Review: Stolen by Her Bear - Felicity Heaton

Saint is a bear shifter on the war path. He just wants to sleep the winter away, but his rowdy neighbours in the remote Rocky Mountains valley have other plans. When the cougar shifter brothers refuse to keep the noise down, he reacts on instinct, kidnapping a beautiful female who smells like sweet berries and tempts him like no other—a female who happens to be mated to one of the brothers. 

Holly’s first taste of freedom isn’t going as planned. Escaping her family to join in the winter wedding celebrations at Cougar Creek with her friend Ember sounded fantastic, until a grouchy bear shifter grabs her—a gorgeous male who rouses instincts in her that are startling and powerful, igniting a fierce need to growl and stake a claim on him. A gorgeous bear who might be her fated mate. 

Can Holly resist the hungers Saint awakens in her? And when Saint realises his mistake about her identity, can he convince the stunning Holly to give him a second chance?

Black Ridge Bears Series:

(Set in the same world as Vampire Erotic Theatre, Eternal Mates & Cougar Creek Mates series but can be read completely separately)

Stolen by Her Bear

Vampire Erotic Theatre Series:
Covet
Crave
Seduce
Enslave
Bewitch
Unleash

Eternal Mates Series:
(This series is set in the same world as the Vampire Erotic Theatre series but can be read completely separately)
Kissed by a Dark Prince
Claimed by a Demon King
Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Hunted by a Jaguar
Craved by an Alpha
Bitten by a Hellcat
Taken by a Dragon
Marked by an Assassin
Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Awakened by a Demoness
Haunted by the King of Death
Tuned by a Tiger
Tamed by a Tiger
Treasured by a Tiger
Unchained by a Forbidden Love
Avenged by an Angel
Seduced by a Demon King

Cougar Creek Mates Series:
(Set in the same world as Vampire Erotic Theatre & Eternal Mates series but can be read completely separately)
Claimed by her Cougar
Captured by her Cougar
Courted by her Cougar
Craved by her Cougar

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
Stolen by Her Bear is the first book in Felicity Heaton's new Black Ridge Bears mini series set in the same world as her Eternal Mates books and at the same location as the Cougar Creek books. If you've read the Cougar Creek books you may remember some of the bears and you'll enjoy seeing familiar characters pop up but this book does work on its own if you're new to the world.

Saint is the alpha of the Black Ridge bears and takes his duty to look after his brothers seriously so when they're woken up from their winter sleep by the noisy cougars its fair to say he's a little bit grumpy about it. He sets off down to the creek to try and figure out what is going on and get them to quiet down a little but his bear side takes over and instead he ends up abducting a female cougar who has an irresistible scent. Holly is spending winter in Cougar Creek to join in the wedding celebrations and the last thing she's expecting is to be snatched up by one of the local bears. The biggest surprise is that she realises she quite likes the gruff alpha and wants to get to know him better. The cougars aren't happy when they discover Holly is missing though and now she's going to have her work cut out to try and diffuse the tension between the two clans.

I have to confess I wasn't sure I'd like Saint in the beginning, lets face it abducting someone to get revenge on your enemy is hardly an endearing trait, but thankfully he is willing to admit when he messes up. He was tired and grumpy and knows he overreacted but he's also big enough to apologise when he's in the wrong and works hard to make amends which made it easy to like him after all. 

This series is all about fated mates so the romances tend to come easily to the couples but I enjoyed watching Saint and Holly get to know each other and I liked the way they are potentially going to bring their two clans together. Living in such close proximity it makes sense for them to be allies but they needed a way to bridge the gap and get to know each other well enough to stop causing tension. We got to meet a couple of the other bears and I'm looking forward to reading both of their stories as the series continues.

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

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Review: Stealing Summer - Lexi Blake

From New York Times and USA Today bestseller Lexi Blake comes a new epic-length story in her Thieves/Hunter world… 

A daughter lost 

Summer has spent her whole life wondering about the family she left behind. On the night she came into being she only had a few moments with them. In that brief time, she reached out to her father, looking deep into his soul, and gifted him the will to go on. But now she is the one in need. Once a child made of pure magic, she is forced to live as a mortal. Her power caused great harm, and she has sworn never to let it happen again. With her friends beside her, she tries her best to help those she can. If that requires her to do a little thievery, well, she is her mother’s daughter, after all.

Everything changes when a woman falls from the sky and Summer meets the handsome vampire named Marcus Vorenus. Just as her past begins to catch up with her, she might have finally met her future.

A mother discovered

Kelsey Owens went searching for Dev and Marcus but all she found was a trap. She was pulled through a magical painting and thrown smack into the middle of a battle on a foreign plane of existence. Luckily she’s good in a fight. Saving the woman targeted by the horde of brutal soldiers, Kelsey is shocked by her resemblance to her queen. As Kelsey investigates the mystery surrounding Summer Donovan-Quinn, she also hunts for a way back to the husbands and son she just claimed.

A queen exiled

Zoey Donovan-Quinn is not happy. The wizard Myrddin is back, her marriage is troubled, and she is sure those two problems are connected. But nothing is more worrying than Dev’s sudden disappearance. When she and Daniel go looking for him, they are drawn into a world thought lost to the Earth plane. Danger awaits them there, but so does the daughter they thought they would never see again. She hopes they survive their reunion.

Three heroines. One mystery. And an ending that will change the Thieves world forever…

Thieves Series:
Steal the Light
You Will Call Me Master (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
She Will Be My Goddess (Free short story via the author's newsletter)
Steal the Day
Steal the Moon
Steal the Sun
Steal the Night
Ripper (Hunter book 1)
Addict (Hunter book 2)
Sleeper (Hunter book 3)
Outcast (Hunter book 4)

Stealing Summer (Hunter book 5)

Visit Lexi Blake's website for more information

Review:
I love Lexi Blake's Thieves series and always hoped that we'd find out what happened to Summer as well as that we'd see Marcus get his own romance so I was thrilled when I heard about Stealing Summer. While a lot of this author's books work as stand alone stories (you can pretty much read the Masters & Mercenaries series in any order for example) I really recommend reading this book after the rest of the Thieves and Hunter books because there is so much going on here that it would be confusing for a first time reader.

We have three different points of view for the book, Zoey from the original books in the series, Kelsey whose story was told in the Hunter spin off and also Summer who we saw briefly as a baby but never as a POV character before. Sometimes I find stories confusing when they're told from multiple points of view but these three characters were distinctive enough that it was easy to keep track of who we were reading about.

It's really hard to say too much about the plot of this book without giving spoilers but trust me if you had questions at the end of the previous books then you'll get most of the answers here. As well as Zoey and Kelsey we get to catch up with other series favourites like Daniel, Dev and Marcus, we also get to explore a few new realms and if you're fans of Lexi's other books you'll spot cameos from characters from both the Masters and Mercenaries and the Faery story series. I loved getting to meet Summer and see how her life had turned out since she was taken to Faerie and I really loved seeing Marcus finally get his own happily ever after that he's waited thousands of years for. 

The only other thing I'm going to tell to is that this is a total game changer for this series and whole world. Lots of revelations are made and while I expected something like what happened at the end it was still a jaw dropping moment and a HUGE cliffhanger. I honestly can't wait for the next book in the series and I'm really glad that Lexi Blake is writing in this world again!

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: Sin & Surrender - K.F. Breene

The sixth and final book in the #1 internationally bestselling Demigods of San Francisco series!

It's the moment Kieran and Lexi have been preparing for. The Magical Summit.

Ready or not, they will take their assembled team into the belly of the beast. The stakes couldn't be higher. If the powers that be don't approve of Kieran, he will not earn the official title of the Demigod of San Francisco.

The real danger concerns Lexi, however. With Kieran away in meetings, she must brave the treacherous halls of the Summit with just her crew and her wards, fighting for social placement and status, open to attack from all angles.

She could've never expected what comes at her. No one could've.

Prepare yourself for this epic conclusion to the Demigods of San Francisco series!

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

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

Review:
The time has come for Alexis and Kieran to face off with the other Demigods at the Magical Summit. Kieran has to prove his worth if he wants to keep his position in San Francisco but with Lexi's magic in high demand the whole team have to prove themselves capable of defending themselves and if they can't they'll be picked off one by one as the other Demigods try to steal them for their own teams. The stakes have never been higher and they only have a limited time to show the world they're not to be messed with.

As sad as I am to reach the end of this series I'm very happy to say it ends on a high note (I still have hopes that we'll get more books in this world though, even if they're about the other members of the crew with Lexi and Kieran no longer the main characters!). It's hard to review a series finale because you want to encourage new readers to start their journey in this world without giving spoilers (don't do that here please, but I'd highly recommend checking out the first book, Sin and Chocolate) but you also want to let series fans know what to expect. To be fair anyone who has read the previous books already knows what they're going to get in this series though and Sin and Surrender won't disappoint. There is action and intrigue, witty banter between the main team, more romance between Leix and Kieran plus we get to see Daisy and Mordecai show the magical elite exactly what they're made of.

It would be too easy to spoil the final story if I go into much more detail than that but trust me, if you enjoyed the rest of the series you're going to love every minute of this book. Although this is a finale of sorts I'm convinced there is more to see in this world and I really, really hope that we're going to get books about the rest of the crew, there are just too many fantastic side characters to let them go to waste!

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

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Review: Marek - Felicity Heaton

Prince of the Underworld and Lord of Earth, Marek was banished from his home by his father, Hades, two centuries ago and given a new duty and purpose—to keep our world and his from colliding in a calamity foreseen by the Moirai. Together with his six brothers, he fights to defend the gates to the Underworld from daemons bent on breaching them and gaining entrance to that forbidden land, striving to protect his home from their dark influence.

Haunted by a betrayal that shattered him and set him on a dark path of vengeance, Marek closely guards his heart, as determined to keep it safe as he is to wipe the scourge of vampires from the world.
Until a hunt lands him in the presence of a beautiful woman who threatens to steal that heart as she battles his sworn enemy, her graceful moves igniting a passion so fierce and hunger so deep it consumes him.

Caterina’s sole purpose for the last decade has been freeing her brother of the curse of being turned into a vampire. When an alluring dark warrior steps in to help her battle a nest of bloodsuckers, her entire life is tipped off balance. She knows deep in her heart the warrior can help her save her brother, but can she trust a man who is driven to slay every vampire he meets?

When Marek’s enemy emerges from the shadows, and Caterina is pulled down a dark rabbit hole into a dangerous world, will they be strong enough to overcome their pride and their prejudices or will a dark turn of events shatter both their hearts?

Guardians of Hades Series:
Ares
Valen
Esher
Marek

Visit Felicity Heaton's website for more information

Review:
It's been a couple of years since the last book in the Guardians of Hades series was released so while I was excited to dive back into this world I did worry that I might get confused and not remember enough about the previous stories. Luckily Felicity Heaton did a great job of bringing me back up to speed and within a few pages I was just happy to be back with these characters.

Marek is luckier than some of his brothers when it comes to his abilities and they cause less problems for him in the human realm but he has spent hundreds of years caught up on a previous betrayal and spends his time sneaking around hunting vampires when his brothers' backs are turned. It is during one of these attacks that he first meets Caterina who is also hunting vampires but for very different reasons to Marek. Caterina may be human but she's aware of the supernatural so although she doesn't immediately recognise Marek for what he is she does understand that he's not a normal human. The two bond pretty quickly over their mutual dislike of the vampires but Caterina's life takes a very difficult turn when she is targeted by Marek's enemies.

I don't want to say too much about what happens to Caterina but it was definitely shocking and there were some really interesting developments in the ongoing story arc throughout this instalment of the series. As much as I enjoyed the romance between Marek and Caterina I also loved getting to find out more about Calistos and about all of the brothers' backgrounds. Their enemies are building up to something big and I think the action is only going to get more intense in the next couple of books.

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

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Review: The War Priest - Ann Aguirre

Dour. Dutiful. Dogged.

Personal tragedy drove Callum McRae to join the Order of Saint Casimir fifteen years ago; now he’s in charge of a hold he hasn’t lived in for years. Supplies are scarce, he has no knack for dealing with people, and the Gols are at the gates. To make matters worse, he’s also battling an attraction so powerful and forbidden that it imperils his very soul…

Canny. Cheerful. Charming.

Joss Bristow seems bright and cheerful, but she’s hiding a well of sorrow that fuels her music. She’s also prone to leaping before she looks, exactly how she ends up besieged at Burnt Amber. Though she wanted to get to know Callum better, she never imagined that falling for him could cost her life.

He’s the dark of night, and she’s the sun that shines just for him. Two wounded souls have never needed each other more, but between his holy vows and the devastation of war, the odds are stacked against them…

Ars Numina Series:
The Leopard King
The Demon Prince
The Wolf Lord
The Shadow Warrior
The War Priest
The Jaguar Knight (release date to be confirmed)

Visit Ann Aguirre's website for more information

Review:
Callum left his home fifteen years ago to join the Order of Saint Casimir as a priest and he never looked back. He certainly didn't expect to have to come back years later and take control as the hold leader in the middle of a war. The Gols are closing in and battle is looming, supplies are running low and Callum is totally out of practice when it comes to dealing with so many people. Joss is Callum's total opposite, cheerful and empathic to his cold and stoic, she knows exactly how to keep people's spirits up even in the most dire situations. She has admired Callum from afar and wants nothing more than to get to know him better but his plans to return to the priesthood are a huge barrier between them. Joss is exactly what Callum needs though and she might be the only person who can help him get through the challenges that lie ahead.

I've been a fan of Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series since the beginning but The War Priest was definitely my favourite book so far. I absolutely loved the romance between Joss and Callum. She's such a sweet and warmhearted character while he comes across as really dour and grumpy so at first glance you wouldn't think they fit well together. You'd be totally wrong on that though because Joss is absolutely everything that Callum needs, he locked his heart away after a tragedy and has been in a kind of frozen stasis ever since but Joss's sunshine personality burns through that ice and lets her through to the warm and loving man hidden deep inside.

I loved that their relationship develops slowly, the attraction is there from the beginning but it takes time for them to build a friendship and grow trust before Callum realises that Joss is the most important thing in his life, even more so than the vows he took. Even then his vows to the Order of Saint Casimir are taken seriously, Callum respects the order and he doesn't just walk away because he has feelings for Joss. He talks about it with his brothers and requests permission to leave from the head of the order. These two are ridiculously adorable together and I was so happy with the way things turned out for them.

That isn't to say this story is all easy though. They are in the middle of a war and facing danger on all sides so there is plenty of action happening here. It was nice to see some of the previous characters make cameo appearances and there was a lot of great progress made between the different factions who are all fighting against the Gols. I'm already looking forward to the next book and can't wait to see how this series ends.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Sin & Lightning - K.F. Breene

One thing has become incredibly clear to Alexis and Kieran, if they hope to last in the arena of Demigods, they'll need a more robust defense team.

They must take two incredibly dangerous journeys, seeking the prized talents other Demigods would kill for. Except, there is a reason other Demigods don't have these magical workers--they are as ruthless as they are dangerous, and the last thing they want is to be on a Demigod's team.

If that isn't enough, Alexis has received an invitation from Demigod Lydia, the only Hades Demigod who hasn't openly declared war. She's talking like they could be allies, but those of Hades cannot be trusted. A trap is just as likely as a handshake. Still, it's a chance they must take.

Any one of these trips could be their last, but to back down would be the most dangerous of all.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

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

Review:
This series is honestly just getting better and better with each instalment. With Kieran trying to cement his place as the demigod of San Fransisco he needs to prove that he's powerful enough to hold the territory. He already had a strong team with his six but he still needs other powerful allies and preferably to get at least one of the other demigods on his side if he wants to protect not just the territory but also Lexi and her wards. Lexi has unusual but powerful magic and if Kieran can't prove himself then the other demigods are going to start fighting to steal her from him.

Lexi knows that Kieran needs more powerful magic users on his team and with the help of Bria she is determined to help him recruit some. Of course this involves putting herself in danger but she has a unique way of looking at the magical world that could be key in convincing some people that Kieran is a demigod worth allying themselves with. I actually really enjoyed seeing Lexi tracking down potential team member, she's really good at connecting with people and she will fight to the death for anyone she considers a friend or family member. There are some fab new additions to their team that we get to meet here and I'm really looking forward to learning more about them as the series continues.

However it isn't all plain sailing, and some enemies are very good at hiding their evil intentions. The whole team faces a lot of danger in this instalment and there were some heart stopping moments when it all comes to a head towards the end of the book. Things are definitely ramping up and I think the action is only going to build up even more as the series continues. It's definitely going to be interesting when we get to meet the rest of the demigods and I can't wait to see how much chaos Lexi and Kieran cause at the upcoming meeting. This series has definitely become a favourite and I'm sure fans will love this latest instalment!

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

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Review: Kiss of Vengeance - S. Young

A standalone adult paranormal romance from New York Times Bestselling author Samantha Young writing as S. Young.

Fionn Mór was once a high king of Ireland; a fierce warrior who led his tribes against the invading fae. It was a war he couldn’t win and to save his family he turned consort for the Fae Queen. Fionn escaped as the thing he once despised, and the people he loved betrayed him for it. Now, centuries later, it’s time to reopen the gates to Faerie to take his revenge against the Faerie Queen.

At sixteen Rose Kelly discovered family secrets that changed her forever. Years after, she’s still lost, traveling across Europe in search of that elusive missing ‘something’. When she’s attacked by a vampire, not only is she wrenched into a supernatural underworld she never knew existed, a knock on the head releases a spell on her mind and unlocks powers beyond her wildest imaginings. And with them more questions. Questions Fionn Mór claims to have answers to.

Following the powerful and enigmatic Fionn to Ireland, Rose quickly realizes she’s a pawn in his plan for vengeance. What begins as a passionate battle of wills leads to an inexplicable but undeniable connection. One that will force them to face an impossible choice between the deepest love… and the darkest revenge.

True Immortality Series:
(These stories are all stand alone and can be read in any order but they're in the same universe)
War of Hearts
Kiss of Vengeance

Visit Samantha Young's website for more information

Review:
Fionn was an Irish warrior king who led his people in battle against the fae, when the war took a dangerous turn he sacrificed himself becoming consort to the Fae Queen to save his people. The queen turned Fionn fae as punishment, making him part of a race he despised, then, when he was finally able to escape and return home his people betrayed him. In the centuries since Fionn has had one goal in mind, finding a way to return to Faerie so that he can kill the Fae Queen and finally get the revenge he has been dreaming of.

Rose has never felt like she fitted in and she's never been able to settle in one place. For years she's wandered across Europe searching for something even though she's not really sure what she's looking for. Then one night she is attacked by a vampire and finds herself pulled into the world of the supernatural. Fionn offers to be her protection in this new world but Rose has no idea that he believes she is the key to opening the gates to Faerie and that he plans to use her to get his revenge.

While this story is set in the same world as War of Hearts, and Fionn did make a brief appearance in that book, Kiss of Vengeance also works well as a stand alone. Fans of the series will spot a few familiar faces along the way but I don't think it would be enough to make things confusing for new readers. They're great books though so I'd honestly recommend picking up both of them.

I really loved Rose as a character, she was new to the supernatural but she was by no means a push over. She'd been looking after herself for years and was more than capable of standing her ground when she needed to. She was really honest and open and definitely someone I could easily be friends with. Fionn was a strong and proud warrior who had been to hell and back. His backstory was tragic and he had been abused horribly at the hands of the Fae Queen so I had a lot of sympathy for him but I didn't like the fact that he was so willing to sacrifice an innocent just to get his revenge. Fionn and Rose had a spark and I found their bickering amusing but I found it hard to get on board with their relationship when he was keeping so many secrets and basically plotting to kill her for the majority of the book. You could see he was struggling with his feelings and that helped but I think I'd have liked him to be more upfront a little earlier in the story.

Overall I don't think I loved the romance quite as much as the first book but I still enjoyed the characters and the world building. I'm invested in this series and really hope that Niamh is going to be getting her own book soon.

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

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Review: The Bear's Forever Mate - Vivian Arend

HE’S GOT THE PERFECT MATE IN MIND, FOR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW...

Cooper Borealis is fully on board with the concept of fated mates. Except mating the woman he wants—his tempting, complicated, human secretary—is not an option. Or not yet anyway. So he’ll use a loophole to keep the vow he made to his brothers, mating fever be damned. He’ll be with Amber Myawayan at the place and time of his choosing.

Amber has spent the past two years in the north looking for her missing brother—and falling in love with the big, growly polar bear at the helm of Borealis Gems. More than once, she’s caught him looking at her with hungry shifter eyes. But getting him to admit it? Ha! Luckily, mating fever is a thing, and she’s happy to get involved as nature forces the issue to the forefront.

But when their mating bond is unexpectedly blocked, Amber and Cooper find themselves in a race against time. She needs to track down her brother while somehow proving she’s tough enough to be with her favourite bear. And Cooper plans to protect her at all costs, even if it means secretly stifling his stubborn shifter side.

Somewhere in the wilderness, they’ll find the answer…or lose their chance at forever.

Borealis Bears Series:
The Bear's Chosen Mate
The Bear's Fated Mate
The Bear's Forever Mate

Visit Vivian Arend's website for more information

Review:
In this third, and final, book in the Borealis Bears Trilogy Grandfather Giles turns his attention to his oldest grandson. Cooper already has his mate picked out, he just doesn't think the timing is right to settle down and start a family. Cooper is already courting Amber but in his own, very slow, way because she's a human who only recently found out about the existence of shifters and he's hoping that as she starts to trust him she'll eventually develop stronger feelings. What he doesn't realise is that Amber already wants him and when the two end up stranded together in the wilderness it might just be the push they needed.

I've been really looking forward to Cooper and Amber's story. I've loved all of the brothers but Cooper has always been a bit of a mystery figure but he's one who obviously cares about his family and looks out for his younger brothers. It turns out that both Cooper and his inner bear are very stubborn and although they've both chosen Amber neither of them are keen to start the mating dance any time soon.

Amber has two goals, one is to find her missing brother and the other is to win Cooper's heart. When the chance comes along to achieve the first she's thrilled when Cooper volunteers to join her on her journey into the wilderness. Amber will do whatever it takes to convince Cooper she's ready for the mating but if she doesn't work quickly they may both run out of time.

This was a brilliant end to the trilogy, Grandfather Giles may be a meddling old man but it's been clear from the start that he has his grandson's best interests at heart and it looks like he isn't the only family member who is capable of setting long term plans in motion. It's been great to see all three couples find happiness and I can't help hoping that we may see further books set in this world that give us the chance to catch up with them all a few years down the line.

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: Thornbound - Stephanie Burgis

Cassandra Harwood scandalized her nation when she became the first woman magician in Angland. Now, she's ready to teach a whole new generation of bright young women at her radical new school, the Thornfell College of Magic…

Until a sinister fey altar is discovered in the school library, the ruling Boudiccate sends a delegation to shut down Thornfell, and Cassandra’s own husband is torn away from her.

As malevolent vines slither in from the forest and ruthless politicians scheme against her, Cassandra must fight the greatest battle of her life to save her love, her school, and the future of the young women of Angland.

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

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
Thornbound is the second book in the Harwood Spellbook series by Stephanie Burgis and we get to see Cassandra fulfilling her dreams as she opens the door to her new school for female magicians, the Thornfell College of Magic. Cassandra has had a lot of support from her family and her husband to open the school but it quickly becomes clear that a lot of people in positions of power are not happy with her attempting to change the status quo. It's so engrained in society that women are politicians while men are magicians and people are worried that rocking the boat with this new college will have all kinds of implications for the future.

Cassandra has never been one to back down from a challenge but when the Boudiccate send a team of inspectors who are essentially looking for excuses to shut down the college she knows she's really up against it. Then a sinister fae altar is found in the school library proving that someone has been dabbling in forbidden magic, and Cassandra's husband goes missing she starts to wonder if her own dreams are costing the ones she loves a price that she's not willing to pay.

I'm really enjoying this series and I hope that we're going to see more of Cassandra as well as the staff and students at Thornfell College in the future, I'm sure there are all kinds of adventures they could get up to! I think what I like most about this series is how it turns rules of society as we know them on their head, it's the men who have to watch their reputations as being alone with a woman could ruin their reputations and it its the women who have most of the power. But while it's fun to see that switch up I also like the way Cassandra and her students are challenging societal norms to follow their dreams. We've seen Cassandra and her brother both make choices that are looked down on from some quarters but they never gave up and now they're giving a whole new generation the ability to follow in their footsteps.

This series is brilliantly written with inspiring characters and a fun magical setting. Adding in the tricky Fae only adds to the excitement as you really never know what one of them will try next, especially if they're making dodgy bargains with people.

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

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Review: Spellswept - Stephanie Burgis

In the world of the Harwood Spellbook, 19th-century Angland is ruled by a powerful group of women known as the Boudiccate - but in order to become a member of that elite group, any ambitious young politician must satisfy tradition by taking a gentleman mage for her husband.

Amy Standish is a born politician...but Jonathan Harwood is her greatest temptation. On the night of the Harwoods' Spring Solstice Ball, in an underwater ballroom full of sparkling fey lights and danger, Amy will have to fight the greatest political battle of her life to win a family and a future that she could never have imagined.

It will take an entirely unexpected kind of magic to keep everything from crashing down around her.

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

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
Amy is an orphan but she managed to earn a job as personal assistant to Miranda Harwood, a respected member of the Angland parliament. As she's a natural politician it is expected that Amy will follow in her mentor's footsteps and join the Boudiccate but to do that first she must marry a respected magician. Tonight at the Harwood's Spring Solstice Ball she is expected to announce her engagement but really her heart is set on the one man she can never have, Miranda's son Jonathan. It would be a respectable match if only Jonathan hadn't refused to train as a magician, instead preferring to focus his studies on history. Now Amy needs to decide whether to follow her head or her heart, or perhaps she can figure out a way to get everything she's ever wanted.

Although Spellswept is technically a prequel to the Harwood Spellbook series I actually read it after reading the first book, Snowspelled, and I think I enjoyed it all the more because I was already familiar with the characters involved. It was lovely to see the beginning of Amy and Jonathan's relationship first hand and I also really enjoyed getting to meet a teenage version of Cassandra. I love the sibling relationship between Jonathan and Cassandra, he is so protective of his sister and a lot of the life choices he's made become much clearer when Amy discovers a huge secret that Cassandra has been keeping.

Stephanie Burgis has created a really fun world for her historical fantasy series, one where the sensible women are in charge of the government while the more whimsical and emotional men are free to pursue careers as magicians. The gender lines are firmly drawn but the complete opposite to what we're used to and it's really refreshing to see such a different take on society.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Sin & Spirit - K.F. Breene

The fourth book in the Amazon Charts Bestselling series by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, K.F. Breene.

Kieran has stepped up to take his place as the ruler of magical San Francisco. As his girlfriend I'm in the spotlight, and the Hades Demigods have taken notice. They want me on their team, and they don’t plan on asking nicely.

Kieran and I are both under fire. They will kill him to get to me, and they'll take me by force if necessary. It is essential I learn more of my magic.

With no other options, I do what scares me the most - I summon the last Spirit Walker to help train me. Except, he's a loose cannon with looser morals, and learning spirit is treacherous. I might evade the Demigods only to be lost in spirit forever.

Demigods of San Francisco Series:
Sin & Chocolate
Sin & Magic
Sin & Salvation
Sin & Spirit
Sin & Lightning
Sin & Surrender

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

Review:
In the fourth book in K.F. Breene's Demigods of San Francisco series we see Lexi and Kieran facing their most dangerous enemies yet. Killing Valens was only the start of their problems and now that Kieran has taken his place as the ruler of San Francisco he's fully caught the attention of the other Demigods around the world. Not only are they watching to see what kind of ruler Kieran will be but they've also heard rumours about Lexi's Spirit Walker abilities. If any of them is able to capture Lexi and train her they'll have a formidable weapon in their hands, but Lexi and Kieran have other ideas and if she can find someone else to be her guide then they'll be a power couple the other Demigods will have to watch out for.

If you thought the battle in the previous book was intense you haven't seen anything yet. Before they were facing off against one Demigod and it nearly cost them everything, now they have multiple enemies who are all plotting against them and they have no idea where the next attack will come from or which of the other Demigods might be working together against them. This is only the start of their battle to prove themselves and it could all end in disaster at the first hurdle.

I've loved this series since the beginning but each book has only got better along the way. Lexi and Kieran make a great couple but I think one of the things I love the most is the family they've built together with Lexi's wards Daisy and Mordecai as well as the members of Kieran's Six, the men who have been at his side for years and who are more like brothers than bodyguards. Daisy is the only human in the bunch but she has been continuing her training and is able to hold her own against the others by using her brain as well as her physical strength and that is something she's going to need to hold on to more than ever in this book. The danger is off the charts and there were some heart stopping moments but we also get to see Lexi learn even more about her abilities and watch the group really come together to fight against their enemies. The battle is only just beginning and I can't wait to see where the series takes us next.

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

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Review: Snowspelled - Stephanie Burgis

In nineteenth-century Angland, magic is reserved for gentlemen while ladies attend to the more practical business of politics. But Cassandra Harwood has never followed the rules...

Four months ago, Cassandra Harwood was the first woman magician in Angland, and she was betrothed to the brilliant, intense love of her life.

Now Cassandra is trapped in a snowbound house party deep in the elven dales, surrounded by bickering gentleman magicians, manipulative lady politicians, her own interfering family members, and, worst of all, her infuriatingly stubborn ex-fiancé, who refuses to understand that she’s given him up for his own good.

But the greatest danger of all lies outside the manor in the falling snow, where a powerful and malevolent elf-lord lurks...and Cassandra lost all of her own magic four months ago.

To save herself, Cassandra will have to discover exactly what inner powers she still possesses – and risk everything to win a new kind of happiness.

A witty and sparkling romantic fantasy novella that opens a brand-new series for adults from the author of Kat, Incorrigible, Masks and Shadows and Congress of Secrets.

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

Visit Stephanie Burgis' website for more information

Review:
Snowspelled is a novella set in 19th Century Angland, a kind of alternate history of our own world but with added fae and magic. Also this is very much a matriarchal society so if you've been looking for a feminist historical romance this will hit the spot perfectly!

It was a truth universally acknowledged that women were the more pragmatic sex; that was why we were expected to run the government, while the men attended to the more mystical and imaginative realm of magic.

In this world the women are the politicians, they make the rules and govern society while the men engage in more frivolous pursuits like magic. Cassandra Harwood's mother was a respected politician and Cassandra was expected to follow in her footsteps but she was always more interested in magic. It took hard work but she finally achieved her lifetime dream of becoming the world's first female magician, she had everything she wanted in her career and was engaged to the love of her life, fellow magician Wrexham, but when a spell went horribly wrong her world came crashing down around her. Now unable to use magic Cassandra has lost her purpose in life and she broke off her engagement because she didn't want to bring Wrexham down with her.

Several months later Cassandra finds herself trapped at a house party and completely out of her comfort zone surrounded by lady politicians, who should be her peers but aren't, and male magicians, who used to be her colleagues. To make matters worse Wrexham is stubbornly following her around trying to convince her to change her mind about their relationship and she also seems to have caused a bit of bother with the local elves that could cause a political nightmare.

Snowspelled was an utterly charming story by Stephanie Burgis, the world building was fabulous, full of diverse characters and feminist themes, the characters were fun to spend time with, there was a good amount of action and the romance was incredibly sweet. I was amazed how much the author managed to pack into a relatively small number of pages and I'm already looking forward to continuing the series.

Source: Won in a giveaway from the author

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Review: War of Hearts - S. Young

Thea Quinn has no idea what she is. All she knows is that her abilities have been a plague upon her life since she was a child. After years of suffering at the hands of a megalomaniac, Thea escaped and has been on the run ever since.

The leadership and protection of his pack are of the utmost importance to Conall MacLennan, Alpha and Chief of Clan MacLennan, the last werewolf pack in Scotland. Which is why watching his sister slowly die of a lycanthropic disease is emotional torture. When Conall is approached by a businessman who offers a cure for his sister in exchange for the use of Conall’s rare tracking ability, Conall forges an unbreakable contract with him. He has to find and retrieve the key to the cure: dangerous murderer, Thea Quinn.

Thea’s attempts to evade the ruthless werewolf are not only thwarted by the Alpha, but by outside dangers. With no choice but to rely on one another for survival, truths are revealed, intensifying a passionate connection they both fight to resist. At war with themselves and each other, Conall and Thea’s journey to Scotland forces them to face a heartrending choice between love and betrayal.

True Immortality Series:
(These stories are all stand alone and can be read in any order but they're in the same universe)
War of Hearts
Kiss of Vengeance

Visit Samantha Young's website for more information

Review:
Conall is the alpha werewolf and chief of a pack in Scotland, his family and his pack are his priorities and it's killing him having to watch his sister waste away from a disease with no known cure. When he's approached by a businessman who offering him a cure in exchange for Conall tracking down a murderer and bringing them to justice he jumps at the chance to save Callie's life.

Thea has always known she is different she just doesn't know why, despite being born to human parents she is faster and stronger than any human should be and her healing abilities are exceptional even compared to supernaturals. After her parents died she was taken in by a family friend but once he discovered her powers she spent years locked up and suffering through experiment after experiment. Escaping cost her everything and she's been on the run ever since trying to stay one step ahead of her enemies. Now Conall is on her trail and he always finds his target, he thinks he's hunting a murderer but Thea knows capture will lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering and she will do anything to escape that fate.

I love Samantha Young's contemporary romances but paranormal is where my heart lies so when I found out she was writing her first adult PNR story I knew I had to read it. War of Hearts was a brilliant slow build romance between two characters who both have everything to lose. They're both great characters and although I was a bit irritated by how easily Conall let himself be duped in the beginning I could understand his desperation to believe anything if it meant saving his sister. Thea has suffered so much but in spite of that she has a kind of charming innocence about her and she believes the best in the people she meets. She could so easily use her abilities to get whatever she wants but she prefers to work hard and make her own way in life, something that Conall quickly comes to respect too. I thought these two made a really well matched pair and I enjoyed watching them finally start to realise how deeply their feelings ran for each other.

The story is full of action as the chase takes them all across Europe as Thea tries to keep out of Conall's reach. Then when someone else starts targeting the pair they realise that they're going to have to work together if they both want to survive. Samantha Young has created an interesting world and while this story works perfectly as a stand alone I'm really excited that she plans to write more stories set in this universe. Kiss of Vengeance is definitely at the top of my wish list for when it publishes next year!

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

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Review: Sleigh Bells Ring - Jodie Griffin

Vixen loves Nicholas, but as her stay in the North Pole grows short, this reindeer-shifter worries that her time spent with the Master Elf has ruined her for any other dominant out in the real world. But Nic has other plans for the little doe who caught his eye . . . and his heart.

This story was published at the author's website as a free holiday story: http://jodiegriffin.com/2015/12/sleigh-bells-ring/

Visit Jodie Griffin's website for more information.







Review:
Sleigh Bells Ring is a short but spicy free Christmas story that you can read on Jodie Griffin's website here.

Just imagine that Santa's reindeers are actually shifters and think about all the kinky things they could get up to with Master Elf Nic during all those long winter days while they wait for Christmas.

The trouble for Vixen is that she's fallen in love with the immortal elf and she knows she'll never be happy when she's finished her time working for him and has to return to her mortal life and the real world. Luckily for her Nic has no plans on letting her go.

Like I said before this was a really quick read but it was also a really fun one with lots of interesting uses for peppermint candy canes and icicles. It's not for the faint of heart - these reindeers all have their kinks and there are lots of multi-partner situations going on not to mention some BDSM elements but I enjoyed the story and thought reading it was a fun way to pass 20 minutes.

Source: Read for free on Jodie Griffin's website

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