The Mark of the Tala is the first book in the "Twelve Kingdoms" series. I was completely drawn into this book immediately, the narrator for this one was so talented and really got me hooked so easily with this story. I loved the style in which the author set up the series, there was some world building information dumped in, but not the point that it was overwhelming, just in a solid way in getting the story set up for the reader that I do feel was essential to really get a solid grasp on the circumstances.

I will say that I have been wanting to read more epic fantasy romance, and this book came to me by a recommendation through Instagram, and I am so happy about it, because this is definitely my cup of tea and I need more epic fantasy books just like this one here. I was so fascinated with this world, the bond that the three sisters have for each other, and the romance was perfection!! I honestly couldn't get enough of these two.

The romance is slowly built up but in a way that really worked for the characters. There is a sense of mystery and intrigue surrounding their romance. I was hooked on the hero though, he is such a bad boy in some ways, full-on alpha male and has such an intensity surrounding his characters, I became so intrigued by him. He fights for what he wants and I love his passion for Andi. Andi was such a heartwarming character and so relatable. She is the one sister I just felt so much compassion for. She is the forgotten sister, the one that no one trusts but she is an introvert and tends to like to be alone. I really felt for her because of how everyone treats her and loved seeing how she is willing to embrace the other part of her that her mother left behind. It was really so interesting to see how her character is developed and the ways in which she is willing to sacrifice for those that she cares about and do the right thing even if on the outside it looks worse than it is. I was completely on board with this book and I immediately had to get book 2.

Overall I found The Mark of the Tala, to be a purely fascinating journey that kept me reading, fully engaged and so hooked into the world that this author has crafted and I can't wait to indulge in more from this pure talent!

The Tears of the Rose is the second installment in the Twelve Kingdoms series. I absolutely had a fun time with this one but I knew that it would be a highly emotional read considering how the first book ended for this heroine in book 2. I was ready to go though, because I had such a blast with "The Mark of the Tala" so I had high expectations of it, but I will say that this one was a slight disappointment. It wasn't nearly as good as book one and the primary reason for this is the heroine. She was so challenging and I just had the hardest time even relating to her character, but the plot and story line was done very well, its just that our heroine, Ami, has been dealt a difficult blow and she doesn't react well at all to it. I understand that she is dealing with a trauma, but before she was this kind generous woman and now is angry and spiteful and so bratty. I do not like bratty heroines at all, and its a good thing the hero is a badass and can take some heat and tell her the truth about herself because she needs someone that will. I was actually much more interested in the hero. He was just wonderful, and he has gone through so much himself, and I respected his character and his ability to touch base with the heroine and really make her see the truth about herself. This isn't the easiest romance to read, but I did enjoy the aspects of character growth and building and seeing the woman that Ami becomes in this story.

Overall a solid installment, but had some issues, but really intrigued by the way the world building is becoming built within the serial storyline and ready to jump into Ursula's book and get the finale.

The Talon of the Hawk is the finale of the Twelve Kingdoms series, and this is the story where we get to see Ursula's story. I was super excited for this one, as Ursula is the sister that has the most mystery behind her. All we really see from her in the two books is her loyalty to their father and her commitment to the Twelve Kingdom. I actually LOVED this one so fiercely, and seeing her story was such fun. Ursula is such a tough heroine, and she has had to put a shield around her to protect herself. And I will be honest the romance that is developed here is top notch. Jeffe Kennedy did wonders with her book.

So the gist of the story is that Ursula due to her sacrifices to her sisters, is put in a bad spot with her father and he doesn't trust her and is also planning on replacing her as the heir with her nephew. The king is growing more insane by the moment, but Ursula will do all that she can to show her loyalty. And then comes in the hero, Harlan, is to work with her to maintain that loyalty by the command of her father. But there is something about Harlan that reaches to Ursula, and a friendship eventually forms between them. But as tensions rise in the kingdom, and Ursula is having to fight for the lives of her people, a difficult choice will be placed on her shoulders and she will have to choose what she is willing to do for it.

I had so much fun with this book and as a finale it was purely epic but still left room at the end for more books (which from my knowledge there are connecting books to this series). I really loved how the growth of this story was built and the way that the author just was able to endear me to the heroine. These types of heroines can be really challenging for me to relate to, but there was so much goodness in Ursula and her journey was so beautiful. The most entertaining moments in this book was the bantering between Ursual and her love interest, Harlan. My goodness, these two have explosive chemistry. Harlan stands up to Ursula and tells her like it is, he is so supportive and protective but also respects her and lets her fight her own battles. I just adored that about him. It's like he understood what she needed at all the right times. They have such a strong connection to each other and I really felt like she needed a man like Harlan, who just wanted to be her partner and not take anything away from her and stand by her side.

Overall I found The Talon of the Hawk to be a brilliant conclusion and gave me all the satisfying feelings I could have expected from this story. Jeffe Kennedy is brilliant in her storytelling and I am eager to explore more of her work!

Always You is such a fantastic book and what a great addition to a series that I am loving so much. There is something about these books and this family that I am so charmed by. I couldn't put this book down and it was so worth the read here. I found myself in love with Arro's book. There was something so heartwarming and real about this one here. I have been eager for their book ever since I first saw the sparks in book one, and I knew that their story would be good. There are some flashbacks that come into play, so they won't be for everyone but I did feel like it shows us the history of what caused them to be apart from each other and how they hurt one another. Now granted you feel both sides in the relationship and there is such need and want on both sides, that you just want them to be together but there is definitely some factors in play that they need to work through. And then there is the mystery and suspense elements that are introduced. I absolutely adored the way that this author had this play out and the way that they learn to rebuilt the trust in the relationship. I will say that Samantha Young just conquers all when she adds the banter and wit into play, I just couldn't stop laughing at the family interactions and I can't wait to delve into book four!!!

If you are a fan of romantic suspense, a sexy setting in Scotland, and some unrequited love, this is the book for you!

Beauty and the Baller is the first book in the series and I have been seeing so many fun reviews about this book and I just knew that I needed to try this one. I just knew from the bright cheerful cover that this book would be different from her other books, and wanted to try it out. I will say that if you are a fan of her other works, then you will enjoy this one as the writing style felt the same to me. This is a sports romance and also an office romance and it was so much fun here. There was some great bantering, entertaining laugh out loud moments, and plenty of feels and in-depth character connection that I couldn't seem to get enough of. And as a plus lots of star wars fan nostalgia that I adored. It was a flirty and sweet endearing romance that was a handful and pure fun. Definitely looking forward to book 2.

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

First Impressions
Surrendering To Hunt is the second installment in the “Wyoming Wilde” series and this is the second of the three Wilde brothers set in Wyoming. I was so happy that Avon was willing to send me a copy of the ARC for review. Jennifer Ryan is such a favorite author of mine and I have had so much fun reading her books and Surrendering to Hunt was no different for me. There is such a charm about picking up a Jennifer Ryan and relaxing into one of her stories. I knew from the cover that this one would be a wild one and it definitely was. It had such a fun dynamic that I fell so hard for. This is a definite opposite attract, you know the good boy with the bad girl type of blend and it worked out so well. I have found this type of dynamic is best in small-town romances and Jennifer Ryan really made this book shine with this trope and how these two are set up and of course she brings it town with deep leveled emotion and action-packed plot build-up just to add character to the story.

Summary
Our story begins with Lawman Hunt Wilde comes to a domestic altercation and he runs into sexy Cyn Wilson. Cyn’s sister is caught in an abusive situation with her boyfriend, and the abuser happens to be Hunt’s childhood friend. Cyn doesn’t have the best liking for Hunt due to his connections, but when she sees his integrity and his fierce protective nature, she is drawn to him in a way that she can’t explain or fight. But when her sister and baby nephew goes missing, she is determined to find them and Hunt and Cyn join forces and not just in the search for her sister but also in exploring their newfound relationship. Even though their relationship is fresh, there is a level of deep emotional intimacy that is quickly built and as the chemistry builds between them, Cyn and Hunt will find a stunning love along the way to finding redemption on the journey to finding her sister.

What I Loved
I will say that this story was such a fun one and I had so many barrels of laughs in exploring this one here. I just couldn’t get enough of this book or what Jennifer Ryan is able to craft in this book. I absolutely love how well Cyn and Hunt do together. From the beginning of the story, they have definite sparks and the “opposites attract” really works so well in this one. Hunt is an honest lawman, he lives up to the “serve and protect” and its a code of honor for him. We see throughout the book what a man of integrity Hunt is. Then we have the wilde Cyn. She likes to have crazy summer nights and drive fast cars and tends to live on the boundaries of the law at times. But there is a definite chemistry and even though at the beginning they fight off their feelings, they both quickly give into the desire they feel for each other. I enjoyed the moments in which they explore each other, the author definitely knows how to write her steam, there is such a sexy feel to these intimate moments between Hunt and Cyn. Then we have the mystery and suspense plot. And this is where Jennifer Ryan is truly talented. I love how well she blends this in with the romance and its done in a way that just works so well for the romance. There is also some intense emotion that really brings the story to its conclusion in such a bright and brilliant way that will deliver in a satisfying delivery.

What I Struggled With
I am not sure if there is anything that I really struggled with, it’s not exactly a five star but there isn’t anything super specific on why it didn’t quite make it, just didn’t quite reach the five star feeling but such a solid read and I absolutely had a blast with this one.

Overall View
Surrendering To Hunt was a satisfying rollercoaster of a read, its a story that takes the reader on a journey of entertaining angst, edgy thrills to curl your toes and a love tale to capture the essence of the heart and soul of love! DEEPLY PROVACATIVE!

Trigger Warnings:

Spoiler

Domestic Abuse, Violence, Death

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

First Impressions
This is a series that I have been meaning to get to for quite a long while and really ever since it was released. I just love this era, and I feel like hardly any authors write in this era, so I have really been intrigued by these books. I saw the first one available in audio and I was looking for something different, and I decided to grab this one up and I have to say, that I took way too long reading this one because I absolutely adored every single moment in listening to this one here. There was something so much fun about this book and it was WAY sexier than I actually expected it to be. This is my first time reading this author, so I am not sure why I had that impression, but this author captured so many aspects of this story so well and I couldn’t get enough of it. If you like a mix of history, gothic-like feels, and rich culture then you definitely need to grab this one up.

Summary
Aida Palmer is a spirit medium and has always had the ability to talk to spirits and ghosts and has been able to train herself to embody the spirits for short time and do it to perform for others. She has worked hard to build herself a respectable reputation and has come a long way from being an orphan and foster child. Winter Magnusson, is a bootlegger and has his hands dipping in all sorts of pots and lives on the border of the law. But now he is being targeted by a hex and needs Aida’s assistance. After her assistance, there is instant chemistry, and through a set of events they end up working together in solving the mystery of why there are malevolent ghosts that are becoming drawn to him. But soon something more builds between Aida and Winter, but when their casual relationship turns into something more, will Winter be able to fight for Aida and prove to her their love is genuine and worth fighting for?

What I Loved
Bitter Spirits was such a fantastic twist of a romance and I loved everything about this story. This story just worked so well for me, and I was in the right mood for this type of story. And I have to say that the chemistry that is built between these two is top-notch, the hero is such a scoundrel, and he really draws Aida in and I loved the hints of seduction and sexual teasing that these two get involved in. Their romance just blossoms so well and balances so well with the other aspects of the story. I found both the characters so endearing, they have their own distinctive flair but somehow balance each other out. I was so curious to see where the author would lead their relationship. In the beginning, it starts out slow with gentle teasing but then builds into a stronger crescendo of feeling and sexual chemistry. Then on the plot side, we have the mystery surrounding the ghost hex. I really was so drawn into the plot effects and the fascinating world-building. The author really builds on the culture surrounding the “roaring twenties” and you can bet I was feeling the vibe of the speakeasy bars and jazz and the rich clothing and hairstyles. I honestly wanted to just LIVE within this story, it just captured my interest so quickly and I am so stoked to explore the series even further.

What I Struggled With
There wasn’t much I struggled with to be honest, I didn’t like some of the choices the heroine makes regarding the relationship that causes the third act conflict, but I know it was just a plot device and it eventually worked for me.

The Narration
Amy Landon did such an incredible job with this one here. I just couldn’t seem to get enough of it. I was so fascinated with how well she captured the essence of the story and really handled the building of the relationship so well. She has such a pleasant voice that was so nice to listen to and I enjoyed her character inflections. I will definitely be looking for more books narrated by her.

Overall View
I found Bitter Spirits to be such a captivating, sensual-provoking romance that won its way quickly into my sphere. It’s a story that will immediately capture your attention, stun you with its historical detail, and will deliver in such a unique aspect that completes a balanced satisfying way! A TRUE KEEPER!

Chosen by a Sinner was a brilliant story and I had so much fun with this one, and while it doesn't beat book 3 (because that is my favorite of the series and holds a special place in my heart), I also had so much fun with this one. It definitely had themes in it that felt more to her backlisted books. And it was quite interesting to see how it just had a different feel to the story. This has so many tropes in it that was so much fun to read through.

Tropes:
Best Friend Sibling
Unrequited Love
Frenemies
MC in Danger
Marriage of Convenience
Vegas Wedding

I really found that these worked so well together. The story is where our heroine, has been in love with the heroine for years but their relationship is awkward and strained as she puts a distance between them never letting him know of her feelings. Luca on the other hand has been in love with Mariya and when an opportunity presents itself, to marry her in Vegas, he goes for it. Then their families agree on a six-month marriage, and while at first there are some unresolved issues, Luca and Mariya learn to connect and discover the truth about their hearts.

I will say that this book just won my heart so quickly and I couldn't get enough of this story but it's so FAST PACED, like the plot and the romance it really develops super quickly. So be aware of that, I actually didn't mind it at all, because the connection and heart were so entrenched deeply in the story. I loved this heroine though. Because she is so feminine but when she needs to be she can kick ass and it's a beautiful thing. I love these types of heroines because she can be soft and sweet and then be a badass when the situation calls for it. She was so relatable. The relationship is my kind of match-up as it has a "marriage of convenience" feel to it. I also had quite a bit of fun in seeing these two face up to the danger that is ahead of them and how they deal with it. It just worked so well here and I couldn't get enough of them as they are such a solid pair.

Overall I found Chosen by a Sinner to be a superb read that kept my attention, had me addicted to the romance all the way through, and delivered in the heart in a sensation way!

Trigger Warnings: Kidnapping, Physical Abuse and Torture

This one was such a charming read and I had such fun with it. It was quite interesting to see this book develop, I did physically read this one, although I think I do prefer her books in audio a bit more. This was one of those "roommates fall in love" type of book. There is a level of angst, as the hero and heroine like to tease each other and part of it hides their unrequited love for each other. There is plenty of fun bantering and I really had a blast in these two connecting with each other. I had a fun time in a way with these two. The heroine can be a bit prickly at times, so she takes some getting used to though. I really was interested to see how she would become likeable, but eventually the author was able to win her over for me.