The Orphan of Cemetery Hill - My reflection

The Orphan of Cemetery Hill by Hester Fox

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

We are introduced to Tabby as a child in Boston Massachusetts. In the 1800s. She and her sister have escaped their aunt and uncle for fear of performing works of spiritualism.

They were using her gift to make them money. 

It must have been awful for her to be taken advantage of like a slave while being made fun of. So to protect Tabby, Alice leaves her on the steps of a church to go find help and doesn't come back. I don't know what she was hoping to find. They were in danger of men like Mr. Whitby who were hunting them. Mr. Whitby knew they had the gift and it's what he wanted them for. Science. It happened that they caught the wrong girl. It was Tabby they wanted. Anyway, Tabby never tells anyone about her gift, and lives in a cemetery, with the caretaker of the graveyard Eli, and meets a young boy whose name is Caleb.

Caleb inherits his father's shipping business but he was a cruel and abusive father and Caleb didn't want any of it. He was always interested in architect and design. He dreams of having his name on a plaque for such architect masterpieces as seen in London. 

He meets Tabby in the Cemetery and is pulled by a strong attraction that would carry them both through the tough times and the dark ones. It was a budding romance and I'm here for it. Caleb was to marry Rose Hammond however, but she was found dead and made to look like Caleb was the chief suspect. The real perpetrator walked Scott free and that is the injustice of it. Highly intelligent, Harvard educated and wealthy men aka the resurrection men, were the bulwarks of a mad and evil society, the likes of which Tabby dares to confront and accuse of the murder of Rose Hammond.

Tabby believed Caleb was innocent because she spoke to the spirit of Rose that told her who killed her so there's that. Since then she's been trying to save his ass but every time he runs away. He flees to London on a boat from Boston and accidentally finds a portrait in a window of someone who looks just like Tabby. It was her sister Alice! 

I was elated at the news that Caleb would meet her. After seeing a portrait in a pawn shop window he was off in search of her and that leads him to Edinburgh. He gets a job after being robbed and beaten of all his pocket change. I liked Caleb for many reasons but mostly because he was not a drinker and he loved to draw. He did have a bad habit of gambling though. If it weren't that Tabby was in trouble and needed him, I am sure he would have stayed in Edinburgh in his dream job of being an architect. Just before he sailed back to Boston with Alice, his boss offered him a promotion. I like to think he goes back someday because the book didn't tie up that thread I can only imagine the HEA for Caleb and Tabby.

Lair Of Dreams (The Diviners #2)

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A novel that took me way too long to finish and that I had to renew from the library 4 times. I had planned on taking my time with it, but as November came and went I was more interested in reading Novellas and Christmas romance.

This story has many threads. A new character was introduced. Ling Chan is a dream walker. Henry DuBois teams up with Ling and dreams a few dreams together. In their dreams we meet Wai-Mae and Louis, Henry's gay boyfriend.

Evie and Sam mimic a couple in love. Evie has furthered her Diviner career and has gone public with her radio show. She is known as the sweetheart seer. Sam is on a mission to find his mother who he thinks is in trouble. She is.

Theta and Memphis are romantically involved but neither of them knows they are Diviners. Henry is still Theta's best friend but he loses his job as a piano player and desires his boyfriend Louis so much that he spends more time in the dream world. Louis is dead though.

Mabel and Jericho work together at the museum while Will, Evie's uncle, is somewhere else entirely and is still a mystery to me.

Some joker fellows are keeping watch over Sam Lloyd. They are probably involved with project buffalo(?)

Lair of Dreams involves scary ghosties and supernatural events.

If I'm forgetting a few names and places it's probably because they aren't the focus

Audiobook Published August 25th, 2015 by Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Narrated by January LaVoy 👍👌💓

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O'Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. Now that the world knows of her ability to "read" objects, and therefore, read the past, she has become a media darling, earning the title, "America's Sweetheart Seer." But not everyone is so accepting of the Diviners' abilities... Meanwhile, mysterious deaths have been turning up in the city, victims of an unknown sleeping sickness. Can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld and catch a killer?

Novella November - Shadows (Lux #0.5)

Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
Narrated by Justine Eyre
4 hours
Scribd

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are . . . well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable. Bethany can't deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren't a complication she wants, she can't stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she's drawn in. Captivated. Lured. Loved. Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence . . . and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can't stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I can't help hearing Young love by the Judds in my head. The story revolves around Dawson and Bethany. The new girl in school finds out she is surrounded by Luxen when Dawson accidentally lights up the bedroom appearing in his true form after having kissed Bethany. What choice does he have but to entrust her with the truth of who he was? When they are attacked by Arum, Dawson and Bethany disappear and are presumed dead. It ends on that cliffhanger.

Urban Faery: A (well-written) Modern Fantasy:

Urban Faery: A Modern Fantasy by Angela Savidge

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, that was nothing short of amazing! From the start, my eyes were drawn into an artist's impression of a god amidst the mother of the sea Gwenhwyfar (ya, that's just the Welsh spelling for Guinevere) but of some guy coming up out of the ocean, riding the waves on his surfboard in the middle of the night. He appears on Earth yet was from another world. A Night Owl was watching over him that had to do with some fairy tale about the Elders waiting for the right time to intervene in the world and make humans aware of the Fae creation, again. That surfer dude Luc was going to be the bridge. It was so good.

Just as it was apparent that Luc was harmless, guileless and good. His grandfather Madoc was a Dark Fae, not so good. His grandfather hates humankind for destroying the Earth. Anyway, I'm not going to go into detail of how Luc meets Cate but she was sort of on the path and destined for the encounter and again paranormal romances are still the ones I love. It's a love story.

Anyone who has ever lived in California and is from there would probably be thrilled for this book. Numerous places and areas are surrounding California that is referred to and to the Trump administration and the Malibu fires. Heck, Urban Faery A Modern Fantasy is the bee's knees, although the bees are gone and dying :P Ravens are a bad omen in this fantasy yet a Raven is Luc's spirit animal. It's complicated but exciting. The story is well-written with beautiful prose like a garden of flowers in bloom with rhododendrons :)

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Goodreads Summary:

Los Angeles, 2018 Cate has grown disillusioned with the realities of Hollywood and a deep sense of meaninglessness has been looming over her lately. Desperate to reconnect with the natural world, she wades into the ocean at one of Malibu’s most notorious surf breaks but is unaware that a powerful swell has moved in putting her in the direct path of danger. When Cate is rescued by a mysterious surfer named Luc, an alluring Welsh renegade and a modern-day descendant of the ancient Fae race, she is propelled into a new era of self-discovery and a total re-evaluation of the world around her. A metaphysical journey through the history and magic of Los Angeles and a shining example of visionary fiction, Urban Faery: A Modern Fantasy embraces universal wisdom and ecological consciousness and makes it relevant to the twenty-first century. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, Fae romance or New Age Fiction, this book is a must-read!

About the Author

Website

ANGELA SAVIDGE was born on an American military base in Germany and raised in rural North Carolina. She moved to New York City in her early twenties and has lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade where her debut novella, Urban Faery: A Modern Fantasy, was originally conceived as a pilot for a television series. Angela is a dreamer and writer with an insatiable urge to travel the world in search of all things magical. Currently, she is working on a series of Urban Faery-inspired photo shoots in which she will be transforming herself into a magical raven. In October 2019, Angela will be based in Cardiff, Wales where she will be completing research for book two of the Urban Faery series set to be released in February 2020.

Beast by Nick Clausen

Beast by Nick Clausen

A Werewolf Story

The small town of Muttville is haunted at night by a series of vicious murders.
Connor lives with his unstable mom and his best friend, a giant wolfdog named Hunter, who's unusually intelligent. Hunter is also very calm and very protective of Connor. But he starts to sense a darker side to his friend, and everyone in town begins to suspect Hunter, as the murder count rises every night. Oddly, all of the victims seem to be people who somehow crossed Connor.
And as the bloody traces start to lead back to Hunter, it draws the attention of the police. Soon Connor faces losing his best friend. But will Hunter let that happen?

This boy Connor has a wolf-dog named Hunter. She is loyal to a fault when it comes to her owner. Nobody knows who is murdering people in their town until one day the police come knocking on Connor's door. They think Hunter's the culprit but Nah. They are wrong.
Okay so I am kind of wondering does Connor seriously not know whodunnit? or is he just acting like he doesn't know? At any rate, this boy has some serious aggression issues (shiver me timbers) and his mother had better stop smoking before she kills Connor! Ugh!
Omg!

Cover Art by Peter @ pncreate.com

Can I just say these covers are fantastic!? Also, this short e-book is FREE.

Click on the image below to get 2 books for FREE!

About the Author

Nick Clausen lives in Denmark. He has been writing since the age of 18. He made a promise to type 1,000 words a day until his first book was published and has kept that promise 18 months and 13 manuscripts later. He has written and published +25 books and has lived as a full-time writer since 2017. Has started to translate his books into English in 2019. He prefers horror, suspense and sci-fi. He likes dogs more than cats.

Goodreads | Website

Novella November Review: Last Christmas

Last Christmas by Talli Roland

A novella 

Kindle Edition 56 pages
Published October 28th, 2013 by Notting Hill Press
Free on Amazon.ca Kindle Unlimited
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A cute and sweet story about a rejected marriage proposal and an occasion to forgive.

Lucy proposes to her longtime boyfriend Robert, while in Paris on vacation and was rejected. One year later, she is still struggling to put together the pieces of her broken heart.

On a walk in the park one evening, Lucy runs into Robert and his new girlfriend Greta. She learns of their plan to be married at Christmas in a matter of weeks. Well, in spite of herself she decides if she is going to put the past behind her she needs to throw the best and brightest holiday party ever. In order to pay for a venue, she decides to pawn a watch she bought when she proposed to Robert and visits a local pawn shop. There she meets James. Now that he is in Lucy's contacts, Mimi sends out invitations to the party, inviting him to her party along with everyone else on her phone.
Allow me to just say I'm all about taking risks and Lucy takes a chance on James and risks getting hurt again but it all works out. Sometimes in order to heal, we must learn to forgive. Even though Lucy was indirectly pushed into the position of forgiving her ex, she benefitted from forgiving him when the peace and weight are lifted off her shoulders, by allowing her ex's marriage reception to be conducted at her party.

About the Author

Talli Roland writes fun, romantic fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine).
Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories--complete with happy endings. Talli's debut novel The Hating Game was short-listed for Best Romantic Read at the UK's Festival of Romance, while her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as an Amazon Customer Favourite. Her novels have also been chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites and have been bestsellers in Britain and the United States.

Kill The Queen - My Review

Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep

I received an e-arc copy thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins!

To be released: October 2, 2018
Series: A Crown of Shards Novel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy

Goodreads Summary 

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance. In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten. But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre. Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move. But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen. 

I enjoyed reading about Lady Everleighs experience at Seven Spire palace and her growth as a character with Serilda Swanson's troupe of gladiators. It was quite formidable how much she changed, and I couldn't put the book down. She loved people in general and fought hard to save her country because she was the Winter Queen. Her friendship with Paloma had me in tears. It was so kind and genuine. She learned how to fight from always getting knocked down and beaten, to winning death matches, gladiator fashion, with a sword dagger and shield in an arena! You go, girl! Baking and Dancing were tasks she thought were useless but proved to be critical and useful for saving her life.

Lady Everleigh was good at playing the long game with the opponent.

Crown Princess Vasilia is the daughter of Cordelia, the Queen of Seven Spire and the kingdom of Bellona.
Vasilia is a powerful Magier with a black heart.
When her mother Cordelia invites noble guests from Andvardia to negotiate peace, Vasilia massacres the lot of them and kills her mother and injures Everleigh. Everleigh has magic but keeps it a secret. She is immune to magic and can smell it a mile away. Everleigh gets thrown out of the palace when blasted by Vasilia's lightning and falls into the river below.

Before Cordelia dies, she makes Evie promise to save Bellona. Everleigh is a Blair and the only living true heir to sit on the throne and therefore must defeat Vasilia before she spreads her vicious and evil attacks and dooms Bellona for good.
Cordelia also tells her to find Serilda Swanson for protection. Now the adventure begins, and she travels with the troupe of friends and gladiators to some distant land risking life and limb in perilous snow storms only to be captured and made to dance the Tanzen Freund of some sort. Lol, that was a little silly, but it all made for a fun read. I enjoyed it.

Kindle Amazon | The Book Depository

About the author

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. In addition to Kill the Queen, Jennifer is also the author of the Elemental Assassin, Mythos Academy, Black Blade, and Bigtime series.

Website: https://www.jenniferestep.com

Review: Snared by Jennifer Estep

Snared (Elemental Assassin #16) 

Author: Jennifer Estep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Buy on Amazon

Publisher's Summary

Another week, another few clues trickling in about the Circle, the mysterious group that supposedly runs the city’s underworld. Gathering intel on my hidden enemies is a painstaking process, but a more immediate mystery has popped up on my radar: a missing girl. My search for the girl begins on the mean streets of Ashland, but with all the killers and crooks in this city, I’m not holding out much hope that she’s still alive. A series of clues leads me down an increasingly dark, dangerous path, and I realize that the missing girl is really just the first thread in this web of evil. As an assassin, I’m used to facing down the worst of the worst, but nothing prepares me for this new, terrifying enemy—one who strikes from the shadows and is determined to make me the next victim.

Gin takes Finn with her on a mission to spy on a member of Ashland secret society (the Circle) Damian Rivera, hoping to get information about the people who had killed her family.
Gin has certainly become obsessed in her quest to learn the truth about who killed her mother and sister and to make them pay for their crimes.
" In a way, I supposed that I was just like Porter, forever dwelling on the past, obsessed with it even, and still SNARED in all the consequences of so many people's dark deeds, including my own."
When one thing leads to another; like investigating a girl who has gone missing. I have to say Gin makes a fantastic Sherlock Holmes detective in this one. Bravo Gin!

Review: Blood Fury

Blood Fury by J.R. Ward

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Narrated by: Jim Frangione
Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
Audiobook

Publisher's Summary 

In this sexy paranormal romance novel set in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, number-one New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward tells the story of two couples - both fighting to find love in the midst of the war with the Lessening Society. A vampire aristocrat, Peyton is well aware of his duty to his bloodline: mate with an appropriate female of his class and carry on his family's traditions. And he thought he'd found his perfect match - until she fell in love with someone else. Yet when his split-second decision in a battle with the enemy endangers the life of another trainee, Peyton has to face the idea that his future, and his heart, actually lie with another. Novo, as a female in the Black Dagger Brotherhood's training program, feels like she has to prove herself to everybody - and she has no interest in being distracted by falling in love. But when Peyton proves to be so much more than a rich playboy, she is forced to confront the tragedy that has broken her soul and closed her off from love. As the two grapple with Novo's past and Peyton's present, another couple must contend with an erotic connection that is unparalleled - and potentially scandalous. Saxton, who has had his heart broken, discovers in himself a deep-seated attraction to Ruhn, a new member of the household. But will the other male explore the connection? Or will he close his mind and his heart to what could be true love...and cost Saxton everything?

I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood clan of vampires with their muscled bodies and their equivalent male egos. I love the mansion on top of a mountain in all its glory and the Doggen who take their duties and responsibilities of cleaning up after the brothers and their families seriously.

In the Legacy series, we often spend a good portion of time inside the training facility where we get a glimpse of our favourite brothers as Trainers to the second generation of fighters who are learning to fight. Seeing them again brings back so many memories of what they each went through to get to where they are now. Except for Ruhn, Bitty's Uncle works out a lot because there is nothing better to do.

Peyton and Novo have one thing in common; they hate their families. Peyton is still struggling over the loss of Paradise while Novo has her losses to deal with. Her ex is marrying her sister, and she grieves the loss of her unborn child. While on a mission Novo gets severely injured and it is partly her fault, but Peyton blames it on himself for interfering in Paradise's tactics. Paradise was trying to keep Novo safe.

Saxton doesn't like being single, and Ruhn doesn't want to feel useless and contemplates leaving Bitty and the mansion.

Ruhn is offered a job to protect Saxton while he is sent to investigate a property dispute on Mistress Miniahna's estate. Minnie's Shellan Rhysland died two years ago, and according to the humans, they see her as 'a squatter.' Anyway, the humans are trespassing and causing problems for her because they don't know she's a vampire and to keep her little secret she is supposed to pretend to sell her house every 20 years because the records show her as a single owner since 1821. Saxton needs to work on a paper trail. Anyway, Ruhn and Saxton develop an attraction for one another, and it is so funny! Together they make a great team.

It would seem J.R. Ward does not like to kill off her characters as readily as G.R.R. Martin does. Lol In Blood Fury it is a much happier outcome when the characters survive. :)

What couple did you favour the most? Ruhn & Saxton OR Peyton & Novo?

Ruhn and Saxton! <3!

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Review: High Voltage

High Voltage by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Narrated by Jim Frangione and Amanda Leigh Cobb 👌👍

Publisher's Summary

Immortal Faerie and ancient feuds, secrets and sacrifices - a thrilling new chapter in the bestselling Fever series begins, featuring Dani, Ryodan, and other beloved characters, as they battle to save Dublin from the rising of a terrifying evil determined to enslave the human race.
There is no action without consequence. Dani O'Malley was nine years old when the delusional, sadistic Rowena transformed her into a ruthless killer. Years later, Dani is tough and hardened, yet achingly vulnerable and fiercely compassionate, living alone by her own exacting code. Despite the scars on her body, and driven by deeper ones carved into her soul, no one is more committed to protecting Dublin. By day she ensures the safety of those she rescues, by night she hunts evil, dispensing justice swiftly and without mercy, determined to give to those she cares for the peace she has never known. There is no power without price. When the Faerie Queen used the dangerously powerful Song of Making to heal the world from the damage done by the Hoar Frost King, catastrophic magic seeped deep into the earth, giving rise to horrifying, unforeseen consequences - and now deadly enemies plot in the darkness, preparing to enslave the human race and unleash an ancient reign of Hell on Earth. There is no future without sacrifice. With the lethal, immortal Ryodan at her side, armed with the epic Sword of Light, Dani once again battles to save the world, but her past comes back to haunt her with a vengeance, demanding an unspeakable price for the power she needs to save the human race. And no one - not even Ryodan, who would move the very stars for her - can save her this time.

3,141 years ago a shooting star fell from the sky and headed straight towards Ryodan who stood on the beach. He expected to die but it missed him by a few feet lol. When he drew near to it he found it was searing hot but turned it over and saw 3 words etched on it: I'M OKAY I'M
I didn't like NOT knowing what the heck it meant and it isn't until the very end that we understood what those obfuscated words were about. So Good!
The next chapter isn't any different. When Dani is in the cemetery she is bewildered when she sees a bunch of shadowy black things coming out of the ground.
I love a happily ever after and High Voltage is one of them. I love that Karen Marie Moning knows how to write an amazing paranormal romance story. The love between Ryodan and Dani and Barron's and Mac is so beautiful.
Oh and Shazam, the Hel-cat is a mystery also. I'd hated Shazam until I learnt who it really was then I LOVED IT ALL!
I also wish I had a T-shirt like Dancers that says: HOLY SHIFT, LOOK AT THE ASYMPTOTE ON THAT MOTHERFUNCTION!

Dani notices the veins in her arms are turning black and is deadly to the touch. She marvels about how she is a weapon but when one of her sister sidhe-seers is killed accidentally, she finds it hard to accept. That is just a taste of what is inside the pages of High Voltage. It was fun and I enjoyed reading and listening to this book because I missed the Dani I loved so much from Iced but not the Jada. I know Ryodan did as well. He calls her Stardust. How lovely it is to call her that!
I love the Hunters too!
We got enemies. Papa Roach aka Gustaine is back who hasn't changed. Balor the Soulstealer, don't know much about, and a new one. AOZ pronounced Ahhhhs. He is an Old Earth god who casts a spell on Dani by tricking her, the little rat.
Inspector Jayne is back. He used to be the head of the old Garda, Dublin's police force but now is a Fae. Christian makes an appearance as well. *sigh. I love him. Both were once human now turned Unseelie.
I should mention Kat the favourite of the sidhe-seers is back with her child Rae. Sean O'Bannion her husband is still lost. Oh! and Lor! I almost forgot :)

Madonna's Brother Lives To Tell

Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love reading a good autobiography once in awhile, and Madonna has always intrigued me. I listened to her music growing up, and whenever I hear her early songs, it brings back feels and memories for me. For example: Like a Virgin, Holiday, Live to Tell. I must admit I do love her. Always have. I never knew her brother, so reading from his point of view is new and exciting I think.

It took awhile to finish this biography autobiography telling of Madonna from her brother's perspective. I felt sorry for him most of the time because I know how sisters can be. It mustn't have been that easy for Christopher Ciccone to be controlled by a control freak. I'm not sure if Madonna would be in a better position if it weren't for her brother. It sounds like Madonna very much used him and then abused him which lead to him writing this book as part of his therapy which Madonna paid for nonetheless.
I liked the family pictures and other photo references of Madonna's life and his.
I never knew Madonna had a brother who traveled and worked for her on tours nor had I known he was gay. I do remember how most of her dancers were gay yadda yada. Everyone knows, but her brother managed to keep aloof somehow at least he managed to stay unpopular which is sad in a way.

A 2017 New Release ~ Shadow's Seduction

Shadow's Seduction (Immortals After Dark, #17; The Dacians, #2) by Kresley Cole

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Paperback, 248 pages

Shadow's Seduction is about two male creatures of the Lore: A Vampire of Dacia and the other, a Demon of Abbadon. Mirceo is the spoilt rich Vampire who desires Caspion the tracker. We know Caspion from Shadow's Claim. Inevitably they kiss and sparks ensue from that point.
Shadow's Seduction is shorter in length than any other book in the Immortals After Dark series. There isn't much to the story other than the sex but I was happy that Lothaire, Trehan and Bettina made an appearance.

Buy on Amazon 

Goodreads Synopsis: 

In this scorching Immortals After Dark/Dacian novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole brings together a wicked vampire prince used to getting everything he desires and a demon warrior who always felt like an outcast. 
A NIGHT OF DEBAUCHERY . . . 
Prince Mirceo Daciano and his new friend, Caspion the Tracker, comb the streets of Dacia, drunkenly seeking out pleasures of the flesh. In what should have been a typical night, they coax a bevy of nymphs to bed. To impress their females, the demon and the vampire kiss on a dare. 
CHANGES THEM FOREVER . . . 
Once they finally break away from their soul-searing kiss, they find themselves alone--and shaken. Had they imagined their explosive chemistry? Obstacles--ranging from a death sentence to exile in a war-torn dimension--threaten to destroy their lives . . . and the vulnerable promise in that one kiss. 
HOW LONG CAN THEY RESIST THE FIRE THAT BLAZES BETWEEN THEM? 
Even if Mirceo accepts Caspion as his fated mate, the seductive vampire still must convince the stubborn demon that their bond is forever. And any royal Dacian union must receive the blessing of King Lothaire, an unpredictable and savage killer. . . .

Review: Blood Vow

Blood Vow by J.R. Ward

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Borrowed Hardback from the Library
Purchased audiobook on Audible

I thought Blood Vow was nothing short of amazing. I had the warm fuzzies cozying up with the Brotherhood and their Shellans around a big Christmas Tree with presents underneath it, and Lassiter stuck in the chimney LoL. What a hoot that angel is!

Blood Vow speaks of blood relations and the bonds of love. When Rhage and Mary file to adopt a little orphan girl named Bitty, by law, they need to make sure any claim from her blood relatives won't stand in their way. In the two months, it takes them to find Bitty's Uncle Rhun, Rhage and Mary fall in love with the girl and are only heartbroken and saddened when the time comes to let her go. Only, fate would have none of that.

When Axe is introduced to Elise, their animal attractions are not to be denied. I was waiting for the word 'Mine' to happen, but their bonding, unfortunately, doesn't occur in the usual way.

"This was the marking she had heard about. This was the owning of the female by the male, the staking of the claim. And sure enough, he held her in place at the throat with his teeth as he marked her from the inside out by coming into her sex. "

-pg. 355
What I found perfect and hilarious is when Axe takes the job of being Elise's bodyguard! Oh, snap! Suffice it to say their attraction is a big fat distraction for Axe.

"Personally, I think my attraction works for us, I mean, you. It increases my protective nature and will make me more lethal. ...So, yeah, anyone tries to so much as brush the ends of your hair with their elbow, and I will kill them four times over before I light their corpse on fire."
"Well, isn't that something to put on a Valentine's Day card."

- pg 123
Every time he was near Elise he got a hard on. It seemed like the old trope of 'needing protection from him' would come into play but lucky for me it wasn't that bad because of how Elise handled things. She was a psych student after all. He majored in being fucked up and made some wrong choices in life, but his painful past makes him want to be good for someone like Elise. He also saves a life of a Brother which merits some respect.

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Review: Bitter Bite

Bitter Bite by Jennifer Estep

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Amazon |The book depository

Bitter Bite has an ice magic flare to it and lots of expensive bling if you care about that sort of thing.

The story starts and ends in a cemetery. Gin Blanco has her suspicions about Finn's mother being alive. And she was right. Gin discovers Deirdre Shaw's coffin is empty. When two dwarves interfere with Gin's business, they end up dead. So Gin buries them in the empty grave she just dug up. Good riddance.

Anyhow, Bitter Bite was a hoot, even though the real action doesn't start until page 283. Gin teams up with her sister Bria to stop a bank heist. The bad guys, Deirdre and Santos, are holding Finn hostage to get inside the First Trusts bank vault. The very bank in which Finn works! Deirdre leads Finn to believe she cares for him against Gin's better judgment- but Deirdre is only using Finn as her tool, the same way she used Fletcher.

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Review: Four: A Divergent Collection

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

Aaron Stanford - Narrator👍
Duration: 06:33:12
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I feel like I've struck gold!  I was able to get the audiobook collection at my library. I'd won a signed by the author hardback of Four (A Divergent Collection) by Veronica Roth awhile ago and it's been sitting on my shelf. Because I'm lazy I can now read along while I listen to it.

Book Description 

Fans of the Divergent trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by Four: A Divergent Collection, a companion volume that includes four pre-Divergent stories plus three additional scenes from Divergent, all told from Tobias's point of view. This collection also makes a great pick for fans of the blockbuster movies who want to delve deeper into the character played by Theo James. Readers first encountered Tobias as "Four" in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character's backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias's life. The first three pieces in this volume—"The Transfer," "The Initiate," and "The Son"—follow Tobias's transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first...

The Transfer
I listened to this on audio from the library
Tobias Eaton didn't want to be in Abnegation because of his father. His mother left him, and for all he knew, she was dead. The night before the choosing ceremony, he was whipped and beaten again, for having lied to his father, lies that were exaggerated by his father, Marcus. What a terrible thing to have to suffer! Tobias knew one thing: He had to get away from his father. The only faction he felt sure he could be, was Dauntless.

The Initiate
I borrowed the audiobook from the library. Tobias was immediately taken in by Dauntless. He passed all their rigorous tests and played a game of Dare. Surprising even himself that he would excel at becoming the top initiate. He made few friends but Amar, who was closer to him than anyone else, suddenly and mysteriously is found dead and blames Eric and Jeanine for Amar's death. In the fear simulation, it revealed that Tobias only had four concerns, so Amar nicknamed him Four.

The Son
Dauntless leader Max wants Four to become the new leader. Somebody is entering his apartment and leaving messages. He wants to know who. He learns it was his mother, Evelyn Eaton. She is alive and is a member of the Factionless. She fills Tobias with crazy notions and a certain paranoia that Jeanine and Eric have plans to attack Erudite but mainly that she asks her Son to join her in being Factionless. He refuses.
Four learns not to trust anyone and thinks if he becomes a new leader in Dauntless he will be just an easy pawn for Jeanine Matthews and Max to manipulate. So, he decides to become an initiation instructor and work in the computer control room.

The Traitor
Two years later, Tris Prior arrives. She is one of the new initiates. It is the beginning of when the shit hits the fan. He is a traitor to everybody, and the only other person he trusts is Tris whom he falls in love with. He keeps her secret too.

Review: HOT GUY: A Christmas Story

HOT GUY: A Christmas Story by H.M. Ward

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
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Description: 

The holiday season is supposed to be fun and filled with magic. Norman Rockwell never met my family. There's nothing but chaos at holiday meals, and I'm completely dreading it. Think pushy parents, a set of terrible twos in twin form, and a Grandma who wants to see bouncing great-grandbabies before she dies—no amount of turkey can make that situation into a good thing. Add in the recent breakup that no one knows about, then couple it with getting laid off from work, and I'm ready to walk to Mexico and Feliz Navidad myself. That's when I meet HIM—Mr. Tall and Irresistibly Beautiful. I bet he never heard the word no before in his life. After some animated banter, I decide drowning myself in Hot Guy would be way better than getting smashed alone. One thing leads to another, and I'm breathless in his arms when he walks out. Merry freaking Christmas. No early holiday package for me. I pull myself together and jump headfirst into the holiday season when I finally get some good news—a job offer at a swank coffee shop in Manhattan. The problem? It's not a building. I'll be working in a food truck in ass-cold freezing temps, dressed like a slutty Swiss Miss. Oh, and Hot Guy is there. Every day. Every night. He's the boss. I can take it if he can, assuming we don't kill each other first.

My Thoughts

Aiden Ryan is in his mid-thirties and in a position of losing his family fortune tied up in his Dad's company, Norvek. Only his dad died and his evil uncle James wants it for himself and puts Aiden through a sort of hell reducing him to nothing. I don't understand how people can think of getting away with murder. As Aiden discovers he was blackmailed for killing a bunch of individuals, who had taken a so-called "cure for cancer" pill that his Uncle James had tampered with making the formula poisonous. Woah now there is a mouthful. Aiden had created this 'cure for cancer' calling it RequimX, knowing that Aiden would be the heir to his dad's company.

Okay, so there was some unfinished business that Hot Guy now was put to the test to keep his job. It was doomed to fail because of a trifling weather forecast in New York risking not only his little Hottie Hut but every other business in the city as well.

He meets a girl named Kris, with her own set of problems that neither of them wanted anyone to know. I wouldn't call them honest with each other but whatever.
When they couldn't hide their feelings for each other is when all hell breaks loose, secrets were unveiled only to reveal their love for each other could not keep them apart for long.

I wish Hot Guy would have prevailed to tell us what came next because the story didn't seem finished to me when we learned of a marriage proposal. It had the potential of being more than a short story novella. For that, I am knocking off two stars. I feel it is important to tie up loose ends. I couldn't access Aiden's HEA link either.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

H.M. WARD New York Times bestselling author HM Ward continues to reign as the queen of independent publishing. She is swiftly approaching 13 MILLION copies sold, placing her among the literary titans. Articles pertaining to Ward's success have appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, and Forbes to name a few. This native New Yorker resides in Texas with her family, where she enjoys working on her next book. You can interact with this bestselling author at:
Twitter: @HMWard
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Website: www.hmward.com