Review: Magical Midlife Flowers - K.F. Breene

Previously part of the Magical Midlife Kickstarter.

This is a bonus story that plays into elements in Magical Midlife Battle. It should be read after Magical Midlife Alliance. It isn't necessary to the overall series ARC, but rather a fun little aside into the lives of the Ivy House Crew.

Edgar does not cheat in flower shows. He might use a magically enhanced serum, but anyone could do that. It's not his fault the other competitors don’t know magic exists!

But when the Ivy House crew goes to the pre-show to support him, it becomes clear that someone should've been watching Edgar much more carefully. What he's done is way worse than overgrown flora.

While Jessie is dealing with that, she gets a shock as she discovers photos of her ex with his girlfriend…turned fiancée. And while the flood of emotions can be ignored, the desire to show off Austin on social media is not.

After putting Mr. Tom in charge of the flower fiasco, she decides to take Austin on his perfect date. Her goal: to have one thing go right in her life. Just one thing!

Leveling Up Series:

Magical Midlife Madness
Magical Midlife Dating

Magical Midlife Invasion

Magical Midlife Love

Magical Midlife Meeting

Magical Midlife Challenge

Magical Midlife Alliance

Magical Midlife Flowers (Novella)

Magical Midlife Battle

Magical Midlife Awakening

Visit K.F. Breene's website for more information

Review:
I remember seeing the Kickstarter that included this novella but I somehow completely missed it being published as a separate kindle ebook so I'm a bit late to the party with this novella. Technically it fits into the series after Magical Midlife Alliance so I wouldn't recommend reading it before that point but it won't be a problem if you read it later. It was fun to see more background information of the magical flowers Edgar used in the big battle scene though so I'm glad I picked up this story.

I love the entire crazy Ivy House crew and the banter between them all is just fab. Edgar has always been one to go his own way and he really goes off the rail in this story so it's up to the others to try and reign him back in again. This may only be a short novella but it packs a lot of fun into those pages so while it's not an essential part of the series it's definitely a recommended one!

Source: Purchased

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https://amzn.to/48R4hMu 

Review: The Beast of Blackmoor - Milla Vane

Dive into the world of beasts and barbarians in this prequel to the exhilarating Gathering of Dragons series by Milla Vane.

A warrior princess must tame The Beast of Blackmoor to earn a place among her people. When she arrives in Blackmoor, however, she finds a land cursed by a demon and ruled by an evil warlord...and discovers that the beast isn't a monster, but a barbarian warrior who intends to do some taming himself.

A Gathering of Dragons Series:
(Chronological reading order as per the author's website)
The Beast of Blackmoor (Novella in the Night Shift anthology)
Silent Night (Free short story on the author's website)
A Heart of Blood and Ashes
A Touch of Stone and Snow (July 2020)

Visit Milla Vane's website for more information

Review:
I already wrote a brief review of The Beast of Blackmoor when I read it as part of the Night Shift anthology but I didn't go into much depth at the time and having reread the novella a couple of times recently I wanted to talk about it some more. This is one of those stories that I've loved more every single time I read it and I don't think I fully appreciated it the first time around. It's the first novella in Milla Vane's A Gathering of Dragons world and is a great intro to the dark and dangerous world she has created.

Mala is a warrior on a quest from her Goddess Vela to tame the Beast of Blackmoor, she will do whatever it takes to achieve her goal because her people are depending upon her to protect them and she needs the Vela's gifts to help them survive. What she doesn't realise is that the Beast is in fact a man and Kavik will do anything to avoid being enslaved again. Kavik angered Vela so it's not too surprising that she has forsaken him but Mala believes that they can both earn redemption for themselves and their people if they only listen to the Goddess and follow her will.

I think one of the things I love most about this series is the strong women Milla Vane has created. Not only do we have Vela, a powerful Goddess who is brilliant even as a minor character but we also have Mala, a strong and fierce warrior who stands up for people who can't stand up for themselves. This is a harsh world but Mala thinks nothing of taking on dangerous causes if she believes they are worthwhile. She chose to take on a quest for Vela knowing that the reward would be great if she achieves it but that the punishment will be even worse if she fails, she has faith that while the Goddess will make her task difficult Vela won't give her an impossible challenge so she believes that with hard work she can achieve her goal.

Mala and Kavik are brilliant together, he is the rightful leader of his people but his life was turned upside down as a child by an evil conqueror. Kavik has been to hell and back but has spent his entire life focused on saving his people. He made a huge mistake when he offended Vela but you could feel the frustration he felt as a teenager and could easily understand how desperation led him to fall so low. Now he has spent years waiting for his punishment, knowing that one day the Goddess will catch up with him and the minute he sees Mala he knows she is here for Vela's vengeance. Kavik has waited years for this moment but nothing had prepared either of them for the sparks that fly. The heat between these two was intense and from that very first meeting I was totally rooting for the pair of them.

There aren't many authors who can pack quite such a punch into a novella but Milla Vane manages to create a whole world, give us fantastic characters and create a romance that doesn't feel at all rushed. There was just so much to love about this book and considering I've already read the first full length book in the series, A Heart of Blood and Ashes, three times I can definitely confirm that this whole series is going to be a firm favourite.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Graveyard Shift - Darynda Jones

Guarding a precocious five-year-old who is half-human, half-god, and 100% destined to save the world is no easy feat.

Garrett Swopes was the ultimate skeptic until he met a certain hellion and her husband. They vanished after stopping a catastrophic event and left him, a mere mortal, in charge of protecting their gift to mankind. But when she disappears as well, he needs the help of another breed of hellion. One who can see past the veil of space and time. One who betrayed him.

She will get a truce in the deal, but she will never earn his forgiveness.

Marika Dubois’s son—a warrior in the coming war between heaven and hell—was foreseen long before his birth. But to create a child strong enough to endure the trials that lay ahead, she needed a descendant of powerful magics. She found that in Garrett Swopes and tricked him into fathering her son. A ploy he has never forgiven her for. But when he knocks on her door asking for her help, she sees the fierce attraction he tries to deny rise within him.

And Marika has to decide if she dares risk her heart a second time to help the only man she’s ever loved.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

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:
Before I start this review I want to give a quick heads up to anyone who hasn't already read the Charley Davidson series. Normally the 1001 Dark Nights novellas are a great way to test out a series or a new to you author but The Graveyard Shift gives MAJOR spoilers for the entire Charley Davidson series and I REALLY wouldn't recommend reading it before Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave. This is a fab series though so if you're new to the world grab yourself a copy of First Grave on the Right ASAP.

Now we've got that out of the way I want to tell Charley Davidson fans that you're going to love this novella. I didn't realise how much I've missed this world until I got the chance to dive right back into it and it was so much fun catching up with characters like Garrett, Cookie, Uncle Bob, Donovan but especially little Beep who is now a five year old ball of energy who likes to keep all her guardians on their toes.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot but Garrett's life gets 100% more complicated when Beep vanishes into thin air and he's forced to go to his ex Marika for help. There is a lot of unfinished business between those two and I'm glad we got to see them resolve things once and for all. I also loved seeing how much Beep takes after her mother and how much chaos one small child can cause considering how many people she has looking out for her. I really can't wait for her to be fully grown so we can start reading her series! Oh and we also got confirmation at the end of this book that we're getting a novella about Amber and Quentin in May 2021 called The Gravedigger's Son which I'm super excited about!

Source: Purchased

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Review: Snowed in - Lexi Blake

Previously released in the Alphas Confess All anthology with the name In From the Cold.

Winter might be cold, but this threesome is heating up …

Jessica Phillips never imagined that Gideon Michaels would be at the seminar she was attending in the snowy Aspen wilderness. Gideon broke her heart six months before but introduced her to a lifestyle that calls to her. She’s curious, so she’s attending a conference to teach her more. Unfortunately, Gideon is teaching the classes, and he doesn’t want her anywhere near them.

Reid Watkins is Jessica’s best friend and, unknown to her, Gideon’s longtime lover. He’s always thought Jessica was the woman to complete the threesome they’ve wanted forever, but Gideon’s been hurt before. Can three friends become lovers in a winter wonderland?

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Reid has spent three years trying to figure out a way to get his best friend Jessica, and his long term lover Gideon, to join him in a permanent menage relationship. He knows they're all attracted to each other but Gideon is being stubborn and they're both nervous about introducing Jessica to the BDSM lifestyle in case she walks away from them forever. Then Gideon manages to mess things up completely and ends up breaking Jessica's heart. Luckily for Reid he has plans to bring them back together and this time he's not backing down until he gets exactly what his heart desires.

I always love Lexi Blake's romances, especially her menage stories. She writes such great characters and makes it very easy to fall in love with them. Snowed In is a novella so it's a little shorter than most of her books but because the characters have so much history their romance never felt rushed. I enjoyed seeing all three of them figuring out what they want and need from their relationship and finding a way to make things work.

While this isn't part of the Nights in Bliss or Texas Sirens series if you enjoy those books you'll be sure to enjoy this one too. I half wonder whether we'll see these characters pop up again as side characters in the Masters and Mercenaries books, I love the way all of Lexi's books seem to link together even if it's only loosely.

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

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Review: Sanctum - Lexi Blake

A contract broken…

Ryan Church and Jill Paxon enjoyed their life as Master and submissive until the day Ryan's entire world crumbled. No longer able to fulfill his end of the contract, Ryan did what he thought was best for Jill. He let her go.

An unexpected reunion…

Eighteen months later, Ryan is working for Ian Taggart as the Dom in Residence at the elite BDSM club Sanctum when his former submissive walks through the door looking for a job. Jill has changed, but his desire for her is still insatiable. Jill, shattered by his past rejection, can't trust Ryan, but she needs the job. Back in the community where she once felt safe and secure, she longs for the life she lost and the man she loved.

A last chance for love…

Ryan is presented with an opportunity to restore his wealth and name, but it could cost him his last chance at rebuilding a life with the woman he loves. When the secrets Jill has carefully hidden from Ryan are exposed, a terrible twist of fate might take her out of his life forever.

Masters and Mercenaries Series:
The Dom Who Loved Me
The Men with the Golden Cuffs
A Dom is Forever
On Her Master's Secret Service
Sanctum (Novella)
Love and Let Die
Unconditional (Novella)
Dungeon Royal
Dungeon Games (Novella)
A View to a Thrill
Cherished (Novella)
You Only Love Twice
Sweet Child O' Mine (Short Story)
Luscious (Novella) (Topped book 1)
Adored (Novella)
Master No
Just One Taste (Novella) (Topped book 2)
From Sanctum With Love
Devoted (Novella)
Dominance Never Dies
Submission is Not Enough
Master Bits & Mercenary Bites: The Secret Recipes of Topped (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 2.5)
Perfectly Paired (Novella) (Topped book 3)
For His Eyes Only
Arranged (Novella)
Love Another Day
Master Bits and Mercenary Bites: Girls Night (Short Story Collection & Recipe Book) (Topped book 3.5)
At Your Service (Novella) (Topped book 4)
Nobody Does it Better
Close Cover (Part of the Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection)
Protected (Novella)
Lost Hearts (Memento Mori) (Originally published as Memento Mori) (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 1)
Lost and Found (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 2)
Enchanted (Novella)
Lost in You (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 3)
Long Lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 4)

No Love lost (Masters & Mercenaries: The Forgotten Series book 5)

Masters and Mercenaries Crossover Collection:
Close Cover - Lexi Blake
Justify Me - J. Kenner
Say You Won't Let Go - Corinne Michaels
His to Protect - Carly Phillips
Rescuing Sadie - Susan Stoker
Her Guardian Angel - Larissa Ione

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
Eighteen months ago Ryan's life came crashing down around him, he lost his business, his money and was potentially facing jail for a crime he didn't commit unless he could find a way to prove his innocence. Instead of talking to Jill and letting her help him he made the foolish choice of ending their relationship thinking he could no longer provide her with everything she needed.

Jill was heartbroken when Ryan walked away from her and after months of living a vanilla lifestyle she is finally feeling ready to play again. She's also desperately in need of a new job so when a position opens at the Sanctum BDSM club it seems like the perfect opportunity. She had no idea that Ryan is now working as one of the Doms in residence though. Ryan wants nothing more than to have Jill back in his life but it's not going to be easy to win her trust back after the way he abandoned her before.

Lexi Blake definitely manages to pack a lot into her shorter stories, Sanctum is full of heart with a touch of humour and a heavy dose of spice. Ryan and Jill fit together perfectly and it was easy to root for them as a couple. Ryan made a huge mistake by not letting Jill know what was happening in his life and instead just pushing her away but Jill wasn't perfect either and she hadn't been fully honest with him about what she wanted from their relationship. Seeing them work through their past was extremely satisfying and their story definitely left me with a smile on my face.

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

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Review: Moontangled - Stephanie Burgis

Take one ambitious politician and one determined magician with wildly different aims for their next meeting.

Add a secret betrothal, a family scandal, and a heaping of dangerous fey magic in an enchanted wood...and watch the sparks fly!

For just one moonlit, memorable night, Thornfell College of Magic has flung open its doors, inviting guests from around the nation to an outdoor ball intended to introduce the first-ever class of women magicians to society...but one magician and one invited guest have far more pressing goals of their own for the night.

Quietly brilliant Juliana Banks is determined to win back the affections of her secret fiancée, rising politician Caroline Fennell, who has become inexplicably distant. If Juliana needs to use magic to get her stubborn fiancée to pay her attention...well, then, as the top student in her class, she is more than ready to take on that challenge!

Unbeknownst to Juliana, though, Caroline plans to nobly sacrifice their betrothal for Juliana's own sake - and no one has ever accused iron-willed Caroline Fennell of being easy to deter from any goal.

Their path to mutual happiness may seem tangled beyond repair...but when they enter the fey-ruled woods that border Thornfell College, these two determined women will find all of their plans upended in a night of unexpected and magical possibilities.

The Harwood Spellbook Series:
Spellswept (Prequel Novella)
Snowspelled
Thornbound
Moontangled (Novella)

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
We've met both Juliana and Caroline before so I'd highly recommend reading the previous books in the series before this novella so that you're familiar with their history. Caroline is an aspiring politician with a bright future ahead of her but only if she follows the tradition of marrying a gentleman magician. The slight hitch in that is that she is madly in love with Juliana and the two are secretly engaged. Juliana was one of the first students to join the first magic school for women, the Thornfell College of Magic. Juliana is sure that if she can just pass her exams and officially be recognised as a magician then her marriage to Caroline can go ahead without ruining Caroline's political chances.

A recent scandal has caused Caroline to start pulling away from Juliana though, so just when they're getting close to achieving their dreams it looks like their relationship may be about to fall apart. Juliana is determined to get their relationship back on track but Caroline is trying to protect Juliana's reputation by keeping her distance. One magical night along with one tricky fae and they will either lose each other forever or find their way back to one another.

I'm so happy that Stephanie Burgis decided to give Juliana and Caroline their own story. I've been rooting for the young couple ever since they were first introduced so it was sad to see their respective careers getting in the way of their relationship. Luckily they're both fighters and once they both figure out what is really important nothing is going to change their minds. Juliana and Caroline are a pretty adorable couple but it was also nice to see how supportive Juliana's classmates as well as her teachers are of their relationship.

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

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Review: Wonderment in Death - J.D. Robb

New York, 2061. Darlene Fitzwilliams - a young heiress - kills her brother then jumps from a tall building. All the evidence suggests a tragic but familiar murder/suicide case for Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

But when Eve discovers that Darlene has been visiting psychics and spiritual healers, things take a dark and unsettling turn. Someone has been meddling with Darlene Fitzwilliams' subconscious - someone with a gift for hypnosis and a disturbing obsession with Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

With husband Roarke and partner Peabody at her side, Eve finds herself falling down the rabbit hole into one of the strangest investigations of her career. One that threatens not just her body, but her mind...

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Eve's latest case appears to be open and shut murder suicide, a young woman stabbed her brother to death and then immediately jumped off of the balcony killing herself too. However Louise and Charles were friends with the siblings and they're both convinced that there is no way Darlene would do this so Eve decides to take a closer look. It turns out that Darlene has been visiting psychics to try and cope with the deaths of both her parents and it looks like someone has been messing with both her mind and her body by administering psychotropic drugs. Eve has a killer on her hands and she's not going to let them get away with it.

What I love about the In Death novellas is that they're always a little creepier than the main novels and tend to edge into supernatural territory. Not only do we have a psychic who actually has some real kind of ability to brainwash his victims but he's also obsessed with Alice in Wonderland and determined to take Eve on a trip down the rabbit hole. I'm a huge Alice fan so I loved those elements to the story and I particularly enjoyed it when Eve and Peabody accidentally expose themselves to the same drugs that were used to control Darlene. Luckily they knew what to expect and had backup on hand to make sure they were okay but it didn't make their reactions any less funny.

Wonderment in Death was another fun instalment to the series.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Taken in Death - J.D. Robb

'The evil witch killed Darcia. Henry knew it because he'd seen Darcia on the floor, and all the blood. Everything felt funny and sleepy and wrong. He knew he was under a spell. The evil witch's magic spell.'

When twins Henry and Gala are kidnapped and their nanny killed, Lieutenant Eve Dallas steps in to take control. But video footage shows what appears to be their mother arriving and leaving with the obviously drugged seven-year-olds. Something is wrong, and Eve, her husband Roarke and her brilliant team are ready to work round the clock to get the children back alive...

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Taken in Death is an In Death series novella that is available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or as a separate ebook. I read it as part of the anthology (which I'd happily recommend to fans of fairytale retellings) but I'm reviewing it separately too as I know some people aren't interested in anthologies.

This story is J.D. Robb's take on Hansel and Gretel, normally Eve is only involved in investigating murders but after the body of a nanny is discovered the team quickly realise that the children she was looking after have been abducted. Eve finds herself in a race against time to track down missing seven year old twins Henry and Gala before they come to harm at the hands of the evil witch who stole them.

Taken in Death was a really creepy novella with a cannibalistic evil twin and a couple of pretty smart children who are able to leave a trail for Eve to follow. A perfect read-in-one-sitting story that'll give you your Eve and Roarke fix while you're waiting for the next full length book to arrive.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Paperback (In the Mirror, Mirror anthology) / Kindle (on it's own):

Review: Lost & Found - Ariana Nash

What use is a blade without a war?

After giving their lives to the Order, the Ashford assassins are in crisis. The battles are over, the war is no more, but assassins cannot retire from who they are.

Trey knows this. He may not have been an Assassin of the Order for long, but it was long enough to leave him scarred. Restless and heartsick, he returns to wandering, traveling from settlement to settlement, delivering tokens of love, not death.

Among his Order brethren at Ashford, he rediscovers the joy of careless pleasures and the thrill of knowing he'll be gone in the morning. But one assassin isn't so easily dismissed. Proud, powerful, and a self-centered prick, Sentinel Venali is everything Trey despises. But he fucks like there's no tomorrow, and right now, sex with no strings attached is exactly what Trey needs.

When fellow Order elves begin to take their own lives, the depth of the damage done by the war becomes apparent.

Trey has watched those around him buckle beneath their fears, powerless to stop their self-destructive path. He knows some cries for help are silent. And few need help more than the damaged Venali.

Tomorrow, Trey will be gone. Because staying means loving, and his cracked heart cannot withstand another break.

If only it were that simple to say goodbye.

***

Trey's novella takes place after events in the Silk & Steel trilogy. For the best experience, please read the Silk & Steel trilogy first. This novella does contain spoilers for the Silk & Steel series of novels.

Silk & Steel Series:
Sealed with a Kiss (Prequel short story)
Silk & Steel
Iron & Fire
Blood & Ice
Lost & Found (Novella)
The Black Prince

Visit Ariana Nash's website or Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
I highly recommend avoiding this novella until after you've read the Silk & Steel trilogy (Silk & Steel, Iron & Fire, Blood & Ice) because it does contain spoilers for the main story arc. However, once you've read that trilogy you really don't want to miss the chance to see Trey get his much earned happily ever after!

I've loved Trey since his first appearance in the prequel Sealed with a Kiss and his character has been brilliant throughout the series so I was really happy when Ariana Nash announced that she was giving him his own story. This is all about the Order Assassins and how a lot of them are struggling to find a new purpose for their lives now that the war is over and the elves and dragons are at peace. They've all watched friends and family members die, they've seen and done terrible things and now they've got to try and come to terms with that and figure out a way to move forward. It's not easy though and an increasing number of suicides amongst their number is starting to raise suspicion.

I don't remember much of Venali from the main series but he turned out to be an exceptional match for Trent. The two of them heat up the pages like nothing else and I think this might even be the hottest instalment in the series (which is really saying something to anyone who has read the other books!). Although their connection starts out with the physical I really enjoyed seeing the emotional connection build as they spent more time together. Throwing in the mystery of what is happening with members of the order and I flew through this novella. This story is highly recommended to fans of the Silk & Steel series and I just can't wait to see what Ariana Nash comes up with next.

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

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Review: Chaos in Death - J.D. Robb

Eve Dallas' latest case is starting off a little more bizarre than usual - a police sketch of a killer based on eye-witness testimony reveals he has green skin, swollen red eyes, goblin ears, and a dislocated jaw-structure that defies the human form. Is it a mask? Is it make-up? Or is the explanation more sinister?

Dallas faces off against multiple suspects - all of them students of medicine capable of precisely slicing the ears, noses, and eyes of the three victims. But who had the motive? More importantly, what kind of rogue science are these healers practicing?

Set between New York to Dallas and Celebrity in Death.

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Chaos In Death is a novella available either as an individual ebook, or, as a bind up in print or ebook, that also includes the novella Possession in Death. I read it as part of the bind up but I'm reviewing both stories separately as I'm reading the whole In Death series in order and these stories don't follow each other chronologically.

Three people have been brutally murdered and of course Eve and Peabody are on the case ready to catch the murderer. The slight snag is that their only witness has described a monster right out of a horror story as the killer. Eve is sure they must be skilled with make up and prosthetics but the question is why would they disguise themselves that way? Aww the killing spree continues and the killer seems to be devolving Eve is in a race against time to find them.

What I love most about these novellas is that they're always a little bit weird and creepy. They have all the characters I love, plenty of suspense and action but the answers are never completely straightforward which always throws Eve for a loop as she's very much a black and white kind of person who if she can't see it then she doesn't believe it. This was another great instalment that left me ready to dive into the next book.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Chaos in Death Kindle Or Bind Up Paperback / Kindle that also includes Possession in Death:

Review: Possession in Death - J.D. Robb

An exclusive J.D. Robb short story.

'The devil killed my body. I cannot fight. I cannot free her. You must. You are the one.'

A dying Romanian woman's words send a chill down Lieutenant Eve Dallas' spine. And soon Eve notices some interesting side-effects: visions of the deceased and even fluency in Russian.

Against her better judgment, Eve is convinced the spirit of the old woman is inside her, unable to rest until she's found her great-granddaughter who vanished two months ago. Desperate to be back to normal, Eve realises a string of young women have gone missing, and if Eve doesn't find them, no one will.

Set between Indulgence in Death and Treachery in Death.

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Possession In Death is a novella available either as an individual ebook, or, as a bind up in print or ebook, that also includes the novella Chaos in Death. I read it as part of the bind up but I'm reviewing both stories separately as I'm reading the whole In Death series in order and these stories don't follow each other chronologically.

This story picks up immediately after the end of Indulgence in Death, we even get to see Eve hosting the barbecue she was arranging to cheer up Morris, but the case is a brand new one. When a dying woman begs Eve to find her missing granddaughter Eve finds herself making a promise that she might not be able to keep.

I love that the novellas in this series are a little more on the paranormal end of the spectrum, we've had possible ghosts and demons before and usually there's a plausible explanation but here we see a rather convincing case of possession. I'm keeping this review deliberately vague but it was another fab instalment to the series, I'm so glad I decided not to skip the novellas because they're always such fun to read.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Possession in Death Kindle Or Bind Up Paperback / Kindle that also includes Chaos in Death:

Review: Missing in Death - J.D. Robb

Aboard the Staten Island ferry, a tourist comes across something she shouldn't have seen - something someone needs kept very quiet. Soon no one can find her. But if she didn't jump, and she's not on board, where is she?

Homicide Lieutenant Eve Dallas is called to the scene and is quickly faced with a shocking web of lies. With time running out and a deadly trail of intimidation and revenge emerging, Eve and her team must find out just what was seen on that ferry . . .

In Death Series:
Naked in Death
Glory in Death
Immortal in Death
Rapture in Death
Ceremony in Death
Vengeance in Death
Holiday in Death
Midnight in Death (Novella)
Conspiracy in Death
Loyalty in Death
Witness in Death
Judgement in Death
Betrayal in Death
Interlude in Death (Novella)
Seduction in Death
Reunion in Death
Purity in Death
Portrait in Death
Imitation in Death
Big Jack (Available in the Remember When Anthology or separately)
Divided in Death
Visions in Death
Survivor in Death
Origin in Death
Memory in Death
Haunted in Death (Novella)
Born in Death
Innocent in Death
Creation in Death
Eternity in Death (Novella)
Strangers in Death
Salvation in Death
Ritual in Death (Novella)
Promises in Death
Kindred in Death
Missing in Death (Novella)
Fantasy in Death
Indulgence in Death
Possession in Death (Novella)
Treachery in Death
New York to Dallas
Chaos in Death (Novella)
Celebrity in Death
Delusion in Death
Calculated in Death
Thankless in Death
Taken in Death (Novella available in the Mirror, Mirror anthology or separately)
Concealed in Death
Festive in Death
Obsession in Death
Devoted in Death
Wonderment in Death (Novella)
Brotherhood in Death
Apprentice in Death
Echoes in Death
Secrets in Death
Dark in Death
Leverage in Death
Connections in Death
Vendetta in Death
Golden in Death

Visit J.D. Robb's website for more information.

Review:
Missing In Death is a novella available either as an individual ebook, or, as a bind up in print or ebook, that also includes the novella Ritual in Death. I read it as part of the bind up but I'm reviewing both stories separately as I'm reading the whole In Death series in order and read these stories weeks apart.

It's not often that Eve finds herself called on to investigate a missing tourist on the Staten Island Ferry but that's exactly what happens in this novella. She has a missing tourist plus a large amount of blood but no body and no clue who the potential murderer might be.

This was another great story in the In Death series, even with her novellas J.D. Robb manages to give us a good mystery and this one really tests Eve's sense of right and wrong. Perhaps justice isn't always covered by the laws she so fervently believes in. As with most of the novellas we don't see the whole series cast in this story but we do still have plenty of Eve and Roarke time, Peabody is on top form and even Somerset holds out an olive branch (or chocolate chip cookie in this case!).

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Missing in Death Kindle Or Bind Up Paperback / Kindle that also includes Ritual in Death: