Review: Starsight - Brandon Sanderson

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumours of his cowardice are true - he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars - and it was terrifying. What she learned turned her world upside down. Everything Spensa's been taught is a lie.

But Spensa also learned a few things about herself - and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

Cytonic Series:
Defending Elysium (Free short story)
Skyward
Starsight

Visit the Brandon Sanderson's website for more information

Review:
Starsight is the second book in Brandon Sanderson's Cytonic series and a brilliant follow up to the first book. It took everything I loved in Skyward but then ramped it up a gear and took us in a totally unexpected direction with Spensa taking on an additional role as spy as well as fighter pilot. It's hard because there is so much I want to talk about but I don't want to give even a hint of a spoiler and ruin the story for anyone so I'm deliberately going to keep this review as vague as possible but trust me, if you enjoyed Skyward you're going to love Starsight!

Spensa is such a fun character to spend time with, she's fierce and sometimes a little over-confident but events in this book push her beyond her wildest nightmares. She is so far out of her comfort zone and doesn't have the rest of her flight squad on hand to back her up so she's forced to make some new allies. I'll admit I missed a few of the old faces but M-Bot and Doomslug were on fine form and I loved some of the new characters she meets along the way too (watch out for the Kitsun who happen to be my favourites).

So much is revealed in this instalment about the Krell, about human history and about the entire universe that Spensa lives in. We find out more about her abilities which she ends up testing to the limits, and we spend time with some of the other alien species too. New allies, shock betrayals and so much action really made Starsight impossible to put down. This series is going from strength to strength and I can't wait to get my hands on the next instalment. Please don't make us wait too long Brandon Sanderson, I'm willing to beg or send bribes!

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Break the Day - Lara Adrian

Lara Adrian's New York Times and #1 international bestselling Midnight Breed vampire romance series continues with Break the Day, an adrenaline-laced, passionate new novel of paranormal adventure.

After a shocking betrayal nearly killed him and the people he cares about the most, what Breed warrior Rafe wants more than anything is revenge against the insidious brotherhood called Opus Nostrum. But to achieve that goal, he must turn his back on the Order and infiltrate a dangerous gang with ties to Opus. Risking everything to redeem himself and carry out his deep-cover mission, Rafe will let nothing stand in his way--least of all his desire for one of the loyalists he should despise, a mysterious, dark-haired beauty named Devony Winters.

But Devony has secrets of her own to protect, as well as a personal duty she will do anything to fulfill. And as a daywalker passing herself off as human to the gang she's been embedded with for months, the last thing she needs is a dangerous former member of the Order unraveling all her hard work. Her plans depend on keeping Rafe at arm's length, but if she surrenders to the dark need he stirs within her, it will be her heart that pays the ultimate price.

The Midnight Breed Series:
A Touch of Midnight (Novella included in The Midnight Breed Series Companion, now also available separately)
Kiss of Midnight
Kiss of Crimson
Midnight Awakening
Midnight Rising
Veil of Midnight
Ashes of Midnight
Shades of Midnight
Taken by Midnight
Deeper than Midnight
A Taste of Midnight (Novella)
Darker After Midnight
The Midnight Breed Series Companion
Edge of Dawn
Marked by Midnight (Novella)
Crave the Night
Tempted by Midnight (Novella)
Bound to Darkness
Stroke of Midnight (Novella)
Defy the Dawn
Midnight Untamed (Novella)
Midnight Unbound (Novella)
Midnight Unleashed (Novella)
Claimed in Shadows
Break the Day

Hunter Legacy Series:
(A series of standalone romances set in the Midnight Breed world)
Born of Darkness
Hour of Darkness
Edge of Darkness

Visit Lara Adrian's website for more information about the Midnight Breed series you will find excerpts from each of the books. Lara can also be found on Facebook & Twitter where she posts regular updates or you can join other fans to chat about the books over at the LAMB (Lara Adrian Midnight Breed) Forum

Review:
I was so excited when I found out this was Rafe's book. I love his parents (Tess and Dante from book 2 in the series, Kiss of Crimson) and I've liked what we've seen of his character in the last few books so I was curious to meet the woman who would steal his heart. Rafe is still reeling from the betrayal he suffered in the previous book and it's made him more determined than ever to help the Order bring down the Opus Nostrum terrorist group. So much that he's agreed to go undercover and he's even let his entire team believe that he was kicked out of the order and has gone over to the dark side to do it. Rafe's task is to infiltrate a group of criminals that the Order believe has ties to Opus and to try and get more information.

Rafe immediately suspects there is something off about one of the gang's members. Devony just doesn't quite fit the profile and that has nothing to do with how attractive he finds her. Devony actually has her own reasons for infiltrating the gang, she lost everything in the London attacks organised by Opus and she's going to do whatever it takes to avenge her family and stop the terrorists from destroying more lives. When secrets are revealed the two agree to work together but Rafe is still holding back and it could end up costing him everything.

Break the Day was another fab instalment in this series, lots of action and some progress made against Opus Nostrum but more than anything I loved the steamy romance between Rafe and Devony. I also really like that we now have female breed members too and I love that Devony is a Daywalker like Caris and Aric. Devony never had any formal training so it was a little hard to believe she'd managed to infiltrate the criminal group but she did have a lot of her father's old notes and she's obviously really smart so I was able to push that to one side easily. I enjoyed seeing her work together alongside Rafe and I think she's going to be quite an asset to the Order in the future. The fight is definitely hotting up and I'm looking forward to seeing Opus Nostrum destroyed once and for all.

Source: I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet - Darynda Jones

Welcome to the world of grim reaper extraordinaire Charley Davidson. Try as she might, there’s no avoiding her destiny.

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley's last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep, convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to pull herself together.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley's life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment and the devil in blue jeans in this hilarious fourth instalment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Charley Davidson Series:
First Grave on the Right
For I Have Sinned (Novella)
Second Grave on the Left
Third Grave Dead Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past the Light
Shimmer (Free Short Story)
Glow (Free Short Story)
Sixth Grave on the Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body
Eighth Grave After Dark
Brighter Than the Sun (Novella)
The Dirt on the Ninth Grave
The Curse of Tenth Grave
A Very Charley Christmas (Free Short Story)
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
The Trouble with Twelfth Grave
Summoned to Thirteenth Grave

The Graveyard Shift (Novella)

Visit Darynda Jones' website for more information

Review:
We get to see a very different side to Charley in this book, it's been several months since she was tortured so physically she's fully recovered but emotionally not so much. She's avoiding all her friends and family, hasn't left her apartment in weeks and has a scary new addiction to the shopping channels that has wiped out pretty much all of her savings. Cookie and Gemma have both been doing their best to get through to her but she has a long way to go before she's back to her normal self.

She's not really interested in taking any PI work but a girl can't eat if she doesn't pay the bills so it's time to accept a new job. Her latest case involves a woman who is convinced someone is trying to kill her and is desperate for help and tracking down a would be murderer might just be enough to pull Charley out of the hole she's fallen into.

I've always liked Charley, I appreciate that she's usually so willing to put herself in danger to protect the people she cares about and I'm enjoying learning about her grim reaper abilities but it was really interesting to see a more vulnerable side to her in this book. She's had to deal with so much recently that it was bound to take a toll on her and it was hard to see her feeling so lost and alone. She has a great support system thanks to her best friend Cookie and I'm glad that she's starting to build a relationship with her sister now too. I'm still not happy with her dad though, he's done so much to hurt her that he's got a lot of making up to do before I'll forgive him.

Reyes is out of prison but he's keeping his distance and isn't exactly on speaking terms with Charley. Things are really complicated between them and we're only starting to uncover some of his secrets but I can't wait to dig a little deeper. He does do some very questionable things but he seems to have Charley's best interests at heart and he is doing his best to protect her. I love the interactions we get between the two of them and that we start seeing some depth to their relationship here, the attraction has been there from the beginning but Reyes has been hiding so much for such a long time that it's about time he started opening up a bit.

I'm really enjoying this series and looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: The Rebels of Gold - Elise Kova

A new rebellion rises from the still-smoldering remnants of the five guilds of Loom to stand against Dragon tyranny. Meanwhile, on Nova, those same Dragons fight amongst themselves, as age-old power struggles shift the political landscape in fateful and unexpected ways. Unlikely leaders vie for the opportunity to shape a new world order from the perfect clockwork designs of one temperamental engineer.

This is the final installment of USA Today bestselling author Elise Kova's Loom Saga, THE REBELS OF GOLD will reveal the fate of Loom's brilliantly contrasting world and its beloved inhabitants.

Loom Saga:
The Alchemists of Loom
The Dragons of Nova
The Rebels of Gold

Visit Elise Kova's website for more information

Review:
Down on Loom the guilds may have been almost destroyed but those who remain haven't given up on their rebellion, in fact they're now even more determined to get their revenge. Ari and Florence are in the thick of things trying to create a new weapon that will be strong enough to defeat the dragons but they're battling a powerful enemy and they've already seen first hand the price of failure.

Meanwhile, back on Nova Cvareh is trying to hold his family together after the death of his sister, he never wanted to be their leader but now he doesn't have a choice. All he can really focus on is avenging his sister and bringing down the dragon king once and for all but that's going to mean working alongside what's left of the guild and most of the dragons are really unhappy about that. Working with Loom was never an option before but sometimes it really is a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Its always sad to read the last book in a series you've really enjoyed but I think Elise Kova did a great job of wrapping up the Loom Saga in The Rebels of Gold. She created such a wonderful and unique world here and I really have had fun exploring it and getting to know the characters. I've loved how diverse the series has been and that continues here adding in an f/f romance to all the wonderful things that have come before.

As usual the story is told from multiple points of view so we get to spend time with Ari, Cvareh and Florence which really works from a world building point of view. I have to admit I didn't like Florence as much in this book as I had in the previous two, she had a few moments to shine but for some reason I didn't feel as connected with her this time around. I did enjoy her romance but I think she just took a little too much of the page time and didn't leave quite enough room for Ari and Cvareh. As always I loved both of those two, I was sad we didn't get to see them spending more time together but the moments we did get were worth waiting for.

Overall I thought the Loom Saga was a really enjoyable series and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Elise Kova in the future.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Year One - Nora Roberts

As this world ends, a new one begins.

From number one New York Times bestseller Nora Roberts - an epic, apocalyptic tale of good and evil, love and loss.

With one drop of blood, the old world is gone for ever. And in its place, something extraordinary begins...

They call it The Doom - a deadly pandemic that starts on a cold New Year's Eve in the Scottish countryside. There's something mysterious about the virus and the way it spreads. As billions fall sick and die, some survivors find themselves invested with strange, unexpected abilities.

Lana, a New York chef, has the power to move things and people with her will. Fred can summon light in the darkness. Jonah, a paramedic, sees snatches of the future in those he touches. Katie gives birth to twins, and suspects that she has brought fresh magic into the world, along with new life.

But The Doom affects people differently. Along with the light, a dark and terrifying magic will also rise. As the remaining authorities round up the immune and the 'Uncannies' for testing, Lana, Katie and others flee New York in search of a safe haven. The old world is over, and Year One has begun.

Chronicles of the One:
Year One
Of Blood and Bone
The Rise of Magics (2019)

Visit Nora Roberts' website for more information.

Review:
In the wake of a pandemic that has wiped out over half the human population in a matter of days, the world has quickly become a very dark and dangerous place. Survivors fall into three camps, ones who have been gifted with light magic, ones with dark magic and normal humans. Light gifts can include telekinesis, psychic abilities, perhaps you're now a faerie or even have the ability to shapeshift while the dark gifts give you similar powers but a thirst for violence that's almost demonic. Normal humans are caught between the two factions and doing what humans do best the government decides it would be a good idea to round up all the uncanny to carry out experiments on them. Year One follows a ragtag group of survivors as they band together and try to find somewhere safe to start a new life.

I love the In Death series but I have to admit it's been a while since I read anything else Nora Roberts has published. I'm a huge urban fantasy fan though and my friend Ange raved about this book so much that I just had to give it a try. Year One is very different to anything else I've read by Nora, this is a dark and devastating world where things fall apart very quickly and civilisation as we know it is completely gone, the characters are all facing life or death situations daily and struggling to survive as they band together hunting for safety. But no matter how bad things get or how slim their chances of survival is looking there are also signs of hope that there could be a better future. There are people willing to work together, ones who go out of their way to help others and ones who share what little resources they have because someone else is in desperate need.

I think one of the things Nora Roberts always excels at is creating fantastic characters and she really shows that in this book. There is a large cast of characters and they're all following different paths but I found myself rooting for nearly all of them. You have to be prepared because in a world this dark there are going to be casualties along the way and some of the deaths really surprised me but because people know just how short life can be they live it to the fullest while they can. Friendships and love are more valuable than ever and people hold on to them fiercely.

Much of this book is about the fallout from The Doom, the way society collapses and how survivors have to learn how to survive in a more basic world without the technology we've come to rely on now. A lot of time is spent gathering likeminded survivors and searching for a place they can call home but towards the end there are some huge changes that take the story in a direction I really wasn't expecting. I can't wait to see what happens next & will be diving into Of Blood and Bone as soon as I get the chance.

Source: Purchased

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Review: And Thrice Again - Seanan McGuire

December 2018 Patreon story "And Thrice Again"

This month we follow Simon Torquill, friend and family man, as he attempts to make things better for his beloved Patrick. But things are not always as easy as they seem, and sometimes the best of intentions can lead us down very dark paths...

October Daye Series:
In Little Stars (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Rosemary and Rue
A Local Habitation
An Artificial Night
Late Eclipses
Through This House (Short story in the Home Improvement: Undead Edition anthology)
One Salt Sea
In Sea-Salt Tears (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Ashes of Honor
Rat-Catcher (Free short story available on the Lightspeed Magazine website)
No Sooner Met (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Chimes at Midnight
Never Shines the Sun (Short story included in the print version of Chimes at Midnight)
Forbid the Sea (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Stage of Fools (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Voice of Lions (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Act of Hares (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Instruments of Darkness (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
With Honest Trifles (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
In Deepest Consequence (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Jealous in Honor (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Quick in Quarrel (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Winter Long
Heaps of Pearl (Free short story available on Seanan's website)
Shore to Shore (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Write in Water (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Live in Brass (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Ambitious Ocean (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
And Thrice Again (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
The Fixed Stars (Free short story available on the Baen website)
A Red-Rose Chain
Full of Briars (Short story)
Once Broken Faith
Dreams and Slumbers (Short story included in Once Broken Faith)
The Brightest Fell
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Of Things Unknown (Short story included in The Brightest Fell)
These Antique Fables (Short story available to purchase through Patreon)
Night and Silence
Suffer a Sea-Change (Short story included in Night and Silence)
The Unkindest Tide
Hope is Swift (Short story included in The Unkindest Tide)

Visit Seanan McGuire's website for more information

Review:
And Thrice Again is a short story from Simon's point of view that can be purchased from Seanan McGuire's Patreon Page. She posts a short story there every month, some standalone but a lot linked to her October Daye series, and you can receive them for as little as $1 each (there are other perks available for higher amounts but $1 is the minimum). We've had quite a few October Daye world stories now from Patrick, Dianda and Tybalt's points of view, these stories aren't essential reading but they all give us background information into some of our favourite characters and I'd highly recommend them to fans of the series.

I found it really interesting to read a story from Simon's point of view, we have very good reasons to hate his character from the main books but we've been seeing a different side to him in some of these short stories. I enjoyed seeing him with Amandine and August (way back before the main series starts) and I have to admit I've started to almost feel sorry for him. He pays a high price here for his loyalty to Patrick and Dianda and that definitely starts to show some of his actions in a different light. I'm really curious to see where Seanan McGuire is going with this, I have a feeling we're going to see a lot more of Simon in the future.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Vengeful - V.E. Schwab

A Super-powered collision of extraordinary minds and vengeful intentions - V.E. Schwab returns with the thrilling follow-up to Vicious.

Magneto and Professor X. Superman and Lex Luthor. Victor Vale and Eli Ever. Sydney and Serena Clarke. Great partnerships, now soured on the vine.

But Marcella Riggins needs no one. Flush from her brush with death, she's finally gained the control she's always sought - and will use her newfound power to bring the city of Merit to its knees. She'll do whatever it takes, collecting her own sidekicks, and leveraging the two most infamous EOs, Victor Vale and Eli Ever, against each other once more.

With Marcella's rise, new enmities create opportunity - and the stage of Merit City will once again be set for a final, terrible reckoning.

Villains Series:
Warm Up (free prequel short story can be read online here)
Vicious
Vengeful

Visit V.E. Schwab's website for more information

Review:
I absolutely loved Vicious so although the story worked well as a stand alone I was really excited when Victoria Schwab decided to revisit these characters in Vengeful. This really has been a series unlike anything else I've ever read and I still stand by my comment in my previous review that rather than being a series about anti-heroes it's more a series about characters who are varying levels of evil. There aren't really any good guys here, well apart from Sydney and Mitch that is, but since they follow everything Victor plans they aren't really innocent bystanders either.

The main events in Vengeful are set about 5 years on from the end of the previous book but it's not told in a standard linear way so the timeline jumps about from one chapter to the next, we see parts of Eli's childhood, events from Vicious from different points of view and things that have happened to all of the main players in the years we've missed. I was worried I might find it confusing, especially since we have multiple narrators too, but it was actually so cleverly written that I had no problem following the story and I was about to really appreciate how the story gradually comes together as you start linking more and more of the different threads together.

Eli has spent the last few years in prison, most of it being tortured but now in isolation helping the police with their enquiries while Victor, Sydney and Mitch have been hunting down EOs looking for answers to a problem that Victor is experiencing. New character Marcella has gone from mob wife trying to guide her husband's criminal career to vengeful woman looking for revenge and determined to take power for herself. We're introduced to a few other new characters, most of whom are looking out for themselves and never quite seem trustworthy, but you'll have to read the book for yourself to find out about all of them.

Sydney and Mitch have long been my favourite characters in this, they're the only two who are somewhat innocent, they've crossed lines at times but they would rather not choose the path of violence. Victor has pretty much gone off the deep end though, he's dealing with some major issues but that doesn't really excuse his behaviour in this book even though you can kind of understand why he's making the choices he does. I still find Eli despicable but Victoria Schwab actually managed to make me feel a little bit sorry for him, not just for his childhood but also for the treatment he was receiving in prison.

This world is just so complex and I love that all of the characters are shades of grey, nothing is simple and they've all done bad things, sometimes for good reasons but not always. I was totally rooting for Marcella when she started her bid for revenge against the person who tried to kill her but she ended up taking things far too far which made her much harder to like. It was pretty hard to root for anyone really but that's what makes it fun to read.

I have to finish this review by mentioning how gorgeous the UK hardback of Vengeful is, it matches the collectors edition of Vicious perfectly & is a great addition to my overloaded bookcase.

The foil on the naked hardback is silver this time not gold

and the end papers are just as pretty

Source: Received from Titan Books in exchange for an honest review

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Review: All Systems Red - Martha Wells

A murderous android discovers itself in All Systems Red, a tense science fiction adventure by Martha Wells that interrogates the roots of consciousness through Artificial Intelligence.

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

The Murderbot Diaries:
The Future of Work: Compulsory (Short Story)
All Systems Red
Artificial Condition
Rogue Protocol
Exit Strategy

Visit Martha Wells' website for more information

Review:
All Systems Red is the first book in Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries series and it was a brilliant introduction. Set in a universe where space travel is a regular occurrence and scientific expeditions to far flung planets are sold to the lowest bidder its fairly common for things to go wrong but on their latest mission things are about to get very difficult for our narrator, the part organic / part robot Muderbot.

All intergalactic expeditions must take along a company supplied security unit, ostensibly to protect the humans but equally used to report back any interesting scientific findings. Murderbot is the SecUnit for a team of scientists, one of two groups currently working on a previously unexplored planet. Well aware of their previous failures Murderbot can't afford to make any mistakes on this latest mission, they just need to keep their head down, get the job done and then they'll be free to spend all their time watching the entertainment feed. After a series of strange equipment malfunctions they end up completely losing contact with the other group on planet, a sure sign that something isn't right. Murderbot has to do whatever it takes to keep the humans alive but that may be easier said than done considering they have no idea who the enemy is.

This was a really fun novella to read, Murderbot is such an interesting character with a snarky sense of humour and a definite dislike of having to interact with the people they're supposed to protect. All Systems Red may be a novella but Martha Wells packs a lot in, the combination of humour and action makes this a very quick and easy read and it definitely left me wanting to see more of Murderbot and the rest of the crew.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Sinful - Katherine Hawthorne

Xander was a dream that would never be.

One catastrophic night left me orphaned at the age of seventeen. Hunted by a murderer, Xander saved me from the pits of hell, braving a fire that would have ended my life. Hiding me from a killer, he became my protector, my best friend, but never anything more.

Sin was a nightmare waiting to happen.

Six years later, a friend is murdered at the hottest nightclub in Manhattan, again thrusting me into a killer’s crosshairs. Now a detective with the NYPD, I refuse to hide, unyielding in my pursuit of justice, which has eluded me for so long. Determined to keep me safe, Sin forces me from the case. Defying him at every turn, our contentious relationship finally explodes in the most scandalous way conceivable, leaving me devastated.

I wanted them both.

Xander, sophisticated and elegant. My hero, the man who owns my heart. Sin, dominating alpha-male. My lieutenant, forbidden in so many ways. One dangerous kiss changes everything, catapulting me into a war between the two, neither of them willing to let me go. I become a pawn in their game until they join forces in a way I never saw coming. But lies and deception threaten to destroy us, leading to a betrayal that cuts so deep, I wonder if I’ll ever survive.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This book is intended for mature audiences due to explicit language and sexual content. Sinful is a menage romance that's all about the girl. There are NO M/M scenes.

Sinful Surrender Quartet:
Sinful
Sensuous

Visit Katherine Hawthorne's website for more information.

Review:
I'm torn when it comes to this book, yes that cliffhanger ending did make me really want to know what happens next but at the same time I don't really care much about any of the main characters and I had a lot of issues about the way their relationships are being handled so far.

Belle went through a traumatic experience as a teenager when her father brutally murdered her mother and then killed himself, she found their bodies and is still dealing with that emotionally. She never believed her father was the killer and she's now become a detective, assumably in the hope of investigating her parent's deaths. The two love interests are Xander, who has been a friend and protector since her parents died and Sin (aka Alex), the police lieutenant who trained her and who is still her boss.

The two men are best friends, are both aware of the other's interest in Belle and seem to have come to some arrangement between them years ago that neither will take that any further. Yet now they're both making moves at the same time, are aware the other is making moves too and don't seem to have any issue with that (this attitude and the cover lead me to believe there are threesome potentials from this series) until right near the end when they get all alpha male and possessive and pretty much want to fight each other for her. It all just seemed so stupid, especially when you realise they've both been perving over her since she was only 17 (they're both at least 10 years older) and just waiting for her to be old enough to be ready for them.

Belle herself is full of contradictions, she's ridiculously naive in some ways yet we're supposed to believe she's a fully fledged detective at just 26. It's hard to believe she could find her way out of a paper bag, let alone make detective at such a young age. There were plot holes and contradictions in the storyline which didn't help but my biggest issue was a spanking scene that was completely lacking in consent. I will NEVER understand why author's think it is sexy for a hero to spank a girl for "breaking the rules" when she isn't in a relationship with him and never agreed to any rules in the first place! I'm more than happy to read a spanking scene in a BDSM story where everyone has agreed the rules and knows exactly what they're getting into but that couldn't be further from what happened in this book.

I already have a copy of the second book in the series so I'll probably give it a try just to see how things turn out after that cliffhanger but the author is going to have some serious work to do to get me on board with Belle ending up with either of these men, let alone both of them!

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Ten Big Ones - Janet Evanovich

Not every witness protection programme is fool proof...

Stephanie Plum finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time in Ten Big Ones, the tenth gripping adventure in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. The perfect read for fans of Harlan Coben and Lee Child.

As the only witness able to ID a gang member who has been firebombing local deli-marts, Stephanie is working overtime avoiding death threats and attempts on her life. New Jersey's hottest cop, Joe Morelli, would be more than happy to keep her safe in his house. So would her irresistible mentor, Ranger.

Stephanie doesn't know which is worse: the death threats, the overprotective men in her life, or her sister's nightmare wedding. But she does know that she's never been one to hide...

Stephanie Plum Series:
One for the Money
Two for the Dough
Three to get Deadly
Four to Score
High Five
Hot Six
Seven Up
Hard Eight
Visions of Sugar Plums (Between the Numbers book 1)
To the Nines
Ten Big Ones
Eleven on Top
Twelve Sharp
Plum Lovin' (Between the Numbers book 2)
Lean Mean Thirteen
Plum Lucky (Between the Numbers book 3)
Fearless Fourteen
Plum Spooky (Between the Numbers book 4)
Finger Lickin' Fifteen
Sizzling Sixteen
Smokin' Seventeen
Explosive Eighteen
Notorious Nineteen
Takedown Twenty
Top Secret Twnty-One
Tricky Twenty-Two
Turbo Twenty-Three
Hardcore Twenty-Four

Visit Janet Evanovich's website for more information

Review:
Stephanie has done it again - she's managed to get caught in the crosshairs of a gang and has a target on her back. This time she's the only witness who can identify gang members who have been carrying out a series of bombings and they will do whatever it takes to stop her from being able to testify. When it becomes clear that they know she's been living with Morelli she decides its time to find a new home base and ends up taking residence in Ranger's bat cave, what could possibly go wrong with that?

It's weird because there are a lot of things about the Stephanie Plum series that should irritate me, the whole triangle with her, Morelli and Ranger being the biggest, but these stories are just so light hearted and entertaining that things that would bug me from other authors just make me laugh here. Stephanie desperately needs to start learning some skills for her job but watching her and Lulu stumble from one disaster to the next is hilarious, especially when Grandma Mazur decides to tag along for the ride. I also really like the dynamics in the Plum family and found the wedding planning going on in this book hilarious.

I honesty don't know how Morelli puts up with Stephanie though, she seems determined to walk away from him whenever they have even a tiny argument and then kissing Ranger behind his back is just a step too far. I totally understand the attraction to Ranger, he's a mystery man who we still know very little about (although we do see more of him in this instalment which was fantastic) but it's pretty obvious that he's not a long term prospect whereas Morelli is looking for marriage and a family. I've read the first 16 books before so I know this triangle doesn't end any time soon but I really hope things are resolved eventually.

The series is definitely doing something right though, these books are often one sitting reads because they're just so light hearted and easy to devour. Really they're perfect holiday books, something to read on the beach or by the pool when you just want something that is going to make you giggle but that you won't have to concentrate too hard on and theres absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Beneath the Citadel - Destiny Soria

In the city of Eldra, people are ruled by ancient prophecies. For centuries, the high council has stayed in power by virtue of the prophecies of the elder seers. After the last infallible prophecy came to pass, growing unrest led to murders and an eventual rebellion that raged for more than a decade.


In the present day, Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, is determined to fight back against the high council, which governs Eldra from behind the walls of the citadel. Her only allies are no-nonsense Alys, easygoing Evander, and perpetually underestimated Newt, and Cassa struggles to come to terms with the legacy of rebellion her dead parents have left her — and the fear that she may be inadequate to shoulder the burden. But by the time Cassa and her friends uncover the mystery of the final infallible prophecy, it may be too late to save the city — or themselves.

Visit Destiny Soria's website for more information

Review:
It's rare to find a stand alone fantasy in YA these days so Beneath the Citadel makes a refreshing change. As much as I love a good series it's just so nice to pick up a book and know that you're going to get a full story with no irritating cliffhanger. What you're also going to get is a story full of diverse characters, a good amount of action (it opens with the main characters imprisoned and sentenced to death!), and a really sweet slow build romance.

This is the story of five teenagers who are working together to continue a rebellion against the city council that has subjugated their people for years. This is a world where the rich hog the resources while the poor suffer daily and they use prophecies to justify their actions. Cassa is the leader of the group, her parents were rebels who died for the cause and she is determined to live up to their legacy. Then you have her ex boyfriend Evander, who has a magical talent for manipulating silver, and his sister Alys who is a diviner who can see glimpses of the future. The final member of the group (and probably my favourite) is Newt, a contortionist and escape artist who is just looking for acceptance after being raised by an abusive father. There is also Vesper, someone who used to be Cassa's best friend but who betrayed them and is the reason they were captured in the first place.

The story is told from multiple points of view but I had no problem keeping their identities separate and enjoyed getting the chance to get to know all of the characters a bit better. The world building was good but there was a lot to learn about which did slow down the pace of the story a little in the middle but, after the explosive start, and in the build up to an action packed ending, I didn't mind the slower middle. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep things interesting and the story was enjoyable throughout. I'll definitely be watching out for more from Destiny Soria in the future.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: In Bed With the Devil - Lorraine Heath

They call him the Devil Earl—a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything—even strike a bargain with the devil himself.

Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.

Scoundrels of St. James Series:
In Bed with the Devil
Between the Devil and Desire
Surrender to the Devil
Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel
The Last Wicked Scoundrel

Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James Series:
(Features children of characters from the Scoundrels of St. James series)
When the Duke Was Wicked
Once More, My Darling Rogue
The Duke and the Lady in Red
An Affair with a Notorious Heiress
Gentlemen Prefer Heiresses (Novella) (Guest review from Aly)

The Hellions of Havisham Series:
(Some crossover of characters from the Scoundrels of St. James series)
Falling into Bed with a Duke
The Earl Takes All
The Viscount and the Vixen
When the Marquess Falls (Novella)

Visit Lorraine Heath's website for more information

Review:
I'm hardly ever in the mood for historical romances but my friend Aly has been trying to get me to read Lorraine Heath's books for years now and I finally got around to picking up the first book in her Scoundrels of St. James series, In Bed With the Devil. The nagging paid off Aly because I really enjoyed this one! Anyway, on to the actual review:

Our hero Lucian has a bad reputation, so bad that he's actually known as the Devil Earl and even dancing with him could be enough to ruin a young lady's reputation. Growing up on the streets as an orphan he was raised out of poverty by the man who believed he was his long lost grandson, Lucian isn't convinced the old man was correct but what young boy would pass up the chance to get off the streets and into a proper home? In spite of being accepted into the old Earl's life as his heir Lucian didn't leave his street days completely behind him and he still has a lot of contact with his old gang even now, hence the reputation. That and the fact that people think he's a murderer.

Catherine on the other hand is a well bred young lady with a spotless reputation. She desperately needs help to rescue her best friend from an abusive husband though and who better to turn to than someone who has already committed one murder, surely he would be willing to kill again? Catherine is willing to take any risk to save her friend but she's surprised when the only thing Lucian wants is for her to teach one of his childhood friends how to act like a lady. It seems like she'll be getting off pretty lightly considering the task she's set for him but things get much more complicated when her heart gets involved.

If you think some of that sounds familiar then I'll tell you that yes, there are hints of Oliver Twist in here, that story was definitely used as a starting point but then Lorraine Heath has taken that as a starting point and created her own story from there so it's not a complete retelling. I liked both of the main characters and thought they were a good match but I did have a couple of issues that stopped this from being a 5 star read. It was great that Catherine was willing to do whatever it took to protect her friend but there were times when I felt she was a little too judgemental about it, I've seen first hand how hard it is for someone to escape from an abusive relationship and it would have been even harder in Victorian times when women were considered property.

With Lucian my issue was that he was planning to marry someone else for much of the book, he wasn't technically cheating because he wasn't in a relationship with the other woman but he loved her and planned to marry her. In fact, it took the other woman telling him that he'd fallen in love with Catherine before he even figured it out, I would have liked it more if he'd realised that for himself and told the other woman he could no longer offer her marriage.

The last couple of paragraphs have been a little bit negative but overall I still really enjoyed the story and I'm definitely planning on reading the rest of the series. I've already said I don't tend to read historical romance a lot (my go to has always been paranormal romance, fantasy & sci-fi) so I won't be devouring this series over a short period of time but I'll definitely come back to it when the mood strikes me again (or when Aly's nagging becomes unbearable LOL).

Source: Purchased

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Review: Three Trials - Kristy Cunning

So, I've checked off some life goals and added a few new ones to my list.

Goal #5: Get out of hell's belly without letting my ungrateful charges die.

Goal #6: Get a new name that's more badass.

Goal #7: Stop wasting my breath on lectures and start annoying the quad hell squad every time they annoy me. Fight fire with fire. Ha! Another hell pun.

Goal 8: Find out who the hell killed me.

I'll add more. I don't want to overwhelm myself before I even finish checking off my old goals. But seriously, I really do need a more badass name, considering how much I have to keep saving my damsels in distress.

I probably shouldn't call them damsels, since they're a little murderous and all.

Maybe I should add seeing a hell-certified psychologist to my list of goals.

**Sexual situations/content
**Reverse Harem
**Dark humor galore
**Language warning

The Dark Side Series:
Four Psychos
Thee Trials
Two Kingdoms
One Apocalypse

Visit Kristy Cunning's website for more information

Review:
Three Trials picks up Keyla's story right after the end of Four Psychos so Keyla and her men are stuck in hell and about to take part in a series of trials that they are very unlikely to survive. Luckily for the warriors they have a friendly ghost on their side and since she's appointed herself their guardian she is going to use whatever abilities she has to make sure they make it through.

I don't want to give too much away about this story but I enjoyed it even more than the first book. Keyla is still the snarky and hilarious girl we already knew and loved but I found myself liking the guys much more in this one because while they're still wary of her they do manage to treat her better than before. I like the fact that the romance is slow build in this series but things are starting to heat up a little as the guys are finding it harder and harder to resist temptation.

We get some really interesting revelations about Keyla's background here as we finally learn who she actually is and why she has such a strong connection to Kai, Jude, Ezekiel and Gage. There was also plenty of action and some really nice developments in the world building so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the story takes us next and I'll be diving into the next book very soon.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox - Forthright

Tsumiko inherits an ancestral home, a vast fortune, and a butler who isn’t exactly human.

Humanity is rocked by the Emergence of a people who call themselves the Amaranthine. They are our myths and legends come to life. Neither human nor animal, yet embracing qualities of both, the inhuman races inspire both awe and fear. Every newsfeed is clogged with updates about the peace process, but some places don’t concern themselves with worldly affairs. Like the girls’ school run by Saint Midori’s of the Heavenly Lights, where Tsumiko Hajime grew up.

A letter from a long-lost aunt names Tsumiko heiress to an ancestral estate and its accompanying fortune. Only the legacy comes with an aloof heirloom: an inhuman butler. Argent has served the Hajime family for centuries, and Tsumiko must renew the generational bond or he’ll die. Argent hates her for the hold she has over him, but he craves her soul almost as much as he craves his freedom.

Amaranthine Saga:
Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal
Tamiko and the Two Janitors (2019)

Visit Jessie Mihalik's website for more information

Review:
I first heard about Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox when Ilona Andrews recommended it on her blog and that was enough to have me immediately downloading the sample to give it a try. I've never read manga or watched anime so this style of story was quite different to my usual fare but I really enjoyed the world that Forthright has created. I still have questions that I hope will be answered in future books but I was given enough information to pull me into the story without being overwhelmed by unnecessary details.

Tsumiko is an orphan who was working as a teacher at a boarding school while her brother is studying at college. I'm not sure if she's supporting him financially but they do have a very close connection and are friends as well as siblings. Tsumiko's life is turned upside-down when she discovers she has inherited a vast estate from a distant relative, now not only does she have control of a very large fortune and own a stately home but she has also inherited the staff that work on the estate. That includes a very special bond with her new butler, Argent. An Amaranthine fox, Argent has been enslaved to Tsumiko's family for centuries and he is not happy to have a new mistress that he will be forced to serve. Tsumiko is equally horrified about the thought of enslaving another person and determined to find a way to break the bond so that Argent can have his freedom.

This story is quite a slow burn one rather than an action packed adventure but it still managed to completely hold my attention and I was fascinated by the different types of Amaranthine that we are introduced to. It was interesting to see the connection between the shapeshifting Amaranthine and the not quite fully human Reavers who tend to them. I admit the whole tending thing could come across as a little creepy at times (like the way Argent would lick Tsumiko's neck or how they had to kiss the first time they met just to solidify their bond) but there was also an innocence to the connection between them. Tsumiko herself is quite naive about the new world she finds herself in and she was a tiny bit too innocent and pure for my taste but she does have an inner strength that shines through at times and she was very caring towards the people around her which is something I always appreciate.

Argent has suffered centuries of torment at the hands of Tsumiko's family so it was understandable that he found it difficult to trust her at first but I enjoyed seeing their connection grow as he got to know her better. I think what I loved most about this book was the side characters though. I really liked Michael and Sansa, other Reavers who worked on the estate as well as the younger fox Ginko who was the gardener. The connection between Tsumiko and her brother Akira was great and I'm really curious about his roommate Suuzu. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing Forthright expand on the world they've created.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Queen's Gambit - Jessie Mihalik

When the Quint Confederacy and the Kos Empire went to war—again—Queen Samara wisely kept her Rogue Coalition out of the conflict. But staying neutral in a galactic war doesn’t pay the bills, not when both sides refuse to trade with neutral sectors.

With her people on the brink of starvation, Samara hatches a daring plan to snatch the kidnapped Kos Emperor from the Quint mercenaries holding him. The Kos Empire will pay a fortune for their emperor’s return, enough to feed the Coalition’s citizens while they wait for the return to a begrudging peace.

But when her plan goes sideways, Samara finds herself evading Quint mercenaries with the very man she intends to capture. And the more time she spends with Valentin Kos, the more she realizes that he’s not the coldly indifferent villain she imagined. Torn between duty and desire, Samara must decide if saving her people is worth giving up the one thing she’s always wanted.

Rogue Queen:
The Queen's Gambit
The Queen's Ambition

Visit Jessie Mihalik's website for more information

Review:
I first read The Queen’s Gambit when it was available on Jessie Mihalik’s blog as a free online serial and I enjoyed it enough that I purchased the final, edited version when it went on sale. The story was officially edited and expanded upon before official publication and I enjoyed the story as much, if not more, the second time around.

Samara is a great character, she’s the queen of a ragtag group of refugees and rebels who are living in the outer reaches of the solar system and just trying to get by without drawing attention of two warring factions. The war has made food and other supplies scarce and her people are struggling just to survive on very low rations. Samara has done everything she can think of to get food for her people but desperation has made her a little reckless and now she’s decided to kidnap Valentin, the new Emperor of the Kos Federation hoping to use the ransom for food and supplies. After all Valentin’s war is the reason her people are suffering in the first place so the least he can do is provide the means to save them.

I don’t want to say much more about the story but things with Valentin aren’t all what they first seemed and Samara may have bitten off more than she can chew by abducting him. Now she just has to decide if she can work with him for the good of her people or whether he will stab her in the back at the first chance he gets.

Jessie Mihalik has created a fun futuristic world with lots of interesting technology but even though this is only a novella I never found myself lost or struggling to keep up. There was a nice amount of action, a good selection of side characters and I also enjoyed the developing romance. I’m already looking forward to reading the sequel and luckily I don’t have to wait long because the author has already started posting instalments of The Queen’s Advantage on her blog!

Source: Originally read as an online serial on Jessie Mihalik's blog but I then purchased a copy once it had been edited and published

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