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I received an eARC of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Mechanical Hearts by Nicole Blanchard is a quick read set in a steampunk realm. I think this may be my favorite from the Skeleton Key binge. The world-building is fantastic, the characters are memorable, and for a novella it is impressively written.
Caroline Abernathy is tired of living with her hateful aunt. Heading to medical school, she vows to make enough money to take her little cousin with her. The night she leaves she finds herself on her father’s boat, the only thing she has left of him. She finds a glass skeleton key that opens the cabin door and falls asleep thinking about what her life would be like if her father was still alive. When she wakes up, she’s drowning. Her boat has crashed in a storm. But that isn’t what worries her. No it’s the submarine that surfaces and the little robot that takes her inside to the captain: a pirate with a mechanical arm and eyes.
In this realm, everyone is altered. Everyone has something mechanical. For Ezra, the pirate captain, it’s his arm and eyes. He was born with them! Anyone exposed to the toxins in the water/land has a mutation, which is why Caroline fascinates him. He promises her a way home and for some reason she trusts him.
I really enjoyed this story! The world-building, the characters, everything!!! Steampunk is a genre that isn’t done enough in my opinion and it is done very well in this novella. If you enjoy that genre or you’re looking for a quick adventure, I highly recommend it!
Mechanical Hearts by Nicole Blanchard is a quick read set in a steampunk realm. I think this may be my favorite from the Skeleton Key binge. The world-building is fantastic, the characters are memorable, and for a novella it is impressively written.
Caroline Abernathy is tired of living with her hateful aunt. Heading to medical school, she vows to make enough money to take her little cousin with her. The night she leaves she finds herself on her father’s boat, the only thing she has left of him. She finds a glass skeleton key that opens the cabin door and falls asleep thinking about what her life would be like if her father was still alive. When she wakes up, she’s drowning. Her boat has crashed in a storm. But that isn’t what worries her. No it’s the submarine that surfaces and the little robot that takes her inside to the captain: a pirate with a mechanical arm and eyes.
In this realm, everyone is altered. Everyone has something mechanical. For Ezra, the pirate captain, it’s his arm and eyes. He was born with them! Anyone exposed to the toxins in the water/land has a mutation, which is why Caroline fascinates him. He promises her a way home and for some reason she trusts him.
I really enjoyed this story! The world-building, the characters, everything!!! Steampunk is a genre that isn’t done enough in my opinion and it is done very well in this novella. If you enjoy that genre or you’re looking for a quick adventure, I highly recommend it!
I received an eARC of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Scarlett Dawn so I HAD to read her installment in the Skeleton Key series, Game Master. I think this may have taken the place of my favorite Dawn read! In Game Master, Arizona Creed has just buried her father when a group of assassins chase her through the streets. She finds herself at a dead end with a locked door in front of her when she finds a glass skeleton key buried in the rubbish. Using it, she opens the door to find herself on the front stoop of a cabin in the middle of the woods and a talking frog as her guide.
Arizona is an interesting character. She’s fierce! Raised by her father and taught to be an assassin, she can take care of herself. When he is killed, she’s furious and ready for revenge. Then she finds herself stuck in another world with no way to get back and nothing but her grief to keep her company.
Lucifer finds her and takes her in. Together they raise the twin girls he took in after their mother died. But none of this is enough for Arizona. Her life lacks direction, purpose. That is until the Guard shows up and invites her and Lucifer to participate in the game to win a position with the Guard.
I liked this story. I like the characters, the world, and the game. It was an interesting concept and while there is a touch of romance, it isn’t the focus. The focus is on Arizona finding her way out of her grief. And Kingsley ♥︎ I LOVE Kingsley! He is probably my favorite character in the story. If you enjoy paranormal romance and fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Game Master.
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Scarlett Dawn so I HAD to read her installment in the Skeleton Key series, Game Master. I think this may have taken the place of my favorite Dawn read! In Game Master, Arizona Creed has just buried her father when a group of assassins chase her through the streets. She finds herself at a dead end with a locked door in front of her when she finds a glass skeleton key buried in the rubbish. Using it, she opens the door to find herself on the front stoop of a cabin in the middle of the woods and a talking frog as her guide.
Arizona is an interesting character. She’s fierce! Raised by her father and taught to be an assassin, she can take care of herself. When he is killed, she’s furious and ready for revenge. Then she finds herself stuck in another world with no way to get back and nothing but her grief to keep her company.
Lucifer finds her and takes her in. Together they raise the twin girls he took in after their mother died. But none of this is enough for Arizona. Her life lacks direction, purpose. That is until the Guard shows up and invites her and Lucifer to participate in the game to win a position with the Guard.
I liked this story. I like the characters, the world, and the game. It was an interesting concept and while there is a touch of romance, it isn’t the focus. The focus is on Arizona finding her way out of her grief. And Kingsley ♥︎ I LOVE Kingsley! He is probably my favorite character in the story. If you enjoy paranormal romance and fantasy, I highly recommend you grab a copy of Game Master.
I received an eARC of this book via the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review
The Afterlife of Alyx and Israel by Hanna Peach is everything I wanted and more! Alyx and Israel are two of my favorite characters and to see them finally get their HEA was worth the wait. The story opens with three immortals in Purgatory (I’m not joking and if you’ve read the series you know what I’m talking about!). Vix, Jordan and Balthazar decide that Fate isn’t working fast enough for Alyx and Israel and it’s time for them to intervene. Alyx is engaged to someone not Israel and Israel is falling down the same path he took in his previous life. But their meddling results in Alyx being trapped within her own mind and only Israel has any hope of bringing her back.
As I’ve already stated, Israel and Alyx are two of my all-time favorite characters. As immortals, they were amazing. Israel was surly, passionate, and fierce. Alyx was a force to be reckoned with, fearless, and brave. I was a little concerned to read how being mortal with no memories of their previous lives would affect them, but Peach delivered! Alyx and Israel are just as memorable and the character traits that defined them shine through, even without their memories.
I loved seeing Jordan, Vix, and Balthazar again. This was a fun bonus to the story, even if their actions are the catalyst for the plot. They haven’t changed. Jordan is still a little jealous of Israel, even though he’s found love. Vix is still tough. And Balthazar is still the one with tricks up his sleeve. I found myself immediately drawn into the plot after just one chapter with them!
The plot focuses on Alyx and Israel and their race through the Dreamscape inside Alyx’s mind. It’s interesting to read as they learn who they once were compared to how they are now. The way their souls are bound together despite working against fate makes for an excellent, heart-wrenching read.
Overall, Hanna Peach did a fantastic job of continuing Alyx and Israel’s story. I was beyond impressed with how their mortal lives intersected with their previous. And yay for HEA!!!! Fans of the series, this is the book you are waiting for! New fan? No problem, you can read this book without any previous knowledge of Dark Angel though I still recommend you read them in order (my OCD brain can’t handle it any other way).
The Afterlife of Alyx and Israel by Hanna Peach is everything I wanted and more! Alyx and Israel are two of my favorite characters and to see them finally get their HEA was worth the wait. The story opens with three immortals in Purgatory (I’m not joking and if you’ve read the series you know what I’m talking about!). Vix, Jordan and Balthazar decide that Fate isn’t working fast enough for Alyx and Israel and it’s time for them to intervene. Alyx is engaged to someone not Israel and Israel is falling down the same path he took in his previous life. But their meddling results in Alyx being trapped within her own mind and only Israel has any hope of bringing her back.
As I’ve already stated, Israel and Alyx are two of my all-time favorite characters. As immortals, they were amazing. Israel was surly, passionate, and fierce. Alyx was a force to be reckoned with, fearless, and brave. I was a little concerned to read how being mortal with no memories of their previous lives would affect them, but Peach delivered! Alyx and Israel are just as memorable and the character traits that defined them shine through, even without their memories.
I loved seeing Jordan, Vix, and Balthazar again. This was a fun bonus to the story, even if their actions are the catalyst for the plot. They haven’t changed. Jordan is still a little jealous of Israel, even though he’s found love. Vix is still tough. And Balthazar is still the one with tricks up his sleeve. I found myself immediately drawn into the plot after just one chapter with them!
The plot focuses on Alyx and Israel and their race through the Dreamscape inside Alyx’s mind. It’s interesting to read as they learn who they once were compared to how they are now. The way their souls are bound together despite working against fate makes for an excellent, heart-wrenching read.
Overall, Hanna Peach did a fantastic job of continuing Alyx and Israel’s story. I was beyond impressed with how their mortal lives intersected with their previous. And yay for HEA!!!! Fans of the series, this is the book you are waiting for! New fan? No problem, you can read this book without any previous knowledge of Dark Angel though I still recommend you read them in order (my OCD brain can’t handle it any other way).
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.
In All My Dreams by Ciara Knight is the final book in the Riverbend series and focuses on Charlotte Rutledge and Agent Brady Lassiter. Charlotte is first introduced in the prequel novella as one of Cynthia’s students and later in [b:In All My Years|28809945|In All My Years (Riverbend Book 2)|Ciara Knight|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1454202400s/28809945.jpg|49024601] as a reporter. Agent Lassiter worked to bring in Kate’s ex-husband and keep her and her family safe during the last book of the series. I was interested to read this installment to see how (and if) these two characters could find a HEA.
Charlotte is a hard character to like. She’s extremely independent, states multiple times she “doesn’t need a man” and successfully runs an online magazine using several identities. After losing her sister, she’s made it her mission to save women from abusive husbands, to expose the husbands for the scum they are, and I have a ton of respect for her. This is no easy task and she does it because she cares, because she couldn’t save her sister. It’s like an atonement for her. But this next woman may cost her everything.
Agent Brady Lassiter has stuck with me since the last book. He takes his job as an FBI agent seriously, and he will do whatever it takes (within the realm of the law) to get his man. When Charlotte starts investigating one of the largest drug/trafficking rings in America, it’s Brady’s job to get her to stop before she makes herself and everyone in Riverbend a target for the cartel. During his last job in Riverbend, Brady found friends in Colum and Liam Harrow and found himself a little smitten with the reporter and her tenacity. Now though he needs to stop her, the question is how.
I really enjoyed this book! Charlotte and Brady are my favorite characters from the series. This book really focuses on them, their past heart-aches and their relationship (or lack there of). It’s a suspenseful read that kept me up late into the night to finish it. If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, you will enjoy this one as well. I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy contemporary romance, a little suspense, and a clean read. PS if you haven’t started the series yet, this book can be read as a standalone!
In All My Dreams by Ciara Knight is the final book in the Riverbend series and focuses on Charlotte Rutledge and Agent Brady Lassiter. Charlotte is first introduced in the prequel novella as one of Cynthia’s students and later in [b:In All My Years|28809945|In All My Years (Riverbend Book 2)|Ciara Knight|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1454202400s/28809945.jpg|49024601] as a reporter. Agent Lassiter worked to bring in Kate’s ex-husband and keep her and her family safe during the last book of the series. I was interested to read this installment to see how (and if) these two characters could find a HEA.
Charlotte is a hard character to like. She’s extremely independent, states multiple times she “doesn’t need a man” and successfully runs an online magazine using several identities. After losing her sister, she’s made it her mission to save women from abusive husbands, to expose the husbands for the scum they are, and I have a ton of respect for her. This is no easy task and she does it because she cares, because she couldn’t save her sister. It’s like an atonement for her. But this next woman may cost her everything.
Agent Brady Lassiter has stuck with me since the last book. He takes his job as an FBI agent seriously, and he will do whatever it takes (within the realm of the law) to get his man. When Charlotte starts investigating one of the largest drug/trafficking rings in America, it’s Brady’s job to get her to stop before she makes herself and everyone in Riverbend a target for the cartel. During his last job in Riverbend, Brady found friends in Colum and Liam Harrow and found himself a little smitten with the reporter and her tenacity. Now though he needs to stop her, the question is how.
I really enjoyed this book! Charlotte and Brady are my favorite characters from the series. This book really focuses on them, their past heart-aches and their relationship (or lack there of). It’s a suspenseful read that kept me up late into the night to finish it. If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, you will enjoy this one as well. I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy contemporary romance, a little suspense, and a clean read. PS if you haven’t started the series yet, this book can be read as a standalone!
I received an eARC of this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab is a unique story about a girl, a monster, and a war that is brewing beneath the surface of their city. It’s been years since the world as we know it collapsed and monsters came out of the shadows, born of our evils. Now the citizens of Verity are ruled by a cruel man who works with the monsters to control the population. His daughter Kate Harker wants to take his place and prove her worth and now that she’s given her father no choice but to bring her home she can. On the other side of Verity is another man, a good man, working to rid the city of monsters and free the people. His son August Flynn wants to be human, normal, not the monster he was born to be.
Kate is a difficult character to like. In fact she got on my nerves. She projects this air of nobility, of being better than everyone else because she is a Harker. She does things to make the other students scared of her. She’s mean, manipulative, and works towards being worthy of the empire her father’s acquired. She’s never had a friend, but the new boy at school intrigues her.
August is easy to like, yet hard to understand. He is one of the three types of monsters that roam the city. He is (at the same time) the least and most dangerous of them all. He kills with his music, eating the souls of sinners, specifically those that have killed another human. He detests his nature and fights it at every turn, which is one of the reasons I like him. August is a monster with morals, an oxymoron. His father enrolls him in the private school in Verity to keep an eye on Harker’s daughter, find out if she is as evil as her father. But August finds a kindred spirit in Kate and finds he must be very careful to keep his true nature hidden.
The story alternates between Kate and August’s POV, and I found myself skimming Kate’s chapters to get to August’s. The plot revolves around the brewing war between the two sides of the city. An attempt to frame August for Kate’s death leads to the two of them running for their lives out of the city. It’s suspenseful, fast-paced, and one of those reads that I couldn’t tear my eyes from!
Overall I enjoyed the book, despite not being a fan of Kate. The world-building was intriguing to say the least and intricate. I loved the little details the author gives to their world, complete with a history! If you’re a fan of paranormal, fantasy, and don’t mind a touch (just a touch) of romance, I highly recommend it.
This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab is a unique story about a girl, a monster, and a war that is brewing beneath the surface of their city. It’s been years since the world as we know it collapsed and monsters came out of the shadows, born of our evils. Now the citizens of Verity are ruled by a cruel man who works with the monsters to control the population. His daughter Kate Harker wants to take his place and prove her worth and now that she’s given her father no choice but to bring her home she can. On the other side of Verity is another man, a good man, working to rid the city of monsters and free the people. His son August Flynn wants to be human, normal, not the monster he was born to be.
Kate is a difficult character to like. In fact she got on my nerves. She projects this air of nobility, of being better than everyone else because she is a Harker. She does things to make the other students scared of her. She’s mean, manipulative, and works towards being worthy of the empire her father’s acquired. She’s never had a friend, but the new boy at school intrigues her.
August is easy to like, yet hard to understand. He is one of the three types of monsters that roam the city. He is (at the same time) the least and most dangerous of them all. He kills with his music, eating the souls of sinners, specifically those that have killed another human. He detests his nature and fights it at every turn, which is one of the reasons I like him. August is a monster with morals, an oxymoron. His father enrolls him in the private school in Verity to keep an eye on Harker’s daughter, find out if she is as evil as her father. But August finds a kindred spirit in Kate and finds he must be very careful to keep his true nature hidden.
The story alternates between Kate and August’s POV, and I found myself skimming Kate’s chapters to get to August’s. The plot revolves around the brewing war between the two sides of the city. An attempt to frame August for Kate’s death leads to the two of them running for their lives out of the city. It’s suspenseful, fast-paced, and one of those reads that I couldn’t tear my eyes from!
Overall I enjoyed the book, despite not being a fan of Kate. The world-building was intriguing to say the least and intricate. I loved the little details the author gives to their world, complete with a history! If you’re a fan of paranormal, fantasy, and don’t mind a touch (just a touch) of romance, I highly recommend it.
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.
A Timeless Romance Anthology's Road Trip Collection is a sweet, clean, contemporary mix of short novellas. I love this series! The authors pick a theme that is common in romance novels and write six novellas centered on it. This time the theme (as the title suggests) is road trips. It’s a fun read for Summer when most are taking vacations already to read about others on the road, and I loved each author’s spin on the books. There’s a story about best friends, a game show, recent heart aches, and new love. It’s a great mix when you need to read something on the go or want a quick contemporary fix.
What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry ★★★★
What Falling Feels Like is a heart-breaking story about Kendell and her best friend’s little brother Tyler. Kendell was the popular girl in high school, had it all, so now that she is divorced and feels like she has nothing, she isn’t prepared for the former gangly teen that followed her around. Tyler is anything but gangly. He’s filled out and at 21 a successful businessman. He is everything Kendell feels she doesn’t deserve, especially after how she treated him. Tyler wants nothing more than to rub his success in Kendell’s face, until he sees her again. Then that old crush feeling rekindles along with a powerful urge to protect her from herself. Together they are spending a few days on the road to visit his very-pregnant sister. Kendell still heart-broken from her divorce finds herself falling for the new Tyler who is really the guy she grew up with, she’s just finally taking notice. I enjoyed their story. Kendell was a little hard for me to like at first, but I was impressed by the author’s ability to show her character growth in just under 60 pages. It’s sweet, and I’ll admit to tearing up just a bit.
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah M. Eden ★★★★★
Antiques Road Trip is one of my favorites from the collection. The author does something I wasn’t expecting. She blends contemporary with historical and it worked. Kelsey studied women’s history in college and was always fascinated with the 1800s. When a game show offers her the chance to be a contestant with the prize a trip to Europe and $100,000, she jumps at it. The twist of the show, she will be in character as a woman from the 1800s AND will be taking a road trip with others during that time period. Devon only signed up to be a part of the game for his sister who is slowly dying from ALS. He knows little about the time period other than what his sister forced him to watch in those movies. I really enjoyed this one! I liked the way the author brought the past into the present. I also enjoyed reading the connection between the two main characters. It was sweet and like finding two pieces of the same puzzle.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice by Raneé S. Clark ★★★★★
Another favorite from the collection, Wouldn’t It Be Nice is the only true road trip story in the collection, meaning it is the only one that the entire story takes place on the road. Jacqueline has just dumped her long time boyfriend when he refused to take off of work to go on the road trip he helped plan with her and her lifelong friends. Heartbroken, she arrives thinking she will be a fifth wheel to her sister and best friend and their beaus, when her friend’s brother arrives to take her boyfriend’s place in the van. Hudson is a few years older than Jac, but was just as much her friend as his sister was. Having been away at medical school, Jac has missed Hudson so he coming on the trip is perfect for her, until his sister lets slip that as kids Hudson planned his wedding with her as the bride. I loved reading this story, the sweet friends turned more and the incredibly swoon-worthy moments. Seriously the pining for her ex and wondering if she’s moving too fast isn’t even on the radar because of the relationship built between Hudson and Jac by the author. Loved it!!!
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon ★★★★★
Head Over Heels satisfied the nerd in me and turned out to be a humorous, swoony story. Tristan is a struggling entrepreneur with her own lifestyle blog about navigating the single life. The blog is wildly successful, just not very monetary. While in Salt Lake City, she gets an offer she cannot pass up to do an article on a singles conference in Las Vegas. The catch is she has to figure out a way to get there without breaking the bank. Her friend sets her up with a coworker and the two hit it off and decide to play a prank on their mutual friend. What started as fun though quickly turns into something real and Tristan wonders if it is one-sided. This is a sweet story (albeit with some serious insta-love) full of 80’s pop music and some comic con fun. Really enjoyed it!!
Two Dozen Roses by Heather B. Moore ★★★
I’m torn on how to feel about Two Dozen Roses. In this novella, workaholic Dayna takes time off to drive her mother to her brother in Oregon on the scenic highway. The two decide to do all the touristy stops along the way and come across Roman and his brother Garrett who are traveling the highway in honor of their deceased sister. Dayna is immediately turned off by Garrett who reminds her of her lying ex-husband, but the quiet brother Roman intrigues her with his honesty and direct questions. It’s a sweet story with some swoon-worthy moments, but because it is a short novella I felt it was really rushed and i didn’t have a chance to really get to know the characters or their motives, unlike some of the other stories in the collection. It was just okay for me.
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace ★★★
Again I’m torn on how to feel about this novella Try, Try Again. Sarah has harbored a crush on Justin since she’s known him, but when he turns the tables admitting he cares for her too, she tucks tail and runs. Six months later she finds herself still pining for him when she comes across an obituary for Justin’s grandfather. She cons her best friend into a 6 hour road trip just so she can see him again. I personally was a little lost. Sarah liked Justin, Justin liked, even kissed, Sarah, yet somehow six months goes by without the two exchanging words? I don’t get it. Then the characters didn’t really seem to fit the story. I mean how old are they?! Sarah’s friend is married and very pregnant, yet Sarah works in an OB’s office answering phones part time. The maturity of the characters didn’t match their actions. They acted like teens, adolescents in my opinion, yet I got the impression they were supposed to be older, maybe just out of college? I’m not sure and this bothered me, even though it was only supposed to be a short story.
A Timeless Romance Anthology's Road Trip Collection is a sweet, clean, contemporary mix of short novellas. I love this series! The authors pick a theme that is common in romance novels and write six novellas centered on it. This time the theme (as the title suggests) is road trips. It’s a fun read for Summer when most are taking vacations already to read about others on the road, and I loved each author’s spin on the books. There’s a story about best friends, a game show, recent heart aches, and new love. It’s a great mix when you need to read something on the go or want a quick contemporary fix.
What Falling Feels Like by Jolene Betty Perry ★★★★
What Falling Feels Like is a heart-breaking story about Kendell and her best friend’s little brother Tyler. Kendell was the popular girl in high school, had it all, so now that she is divorced and feels like she has nothing, she isn’t prepared for the former gangly teen that followed her around. Tyler is anything but gangly. He’s filled out and at 21 a successful businessman. He is everything Kendell feels she doesn’t deserve, especially after how she treated him. Tyler wants nothing more than to rub his success in Kendell’s face, until he sees her again. Then that old crush feeling rekindles along with a powerful urge to protect her from herself. Together they are spending a few days on the road to visit his very-pregnant sister. Kendell still heart-broken from her divorce finds herself falling for the new Tyler who is really the guy she grew up with, she’s just finally taking notice. I enjoyed their story. Kendell was a little hard for me to like at first, but I was impressed by the author’s ability to show her character growth in just under 60 pages. It’s sweet, and I’ll admit to tearing up just a bit.
Antiques Road Trip by Sarah M. Eden ★★★★★
Antiques Road Trip is one of my favorites from the collection. The author does something I wasn’t expecting. She blends contemporary with historical and it worked. Kelsey studied women’s history in college and was always fascinated with the 1800s. When a game show offers her the chance to be a contestant with the prize a trip to Europe and $100,000, she jumps at it. The twist of the show, she will be in character as a woman from the 1800s AND will be taking a road trip with others during that time period. Devon only signed up to be a part of the game for his sister who is slowly dying from ALS. He knows little about the time period other than what his sister forced him to watch in those movies. I really enjoyed this one! I liked the way the author brought the past into the present. I also enjoyed reading the connection between the two main characters. It was sweet and like finding two pieces of the same puzzle.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice by Raneé S. Clark ★★★★★
Another favorite from the collection, Wouldn’t It Be Nice is the only true road trip story in the collection, meaning it is the only one that the entire story takes place on the road. Jacqueline has just dumped her long time boyfriend when he refused to take off of work to go on the road trip he helped plan with her and her lifelong friends. Heartbroken, she arrives thinking she will be a fifth wheel to her sister and best friend and their beaus, when her friend’s brother arrives to take her boyfriend’s place in the van. Hudson is a few years older than Jac, but was just as much her friend as his sister was. Having been away at medical school, Jac has missed Hudson so he coming on the trip is perfect for her, until his sister lets slip that as kids Hudson planned his wedding with her as the bride. I loved reading this story, the sweet friends turned more and the incredibly swoon-worthy moments. Seriously the pining for her ex and wondering if she’s moving too fast isn’t even on the radar because of the relationship built between Hudson and Jac by the author. Loved it!!!
Head Over Heels by Annette Lyon ★★★★★
Head Over Heels satisfied the nerd in me and turned out to be a humorous, swoony story. Tristan is a struggling entrepreneur with her own lifestyle blog about navigating the single life. The blog is wildly successful, just not very monetary. While in Salt Lake City, she gets an offer she cannot pass up to do an article on a singles conference in Las Vegas. The catch is she has to figure out a way to get there without breaking the bank. Her friend sets her up with a coworker and the two hit it off and decide to play a prank on their mutual friend. What started as fun though quickly turns into something real and Tristan wonders if it is one-sided. This is a sweet story (albeit with some serious insta-love) full of 80’s pop music and some comic con fun. Really enjoyed it!!
Two Dozen Roses by Heather B. Moore ★★★
I’m torn on how to feel about Two Dozen Roses. In this novella, workaholic Dayna takes time off to drive her mother to her brother in Oregon on the scenic highway. The two decide to do all the touristy stops along the way and come across Roman and his brother Garrett who are traveling the highway in honor of their deceased sister. Dayna is immediately turned off by Garrett who reminds her of her lying ex-husband, but the quiet brother Roman intrigues her with his honesty and direct questions. It’s a sweet story with some swoon-worthy moments, but because it is a short novella I felt it was really rushed and i didn’t have a chance to really get to know the characters or their motives, unlike some of the other stories in the collection. It was just okay for me.
Try, Try Again by Aubrey Mace ★★★
Again I’m torn on how to feel about this novella Try, Try Again. Sarah has harbored a crush on Justin since she’s known him, but when he turns the tables admitting he cares for her too, she tucks tail and runs. Six months later she finds herself still pining for him when she comes across an obituary for Justin’s grandfather. She cons her best friend into a 6 hour road trip just so she can see him again. I personally was a little lost. Sarah liked Justin, Justin liked, even kissed, Sarah, yet somehow six months goes by without the two exchanging words? I don’t get it. Then the characters didn’t really seem to fit the story. I mean how old are they?! Sarah’s friend is married and very pregnant, yet Sarah works in an OB’s office answering phones part time. The maturity of the characters didn’t match their actions. They acted like teens, adolescents in my opinion, yet I got the impression they were supposed to be older, maybe just out of college? I’m not sure and this bothered me, even though it was only supposed to be a short story.
Gods of the Dead by Tracey Ward is the first book in a spin-off to her popular series Quarantined and Survival. This book follows Vin and Trent from the Survival series and bridges the time between the start of the zombie apocalypse and how they wound up in Seattle. Vin and Trent were two of my favorite side characters to the series so I was really excited when I realized they were getting their own book, which has now turned into a 3-book series.
Vin is one of those characters you’ll either love or hate. If you’ve read the Survival series, you already know a little about him and of course you have to wonder how he ended up the way he does. (I would elaborate but I don’t want to spoil the Survival series for those that haven’t read it!) This book shows you Vin’s life in a snapshot. It starts with Vin doing his job running drugs. The news is reporting about the Quarantined area in Oregon being breached and spreading. Then it hits Seattle, his home. Vin is a tough kid at the start of the series. He had a crap life and he does whatever is needed to survive. And it’s that “whatever” that makes him hard to like. He really isn’t a good guy, he does some crappy things to get by, BUT he’s also got this insanely protective side. If you happen to be someone he cares about, he will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. This is what makes you love him!
Trent breaks my heart. His life is the furtherest thing you can imagine from Vin’s yet they are eerily similar. The book opens when he is only 15. He’s been raised by his father, a doomsday prepper, in the middle of the woods, away from society. When the zombies escape quarantine, Trent winds up alone following his father’s last instructions: “Go to the woods. Stay clear of people. Hide with the animals.” It’s good advice, but it results in Trent being a loner and a little odd. Though the oddness is explained and I have to say I LOVED that the author explained it.
The plot of this book is really why I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars. Like the other related series, it’s character driven. However it’s a bit disjointed. I had a hard time staying focused and at times felt that I had skipped pages because of the time jumps (sometimes years between chapters and events). Despite this the book is still a good read. I found myself completely engrossed in their survival even though I already knew they made it, I wanted, no NEEDED, to know how. For fans of the previous series, you want to read this book! If you haven’t read the other series, no worries. It can be read as a standalone. I would recommend this for anyone that enjoys paranormal, science fiction, a little romance, and a lot of suspense.
Vin is one of those characters you’ll either love or hate. If you’ve read the Survival series, you already know a little about him and of course you have to wonder how he ended up the way he does. (I would elaborate but I don’t want to spoil the Survival series for those that haven’t read it!) This book shows you Vin’s life in a snapshot. It starts with Vin doing his job running drugs. The news is reporting about the Quarantined area in Oregon being breached and spreading. Then it hits Seattle, his home. Vin is a tough kid at the start of the series. He had a crap life and he does whatever is needed to survive. And it’s that “whatever” that makes him hard to like. He really isn’t a good guy, he does some crappy things to get by, BUT he’s also got this insanely protective side. If you happen to be someone he cares about, he will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. This is what makes you love him!
Trent breaks my heart. His life is the furtherest thing you can imagine from Vin’s yet they are eerily similar. The book opens when he is only 15. He’s been raised by his father, a doomsday prepper, in the middle of the woods, away from society. When the zombies escape quarantine, Trent winds up alone following his father’s last instructions: “Go to the woods. Stay clear of people. Hide with the animals.” It’s good advice, but it results in Trent being a loner and a little odd. Though the oddness is explained and I have to say I LOVED that the author explained it.
The plot of this book is really why I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars. Like the other related series, it’s character driven. However it’s a bit disjointed. I had a hard time staying focused and at times felt that I had skipped pages because of the time jumps (sometimes years between chapters and events). Despite this the book is still a good read. I found myself completely engrossed in their survival even though I already knew they made it, I wanted, no NEEDED, to know how. For fans of the previous series, you want to read this book! If you haven’t read the other series, no worries. It can be read as a standalone. I would recommend this for anyone that enjoys paranormal, science fiction, a little romance, and a lot of suspense.
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.
I really, really wanted to like Gypsy Love by Angela McPherson and Lynn Vroman but it just wasn’t for me. I tried on two different occasions to read the book and i just didn’t get the concept. Maybe I was missing something? I’m not sure. Angela McPherson is one of my favorite authors, I’ve loved all her books, but this one not so much. Gypsy Love follows the story of Dr. Mia Kotorara and the ghost that haunts her family Adrian.
I liked Mia. She’s dedicated to her work and refuses to accept her Gypsy heritage. It’s obvious to everyone but her that she misses her family but she is a traitor in their eyes and so she won’t go back. When she starts seeing the man from her childhood in her dreams, she thinks she’s lost it. I would too. But it’s more than just dreams.
Adrian is a tortured, bitter man when he first enters the story. No spoilers, I promise this happens in the prologue. He’s killed by a gypsy and cursed to haunt her family until he finds his true love but yet he is cursed to never have her. He’s lived for 200 years with no human contact when he’s pulled into Mia’s dreams. My heart felt for Adrian, but at the same time I was a little creeped out by his stalking her and his instant love for her just because she can see him in her dreams.
The plot is simple. How do Mia and Adrian have a relationship when he’s a ghost and she’s alive?
My thoughts are you can’t have a relationship with someone that’s dead. That’s just me. I found myself rooting for a side character that the authors are a bit brutal too. I’ll admit to tears on my part. The odd dynamic isn’t the only thing that bothered me though. There were some glaring plot holes. Adrian is cursed, Mia can see him, he gets second chance to live, yes? But HOW?!
This isn’t explained very well. And then the book is billed as a paranormal romance. It’s heavy on the romance, light on the paranormal/urban fantasy element. There are moments in the book that the characters are thrown together in a very adult situation and I couldn’t help but wonder “Why are they having sex now?” It didn’t make sense to me.
Overall the book has good bones. It has a good concept, yet for me it just didn’t work. It was okay, I could have done without the steamy sex scenes that felt like they were there just to for shock value. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters (though from reading other reviews, I’m in the minority on that one). Mia and Adrian just didn’t work well for me. I would have been happier with Adrian accepting what he did in the past to Mia’s ancestor and because of his love for Mia allowing her to live a full and happy life with another guy. He was selfish IMHO and that was a huge turnoff for me. If you’re fans of the authors (though I can’t speak for Lynn Vroman as I haven’t read any of her other work), I would suggest reading it. If you’re a fan of new adult, urban fantasy, a touch of paranormal, I say give it a try. Just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t for you. As I’ve already said, the book has good bones.
I really, really wanted to like Gypsy Love by Angela McPherson and Lynn Vroman but it just wasn’t for me. I tried on two different occasions to read the book and i just didn’t get the concept. Maybe I was missing something? I’m not sure. Angela McPherson is one of my favorite authors, I’ve loved all her books, but this one not so much. Gypsy Love follows the story of Dr. Mia Kotorara and the ghost that haunts her family Adrian.
I liked Mia. She’s dedicated to her work and refuses to accept her Gypsy heritage. It’s obvious to everyone but her that she misses her family but she is a traitor in their eyes and so she won’t go back. When she starts seeing the man from her childhood in her dreams, she thinks she’s lost it. I would too. But it’s more than just dreams.
Adrian is a tortured, bitter man when he first enters the story. No spoilers, I promise this happens in the prologue. He’s killed by a gypsy and cursed to haunt her family until he finds his true love but yet he is cursed to never have her. He’s lived for 200 years with no human contact when he’s pulled into Mia’s dreams. My heart felt for Adrian, but at the same time I was a little creeped out by his stalking her and his instant love for her just because she can see him in her dreams.
The plot is simple. How do Mia and Adrian have a relationship when he’s a ghost and she’s alive?
My thoughts are you can’t have a relationship with someone that’s dead. That’s just me. I found myself rooting for a side character that the authors are a bit brutal too. I’ll admit to tears on my part. The odd dynamic isn’t the only thing that bothered me though. There were some glaring plot holes. Adrian is cursed, Mia can see him, he gets second chance to live, yes? But HOW?!
This isn’t explained very well. And then the book is billed as a paranormal romance. It’s heavy on the romance, light on the paranormal/urban fantasy element. There are moments in the book that the characters are thrown together in a very adult situation and I couldn’t help but wonder “Why are they having sex now?” It didn’t make sense to me.
Overall the book has good bones. It has a good concept, yet for me it just didn’t work. It was okay, I could have done without the steamy sex scenes that felt like they were there just to for shock value. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters (though from reading other reviews, I’m in the minority on that one). Mia and Adrian just didn’t work well for me. I would have been happier with Adrian accepting what he did in the past to Mia’s ancestor and because of his love for Mia allowing her to live a full and happy life with another guy. He was selfish IMHO and that was a huge turnoff for me. If you’re fans of the authors (though I can’t speak for Lynn Vroman as I haven’t read any of her other work), I would suggest reading it. If you’re a fan of new adult, urban fantasy, a touch of paranormal, I say give it a try. Just because it didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t for you. As I’ve already said, the book has good bones.
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.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I’ve loved all the previous Power of the Matchmaker books but not this one. O’er the River Liffey was a difficult read for me. Heidi Ashworth chose to write the book in a historical setting and I felt that she stayed true to the historical aspects of the time period chosen, including the language used. However this made for a really long, drawn out read. Caroline Fulton is meeting her soon to be husband according to her father when she meets Niall Doherty, the young tutor of her betrothed’s half-brothers.
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. Caroline is dry, a little ahead of her time, and despite being promised to another man continues to pursue a relationship with the tutor. I know this shouldn’t have upset me as she wasn’t technically engaged and this was the first meeting with a man twice her age. I can understand why she wouldn’t like the Baron, especially when his step mother could be his wife or sister. It makes for an odd dynamic. Niall is sweet and utterly smitten with Caroline despite knowing he can never have her. He’s a storyteller and the book diverts from the main story many times as he tells one of his many stories.
The plot moved at a snail’s pace for me, partially because of Niall’s stories. While I enjoyed them, I wound up losing focus on the main plot of the book. The romance between Caroline and Niall was proper and for contemporary readers would easily be missed. My biggest complaint about the book in general though (and the reason it lost stars in my rating) was the noticeable absence of Miss Pearl. Miss Pearl is the Matchmaker, the reason there is even a series, but I felt she was added as an afterthought, barely mentioned and given a small role. I wanted to see more of her as we have in the other books.
Overall I could take or leave this book. It was just an okay read for me and while I love historical fiction, this one didn’t work for me. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, I recommend you give it a go, or if you enjoy historical fiction, you may enjoy it more than I did. For me though I wouldn’t read it again.
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I’ve loved all the previous Power of the Matchmaker books but not this one. O’er the River Liffey was a difficult read for me. Heidi Ashworth chose to write the book in a historical setting and I felt that she stayed true to the historical aspects of the time period chosen, including the language used. However this made for a really long, drawn out read. Caroline Fulton is meeting her soon to be husband according to her father when she meets Niall Doherty, the young tutor of her betrothed’s half-brothers.
I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. Caroline is dry, a little ahead of her time, and despite being promised to another man continues to pursue a relationship with the tutor. I know this shouldn’t have upset me as she wasn’t technically engaged and this was the first meeting with a man twice her age. I can understand why she wouldn’t like the Baron, especially when his step mother could be his wife or sister. It makes for an odd dynamic. Niall is sweet and utterly smitten with Caroline despite knowing he can never have her. He’s a storyteller and the book diverts from the main story many times as he tells one of his many stories.
The plot moved at a snail’s pace for me, partially because of Niall’s stories. While I enjoyed them, I wound up losing focus on the main plot of the book. The romance between Caroline and Niall was proper and for contemporary readers would easily be missed. My biggest complaint about the book in general though (and the reason it lost stars in my rating) was the noticeable absence of Miss Pearl. Miss Pearl is the Matchmaker, the reason there is even a series, but I felt she was added as an afterthought, barely mentioned and given a small role. I wanted to see more of her as we have in the other books.
Overall I could take or leave this book. It was just an okay read for me and while I love historical fiction, this one didn’t work for me. If you’ve enjoyed the series so far, I recommend you give it a go, or if you enjoy historical fiction, you may enjoy it more than I did. For me though I wouldn’t read it again.
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.
Initial Reaction
Blood and Sin was everything I wanted and more!!!! I could not have asked for a better read after a month of DNFs and 3★ books. I want….no I NEED more books from the husband-wife duo, Laura Thalassa, Dan Rix. I’ve read Laura Thalassa before, in fact I’ve read every one of her books and loved them, but I have yet to read any of her husband’s. I will be rectifying that VERY soon.
Blood and Sin by Laura Thalassa, Dan Rix begins with a robbery, torture, and a demonic gateway. Lana Malesuis is in disguise as a human, on a mission to retrieve human blood to restore hers and other demons’ magic. When she returns to the portal to get back to her world, she finds more than she was counting on AND the portal destroyed. Jame Asher is a demon hunter and has kept the fact that he’s alive a secret for two years since his wife and child were killed by demons. His drive in life is to destroy all the portals and kill every demon he comes across. That includes Lana.
The Demon and the Hunter
Lana is an interesting character. She has the naiveté you would expect from a young woman or teen while she is in the human world. She’s unexpectedly kind for a demon which comes naturally for her. She’s a healer and for her it doesn’t matter what race or animal you are, if you’re hurt she wants to help. When Jame saves her, she owes him a life debt. Her conflicting feelings towards the hunter is understandable and even relatable. My heart ached for her and her situation. I found myself liking her despite the fact she was a demon.
Jame ♥︎ Asher is one of those characters that you love one minute and hate the next. He’s a man on a mission. His family was killed by the Infernari, “demons” he calls them and it’s a fitting name. His only goal in life is to destroy the portals that allow the demons into our world and kill every demon that crosses his path in the process. When his family was killed, the demons believed him dead as well, and so Jame has lived his life in the shadows for two years. Any one that had ties to him are dead or believe him dead. When he finds Lana, he’s conflicted. She’s a demon and he should kill her, but it’s the scared look in her eyes that stops him. What demon gets scared? And so he takes her as prisoner.
The Gray Area Between Good and Evil
The authors really explore the right vs. wrong and good vs. evil angle in the plot of this story. Jame believes what he is doing is right. He’s a vigilante with a just cause. Lana believes what she does is for the best. She’s a healer and can heal any demon from afar. However to access her magic she needs blood, and when that blood is used, the owner of the blood is cursed.
This is Jame’s issue with the Infernari. They steal human blood and then the humans are cursed. Sometimes it’s as simple as a bad day, other times it’s a heart attack or something fatal depending on the magic the blood was used for. For Lana, a small curse or even a large one to save one of a 1000 of her people left living is worth the risk. Jame doesn’t see it this way and well neither do I. It’s a gray area and one I found myself questioning over and over again in the book.
My Conclusion
Overall Blood and Sin is well worth the read. It’s fast-paced, unique storyline had me invested from page one. I could not sit it down. In fact, I sat down to read it after dinner and stayed up to finish it. It is THAT GOOD! If you’re a fan of either author, a fan of paranormal romance or urban fantasy, I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP. Now Laura Thalassa, Dan Rix, when will book two be out? I need more Jame and Lana!!!!
Initial Reaction
Blood and Sin was everything I wanted and more!!!! I could not have asked for a better read after a month of DNFs and 3★ books. I want….no I NEED more books from the husband-wife duo, Laura Thalassa, Dan Rix. I’ve read Laura Thalassa before, in fact I’ve read every one of her books and loved them, but I have yet to read any of her husband’s. I will be rectifying that VERY soon.
Blood and Sin by Laura Thalassa, Dan Rix begins with a robbery, torture, and a demonic gateway. Lana Malesuis is in disguise as a human, on a mission to retrieve human blood to restore hers and other demons’ magic. When she returns to the portal to get back to her world, she finds more than she was counting on AND the portal destroyed. Jame Asher is a demon hunter and has kept the fact that he’s alive a secret for two years since his wife and child were killed by demons. His drive in life is to destroy all the portals and kill every demon he comes across. That includes Lana.
The Demon and the Hunter
Lana is an interesting character. She has the naiveté you would expect from a young woman or teen while she is in the human world. She’s unexpectedly kind for a demon which comes naturally for her. She’s a healer and for her it doesn’t matter what race or animal you are, if you’re hurt she wants to help. When Jame saves her, she owes him a life debt. Her conflicting feelings towards the hunter is understandable and even relatable. My heart ached for her and her situation. I found myself liking her despite the fact she was a demon.
Jame ♥︎ Asher is one of those characters that you love one minute and hate the next. He’s a man on a mission. His family was killed by the Infernari, “demons” he calls them and it’s a fitting name. His only goal in life is to destroy the portals that allow the demons into our world and kill every demon that crosses his path in the process. When his family was killed, the demons believed him dead as well, and so Jame has lived his life in the shadows for two years. Any one that had ties to him are dead or believe him dead. When he finds Lana, he’s conflicted. She’s a demon and he should kill her, but it’s the scared look in her eyes that stops him. What demon gets scared? And so he takes her as prisoner.
The Gray Area Between Good and Evil
The authors really explore the right vs. wrong and good vs. evil angle in the plot of this story. Jame believes what he is doing is right. He’s a vigilante with a just cause. Lana believes what she does is for the best. She’s a healer and can heal any demon from afar. However to access her magic she needs blood, and when that blood is used, the owner of the blood is cursed.
This is Jame’s issue with the Infernari. They steal human blood and then the humans are cursed. Sometimes it’s as simple as a bad day, other times it’s a heart attack or something fatal depending on the magic the blood was used for. For Lana, a small curse or even a large one to save one of a 1000 of her people left living is worth the risk. Jame doesn’t see it this way and well neither do I. It’s a gray area and one I found myself questioning over and over again in the book.
My Conclusion
Overall Blood and Sin is well worth the read. It’s fast-paced, unique storyline had me invested from page one. I could not sit it down. In fact, I sat down to read it after dinner and stayed up to finish it. It is THAT GOOD! If you’re a fan of either author, a fan of paranormal romance or urban fantasy, I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP. Now Laura Thalassa, Dan Rix, when will book two be out? I need more Jame and Lana!!!!