Author: Jolie

I love to read. My favorite genres are women's fiction, romance, psychological thrillers, fantasy, young adult, steampunk, dystopian, LGBTQIA, and paranormal.

Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

Twenty-one Truths About Love: A Novel by [Dicks, Matthew]

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of Publication: November 19th, 2019

Genre: General Fiction

Where you can find Twenty-one Truths About Love: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

1. Daniel Mayrock loves his wife Jill…more than anything. 
2. Dan quit his job and opened a bookshop.
3. Jill is ready to have a baby. 
4. Dan is scared; the bookshop isn’t doing well. Financial crisis is imminent. 
5. Dan hasn’t told Jill about their financial trouble. He’s ashamed. 
6. Then Jill gets pregnant.

This heartfelt story is about the lengths one man will go to and the risks he will take to save his family. But Dan doesn’t just want to save his failing bookstore and his family’s finances—he wants to become someone.

1. Dan wants to do something special. 
2. He’s a man who is tired of feeling ordinary. 
3. He’s sick of feeling like a failure. 
4. Of living in the shadow of his wife’s deceased first husband.

Dan is also an obsessive list maker, and his story unfolds entirely in his lists, which are brimming with Dan’s hilarious sense of humor, unique world-view, and deeply personal thoughts. When read in full, his lists paint a picture of a man struggling to be a man, a man who has reached a point where he’s willing to anything for the love (and soon-to-be new love) of his life.

First Line:

Ways to keep Jill from getting pregnant

Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

My Review:

When I started reading Twenty-one Truths about Love, I wasn’t a massive fan of it. I mean, a book that is told through lists. I was expecting to DNF it after the first chapter. Then a funny thing happened. I started to get involved with the book. I began to care about Dan. I wanted to know if he was going to carry out his crazy plan. I wanted to see if he would ever contact his father.

I liked Dan. He had his quirks (don’t we all) and was trying to do his best. He also had an excellent sense of humor. But, he was also insecure. He was jealous of his wife’s first husband, who seemed to be a saint. He felt that he couldn’t live up to his brother’s success. He was also the most affected by his mother’s affair, the divorce, and his father not contacting them again.

I laughed my butt off at his plan to get more money. It wasn’t what he was going to do. But it was how he went about doing it. I liked that he turned that episode into something he learned from.

The end of Twenty-one Truths About Love was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I had a huge smile when the book ended. The book that I was sure I wouldn’t like ended up being a fantastic book!!

I would give Twenty-one Truths About Love an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Twenty-one Truths About Love.  I am on the fence if I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Win Big (Wynn Hockey: Book 3) by Kelly Armstrong

Win Big: A Wynn Hockey Novel by [Jamieson, Kelly]

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: November 19th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Wynn Hockey

Play to Win—Book 1 (Review Here)

In It to Win It—Book 2 (Review Here)

Win Big—Book 3

Where you can find Win Big: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

When your name is Wynn, victory’s the only option…

Everly Wynn: As the only daughter in the Wynn family of hockey heroes, I never shared the ice with my brothers—or the approval they got from my father.
And that was before the scandal that ruined my life at sixteen.
Now that I’ve put all that behind me and built a successful career, the last thing I need is another hockey player in my life.
Especially one like Wyatt Bell.
He’s an arrogant, fast-living party boy. I hate how he gets by on his good looks and charm.
So why can’t I get him out of my mind?

Wyatt Bell: Life is short, and you’ve got to live it to the fullest. I learned that the hard way.
So on the ice, I always play to win, and on the town, fun and flirting are my game.
Because it’s better to laugh your way through the pain than to let them see you’re hurting—but I’ll never stop wishing I could find someone to share the real me with.
Something about Everly Wynn makes me think she could be the one.
But all she sees is a hockey jock hooked on good times.
If she didn’t take herself so seriously, maybe she would take a chance on being happy.

First Line:

They say that everything happens for a reason

Win Big by Kelly Jamieson

My Review:

I was excited when I read the blurb and saw that this was Everly/Wyatt’s story. Everly was an immense presence in Theo and J.P.’s books, and I couldn’t wait to read about her. I wasn’t disappointed.

Win Big’s plotline was well written and flowed well. The author was able to keep my attention focused on the plot through the entire book. Lately, I have found my attention wandering when reading. So, for a book to keep my attention is a good thing.

There are dual POV’s in Win Big. I am not an enormous fan of dual storylines. I get lost when reading them. My attention wanders, as I mentioned above. But the author did a fantastic job of switching between Everly and Wyatt’s POV.

I loved Everly in Win Big!! She was larger than life presence in the previous two books. She did get on my nerves in J.P.’s book, and honestly, I was expecting the same in this book. So, imagine my surprise when she came across as a normal girl with typical issues. I loved it!!

I loved Wyatt also. I will say that he had some significant baggage when he was getting involved with Everly. I wish that his relationship with Owen/Heather was explained earlier. I thought the same thing Everly did. Other than that, I loved him!! He stood up for her when Everly’s blast from the past came roaring back into her life. There was so much he did for her in this book, and that made me love him!!

Win Big is book 3 in the Wynn Hockey series. It can be read as a stand-alone book, but I highly suggest reading the first two books. There is a crucial storyline that is interwoven in the book. It is explained, but it’s better to read from book 1. That way, there is no confusion when reading about Bob’s problems.

Speaking of Bob’s issues, I loved how Everly, her brothers, her nieces, and nephews came together to try and solve it. I did feel bad that Everly’s digging made her face some painful truths about what was going on with Bob. The scene where they confront Bob and his two older sons was well written, and well, it made me cry.

Everly and Wyatt had some insane sexual chemistry going on. What I liked is that the author built that chemistry up to an explosive release. And yes, that is my way of saying that they had some unbelievable sex.

The end of Win Big was emotional. I am not going to get into it, but I will say that I am excited to see who the next couple is going to be.

I would give Win Big an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Win Big. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Into the Inferno (The Legend Series: Book 6) by Kylie Stewart

Into the Inferno: Book #6 (The Legend Series) by [Stewart, Kylie]

5 Stars

Publisher: KCS Publishing

Date of publication: September 19th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: The Legend Series

Set in Stone—Book 1 (Review Here)

The Duke’s Curse—Book 2 (Review Here)

Resurrection—Book 3 (Review Here)

Return to Avalon—Book 4

Rise of the Dragon—Book 5 (Review Here)

Into the Inferno—Book 6

Where you can find Into the Inferno: Amazon

Book Synopsis:

To understand means to accept one’s own mistakes.

Alexandria is trapped in Hell’s Inferno. Can she accept Guinevere’s past and face Arthur’s sins while they are played out before her very eyes? In accepting her past, she will endure the devastation, betrayal, and passion stamped in time over thousands of years.

To wander into Hell as a guest is to accept mortality.

Avalon is fated to fight his way through the nine levels of The Inferno. Every step is agony, and every level a trial, reminding him of his gravest mistakes. Will his self-loathing consume him and take those standing by his side? Or will they band together to save the queen and woman they love?Everyone’s demons will have to be faced. Old wounds will be torn open and bleed anew. Will faith and love be enough?

Into the Inferno is book six of the bestselling Legend Series based off The Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

READING ORDER FOR THE LEGEND SERIES:
#1. SET IN STONE
#2. THE DUKE’S CURSE
#3. RESURRECTION
#4. RETURN TO AVALON
#5. RISE OF THE DRAGON
#6. INTO THE INFERNO 
#7. CHASING CAMELOT

First Line:

My eyes adjusted to the bright light reflecting off the sea before me.

Into the Inferno by Kylie Stewart

My Review:

I had been looking forward to reading Into the Inferno. As I had mentioned in previous reviews, I am an immense Camelot nerd, and I love romance. So, I have enjoyed this series. I will say that the end of Rise of the Dragon both surprised me and got me intrigued for Into the Inferno.

The plotline for Into the Inferno was perfect. It was fast-paced, and I loved it. It reflected Guinevere’s state of mind, along with Avalon’s desire to get through the nine levels of Hell to rescue Alexandria. What I liked is that the author kept the plotlines simple to allow for this. There was nothing else that distracted from it. Again, I loved it!!

Into the Inferno had dual plotlines. I am not an enormous fan of dual plotlines. I feel that things get lost when switching between two different POVs. But, not in this case. Guinevere’s POV stayed in the past, Avalon’s in the present, and there was no overlapping. I liked that.

Alexandria/Guinevere’s storyline was heartbreaking. I was prepared not to like her because of what I assumed happened. The author did a fantastic job of showing how Arthur treated her and what drove her to be with Lancelot. My heart broke for her several times during the book. But, it was the final chapters of her storyline that had me sobbing. All I have to say is that poor, poor woman.

I still liked Avalon. He was trying so hard to right the wrongs of his past. He was willing to go through the nine levels of Hell to rescue Alexandria. Each level made him face different aspects of his life. He had to battle his demons.

Into the Inferno is the 6th book in The Legend series. This book is not stand-alone. You will have to read the previous books to understand what was going on in this book.

The end of Into the Inferno shocked me. I was not expecting what happened to happen. I was also not expecting the other thing too. I will admit, I got misty-eyed and might have shed a few tears. I cannot wait to read book 7!!

I would give Into the Inferno an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Into the Inferno. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Agent Jack: The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter by Robert Hutton

3 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of Publication: November 12th, 2019

Genre: Biography, Memoir

Where you can find Agent Jack: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, BookBub

The never-before-told story of Eric Roberts, who infiltrated a network of Nazi sympathizers in Great Britain in order to protect the country from the grips of fascism

June 1940: Europe has fallen to Adolf Hitler’s army, and Britain is his next target. Winston Churchill exhorts the country to resist the Nazis, and the nation seems to rally behind him. But in secret, some British citizens are plotting to hasten an invasion. Agent Jack tells the incredible true story of Eric Roberts, a seemingly inconsequential bank clerk who, in the guise of “Jack King”, helped uncover and neutralize the invisible threat of fascism on British shores. Gifted with an extraordinary ability to make people trust him, Eric Roberts penetrated the Communist Party and the British Union of Fascists before playing his greatest role for MI5: Hitler’s man in London. Pretending to be an agent of the Gestapo, Roberts single-handedly built a network of hundreds of British Nazi sympathizers—factory workers, office clerks, shopkeepers —who shared their secrets with him. It was work so secret and so sensitive that it was kept out of the reports MI5 sent to Winston Churchill.

In a gripping real-world thriller, Robert Hutton tells the fascinating story of an operation whose existence has only recently come to light with the opening of MI5’s WWII files. Drawing on these newly declassified documents and private family archives, Agent Jack shatters the comforting notion that Britain could never have succumbed to fascism and, consequently, that the world could never have fallen to Hitler. Agent Jack is the story of one man who loved his country so much that he risked everything to stand against a rising tide of hate.

First Line:

Mr. Jones, assistant controller at the Westminster Bank, put down the phone in a puzzled mood.

Agent Jack: The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter by Robert Hutton

My Review:

I have been an avid reader of anything to do with WWII and the Holocaust. There are very few things that could shock me about that era. Then I read Agent Jack and had my mind blown.

I don’t know why I was so surprised to read that there were Nazi sympathizers in England. I shouldn’t have been. Considering that Germany is a little over an hour (flying time) from England, it should have made sense. I will admit, it threw me off the book for a little bit. Once I was able to wrap my mind around that, I was able to get somewhat get into Agent Jack.

Agent Jack took me six days to read. Four of those six days were spent traveling. Ever travel with three kids? Then you understand why it took me so long to read. The other reason why it took me so long was that I had to force myself to read and finish the book. Which, if you have done it, isn’t a good thing. I also found it extremely dry. There was a lot of information to process.

There were parts of the book that I found interesting. It involved the MI5, which is England’s equivalent to the US’s CIA. I found it fascinating the politics that went into everything. I haven’t read a lot of books on the MI5, but what I have read caught my interest.

Agent Jack had a wide assortment of people as main characters. But the main guy, the bank clerk who was essential to everything, was fascinating. He kept tabs on 500 people without blowing his cover. Which, to me, is impressive. I can’t even keep tabs on three people without running into issues.

I liked that the author chose to portray the Nazi sympathizers in a way that explains why they felt that way. A lot of these sympathizers were refugees from WWI and harbored anger towards England. They would do anything to help Germany, which included betraying the country that took them in.

The author did a fantastic job of showing what happened to all the key players, good and bad, at the end of the book. I will say that I was inscensed over how Eric Roberts was treated. That poor man gave years and to get treated like that!! Shameful.

I would give Agent Jack: The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter an Older teen rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Agent Jack: The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore by Birgitte Margen

Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore (A Twisted Fairy Tale: A Young Adult Fantasy) by [Märgen, Birgitte]

4 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publication: January 4th, 2019

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Where you can find Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore: Amazon

Book Synopsis:

A trailer park Alice. A hole that traps souls. The white rabbit’s a tricky hare. And the world is upside down. This fairy tale just got twisty . . .

Rule One: Don’t eat or drink.
Rule Two: Never, ever tell anyone your name.
If ya do – your soul will be lost there forever.

How do I know? I been there myself. This is my story.

There was a full moon brimmin’ that night, and that meant strange things could happen. As I walked through the woods, I reckon I shoulda known by the way my hair stood up on end like Uncle Red’s toupee —that I shoulda coulda stayed home. I call it the willies, but grandpappy calls it premonition. One thing I can tell ya as a girl from the wrong side of the tracks: If you’re fix’n to wander way over yonder —it’s important to know the right direction.

What direction ya ask? Well, ya have to read the story to find that one out.

* * *

AFTER FALLING INTO a dark hole when she was running through the forest, Evie finds herself trapped in a strange new world that mirrors our own. Her only guide is a compass stick given to her by an angry gnome who lives in an ancient knobby tree. As she travels through the lands of this upside-down world she happens upon creatures that are twisted versions of fairytale folklore. A place where fairies bite, unicorns charge, mermaids are menacing, and nightmares are more than dreams. A world where the souls of those who could not follow the unspoken rules are trapped forever.

As a southern girl born on the wrong side of the tracks, Evie relies on the wisdom passed down by her grandpappy and the haunting memories of her mama to teach her perseverance of the soul. She learns that things are rarely what they seem as her world is turned upside down.

First Line:

It was a peculiarly frigid October night, and a nippy chill was in the air.

Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore

My Review:

Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore is the story about Evie and the journey she takes through the world of Nevermore. Evie was at a bonfire with her best friend and three boys, one which is Evie’s crush. Towards the end of the fire, Evie hears her best friend and crush talking about her in a hurtful way. That upset Evie, and she takes off running through the woods. Tripping on a root, Evie hits her head and wakes up in a small cave. Seeing light, Evie digs until she falls through the hole she made. She ends up in Nevermore, a place where everything good is evil, and everything evil is good. With a compass stick, the warning of a friend, and the wisdom of her Grandpappy to guide her, Evie needs to navigate this dangerous world. Will she escape?

I didn’t know what to think when I started reading Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore. I did see the comparison of Alice and Wonderland from the beginning. But, the deeper I got into the book, the more I started to like it. It was so much like Alice in Wonderland, but at the same time, there were such glaring differences. It was those differences that I loved and made the book for me.

The flow of Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore was alright. I say alright because there were several times where I felt that it was interrupted by Evie’s flashbacks. Evie’s flashback to her Grandpappy’s words of wisdom was essential to the book. I believe that it could have been done a little better.

There are no dropped storylines in Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore. There were several storylines that I wish had more clarification (like the goat boy). Other than that, I was happy with it. Dropped storylines ruin the storyline for me.

The majority of the book takes place in the world of Nevermore. Nevermore was an unusual and scary place to read about. What I loved about it is that things were flipped. People/objects that are considered to be good were evil (the mermaids, the fairies). On the flip side, people/objects that are considered to be evil were good (the dragon, the goat boy). It made for an enjoyable read.

I liked how the world was broken up. To get to the next section, Evie had to go through the first one. She needed to use the compass stick to get through different areas. I loved it. By doing that, the author allowed me, as a reader, to get the full scope of what Nevermore was like.

I liked Evie. She adjusted to being in Nevermore better than I would have. I would have freaked out. Instead, she set out to find her way home. She used her mind to get herself out of situations. I did feel bad for her too. She didn’t have the best life back at home. She was looked down upon for living in a trailer; her father wasn’t around and other things. I wanted to hug her. Mainly for reasons revealed later on in the book.

I didn’t care for Evie’s “friends.” Her best friend was a witch with a b for talking about her like that. And her crush was a tool.

The characters in Nevermore were interesting. The hedgehog that kept showing up was cute. I was also intrigued by the white and black rabbits. I was surprised at what they meant and what they turned into. Talk about interesting!!

Evie and the Upside-Down World of Evermore fit in perfectly in the middle-grade category. I could see my tween and early teenager (12 and 14) reading this book and enjoying it.

My attention was held by the book while reading it. If it could hold a middle-aged woman’s attention, I have no issue believing that it would hold a tween/teen’s attention.

I enjoyed reading Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore. At first, I was afraid that it was too much like Alice in Wonderland. But, as I got into the book, my fears were put to rest.

Evie’s storyline was resolved in the book. I was surprised at how her storyline was resolved. It was magical!!

There are triggers in Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore. There are a cutting scene and talk of suicide.

Evie’s character did evolve throughout the book. Each section of the world she was in showed her exactly what she was capable of and what she can overcome. By the end of the book, she was a strong young woman who knew she was going to be alright. I wish the author had written about the inevitable confrontation she was going to her with her “bestie.” Absolutely. But I am glad that it wasn’t written.

I would give Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore an Older teen rating. There is no sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Evie and the Upside-Down World of Nevermore. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Death Among Us: An Anthology of Murder Mystery Short Stories by Stephen Bentley, Greg Alldredge, Kelly Artieri, L. Lee Kane, Michael Spinelli, Robbie Cheadle, Kay Castaneda, Justin Bauer, Aly Locatelli @StephenBentley8 @Shalini_G26

Death Among Us: An Anthology of Murder Mystery Short Stories by [Bentley, Stephen, Alldredge, Greg, Artieri, Kelly, Kane, L. Lee, Spinelli, Michael, Cheadle, Robbie, Castaneda, Kay, Bauer, Justin, Locatelli, Aly]

4 Stars

Publisher: Hendry Publishing

Date of publication: July 7th, 2019

Genre: horror, anthology

Where you can find Death Among Us: Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Who knew death could be so eclectic? Relish this mesmerizing murder mystery mash-up of short stories.

The stories include the 2019 SIA Award-Winning Murder Mystery Short Story ‘The Rose Slayer.’

Murder and mystery have been the staple of literature and films for years. This anthology of short stories will thrill and entertain you. Some will also make you laugh out loud. Others will stop and make you think.

Think of this murder mystery short story anthology as a book version of appetizers or starters, hors d’oeuvre, meze, or antipasti. It can be read as fillers between books or, as is the case in some countries, as a bookish meze – in its own right.

These stories come from an international cast of authors; some with bestselling books, others are emerging or new talents. Their roots, cultures, and life experiences are as diverse as their writing styles.

But one thing binds them together: they know how to tell a story.

There’s murder mystery styles and locations to suit all tastes: detective fiction, serial killers, scifi, histfic, LA, England, The Great Lakes, Las Vegas, the Nevada desert and more in an exquisite exposition of the art of short story telling.

The ten authors who have contributed to the anthology are:

Stephen Bentley
Greg Alldredge
Kelly Artieri
Robbie Cheadle
Michael Spinelli
L. Lee Kane
Kay Castaneda
Aly Locatelli
Justin Bauer
& ‘G’ Posthumously

Each author introduces his or her stories and the theme that lies behind them.By the time you finish the book, you will agree the result is a mesmerizing murder mystery mash-up.

Get it now.

First Line (from The Rose Slayer by Stephen Bentley):

Six murders.

Death Among Us: An Anthology of Murder Mystery Short Stories by various authors

My Review:

I usually do not review anthologies. I find it hard to review a book that is made up of short stories. But I like reading them. Whenever I get the request to review an anthology, I have an internal tug of war. 9 out of 10 times, I decline. But in this case, because I like murder mysteries, I accepted. I am glad that I did because this book had some fantastic stories.

I thought it was appropriate that I read Death Among Us a couple of nights before Halloween. I was enthralled with the stories. I loved that I got a thrill when reading them.

Usually, in my other reviews, I give details on what I liked about the plotlines and the characters. But because this is an anthology, I can’t do that. But I will do something a little different. I will give you what I liked about each group of stories.

The Rose Slayer, Eleanor Rigby, Diva:

I enjoy reading these short stories. What I loved is that they were interconnected. I didn’t get that at first. It took me rereading the end of The Rose Slayer and the beginning of Eleanor Rigby to understand that. I loved it!!!

Hello World, Goodbye World:

AI has always freaked me out. Reading these two books got me even more freaked out about them. They were well written, and the author was able to suck me into the stories.

First Comes Lightning, Bad Bones, Red Solo Cup,,That’s What Best Friends Do:

I didn’t like these stories as much as the first five stories. But they were still good. Again, the author was able to interconnect each story. The connections were subtle, but they were there.

Justice is Never Served, An Eye For an Eye, The Murder of the Monk:

This group of stories all takes place in England. What I enjoyed about these is that they were based on actual events. The author, who is new to horror, was able to take these events and add her spin to them. Again, there was a subtle connection with the three stories, which I enjoyed.

No Man’s Land and Monitaur:

These were different stories by the same author. The first story, No Man’s Land, creeped me out. I got the chills reading it. Monitaur, though, terrified me. Mainly because I have had run-ins with a baby monitor making weird noises.

A Deadly Lady and Stop Me If You Can:

Another set of stories that chilled me. I agreed with the main character in this set of stories. Men who beat their wives/girlfriends and men (and women) who traffic people need to be taken care of. What gave me chills was how she did it and what the cop said at the end of the last story.

Something About the Gift of Beauty, Unknown, The Thoughts of Emily Morales in Old Age:

These were interesting stories. I liked that the three stories centered around one main character at different stages of her life.

The Neighbors:

I liked this story. The characters were relatable (even if one of them was unlikable). What happened was interesting.

Sales Meeting, Canceled:

I liked these stories. Talk about getting payback…lol. All I could think after I read the stories was that they deserved it.

White Rose of Rapture and Next:

Both were well-written books. The first story did freak me out. I have a fear of dentists, and well, this story didn’t do anything to erase my fear. The second story amused me (as weird as that sounds). The last line made me giggle.

I would give Death Among Us an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Death Among Us. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Fever (Dark Kings: Book 16) by Donna Grant

Fever: A Dark Kings Novel by [Grant, Donna]

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: October 29th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Series: Dark Kings

Dark Craving—Book 0.1

Night’s Awakening—Book 0.2

Dawn’s Desire—Book 0.3

Passion’s Claim—Book 0.4

Darkest Flame—Book 1

Fire Rising—Book 2

Burning Desire—Book 3

Hot Blooded—Book 4

Night’s Blaze—Book 5

Soul Scorched—Book 6

Dragon King—Book 6.5

Passion Ignites—Book 7

Smoldering Hunger—Book 8

Smoke and Fire—Book 9

Dragon Fever—Book 9.5

Firestorm—Book 10

Blaze—Book 11

Dragon Burn—Book 11.5

Constantine: A History—Book 11.6

Heat—Book 12 (Review Here)

Torched—Book 13

Dragon Night—Book 13.5

Dragonfire—Book 14 (Review Here)

Dragon Claimed—Book 14.5

Ignite—Book 15 (Review Here)

Fever—Book 16

Where you can find Fever: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

His kiss was fire and passion. She shivered, wondering how he knew just how to touch her, to send her spiraling into an abyss of pleasure…

For centuries, the Dragon Kings have lived among mortals, forsaking their true selves. But for Kelton, hiding in the realm of shadows—and existing only in the world of dreams—is no longer an option. A human woman claims to know that he, like other dark warriors of his kind, is real. That the legends about these powerful, seductive men with hearts ablaze are true. And that, with just one embrace, Kelton could destroy her…or love her until the end of time.

Bernadette Davies is an anthropologist who knows better than to fall into the arms of a Dragon King. But how can she resist Kelton when he’s so willing to share his secrets and bear his soul? He hasn’t met a beautiful, trustworthy woman like Bernadette in…forever. But once they give into their mutual desire, their worlds will never be the same. Soon Bernadette must face her dilemma: Should she expose the truth about Kelton in the name of science? Or join him in his battle with the dark forces—in the name of love?

First Line:

Dragons are real.

Fever by Donna Grant

My Review:

When I finished Ignite, I was curious about who the next book was going to be about. I knew it wasn’t Con, because Ub*tch had him, so I figured it was Kelton. As for the woman, that was left up in the air. So, I wasn’t surprised when Kelton was the first person mentioned. I was surprised at who his mate was and how he met her.

Fever was an exciting book to read. I was expecting more of a filler book, like Ignite. To my surprise, Fever ended up being so much more. Not only was it Kelton/Bernadette’s romance, but there was a progression with all the major storylines – Con/Ub*tch storyline, the storyline with Rhi, the Dark Fae storyline and the storyline with The Others.

I wasn’t too sure about Bernadette. Like the Dragon Kings, I thought that she was getting her information from someone. I figured it was a disgruntled someone. But I wasn’t expecting it to be Ub*tch. Her sudden decision to go to Dreagan also raised my red flags, as did her immediate attraction to Kelton. But after her heart to heart with him and seeing exactly how Ub*tch destroyed Bernadette’s life made any reservations I had towards her go away. What Ub*tch did to her in this book was awful. Which lead me to wonder, exactly what did Ub*tch know about Bernadette? I also wanted to know why Rhi was so drawn to her. I have a feeling I know why, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. All I will say that if I am right, that is a HUGE bombshell!!

I loved Kelton. He was willing to do whatever it took to find out who was leaking Bernadette. But when Bernadette showed up at Dreagan, he decided to be honest with her. He didn’t expect to fall in love. I loved how honest he was about his struggle with Con’s decision to send the dragons home. Once he determined that Ub*tch was using Bernadette, he was going to do anything to protect her, which included sending her back to that conniving evil witch. I did get a laugh over his complete denial of his feelings for Bernadette. Typical alpha male right there.

Bernadette and Kelton had major sexual chemistry and sexual attraction from the beginning. That translated into some seriously hot sex scenes. I did feel let down when they figured out that Ub*tch spelled Bernadette to attract a Dragon King (ie, Kelton). I had a brief moment of panic that those impressive sex scenes I read were magically induced. Thankfully, the author cleared that up fast.

I am glad that Rhi made more of an appearance in Fever. Like I said above, I have a theory of why she was so drawn to Bernadette. Also, her struggle with the dark was so much more pronounced in Fever. I felt terrible for her.

I couldn’t stand Ub*tch. What she did to Bernadette (the blood spell) was wrong. What she was doing Xanth was wrong also. That poor man. She tortured him!! What happened at the end of the book was terrific, but I wish there were closure!!!

I didn’t understand why Death and the Reapers weren’t getting involved with what was going on in Fever. I started to get irritated because Death made such a big deal about Ub*tch being taken down. But, there was a scene towards the end of the book that made me go “Hrrrmmmm.” Made me wonder what the author has in store for that storyline!!

The Dark Fae storyline (with Balladyn) surprised me. I was NOT expecting what happened to happen. I put the book down and said: “Holy crap, that just DIDN’T happen!!!”

The storyline with Con and Ub*tch had me going. I didn’t know what to think about what was going on. All I could think was that it wasn’t good.

The storyline with Henry and Melisse fascinated me. Precisely who is Melisse, and what does she want with Henry? I cannot wait to read the next book.

I would give Fever an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Fever. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Let It Be Me (Amarillo Sour: Book 2) by Laura Chapman

This is my stop during the book blitz for Let It Be Me by Laura Chapman. This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 21 till 27 October. See the tour schedule here: http://www.lolasblogtours.net/book-blitz-let-it-be-me-by-laura-chapman 

4 Stars

Let It Be Me (Amarillo Sour #2)

By Laura Chapman

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Age category: Adult

Release Date: September 30, 2019

Goodreads

Who says history is boring?

Professor James Mitchell has a rock star reputation. With a waitlist for all his classes, a best-selling book, and the requisite leather jacket, the university and publisher are eager to capitalize on this British sensation. But after his girlfriend leaves him for another man, James goes from rising scholar to spiraling bad boy. Forget contracts and tenure, James wants out—of his job, his book deal, and, better still, the country. He’s well on his way when his boss’s daughter walks into his favorite bar . . . 

Aspiring filmmaker Ali Ferguson-Day doesn’t scare easily. She’s been given the means to make a film of her own—on the condition she tames the professor. As the daughter of a famed documentarian and a renowned historian, she’s more than ready to step out of her parents’ shadows and shine on her own. She won’t let anyone—not even an unexpected charmer—get in her way.

James and Ali butt heads from the start, but it isn’t long before their sparring gives way to attraction. There’s the promise of even more, if they can get past the fear of history repeating itself to let love in . . . 

Giveaway:

Giveaway ends October 30th.

The grand prize is:

  • $20 Amazon gift card

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1000e4f1328/

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Google Play

iTunes

BookBub

Check out book 1 in this series: Counting on You

Is love worth the risk?

Laura Chapman is the award-winning and Amazon best-selling author of sweet and sexy romantic comedies. A born and raised Nebraska girl, she loves watching football, traveling, crafting, and baking. When she isn’t writing her next story, she is probably working at a museum by day and binge-watching Netflix with her cats Jane and Bingley at night. So, basically, she’s living large.

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First Line

James Mitchell didn’t need a PhD to figure out why he’d been called into the department chair’s office.

Let It Be Me by Laura Chapman

My Review:

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Let It Be Me after reading the first few chapters. James was a hot mess. Ali wanted a docuseries so bad that she would do anything to finance it. It made for an awkward few first chapters. But once everything was ironed out, the book became enjoyable to read.

Let It Be Me’s plotline was medium paced. The characters were fleshed out and had a depth to them. I loved how relatable the characters were. Their issues were something that anyone could relate to. I also liked how the book flowed. There were no dropped plotlines or characters. There was no lag. All these made for a book that was easy to read.

Like I mentioned above, James was a hot mess. I didn’t blame him for being a hot mess. His ex-girlfriend had shattered his heart. All he wanted was to go back to England and lick his wounds. I did find his attempts to get fired funny. I also thought that the ways he was trying to get rid of Ali were funny. I did like his character growth throughout the book. I do contribute much of it to Ali. She helped him heal and realize what he was doing wasn’t exactly the best.

I loved Ali. She had her work cut out for her with James. But, she knew that going into it. I didn’t like that her mother had to bribe her to work with him. Want to do your series? Get that book written. She had a great sense of humor (which she needed, dealing with James). I love the inventive ways she used to get him to write. Before this book, I haven’t heard of an editing drinking game. Now I have, and I loved it!! I also LOVED how she handled Becca and her husband. Talk about putting someone in their place.

Ali and James’s romance was realistic. What I liked is that their feelings didn’t burn bright and fast. Instead, the author chose to build them up slowly. Don’t get me wrong; I love an Instalove romance as much as the next person. But I also like realistic romances.

Sex was not a massive factor in Let It Be Me. Yes, Ali and James end up having sex. But the author did not get into it. Other than that, sly thought James had when talking to Ali’s mother; it wasn’t there. I loved it.

Let It Be Me is the second book in the Amarillo Sour series. It can be read as a stand-alone book. Which further endeared the book to me. There was a mention of the first book’s couple, but that was it, a mention. The author kept the focus of Let It Be Me on Ali and James.

The end of Let It Be Me was sweet. I loved how everything ended up for everyone. And the epilogue was perfect!!! I am curious about who the next book is going to be about. I couldn’t tell you.

I would give Let It Be Me an Adult rating. There is mention of sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Let It Be Me. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Snowfall of Cedar Trail (Sweetwater Springs: Book 3) by Annie Rains

Snowfall on Cedar Trail: Two full books for the price of one (Sweetwater Springs Book 3) by [Rains, Annie]

4 Stars

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever

Date of publication: September 24th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Sweetwater Springs

Christmas on Mistletoe Lane—Book 1 (review here)

A Wedding on Lavender Hill—Book 1.5

Springtime at Hope Cottage—Book 2 (review here)

Kiss Me in Sweetwater Springs—Book 2.5

Snowfall on Cedar Trail—Book 3

Starting Over at Blueberry Creek—Book 4 (expected publication date February 2020)

Where you can find Snowfall on Cedar Trail: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a heartwarming holiday romance between the a small-town florist and the handsome chief of police. Includes a bonus novel by Miranda Liasson!

Last Christmas was tough for Halona Locklear and her seven-year-old son Theo, who hasn’t spoken a word since his father’s death. This year, Halona wants nothing more than to give him a good holiday and to hear his sweet voice again. Enrolling him in the Mentor Match program might help, but when Theo gets matched with Sweetwater Springs Chief of Police, Alex Baker, Halona realizes that the handsome hero might know secrets about her past that she is determined to keep buried.

Chief of Police, Alex Baker, re-opens his father’s hit-and-run cold case every December, hoping to finally solve it. This year, his plate is full with being a Mentor Match to a young seven-year-old boy as well. His biggest obstacle, however, is fighting his attraction to the boy’s mother, Halona. As Alex gets close to solving his father’s cold case, he learns that those closest to him may be in danger — including Halona. Alex has already lost one of the most important people in his life; he isn’t about to lose her too, even if it means walking away to keep her safe.

First Line:

Something crashed in the kitchen

Snowfall on Cedar Trails by Annie Rains

My Review:

I love romance novels set around Thanksgiving/Christmas. I always get in the holiday mood while reading them. So, when I saw the Annie Rains had another book set around Thanksgiving/Christmas, I knew that I had to read it. I am glad that I did!! Because of this book, I was in the holiday mood for days.

The plotline for Snowfall on Cedar Trail was medium paced. The medium pace of the plotline worked for me. If the book had been faster-paced, an essential part of the plotline would have been glossed over.

I liked Halona. She was doing everything she could to run her business and get her son the help he needed. There was no place in her life for romance, which I understand. I thought her crush on Alex was cute. But she was wary of getting involved with him. I thought it was because of Theo’s issues, but then there was another reason why. That reason broke my heart when it was revealed. It also reinforced, in my eyes, how strong she was and had to be.

I loved Alex. He took his job as police chief seriously. When the book started, he was trying to help a battered woman leave her husband. He had also reopened his father’s cold case, trying to see if there were any new clues about his death. Then, while checking on the battered woman, he takes an abused puppy from her husband. On top of that, he had agreed to become a mentor to a child in need. It was a lot. His interactions with Halona, Theo, the town folk, and Officer Chew (the puppy and I LOVED the name!!) made the book.

Halona and Alex’s romance was a slow burn. I loved that they had been crushing on each other since, well, forever. They did have their ups and down, though. A significant down with their relationship was Halona’s ex-husband and how he treated her. But, they did get past it. When they did, their romance went into high gear.

Theo’s selective mutism was a significant part of the storyline. It was the reason that Theo was placed in the mentor program and in turn, got paired with Alex. I did feel bad for Theo. He saw his father doing something horrible to his mother. It affected him so much that he stopped talking. It broke my heart. But, I was glad to see that Alex was able to help Theo. But, I didn’t buy the end of that storyline. It seemed to me almost too perfect.

Another storyline that ended almost too perfectly was Alex’s father’s cold case and the battered woman’s storyline. I wasn’t a fan of Halona giving Tony advice about how to win his wife BACK. I mean, he beat his wife and a puppy. I also didn’t like how the cold case ended up. It left me with more questions, which drove me nuts.

The end of Snowfall of Cedar Trail was cute but seemed a little rushed. I couldn’t figure out who the next book will be about.

I would give Snowfall on Cedar Trail an Adult rating. There is sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Snowfall on Cedar Trail. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Small-Town Secrets (Door County: Book 1) by Margaret Watson

Small-Town Secrets (Door County Book 1) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of Publication: October 7th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Series: Door Country

Small-Town Secrets—Book 1

Small-Town Family—Book 2

Where you can find Small-Town Secrets: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Although she doesn’t realize it, Kendall is drowning in secrets. About her husband Carter, who died in a car crash. About Gabe, who was driving the night Carter died. About her brother George’s girlfriend. Gabe’s return to Sturgeon Falls brings the secrets bubbling to the surface.

Since Carter’s death, Kendall’s been too busy running a B&B, managing a cherry orchard and raising two girls to think about Gabe. But when he shows up at her B&B, memories come rushing back – including the crush she’d had on him.

Can Kendall and Gabe face the past and find forgiveness? Or will the secrets bury them?

First Line:

He’d thought he was ready for this.

Small-Town Secrets by Margaret Watson

My Review:

I needed to read Small-Town Secrets. Not only because it is a romance but because I needed to read a book that had a simple plot. I needed a book where I didn’t have to keep intricate notes. I got that in Small-Town Secrets.

Small-Town Secrets is a book about reconciling the past with the present. It also shows what the power of forgiveness does. I liked that it showed that what is shown to the public isn’t what goes on in private.

There are one main storyline and two prominent secondary storylines. They were all well written. The pacing of the storylines seesawed between slow and medium. I didn’t mind that. Considering what Gabe and Kendall were working through, it was needed. The secondary plotlines were woven into that plotline with skill.

I liked Kendall, and I sympathized with her. She was a single mother raising two girls and running two businesses (a B&B and an orchard). I did think that she was harsh on Gabe at the beginning of the book. But, considering what happened, I would have been the same way. I felt she took Amy’s secret well and handled the fall out gracefully. I don’t know if I would have been as understanding (or kind) as she was.

Gabe was terrific in Small-Town Secrets. He straightened his life out after the car accident. Gabe didn’t hide his feelings for Kendall and did his best to protect her. From the intruder to the mysterious guest, he was there for her. Gabe did have secrets, but he didn’t come back to disturb lives. He came back to honor Carter and reconnect with Kendall.

Amy’s secret was a doozy. When it was revealed (early in the book), I was surprised. What I wasn’t expecting was George’s reaction and what he said to Amy. I was stunned by his response. “Holy crap, son, calm down,” went through my mind. I did think that Kendall dealt well with Amy’s secret. I mean, what else could she do?

The romance between Kendall and Gabe seemed to happen overnight. I do want to point out that it wasn’t Instalove, though. The feelings that Kendall and Gabe had for each other had been simmering for years. All that simmering came to a boiling point and exploded.

The end of Small-Town Secrets was satisfying. I liked how Kendall and Gabe’s storyline ended. I was “eh” about Amy’s storyline. George rubbed me the wrong way. The author did leave another storyline (the one with the guest) open. I am curious to see what that goes.

I would give Small-Town Secrets an Adult rating. There is sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Small-Town Secrets. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**