Review: Recklessly Royal - Nichole Chase

Catherine has spent her life being the perfect princess. She’s kept her hands clean, her head down, and most importantly—men at arm’s length. After all, most men are after only one thing, and for Cathy there’s a lot more at stake than her bed; she has to worry about the fate of an entire nation. But at the rate she’s going, Cathy is afraid she’ll give the Virgin Queen a run for her money. She is tired of waiting for someone good enough to come along. She has a plan, and it all hinges on seducing the one man who seems utterly unimpressed by all things royal. The one man she is tempted by more than any other . . .

When David arrives at the royal wedding of his friend, the newly ordained Duchess Samantha Rousseau, he expected to feel uncomfortable and out of his element, but he wasn’t prepared to be targeted by Prince Alex’s gorgeous younger sister. With Cathy’s giant blue eyes, killer figure, and sense of humor, it won’t take long before he gives in. But when he finds out just how innocent the crown princess really is, will he play the part of knight in shining armor or the dashing rogue?

The Royals Series:
Suddenly Royal
Recklessly Royal
Reluctantly Royal

Visit Nichole Chase's website for more information

Review:
I picked up this book when I was swept up in Royal Wedding fever on Harry and Meghan's big day (which gives you a clue how long it's taken me to sit down and actually write this review!) and it hit the spot perfectly. The story starts with the huge royal wedding of the previous couple in the series so this was a brilliant choice for me to read while I was watching the build up to the real life ceremony.

Cathy is Alex's sister and has spent her whole life living in the spotlight as the princes of Lilaria. She loves her country and is proud of her heritage but sometimes life can be pretty stifling with the press watching her every move and people always wanting a little piece of her. She can never be sure if people are interested in her or just want to get close hoping they'll gain something so it is very hard for her to trust anyone new. She loves her brother and his new wife Samantha and has enjoyed helping organise their wedding but she's really ready to let her hair down and have some fun.

David is one of Sam's friends from America and he's travelled to Lilaria for the wedding but also to run the bird sanctuary that Sam started. He has a pretty low opinion of royalty and has no interest in life in a spotlight so he might just be the perfect person for Cathy to have a long wished for secret affair with.

Both books in this series have hit the spot perfectly when it comes to fun and light-hearted romance with a feel good factor. There has been no unnecessary drama between the couples, the romances have been sweet but heartfelt with a nice amount of heat and I've enjoyed spending time in this world getting to know the characters. I'm definitely looking forward to reading Max's story next and hope the series finishes with a bang!

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

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Review: Infinite - Cecy Robson

Hale Wilder, aka the Anaconda of Wall Street, spent his childhood fighting to be the best to win his father’s love. He was the best student and the best athlete, who grew into a successful businessman and took the finance world by storm. Want to retire before you’re forty-five? He’s got you. Need your millions to be billions? He’s your man.

Young, rich, and powerful, Hale was unstoppable, until a company scandal destroys his reputation and threatens to bring down everything he’s bled for.

Becca Shields is the kickass public relations goddess spinning scandals to gold and launching has-beens into superstardom. She never expected to see Hale again—not following the humiliating night when her family caught them on the beach, barely clothed.

When Becca discovers Hale is in trouble, she can’t turn her back on the boy who was once her world and the man she never forgot.

Hale never thought he’d have another shot at greatness or with Becca. Now that he has both, he won’t let either go without a fight.

*NOTE* Although a part of a series, INFINITE can be read as a complete STANDALONE and features a new couple!

Carolina Beach Series:
Inseverable
Eternal
Infinite

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
I love second chance romances and having seen a little of the obvious chemistry between Becca and Hale in Inseverable I was really looking forward to reading their story and finding out exactly what had happened between them. These two have been friends for most of their lives but those feelings grew much stronger when they were teenagers and they finally came close to acting on them the summer after they finished college, just before all their friends went in their separate directions to start their careers. Unfortunately what should have been a perfect night was ruined by Becca's controlling and abusive father and although they've seen each other occasionally since that night ten years ago things have never been the same.

Now Hale is in trouble, he's been falsely accused of fraud and the investigation has put him in the middle of a media storm that is ruining his reputation and about to destroy his business. Becca is a public relations expert and she will do whatever it takes to help Hale fight his corner, even if spending time working closely with him is going to be hell on her emotions. Both of these characters have never really gotten over each other but life got in the way and pulled them in opposite directions. There have been misunderstandings but I was really pleased with the way they discussed things like adults and were willing to listen to each other's points of view. They've both had it tough but have found their own ways to survive and make a life for themselves.

I really loved these two together, Becca is the kind of girl you could easily be friends with, she's sweet, funny and will do anything for her friends. Hale is just as nice, he has made a name for himself in business but he's not ruthless and for once we get to read about a rich, successful business man who doesn't just sleep around with anyone who takes his fancy. It was really nice to catch up with Trinity, Callahan and some of the other members of their friendship group too. Although this story can be read as a standalone fans of the series will definitely appreciate the appearance of those familiar characters.

Infinite was a sweet romance with a really great couple but like with all of Cecy Robson's contemporary romances she's not afraid to touch on difficult subjects so there were some really quite painful scenes with Becca's family in particular. I think this story is all about showing that your family isn't just the group of people you were born into but also the people you choose, the friends that will stick by you through thick and thin, and that's a reminder most of us could use at one point in our lives.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Society of Wishes - Elise Kova & Lynn Larsh

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.

Josephina Espinosa makes her living as a hacker-for-hire in the Lone Star Republic, a remnant of the fractured U.S.A. That is, until the day she and her best friend are gunned down in a government raid.

With her dying breath, Jo uses magical lore passed down from her grandmother to summon a wish-granter. Her wish? To save her friend’s life. Except wishes have costs, and for Jo, the price is the erasure of her entire mortal existence.

Now, as the most recent addition to the mysterious Society of Wishes, Jo must form a new “life” alongside the seven other members, one of which being her savior himself. Living as an occupant of the Society’s lavish mansion should be quite the perk, but while it is furnished with everything its inhabitants could possibly need, it lacks one thing—freedom.

Her otherworldly identity crisis takes a backseat, however, when Jo learns that the friend she sacrificed everything for is headed down the same path to ruin. Jumping in head-first, Jo uses her newfound magical abilities to protect him, only to realize that the ripples of her actions have far-reaching consequences. When the Society’s aloof leader Snow decides to give her a taste of his own ancient magic, Jo discovers that there are threads woven into the tapestry of her new reality that reach far beyond the wishes she is now required to grant. Ones that, if tugged on, could mean the unraveling of the world itself.

Wish Quartet Series:
Society of Wishes
Circle of Ashes
Birth of Chaos (2018)

Visit Elise Kova's website or Lynn Larsh's website for more information

Review:
Jo's world is turned completely upside down when she uses her last breath to make a wish to save her best friend's life. Saving her friend has the unexpected consequence of also saving her own life but not the same version she used to live. Now her family and friends have completely forgotten she ever existed and she finds herself the newest member of the Society of Wishes, a group of people who use magic to grant the wishes of anyone who knows the correct ritual. As Jo struggles to come to terms with everything that has happened to her she realises that the best friend she gave up everything for is about to walk into the same trap she already saved him from once. Refusing to let her sacrifice be in vain she breaks all the rules to try and save him and ends up causing more trouble than she could possibly have imagined.

Society of Wishes is the first book in a new series by Elise Kova and Lynn Larsh, the idea of the Society is a really intriguing one but I have to admit I struggled a little with the world building. Jo is taken away from everything that is familiar with and thrown completely in the deep end within the Society, nobody takes the time to explain anything to her an it leaves both her and the reader very confused about what is happening. The way the other characters just tell Jo not to do things but don't explain why leads her to make some very stupid mistakes but that's pretty understandable when nobody bothers to talk through the consequences of her actions. If she was working alone that wouldn't be so bad but she has a lot of help from another member of the Society, one who should know exactly how badly her plans could screw up things for everyone else and I just couldn't understand why he was willing to go along with her.

We're introduced to a diverse group of characters and I'm definitely interested in learning more about all of them but I also really need some more answers about how the Society works and how it came to exist in the first place. I think because I didn't really understand why things happened I found it harder to connect to the story and the characters but I'm hoping that will get easier as the series continues.

One thing I really wasn't sure about here was the romantic element though. There are not one but two potential relationships thrown out there but they both pretty much came out of nowhere, there isn't much in the way of a slow build up and that made Jo's feelings hard to believe. The sex scene was well written but it felt out of place and didn't really fit in with the rest of the story, it felt more like an afterthought added to make the story fit the NA category and it could easily have been left out. I tend to prefer some romantic tension that takes a while to reach a payoff in urban fantasy, when you have a series you don't have to rush to fit it all in the first book and it can be better to tease your readers a little and keep them waiting.

I think this series has a lot of potential but unfortunately for me the first book didn't quite live up to that. It can be really hard to introduce a whole new world in just one book though so I'm always willing to give a series with an interesting premise at least two books to fully catch my interest. I'm hoping that things will start to fall into place in City of Ashes and I'm curious to see what will happen next.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Eternal - Cecy Robson

After months of bad luck and even worse men, Luciana Diaz just wants to crawl under the covers and forget the year ever happened. Her friend has other plans, convincing Luci to attend a New Year’s Eve party on the affluent shores of Kiawah Island.

Luci never expected to have fun. She also never expected to wake up with a man she just met, or for this man to be the new attorney at her firm.

Landon Summers is done with drama. After an ugly separation and even worse divorce, he has no desire to jump into another relationship.

When his sister Trinity drags him to a New Year’s Eve party, he doesn’t plan to stay long. One drink, a few hellos, and he’s out. Until he meets Luci, the first person in months to draw his smile and incite his passion.

Neither Luci nor Landon planned on each other, and they definitely didn’t plan on love. But the New Year means a fresh start, and eternal possibilities neither could deny.

Carolina Beach Series:
Inseverable
Eternal
Infinite

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
If you enjoyed Inseverable, the first book in Cecy Robson's Carolina Beach series, then you're going to love Eternal. This book was everything I loved about the first and then some, full of sweet romance, great characters, amusing situations and hot sex - a perfect pick me up! While you don't need to read this series in order I'm happy to recommend both books and if you are familiar with the series then you'll enjoy getting a chance to catch up with the previous couple Trinity and Callahan (Trinity is Landon's sister).

Landon has given up on the idea of love and romance after a disastrous marriage that ended in a bitter divorce. The last thing he wants is a new relationship so when his sister insists he goes to a friend's New Years Eve party he plans to have a few drinks and then head home as soon as possible. Those plans quickly change when he meets Luci though. Luci has bad taste in men (and friends!) so getting abandoned at a party where she doesn't know anyone is her worst nightmare. Luckily Landon comes to her rescue and she decides to throw caution to the wind and spend the night with a handsome stranger. That night turns into an incredible weekend but neither of them are at a point in their lives where they're ready for a new relationship so that was all it was ever supposed to be. Until Landon starts his first day in a new job and realises Luci is the office manager. Thrown together daily at work will they be able to resist the intense chemistry sparking between them?

This was such a fun book to read and wonderfully drama free for a contemporary romance. Don't get me wrong I love a bit of drama sometimes but it can get tiring fast when things are constantly thrown at a couple just to add tension to a story so I was glad that wasn't the case here. Both Landon and Luci have their issues thanks to events in their pasts but they're both fairly open about their feelings and willing to talk things out like adults. I liked how patient Landon was and the way he was willing to wait until Luci was ready to trust him before starting a relationship. It was also great to see Luci walk away from a toxic friendship that was hurting her, I've read far too many books that seem to justify a horrible relationship between two women so I appreciated Luci recognising that the friendship wasn't good for her and putting a stop to it. It wasn't the only friendship portrayed in the story either, she had much nicer friends and got on well with Landon's sister so this story definitely isn't about women hating on each other.

Landon and Luci had a brilliant relationship that started out fuelled by lust but grew stronger through mutual respect and friendship. It was easy to see what a strong bond they had and I enjoyed every minute of their courtship. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more in this series and as always Cecy Robson didn't disappoint with her wonderful story.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Catch My Fall - Jessica Scott

Former Army Sergeant Deacon Hunter is trapped.

Trapped in the friend zone. Longing for the woman who captured his heart when they were deployed in Iraq.

Former Army Sergeant Kelsey Ryder has scars, the kind of scars she hopes that no one ever sees. Working around the guys at the Pint, she’s reminded of everything she lost when she left the Army behind.

But some scars refuse to stay hidden.

One fateful night changes everything and neither of them know if their relationship will ever be the same.

All Deacon knows is that he’ll be there to catch her when she finally falls

Falling Series:
Before I Fall
Break My Fall
After I Fall
Catch My Fall

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
Kelsey and Deacon are both former army Sergeants who served together in Iraq, they had an intense secret relationship during their deployment but things fell apart when they returned home before Deacon deployed again. Now they've both left the army and they're struggling to find their feet in a civilian life, both studying to complete their degrees they meet again when they become colleagues at The Pint. The sexual chemistry is definitely still there but Kelsey is terrified of getting hurt again and returning to the dark place she was in at the end of their last relationship, Deacon wants more but knows pushing too hard will only make Kelsey run so he's working on winning her around slowly. They're both fighting demons though and need to learn to deal with the emotional and physical scars left by everything they experienced in the army before they can find a way back together.

I always love Jessica Scott's writing and Catch My Fall is another perfect example of why I enjoy her books so much. Her military romances are always so incredibly heartwarming but they also highlight the difficulties faced by soldiers returning home from deployment and the way they can struggle to adjust to civilian life. It's not just the emotional turmoil though but also the way it can be so hard for them to get the medical help needed, this would obviously be slightly different for soldiers in the UK who have access to the NHS, but I was absolutely horrified by the way Kelsey was treated by the VA and I can only assume that this is something that happens to vets all the time in the US. As a serving soldier herself and with a husband who is also in the army you can tell that Jessica Scott writes from real life experience, her stories have so much genuine emotion in them that not all military romances manage to capture.

In spite of showing how hard life can be for army vets this series is above all a romance and Catch My Fall is about finding yourself again after emotional trauma and finding a way to move forward. It's not about love fixing all your problems but it does show that the right support can make the world of difference, be that support of a partner or from family, friends and colleagues. The staff at The Pint are all ex military and they've built a great network where they all watch out for each other. It was nice to catch up with some of the previous couples and we also get to know Caleb a bit better so I'm really looking forward to his story. I absolutely loved Kelsey and Deacon's story, they were such a brilliant couple and I'm glad they finally found their way back to each other.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: After I Fall - Jessica Scott

Her entire life has been a lie. Being with Eli is the most honest thing she’s ever done.

Parker Hauser lives the perfect life and knows exactly where she's been and where she's going. Parker has to be perfect. Perfect grades, perfect body, perfect life.

Until she meets Eli Winter.

Eli throws her entire life into chaos when he denies her the one thing she wants from him.

One chance encounter stokes her desire for the man who refused to touch her and left her questioning everything.

When Parker tries to help his new business, the spotlight turns on Eli's military record. And the war he's tried to forget may destroy them both.

Falling Series:
Before I Fall
Break My Fall
After I Fall
Catch My Fall

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
I've been wanting to read Eli's story ever since we met him in Before I Fall, the former officer has been a steady influence on both of the heroes from previous books. He runs the local bar and seems to collect wounded ex-soldiers and adopt them into his tribe where he can keep an eye on them. Eli is always watching out for other people and putting their needs first but he's very closed off about his own past and you just know he's keeping a lot of things to himself so I couldn't wait to get to know him better.

I'll admit I was nervous when I found out he was matched with Parker though, what we saw of her in After I Fall didn't exactly leave me with a good opinion of her. She came across as a typical spoilt rich girl, someone who had everything handed to her on a plate and who had no idea what it was like to live in the real world. I wasn't convinced I'd ever be able to root for them as a couple but I just love it when an author manages to change my opinion about a character and Jessica Scott definitely achieved that here. Yes Parker comes from money and she's never had to worry financially but you quickly realise that her life hasn't been a bed of roses. Her problems are very different to anything I've ever experienced but that doesn't make them any less difficult for her to cope with and she gave me a lesson in not judging someone by the size of their bank account!

I thought Eli and Parker made a great couple, they're both incredibly alone in different ways. Eli is surrounded by people that he cares for and who care for him in return but he always feels like he has to be the one protecting everyone else and he doesn't really let anyone know when he's the one who is struggling. Parker on the other hand has never had anyone put her first, her whole life is dictated by what her father wants from her, she has to look good and behave in appropriate ways to help him with his business contacts and she's even been forced into an engagement with a man she doesn't like because her father has chosen him as his future son-in-law. Eli is the first person to really listen to what Parker wants and to encourage her to follow her own dreams and in return Parker is there for Eli in ways that nobody else is. They fit so well together and have fabulous chemistry too.

If there is one thing I wanted to see a little more of it would have been more of what happened after Parker confronted Davis. I really would have loved an extra scene with her father that perhaps showed he cared for her after all but I guess that would probably have been a bit too much of a fairytale because he wasn't very likely to backdown after Parker chose to defy him. I enjoyed the brief appearances by previous characters from the series though and we get to see a lot of Eli's bar staff Deacon and Kelsey which I loved. I really can't wait to read their book later on this year - I need to know more about their previous history!

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Break My Fall - Jessica Scott

Violence.

I’m addicted to it. It’s how I feel alive. It’s the only thing that’s real any more.

And now I have to sit around and discuss it like it’s physics or calculus. I can’t do it. I can’t pretend that it’s some sterile academic topic. Violence isn’t sterile. It isn’t calm. It’s pulsing. It’s alive.

It’s my drug.

Until I met Abby, I never wanted anything beyond the next fight. Never considered that I might finally find a way back to the land of the living.

Now? Now I find myself dreaming of a woman with golden eyes.

But I can never be with her. Because I am not whole. And I never will be again.

But I cannot stay away.

And loving her might finally be what breaks me.

Falling Series:
Before I Fall
Break My Fall
After I Fall
Catch My Fall

Visit Jessica Scott's website for more information.

Review:
Jessica Scott writes stories about soldiers who have returned from war and are trying to settle back into life at home. You can tell she writes from experience and she captures the struggles they face perfectly so it is very easy to get inside her characters head's and feel everything right alongside them.

Josh spent two tours abroad and he's come home broken, he's not coping with the stress and is drinking far too much which doesn't help his anger issues so he's often getting into bar fights. He's trying to settle into college but he feels so different to all the other students and his PTSD makes it hard for him to even get to his classes let alone stay focused once he's there. Abby has had her heart broken before and she's determined to put all her energy into getting through college and coming out with good grades. She doesn't really have time or energy for a relationship but she wants to help Josh deal with his issues. Abby makes Josh want to be a better man but can he put the past behind him, deal with his anger and move on with his life?

I loved both the main characters in this story. Josh has been through a lot and is seriously messed up but he wants to deal with his problems and he slowly learns how to open up with Abby and his fellow ex-soldiers. I like that the author doesn't use falling in love as an instant fix for everything, he wants to do right by Abby but he still makes mistakes and has to work at making better decisions with his life. Abby is great too, she's been through her own version of hell and it's made her a strong and independent woman. I loved the friendship between her and her best friend and the way she supported him through his own difficult break up.

I think my main issue with the story was that things started to move quite quickly between Josh and Abby. That wouldn't normally bother me but knowing Abby's history made me find it really hard to believe that she wouldn't be more wary of Josh, especially since the first couple of times she meets him it's obvious he's been in a fight. Someone with experience of domestic abuse is much more likely to be wary of a violent drunk so even though Josh never, ever raises a finger towards Abby or threatens her in any way I just think she'd be more aware of the violence inside him and I think it would frighten her more. I could have totally got on board their friendship developing over a longer period and I do love them as a couple but I wanted things to happen a bit slower. Like I said please don't worry that Josh is an abusive partner because he really, really isn't and I wouldn't have felt so concerned if it hadn't been for Abby's background. This is an issue that's a little personal for me so I'm probably more sensitive to it than most readers will be and I'm sure others wouldn't even notice what I did.

I'm really enjoying this series, I love Jessica Scott's writing and I'm looking forward to Eli's story. He's been a great side character in the previous two books as a friend and almost mentor to both Noah and Josh and I can't wait to get to know him better.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Crave Me - Cecy Robson

RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in Crave Me, it’s time for the sole sister in the family to discover love.

Wren O’Brien isn’t your typical female. As the only girl from a loud Irish family with seven siblings, she prefers fast cars to lip gloss and bad boys to good men. It’s the reason she’s nursing a wounded soul and keeping her distance from a dangerous ex.

Evan Jonah is running an empire and just moved from the lavish thoroughfares of London to the gritty streets of Philadelphia. When he walks into the nearest dealership, he’s expecting to find a reliable vehicle to handle the brutal winters, not a sexy female car rep with killer legs.

Wren doesn’t know why “Hotness in a Suit” asked her out. She doesn’t expect a great time or a night of passion that knocks her on her ass. But that’s exactly what Evan shows her.

She also never counted on how hard and fast she’d fall. But men like Evan—good men with even better hearts—don’t desire tough-talking Philly girls for long.

Evan has never met a woman like Wren. But he’s up for the challenge and ready to prove her wrong.

Shattered Past Series:
Once Perfect
Once Loved
Once Pure

O'Brien Family Series:
(Characters were introduced in the Shattered Past series but this series can be read separately)
Once Kissed
Let Me
Crave Me
Feel Me
Save Me

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
I've been looking forward to reading Wren's story ever since we were introduced to the O'Brien family and Crave Me didn't disappoint. As the only girl growing up amongst six brothers Wren learned to stand up for herself from a young age, her brothers are all incredibly protective of her but she has grown up fierce and ready to fight her own battles. She has a loud personality and knows exactly what she wants from life but she also has a really sweet, generous and loving side and she cares a lot about the people in her circle.

Evan is a wealthy businessman who is working hard to turn his company into something successful after the previous managers nearly ran it into the ground. He's is a bit of a geek, definitely a tech expert and he's totally different to the kind of guys that Wren usually dates but there is no denying the attraction between them. They are opposites in many ways but their differences compliment each other and when it comes to important values they're definitely on the same page.

I absolutely loved the way their romance develops, their attraction may be instant but the friendship and respect that builds between them takes time in a totally natural and very believable way. They have great chemistry but they fit together outside of the bedroom too and I really enjoyed watching them work together to achieve their goals. There are some issues that they have to deal with, mainly thanks to Wren's stalker of an ex but I though they handled their problems brilliantly and I liked the way they talked things through with each other and came up with solutions together.

We get the chance to catch up with all of Wren's brothers which is always fun and it's just made me more eager than ever to get to know the ones who haven't had stories yet. I'm not sure who I hope comes next but I have a feeling it might be Declan, I want to read all of their stories eventually though so I don't really mind what order we get them in. This series is definitely a must read for me, the sex is hot, the romances are sweet and well developed, the banter is amusing and the sibling rivalry always makes me smile. The O'Brien's are a close knit family, they may drive each other nuts but they are always there for each other and I love the way they're so protective of each other, you just know that if any of them has a problem the others would drop everything to help them.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: City of Shadows - Pippa DaCosta

~ PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BLURB FOR CITY OF SHADOWS CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES (CITY OF FAE) SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN READING! ~

Alina knows she is not real – the fae queen spun an evil web to create her – but she wants more than to spend her days feeding off humans' energy to survive. She isn't content to lose herself in the dangerously attractive Reign. She wants a life of her own making.

Desperate to help the man who saved her life, Alina vows to find his missing sister. Alina is convinced that the general of the Fae Authority plays a part in her disappearance. She infiltrates the organisation and gets close to their strongest fighter. But while Samuel's tormented soul and masterful touch stirs in Alina a feeling of being human again, her loyalty to Reign makes her Samuel's enemy. Who should she trust?

This New Adult urban fantasy is packed with action and suspense and will have you yearning for more forbidden fae romance.

London Fae Series:
City of Fae
City of Shadows

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
*** Please note that this review will contain spoilers for the first book in the series, City of Fae, so if you're not up to date with the series then I'd advise you not to read any further ***

Alina's life has been turned completely upside down since she discovered the truth about her creation. Knowing she's a construct, a being created by the powerful fae queen, and that the time she has left is limited has left Alina floundering. She may have destroyed her creator rather than carry out the task that she was actually made for but she wants to do something positive with the rest of her life before it's over. She owes her friend, Detective Danny Andrews, a debt for saving her life so she plans to track down his missing fae addicted sister as repayment. She is sure that the General of the Fae Authority was involved in Becky's disappearance so she decides to go undercover with the group to investigate. As she gets pulled deeper into the Fae Authority she finds it harder and harder to figure out who she can trust and when a rogue group of fae help to kick off a dangerous chain of events Alina's loyalty is torn between old friends and new ones.

Alina and Reign have both been through so much and their relationship is understandably strained thanks to the link the queen created between them. Reign is keeping Alina at a distance and she's feeling more alone and desperate than ever. She is struggling to accept the revelations from the end of the last book and it's left her wondering about who she really is and why she even still exists. Alina tries so hard to be a good person but thanks to her heritage she has done some things that can't be undone and it's quite heartbreaking watching her deal with the aftermath of Andrews' addiction to her. I love that she always tries to do the right thing though and I enjoyed seeing her work so hard to try and find a place for herself within the Fae Authority. She makes some fun new friends who I hope we're going to see a lot more of and I wasn't even upset by the introduction of a love triangle (see some authors CAN still pull those off even though they normally make me want to throw my kindle across the room at even a hint of one!).

I was slightly disappointed that we don't see as much of Reign in this book but that was completely understandable considering the way the plot unfolded and the introduction of Samuel, Nyx and Scaw made up for it. It was great to see Alina's confidence grow as she spent time training alongside the rest of the Fae Authority and she's certainly not someone you'd want to go up against now she's come into her own. It isn't easy for her to fit in amongst the other warriors, especially since so many of their members died when they fought her to protect their queen, but she slowly carves out a place for herself and starts to earn their respect.

This series just gets better and better, it's fast paced, full of action and so completely full of twists that you'll have trouble remembering which way is up. Magical creatures are causing mayhem all over London and it is up to Alina and the rest of the Fae Authority to try and stop them. Throw in a group of rogue fae who are up to no good and things are about to go downhill fast. We get to find out a lot more about where the fae came from and how they ended up on earth which was really interesting and it's opened up to take this series in a completely unexpected direction. I can't wait to get my hands on the next instalment and find out where it takes Alina next.

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

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Review: Inseverable - Cecy Robson

How can you imagine forever with someone who's leaving everything behind?

Callahan, a former army sniper, wants to make an escape from his past and everything he experienced at war, but most of all, just not feel. Feeling leads to pain and he's suffered enough. When he inherits a house on South Carolina's Kiawah Island, he packs his bags, lured by the peace and seclusion he thinks it will bring. But, Callahan never counted on meeting anyone like Trinity . . .

Trinity has always been the cute, and funny one, who most guys overlook in pursuit of her "hot" friends. She became used to being everyone's pal, until the day the young man she was attracted to, was drawn to her in return. He became her first great love, and first crushing heartbreak when she found him in bed with one of her closest friends.

To move forward, and to carry out her commitment to helping those in need, Trinity enlists in the Peace Corps, but not before returning to Kiawah for one last memorable summer. She just never imagined it would be so unforgettable.

Callahan doesn't want to get close to anyone-let alone Trinity. He finds her perkiness insufferable and her attempts to entice a smile distracting. After all, he's in Kiawah to leave all feelings behind. But when it comes to Trinity, who feels everything, it's hard not to feel something.

Neither expected to fall in love. And no one could have predicted how inseverable they'd become.

Carolina Beach Series:
Inseverable
Eternal
Infinite

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
If you've been following my blog for any length of time you'll already know I'm a huge fan of Cecy Robson's. I love her Weird Girls urban fantasy series as well as her emotional and hard hitting Shattered Pasts and O'Brien Family contemporary romances so of course I was excited about her new Carolina Beach series from the minute I heard about it. I couldn't wait to read Inseverable and it's right up there amongst my favourite of her books, it was lighter hearted and more humorous than her other contemporary series and such a fun story to read. That's not to say that the characters have it all easy but it definitely had a lighter tone and would make a perfect holiday read considering the beach setting.

Trinity and her friends have finished college and are spending one final summer together at the beach where they grew up before adult life has them all heading in different directions, some to further studies and Trinity to a two year tour with the Peace Corps. Callahan was an army sniper but has now left the forces and just needs some peace and quiet to try and recover in. He's suffering with PTSD after watching so many of his friends killed in combat and the last thing he wants is to let anyone close again.  Trinity knows she's not going to be around for long but she can see how much Callahan needs a friend and she's determined to bring him out of his shell, no matter how reluctant he is to let her.

These two were brilliant characters, in a lot of ways they're complete opposites - Trinity is bubbly and outgoing, the life and soul of the party who sees the good in everyone while Callahan is jaded, wary and just wants to be left in peace - but they bring out the best in each other. Callahan desperately needed Trinity to shake him out of his self imposed exile and Callahan makes Trinity feel like a beautiful and sexy young woman for the first time in her life. You could practically feel the chemistry they start throwing off the minute they meet but I loved the slow burn to their relationship, it takes time for Trinity to break through Callahan's barriers and get him to open up but oh boy is it worth the wait and when he finally gives in to his desire their connection is off the charts.

I did get a little frustrated that Trinity didn't open up to Callahan about her plans to join the Peace Corps a little sooner but I could understand why she did it and I loved the way things played out at the end so it's a very minor complaint. Alongside the main couple we also have a great set of side characters, Trinity's group of friends are brilliant and I love how they always look out for each other. The banter between the friends was fun and I enjoyed seeing them help Trinity tease Callahan. I'm excited that we're going to see more of these characters in future books, the epilogue gave us a lovely glimpse into this couple's future but also hinted at whose story is next and I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the series.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge - Paul Krueger

Bailey Chen is fresh out of college with all the usual new-adult demons: no cash, no job offers, and an awkward relationship with Zane, the old friend she kinda-sorta hooked up with during high school.

But when Zane introduces Bailey to his monster-fighting bartender friends, her demons become a lot more literal. It turns out evil creatures stalk the city streets after hours, and they can only be hunted with the help of magically-mixed cocktails: vodka grants super-strength, whiskey offers the power of telekinesis, and tequila lets its drinker fire blasts of elemental energy. But will all of these powers be enough for Bailey to halt a mysterious rash of gruesome deaths? And what will she do when the safety of a “real world” job beckons?

This sharp and funny urban fantasy is perfect for fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, and grown-up readers of Harry Potter. Includes 14 recipes from a book of ancient cocktail lore.

Visit Paul Krueger's website for more information

Review:
Have you ever wondered why there are so many pubs and bars? I bet you never considered it's because the bartenders who work in them also have a side job fighting demons that prey on drunk people! Well that's exactly the premise of Paul Krueger's debut novel Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge and what a fun and quirky story it is.

Bailey has just finished college and is supposed to be looking for a serious, grown up job like her parents have always expected her to but she's kind of having fun working at a bar run by her childhood best friend Zane and she's not quite ready to grow up and face the real world yet. The more she looks at sensible jobs the less they feel like the best choice for her and then when she finds out about Zane's sideline fighting demons she knows she's found her true calling.

I loved the premise for this story, the idea of magical mixologists who are able to give themselves superpowers by creating very special cocktails was a fun one and totally different to anything else I've read about. At the end of most chapters you get a little information about the history of the magical cocktails mentioned, the powers it gives the bartenders and how to mix the perfect version at home so if you enjoy cocktails I'm sure you'll love these little additional recipes. I really enjoyed these little snippets into the history of the bartenders and how they discovered the magical properties each ingredient adds to the drinks they make but what I really wanted was a little more information about the demons they fought. Where did they come from? Why did they only attack certain people? If they're drawn to alcohol why were they more prevalent at certain times of the month? I'm hoping that if we get a second book in this world we'll get answers to some of these questions.

I love that we have such a diverse range of characters but I did find the way Bailey acted was a little immature at times. This is a new adult urban fantasy so Bailey and most of the other characters are in their early 20s but they quite often came across as much younger than that which could be a little frustrating. I also got a bit fed up with Bailey mooning around after Zane and trying to make a move on him when she knew full well he was in a relationship with someone else but that's a personal bug of mine that probably won't bother everyone as much. I think my favourite character actually ended up being another bartender who was known as Bucket, he was a really fun guy and stole every scene he appeared in.

Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge was an entertaining and fairly quick read, it has such an unusual concept that I'm hoping it might end up being the start of a new series - there's definitely a lot of potential here for Paul Krueger to create something wonderful.

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

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Review: A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas (Or in other words: Why I won't be buying any more books by Sarah J Maas)

The stunning sequel to Sarah J. Maas' New York Times bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court - but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms - and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future - and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

ACOTAR Series:
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Court of Mist and Fury
Future titles to be confirmed

Visit Sarah J Maas' website for more information

Review:
Okay so I'm going to come right out and say it, A Court of Mist and Fury is the biggest pile of crap I have EVER wasted my money purchasing. I wish I'd waited until the reviews started rolling in rather than pre-order it months ago but I've learnt my lesson Sarah J Maas, I HAVE LEARNT MY LESSON. My pre-order of Empire of Storms has been cancelled and I will NEVER start reading a new series by her until it is completely finished and has been vetted in full by people I trust.

I know a lot of people don't agree with me and that's fine, I'm glad other people are enjoying this book but I HATED it and I'm going to be honest about it. I am so incredibly heartbroken that Sarah J Maas has once again betrayed my trust and destroyed a series I loved. Be warned now that this review is going to include spoilers, I only actually managed to force myself to read the first 7 chapters (just 87 pages) but I have been speaking to several friends who have read much further so I know what happens later than that and I'll be discussing it in detail so if you don't want to know what I'm so unhappy about feel free to walk away from my review space. There will definitely be spoilers for ACOTAR and I think I'll probably touch on Queen of Shadows too so if you're not up to date on the Throne of Glass series it's probably best to look away now.

To make one thing clear I absolutely adored A Court of Thorns and Roses, it's one of my favourite books and I loved it even more when I reread it in anticipation of starting ACOMAF. The whole reason I'm so upset about A Court of Mist and Fury is because I was so, so excited about it in the first place. Perhaps if it hadn't been one of my most anticipated reads of the year I wouldn't feel so let down, perhaps if I hadn't reread ACOTAR immediately before starting ACOMAF I wouldn't feel so devastated and perhaps if I'd never read Queen of Shadows I wouldn't feel so angry that SJM has done the exact same thing to Tamlin that she did to Chaol. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps but if wishes came true then ACOTAR would either be a stand alone novel or ACOMAF would be an entirely different book.

Let's talk about ACOTAR for a bit, that book is based on two stories: Beauty and the Beast, where the beast's curse is broken because he finds his TRUE LOVE and she is able to look past the external monster and fall in love with the man inside (just like Feyre did with Tamlin); and Tam Lin, which is a less well known Scottish folk tale about a man being rescued from the queen of the fairies by his TRUE LOVE (oh, that's right just like Feyre did for Tamlin!). EVERYTHING about book 1 was based on the fact that Feyre and Tamlin are head over heels crazy about each other, EVERYTHING that happens is because of that love. Tamlin gives Feyre her freedom knowing he will damn himself and his entire court and put them under Amarantha's control but he sets her free because she is more important to him than ANYTHING else. Feyre only comes back to Prythian because she loves Tamlin so much that she can't stand to be without him. EVERYTHING she goes through, all the tasks she has to complete, all the horrific things she has to suffer she does it all because Tamlin is worth it, we're inside her head and we hear her time and time again thinking about how much he means to her and how she can stand anything if only it will free him. For crying out loud she even gives her life to save him and the ONLY reason she is given a second chance (and is therefore even alive!) is because the other High Lords all see that she isn't the fickle hearted human Amarantha claimed she was but that she TRULY LOVES TAMLIN! That is the ONLY reason they all save her, because they saw what she was willing to sacrifice and they can see how devastated Tamlin is when he thinks he's lost her.

If you take that love away you make the entire first book completely pointless and you absolutely 100%, without a shadow of doubt, prove that Amarantha was right and that humans wouldn't know true love if it bit them on the arse! There was NEVER even a hint of a triangle in ACOTAR, yes Rhys was a flirt but it always felt like he was doing that more to get at Tamlin than because he had any real feelings for Feyre and Feyre never looked at Rhys twice, she was completely focused on Tamlin through the whole story. I'll never be a fan of love triangles in general but when you take a couple who are totally in love and about to walk off into the sunset together and then needlessly rip them apart just to shoehorn another hero into the story then I'm going to be even more upset and angry about it.

Let's talk about Rhys. In the first book he threatens Feyre, he tortures her (did you all forget the scene where he's twisting the broken bone that is sticking out of her arm just to prove that she needs his help and should make a bargain with him? A bargain that gives him a week of her time every month for the REST OF HER LIFE?) oh and he also drugs her on a nightly basis to parade her around practically naked in front of a crowd, apparently he never touches her but she doesn't remember so how can we be sure of that? Let's not forget he gave what he thought was her name to Amarantha so that her whole family could be tortured and murdered. That's the hero people think she should be with over Tamlin? Tamlin who protected her, looked after her family, gave her everything she asked for and who gave up his own life and the freedom of everyone else he cares about just to keep her safe? Give me a break. I know it's the author's story and she has every right to take it in any direction that she chooses but I don't have to keep reading this crap. I don't have to watch her once again turn a character who has been nothing but good in the previous book into a completely different person just to convince me to switch teams. Looks like Tamlin got the same personality transplant as Chaol just so that SJM can shoehorn Rowan sorry RHYS into the story.

Of course both Tamlin and Feyre are going to have been affected by everything they went through, and I'm sure he'd want to do whatever he could to keep her safe but I don't for a second believe that he would have done it in the way he does it in ACOMAF. Can't we for once have ADULT characters (Feyre is 19 after all!) ACT LIKE ADULTS? Can't they talk through their problems and resolve them like normal people? Does SJM have to turn Feyre into a fickle and whiny little idiot who jumps from one bed to another at the drop of a hat just because a new guy shows an interest in her and he happens to be hot? Are you telling me that if Rhys was ugly any of this would have happened? I don't think so.

Before people get started on telling me how wonderful Rhys is let me clarify something else. I actually grew to really like Rhys by the end of ACOTAR (in spite of all the horrible things he did!) and I would have been over the moon to read a full book about him, a book that gave him the chance to redeem himself and gave us a chance to see that he had been doing everything he could to fight against Amarantha in the background. I would have bitten SJM's arm off for a book like that, one that put him together with ANY other woman apart from Feyre. I was actually kind of hoping that Rhys would hook up with Feyre's sister Nesta because let's face it they both had some redeeming to do by the end of ACOTAR and it would have been AMAZING to see it happen. I was excited to find out more about the Night Court, I was looking forward to meeting the exciting new characters that SJM promised and I would have happily kept buying book after book in this world if she had kept things fresh and exciting rather than recycling plots from the Throne of Glass series and making the same mistakes over and over again.

I probably could have even got over Feyre falling out of love with Tamlin if it had been done in a better way. You do NOT have to turn a previously nice character into an arsehole to make me like another character. What I hate most about this book is not only the way SJM destroyed Tamlin's character and turned him into something he's not but also the way she made Feyre seem so fickle and uncaring. She acts so ridiculously childishly by not talking to Tamlin about how she is feeling and then she just goes off and leaves him for good with only a letter. She doesn't even have the decency to break up with him face to face before she goes off and mates Rhys. Does nobody else care how Tamlin feels about that? I'm completely and utterly heartbroken for him and it was all so UTTERLY POINTLESS. What was the point of reading ACOTAR? The whole first book has been invalidated by the actions Feyre takes in ACOMAF and it's horrible. I wish I'd never heard a thing about this book and had just stuck with the HEA that A Court of Thorns and Roses gave us.

Why couldn't we have had Feyre and Tamlin as side characters and moved the story into someone else's POV? There is no doubting that Rhys would (and probably has if you can ignore all the stuff I'm unhappy about!) make a brilliant lead. ACOMAF could have been so epic that I can hardly stand it! That's what I was so excited about, that's what I was so desperate to read and that's why I'm so utterly HEARTBROKEN that we were given this pile of rubbish instead. SJM has wrecked this series for me, she broke my trust in Queen of Shadows but she completely destroyed it in A Court of Mist and Fury and I'm never going to be able to pick up one of her books without worrying that she's going to do something similar again. I don't think she's actually capable of writing about a heroine who sticks with one guy for an entire series! Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, the only thing I can guarantee is that she won't be fooling me a third time!

Oh and thanks for that extra kick in the 

teeth SJM, I really appreciate it!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Let Me - Cecy Robson

Once he was broken beyond repair. Now this MMA contender is fighting to be a better man—for her. RT Book Reviews proclaims that the O’Brien Family series from award-winning author Cecy Robson “has the hottest brothers ever!” And in Let Me, it is Finn’s turn to discover how love can heal the deepest wounds.

A mixed martial arts star on the rise, Finn O’Brien dismantles his opponents with brutal precision. And yet beneath his fierce persona, Finn is raw from a trauma he’s buried for years . . . until the day his deep-rooted rage erupts and lands him in court-mandated therapy. Finn’s not one to bare his soul, but if talking it out means meeting beautiful women like Sol Marieles, he’ll give it a shot.

Sol is working toward her master’s degree in psychology, and already she feels like she’s in over her head. With an important internship on the line and a scary family situation demanding her attention, the last thing Sol needs is Finn around to distract her. The man is ripped and seriously sexy yet it’s his troubled side that warns her to keep her distance. But their attraction is intense, and he clearly has the heat to see how far and fast their passion takes them.

Alone, Finn and Sol have been fighting to find happiness in their lives. Together, there’s no stopping them as they face their greatest challenges—not in the ring, but in their hearts.


Shattered Past Series:
Once Perfect
Once Loved
Once Pure

O'Brien Family Series:
(Characters were introduced in the Shattered Past series but this series can be read separately)
Once Kissed
Let Me
Crave Me
Feel Me
Save Me

Visit Cecy Robson's website for more information.

Review:
I'm just going to come right out and say it: I love the O'Brien family! From the minute we met Killian's siblings in Once Pure I was hoping they'd all get books and then when Cecy Robson announced the O'Brien series and gave us Curran's story in Once Kissed I wanted to cheer. If you've read those previous books you'll already have met the youngest O'Brien, Finn, and you'll probably already know what happened to him as a child. Because of that his older siblings are all very protective of him but he is holding a lot of anger deep inside and none of the others are quite sure how to deal with it. Finn's anger fuels him in the cage and it's helping him build a name for himself as a top MMA fighter but his siblings are worried that he's bottling up his emotions and that it's going to end in disaster if he doesn't find a way to release it safely.

When Finn gets into trouble for fighting outside the cage he is forced into court mandated therapy and it is there that he bumps into long term family friend Sol. Sol is working as an intern while she qualifies for her masters in psychology and she has more than enough on her plate dealing with her mentally unstable mother so the last thing she needs is a boyfriend no matter how hot she's always found Finn. She knows that it isn't a good idea for two damaged people to get involved with each other but Finn isn't easy to resist and she finds herself desperately wanting to help him.

Cecy Robson isn't afraid to tackle difficult issues in her novels, we've already seen her deal with domestic violence sensitively and here she gives us a glimpse into the long lasting effects of child abuse and mental illness. These aren't easy subjects to talk about and are often things that are brushed under the carpet but Cecy gives a brutally honest portrayal of how badly they can affect the people involved. Finn has always suppressed what happened to him, he refuses to talk about it and tries so hard to be strong but it has a massive impact on every area of his life and he's going to have to face up to it if he wants any chance of moving forward and finding happiness. Sol's issues are very different but they affect her just as badly and she's not in a great place either but they both find comfort in each others arms. It's not enough to love each other though, they have to be brave enough to tackle things that they've spent years trying to hide and that's not going to be easy for either of them.

I love this couple, they fit together brilliantly and the banter between them was great, the attraction between them is also intense but beyond that they are able to open up to each other in ways that they've never been able to do with anyone else in the past. Finn in particular broke my heart, no child should have to suffer through what he did but I was so incredibly proud of the way he dealt with things in the long term. It took a lot of work to get there but thanks to the support that both Sol and his family gave him he was finally able to face up to what had happened to him. Sol's story was also heart wrenching, the relationship she had with her mother was painful to watch and Sol put a lot of pressure on herself to try and fix something that was basically unfixable. These two don't have it easy to start with but that just makes their happy ending even more perfect and I had such a huge smile on my face when they finally figured out how to deal with their issues.

Of course we also get to see plenty of the other O'Brien siblings too, both the ones who have already found their HEA and the ones who are still happily single. There is definitely something going on with Wren that has me a little worried about her so I'm really hoping that we get to read her story next but no matter which sibling steps up to the plate this series is a must buy for me.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: City of Fae - Pippa DaCosta

From the moment Alina touches London's hottest fae superstar, breaking one of the laws founded to protect all of her kind, her fate – and the fae – close in.

Below ground, the fae High Queen plots to claim the city as her own and places her pawns, ready for the battle to come. A battle she cannot lose, but for one small problem – Alina. There are four ancient keepers powerful enough to keep the queen in her prison. Three are dead. One remains … And to fight back, Alina risks sacrificing everything she has come to love.

This New Adult urban fantasy is packed with action and suspense and will have you yearning for more forbidden fae romance.

London Fae Series:
City of Fae
City of Shadows

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I think I've become a bit addicted to Pippa DaCosta's writing, I've read her entire back list since discovering her earlier this year and City of Fae was the last so I'm now going to have to start rereading her books while I wait for the next release! What I love about this author is how different each of her series are and she's introduced yet another world with this one.

City of Fae is set in London in a world where humans know about the existence of the fae. The fae arrived here from another dimension and they need to feed from humans to survive, we're able to regenerate the life force the fae take so being fed from wouldn't be a huge problem if it wasn't so addictive. Anyone who is touched by the fae can end up becoming completely hooked and pretty much turned into a junkie who is desperate for their next fix. Although everyone knows how dangerous the fae are people still treat them like celebrities so there are no shortage of fans willing to share their draiocht with them.

Alina isn't one of these fan girls though, she's a young woman just trying to make her way in the world and unfortunately she just lost her job working as a reporter. Determined to get back into her editor's good graces she is desperate to find a great story and prove herself. Travelling home on the tube one night she finds famous fae rock star Sovereign collapsed on the platform, she only stops to help thinking she's onto the scoop of the century but she soon finds herself pulled into a dangerous fae underworld that most humans have no idea exists. Alina is pulled into Reign's attempt to stop a fae uprising and the deeper she digs the more secrets she uncovers about her own past.

City of Fae is a great start to the series and I'm definitely glad we're getting another book about these characters in the new year. I really liked Alina, she has a lot thrown at her in a very short space of time and although she makes mistakes she tries really hard to figure things out and does a great job of trying to protect humanity. Reign is still quite a mystery but they definitely have great chemistry so even though there are plenty of things trying to keep them apart I'm really hoping their romance will develop further in later books. The setting deep in the secret tunnels hidden beneath London was quite dark and creepy and I have to warn any fellow arachnophobes about the terrifying number of spiders you'll encounter - if you're anything like me you're going to need a cushion to hide behind while you're reading! This was a fast paced and quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed and I can't wait to get stuck into the sequel.

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

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