Paris Mends Broken Hearts is a book that is hard to describe. Historical fiction - yes. But more of a glimpse into a life than anything romantic, dramatic, or historically significant (other than it happens after WWII, I guess). It a journey through a small section of the life of Gwendoline Delacroix who lost her husband in the war.

After spending a lot of time locked behind the safe walls of their estate, she sets out one morning and ends up finding herself and a purpose in life again. This doesn't happen on its own, but with the help of her sister-in-law and a woman she is introduced to in Paris.

A very pleasant story, but if you are looking for something that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a stroll through the past in someone else's shoes - then definitely pick this one up. It's a quick read, and I'm glad I gave it a shot.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

I really really wanted to enjoy this book. The concept of the land and magic is fascinating, and I loved it. An apprentice that has a hidden past, a chip on her shoulder, and more power than she knows what to do with right now - alright, let me have it. I want more.

But then I met Kayden. Who is a character that I DID NOT LIKE even after getting part of her backstory and learning a bit about why she was so cruel (yes cruel, not mean, but cruel) to everyone (yes everyone) around her. I didn't want to see her succeed. I wanted to see her get put in her place and in many respects she became the bad guy. Although at 50% through when I gave up, we hadn't met anyone else to fill the bad guy role, so maybe she will be.

Also, everything was about sex somehow. Kayden blackmails two instructors, gets accused of being the lover for another, assumes one is trying to get in bed with her just because he knocks on the door, and everyone is either flirting with her or jealous of her unusual beauty. Knock it off already! I get it - she's exotic and really pretty, but there can be other conflict that doesn't revolve around sex. That was what ultimately made me put the book down. I just couldn't anymore.

There were a lot of great things about this novel, but there were a lot of not very good things as well. I'd love to see a version with a more sympathetic Kayden. Still a brat with a chip on her shoulder, but some redeeming quality that lets me like her from the beginning. And find a way for her to blackmail, get her way, have conflict without it being about sex all the time.

**I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book**

Alpha Challenge is the 10th book in the Ashwood Falls series, and while I highly recommend reading them in order because there are a lot of carryover plots and characters, you could read them individually and still get a really great romance with a lot of great shifter war action.

Just as the shifters of Ashwood Falls think they have defeated the pack intent on destroying them, an attack steals away their young and the hunt is on to get them back. I wish this had been a little bit harder to do. While the Ashwood Pack is pretty much the strongest community of shifters, it felt a little bit like a stroll through the park in a thunderstorm instead of the struggle to fight against a strong enemy they knew little about.

The romance in the story was very well done. Both characters are struggling with issues from their past. And while they also both recognize it, Alec is the first to try and breach the gap between them to claim his mate. (And yes, as in most shifter romances, they know they are mates.) But Rhea has a harder time because of the secrets she has been hiding. But secrets have a way of coming out, and during the rescue of the kids, Rhea is confronted with Alec learning everything.

I really enjoy the Ashwood Falls shifters, and I hope this new enemy presents a challenge for them that they can really dig their teeth into and show how the pack still has room to grow and change.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

One of the things I enjoy most about the Havenwood Falls storylines is the great diversity of characters. People from all walks of life and creatures from all over the mythos.​ The Fall introduces a creature that I haven't seen in Havenwood Falls yet, and her best friend, who happens to be a witch.

Serena, our new creature, has no idea the paranormal world exists and that she is a very big part of it. Much of her family's past is shrouded in mystery, and her mother (who is understandably a bit of a crazy person) is unable to share the secrets and guide Serena. It falls to her aunts to take care of her, and they are up to something that Serena just doesn't understand yet.

As a person who has always found water to be very peaceful, I understood Serena's draw to it. But her draw is much more than mine, and it causes her peace and solitude, and also pain and guilt as she learns more about who she is and why the water calls to her.

This book was very much high school. The cliques, the friendship fights, the pranks, the getting in trouble, and learning the lessons of life. It rang very true (if a bit over the top) for what the high school experience is like. The Fall is one of my favorite editions to Havenwood Falls High so far (there are many I have yet to read though).

**Warning - this does have a bit of a cliff hanger ending - so be prepared.

I have totally fallen in love with Teeny Weeny Tahini. The little faerie has been a part of a few previous Havenwood Falls stories, and she's always been so much fun. I was really excited to see her featured more in one of the stories.

However, the book didn't grab me right away. While I loved to see Tahini flit about, it seemed like it wasn't really going anywhere. It was super light and not the usual feel I've come to expect from a Havenwood Falls book. But then....

Well, then it all got a bit dark when we start to figure out who Shayin Pisik is and what she's up to. Shayin and Matt (the owl-shifter) have clashed in the past, and it's coming back to haunt him and his family. Shayin will do anything to get who she considers the love of her life back, even the darkest of dark magic.

I don't know that I would have recognized this as a fairy tale retelling if I hadn't been told it was. I hope we get to see more of Tahini in future books, she really steals the show!

Zoey was a great teenage character. The new kid in school and feeling a bit like an outcast is something I could completely relate to. Being uprooted and moving is rough for anyone, but moving AND finding out that you're not exactly human? That would be super stressful.

To add to Zoey's difficulties, the older generations of her Ice Dragon family are a bit snobbish and don't think humans are good enough for their grand-daughter (even if she is only half-dragon).

I really admired the fight that Zoey found within her self and the courage it took to stand up to her family and their traditions. I don't think her battle is over yet, but she may have won some allies to her side of the field by the end.

Let's go back to Regency (I think, I'm not the best at the English eras) England only pretend that magic is real and an organized part of society. This is my dream book description. I love the English historicals, and I think they only thing they're missing is a good dose of supernatural mischief.

Zen Cho really brings the supernatural mischief, and I loved it so much. We have witches, sorcerers, Faery creatures, familiars, and a whole host of other potentially magical beings just thrown about in everyday life. (Can someone please build a machine to take me there.) Downfall, they don't really like when women work magic. And so our story begins!

Enter Zacharias, the Sorcerer Royal, and his new protege Prunella, an incredibly magical woman that Zacharias plans to reform the rules of society for so they will accept her as a member and not banish her (or worse) for being a sorceress. I adored Zacharias. He was smart, dedicated to his craft, and always the gentleman. Even as his opponents throw magical hexes and assassination attempts his way time and time again, he takes it all in a stride.

Prunella, on the other hand, I had mixed feelings about. At first, I loved her spunk and get-it-done attitude. Risking it all to follow her dreams and unlock the secrets in the relics her family left her. But as the story went on, I found her to be a bit grating. She rarely listened to the advice of anyone, and it often caused some major problems and ordeals. And in the end, she does something (that I dare not say or I will spoil so much) that made me positively dislike her. I know she did it for all the right reasons, but she was too cold about it. She needed to have an emotional reaction after the fact, and I didn't see it.

I have the paperback for book two on pre-order though. The entire English world built here has completely captivated me, and I wonder how it all plays out.

**I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book**

I loved the story of The Lighthouse Keeper. It was fun, and just the right amount of light-hearted to suspenseful for a summer read. Dawn's character was an interesting one. An odd mix of old-fashioned and modern-day. Her search for a place to call home was always present, but not so much that I felt like I was getting hit over the head with it.

Her treasure-hunter parents were quite hilarious. I loved their conversations, and you could tell they were two people that were completely comfortable with themselves and around each other. But I wondered throughout the book why they hadn't put more effort into finding the missing silver pieces. Dawn's father feeds her information every now and then throughout her search, and I had to ask myself, why didn't he follow up on that? Why wait until now?

The mystery of the missing silver was a really good one. And it did keep me guessing up until near the end, but the author was also very careful not to give away any clues ahead of time.

However, I highly recommend you read this instead of listen to it. The narrator sounded a little too much like the computerized voice you hear on automated systems for me. There wasn't a whole lot of emotion or inflection (until she had to do a man's voice, and that was just overdone). I might continue on in the series. I have no idea what the next book might be about, but I'll definitely read it instead of listen this time.

Elissa of Tyr is the first heart-bearer to have her own book, and I really really liked being able to just follow one of them for a little bit and see the adventure through their eyes.

Traveling with her dragon and her djinn - the conversations between these three were so great - they infiltrate the Emperor's magical shields on the land. This was a very quick read, but it still had a good dose of adventure, and I was able to meet some characters that I'm pretty sure will have some major actions to play in series as we move forward.

The magic of the land and the emperor's control over it were also detailed a little more, and his plans and schemes are starting to be revealed to the reader. There are some very interesting ideas here, but I can't say much more without giving some big things away.

This is definitely a series of books that need to be read in order! I hope it continues to show as the adventures of each heart-bearer as they make their way back into the world to fight the emperor and his evil plan. I am thoroughly enjoying this unique land and the creatures within it.