nava acts tough and does whatever she needs to in order to keep her distance but that is mostly a way of protecting herself Unfortunately she didn’t really have the support of anyone around her – especially from Ari who is supposed to be there no matter what.
As Nava dives right into her training to make up for the years she missed, she is immediately drawn into a world of demons, monsters, and hot men – including her leader, Rohan. Rohan also happens to be a former rock star and he isn’t afraid to push Nava as much as he possibly can. The banter between these characters was good and one of the pieces I liked most.
Wilde did a solid job of building out the characters around Nava. The rest of the demon hunters, her demon friend Leo, and Ari all helped move the story along and added to the rest of the story. The “Big Bad” in this book has plans and they include getting back at Nava for killing his spawn. I have to say, the actual description alone of Asmodeus made him interesting. Of course, not one to sit back, Nava jumps right in and basically has Leo put the word out that Nava is looking for him and that leads to the start of all the action.
Overall I found this book one interesting. While at times I thought Nava was unnecessarily crude, it is clear she has some history that has pushed her to be how she is. There is plenty of action and sexy times and if you like urban fantasy (or don’t know if you do) consider checking this out. While at times I struggled with the characters, the story was an interesting one and I look forward to seeing where Wilde takes Nava next.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The Unlikable Demon Hunter by Deborah Wilde had my attention at the description - Bridesmaids meets Buffy…I’m in. I have enjoyed Wilde's books in the past so of course I jumped at the opportunity to read this series by her.
Nava Katz isn’t really destined for anything anymore…until she is. Her twin, Ari, has been groomed to be the chosen one in her family and when things go completely wrong, the entire family is thrown for a loop.
Nava was an interesting character. There were times where I found her annoying and other times where I was on her side. She never asked to be in the situation she was thrown into and she did what she could to make the best of it. As the only girl in a group of all male demon hunters, she is definitely at a disadvantage. Nava acts tough and does whatever she needs to in order to keep her distance but that is mostly a way of protecting herself Unfortunately she didn’t really have the support of anyone around her – especially from Ari who is supposed to be there no matter what.
As Nava dives right into her training to make up for the years she missed, she is immediately drawn into a world of demons, monsters, and hot men – including her leader, Rohan. Rohan also happens to be a former rock star and he isn’t afraid to push Nava as much as he possibly can. The banter between these characters was good and one of the pieces I liked most.
Wilde did a solid job of building out the characters around Nava. The rest of the demon hunters, her demon friend Leo, and Ari all helped move the story along and added to the rest of the story. The “Big Bad” in this book has plans and they include getting back at Nava for killing his spawn. I have to say, the actual description alone of Asmodeus made him interesting. Of course, not one to sit back, Nava jumps right in and basically has Leo put the word out that Nava is looking for him and that leads to the start of all the action.
Overall I found this book one interesting. While at times I thought Nava was unnecessarily crude, it is clear she has some history that has pushed her to be how she is. There is plenty of action and sexy times and if you like urban fantasy (or don’t know if you do) consider checking this out. While at times I struggled with the characters, the story was an interesting one and I look forward to seeing where Wilde takes Nava next.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I came across a preview of The Wife Between Us and was immediately sucked into this story by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. If you like a story with unexpected twists and turns, I think you will want to read this book.
There isn’t much about the story that I can reveal as I don’t want to give anything away. What I will say is that these authors have created some very unreliable characters and built them around this story that will have you guessing about what is really going on the entire time. I really had no clue what was going to happen from one chapter to the next and I liked it.
The story is centered around a husband and wife whose marriage has fallen apart and as he moves on and prepares to marry someone else, this is where things start for the reader. This book is told in alternating POV and within those perspectives, the authors do a fantastic job of not only giving us the story of what is going now, but they jump into the past to tell the whole story. Not only do they slowly reveal the mystery of what happened to get these characters to where we are now, but they did it in a way that had me second guessing what was really going on. Again, I can't say too much because this is where everything comes together and I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what happens next.
Consider checking this one out and I will be looking forward to more from these authors in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
There isn’t much about the story that I can reveal as I don’t want to give anything away. What I will say is that these authors have created some very unreliable characters and built them around this story that will have you guessing about what is really going on the entire time. I really had no clue what was going to happen from one chapter to the next and I liked it.
The story is centered around a husband and wife whose marriage has fallen apart and as he moves on and prepares to marry someone else, this is where things start for the reader. This book is told in alternating POV and within those perspectives, the authors do a fantastic job of not only giving us the story of what is going now, but they jump into the past to tell the whole story. Not only do they slowly reveal the mystery of what happened to get these characters to where we are now, but they did it in a way that had me second guessing what was really going on. Again, I can't say too much because this is where everything comes together and I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what happens next.
Consider checking this one out and I will be looking forward to more from these authors in the future.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano is one I have been waiting to read for a while. If you know me, you know I love my YA Fantasy and as soon as I read the summary I had to have it.
Wil is the main character and she is the only daughter of the King. She has been kept hidden so no one outside of her family and their guard knows what she looks like. Her father has done this so that she can be useful and spy for him. Wil is always willing to do things for him because it gets her out of the castle and gives her hope that someday she will be able to travel the world like one of her older brothers, Owen who is the heir.
DeStefano has developed a world that revolves around Wil’s father’s empire as he continues to look to expand his reach and power. That power means that war with other leaders appears to be inevitable and the King isn’t above using his children’s gifts/abilities to get what he wants. I loved the way this book felt like a mix of fantasy and sci-fi or steampunk. With Wil’s brother Gerdie working with Alchemy, he creates tools that are to help his father but every once in a while, he gets away with doing something for Owen or Wil and when he finds out about Wil’s curse, Gerdie is willing to do whatever it takes to help her.
I liked Wil. She loves her family and especially her brothers Owen and Gerdie. She would do anything to protect them. Wil is also not afraid to take risks as long as it doesn’t endanger anyone she loves. Unfortunately, when she finds out she is cursed. Wil inadvertently finds out that she has the ability to turn living things into gemstones. She doesn’t know how to control it and it ultimately leads to one of the worst things that could happen.
I loved the relationship DeStefano created between Wil, Gerdie, and Owen. It was very clear they all loved each other, and their closeness was what set the stage for the whole story for me as that is one of the first things we get to read about. In addition to that, we get to understand just how much her mother wanted a daughter and why her father thought her odd and in a way, feared her.
As Wil runs, she decides she needs to find a marveler named Pahn with the intent that he will be able to help rid her of the curse she carries. Unfortunately for Wil, she crosses paths with someone who, when he finds out her secret, tries to convince her of a different course of action and by convince, I mean he gets her on his boat and proceeds to make a deal with her. Since Wil’s only interest is to find someone who can help her with the curse, she decides to hear him out.
It turns out that her captor happens to be the exiled prince of the Southern Isles, Loom. He is looking for a way to save his people from and having seen what Wil can do, he thinks she will be the one to help him, so he will do whatever it takes to convince her. Unfortunately for him, he has no idea that he is asking the princess of the northern king to help him kill her family to stop the war that is coming.
As the story progresses we get to find out what is going on with Wil’s family because we get Gerdie’s point of view and while he is told Wil is dead, he doesn’t really believe it, so you can imagine that due to their relationship, he isn’t willing to give up looking for answers on what happened.
There is a lot going on in this book and I don’t want to give anything away. As a friendship forms between Loom and Wil, motivations change, and Wil is required to make some decisions that will determine what happens next, not only for Wil but for Loom as well. In the end, Wil decides she will do whatever it takes to protect those she cares about.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself unable to put it down. I am definitely looking forward to book two in this series as I want to find out more about Wil’s curse and perhaps learn more about the lengths her mother went to in order to have a daughter. If you are looking for a fantasy with solid characters, an interesting story, and some magic, consider checking this one out. I will just be sitting here patiently waiting for the next book.
Wil is the main character and she is the only daughter of the King. She has been kept hidden so no one outside of her family and their guard knows what she looks like. Her father has done this so that she can be useful and spy for him. Wil is always willing to do things for him because it gets her out of the castle and gives her hope that someday she will be able to travel the world like one of her older brothers, Owen who is the heir.
DeStefano has developed a world that revolves around Wil’s father’s empire as he continues to look to expand his reach and power. That power means that war with other leaders appears to be inevitable and the King isn’t above using his children’s gifts/abilities to get what he wants. I loved the way this book felt like a mix of fantasy and sci-fi or steampunk. With Wil’s brother Gerdie working with Alchemy, he creates tools that are to help his father but every once in a while, he gets away with doing something for Owen or Wil and when he finds out about Wil’s curse, Gerdie is willing to do whatever it takes to help her.
I liked Wil. She loves her family and especially her brothers Owen and Gerdie. She would do anything to protect them. Wil is also not afraid to take risks as long as it doesn’t endanger anyone she loves. Unfortunately, when she finds out she is cursed. Wil inadvertently finds out that she has the ability to turn living things into gemstones. She doesn’t know how to control it and it ultimately leads to one of the worst things that could happen.
I loved the relationship DeStefano created between Wil, Gerdie, and Owen. It was very clear they all loved each other, and their closeness was what set the stage for the whole story for me as that is one of the first things we get to read about. In addition to that, we get to understand just how much her mother wanted a daughter and why her father thought her odd and in a way, feared her.
As Wil runs, she decides she needs to find a marveler named Pahn with the intent that he will be able to help rid her of the curse she carries. Unfortunately for Wil, she crosses paths with someone who, when he finds out her secret, tries to convince her of a different course of action and by convince, I mean he gets her on his boat and proceeds to make a deal with her. Since Wil’s only interest is to find someone who can help her with the curse, she decides to hear him out.
It turns out that her captor happens to be the exiled prince of the Southern Isles, Loom. He is looking for a way to save his people from and having seen what Wil can do, he thinks she will be the one to help him, so he will do whatever it takes to convince her. Unfortunately for him, he has no idea that he is asking the princess of the northern king to help him kill her family to stop the war that is coming.
As the story progresses we get to find out what is going on with Wil’s family because we get Gerdie’s point of view and while he is told Wil is dead, he doesn’t really believe it, so you can imagine that due to their relationship, he isn’t willing to give up looking for answers on what happened.
There is a lot going on in this book and I don’t want to give anything away. As a friendship forms between Loom and Wil, motivations change, and Wil is required to make some decisions that will determine what happens next, not only for Wil but for Loom as well. In the end, Wil decides she will do whatever it takes to protect those she cares about.
I really enjoyed this book and found myself unable to put it down. I am definitely looking forward to book two in this series as I want to find out more about Wil’s curse and perhaps learn more about the lengths her mother went to in order to have a daughter. If you are looking for a fantasy with solid characters, an interesting story, and some magic, consider checking this one out. I will just be sitting here patiently waiting for the next book.