Review: The Leopard King - Ann Aguirre

Proud. Imperious. Impassioned.

Until three years ago, those words applied to Dominic Asher, the leader of Ash Valley. His family has ruled the feline branch of the Animari for hundreds of years, guiding the pride through perilous times. Unspeakable loss drove him into seclusion, a feral beast nobody can tame. Now he’s wrecked, a leopard king in exile, and he wants nothing more than to die.

Fierce. Loyal. Determined.

Fortunately for Dom, those words still apply to Pru Bristow, his dead mate’s best friend. She’s had her heart broken too, but she never quits. With the conclave approaching, alliances with the Pine Ridge pack and Burnt Amber clans on the verge of collapse, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to drag their leader back, before his second can start a war.

At best theirs seems like a desperate alliance, but when their mate bond turns hot and fierce, there’s no end to the questions and the doubts. Neither of them expects to fall in love. But sometimes people don’t know what they’re looking for until they find it.

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:
When Dom's mate was murdered his grief sent him into a tail spin, unable to cope with his loss he walked away from the rest of his pride and has been living in seclusion for the last 3 years. Pru was Darlena's best friend and was also devastated by her death but she has been sent to bring Dom home to lead important peace talks with the other races to help prevent all out war. The pride need Dom and Pru will do whatever it takes to convince him to come back to them no matter what it costs her.

The Leopard King was a great start to Ann Aguirre's Ars Numina series, I'd like a little more background information about each of the different races but I think that's something that will come with time and we were given just enough in the first book to hook us in without overwhelming us and taking away from the current story. The set up is definitely interesting and there were characters from each of the different factions that I'm totally intrigued by so I'm looking forward to spending more time in this world.

Dom was left broken by the loss of his mate, he didn't cope well with his grief and his world completely fell apart but once he makes the decision to return to lead the pride he steps up and takes full responsibility for his actions. He doesn't find it easy to slip back into the role of leader but he accepts help along the way and trusts his people and Pru to help guide him. I loved that he wasn't an over the top alpha, he's a man who is still hurting but he is trying his best to protect his people. Pru has had her own share of heartbreak, not only did she lose her best friend but she's also spent her whole life being pitied by her clan and rejected by the man she loved because of her latent shifting ability. The fact that she isn't able to take her cat form is something that has been incredibly painful for her and she's always felt worthless because of that so her confidence is low. She's a really sweet character though, someone with a huge heart who cares about everyone around her. She willingly takes on half of Dom's burdens and she's excited to take a bigger role in caring for her people.

What I loved most about this book was that the characters didn't instantly fall in love and they weren't fated mates who never had struggles in their relationship. They both have history with other people that has effected them differently and their mating starts out as friendship with the agreement of mutual support. They both take time to talk to each other setting ground rules and then work through any issues as they come up. They both have insecurities but whenever one of them is worried about something they talk about it like adults and they both put the work in to make their relationship a success. It was so easy to believe that their friendship was blossoming from respect and caring to attraction and eventually love.

We have been introduced to characters from each of the different factions and I've already made guesses about which ones will be getting books of their own and in some cases who the romances will be with. The great news is that they're all characters I'm interested in spending more time with and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the action takes us next. The Leopard King has it all - great characters, interesting world building, plenty of action, a nice amount of romance and some hot sexy times. It's just what I look for in a paranormal romance and the rest of the series is going on my must buy list.

Source: Received from Ann Aguirre 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.

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Book Trailer: Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

I've been browsing YouTube book trailers recently & I thought it would be fun to start highlighting some of the books that I really want to read but haven't quite got around to yet. Some of these have been on my to read pile for months (or even years!) but these trailers make me want to read them ASAP.

Who doesn't love a good time travel story? I know I do so I added Passenger to my to read pile as soon as it was published. I've waited far too long to read it but that could be a bonus considering book 2 (Wayfarer) has already been published so I can happily binge read them both. This will be my first book by Alexandra Bracken but I've heard great things about her writing so I have very high hopes for this series!

New York City, present day

In one night, Etta Spencer is wrenched from everything she knows and loves. Thrown into an unfamiliar world, she can be certain of only one thing: she has travelled not just miles, but years from home.

The Atlantic, 1776

Captain Nicholas Carter is tasked with delivering Etta to the dangerous Ironwood family. They are searching for something - a stolen object they believe only she can reclaim. But Nicholas is drawn to his mysterious passenger, and the closer he gets to her, the further he is from freedom.

The Edges of the World

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by a desperate thief. But as Etta plays deeper into the Ironwoods' game, treacherous forces threaten to separate her not only from Nicholas, but from her path home - for ever.

Review: Rope 'Em - Delphine Dryden

TIED UP
Returning home to help out with his brother’s dude ranch is cool with Ethan. After all, he’s as comfortable in the saddle as he is roping a calf. But what’s really jangling his spurs is a chance to indulge his kink in the ranch’s monthly Giddyup event. Did someone say suspension bondage? Yee-Haw!

TEASED
When Victoria realizes her family’s number one goal in sending her to college is to get her hitched to a husband, she drops out one semester shy of graduation. But paying her own way turns out to be the hardest lesson of all. Thankfully she’s found her way to the Hilltop Ranch. A place to get away and refocus. And get herself all tied up . . .

TAKEN
Sure, Ethan’s pretty handy with that length of rope. But it turns out the expensive design school wasn’t a total waste for Victoria. Bringing an “academic” approach to their play—and Ethan’s hobby—is opening up new possibilities. Like maybe the chemistry between them is something more than a game . . .

Giddyup Series:
Ride 'Em
Rope 'Em

Visit Delphine Dryden's website for more information.

Review:
Victoria has it all - a nice apartment, a place at a good college studying design and she's even been lucky enough to experience some fantastic internships to gain experience in the field she wants to work in. It all comes tumbling down around her when she overhears her father complaining about how much it's all costing him and how he had expected her to have hunted down a potential husband by now so he wouldn't have to continue supporting her forever. Victoria takes immediate action to become completely independent, dropping out of college one semester shy of graduation and taking low paid jobs to try and earn enough to cover her rent. It's only then that she starts to realise how sheltered her life has been and how little real life experience she actually has. Luckily for her she's been able to land a job at the Hilltop Ranch that includes food and board so now she'll have a little breathing room as she tries to decide what she wants to do with her life now.

I knew I was going to love Ethan after meeting him in the first book, he's such a fun guy, someone who loves to have adventures but who is also very settled in his career as a vet and helping to run the family ranch. Ethan is also part of the kinky community that love to play at the ranch's monthly BDSM Giddyup events, he's the resident rope expert and he's looking forward to the demonstration he has coming up at the next event. The last thing he needs is to get stuck babysitting the useless new staff member, someone who can't even figure out how to clean the bathroom without being given full instructions. He initially sees Victoria as a spoiled rich kid with no life skills but the more time he spends with her the more he realises that she's actually a hard worker who wants to learn but has never been given the opportunity before. There's no denying the chemistry between them and when he finds out that she's also a member of the kink community he finds her impossible to resist.

I have to admit I wasn't a fan of Victoria in the beginning, I took a pretty similar view of her that Ethan did and I was annoyed with the way she just dropped out of college so close to graduation in what came across as a bit of a childish tantrum. Don't get me wrong I admired her for wanting to stand on her own two feet and be independent and I definitely didn't agree with the way her family treated her but I was annoyed that she'd been given so much privilege and basically threw it all away. It's reminded me of that old saying about not cutting off your nose to spite your face! I was a bit nervous at that point because I find it very hard to get on board with a romance novel if I don't like one of the main characters but I'm really glad I stuck it out because it didn't take long at all for Victoria to start to turn things around. She really didn't have a clue about pretty much anything but she fought through her embarrassment to ask for help and advice when she needed it and it takes a lot of courage to do that.

I ended up really enjoying Rope 'Em, Ethan and Victoria have brilliant chemistry but they also work together well and built up a strong friendship. The kinky play was hot but nothing too over the top and I also enjoyed getting to see characters from the previous book. This series is definitely one I'm happy to recommend and I'm really looking forward to spending time with Ethan and Logan's cousin Chet who I'm pretty sure will be the hero of the next book.

Source: Received from the 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.

Paperback / Kindle:

Review: Saga Volume 3 - Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples

From the Hugo Award-winning duo of Brian K. Vaughan (The Private Eye, Y: The Last Man) and Fiona Staples (North 40, Red Sonja), Saga is the sweeping tale of one young family fighting to find their place in the universe. Searching for their literary hero, new parents Marko and Alana travel to a cosmic lighthouse on the planet Quietus, while the couple's multiple pursuers finally close in on their targets.

Saga Series:
Saga Volume 1
Saga Volume 2
Saga Volume 3
Saga Volume 4
Saga Volume 5
Saga Volume 6
Saga Volume 7
Saga Volume 8
Saga Volume 9

Visit Brian K Vaughan's website or Fiona Staples' website for more information

Review:
There is so much to love about the Saga series, the artwork is stunning, the world is really creative and I've fallen in love with so many of the characters. In this volume Alana and Marco decide to track down their favourite author, D Oswald Heist, the man who wrote the romance novel that kickstarted their relationship. Alana hopes that Heist will have some kind of advice to offer them about how to proceed now that Hazel has been born and Marco is so lost after events in the previous book that he's just happy to have any kind of plan of action. Klara isn't about to let whats left of her family out of her sight and of course their ghostly babysitter Izabel is coming along for the ride.

I really enjoyed getting to meet Heist, his character gave the authors the opportunity to add lots of jokes about writers and little bits that bookworms will love like Alana going crazy when she sees Heist's library and the whole family hanging out reading together. Of course nothing is simple with this group so its not all rest and relaxation but you'll have to read the book for yourself to find out what else they get up to. We also follow The Will and his companions as they continue their search for our favourite fugitives. There are a couple of really sweet moments between Lying Cat and Slave Girl (who finally gets a proper name!) and I really enjoyed the developing relationship between The Will and Gwendolyn. This series has quickly become one of my favourites and I can't wait to read the next instalment!

As always I'll finish off my review with a couple of my favourite scenes:

I'm sure any book blogger can totally relate to this conversation

A bookworm's idea of heaven

Gwendolyn does not like being taken by surprise!

Source: Purchased

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

Paperback / Kindle:

Big News: Lexi Blake teams up with Corinne Michaels, J.Kenner, Susan Stoker, Carly Phillips and Larissa Ione!

BIG NEWS!!!

A Letter From Lexi...

Who doesn’t love a crossover? I know that for me there’s always been something magical about two fictional words blending and meeting in a totally unexpected way. For years the only medium that has truly done it well and often is comic books. Superman vs. Batman in a fight to the finish. Marvel’s Infinite Universe. There’s something about two crazy worlds coming together that almost makes them feel more real. Like there’s this brilliant universe filled with fictional characters and they can meet and talk, and sometimes they can fall in love.

I’m a geek. I go a little crazy when Thor meets up with Iron Man or The Flash and Arrow team up.

So why wouldn’t we do it in Romanceland?

There are ways out there. A writer can write in another author’s world, giving you her take on it. There’s some brilliant fanfiction out there, but I wanted something different. I wanted to take my time and gradually introduce these characters from other worlds, bring you in slowly so you don’t even realize what I’m doing. So you think this is McKay-Taggart, nothing odd here. Except there is…

Welcome to the Lexi Blake Crossover Collection.

Over the next year, I will be introducing you to five new characters and five new and brilliant worlds. By the time April of next year comes around, if I’ve done my job, you’ll know and love these characters – sisters from another mister, brothers from another mother. Let me tell you about the worlds I want to take you to.

Stark International

J. Kenner’s glitzy and beautiful world where the wealthy and powerful live and fall in love. Join Nikki and Damien’s world filled with friends and lovers. Julie writes sexy and amazing heroes and heroines you’ll fall in love with!

Bodyguard Bad Boys

Carly Philips is one of my personal favorites. She’s flirty and fun and this world will transport you to a place where hot men are willing to give up everything to save their women. With sizzling sex scenes and plots that you keep you guessing, you won’t want to leave this world.

Return to Me

Corinne Michaels writes beautifully broken characters. Cowboys and country singers, real people living real lives, needing real love. You can’t go wrong with her deeply emotional stories.

Delta Force Heroes

Susan Stoker’s world is frentic and frenzied. Filled with danger and suspense and a surprising number of kidnappings, her Delta Force team will make your heart pound even as you fall for military heroes.

Demonica Underworld

What can I say about Larissa Ione? A hell of a lot. She’s one of the best writers working in paranormal today and that’s why I was so thrilled to work with her. Demonica is a harsh world where opposites attract and even a demon can find true love.

And all these worlds will blend with mine. I have no idea why these five fabulous women said yes to me. It’s a little insane, but I’m going to take it. Six New York Times bestsellers bringing you a world unlike any you’ve seen.

How will Ian Taggart handle it? Likely with sarcasm and a gun. Come with me on this crazy journey. This train will be stopping at some fabulous destinations.

Love,

Lexi

Close Cover by Lexi Blake

A Masters & Mercenaries Novella

Remy Guidry doesn’t do relationships. He tried the marriage thing once, back in Louisiana, and learned the hard way that all he really needs in life is a cold beer, some good friends, and the occasional hookup. His job as a bodyguard with McKay-Taggart gives him purpose and lovely perks, like access to Sanctum. The last thing he needs in his life is a woman with stars in her eyes and babies in her future.

Lisa Daley’s life is finally going in the right direction. She has finally graduated from college after years of putting herself through school. She’s got a new job at an accounting firm and she’s finished her Sanctum training. Finally on her own and having fun, her life seems pretty perfect. Except she’s lonely and the one man she wants won’t give her a second look.

There is one other little glitch. Apparently, her new firm is really a front for the mob and now they want her dead. Assassins can really ruin a fun girls’ night out.

Suddenly strapped to the very same six-foot-five-inch hunk of a bodyguard who makes her heart pound, Lisa can’t decide if this situation is a blessing or a curse. As the mob closes in, Remy takes his tempting new charge back to the safest place he knows — his home in the bayou.

Surrounded by his past, he can’t help wondering if Lisa is his future. To answer that question, he just has to keep her alive.

AMAZON | iBooks

Justify Me by J.Kenner

A Stark International/Masters & Mercenaries Novella

McKay-Taggart operative Riley Blade has no intention of returning to Los Angeles after his brief stint as a consultant on mega-star Lyle Tarpin’s latest action flick. Not even for Natasha Black, Tarpin’s sexy personal assistant who’d gotten under his skin. Why would he, when Tasha made it absolutely clear that—attraction or not—she wasn’t interested a fling, much less a relationship.

But when Riley learns that someone is stalking her, he races to her side. Determined to not only protect her, but to convince her that—no matter what has hurt her in the past—he’s not only going to fight for her, he’s going to win her heart. Forever.

AMAZON | iBooks

Say You Won’t Let Go by Corinne Michaels
A Return to Me/Masters & Mercenaries Novella

I’ve had two goals my entire life:
1. Make it big in country music.
2. Get the hell out of Bell Buckle.

I was doing it. I was on my way, until Cooper Townsend landed backstage at my show in Dallas.

This gorgeous, rugged, man of few words was one cowboy I couldn’t afford to let distract me. But with his slow smile and rough hands, I just couldn’t keep away.

Now, there are outside forces conspiring against us. Maybe we should’ve known better? Maybe not. All I know is that I want to hold on, but I know the right thing to do is to let go...

AMAZON | iBooks

His to Protect by Carly Phillips
A Bachelor Bad Boys/Masters & Mercenaries Novella

Brain versus Brawn.

Talia Shaw has spent her adult life working as a scientist for a big pharmaceutical company. She’s focused on saving lives, not living life. When her lab is broken into and it's clear someone is after the top secret formula she’s working on, she turns to the one man she can trust. The same irresistible man she turned away years earlier because she was too young and naive to believe a sexy guy like Shane Landon could want her.

Shane Landon’s bodyguard work for McKay-Taggart is the one thing that brings him satisfaction in his life. Relationships come in second to the job. Always. Then little brainiac Talia Shaw shows up in his backyard, frightened and on the run, and his world is turned upside down. And not just because she’s found him naked in his outdoor shower, either.

With Talia's life in danger, Shane has to get her out of town and to her eccentric, hermit mentor who has the final piece of the formula she’s been working on, while keeping her safe from the men who are after her. Guarding Talia's body certainly isn't any hardship, but he never expects to fall hard and fast for his best friend’s little sister and the only woman who’s ever really gotten under his skin.

AMAZON | iBooks

Her Guardian Angel by Larissa Ione
A Demonica Underworld/Masters & Mercenaries Novella

After a difficult childhood and a turbulent stint in the military, Declan Burke finally got his act together. Now he’s a battle-hardened professional bodyguard who takes his job at McKay-Taggart seriously and his playtime – and his playmates – just as seriously. One thing he never does, however, is mix business with pleasure. But when the mysterious, gorgeous Suzanne D’Angelo needs his protection from a stalker, his desire for her burns out of control, tempting him to break all the rules…even as he’s drawn into a dark, dangerous world he didn’t know existed.

Suzanne is an earthbound angel on her critical first mission: protecting Declan from an emerging supernatural threat at all costs. To keep him close, she hires him as her bodyguard. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that she’s in over her head, defenseless against this devastatingly sexy human who makes her crave his forbidden touch.

Together they’ll have to draw on every ounce of their collective training to resist each other as the enemy closes in, but soon it becomes apparent that nothing could have prepared them for the menace to their lives…or their hearts.

AMAZON | iBooks

Rescuing Sadie by Susan Stoker
A Delta Force Heroes/Masters & Mercenaries Novella

Sadie Jennings was used to being protected. As the niece of Sean Taggart, and the receptionist at McKay-Taggart Group, she was constantly surrounded by Alpha men more than capable, and willing, to lay down their life for her. But when she learns about a friend in trouble, she doesn't hesitate to leave town without a word to her uncle to help. After several harrowing weeks, her friend is now safe, but the repercussions of her rash act linger on.

Chase Jackson, no stranger to dangerous situations as a captain in the US Army, has volunteered himself as Sadie's bodyguard. He fell head over heels for the beautiful woman the first time he laid eyes on her. With a Delta Force team at his back, he reassures the Taggart's that Sadie will be safe. But when her past catches up with her, Chase has to use everything he's learned over his career to keep his promise...and to keep Sadie alive long enough to officially make her his.

AMAZON | iBooks

___________________________________________

Lexi Blake’s Crossover Collection presented by 1001 Dark Nights! Lexi Blake teams up with J.Kenner, Corinne Michaels, Carly Phillips, Susan Stoker and Larissa Ione to give you 6 amazing stories coming April 10, 2018!

My 3000th Blog Post Celebration (with international giveaway!)

When I first started my blog on the 1st of January 2010 I honestly never expected to still be here nearly seven and a half years later. I'd never heard of the book blogging community but I'd had a personal blog for a few years and I so when I was looking for a way of keeping track of the books I'd read a blog seemed like the easiest option. That was back in the days before I discovered Goodreads too & to be honest if I'd found that site first Feeling Fictional probably wouldn't have ever existed!

I'm so grateful to have had this outlet in my life though, the UKYA blogging community welcomed me with open arms and I made so many friends both in the UK and across the world thanks to a shared love of books. I've had so many wonderful experiences thanks to this blog, from publisher events to afternoon tea at the ritz and even spending a night at Hogwarts I've been so incredibly lucky and I'm thankful to the wonderful bloggers, publicists and authors I've had the chance to meet and work with over the years. Thank you all for reading my blog posts, for interacting with me on Goodreads or Twitter, for sending me review books, for inviting me to events and just for opening my world up to books that I'd probably never have discovered on my own.

As this will be the 3000th post to go live on my blog I thought it would be fun to look at a few random stats before I get to the giveaway! So here goes...

Feeling Fictional Stats:

• 7 years 4 months 7 days
• 3000 Blog Posts
• 1,954 Book Reviews
• Aprox 2000 Followers (across Blogger, Google +, Blog Lovin & Feedburner)
• 1,818,680 Page Views
• Let's just repeat that last one, 1.8 MILLION Page Views!

It really has been an incredibly journey and I'm hoping this is only the beginning! I just can't imagine not having this blog anymore, some months may be slower than others but it's such a huge part of me now that I wouldn't know what to do without it.

So now I'm done with shocking myself with the figures let's get to the all important giveaway!

Giveaway:

To celebrate I'm giving one winner a book of their choice from the Book Depository (to a maximum value of £10). The giveaway is open internationally as long as you're living in a country where they offer free shipping (you can check your location against the list here to be sure you're eligible).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Thorn and the Blossom - Theodora Goss

One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself . . .

The Thorn and the Blossom is a remarkable literary artifact: You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

Visit Theodora Goss' website for more information.

Review:
If I was giving out an award for most creative book format The Thorn and the Blossom would win it hands down. Instead of a normal book you have an accordion style binding that allows you to read two different views of the same story depending on which side you start from. The book is held together in a cardboard sleeve to stop it unfolding when on the shelf.

One side of the book introduces Evelyn, a young woman with an interest in medieval literature who is in Cornwall on holiday after finishing a term studying at Oxford university. She only has a week to relax before she returns home to America to complete her education. The other side introduces Brendan, a local teenager who is currently working at his father's bookstore while trying to decide what he wants to do with his life. Their paths cross in the bookstore and then the book follows them over several years as life takes them both in different directions but always seems to draw them back together again eventually.

I absolutely love the idea of this book, the creative format is something I've not come across before and there are 4 beautiful illustrations by Scott McKowan. Although the setting is contemporary the two main characters share a love of Medieval literature - especially the tale of Elowen, the queen of Cornwall, and Gawan, one of the knights of the Round Table, who agrees to help her fight the giants plaguing her lands - so at times it has quite an old fashioned feel to it.

I enjoyed getting to see both sides of the romance but because it was written so you could read their stories in either order it meant that you ended up reading the exact same conversations and events twice which made it a little repetitive. Yes the character's internal thoughts were slightly different each time and they are both keeping secrets from each other but essentially you don't learn a great deal more by reading the second story no matter which one you start with. I think I'd have enjoyed it more if there was a set order to read the points of view in so that the second story could cover events that you hadn't seen in the first half, for example you wouldn't need to see their meeting twice if you read that in Evelyn's part and Brendan talked more about the first week they spent together while Evelyn's story skipped ahead to their second meeting etc. It would have allowed the author to flesh out the story a bit more and I think that would have made it easier for me to connect to the characters and become more invested in their romance.

As it was things happen a little too quickly, there are a few too many large jumps in time (they meet, spend a week together and the next thing you know it's 8 years later!), and Brendan in particular was keeping a major secret that I really would have liked a little more information on. I also would have loved more of a solid ending to the story, it's left with a feeling of hope to it but personally I prefer something more definite and less open ended.

There is no doubt that this is a beautiful and unique book though and I'm glad I have a copy on my shelves.

Source: Purchased

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

Hardback: