Review: Crescent Kingdom by Tessa Hale

April 23, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

CRESCENT KINGDOM
Series: The Wolves of Crescent Creek #1
Author: Tessa Hale
Genre: Why Choose Romance, PNR
Release Date: April 23, 2025

Never stop running. And no matter what, never let the world know who you really are.

I’ve spent my whole life hiding. Training. Preparing. Hoping that no one will discover my secrets. What I can do. Who I am. And I’ve gotten so good at it, sometimes even I forget.

Until them.

The wolf pack with a ruthless reputation and a penchant for revenge. The protective fighter. The charming Brit. The shy hacker. The silent mercenary. The cruel assassin.

They see more than anyone ever has before. And even with demons of their own, they give me sanctuary. A place to hide, to rest, and maybe even a place to belong.

Only it turns into so much more. Because when they touch me, everything around me ignites, and nothing matters but them.

But these wolves have secrets. And those secrets bring enemies. And when they find out who I really am?

It’s not their enemies I need to fear. It’s them.

AMAZON

Fuck. This woman would ruin me. But I’d happily go down in the rubble. For her.

First of all, how is this my first Tessa Hale book and what rock have I been living under? Second of all, I may need to rock myself in the corner somewhere with a bottle of wine after that ending. But regrets? I don’t has them.

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I binged a book like this. The last few months I seem to be dragging ass with everything, even books I enjoy. And I forgot that giddy feeling of finding a book so addictive that you simply can’t put it down. This story had me in a chokehold from the first chapter and had me reading everywhere I can squeeze in a page because I simply couldn’t bring myself to put it down for even a minute. If you like a sexy why choose shifter romance, look no further.

Now do you know what I love more than tortured MMCs? Tortured FMCs. And Wren has not just walked through the pits of hell, she survived the devil himself. She’s been on the run for years, constantly looking over her shoulder and with plenty of secrets to stay buried about who she is.

She’s done her damnest to hide who she is, so when she lands in the crosshairs of a sexy stranger, she’s terrified to learn that he’s a wolf. And when that stranger has a pack of 4 more equally sexy and tortured in their own way pack mates? Well, stick a fork in me, I’m done. The chemistry was through the roof in this book. And I loved the layers to Wren’s character. She may keep to herself but still waters run deep with her and she’s a survivor through and through. The more you learn about her, the more you can’t help but love her.

Then we meet her 5 sexy shifters and I couldn’t get enough of them; especially my grumpy and thinks the worst of everyone Ender.

When I tell you that I devoured this book, I mean I binge read it in one sitting. I am so thoroughly hooked and can’t wait for the next installment. I now need to rectify my life choices and read the entirety of Tessa’s backlist because WHERE HAVE I BEEN.

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Review: Nocturne by Karina Halle

April 21, 2025 by · Leave a Comment

NOCTURNE
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Dark PNR Romance
Release Date: April 10, 2025

A vampire romance so dark it’ll bite.

He’s not just dangerous—he’s designed to destroy you.

Blood. Obsession. Murder.

And a love story twisted enough to hurt so good.


Los Angeles, 1947.
The city is drowning in secrets and blood—and Lena Reid just lost her best friend to the shadows.
Elizabeth Short is dead. The press calls her the Black Dahlia.
Lena wants answers. Closure. Revenge.
What she finds instead… is him.

Victor Callahan is danger in a three-piece suit. An ex-boxer with fists like thunder and eyes that promise ruin. He’s supposed to help her.
Instead, he haunts her. Follows her. Wants her.
He doesn’t remember what happens after dark.
The blackouts. The blood.
The hunger.

But Lena’s not afraid of monsters.
She falls for them.
She is one.

Now, with a serial killer circling closer and a secret society pulling strings behind the curtain, Lena has one rule
Don’t let a vampire fall in love with you.
Because once he does…
He’ll never let you go.

Seven meets L.A. Confidential with a vampire twist, in this true crime and film noir-inspired standalone dark romance from New York Times Bestselling author Karina Halle. This book contains mature content with potential triggers–please consult the Content Warning at the start of the book.

AMAZON

I’m going to ruin you… Ruin you for anyone else.”

I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m a true crime addict. And the Black Dahlia cold case has been one that has fascinated me for years. So when one of my favorite authors writes a dark vampire romance set in 1947 LA, inspired by the Black Dahlia case, you best believe I’m going to devour it in one sitting.

This story was such a vibe. It was a moody, film-noir vibe with some secondary character appearances that those who read Blood Orange will surely appreciate. And I love that Karina is able to combine these worlds so effortlessly.

Nocturne takes a real life cold case and gives it a twist. We meet Lena Reid, a beautiful singer, deeply ingrained in the LA mafia underbelly. When her best friend is gruesomely murdered, she’s determined to find her killer and the answer for the mystery left behind.

Victor Callahan is a retired boxer turned PI who is hired to find Elizabeth’s murderer. But he doesn’t expect to fall for his main witness.

Did I mention that this story was a total vibe? I loved Victor’s intensity almost as much as I loved the aura of mystery around Lena. It was full of suspense, dark secrets and an even darker underbelly of crime. Victor and Lena are thrown into a dark world that neither knew existed. Their chemistry was incendiary and the suspense was an absolute page turner from beginning to end. There are some jaw dropping twists to keep you at the edge of your seat from cover to cover. And if you’re looking for a truly unique read, you definitely need to check this one out.

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Review: Legacy of Chaos by Larissa Ione

December 3, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

LEGACY OF CHOS
Series: Demonica Birthright #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Larissa Ione
Release Date: December 3, 2024

The legacy continues…

It’s a gritty new world.

Three decades after the events of REAPER, the world is a different place. The secret is out. The existence of demons, vampires, shapeshifters, and angels has been revealed, and humans are struggling to adapt. Out of the chaos, The Aegis has risen to global power on the promise of containing or exterminating all underworlders, even if that means ushering in the End of Days.

Standing in their way is the next generation of warriors, the children of demons and angels and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

See how they become legends in their own right.

Legacy of Chaos

Stryke, son of Shade and Runa, grew up a happy, well-adjusted incubus alongside his four brothers. A supergenius, he took an interest in science and technology at an early age, with a dream of joining NASA…until a moment of carelessness resulted in the death of his little brother. Unable to forgive himself and desperate to prevent a similar tragedy from happening to others, he started up his own anti-demon tech company and sequestered himself behind its walls. Now he’s a household name and one of the wealthiest people on the planet.

Cyan, a technomancer who works as a cybersecurity expert for DART, lost her best friend to a weapon designed by Stryke’s company. She’s hurt, angry, and wants revenge. So when an opportunity to work with Stryke on a project arises, she jumps at the chance to help DART and make Stryke’s life miserable.

At first, Cyan and Stryke butt heads about everything. But she soon finds that deep down, he’s desperately wounded and willing to sacrifice everything, including his family, to achieve his goals. Can she help him heal before he destroys himself—and everyone around him?

AMAZON | B&N | APPLE BOOKS | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

“What do I need?” His throaty voice vibrated through her, making her hormones dance. “I need to f*ck you, Cyan. And, gods help me, I don’t just need it. I want it.”

OH
MY
GOD!

How am I going to survive the wait for the next book? I have no idea what to do with myself right now.

Now if you’ve read Legacy of Temptation, then you already know Stryker. And if you haven’t, then definitely read that first. While the story features different couples, the story arc continues, and it just wouldn’t hit the same if you start with this book. Trust me.

I have been desperately awaiting the story of Styker. As a secondary character in the first book, he came across as a cold genius businessman. But when you got the sneak peek into his story, you realized that he can also add tortured to his repertoire. Stryke also happens to be the son of one of my favorite Demonica couples, Shade and Runa from Desire Unchained. After the violent loss of his baby brother, Styker hasn’t been the same. He pulled away from his family and especially from his Seminus demon ways. It’s been years and he still blames himself for the loss and punishes himself in a multitude of ways. My heart broke for this tortured man so hard.

After the tragic and violent loss of her best friend to a weapon made by Stryke’s company, Cyan is not exactly his fan. But when she gets assigned to work at his company for a shared mission, things start to shift. She begins to see the tortured soul beneath the demon.

Now if you’ve read the Demonica series, then you’ll really appreciate the story arc of this spinoff. There are so many favorites that are featured in this book, including Gabriel and Azagoth. And man oh man, am I desperate for Gabriel’s story. But knowing Larissa, she’ll tease us with him until the end. There is so much that is happening with this book and all of it had me absolutely glued to the pages; the opening of hell that is quickly letting in dangerous demons, the mystery of Harvester, and through it all the emotional romance between Stryke and Cyan.

I love the strong and kickass heroines that Ione writes and Cyan is no exception. I love the way that she fights with Stryke as much as fights for him. And I absolutely loved their romance and the full circle it brought things. I did hope to see Stryke get to really bridge his relationship with his brother Blade, but we may have to wait until Blade’s book for that I’m thinking.

In any case, this was a high octane, action packed, steamy romantasy in a world that I am completely enraptured with and never want to leave. I cannot recommend it enough.

And if you haven’t read Ione’s Demonica series yet, this is definitely your sign to do so immediately.

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Review: The Witch Queen of Halloween by Kresley Cole

March 26, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE WITCH QUEEN OF HALLOWEEN
Series: Immortals After Dark #18.5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Kresley Cole
Release Date: March 26, 2024

Take a spooky Halloween tour of the mysterious Lore in this stand-alone installment of the Immortals After Dark series by #1 New York Times best-seller Kresley Cole.

A demon soldier of fortune . . .
Rök Kours dives into a dangerous mission, only to cross swords with the one woman who bewitched him.

A cursed Wiccan mercenary . . .
Poppy Dyer has never let her uncontrollable magic interfere with her work, but she can barely withstand one demon’s charms.

Trapped in a terrifying lair.
If the two rivals can defeat Halloween’s worst nightmares to escape a haunted castle, can they overcome their pasts to claim a spellbinding future together?

AMAZON  | PAPERBACK | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE

You are all temptation, aren’t you?”
“I am a demon.”
“And in exchange for your protection you only asked for a mere kiss.” She was playing with him, and he was going to let her! “Maybe I could give you a down payment.”
“I should have asked for more.”
“Then earn a tip.”
“Fucking hell, witch, you drive me crazy.”

It’s embarrassing the level of giddiness that a new Kresley Cole book gives me. And oh how I’ve been craving another installment in the IaD series. This may not have been the full length novel I had hoped for, but it was an immensely satisfying longer novella that hit the spot just right.

This would have been a perfect Halloween read, and if you’re craving something spooky and steamy, this is not to be missed. If you’ve read the series, then you would be familiar with Rök and Poppy; the smoke demon mercenary and the witch. If you haven’t read this incredible series, this is the perfect way to introduce yourself because you can easily enjoy it as a standalone. However, it really is the most enjoyable read in order. And considering this is still one of my absolute favorite PNR series, I will never stop trying to get everyone to read it. But I digress.

Woman, understand me: I’ll take on hell for you.”

Poppy is a mission that lands her in a haunted mansion alongside with the demon who she can’t seem to stop thinking about even two years after their failed date. Now they have to rely on each other to survive the spooky inhabitants and forced to work through the unresolved issues left from their ill fated date and feelings. Suffice it to say that the slow burn was extra delicious here. I loved the way that Rok pined for Poppy and the way that Poppy made him work for it. Their chemistry was incendiary. And for a novella, this was still chuck full of action, laughs, and passion.

If you’ve wanted to try this series but may be intimidated by the amount of books in the series, this is a perfect way to start. I can’t recommend it enough!

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the electrifying Immortals After Dark paranormal series, the young adult Arcana Chronicles series, the erotic Game Maker series, and five award-winning historical romances. Her books have been published in 23 countries and consistently appear on the bestseller lists in the U.S. and abroad.

A master’s grad and former athlete, Kresley has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. 

She lives in Florida with her family and too many pets. 

Subscribe to Kresley’s newsletter: https://bit.ly/KresleyNews

Kresley’s website: https://kresleycole.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KresleyCole

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kresleycole/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kresleycole

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kresleycoleafterdark

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Review: The Wrath by Gena Showalter

February 6, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

THE WRATH
Series: Rise of the Warlords #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: February 6,  2024

New York Times bestselling author  Gena Showalter  returns with a new book in the tantalizing  Rise of the Warlords  series, featuring a brutal Hell king and the irresistible beauty who upends his world. 

For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.

Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a stop Rathbone  and  the gods. She’s seen the future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way. 

As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.

Rise of the Warlords

Book 1: The Warlord
Book 2: The Immortal
Book 3: The Phantom
Book 4: The Wrath

AMAZON

You are a very, very dangerous female. But worth every wound.”

I swear, this series just gets better and better with each new installment. And this one is my favorite in the series so far. The King of Agonies delivered HARD and with a tatted surprise. Yes. Exactly the kind you’re thinking. Mmm hmm. But I digress.

As a self professed Gena Showalter addict, and having read her entire backlist, I still get giddy with each new release she has. And The Wrath was certainly no exception. There’s just something about this world of warlords and gods that just does it for me. And while this is a standalone in a series, you definitely want to read it in order for maximum enjoyment.

One of my favorite things about Showalters books is her witty banter and fiery sassy heroines. And boy oh boy did I love Neeka. Neeka the Unwanted is a harpy oracle and bestie of Harpy general Taliyah from The Warlord. So when Neeka seemingly turns side to work with the enemy, she has a dang good reason for it. And the reason also happens to be tall, dark, tatted and oh so dangerous.

Rathbone, King of Agonies is a god. No, like literally. And look, my obsession with this book may not have something to do with him also being Hades’s nephew. And I swear to you if I was rabid for Hades’s book before, I’m near feral for it now. But I digress again.

Rathbone is on a mission to recover the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. But his plan has a small complication. Because The Astra have a new mission, and it’s to revive his dead wife only so they can kill her. And the Astra assigned to the mission is none other than Azar, The Memory Keeper. A love triangle? Not quite.

When a vision puts Neeka in the center of Rathbone’s mission, they form an unwilling alliance but to different ends. Because while Rathbone thinks she’ll help him to revive his wife, Neeka’s vision foreshadows something much darker. And she’s determined to stop it.

When I tell you the chemistry between these two is instant and fiery, I mean I couldn’t get enough of them. And the slow burn romance only added to the nail biting wait of when they’ll finally give in. And oh my GAWD. I was turning the pages with eager glee, completely enraptured in this world and this story. The banter between Rath and Neeka was everything. And I lived for every new nickname Neeka came up with for the god. The tension, the action, the chemistry, all of it flawlessly weaved together to make one simply unputdownable read. And now here I sit, both happy because I loved it so much, but also completely devastated knowing I have to wait for the next book after the tease we get at the end. GAWD. What am I even going to do with myself until the next installment?! *cries in fan girlish anticipation*

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Review: Legacy of Temptation by Larissa Ione

February 6, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

LEGACY OF TEMPTATION
Series: Demonica Birthright #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Larissa Ione
Release Date: February 6, 2024

The legacy continues…

It’s a gritty new world.

Three decades after the events of REAPER, the world is a different place. The secret is out. The existence of demons, vampires, shapeshifters, and angels has been revealed, and humans are struggling to adapt. Out of the chaos, The Aegis has risen to global power on the promise of containing or exterminating all underworlders, even if that means ushering in the End of Days.

Standing in their way is the next generation of warriors, the children of demons and angels and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

See how they become legends in their own right.

Legacy of Temptation

Eva Tennant, like everyone at The Aegis, hates demons. But she loves her job as Deputy Spokesperson for the global demon-slaying organization, and she’s excited to be in the running for Chief Spokesperson. All she has to do is not screw up the two-week exchange program with The Aegis’s rival agency, the Demon Activity Response Team. But things go horribly wrong when a murder turns her into a fugitive from justice and puts a demonic target on her back.

Logan, son of the Horseman of the Apocalypse known as Death, has dedicated his life to fighting demons alongside his colleagues at DART. He loves fighting, females, and his pet hellhound, Cujo. What he doesn’t love is The Aegis, whose leadership attempted to slaughter him at birth. Understandably, he balks when he’s ordered to protect an Aegis Guardian responsible for the deaths of his friends. Really, he’d rather feed her to Cujo.

But when an old enemy rises from the ashes, Eva and Logan find themselves giving into temptation even as they sacrifice the things…and people…they love the most.

AMAZON 

Logan was dangerous. Dangerous in ways that made every female instinct scream to run away. Or let herself be caught.


I had to pinch myself when this landed on my kindle. I have spent years, YEARS, waiting for another full length novel from Larissa Ione and now we get a brand new series and it’s set in one of my favorite worlds? Stick a fork in me. I’m done.

Now while this is a new series, it’s a spin off of her Demonica & Lords of Deliverance series . This series brings you the new generation of the kids from the Demonica couples and I. AM. OBSESSED. You can read this as a new series, but I really highly recommend you read the Demonica series to truly appreciate the cameos and the backstories.

Logan is the son of Thanatos and Regan from Lethal Rider and Eva is a human Deputy Spokesperson for the demon slaying agency, Aegis. The Aegis and DART (Demon Activity Response Team) have a long standing, messy history of hate, rivalry and betrayal. And seems like nothing has changed with this new generation of characters. But when a two-week exchange program between DART and the Aegis goes horribly wrong, things take turn from bad to horribly wrong in one shattered breath.

It took me a minute to wrap my mind around all the new characters, but it didn’t take long as soon as I connected the new names to the parents. And of course I absolutely loved the cameos of all my favorites, including Reaver and Harvester. Man but I love those two HARD. In usual Ione fashion, she brings a gritty story full of rich world building and fiery passion. I loved Logan and Eva’s story. A human demon slayer falling for the son of the Horseman of the Apocalypse. Yes, please and thank you.

Scream, baby,” he grunted. “All the bedrooms are soundproof.”

I became enraptured with this new slew of characters and I’m already dying for the next book. As for this one? It was full of jaw dropping twists and unforgettable events. At one particular part towards the end, I was caught between raging at the ceiling, wanting to sob, or throwing my kindle at the wall. Ione never shies away from taking some dark chances with her characters, and this was no different. It brings emotion, pain, and so many new layers to the old and new characters. I loved Eva and how she slowly but surely fell for Logan. Logan may be a fierce warrior, but the man is a total marshmallow with Eva and I loved it. That’s not to say this was a fluffy story you’d expect with a cinnamon roll hero. Far from it! It was full of emotional torture and brimming with new pains and betrayals.

I usually like my romance with a bit more pain, but there was plenty of hurt to be had with the story arc. The ending left me with my jaw on the floor and reeling and absolutely incapable of even an ounce of patience for Stryker’s book.

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Review: Soul of a Witch by Harley Laroux

August 31, 2023 by ·

SOUL OF A WITCH
Series: Soul Trilogy #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Harley Laroux
Release Date: August 31, 2023

Everly

I am the servant of a merciless God. I am the daughter of Its preacher. All my life, my power has been controlled by others. They raised me to be meek and stifled my magic.

But no more.

A brutal murder led me to discover a mysterious house full of magic – and the ancient, powerful demon within. He says my power can change the world, that I can kill the evil creature I once worshipped.

But at what cost?

Callum

For two thousand years, I’ve been alone. Slaughtering fallen Gods as I searched for the witch that haunted my dreams, begging for my help.

Now that I’ve found her, I will protect her with my life. But when the fate of Earth, Heaven, and Hell hangs in the balance, not even her soul is safe from destruction.

If a choice must be made, I’ll let the world burn if it means having her as my own.

Soul of a Witch is book 3 in the Souls Trilogy . Each book within the Souls Trilogy is interconnected, following a different couple through a similar timeline in the fictional world of Abelaum.

Content Note
This book contains sexual scenes, kink/fetish content, horror elements, and drug use. Please see the book preview for complete CW.

AMAZON 

I was told not to play with dangerous things, but my mother is dead, and my father is wicked.
So I think I’ll play how I please.”

Talk about an ending with a bang. I’ve been sitting on pins and needles for this conclusion. Harley has been edging us maddeningly with the few snippets of Callum in the previous two books. But nothing prepared me for the full force of this demon!

That’s right, darling,” he whispered. “Last night I crawled for you, and tonight, I’ll crawl for you again. I’d drag myself through broken glass on my hands and knees if that’s what you wanted. No matter the pain. Regardless of the degradation. The harder it is to please you, the more I’ll try to succeed.”

First things first, this is not a standalone. You need to read this series in order for the full story arc, otherwise you will be lost. Each book is a new couple, but the story arc continues through the trilogy. This brings the epic conclusion.

Everly has been the mysterious secondary character that didn’t fit in her devious family. And while she comes off shy and almost meek, you can clearly see signs that still waters run deep with her. And boy do they! When she meets the archdemon Callum, he brings out her strength and wickedness. Nothing is more satisfying then seeing the most feared demon bow to his queen and let her command him. Well, I guess it’s almost as satisfying as when he switches into his dominant mode. But I digress.

This brought the much anticipated conclusion and I loved that it wasn’t a big bad demon to save the day but a witch and her demon, with some help of course. I devoured this in a sitting and the spice was extra spicy. I’m not usually a fan of pegging in my romance, but it really worked here. Callum is obsessed beyond reason with his witch and I was so here for it. If you’re looking for an epic, spicy paranormal romance with demons, witches, and gods, look no further! Deliciously satisfying.

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Review: Black Rose by Karina Halle

March 24, 2023 by ·

BLACK ROSE
Series: Dracula Duet #2
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: March 18, 2023

 

From the New York Times best-selling author of River of Shadows and Black Sunshine comes a new dark gothic romance duet about how love can transcend the ages, but at a deadly cost.

Is it her destiny to love him?

Or is it her destiny to die?

Valtu Aminoff is no stranger to tragedy. Though many know him as the enigmatic vampire that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Valtu’s complex life is far more horrific than any fiction could imagine. When you lose the love of your life over and over again, it can do more than break your heart—it can corrupt your soul.
It’s up to his new lover to decide if Valtu’s damaged soul is even worth saving.

But destiny isn’t done with Valtu yet. And tragedy is always around the corner.

Black Rose is the sequel to Blood Orange and is not a standalone. Snap up this completed dark gothic vampire romance duet if you like:

  • High spice
  • Dark Academia
  • Gothic Setting
  • Vampires vs Witches
  • Spooky vibes
  • Reincarnated love
  • Dracula re-telling
  • Fantasy romance

Please check inside the book for content warnings.

AMAZON

My heart found his again. But his heart doesn’t know mine.

After the jaw dropping conclusion of Blood Orange, I have been on pins and needles waiting for the conclusion of this duet. Suffice it to say I devoured it in my eager anticipation.

The darkness in me calls to the darkness in you…”

I love an epic fated mates story and it doesn’t get more fated that na love story that defies the ages through reincarnation. I felt like these two books were like two sides of a coin, different perspectives but same world. What I’m saying is, that if you expect a similar style of story to Blood Orange, this wasn’t exactly it. It was different. Not in a bad way, but different nonetheless.

While Blood Orange had me in a fiery chokehold, this was more of a sizzling burn. Valtu is not the Valtu of book one, he’s a vampire who lost his humanity to his pain. He lost himself to his grief and. willingly lost himself in the process. When he and Rose see each other, it’s a different journey. We really get to see Rose unending love for him and his redemption and I was so here for it.

Admittedly, I felt the most riveting part of the book was also a bit rushed and saved for the final 10%. I would have loved to spend more time on this part of the story because this what the previous book was ultimately leading up to. It felt like there was some open ended answers and gaps that weren’t fully filled. This may be intentional with a set up for what I’m hoping are more books in this world. Don’t get me wrong, it was satisfying and the couple get a beautiful HEA. But there were things that were merely glazed over that I would have loved to get deeper into.

All that aside, I still greatly enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the darker side of Valtu and Rose’s healing touch. I loved watching Valtu fall for her all over again and I loved the way they fought for each other.

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Review: A Stop In Time by RC Boldt

February 21, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

A STOP IN TIME
Genre: Romantic Suspense, PNR
Author: RC Boldt
Release Date: February 21,  2023

I’ve been an outcast my whole life. If my scars don’t scare people away, my attitude certainly will.

I don’t know what I am or how I got the power to stop time. What I do know is, there are far too many questions I need answers to.

When I cross paths with a local gang member, his presence unravels a part of my past I never knew existed.

At every turn, danger leaps closer, and I realize that stopping the killer will mean losing everything—including the first man I’ve ever loved.

But I should’ve known better. We were never meant to be anything more than a brief stop in time.

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE PLAY

 

Damn him. No man has ever made me want to punch him in the junk while simultaneously turning me on.

I have been obsessed with RC Boldt’s romantic suspense for years. There’s just something about her stories that immediately grab me and suck me right in. But this new world that she created that combines a spark of paranormal with the suspense? I cannot get enough.

While this book shows to be a standalone (and it is), you’d do yourself a favor by reading Beyond My Darkness first. While each book is a standalone, they are set in the same world, and you get the introduction to each character throughout the series. We get introduced to Daniel Madrano in Beyond My Darkness as a secondary character, best friend and second in command to the notorious leader of the gang, Scorpions. We also get a sneak peek into the beginning of his journey at the end.

I’m not gonna sugarcoat this for you; I’m losing my patience with you, Danny.”
The edges of his mouth twitch. “It’s Daniel.”

When Daniel’s sister gets violently murdered, he’s left desperate for answers and vengeance. The final words shared with him through the help of his friend’s woman who speaks with the dead helps guide him in a vague direction with nothing but a name…Mac.

The way this book is written reminded me a bit of the movie Memento. Not in the way that it goes backwards, but there’s a vein of intrigue there that I also felt with the movie. Mac suffers black out episodes where she wakes not remembering anything that happened. She’s left deeply scarred from a traumatic event that skirts the edges of her memory, but never making themselves knows. She finds mysterious notes that hint at the truth and written in her own handwriting but she has no idea what it means. Desperate for answers of her own, she undergoes hypnosis therapy in her search for answers. But the answers are more troubling than she suspects.

Suddenly, Daniel ends up at her door with questions that she doesn’t have answers to. But something about him draws her in. Mac is not a woman that wants a relationship, and Daniel has never sought one out himself. And yet they’re drawn to each other like moths to a flame. But neither of them are prepared for the incendiary flame that the truth will bring.

I binge read this book as desperate for answers as these characters. It was magnetic, suspenseful, mysterious, and completely captivating. You know those books that seem to be like a movie reel behind your eyes as you read them? This was definitely it. Spine tingling good and unputdownable. Everything about it worked; the story, the romance, the chemistry, the mystery, and the jaw dropping ending. I was a woman obsessed. Now I’m desperately hoping we get a mysterious someone’s book next because OH MY GOD!

RC Boldt is a USA Today bestselling author currently living in part of the Costa Rican jungle with the love of her life and her mini-me.

If you’re in the mood for some killer mojitos or can’t recall the lyrics to a particular 80s song, she’s your girl.

Connect with RC Boldt 

Website: http://www.rcboldtbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14543027.R_C_Boldt

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Kq1H9C

Facebook: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtFB

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BBBReaders/

Instagram: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtIG

Bookbub: http://bit.ly/RCBoldtBB

Verve: https://bit.ly/3jEf18z

Leave a Comment · Filed Under: All Reviews, Contemporary Romance, PNR, Romantic Suspense · Tagged With: , ,

Review: The Phantom by Gena Showalter

February 7, 2023 by · Leave a Comment

THE PHANTOM
Series: Rise of the Warlords #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Author: Gena Showalter
Release Date: February 7,  2023

“One of the premier authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spellbinding story!”—Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with The Phantom, the third book in her pulse-pounding Rise of the Warlords series, featuring a vengeful harpy and a callous torture master locked in a battle to the death. 

As the son of a war god, Roux Pyroesis has suffered unending pain—he’s caused it, too, dispatching his foes with alarming ease. Now he’s tasked with cutting out the heart of a powerful queen who rules an ancient prison realm inhabited by the most vicious immortal females in existence.

Blythe the Undoing is a decorated harpy warrior determined to annihilate Roux, the invader who killed her beloved consort. Nothing will stop her. Even if she must trap herself for eternity by sneaking into the brutal realm and taking the crown, pitting herself against the merciless male she’s sworn to despise.

Having never known desire, Roux is ill prepared for the stunning beauty who challenges him at every turn. For the survival of his army, duty comes first. Always. But what happens when the flames of Blythe’s hatred burn out and she craves him, too…but only one of them can live?

Rise of the Warlords

Book 1: The Warlord
Book 2: The Immortal

AMAZON

This is not the time to toy with me, she-beast.” The harshness of his voice nearly melted her bones.
“Now that’s a lie, Warden,” she purred, jumping onto his lap. “I’ve discovered always is the time to toy with you.”

You know when you’ve been obsessed with an author for years, and the obsession only continues to grow? It’s a rare one for me, mainly because I have the attention span of a fly and generally find myself growing out of an author after a certain amount of releases. But Gena? I will never grow tired of her words. This woman can write banter like no other. Her rich world building, unique characters, sassy heroines and tortured heroes will do it for me each and every single time. Without fail. And this book was certainly no exception.

You’re telling me our Roo Coo lost his manginity?” He looked to Silver, his brow wrinkled. “That is what the harpies call it, yes? Manginity?”
Silver scratched his jaw. “I think they prefer the term popped his ejacucap.”

An immortal virgin warrior? Yes, please and thank you. I mean, how often do you read that in PNR?

I was immediately intrigued by these two when they were introduced as secondary characters in the previous books. A harphantom who possesses the warrior who killed her consort and father of her child? I mean, how do you even come back from that? But I knew I was desperate to find out. And while a part of me was nervous on how this romance would work, I knew Gena wouldn’t let me down. And she didn’t. This romance was EPIC. Full of twists and turns, secrets and battles.

Blythe is the sister of Taliyah Skyhawk from The Warlord and also a harpy phantom. When an Astra warrior suddenly appears in her world and kills her consort, in the effort to shield her daughter, she posses the Astra with her daughter and travels with him. And when she finally leaves his body, she’s set on revenge, painful and bloody.

Roux is unreasonably drawn to Blythe, even while she’s determined to draw blood whenever they see each other. But beneath her desire for vengeance, is an inexplicable connection to the Astra warrior. Roux is the definition of tortured. This is a man who survived horrors upon horrors and completely incapable of tolerating any sort of touch…until Blythe.

This was a super slow burn romance which was oh so satisfying. I loved these two together and the enemies to lovers vibes. I will never get enough of Gena’s fierce heroines, and Blythe was absolutely unstoppable. She’s a warrior in her own right and doesn’t let anyone fight her battles. While it took be a bit to fully get into this, once I hit the 30% mark, I was fully invested and couldn’t stop reading. If you’re a fan of Gena’s LotU series, then you’ll love her Warlords!

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