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I received an eARC of this book via Lady Amber's Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Hostile by Cameo Renae is the 4th installment of The After Light Saga and I was on the edge of my seat the entire read! Abi, dealing with the grief and confusion her newfound gift has brought, leaves her family behind and sets out on her own into the desert to find her grandmother. But she finds that between the Arvies and the soldiers hunting her, she may not survive by herself.
Let me be honest for a sec. I was riveted by this installment to the series. I was shocked Abi would lie to Finn and leave her family behind without a second thought. She believes she’s in the right but as the reader we know what a terrible mistake her grief is causing her to make. I caught myself multiple times, holding my breath and hoping/praying she wouldn’t get herself killed or kill someone else by mistake.
Finn is noticeably absent again this book. I was hoping he’d be more present after being absent most of [b:Intransigent|25710509|Intransigent (The After Light Sage, #3)|Cameo Renae|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434114839s/25710509.jpg|45542749] but alas that wasn’t the case. He’s present in Abi’s mind though. She doesn’t make a move without thinking about him and the 13 years they spent in the bunker together.
This book really focuses on Abi and the horrors she faces alone. She’s a strong girl, but every one has a downfall and hers is her telepathy. She doesn’t know how to control it and if she isn’t careful it will kill her. It scares her and she lets it control her. I was heartbroken for her as she made the decision to leave her family and Finn behind, not knowing if she would ever see them again. But really she felt she had no choice. If she can’t control her gift, she could hurt them unintentionally which is the last thing she wants to do.
Hostile is an intense read! I liked the new characters that Cameo Renae introduces in the form of soldiers from the bunker. These soldiers were ordered to find Abi, kill anyone with her, and not return without her. I felt so bad for them and Abi as the story progresses and they rely on one another for survival. It was an interesting twist to the narrative.
Overall I really enjoyed this installment, in fact it might be my favorite of the series so far! I liked seeing Abi on her own, learning more about her gift, and learning to trust others outside of her own family. It was interesting to see her character’s growth and horrific to read about the nature of her gift/curse. I cannot wait to read more (and hopefully get more Finn time). If you enjoy dystopia, I highly recommend the series!
Hostile by Cameo Renae is the 4th installment of The After Light Saga and I was on the edge of my seat the entire read! Abi, dealing with the grief and confusion her newfound gift has brought, leaves her family behind and sets out on her own into the desert to find her grandmother. But she finds that between the Arvies and the soldiers hunting her, she may not survive by herself.
Let me be honest for a sec. I was riveted by this installment to the series. I was shocked Abi would lie to Finn and leave her family behind without a second thought. She believes she’s in the right but as the reader we know what a terrible mistake her grief is causing her to make. I caught myself multiple times, holding my breath and hoping/praying she wouldn’t get herself killed or kill someone else by mistake.
Finn is noticeably absent again this book. I was hoping he’d be more present after being absent most of [b:Intransigent|25710509|Intransigent (The After Light Sage, #3)|Cameo Renae|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1434114839s/25710509.jpg|45542749] but alas that wasn’t the case. He’s present in Abi’s mind though. She doesn’t make a move without thinking about him and the 13 years they spent in the bunker together.
This book really focuses on Abi and the horrors she faces alone. She’s a strong girl, but every one has a downfall and hers is her telepathy. She doesn’t know how to control it and if she isn’t careful it will kill her. It scares her and she lets it control her. I was heartbroken for her as she made the decision to leave her family and Finn behind, not knowing if she would ever see them again. But really she felt she had no choice. If she can’t control her gift, she could hurt them unintentionally which is the last thing she wants to do.
Hostile is an intense read! I liked the new characters that Cameo Renae introduces in the form of soldiers from the bunker. These soldiers were ordered to find Abi, kill anyone with her, and not return without her. I felt so bad for them and Abi as the story progresses and they rely on one another for survival. It was an interesting twist to the narrative.
Overall I really enjoyed this installment, in fact it might be my favorite of the series so far! I liked seeing Abi on her own, learning more about her gift, and learning to trust others outside of her own family. It was interesting to see her character’s growth and horrific to read about the nature of her gift/curse. I cannot wait to read more (and hopefully get more Finn time). If you enjoy dystopia, I highly recommend the series!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Initial Reaction
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows took me by surprise. I loved the quirky, dry humor of the narrators, the fantastical spin on history, and of course Jane. However it was super long, like 512 pages (that’s nothing for me) but it was long-winded and alternated between a slow and fast pace. There were times that I couldn’t turn the page fast enough and other times I caught myself falling asleep while reading. So to say my feelings about My Lady Jane are mixed is an understatement.
The Not-So Historical Fiction
The story of Lady Jane Grey is infamous in Great Britain’s history. She’s known as the “nine day queen” after she inherited the throne from her cousin Edward Tudor when he revised the line of succession, effectively cutting his older sisters out of the line. According to history, Mary (aka “Bloody Mary”) took back the throne and later beheaded the young Jane. This is the history. In My Lady Jane, the authors take great liberty in remaking the story. Essentially, part one of the book is historical in nature, following what we all know, then part two deviates from what we know and creates an alternative to what is in the history books.
To be honest, I like the spin the authors gave to the story. I liked the alternative history, where the characters who all died in history live different lives and how different those lives are. They took an extremely sad story and gave the characters a happily ever after. Now to do this they kind of spit the face of history, but as I’m not British I did not take offense. I’ve read a few negative reviews and can understand why some things were taking offensively. But I personally enjoyed it.
Taking a Fantastical Approach to the Historical Politics of the Time
Not only did the authors alter history in their retelling of the nine day queen’s life, they also took the liberty of adding a fantasy element to the story. During the time of Queen Jane’s rule, their was great religious upheaval. Edward Tudor was known for his work in the Protestant Reformation and made great strides despite the tension with the Catholics. When his sister Mary took the throne, she led a persecution of anyone who did not profess their faith to the Catholic church, hence her nickname “Bloody Mary.”
In this story, the authors have made it Verities (Catholics) and E∂ians (Protestants). The Verities are humans who are “pure” and cannot turn into animals. The E∂ians have a human form and an animal form. Personally this was really interesting. I found it neat to see the characters in animal form and why they became that particular animal.
Edward, Jane, and G
What really made this book great though were the main characters. Edward is 16, dying and the King of England. Throughout the book he laments the fact that he is 16, never been kissed, and will likely never kiss anyone. He is a sweet, naive character that I really felt for as you see what happens to him. Jane is a character that any book lover will like. She is described as always having her nose in a book and she treasures books more than anything else. G though is my favorite character. He is cursed, a horse by day and human by night. His plight is one I felt for and I fell in love with him as the story progressed.
My Conclusion
If you are looking for a true historical fiction, this isn’t it! If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, reminds you of a cross between The Princess Bride and Monty Python than this is what you’re looking for! Quite simply put, I adored this book. While it was a bit long-winded (like my review), it was still good. I enjoyed the alternative history and the happily ever after for these characters.
Initial Reaction
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows took me by surprise. I loved the quirky, dry humor of the narrators, the fantastical spin on history, and of course Jane. However it was super long, like 512 pages (that’s nothing for me) but it was long-winded and alternated between a slow and fast pace. There were times that I couldn’t turn the page fast enough and other times I caught myself falling asleep while reading. So to say my feelings about My Lady Jane are mixed is an understatement.
The Not-So Historical Fiction
The story of Lady Jane Grey is infamous in Great Britain’s history. She’s known as the “nine day queen” after she inherited the throne from her cousin Edward Tudor when he revised the line of succession, effectively cutting his older sisters out of the line. According to history, Mary (aka “Bloody Mary”) took back the throne and later beheaded the young Jane. This is the history. In My Lady Jane, the authors take great liberty in remaking the story. Essentially, part one of the book is historical in nature, following what we all know, then part two deviates from what we know and creates an alternative to what is in the history books.
To be honest, I like the spin the authors gave to the story. I liked the alternative history, where the characters who all died in history live different lives and how different those lives are. They took an extremely sad story and gave the characters a happily ever after. Now to do this they kind of spit the face of history, but as I’m not British I did not take offense. I’ve read a few negative reviews and can understand why some things were taking offensively. But I personally enjoyed it.
Taking a Fantastical Approach to the Historical Politics of the Time
Not only did the authors alter history in their retelling of the nine day queen’s life, they also took the liberty of adding a fantasy element to the story. During the time of Queen Jane’s rule, their was great religious upheaval. Edward Tudor was known for his work in the Protestant Reformation and made great strides despite the tension with the Catholics. When his sister Mary took the throne, she led a persecution of anyone who did not profess their faith to the Catholic church, hence her nickname “Bloody Mary.”
In this story, the authors have made it Verities (Catholics) and E∂ians (Protestants). The Verities are humans who are “pure” and cannot turn into animals. The E∂ians have a human form and an animal form. Personally this was really interesting. I found it neat to see the characters in animal form and why they became that particular animal.
Edward, Jane, and G
What really made this book great though were the main characters. Edward is 16, dying and the King of England. Throughout the book he laments the fact that he is 16, never been kissed, and will likely never kiss anyone. He is a sweet, naive character that I really felt for as you see what happens to him. Jane is a character that any book lover will like. She is described as always having her nose in a book and she treasures books more than anything else. G though is my favorite character. He is cursed, a horse by day and human by night. His plight is one I felt for and I fell in love with him as the story progressed.
My Conclusion
If you are looking for a true historical fiction, this isn’t it! If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh, reminds you of a cross between The Princess Bride and Monty Python than this is what you’re looking for! Quite simply put, I adored this book. While it was a bit long-winded (like my review), it was still good. I enjoyed the alternative history and the happily ever after for these characters.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker is an amazing sequel to [b:The Witch Hunter|18190208|The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter, #1)|Virginia Boecker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417954350s/18190208.jpg|25592624] and wraps the story of Elizabeth Grey up nicely. The story picks up a couple months after the events at the end of the first book (so if you haven’t read book one there are minor spoilers ahead). Elizabeth is still recovering from her encounter with Blackwell and Caleb without her stigma. John has that now and it’s not playing well with his own healer magic. Now Blackwell is coming for Elizabeth and her stigma, the question is why.
I’ll admit when I read [b:The Witch Hunter|18190208|The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter, #1)|Virginia Boecker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417954350s/18190208.jpg|25592624], I had a hard time liking Elizabeth. She’s one of those characters that grows on you. She was crass, tough as nails, and thought herself invincible. Now without her stigma, she finds she needs to redefine herself. Her life up to this point was about being a witch hunter. Now she isn’t. Now she lives in Harrow with John, Peter, Fifer, Schuyler, and Nicholas. She lives among the people who were her enemy. People she spent her life hunting and killing and sentencing to burn at the stake. Now Elizabeth needs to redefine herself and without her stigma she’s at a loss. She doesn’t know who she is, but she knows who she is not. It’s interesting and heart-breaking reading her struggles and I found myself rooting for her early on.
Then there’s John. I fell in love with him in the first book as did Elizabeth. John is one of those characters that just oozes goodness. He’s kind, caring, and loyal. He’s a healer and this aspect defines him. When you think of someone that their whole life is devoted to taking care of others, that is John. At least that was John before the stigma. Now the magic of the stigma is interacting and overshadowing his healer magic. He becomes violent, unkind, and an entirely different person. It’s heartbreaking!
When Blackwell begins sending his men to infiltrate Harrow and kidnap Elizabeth, she comes to one conclusion. She has to go to Blackwell and finish what she started in [b:The Witch Hunter|18190208|The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter, #1)|Virginia Boecker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417954350s/18190208.jpg|25592624]. She has to kill him. But it is never as easy as that. Harrow is building an army and Elizabeth must help train it. She is relied on and reviled. She is a necessary evil to the people of Harrow and it’s heartbreaking (have I used that word too much already?!) to read. She’s a different person yet not. She’s still strong, can fight, and is courageous, but she knows she’s no longer invincible, John is with her stigma. And that secret that John is alive must never reach Blackwell.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It was full of ups and downs. One minute I was happy and smiling and swooning, the next I was angry and hurt, then I was sobbing before finally happy again. Trust me when I say this book is an emotional rollercoaster. I felt for Elizabeth and everything she encounters and dose throughout this book. I was heartbroken over and over again, yet left with hope. I loved the alternative fiction the author has created mixing it with the paranormal of witches and wizards. If you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this one. If you enjoy historical fiction and fantasy, I highly recommend you make this your next read!
The King Slayer by Virginia Boecker is an amazing sequel to [b:The Witch Hunter|18190208|The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter, #1)|Virginia Boecker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417954350s/18190208.jpg|25592624] and wraps the story of Elizabeth Grey up nicely. The story picks up a couple months after the events at the end of the first book (so if you haven’t read book one there are minor spoilers ahead). Elizabeth is still recovering from her encounter with Blackwell and Caleb without her stigma. John has that now and it’s not playing well with his own healer magic. Now Blackwell is coming for Elizabeth and her stigma, the question is why.
I’ll admit when I read [b:The Witch Hunter|18190208|The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter, #1)|Virginia Boecker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417954350s/18190208.jpg|25592624], I had a hard time liking Elizabeth. She’s one of those characters that grows on you. She was crass, tough as nails, and thought herself invincible. Now without her stigma, she finds she needs to redefine herself. Her life up to this point was about being a witch hunter. Now she isn’t. Now she lives in Harrow with John, Peter, Fifer, Schuyler, and Nicholas. She lives among the people who were her enemy. People she spent her life hunting and killing and sentencing to burn at the stake. Now Elizabeth needs to redefine herself and without her stigma she’s at a loss. She doesn’t know who she is, but she knows who she is not. It’s interesting and heart-breaking reading her struggles and I found myself rooting for her early on.
Then there’s John. I fell in love with him in the first book as did Elizabeth. John is one of those characters that just oozes goodness. He’s kind, caring, and loyal. He’s a healer and this aspect defines him. When you think of someone that their whole life is devoted to taking care of others, that is John. At least that was John before the stigma. Now the magic of the stigma is interacting and overshadowing his healer magic. He becomes violent, unkind, and an entirely different person. It’s heartbreaking!
When Blackwell begins sending his men to infiltrate Harrow and kidnap Elizabeth, she comes to one conclusion. She has to go to Blackwell and finish what she started in [b:The Witch Hunter|18190208|The Witch Hunter (The Witch Hunter, #1)|Virginia Boecker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1417954350s/18190208.jpg|25592624]. She has to kill him. But it is never as easy as that. Harrow is building an army and Elizabeth must help train it. She is relied on and reviled. She is a necessary evil to the people of Harrow and it’s heartbreaking (have I used that word too much already?!) to read. She’s a different person yet not. She’s still strong, can fight, and is courageous, but she knows she’s no longer invincible, John is with her stigma. And that secret that John is alive must never reach Blackwell.
Overall I really enjoyed this book! It was full of ups and downs. One minute I was happy and smiling and swooning, the next I was angry and hurt, then I was sobbing before finally happy again. Trust me when I say this book is an emotional rollercoaster. I felt for Elizabeth and everything she encounters and dose throughout this book. I was heartbroken over and over again, yet left with hope. I loved the alternative fiction the author has created mixing it with the paranormal of witches and wizards. If you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy this one. If you enjoy historical fiction and fantasy, I highly recommend you make this your next read!
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Okay so let me be honest for a sec…I was really dreading reading Scent by Juliet Madison not because I didn’t enjoy the series or the author’s writing but because I really didn’t care for Sasha in the other books and this is her story. BUT let me be the first to tell you I was pleasantly surprised by vain little Sasha. After learning some distressing news about their father, the Delta Girls are feeling stumped and more determined than ever to solve the mystery around their father’s disappearance. At least all the girls except Sasha are. Sasha needs a new outlook on her life and with the new year she plans to find just that.
Sasha is the sassy sister, the one that is hip on all the latest fashion trends, spends way more than her allotted time in the bathroom, and the complete opposite of her sporty sister Savannah. She’s the eldest of the triplets making her the exact middle child. She also has what she considers the worst of the psychic abilities her and her sisters share — the ability of smell or scent. She literally smells the future. How lame is that?! Or at least that’s her thoughts on it.
For the new year, Sasha decides to start a blog about her new year’s resolutions. Of course as a blogger this appealed to me immediately. Sasha is a good writer too and easily takes her blog into her social media. An ominous warning from her mother about being carefully with her private information on the internet sets the tone of the book and gives the reader a bit of insight on what is going to happen to our Sasha.
As you’ve probably guessed (as I did from the moment Sasha announced she was starting a blog), Sasha has a secret admirer. This story revolves around her growing online relationship with the secret admirer. I have to say this the author does a fantastic job of showing the dangers of online predators WITHOUT having to spell it out. I was drawn into the story and it easily can become a teachable moment to preteens and teens that read the book. So kudos Juliet Madison!
Overall I really enjoyed Sasha’s story! Not only did I find myself loving her character but I was rooting for her, crying with her, and falling in love along side her. If you’ve enjoyed the series up to this point, you will love Sasha’s story!
Okay so let me be honest for a sec…I was really dreading reading Scent by Juliet Madison not because I didn’t enjoy the series or the author’s writing but because I really didn’t care for Sasha in the other books and this is her story. BUT let me be the first to tell you I was pleasantly surprised by vain little Sasha. After learning some distressing news about their father, the Delta Girls are feeling stumped and more determined than ever to solve the mystery around their father’s disappearance. At least all the girls except Sasha are. Sasha needs a new outlook on her life and with the new year she plans to find just that.
Sasha is the sassy sister, the one that is hip on all the latest fashion trends, spends way more than her allotted time in the bathroom, and the complete opposite of her sporty sister Savannah. She’s the eldest of the triplets making her the exact middle child. She also has what she considers the worst of the psychic abilities her and her sisters share — the ability of smell or scent. She literally smells the future. How lame is that?! Or at least that’s her thoughts on it.
For the new year, Sasha decides to start a blog about her new year’s resolutions. Of course as a blogger this appealed to me immediately. Sasha is a good writer too and easily takes her blog into her social media. An ominous warning from her mother about being carefully with her private information on the internet sets the tone of the book and gives the reader a bit of insight on what is going to happen to our Sasha.
As you’ve probably guessed (as I did from the moment Sasha announced she was starting a blog), Sasha has a secret admirer. This story revolves around her growing online relationship with the secret admirer. I have to say this the author does a fantastic job of showing the dangers of online predators WITHOUT having to spell it out. I was drawn into the story and it easily can become a teachable moment to preteens and teens that read the book. So kudos Juliet Madison!
Overall I really enjoyed Sasha’s story! Not only did I find myself loving her character but I was rooting for her, crying with her, and falling in love along side her. If you’ve enjoyed the series up to this point, you will love Sasha’s story!
I received an eARC of this book via I Am a Reader in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Four Chambers by Julie Wright is the fifth book in the Power of the Matchmaker series and — like its predecessors — is a sweet, heart-breaking story about two people on their last chance. Andra Stone is a senior in college when she decides to date Everett Covington, but one thing after another continues to keep them apart. Now over ten years later, they are given another chance at love but will their career ambitions tear them apart again?
Andra was not an easy character for me to like. She is an extremely smart, driven, young woman. While this was nice to see, it was also the downfall of her character. Because she is so driven, she tends to close herself off to relationships, leading to her living a very lonely life. Her parents are unsupportive, her boyfriend has cheated on her, and now she may lose her scholarship (all in the first chapter!). My heart went out to her, but because of the callous way she treats Everett I had a hard time truly liking her.
Everett is a sweet, easy-going character and reminds me a lot of my own husband (who also just completed the same rigorous training as the characters in the book). No matter what the author throws at this character, no matter how awful Andra treats him, he keeps coming back, not giving up on her. He brings out the best in Andra and because they started their relationship as friends that bond remains even when their romantic relationship is on the rocks.
I had a difficult time with the narration of the story. There was little dialogue and lots of info dump as each “chamber” takes place at one point in their lives and then several years pass between. I personally prefer more dialogue so this took some getting used to. I loved Miss Pearl’s role in this installment of the series. She is a “heart” doctor though she never really claims a role in the actual hospital but she shows up over and over again.
Overall I enjoyed the story. It was short, sweet, and a cute read. I think what I enjoyed most was reading the different aspects of being a doctor from the start of education up to their chosen career path. Andra wasn’t my favorite character, but I loved Everett and he brought out the good in her. Plus she had some growing to do throughout the book. If you enjoy light-hearted, clean, contemporary romance, I highly recommend this one and the others in Power of the Matchmaker.
Four Chambers by Julie Wright is the fifth book in the Power of the Matchmaker series and — like its predecessors — is a sweet, heart-breaking story about two people on their last chance. Andra Stone is a senior in college when she decides to date Everett Covington, but one thing after another continues to keep them apart. Now over ten years later, they are given another chance at love but will their career ambitions tear them apart again?
Andra was not an easy character for me to like. She is an extremely smart, driven, young woman. While this was nice to see, it was also the downfall of her character. Because she is so driven, she tends to close herself off to relationships, leading to her living a very lonely life. Her parents are unsupportive, her boyfriend has cheated on her, and now she may lose her scholarship (all in the first chapter!). My heart went out to her, but because of the callous way she treats Everett I had a hard time truly liking her.
Everett is a sweet, easy-going character and reminds me a lot of my own husband (who also just completed the same rigorous training as the characters in the book). No matter what the author throws at this character, no matter how awful Andra treats him, he keeps coming back, not giving up on her. He brings out the best in Andra and because they started their relationship as friends that bond remains even when their romantic relationship is on the rocks.
I had a difficult time with the narration of the story. There was little dialogue and lots of info dump as each “chamber” takes place at one point in their lives and then several years pass between. I personally prefer more dialogue so this took some getting used to. I loved Miss Pearl’s role in this installment of the series. She is a “heart” doctor though she never really claims a role in the actual hospital but she shows up over and over again.
Overall I enjoyed the story. It was short, sweet, and a cute read. I think what I enjoyed most was reading the different aspects of being a doctor from the start of education up to their chosen career path. Andra wasn’t my favorite character, but I loved Everett and he brought out the good in her. Plus she had some growing to do throughout the book. If you enjoy light-hearted, clean, contemporary romance, I highly recommend this one and the others in Power of the Matchmaker.
I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Moon Mark by Scarlett Dawn is a standalone in the Mark series and possibly my favorite of the two novellas. Madeline Faire is training as a scientist when the tidal wave hits Joyal, wiping out a good portion of their population. She is then pulled from Joyal in a lottery and given to the Kireg who are in the middle of a civil war. Out of her element, Madeline must find a way to keep herself and the other humans alive.
Madeline is a great character! She is smart and her intellect and natural curiosity get her into all kinds of trouble with the mind-reading Kiregs. Her curiosity rules her thoughts and well these thoughts aren’t always pleasant to the eavesdropping mind-readers. Like Braita, she’s innocent and naive when it comes to relations but her curiosity in how relations work endear her to others.
Geo, the Kireg rebellion leader, is a tough one to like in the beginning, but he quickly grew on me. He is powerful, calculated, and intimidating, yet he is gentle and his cause is good. He’s fighting the Dynasty for the freedom of all people on Kireg. How could you not like that?!
The novella centers around Madeline and Geo, their relationship, and the dangers of the rebellion. I found myself intrigued by the political aspects and just as curious about the Kireg as Madeline is. I loved the love/hate relationship between Geo and Madeline and how they each sacrifice for the other. And the world-building….PERFECT! I was fully immersed in the story, unable to tear myself away.
Overall, I think Moon Mark may be my favorite Scarlett Dawn book! It was steamy, the world was amazing, and the plot intriguing. If you enjoy science fiction with a little dystopia and a lot of romance, I highly suggest you pick up a copy. While this is the second novella in the series, it can still be enjoyed as a standalone, though I do recommend reading [b:Cold Mark|29666563|Cold Mark (Mark, #1)|Scarlett Dawn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459246356s/29666563.jpg|45693901] as well.
Moon Mark by Scarlett Dawn is a standalone in the Mark series and possibly my favorite of the two novellas. Madeline Faire is training as a scientist when the tidal wave hits Joyal, wiping out a good portion of their population. She is then pulled from Joyal in a lottery and given to the Kireg who are in the middle of a civil war. Out of her element, Madeline must find a way to keep herself and the other humans alive.
Madeline is a great character! She is smart and her intellect and natural curiosity get her into all kinds of trouble with the mind-reading Kiregs. Her curiosity rules her thoughts and well these thoughts aren’t always pleasant to the eavesdropping mind-readers. Like Braita, she’s innocent and naive when it comes to relations but her curiosity in how relations work endear her to others.
Geo, the Kireg rebellion leader, is a tough one to like in the beginning, but he quickly grew on me. He is powerful, calculated, and intimidating, yet he is gentle and his cause is good. He’s fighting the Dynasty for the freedom of all people on Kireg. How could you not like that?!
The novella centers around Madeline and Geo, their relationship, and the dangers of the rebellion. I found myself intrigued by the political aspects and just as curious about the Kireg as Madeline is. I loved the love/hate relationship between Geo and Madeline and how they each sacrifice for the other. And the world-building….PERFECT! I was fully immersed in the story, unable to tear myself away.
Overall, I think Moon Mark may be my favorite Scarlett Dawn book! It was steamy, the world was amazing, and the plot intriguing. If you enjoy science fiction with a little dystopia and a lot of romance, I highly suggest you pick up a copy. While this is the second novella in the series, it can still be enjoyed as a standalone, though I do recommend reading [b:Cold Mark|29666563|Cold Mark (Mark, #1)|Scarlett Dawn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459246356s/29666563.jpg|45693901] as well.
I received an eARC of this novella via the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of this review.
Dark Fae by Lillian Cartier is one of 30 novellas in the Skeleton Key collection. I love the idea of this series! In each novella, a glass skeleton key appears and whisks the main character to a new realm, a new life, providing an escape from their troubles. In Dark Fae, Tessa James is a former foster care child. She bounced from home to home, never feeling complete. When a man shows up with news that her long-lost aunt has died and left everything to her, she finds herself in a secluded cabin with a locked closet.
Tessa was an interesting character. She’s lonely, a bit lost and when she finds out about her aunt her world is turned upside down. Someone cared for her, she wasn’t just tossed away as she had always thought. It’s an eye-opening experience for her. When the skeleton key turns up and opens the locked closet into a realm of fae. To say she handles it better than I would is an understatement. She is the epitome of understanding.
This novella focuses on Nyx and Tessa. Nyx is the leader of the fae and it is his job to protect his realm from humans like Tessa. The two make an interesting pair. However it lost a star due to the insta-love, which is more appropriately named lust. The world-building made up for it though. I found it interesting to see how the fae realm worked, Nyx’s fae traits and the politics associated with his position.
Overall I found the novella ok. It’s a quick, easy read. Perfect for someone looking for a paranormal romance fix. FYI it is not for anyone under 18. Sorry friends, adults only! There are some pretty steamy sex scenes and some foul language, which I personally could have done without.
Dark Fae by Lillian Cartier is one of 30 novellas in the Skeleton Key collection. I love the idea of this series! In each novella, a glass skeleton key appears and whisks the main character to a new realm, a new life, providing an escape from their troubles. In Dark Fae, Tessa James is a former foster care child. She bounced from home to home, never feeling complete. When a man shows up with news that her long-lost aunt has died and left everything to her, she finds herself in a secluded cabin with a locked closet.
Tessa was an interesting character. She’s lonely, a bit lost and when she finds out about her aunt her world is turned upside down. Someone cared for her, she wasn’t just tossed away as she had always thought. It’s an eye-opening experience for her. When the skeleton key turns up and opens the locked closet into a realm of fae. To say she handles it better than I would is an understatement. She is the epitome of understanding.
This novella focuses on Nyx and Tessa. Nyx is the leader of the fae and it is his job to protect his realm from humans like Tessa. The two make an interesting pair. However it lost a star due to the insta-love, which is more appropriately named lust. The world-building made up for it though. I found it interesting to see how the fae realm worked, Nyx’s fae traits and the politics associated with his position.
Overall I found the novella ok. It’s a quick, easy read. Perfect for someone looking for a paranormal romance fix. FYI it is not for anyone under 18. Sorry friends, adults only! There are some pretty steamy sex scenes and some foul language, which I personally could have done without.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Happy Ever After in Christmas by Debbie Mason is the final book in the Christmas, Colorado series. If you haven’t started the series, no worries! Each book can be read as a standalone (I myself didn’t start the series until two books ago) and still enjoyed. However I do recommend reading the entire series if you like sweet, contemporary romance set in a small town where everyone is in everyone else’s business. In this final installment of the series, Jill Flaherty is tired hitting the cruise control on her life and ready to live it. First things first though is getting the man she’s in love with to see her as anything but her brother’s baby sister. Sawyer Anderson is the town’s consummate bachelor and playboy, but when it comes to Jill he’s blind to her feelings and his own.
I really like Jill. I liked her in the previous stories as well and was excited to read hers. She’s the town’s deputy, takes no bull crap, and isn’t a damsel in distress. BUT she’s still a girl, something most of the men (including her own brother) forget. As her 30th birthday approaches, she realizes that her dreams of having a family may not come to fruition especially if she continues to pine after her brother’s best friend Sawyer.
Sawyer is another character I liked before reading this story but I love him now! He is the product of a single mom and his overprotection of Jill is sweet bordering on annoying. I wanted to yell at him through the pages that he didn’t get her at all. He may know her better than anyone but the man is blind to her feelings and his own, which totally made for an awesome read. Sawyer is hesitant to be anything more than a friend to Jill because he doesn’t want to risk his 22 year friendship with Jack, but he doesn’t want anyone else with her either….
The plot centers around the evolving relationship between Jill and Sawyer. My heart bled for them as I read. Jill is hopelessly in love, turning down good prospects or just not enjoying them when she does decide to date. Sawyer at first doesn’t recognize his own feelings and then denies them because of Jack. The whole town seems to be in on it as well, working their magic to get the two together. There’s one particular event in the story that hit close to home for me and I needed several boxes of tissues and a cuddle from my husband to make it through.
Overall I loved this book! It’s my favorite of the series (granted I’ve said that with every book I’ve read). The story is sweet, heart-wrenching and the town gets a happy ever after as the title suggests. While I’m sad there won’t be more from this little town and Nell, I’m happy with the conclusion. All the previous characters make an appearance and their happy ever afters are solidified. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to miss this conclusion. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it!
Happy Ever After in Christmas by Debbie Mason is the final book in the Christmas, Colorado series. If you haven’t started the series, no worries! Each book can be read as a standalone (I myself didn’t start the series until two books ago) and still enjoyed. However I do recommend reading the entire series if you like sweet, contemporary romance set in a small town where everyone is in everyone else’s business. In this final installment of the series, Jill Flaherty is tired hitting the cruise control on her life and ready to live it. First things first though is getting the man she’s in love with to see her as anything but her brother’s baby sister. Sawyer Anderson is the town’s consummate bachelor and playboy, but when it comes to Jill he’s blind to her feelings and his own.
I really like Jill. I liked her in the previous stories as well and was excited to read hers. She’s the town’s deputy, takes no bull crap, and isn’t a damsel in distress. BUT she’s still a girl, something most of the men (including her own brother) forget. As her 30th birthday approaches, she realizes that her dreams of having a family may not come to fruition especially if she continues to pine after her brother’s best friend Sawyer.
Sawyer is another character I liked before reading this story but I love him now! He is the product of a single mom and his overprotection of Jill is sweet bordering on annoying. I wanted to yell at him through the pages that he didn’t get her at all. He may know her better than anyone but the man is blind to her feelings and his own, which totally made for an awesome read. Sawyer is hesitant to be anything more than a friend to Jill because he doesn’t want to risk his 22 year friendship with Jack, but he doesn’t want anyone else with her either….
The plot centers around the evolving relationship between Jill and Sawyer. My heart bled for them as I read. Jill is hopelessly in love, turning down good prospects or just not enjoying them when she does decide to date. Sawyer at first doesn’t recognize his own feelings and then denies them because of Jack. The whole town seems to be in on it as well, working their magic to get the two together. There’s one particular event in the story that hit close to home for me and I needed several boxes of tissues and a cuddle from my husband to make it through.
Overall I loved this book! It’s my favorite of the series (granted I’ve said that with every book I’ve read). The story is sweet, heart-wrenching and the town gets a happy ever after as the title suggests. While I’m sad there won’t be more from this little town and Nell, I’m happy with the conclusion. All the previous characters make an appearance and their happy ever afters are solidified. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to miss this conclusion. If you enjoy contemporary romance, I highly recommend it!
I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The Azure Kingdom by Michelle Dare hooked me from the first page! It is a sweet romance set in a medieval realm, featuring one of my favorite paranormal creatures — dragons. It’s been a year since Alison Wescot’s mother died, leaving her with her antique store, when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens a hidden room in her closet to another world. Lucas Azure is a prince and leader of the king’s elite guard when the girl from his dreams walks into the middle of his hunt.
Alison is easy to like. She’s independent, a bit lonely, and ready for adventure. After losing her mother over a year earlier, she finds a note and skeleton key back to her mother’s home realm. She packs a bag and in the middle of the night uses it to go to another world. Personally I was impressed by this. There’s no way I would use a key knowing it would take me somewhere like that and possibly strand me there. That took guts!
The novella’s only downfall was the insta-love. If there was a definition for insta-love, it could take the relationship between Alison and Lucas as an example. There was no build-up, getting to know you type thing with these two. It was just instant love/lust. Granted the book does start with Alison dreaming she is in the Azure Kingdom and Lucas is there as well. Supposedly these dreams have been happening for a year. I could see where she would instantly love and trust him if she’s been dreaming of him for a year!
Overall I really enjoyed this novella. The author did a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and creating a magnificent realm complete with backstory and history in a short novella. If you enjoy medieval stories, civil wars, and dragons, I would recommend you check out Michelle Dare’s installment of the Skeleton Key series.
The Azure Kingdom by Michelle Dare hooked me from the first page! It is a sweet romance set in a medieval realm, featuring one of my favorite paranormal creatures — dragons. It’s been a year since Alison Wescot’s mother died, leaving her with her antique store, when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens a hidden room in her closet to another world. Lucas Azure is a prince and leader of the king’s elite guard when the girl from his dreams walks into the middle of his hunt.
Alison is easy to like. She’s independent, a bit lonely, and ready for adventure. After losing her mother over a year earlier, she finds a note and skeleton key back to her mother’s home realm. She packs a bag and in the middle of the night uses it to go to another world. Personally I was impressed by this. There’s no way I would use a key knowing it would take me somewhere like that and possibly strand me there. That took guts!
The novella’s only downfall was the insta-love. If there was a definition for insta-love, it could take the relationship between Alison and Lucas as an example. There was no build-up, getting to know you type thing with these two. It was just instant love/lust. Granted the book does start with Alison dreaming she is in the Azure Kingdom and Lucas is there as well. Supposedly these dreams have been happening for a year. I could see where she would instantly love and trust him if she’s been dreaming of him for a year!
Overall I really enjoyed this novella. The author did a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and creating a magnificent realm complete with backstory and history in a short novella. If you enjoy medieval stories, civil wars, and dragons, I would recommend you check out Michelle Dare’s installment of the Skeleton Key series.
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Royal Enchantment by Lia Davis is an interesting adventure in the realm of Elves. Ava Green has just lost everything to her business partner when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens the door into another world. She finds herself face to face with the King of the Morna, the Dark Elves sovereign.
Ava is an interesting character, one I felt for and respected. She is alone in the world. Her parents died months apart from each other and now her only friend and business partner stabbed her in the back, taking everything from her. Angry and hurt she finds the skeleton key that takes her to the realm of the Elves. Rather than being scared, she takes it in stride, unsure of what she should be doing. While Ava is a strong character, I felt like I didn't know her that well.
As with a LOT of short stories, the plot moves fast, so fast that at times I thought I'd missed something. The premise is (and no spoilers as this occurs fairly early) that Ava is the daughter of a light and dark Elves, making her the woman that can break the curse on their land. The fantasy adventure and even the romance felt rushed. I would have liked to see it fleshed out more and with a little more details. The concept was fantastic, just not executed well.
Overall Royal Enchantment was just ok for me. It's short enough to be read in one sitting and if you like elven stories, I recommend you check it out.
Royal Enchantment by Lia Davis is an interesting adventure in the realm of Elves. Ava Green has just lost everything to her business partner when she finds a glass skeleton key that opens the door into another world. She finds herself face to face with the King of the Morna, the Dark Elves sovereign.
Ava is an interesting character, one I felt for and respected. She is alone in the world. Her parents died months apart from each other and now her only friend and business partner stabbed her in the back, taking everything from her. Angry and hurt she finds the skeleton key that takes her to the realm of the Elves. Rather than being scared, she takes it in stride, unsure of what she should be doing. While Ava is a strong character, I felt like I didn't know her that well.
As with a LOT of short stories, the plot moves fast, so fast that at times I thought I'd missed something. The premise is (and no spoilers as this occurs fairly early) that Ava is the daughter of a light and dark Elves, making her the woman that can break the curse on their land. The fantasy adventure and even the romance felt rushed. I would have liked to see it fleshed out more and with a little more details. The concept was fantastic, just not executed well.
Overall Royal Enchantment was just ok for me. It's short enough to be read in one sitting and if you like elven stories, I recommend you check it out.