Review: Make Me Believe - Shiloh Walker

Chelly is going nuts-she thinks. And she's fighting for the right to keep her little boy. Right before Christmas, her ex announces he is going to sue for custody of their child. Because she is losing her mind. She is talking to a man who doesn't exist. A tall, sexy creature with wicked blue eyes and magic in his hands. And he can't possibly exist. After all, elves aren't real.

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Ever since Chelly was a child she's had an invisible friend that nobody else has been able to see, people expected her to grow out of it but even now she's a mother she still sees Nikolai in her dreams. When her son is badly injured her life is turned upside down when Nikolai literally steps out of her dreams to save him. Their lives will never be the same again but can Chelly forgive Nikolai for taking away her choices from her?

I should point out that this is a short and very quick read that comes in at about 50 pages so you have to go in expecting things to be resolved fairly quickly. This was a fun read and I enjoyed the author's take on elves and Santa, it's a hot read too and there is plenty of attraction between Chelly and Nikolai but I can't help thinking how much better this could have been if their relationship had been a slower build. Yes, he's been part of her life for as long as she can remember but she never believed he was real before and after everything that happened when her son was injured I think I just needed a little more time with them talking things through and discussing their future before they jumped into bed.

This is definitely a nice Christmas story though and I'd be quite happy to read more stories about these characters, or some of the other elves we met, in the future.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Haunted Blade - J.C. Daniels

Haunted, Hunted…and harassed.

Never let it be said that Kit Colbana had ever been given the easy road. Or even the semi-paved road. Only weeks after dealing with the mysterious—and murderous—being called Puck, she’s got another killer on her hands. Perhaps even two.

Some of the bodies turning up bring up haunting memories of a past she longs to forget, but as always, that past is chasing her at her heels, like a hated shadow.

As the body count racks up, there’s an imbalance of power, particularly among the vampire population, and Kit must yet again deal with ugly memories as one of the monsters who tried to break her is set free to deal with the imbalance of power. Yet while a power struggle rages in East Orlando, there’s another, more subtle battle taking place and Kit feels like the center of it all.

Arrogant? Maybe. But the dead bodies don’t bear the mark of her grandmother’s pet killer by sheer coincidence…and she doubts her nemesis being released is either.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
I'm a huge fan of this series so I loved the chance to dive back into Kit's world and see what's going on with her now. Her relationship with Damon is stronger than ever so she's in a pretty good place personally but things in Orlando aren't running quite as smoothly. It starts with the murders of powerful vampires from several of the largest houses and the power vacuum causes a lot of the younger vampires to lose control resulting in a number of killing sprees. As the bloodlust spreads more vampires are drawn to the area and it's not long before the situation is dire.

This instalment gives us a chance to learn more about Kit's background as a face from her past puts in an appearance and it looks like her grandmother has finally decided that it's time to come after her because there are a few too many things coming at her for it all to be a coincidence. I have a feeling this is just the beginning though and we're obviously building up for a huge showdown in the next couple of books.

It's no secret that I love these books so it pains me to say this but I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I hoped to. I really struggled in the beginning because the story didn't seem to flow very well and that made it very hard to get into. Some scenes seemed to just end halfway through and then you'd be dropped into the middle of another scene and there were several times when I found myself backtracking trying to figure out what I'd missed. That was something completely unexpected from this author because I've never had that problem with any of the previous books. It did improve a lot in the second half though and at that point the pace picked up a lot and I found myself swept away in the story. This may not be the strongest instalment but it was still an enjoyable read and there were a lot of interesting revelations that have set things up nicely for the series going forward.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next book and I'm hoping we're going to start to discover even more about Kit's family as we go on.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition - J.C. Daniels

Special Anniversary Edition

Includes the short story DAMON and never-before-released deleted scenes and more.

Kit Colbana--half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades--has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.

So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters--especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.

Or maybe it's all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she's gotten in over her head. Or maybe it's because if she fails--she's dead.

If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she'll even live long to collect her fee...

Included:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck
Bladed Magic
Damon
Blade Song
Proceed with Caution - A Collection of Deleted Shorts & Scenes

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
This is a special anniversary edition of Blade Song that doesn't just include the first book in the Colbana Files but also has several short stories, novellas and deleted scenes too. A Stroke of Dumb Luck and Bladed Magic are both available to purchase separately but this is the first (and currently only) opportunity fans have to purchase the novella Damon (a Damon POV story) outside of J.C. Daniel's (AKA Shiloh Walker) Patreon campaign and the deleted scenes and shorts gathered together with the title Proceed with Caution are unavailable anywhere else.

I already reviewed nearly all of the stories included in this collection so I've just copied my reviews here to make it easier for you. I literally bought this ebook for the deleted scenes at the end but if you've not read the short stories or the first book then this is a great price to get you started on the Colbana Files series.

A Stroke of Dumb Luck:

Fans of the Colbana Files are going to really enjoy this little short story prequel that can be read for free on the Tor website. The story is also available to download from Amazon for the Kindle but you have to pay a small amount for that version. I have to say that although I'm happy to have read it for free I think I'd have been disappointed if I'd spent money on it (it's very short at around 20 pages). Please note that while A Stroke of Dumb Luck is published on Amazon with the author's correct name, Shiloh Walker, but the rest of the series has been published under her pen name, J.C. Daniels. I think that is a little confusing - especially to anyone who hasn't come across the series before - so I wanted to point it out for anyone who is unaware.

This story will have much more meaning to people who have already started reading the series and who know the characters involved. I've read the first two books (Blade Song & Night Blade) so I'm already invested in this world and it was really nice to get a glimpse into Kit's past. We get to see one of her earliest meetings with vampire Jude and we also get to see a bit more of the background of her friendship with Colleen. If you're new to the series then this story is a nice introduction but it doesn't show the full complexity of the world Shiloh Walker / J.C. Daniels has created, it's a nice taster to whet your appetite but there is only so much you can show in 20 pages. I would highly recommend the series though, it is fast becoming one of my favourite urban fantasy series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs.

Bladed Magic:

Bladed Magic is a short story prequel to the Colbana Files series by J.C. Daniels so you can start with this story even if you're new to the series. If you're a series reading order nut like me then it technically fits into the timeline after A Stroke of Dumb Luck (another short story) and before the first book Blade Song.

For people who are new to the series this is a nice introduction to the main character Kit Colbana, you'll learn a little about her history and discover some of her magical abilities but obviously as this is a short story it won't go into a huge amount of detail. I think it does a good job of showing what a kickass character she can be though and this is a great way to test the waters if you're not sure whether to start the series or not. I do think it's worth pointing out that Justin isn't the love interest for these books so even though he and Kit have some chemistry you shouldn't read too much into that - I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed when they go on to read Blade Song.

If, like me, you're up to date with the series then I'm sure you'll love this chance to see how Kit met her ex Justin. This story shows just how Kit was persuaded out of her hiding place in TJ's bar and how she ended up working as a private investigator. It was Justin's encouragement that helped her get past her anxiety to start taking control of her life again and I enjoyed seeing how instrumental he is in helping her discover more about her abilities.

The Colbana Files has quickly become one of my favourite urban fantasy series since I discovered it so it's one I'd highly recommend. If you're a fan of Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews then I'm sure you'll enjoy J.C. Daniels just as much!

Damon:

Damon is a short story set in the Colbana Files world and its only available to Shiloh Walker's (aka J.C. Daniels) supporters on Patreon. You can sign up for as little as a dollar so it doesn't cost a fortune but it's a great way to help out an author you love and you only pay per story so you're always getting something for your money.

If you're a fan of the Colbana Files then you're going to love this novella, it's set just before Blade Song (although I think you'll enjoy it more if you're already familiar with the characters so I'd recommend reading it after that book) and gives us the chance to see what Damon's life was like before he met Kit. We get to find out why nobody worries when Doyle first goes missing, see more of the friendship between Damon and Chang as well as visit Alisdair and the wolf pack.

I enjoyed seeing certain things from Damon's point of view and this was a nice little teaser that's left me even more eager to read the next book in the series.

Blade Song:

Kit is half human and half Aneira (think Amazon warrior), she was trained by her family to become an assassin and thief but instead she has opened a PI firm and is struggling to make ends meet on her own. There has been a distinct lack of cases recently so when she is approached by the enforcer for the alpha of the local pack of cat shifters she reluctantly accepts the job. Working for the cats is madness - everyone knows the alpha is insane - but finding out that the job is to locate a missing teenage boy tugs at her heartstrings and she just can't say no. When she finds out that the penalty for failure is her death she realises that she may come to regret that decision, especially since it also means working in close contact with pack enforcer Damon. The job won't be an easy one but if anyone has the skills needed to get it done then it's Kit, she just needs to do it fast enough to keep the alpha happy.

I love urban fantasy so as soon as I heard about Blade Song I wanted to get my hands on a copy, thankfully I was approved for an advanced copy via Netgalley and I couldn't wait to get started. This is a fantastic start to a new series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs. I love the fact that Kit brings something new to the table in a genre that is crowded with vampires and shapeshifters. She is descended from a race of warriors and although she isn't the most physically powerful amongst the supernatural races she has a unique skill set and a special affinity with weapons that mean she isn't someone to be taken lightly. She had a difficult past with her family which has made her wary of trusting others but she is strong enough to stand on her own two feet. If anything she can be a bit too independent and needs to learn to rely on her friends to help her more, I'm sure that is something that we will see her learn to do as the series continues though. There aren't many Aneira left and most of the supernatural community have never even heard of them so Kit is often mistaken for a human and her adversaries have a tendency to underestimate her which comes in quite handy and allows her to take them by surprise.

When it comes to enforcer Damon I have to admit it took me a while to warm to him. I do love Alpha heroes, especially when I'm reading paranormal books, but Damon takes it to the extreme and has a really bad attitude towards Kit at the beginning of the book. One particular action of his was almost unforgivable but you get to see how much he regrets what happened and Kit doesn't let him off easily. As we get to know him we see a much nicer side to his character and it was at that point I really started to see his appeal. There is some great snarky banter between the pair of them and although I felt they moved their relationship forward a bit too quickly I still find that preferable to a series where the protagonists have that will they or won't they thing going on for multiple books. I like a bit of teasing but you can have too much of a good thing!

Alongside Kit and Damon we are introduced to some interesting side characters that I'm looking forward to getting to know better. The witches in particular have a lot of potential as allies for future books and it would be interesting to learn more about the covens. I have a feeling we're going to be finding out a lot more about Kit's family as the series continues and I also think that Damon still has some secrets up his sleeve. I'd recommend Blade Song for any urban fantasy fan, there is plenty of action, the story is fast moving, Kit is a strong heroine with unusual and interesting abilities and Damon is a hero who will grow on you the more time you spend with him. I'm already looking forward to the next instalment.

Proceed with Caution - A Collection of Deleted Shorts & Scenes:

Proceed with Caution is a collection of 4 short stories and deleted scenes that haven't been published before. These haven't been fully edited (it openly states that in the book) so there are some errors but not enough to stop me enjoying reading them.

1. Damon POV from beginning of Blade Song - get to see Kit and Damon's first meeting from his point of view. It was really interesting to see inside his head during that first meeting so I definitely enjoyed this short. My only complaint is that I wanted it to be longer.

2. The Tree - this is a short story featuring Kit, Justin and another witch called Tate (who I can't remember if we've come across in the series before or not). They are working a case and have been asked to investigate a haunted tree but it quickly becomes clear that there is much more going on that a simple ghost. I really enjoyed this story but it ended a little abruptly which was a major disappointment, it didn't feel like a finished story & was almost like the final chapter hadn't been included.

3. Damon POV from the end of Night Blade - This contains spoilers for Night Blade so if you've not read that far in the series please hold off on this Damon POV. If you have read Night Blade then you'll probably find it pretty heartbreaking reading about his side of Kit's rescue (I know I did) but I'm always happy to get the chance to see more of his side of the story.

4. Damon's Valentine POV set sometime after Edged Blade - this is a cute little slice of life snippet set after Edged Blade, it probably contains mild spoilers but doesn't go into much detail about what has happened to Kit so you're probably safe to read it before the book. It's all about Damon trying to put a smile on Kit's face one Valentine's Day and I really enjoyed seeing them having fun together.

Also included at the end of this edition is an excerpt from Hidden Blade, the next book in the series which will be publishing sometime in the next few months. If you're new to the Colbana Files this is a perfect collection to get you started as it includes the first book and all the prequel short stories, but even if you're already familiar with the series you'll probably find it worth buying just for the additional extras that aren't available elsewhere.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: Damon - J.C. Daniels

Exclusive short story for J.C. Daniels / Shiloh Walker supporters on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Shilohwalker.

This is a prequel to the Kit Colbana series featuring Damon

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
Damon is a short story set in the Colbana Files world and its only available to Shiloh Walker's (aka J.C. Daniels) supporters on Patreon. You can sign up for as little as a dollar so it doesn't cost a fortune but it's a great way to help out an author you love and you only pay per story so you're always getting something for your money.

If you're a fan of the Colbana Files then you're going to love this novella, it's set just before Blade Song (although I think you'll enjoy it more if you're already familiar with the characters so I'd recommend reading it after that book) and gives us the chance to see what Damon's life was like before he met Kit. We get to find out why nobody worries when Doyle first goes missing, see more of the friendship between Damon and Chang as well as visit Alisdair and the wolf pack.

I enjoyed seeing certain things from Damon's point of view and this was a nice little teaser that's left me even more eager to read the next book in the series.

Source: Purchased via Patreon sponsorship

Other Reviews:
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Review: F*ck Club: Con - Shiloh Walker

Rule #2 . . . Respect the ladies.

Conner Steele has nothing but respect for ladies. He absolutely adores them and takes more than a little bit of pride in his job—or rather, his former job.

After a run-in with a cop, former male escort Con, along with his brother Riley and best friend Shame, decided it might just be best to hang up their…hats and retire from the business of being paid to pleasure.

After all, they have a profitable business going with their new pub. No reason to ruin a good thing and Con is more than happy to keep pleasing the ladies—just…no longer as a job. Finding a date or company for the night has never been an issue for him, either. He’s been told more than once that he can charm a tiger out of its stripes. But lately a new hire at the bar is turning the tables on him—she is the one charming him, twisting him up into knots and getting him so worked up, he can barely see straight.

In his rather expert opinion, Shawntelle Callahan is nothing less than a queen.

And she’s a queen on a mission, too. Even as tangled up as he is over her, he can see that. First she tries to coax him out of retirement for one last engagement. When that doesn’t work, she sets out to drive him crazy. After finally admitting that she’s a writer who’s looking to do a story on male escorts, Con realizes it will be best to just stay away from Shawntelle. Sure, she says she’s just looking for some hands-on information but he knows there’s more to it than that. There are secrets in her eyes, barely hidden lies and doubt.

F*ck Club Series:
F*ck Club: Riley
F*ck Club: Con

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Now that they're out of the male escort business Con, his brother Riley, and their best friend Shame are focusing all their energy on the bar they own and run together. Con still has an eye for the ladies though and there is something about their newest bartender Shawntelle that pushes all his buttons. Shawntelle flirts with him shamelessly and there is no doubt Con would have made a move on her weeks ago if she wasn't an employee but then she starts asking awkward questions about his past and that puts him on the defensive. They can't afford anyone digging into their background, especially not someone who is so obviously keeping secrets.

Con was a really easy guy to fall in love with, he's laid back and easy going, someone you know you'd have fun with and it doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes and great in the bedroom. There was some serious chemistry between him and Shawntelle and I was looking forward to seeing a romance develop between them but in the end they never quite clicked for me. I think the main problem was that I found Shawntelle's behaviour totally creepy and she made it very hard for me to understand why Con would be attracted to her. If a male character acted the way she did then I'd consider him a stalker and I would be screaming at the heroine to run far, far away so I found myself doing the same to Con. I just couldn't understand why he was interested in pursuing her. She did improve later on and once we discover her secret it was easier to understand where she was coming from but by it was a case of too little too late and there wasn't enough time spent building their relationship after her revelations.

I still enjoyed the story though, Con totally saved it for me and there's no denying that the sex was hot but I just wish I had warmed to Shawntelle sooner. What I enjoyed most of all were the insights we got into Charli and Shame's upcoming romance - I'm already 100% invested in them and can't wait to get my hands on their book. Shame has a tortured past that breaks my heart but I'm looking forward to seeing Charli break through his defences and I just know their story is going to be my favourite of the series!

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

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Review: F*ck Club: Riley - Shiloh Walker

"The first rule of F*ck Club...we don’t talk about it. We just do the job and get paid."

And Riley Steele did his job very well. He’ll be the first to admit that his current life isn’t the one he’d foreseen. It’s not even one he really wants, but after his parents died and he was left to care for two siblings and a mountain of debt, he was willing to do almost anything.

Now, after almost ten years of being paid to pleasure, he’s almost numb to it…and to women.

That all changes with one phone call. Brianna Sharpe, the girl he’d loved as a boy, is leaving an abusive lover and needs someplace to hide.

Opening his home to Bree is easy. Protecting his heart is a different story. She’d completely shattered it once already. But Bree has changed and Riley wants to think there might be a chance. Only...what will she do when she discovers his secrets?

F*ck Club Series:
F*ck Club: Riley
F*ck Club: Con

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Riley started working as an escort after the death of his parents so that he could afford to raise his younger siblings. He couldn't find another job that paid enough to clear the mountains of debt he'd been left with as well as send his brother and sister to college and he loved women anyway so there was no harm in it. Now his siblings are older, his money problems are behind him and he's also part owner of a successful bar he's been winding down his extracurricular job and seeing less and less clients on the side. When his ex-girlfriend Bree needs his help to escape from an abusive ex Riley immediately offers her and her young son a safe place to stay. Bree is the one who got away, the woman who he never stopped loving and now he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe and hopefully win her back in the process. Only one thing is standing in his way - what Bree will say if she discovers his previous occupation.

Riley was such a fab character, he's very protective of his siblings and as the oldest brother he did what he had to to make sure they were able to stay together after the death of their parents. He took the weight of the world on his shoulders but never resented them for a minute and I loved how close the three of them are now as adults. Riley isn't ashamed of his past but Bree's opinion of him matters and he worries about what she will think if she finds out about his side job. Bree has had it pretty tough since she split up with Riley but he is the only man who has always been there for her and he's the one person she can turn to when her ex crosses a line she can't forgive and hurts their son. Riley never understood why Bree left him but when we learn more about her backstory it was utterly heartbreaking and it was very easy to root for the pair of them as a couple.

The one thing that put me off this story was a scene between Riley and one of his clients, he'd already decided to give up being an escort but rather than let his client down gently he decided to keep one last appointment with her. We don't get to see any of the details but it put me off that he had sex with another woman when he was about to start something with Bree, it wasn't technically cheating but it was a little close for comfort. Especially since he returns from meeting his client and immediately ends up having sex with Bree (he has to convince her to join him in the shower so he can wash the smell of the other woman away and that was just too much of a no, no for me!).

Apart from that I really enjoyed this story though and I already love Riley's brother Con and their best friend Shame. I can't wait to read both of their books so I'll definitely be continuing this series.

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

Other Reviews:
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Kindle:

Favourite Types of Contemporary Romance Heroes

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.

The September Prompt is:

Favourite Types of Contemporary Romance Heroes

Medical Professionals:

1. Forever and a Day - Jill Shalvis (Doctor)
2. Hearts in Darkness - Laura Kaye (Paramedic)
3. Animal Attraction - Jill Shalvis (Vet)
4. Emergency Engagement - Samanthe Beck (Paramedic)

Builders / Mechanics:

(Guys who are good with their hands *wink wink*)

1. Simply Irresistible - Jill Shalvis (Building Contractor)
2. How to Misbehave - Ruthie Knox (Building Contractor)
3. A Wild Ride - Vivian Arend (Mechanic)
4. No Flowers Required - Cari Quinn (Handyman)
5. BONUS BOOK: In Rides Trouble - Julie Ann Walker (This one is kind of a cheat since it's Romantic Suspense but it's really good & it's a whole series of hot ex-marines who are now undercover mechanics!)

Tattoo Artists:

1. Wrecked - Shiloh Walker
2. Hard as it Gets - Laura Kaye
3. Echoes of Scotland Street - Samantha Young
4. Sins & Needles - Karina Halle
5. BONUS BOOK: Beyond Jealousy - Kit Rocha (Another cheat, this time for an extremely hot futuristic dystopian story with tattoo artist Ace who happens to be one of my top book boyfriends ever!)

Famous Heroes:

1. Rock Hard - Nalini Singh (Rugby Player)
2. Rock Addiction - Nalini Singh (Rock Star)
3. Lick - Kylie Scott (Rock Star)
4. Hollywood Dirt - Alessandra Torre (Actor)

Do you have any recommendations for books that fit the above categories for me? Let me know if I've missed any of your favourites, I'm always happy to add more books to my ever growing to be read mountain LOL.

There were a million other tropes I could have included in this list - I love a geeky hero, I'm still partial to the odd billionaire & I definitely enjoy a Dominant alpha male - but I figured this list is already long enough! What are your favourite types of contemporary romance heroes?

Review: Shadowed Blade - J.C. Daniels

Something wicked this way comes . . .

The arrival of a very important person in her office seemed to be the start of a lot of problems for Kit Colbana, investigator extraordinaire. Claiming that he needed somebody with her special skillset, he sends her on a series of jobs that made little to no sense until one culminated with both her and her partner, Justin barely escaping with their lives.

Back in Orlando, they go their separate ways to recover, Justin heading to the house of a local witch, while Kit returns to the Lair, where she’s recently been living with her lover Damon, the Alpha of the Southern Cat Clans.

There’s barely a chance for to catch her breath before trouble of the highest order comes knocking on her door. This time, it’s the form of a psychic by the name of Nova. Nova has bad, bad news…Justin has gone missing and so has the witch who was going to put him up while he healed. Colleen, one of Kit’s closest, dearest friends.

With all sorts of non-humans disappearing, fury doesn’t even touch what Kit is feeling as she heads out to hunt down the people responsible.

But Kit isn’t the only one out on a hunt…somebody is hunting for her…somebody Kit would rather never, ever see again.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
I've been a huge fan of this series since I read Blade Song nearly four years ago (where the hell does the time go?) so I'm always itching to get the next instalment and I couldn't wait to start reading Shadowed Blade. You definitely need to read these books in order to get the most out of them though so I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read at least as far as Edged Blade. I'd also recommend reading the short story Misery's Way before starting this book, if you haven't already bought that story separately you're in luck because it's included at the end of this one (this is one of the very rare occasions when it's better to start at the end of the book LOL). This story jumps in as if you already know the new character introduced in that short so you could end up feeling a little lost if you haven't.

I have to say that the beginning of Shadowed Blade felt a little choppy anyway, it jumped around a bit and skips chunks of time so I was initially left wondering what was going on but once the story kicks off it was everything I'd hope for from this series. Kit and Justin are working together on a case but everywhere they go a crazy witch appears and tries to kill them. There's plenty of action as Kit and Justin try to figure out who is targeting them and it looks like they have a new and incredibly dangerous enemy to deal with. While this is going on we finally get the chance to find out whether Frankie's magic had any effect on Kit.

We also get to meet a few interesting people from Kit's past which I really enjoyed. Nova is a fab addition to the cast, he has some incredibly interesting abilities and he added a lot of humour but we also have an encounter with a member of Kit's family and let's just say things don't go as expected! I'm not going to say more than that so I don't spoil the surprise but I think we're going to see the series take a very interesting turn over the next few books. This series continues to be as much fun as always and I'm settling in and preparing myself for the long wait for the next book.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
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Underrated Contemporary Romance Books

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.

The May Prompt is:

Underrated Contemporary Romance Books

(Links below will take you to my reviews)

There are lots of books I want to shout to the world about and get everyone reading but in the end to try and narrow down my list a bit I decided to only include books with less than 5000 ratings on Goodreads (most of these books fall in around the 2-3K mark). I love all of these authors and would happily recommend any of their books, where stories are part of a series the book I've mentioned is the first one but more often than not I've read and loved them all. The Lara Adrian book is possibly a bit of a cheat as it was only released this week but it's still got less than 5K ratings, it's her first self published contemporary romance and I loved it so much that I really want to rave about it!

1. Ride With Me - Ruthie Knox
2. Before I Fall - Jessica Scott
3. Once Perfect - Cecy Robson
4. Rocky Ride - Vivian Arend
5. For 100 Days - Lara Adrian
6. Unbound - Cara McKenna
7. Come Back to Me - Mila Gray
8. Sexcapades - Christine d'Abo
9. Wrecked - Shiloh Walker
10. Cake - Lauren Dane

Have you read any of my choices? What books would be on your most underrated list?

My Top Ten Contemporary Romances Of All Time

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.

The April Prompt is:

My Top Ten Contemporary Romances Of All Time

(Links below will take you to my reviews)

I've kind of cheated a little because it was impossible to narrow it down to just 10 books! So I've picked my Top books for three different categories, Young Adult, New Adult and Adult. I read a lot less contemporary YA so I've only chosen 5 of those but I've picked my top 10 NA and Adult books.

Young Adult:

1. Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
2. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
3. Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry
4. Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
5. The Square Root of Summer - Harriet Reuter Hapgood (review coming soon)

New Adult:

1. Rock Hard - Nalini Singh
2. Come Back To Me - Mila Gray
3. Once Pure - Cecy Robson
4. Losing It - Cora Carmack
5. Before I Fall - Jessica Scott
6. Deeper - Robin York
7. Ugly Love - Colleen Hoover
8. Sins & Needles - Karina Halle
9. Easy - Tammara Webber
10. Anything but Broken - Joelle Knox

Adult:

1. Forever and a Day - Jill Shalvis
2. Ride With Me - Ruthie Knox
3. Hearts in Darkness - Laura Kaye
4. Wrecked - Shiloh Walker
5. The Siren - Tiffany Reisz
6. Bared to You - Sylvia Day
7. A Wild Ride - Vivian Arend
8. On Dublin Street - Samantha Young
9. 30 Days - Christine d'Abo
10. Hollywood Dirt - Alessandra Torre (review coming soon)

So what do you think of my choices? Would you pick any of the same books as me? Have I missed off any of your favourites?

My Favorite Contemporary Romance Tropes/Themes

The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.

The March Prompt is:

My Favorite Contemporary Romance Tropes/Themes

(Links below will take you to my reviews)

Friends to Lovers

1. Once Pure - Cecy Robson
2. Before Jamaica Lane - Samantha Young
3. Wrecked - Shiloh Walker
4. Falling for His Best Friend - Katee Robert
5. Let it Ride - Vivian Arend
6. Rising Assets - Rebecca Zanetti

Brother's Best Friend / Best Friend's Brother

1. Dare to Resist - Laura Kaye
2. Rumour Has It - Jill Shalvis
3. Summer in Napa - Marina Adair
4. Come Back to Me - Mila Gray
5. Recipe for Seduction - Gina Gordon

Reunited Lovers

1. Once Loved - Cecy Robson
2. Wicked Games - Samanthe Beck
3. Tempted by the Soldier - Nicolette Day
4. Rescue My Heart - Jill Shalvis
5. Homefront - Jessica Scott

Reclusive / Loner Heroes

1. Ride With Me - Ruthie Knox
2. Unbound - Cara McKenna

Famous Heroes (Rock Star / Actor / Sportsman)

1. Rock Hard - Nalini Singh (Rugby Player)
2. Rock Addiction - Nalini Singh (Rock Star)
3. Lick - Kylie Scott (Rock Star)
4. Playing the Part - Robin Covington (Actor)
5. Hollywood Dirt - Alessandra Torre (Actor) - I'll be posting my review for this one very soon but the story is absolutely fantastic!

Forbidden Romances

1. Losing It - Cora Carmack (Teacher / Student)
2. Hard Time - Cara McKenna (Prisoner / Prison Librarian)

Geeky Heroes

1. Sexcapades - Christine d'Abo
2. Flirting With Disaster - Ruthie Knox
3. Playing for Her Heart - Megan Erickson
4. The Theory of Attraction - Delphine Dryden

Fake Relationships

1. One Night of Trouble - Elle Kennedy
2. Falling for the Marine - Samanthe Beck

Two Strangers who meet in the dark 

(who even knew this was a trope? I HAD to include it though since this is one of my favourite contemporary romance novels EVER!)

1. Hearts in Darkness - Laura Kaye

So those are some of my favourite romance tropes & some of my favourite contemporary romances. These are all books I've recommended to friends and most of these authors are firm favourites. Are there any books in these tropes that I've missed? I'm always looking for new books so recommendations are very welcome. Are there any tropes that you love that I've forgotten to mention?

Review: Misery's Way - J.C. Daniels

Her name is Frankie. At least, that’s what she calls herself.

She looks human, but she’s no more human than she is a faith-healer. That doesn’t stop her from using her…more unique abilities to take care of certain needs. It’s those abilities that lead to a chance encounter with an unusual woman in Florida.

It’s a chance encounter with fate that will set these two down a collision course with destiny.

This short story is loosely connected to the Kit Colbana Files. Can be read as a stand-alone.

The Colbana Files:
A Stroke of Dumb Luck (Free Short Story)
Bladed Magic (Short Story)
Damon (Novella)
Blade Song
Blade Song: Special Anniversary Edition
Night Blade
Broken Blade
Edged Blade
Misery's Way (Novella)
Shadowed Blade
Haunted Blade

Visit J.C. Daniels' website for more information

Review:
Misery's Way is set in the Kit Colbana world and in my opinion it's best read after Edged Blade because even though this is mainly introducing a new character we do get to see Kit and Justin through her eyes and you could end up getting lost if you're new to the series.

Frankie is a fascinating new character who I hope we will see again in future books of the series. She is very obviously not human but she never quite admits to what she actually is and I wasn't able to figure it out myself. She feeds off of human misery and pain but she is also able to use her gift to heal people. She has been living as a faith healer trying to save people without bringing too much attention to herself but it's very hard to stay under the radar and do a good job at the same time.

As much as I loved Frankie I really want to know more about her past and who is chasing her, I'm also incredibly curious about her (also not quite human) companion Saleel. The two have an interesting bond and I'm sure there's a story to be told but we don't get much information here.

Misery's Way is a very short story but it's priced so low that I don't think you'll be disappointed and fans of the series will enjoy getting to see Kit and Justin through an outsider's eyes. Frankie also does something that is going to have a big impact on Kit in the future and you won't want to miss that. The ebook includes a bonus extra story, Bladed Magic, which you may have already read since it was published previously but that makes this eBook an even better price if you don't already own it. My love for this series just continues to grow and this story just made me more eager than ever to get my hands on the next instalment.

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

Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
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.

Kindle:

Review: Wicked Wild Fantasies - Shiloh Walker

Always the wallflower, Alison Ryan is used to being ignored and pushed around. Everybody takes her for granted, even the strung-out would-be mugger who tried to steal her purse late one night. She can’t say who was more surprised when she stood up to him…the mugger, herself…or Detective Alex O’Malley, her brother’s best friend and the man she’s loved for most of her life.

When a little bit of comforting goes sideways, Ali ends up living out one of her most hidden fantasies, having Alex’s mouth on hers, his hands sliding all over her body.

The last thing Alex O’Malley expected was to wake up and find himself wrapped around his best friend’s baby sister. He’d just been trying to be a friend and he wakes up in wonderland. Before he could get his head wrapped around what’s going on, though, his mouth gets him in trouble and Alison takes off. Plagued by guilt and a need that just won’t quit, he keeps away from her.

When life has them crashing back together, Alex can hardly believe his eyes. The shy mouse who used to pretend she wasn’t staring at him is gone and in her place is a strong, sexy confident woman who isn’t afraid to take her life—and her needs—into her own hands.

Determined to convince her to give him a chance, Alex sets out to make her understand that he is the one man who can make all her wicked, wild fantasies come true.

Previously published as HER WILDEST DREAMS. This title has been extensively rewritten and revised. New material has been added and it has been re-edited. Also includes a bonus story, Hunt Me

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Wicked Wild Fantasies was originally published with the title Her Wildest Dreams but the story has been revised and expanded before being published again with a new name. Having never read the original version I can't compare the two so this review is purely for the new version of the story.

Alison has always been the shy retiring wallflower and even though she has crushed on her older brother's best friend Alex for years she would never have dreamed of acting on it. Until the day she is mugged at knife point and Alex comes to her rescue, having seen her life flash before her eyes Alison suddenly starts to realise that if she doesn't make big changes life will just pass her by. When Alex's offer of comfort turns into something more passionate Alison is thrilled in more ways than one but seeing Alex's guilt kick in breaks her heart. She's still had the kick she needs to make major changes in her life though, she quits her job, gives herself a makeover and heads off to Ireland for an adventure. Two months later she's back and Alex barely recognises her, he hasn't been able to stop thinking about their encounter but this new, more confident, Alison attracts him more than ever.

For a quick hot read you can't go far wrong with a book by Shiloh Walker, she is great at ramping up the heat between her characters and you can always expect plenty of hot bedroom action in her stories. Although Wicked Wild Fantasies has been revised you can still tell it's one of her earlier works though, it's not quite as polished as her more recent stories and the character development isn't quite as good. This was an enjoyable story but I had to kind of ignore about how quickly Alison had done a complete 180 personality wise, it just didn't feel realistic that she would have changed so dramatically in such a short space of time. I also would have liked to have seen more of her and Alex spending time together outside of the bedroom, the time they did spend together was undoubtedly hot but I need a bit more than sexy times to make me believe that they're going to have a successful happily ever after.

If you're in the mood for something spicy with a hot, dominant cop who likes to take control in the bedroom then I'm sure you'll enjoy Wicked Wild Fantasies.

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

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.

Kindle:

Review: Seduced in Secret - Shiloh Walker

Best laid plans…are meant to be broken.

Life laid out, Tessa had everything set. Engaged to marry the perfect man, a rich, great-looking doctor, she was content with her life, or so she thought. Then the gift arrived. Delivered to her office on Valentine’s Day, it was filled with handcuffs, sexy little toys and a suggestive little card.

It wasn’t from her fiancé, either.

When the emails and the phone started coming, she should have been able to brush them off, except the man said something that left her uneasy…and not because he scared her, but because he was right. Your fiancé will never make you happy, Tessa.

Confused, she starts looking at her fiancé, her life…and other things…in a whole new light. One of the things she finds herself considering is her best friend and neighbor, Caleb. He’s always been there. Even when he spent years in the Navy, Caleb was the one she could count on and now isn’t any different. He’s there to listen when she needs an ear and he’s got nice, strong shoulders when she needs one to lean on.

It doesn’t her long to realize that one thing is certain—her fiancé can’t make her happy. But now she doesn’t know whether she wants to take a chance on her sexy secret admirer…or Caleb, the man who’s been there waiting for her all along.

It includes a short bonus story called Don't Walk Away.

Seduced in Secret was previously published as Whipped Cream and Handcuffs. It has been extensively rewritten, revised and expanded.

Visit Shiloh Walker's website for more information

Review:
Seduced in Secret was originally published with the title Whipped Cream and Handcuffs but the story has been revised and expanded before being published again with a new name. Having never read the original version I can't compare the two so this review is purely for the new version of the story.

Tessa's life is going completely to plan, she likes her job, she loves her home and she's engaged to the perfect man. Well, he's the perfect man on paper anyway even if he is a little over controlling. Everything is great until she starts receiving messages and gifts from a secret admirer and they make her start to think about all the things she is missing out on. She quickly realises that man sending the messages is right - her fiancé will never make her happy - but does she take a chance on meeting up with a stranger or should she risk action on the attraction she feels for her best friend Caleb, the one man who has always been there for her?

I really love the friends to lovers trope so I knew from the blurb that I was going to enjoy Seduced in Secret. Caleb has had feelings for Tessa for as long as he can remember but she placed him in the friend box a long time ago and he's never managed to break out of it. He's spent years working overseas in the Navy but Tessa has always been the woman he dreamed of coming home to and now that he's been medically retired he is determined to make his move. It was easy to fall for Caleb, he was such a sweetheart and he obviously knows everything there is to know about Tessa and what she needs to be happy. I loved seeing the strong bond of friendship between them as well as the obvious physical attraction, they make a really cute couple and it was easy to root for them. The secret Caleb was keeping was very amusing although I didn't blame Tessa for being a bit upset when she realised what was going on. My only problem was that the story ended a bit too abruptly, I think it would have been even better if it had been extended by a couple more chapters.

This book also includes a bonus short story called Don't Walk Away, this was a second chance love story between a couple with a complicated history. It was a nice bonus but was a bit too short for me to really connect with either of the characters. I would have much preferred to skip this for an extra couple of chapters of Seduced in Secret.

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

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.

Kindle: