Milky Way of books

ARC Review: Insta-Family by Linda Kage

Friday, December 24, 2021

Insta-Family by Linda Kage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

LUCY GAMBLE, KNOCKED UP BY DYING MAN SHE GAVE SYMPATHY SEX, NOW MOVING ON TO HIS BIG BROTHER.

Have you ever tried to come up with a headline for your life? Well, mine’s so cringeworthy I can’t believe it’s actually my story...or a hundred percent true.

But honestly, how could I say no to the one-night-stand when he begged? Only a monster could deny someone their dying wish, right?

I mean, okay, getting pregnant from the encounter was a regrettable, irresponsible mistake; I can fully admit that.

Turning to his brother, however, was never part of the plan. Initially, I didn’t even like the guy.

Except Vaughn Merrill is a force to be reckoned with. He’s determined to be an “involved” uncle, and no matter how much I tell him he doesn’t have to be so helpful, he’s just so freaking helpful.

And gorgeous.

Plus not at all the ass I assumed he was. Then there’s this massive pain and grief and loneliness I see in his eyes. I just want to hug him constantly and give him the sense of family he so desperately needs.

So really, can you blame me for falling for the one man I know I shouldn’t?

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

For those of you who don't know, Linda Kage was one of the first authors I read when I first ventured into the contemporary genre. Before I found Colleen Hoover, it was Linda's books that made me appreciate the genre. For her first book "Forbidden Kiss" and after she built a whole generation of characters and their families whose children now I enjoy to read about in her new spin-off series.

Insta-Family follows Lucy one of the children from one of the first couples in her previous series (mainly from her book "To Professor with Love"), who finds herself in a tight predicament. She becomes pregnant and the man dies shortly after. But then Vaughn his brother, becomes entangled with the family in a sweet tale of grief, acceptance, love, and found family.

The pace is steady, there is a lot of fun times, humor, and deep emotion. Sure some misunderstandings could have been avoided but that is the beauty; it is so realistic it could easily be a Netflix series. I loved Lucy and Vaughn their romance bloomed beautifully and I liked how he had to face his emotions and grief over his brother's death along with the guilt he felt because he was left behind.

It is a sweet gem of a book and I can not wait for the rest of the series!

About the author:

Linda writes romance fiction from YA to adult, contemporary to fantasy. Most Kage stories lean more toward the lighter, funner side with a couple meaningful moments thrown in that center around love and hope. Focuses more on entertainment value and emotional impact than realism. She likes the drama and crazy, over-the-top plots that make you cry then laugh, get mad then sigh happily.

Published since 2010. Went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature. Then graduated with Bachelors in Arts, English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.

Now she lives with hubby, two daughters, cat Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas, USA. Farm girl. Parents were dairy farmers. Was youngest of eight. Big family. Day job as a cataloging library assistant.

Harry Potter House Gryffindor, Patronus White Stallion, character match Hagrid. Supernatural Team Dean. Game of Thrones Team Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. The Walking Dead Team Daryl. Outlander Team Jamie Fraser. Teen Wolf Team Stiles. Avenger Team Thor...or Hulk (can’t decide). Justice League Team Flash. Arrow Team Stephen Amell. Stranger Things obsessed. Heard Laurel, not Yanny.

Started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club. Then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now all over the place with her romance reading tastes.

Review: Aurora's End (The Aurora Cycle #3) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Friday, November 12, 2021

Aurora's End by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The squad you love is out of time. Prepare for the thrilling finale in the epic, best-selling Aurora Cycle series about a band of unlikely heroes who just might be the galaxy's last hope for survival.

Is this the end?
What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases, and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course.
Wait. . . . Not. So. Fast.
When we last saw Squad 312, they working together seamlessly (aka, freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally.
But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the te4am has one last chance to rewrite thirs. Maybe two. It's complicated.
Cue Zila, Fin, and Scarlett (and MAGELLAN!): making friends, making enemies, and making history? Sure, no problem
Cue Tyler, Kal, and Auri: uniting with two of the galaxy’s most hated villains? Um, okay. That, too.
Actually saving the galaxy, though?

Now that will take a miracle.

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REVIEW

**contains spoilers from the previous books. You have been warned**

Our story picks up exactly from the horrible cliffhanger of the second book. With Finn, Zila, and Scarlet caught in an explosion, Aurora and Kal fighting for the galaxy's fate and Tyler trying to escape the creepy-plant zombie aliens along with Saedi.

A turn of events throws everyone into different directions and into discoveries they did not expect.

To be honest this whole book held me in its grip. It took me 4 hours to finish it and boy I wasn't disappointed. I knew that Jay Kristoff likes to torture us but Amie Kaufman tampers his tear-out-my-heart-feels. I enjoyed the plot, how everyone tried to save their world, even the plot twist that answered many questions since the first 2 books. I am pretty convinced that Magellan, the AI is Jay Kristoff because his snark and witty banter match him LOL.

And have no doubt I did cry a lot. The ending was amazing, despite the fact that I wanted Squad 312 altogether. I sincerely hope that the adaptation will be as faithful to the books as possible.

And don't miss the other books of the series!

About the authors:

Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction. He is the winner of eight Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, has over half a million books in print and is published in over thirty five countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Amie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work is slated for publication in over 30 countries, and is in development for film and TV. Raised in Australia and occasionally Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and daughter, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library. She is the host of the podcasts Amie Kaufman on Writing, and Pub Dates.

You can sign up for her newsletter to see what she's working on, hear when she releases a new book, and be automatically entered for giveaways: https://amieandmeg.substack.com/

ARC Review: "Death" (The Four Horsemen #4) by Laura Thalassa

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Death by Laura Thalassa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

They came to earth--Pestilence, War, Famine, Death--four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

He’s known by many names: Thanatos. Horseman. God’s last angel. And then, of course, there's the one I’m all too familiar with—

Death.

The day Death comes to Lazarus Gaumond’s town and kills everyone in one fell swoop, the last thing he expects to see is a woman left alive and standing. But Lazarus has her own extraordinary gift: she cannot be killed—not by humans, not by the elements, not by Death himself.

She is the one soul Death doesn’t recognize. The one soul he cannot pry free from her flesh. Nor can he ignore the unsettling desire he has for her. Take her. He wants to, desperately. And the longer she tries to stop him from his killing spree, the stronger the desire becomes.

When Lazarus crosses paths with the three other horsemen, an unthinkable situation leads to a terrible deal: seduce Death, save the world. A hopeless task, made all the worse by the bad blood between her and Thanatos. But Death’s attraction to her is undeniable, and try though she might, Lazarus cannot stay away from that ancient, beautiful being and his dark embrace.

The end is here. Humankind is set to perish, and not even the horsemen can stop Death from fulfilling his final task.

Only Lazarus can.

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Reading the fourth book of the Horsemen series, I knew that it was going to be a hell of an emotional ride. Being the final book on the series along with Laura's stellar writing I knew that Death's book would raise the stakes.

Lazarus is a woman whose city is destroyed by the passing of Death. His powers are mysterious, too strong, and also combine all the powers of the previous horsemen too. But Lazarus has another secret. She can not die.

And that fascinates Death.

Told in the span of months, the story follows Lazarus as she tries to stop Death from destroying the world but the more they fight, the more fascinated they become with each other. When the other 3 Horsemen appear asking Lazarus's help in stopping Death, she will soon realize that not only is the world at stake but also her heart.

I do not want to spoiler this book, the story is so strong and powerful that by the end of it left me crying in a deeper sense of loss. It had been a while since a good book pulled my heartstrings that much and Laura Thalassa is amazing at her writing work. Lazarus is a strong woman, who tries to save her people and her made family but at the same,e time she can not stop but be fascinated by Death. He on the other hand maybe as inhuman as possible but he also has a deeper sense of everything. The way at some point in the book, he describes the afterlife...well no matter into what you believe in or not you can not help but feel small into the grand scheme of things.

The book was deeply emotional, packed with action, swoony and steamy and with the best ending, I could ever hope for! Totally recommended and if you have not read the other Horsemen series what the hell are you waiting for?

And don't miss the rest of the books of this amazing series.

About the author:

Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.

… or something like that anyway.

When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

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Email: laurathalassa.author@gmail.com

Review: "The Love Hypothesis" by Ali Hazelwood

Monday, October 11, 2021

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees.

That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs.

Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

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REVIEW

This little gem of a book is FREAKING AWESOME! Leaving out the fact that the cover couple looks like Reylo canon kissing, this book is about women in academia, specifically STEM, the hardships that come with this field (and to be honest as a Historian in all fields of academia), and the cuteness that comes from a simple misunderstanding that develops to an arranged-fake relationship.

Olive is a PhD candidate who is also a closed emotional person, she doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships, and in order to make her best friend that she is happy and in love, she kisses the first man she sees. Who happens to be Adam, a professor, and the last person Olive expected to fall her way.

After this hilarious awkward moment, they both decide that pretending to be a couple can have more benefits than they could imagine. Adam needs someone to make the head office believe that they do not plan to leave the university and Olive wants to keep her friends from thinking she is not happy, or in a relationship.

But the more time they spend with each other the more they both realize that being in love is not just a hypothesis but could be a reality.

What I loved the most was how relatable Olive was both as a woman in academia as also a person who is afraid to be emotionally open. She blooms the more time she spends with Adam and her friends, how slowly she gains the confidence to be not only better as a person but also to stand up for what happens when she is threatened (trigger warnings for attempted harassment).

I loved, loved, loved this book so much I do plan on listening to the audiobook too! Definitely recommended!

About the author:

I'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!

ARC Review: "A Shadow in the Ember" (Flesh and Fire #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Friday, October 1, 2021

A Shadow in the Ember by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The Flesh and Fire series is set in the beloved Blood and Ash world.

Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.

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REVIEW

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. It is recommended to read the series "From Blood and Ash" first before reading this one

Before Poppy and Cas, before the upcoming War of Queens...there was a kingdom with a dark promise. Seraphena Mierel was born shrouded by the Primals promised to the Primal of Death in order to stop the Rot. Trained as a sacrifice, a bride a seducer she is not the Maiden promised to save their world, but kill the Primal responsible for the deal.

What she does not expect is the same Primal of Death to make her world view change and as gods, Primals, and old secrets slowly rise to the surface she will have to reevaluate her place in this world, but mostly if she belongs by the Primal's side.

I knew that I would enjoy this one. It has thems that kind of reminded me of Hades and Persephone bu because this is Jennifer Armentrrout we are talking about this book was phenomenal. Magic and kingdoms, secrets, actions, swoony and streamy moments it had everything I love in a good placed and written prequel. Not to mention dragons!

I can not spoiler much of the story but I wanted to see how Sera belonged in the greater scheme of things and how The Primal of Death was not who she was believed to be. There was a lot to unpack in the book but mostly I enjoyed the world-building. Jennifer has crafted yet another amazing world within the existing world from the Blood and Ash series!

Totally recommended but again I strongly advise you to read the Blood and Ash series first.

About the author:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

ARC Review: "The Bronzed Beasts" (The Gilded Wolves #3) by Roshani Chokshi

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

In love they breathed. In destiny they believed. In the end, will divinity be their demise?

After Séverin's seeming betrayal, the crew is fractured. Armed with only a handful of hints, Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia must find their way through the snarled, haunted waterways of Venice, Italy to locate Séverin.

Meanwhile, Séverin must balance the deranged whims of the Patriarch of the Fallen House and discover the location of a temple beneath a plague island where the Divine Lyre can be played and all that he desires will come to pass.

With only ten days until Laila expires, the crew will face plague pits and deadly masquerades, unearthly songs and the shining steps of a temple whose powers might offer divinity itself... but at a price they may not be willing to pay.

Returning to the dark and glamorous 19th century world of her New York Times instant bestseller, The Gilded Wolves, Roshani Chokshi dazzles us with the final riveting tale as full of mystery and danger as ever.

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I did not know what to expect when I dove into this book! I was ecstatic to receive an e-ARC of the last book as this series has something that tugs in your heartstrings and leaves you thinking of the story and the characters long after you are done reading.

The story picks up right from when we were left, in that horrible cliffhanger of book 2 where Severin has betrayed everyone in order to find the Lost Temple and become a god along with the leader of the Fallen House. Enrique, Laila, Hypnos and Zofia shook by the turn of events try to find a way to help Laila whose time is running out, and also beat Severin to the Temple's location

Action, humor, lots of feels, and a healthy dose of mystery, mythology, and lost relics added a hearty dose to the story making you wonder how all will turn out or how the story will unfold. On every page, I read there was something that made me carve to read more and wanting this not to end! I adored Enrique and Zofia and Hypnos too, as part of this trio (which in my opinion probably became a thourple though nothing like that is mentioned or hinted in the book-so do not make assumptions it's just my thought). Laila and Severin? God this was a romance I loved to read and it broke my heart, especially by the time I reached the epilogue. I did not expect THAT to happen and by the end of the book I was in tears.

Roshani Chokshi finished in the best way possible this series and I will eagerly wait for her next books! Totally recommended!

And don't miss the resat books of the series!

About the author:

Roshani Chokshi is the author of commercial and critically acclaimed books for middle grade and young adult readers that draws on world mythology and folklore. Her work has been nominated for the Locus and Nebula awards, and has frequently appeared on Best of The Year lists from Barnes and Noble, Forbes, Buzzfeed and more. Her New York Times bestselling series includes The Star-Touched Queen duology, The Gilded Wolves, and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which was recently optioned for film by Paramount Pictures.

ARC Review: "Taken by the Pikosa Warlord" (Xiveri Mates #7) by Elizabeth Stephens

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Taken by the Pikosa Warlord by Elizabeth Stephens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Halima
I’m wrenched from a five thousand year sleep into a new world. It was supposed to be uninhabited. Humans were supposed to have died off. Those of us preserved in the stasis tanks were supposed to rebuild.

But there were survivors.

And now those survivors have formed factions. The leading tribes enslave those weaker and language keeps them apart.

Funny, because in my past life I was the interpreter and I intend to bridge the gaps so that when we escape, we do it together. But I have to get past the warlord watching me first.

Ero
 Communication between tribes is unheard of. Forbidden. A death sentence. I should kill the little slave that dares defy this edict.

But the signs suggest something unthinkable. That this little creature is mine.

I need to find a way to get rid of her before she dismantles everything, escapes, liberates slaves, brings warring tribes to my doorstep…but to do that, I’ll have rid myself of this weight she hung around my throat like the loop end of a noose.

Want. She makes me want her.

Taken by the Pikosa Warlord is a full length (100k word) barbarian warlord romance that takes place on the war and climate-ravaged Earth that the satellite humans now living in Voraxia and Sasor left behind. It is a complete standalone with a smart tenacious heroine, the violent warlord unsure what to do with her and a happily ever after

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

In this next installment of the series, we go back to Earth. After 6 books of alien worlds, amazing cultural settings, and unique aliens, we go back to where it all began, where the planet is ravaged by climate destruction (which seems all too real) and the few humans that had survived evolved thousands of years later into tribes which do not speak to each other and hostility rules survival.

Halima awakens from her sleep as part of a project whose purpose was similar to that of Noa's Ark and finds herself among her other fellow colonists-survivors, as slaves to Ero's tribe. He is the leader of it and rules with an iron fist.

But Halima is an interpreter and knows many languages which strangely lead her and Ero into finding a way to communicate with one another. The language which was the barrier becomes the means for all tribes hopefully to learn of each other and leave behind any hostilities among them.
I loved the unique and alien environment Halima discovered. The 'crocs', the sun diseases the mining, and water needs all created a harsh world and even harsher people.

It took some time for me to warm up to Ero but as he discovers that Halima is far more precious than being a slave he will also realize his feelings for her. I would love to see more of Earth on the next books too and hopefully, there may be a time when all the other humans from the previous books may come back to Earth. Hopefully.

And don't forget to read the rest books of this amazing series!

About the author:

Tough heroines & possessive Alphas solve mysteries, fight epic battles, and fall in love in Elizabeth's diverse romance & SciFi novels.

Elizabeth Stephens has been living in a fantasy world since she was 11, and in 2015 finally translated her imagination to print! An author of romantic suspense and science fiction, she is a big fan of inclusion and her books always include kick ass ladies of color.

When she isn't found writing, you'll also see her getting her hands dirty by throwing pottery, or working as a communications consultant for privacy and human rights organizations. With origins in Seattle, Atlanta, and Bamako, she currently lives in Berlin with her loving husband and doggo, King Louis.

To find out more about her projects and upcoming releases visit her website at www.booksbyelizabeth.com.

ARC Review: "Black Crimson: A Little Red Riding Hood Story" (Fairy Tale Quartet #4) by Linda Kage

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Black Crimson: A Little Red Riding Hood Story by Linda Kage
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Camille had only been heading to her grandma’s house because Gran couldn’t figure out her cable again, but along the way, she stumbled across the city’s notorious graffiti artist. And now that she knows who the face behind the spray-paint can is, she can’t seem to listen to her friends’ sage advice and follow the safe path, leaving well enough alone. She’s determined to coax Black Crimson into agreeing to an exclusive interview so she can become the famous newspaper journalist she’s always wanted to be.

But in this contemporary twist to the Little Red Riding Hood fable, our red-headed heroine learns just how dangerous talking to strangers can be...to her heart.

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Camille and Brick were two characters I had hopes for to become a couple. I loved all the interconnected stories inspired by fairytales and the story of this one inspired by Red Riding Hood was actually pretty funny.

When she finds out the face of the mysterious graffiti artists whose work has taken up to a vigilante look she will try anything to get an exclusive interview.

I thoughtfully enjoyed this book! It was funny, steamy with lots of cameo appearances and amazing characters. I always enjoy Linda's works as her characters could easily feel like real friends with their funny and emotional moments too.

This book was also amazing and easy to read. Recommended for its amazing characters and the slight twist to the tale.

About the author:

Published since 2010. Went through a 2-year writing correspondence class in children’s literature from The Institute of Children’s Literature. Then graduated with Bachelors in Arts, English with an emphasis in creative fiction writing from Pittsburg State University.

Now she lives with hubby, two daughters, cat Holly, and nine cuckoo clocks in southeast Kansas, USA. Farm girl. Parents were dairy farmers. Was youngest of eight. Big family. Day job as a cataloging library assistant.

Harry Potter House Gryffindor, Patronus White Stallion, character match Hagrid. Supernatural Team Dean. Game of Thrones Team Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister. The Walking Dead Team Daryl. Outlander Team Jamie Fraser. Teen Wolf Team Stiles. Avenger Team Thor...or Hulk (can’t decide). Justice League Team Flash. Arrow Team Stephen Amell. Stranger Things obsessed. Heard Laurel, not Yanny.

Started out reading with the Baby-Sitters Club. Then moved to Sandra Brown, Linda Howard, Julie Garwood, and LaVyrle Spencer in high school. Now all over the place with her romance reading tastes.

ARC Review: "Gilded" by Marissa Meyer

Monday, August 30, 2021

Gilded by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times-bestselling author, returns to the fairytale world with this haunting retelling of Rumpelstiltskin.

Long ago cursed by the god of lies, a poor miller's daughter has developed a talent for spinning stories that are fantastical and spellbinding and entirely untrue.

Or so everyone believes.

When one of Serilda's outlandish tales draws the attention of the sinister Erlking and his undead hunters, she finds herself swept away into a grim world where ghouls and phantoms prowl the earth and hollow-eyed ravens track her every move. The king orders Serilda to complete the impossible task of spinning straw into gold, or be killed for telling falsehoods. In her desperation, Serilda unwittingly summons a mysterious boy to her aid. He agrees to help her… for a price. Love isn't meant to be part of the bargain.

Soon Serilda realizes that there is more than one secret hidden in the castle walls, including an ancient curse that must be broken if she hopes to end the tyranny of the king and his wild hunt forever.

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REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Holy wow...I have no words from where, to begin with this review. Marissa Meyer was one of the first authors I had read in my first blogging days and seeing a new book by her and a retelling at that made me have high expectations of it.

And she didn't disappoint!

Gilded takes place in a fantasy world where magic exists, old gods can take various forms and grant boons or curse their victims.

Serilda is blessed by the god of lies and stories at least the people in her village say so as she loves to spin stories and sometimes lies, innocent ones. But when a chance encounter with the horrible and vicious Erlking causes his attention to be drawn to her, she will be swept into a castle that hides more secrets than it shows.

The Leader of the Hunt wants Serilda to spin gold out of straw or he will kill her. In her desperation she allies with Gild, a mysterious boy trapped in the castle with no memory of who he was and what powers he has.

As the days pass and the Erlking's demands become higher, Serilda will realize that not only her life is in danger but also her heart.

I loved the new world Marissa Meyer introduced to us. There is mystery magic, myths inspired by the Fae Lore and no this has no relation to any Holly Black Fae (someones in the blogsphere tried to compare them).

It's a uniquely beautiful story with its trials and bloody times, romance and friendship. Towards the end, I did feel like everything was rushed and some characters did not have the development I wanted but I am sure that in the next book the mystery will clear and the curse hopefully will be lifted as Serilda made a bargain I don't know how she will escape from.

Amazing, beautiful writing and new characters! Totally recommended!

About the author:

I live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com.

Blog Tour & ARC Review+ Excerpt: "Claimed" (Lair of the Wolven #1) by J.R. Ward

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Claimed, the sizzling and addictive first book in the Lair of the Wolven Series from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward is available now, and we have a sneak peek!

A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, with a scientist fighting to save the timber wolves—and getting caught in a deadly trap herself...

Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project—and becomes a target.

One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious, and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?

As the stakes get higher, and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love... or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?

Grab your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uyfUDY

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ClaimedJR

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3fuH7Dh

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3oYRJNW

Nook: https://bit.ly/3c0HeV6

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3oXBv7C

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3wEt6J1

B&N Paperback: https://bit.ly/3wxnL6i

Audible: https://adbl.co/3wLwXnP

Excerpt

In so many ways, Lydia should have known. From the moment Daniel Joseph had appeared in her office doorway, there had been something about him.

But she hadn’t expected . . . this.

“Unless you tell me to go,” he said in a husky voice,

“I’m going to kiss you.”

As Lydia stared up into his face, they both knew

what she wanted. What she needed. Still, she kept them on the edge for a heartbeat or two.

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“Good,” he growled.

When he lowered his head, there was a rumble of satisfaction in his chest—and then she wasn’t hearing anything. Thinking anything. Worried about anything.

As big and strong as he was, his lips were soft against her own. Gentle, too, as if he knew she wanted to be handled with care—not because she didn’t want him, but because she did. Too much. And God, there were more reasons to pull away than get close to him, except there was no denying the chemistry. The connection. The heat.

And the experience was even better than the anticipation.

Aware that she was going to stop this sooner than she wanted, but much later than she should, Lydia lifted her arms and put them on his shoulders. His heavy body was rock-hard under his windbreaker, the muscles roping up to his neck—and that was where her hands went.

She just wanted to see if his hair was as thick and lush as it looked—

It was.

As she dug into the waves, he purred in response, like he was a great cat and she had found his favorite stroking place. And that was when he wrapped an arm around her waist. She did not feel trapped, though. She had the sense, as he continued to stroke her lips softly, that he would let her go immediately.

Not that she was going anywhere anytime the hell soon.

Inch by inch, their bodies came into full contact, her breasts against his chest, the front of her thighs meeting his, their hips brushing. And then the kiss deepened, his tongue licking into her—

Letting out another moan, she tightened her hold on his nape, in his hair, a sense of desperation making her rougher than she should have been—she was holding him to her now, grabbing on to him. But he was going with it. One of his hands traveled from her shoulder to her waist, to her hip, and she moved against his palm, imagining what it would be like to be naked with him touching her.

With those workman hands.

Daniel eased back and stroked her hair away from her face. “You’re a good kisser, you know that?”

“Am I?” She smiled like an idiot. “I could have sworn it was you.”

“I guess it’s us.” His eyes roamed her face. And then one side of his lips tilted up. “I’m going to go now.”

Lydia exhaled in surprise—but like she was going to sleep with him here on the mauve kitchen floor?

Not a bad idea, actually, she thought as she glanced down.

“Okay,” she said. “I understand. We do work together—”

“That’s not why I’m leaving.”

“So why are you?”

He traced her cheek. Then her jawline. “If I stay, I’m not going to let you get any sleep at all.” He stepped back. “You know where to find me, if you need me. And I’ll see you after we’re allowed to wake up at four-oh-one a.m.”

She nodded. “Good night, Daniel.”

Turning away, he lifted a hand over his shoulder. When he got to the door, he said, “Don’t forget to lock up.”

And then he was gone.

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The new book of J.R. Ward follows the mysterious and untouchable Wolven. But it begins from the hard attempts of Lydia to save the wolf preservation she works for as also to unravel the mysteries of her boss, her co-workers and Daniel the new handyman who is also a loner and has more secrets than he gives.

On the other side back in BDB Mansion Xhex is dealing with her own trauma and a prophecy of Vishous that may destroy her and in some way is connected to the Wolven.

While the book was good on setting the plot and the world it felt too lacking the action we are most attuned with. There was mystery and tragedy and so good of a romance but the ending gutted me. It was a cliffhanger too!

This was an exciting read on the other hand and I can not wait to see what will happen especially after the final revelations!

Add Claimed to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fW6oW7

About J.R. Ward
J.R. Ward is the author of over thirty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. There are more than 15 million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide and they have been published in 25 different countries around the world.
After graduating from law school, Ward began working in healthcare in Boston and spent many years as Chief of Staff of one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation. She lives in the south with her incredibly supportive husband and her beloved golden retriever. Writing has always been her passion and her idea of heaven is a whole day of nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot.

Connect with J.R. Ward
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3qfweZY
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zA0Uso
Instagram: https://bit.ly/35GtqLJ
GoodReads: https://bit.ly/3wN0ldK
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2TS5lzc
Website: https://jrward.com/

Release Day Blitz: "Claimed" (Lair of the Wolven #1) by J.R. Ward

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

“This emotional roller coaster does not disappoint.”—Publisher’s Weekly

Welcome to the Lair of the Wolven.
Get ready to be Claimed…

Claimed, the first book in an all new epic series, Lair of the Wolven from #1 New York Times and bestselling author J.R. Ward is now available!

A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, with a scientist fighting to save the timber wolves—and getting caught in a deadly trap herself...

Grab your copy today!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uyfUDY

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ClaimedJR

Apple Books: https://apple.co/3fuH7Dh

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3oYRJNW

Nook: https://bit.ly/3c0HeV6

Google Play: https://bit.ly/3oXBv7C

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/3wEt6J1

B&N Paperback: https://bit.ly/3wxnL6i

Audible: https://adbl.co/3wLwXnP

Add Claimed to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fW6oW7

ARC Review: "Vespertine" (Vespertine #1) by Margaret Rogerson

Friday, July 23, 2021

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

From the New York Times bestselling author of Sorcery of Thorns and An Enchantment of Ravens comes a thrilling new YA fantasy about a teen girl with mythic abilities who must defend her world against restless spirits of the dead.

The dead of Loraille do not rest.

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.

When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.

As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

REVIEW

I received the e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Well...where to begin from this book? The world which looks like Dark Ages but with a twist in magic? But let us take it from the beginning: Artemisia a nun in training who aspires to be a Gray sister has the power to sense demonic energy and along with the Order they try to have souls pass to the afterlife...without coming back as revenants or demonic spirits to haunt them.

When an attack in her covenant brings her in contact with one powerful relic which houses a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard, she will have to deal with more than her dislike to socializing with the living.

Among politics and power-hungry people, war, and a threat that may consume her world, Artemisia and the Revenant in the relic, try to navigate into discovering who may be the true villain and that sometimes magic is not always bad or good. And holiness may hide a part of true villainy.

For a book that had no romance in it, only action and secrets it was enjoyable and very interesting. While I didn't like Artemisia very much in the beginning I enjoyed how she came into power with the relic and her banter with the spirit. The friends she made along the way and the trials she had to face made her braver and by the end of the book, I was hoping for a sequel. While I am not sure if we will ever get one I would like to explore this world more as it has potential for more books.

About the author:

Margaret writes fantasy for young adult readers. She lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and when she's not reading or writing she enjoys drawing, watching documentaries, making pudding, gaming, and exploring the outdoors in search of toads and mushrooms.