Book #Review ~ A Royal Mistake (The Rooftop Crew Book 2) by Piper Rayne @PiperRayneRocks

He's not your average Joe from the corner bar. 

He's the heir to the crown. 

I should know, I've followed him for years. 

Not in a stalkerish way. 

Magazines and online gossip blogs are fair game when you're royalty. 

But I do know every detail about him, down to the brand of boxer briefs he wears. 

All my studying of the man who plays a starring role in my dreams pays off when I win a dinner with him. 

As if that wasn't enough, he barters a deal with me that has him moving into my spare guest room. 

I forgot that fairytales don't exist though because just as I'm about to get everything I want, including the prince, I find out there's someone in Prince Adrian Marx's life I don't know -- his fiancee. 

Book Details:

Publication Date: March 31, 2020
ASIN: B07XXFMGYCAmazon US

My Review:

Sierra is somewhat getting used to Blanca and Ethan's relationship, although you can tell she's not totally on-board yet. She is able to distract herself when she discovers the royal Prince, Adrian Marx, is having a contest. Win a date with him for charity. Except Sierra's not sure about Prince Adrian upon first meeting. As the date progresses, however, they have a hard time fighting the attraction. Sierra's friends think she's headed for heartbreak since his highness can only marry a princess. The stakes increase when Adrian makes a deal with his parents to stay in the US for a bit before being forced home into an arranged marriage that will immediately put Adrian on the throne.

Even though Sierra knows it's temporary she can't help but go all in with Adrian. He's not complex, is laid back, fun, and not at all ready to ascend to the throne. Sierra finds herself completely comfortable with Adrian and vice-versa. They have undeniable chemistry that continues to heat up.  Sierra is a strong and independent but has some emotional baggage she's been carrying around quite awhile. The authors' ability to write Sierra's emotional responses to various moments in the story had me crying, frustrated, horrified, and excited throughout the entire book. I love a book that is able to evoke real responses to events taking place within a story.

I love the realism, likable characters, and hot chemistry in A Royal Mistake. The book draws you in and keeps you engaged with fun, exciting characters who also have soft, emotional sides. The characters are 3-dimensional, interesting, and likable and not just flat, uninteresting characters on the page. This book as all the feels and I loved everything about the story, the characters, the setting, and romance.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

#Book #Review ~ Buccaneer's Cove (NuLife, Book #3) by H.P. Mallory ~ @HPMallory

About the Book:

Claire Darrow can’t seem to catch any breaks on her case against NuLife.

There have been multiple deaths and she’s fairly sure NuLife is behind all of them, but she still can’t prove how.

Deciding to go back into the Virtual Reality game, this time she’s bringing her hunky boss, Grant, with her. And the two of them will find themselves in the pirating world of Buccaneer’s Cove.

There they will learn find themselves battling more than just unanswered questions.

Book Details:

Print Length: 224 pages
Publication Date: March 9, 2020
ASIN: B085PTTGLY

Amazon

My Review:

Buccaneer's Cove is book 3 in HP Mallory's LitRPG series NuLife and begins where Gangland, book 2, ends. Claire Darrow is still trying to figure out what is going on inside NuLife's Virtual Reality (VR) game. People she meets inside the game keep dying or getting deathly ill. Claire has now been inside the VR game twice and is about to make it three times. She was provided enough game credits to include a second person as her guest so Claire decides it's time to take Grant, her boss and captain at the police department. There are more haywire occurrences in Buccaneer's Cove, the location that Claire's mystery contact has instructed them to go this time. NPCs (non-playable characters) are doing less programmed type things and more human, non-programmed things, continuing to confuse both Claire and Grant. 

Claire and Grant's entry into Buccaneer's Cove seems innocuous enough but it's only a matter of time before both of them are in danger. Things aren't always what they seem and Claire finds herself fighting for her VR character's life. She also has an unusual encounter with her NuLife VR character stalker who seems to have followed her to Buccaneer's Cove.

Buccaneer's Cove drew me in and kept me engaged from the very beginning. I enjoyed Claire and Grant’s characters. I love their slow-burning relationship. Yes, they work side-by-side and Grant is Claire’s boss, but they are great together. I really enjoyed the connection between Claire and Grant in this book. The new VR world Claire and Grant enter is one wrought with danger around every turn – some in the form of other players and others as NPCs. It was funny to see Grant get frustrated with the first quest he had to do in order to obtain a weapon. As a gamer girl myself, it is frustrating.

I really liked Gangland and look forward to book 3.

I was given a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

#Book Review & #Giveaway ~ The Demons of Wall Street (Nora Simeon Investigations #1) by Laurence Raphael Brothers ~ Urban Fantasy, Paranormal ~ @MirrorWorldPub @lbrothers

Welcome to the 1-Week Virtual Book Tour for The Demons of Wall Street (Nora Simeon Investigations #1), an Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Novella by Laurence Raphael Brothers.

Please visit the tour hosts and share their post and/or leave a comment!

https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2020/03/virtual-book-tour-schedule-demons-of.html

About the Book:

Nora Simeon hates demons.

But as an investigator for the secretive Commission, the organization that regulates financial sorcery in New York City, she deals with the creatures a lot more than she'd like. Her latest case has her on the track of a rogue demon, escaped from magical bondage as an analyst for a leading investment bank.

On the demon's trail, Nora crosses paths with a beautiful young man named Eyre. He's too pretty and complaisant to be human, and too kind to be a demon in human form, but what else could he be? Together they become embroiled in the secret corruption at the heart of the financial industry. But before Nora can untangle a twisted skein of sorcerous murder and intrigue, she has to untangle her feelings for Eyre. And before she can do that, she has to find out who and what he really is.

My Review:

The Demons of Wall Street stars Nora, a demon-hating investigator who is on permanent retainer with the secret organization known as the Commission. When one of their tethered demons gets loose from his high-profile investment bank job, the Commission puts Nora on the job to find him. Full of double-crosses and surprising twists and turns, The Demons of Wall Street kept me on my toes.

The author does a fantastic job weaving a suspenseful story with a wonderful plot, interesting characters, and realistic world-building. I was drawn in from just reading the blurb but the author's writing style and engaging plot kept me entertained as I devoured this approximately 125 page novella.

I am excited for the second book.

My Review:

Publisher Website:  

Mirror World Publishing

Purchase Links:

Mirror World Publishing e-book

Mirror World Publishing paperback

Amazon e-book

Amazon paperback

Meet the Author:



Laurence Raphael Brothers is a writer and a technologist. He has published over 25 short stories in such magazines as Nature, the New Haven Review, PodCastle, and Galaxy's Edge. His WWI-era historical fantasy novel Twilight Patrol was just released by Alban Lake. For more of his stories, visit https://laurencebrothers.com/bibliography, or follow him on twitter: @lbrothers.

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Book Review ~ Thrall (Supernaturals of Las Vegas, Book One) by Carrie Harris ~ @carrharr #PNR @RoxanneRhoads

Undeniable attraction. Blood magic. Vampire politics. Murder...Just another day in Las Vegas.

Thrall
Supernaturals of Las Vegas
Book One
Carrie Harris

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Inked Entertainment

Date of Publication: 3/7/2020

ASIN: B084RGTXNF

Number of pages: 234
Word Count: 52,000

Cover Artist: Inked Entertainment

Amazon

About the Book:

Liss Lorensson is a thrall–born to be a servant of the vampire crown prince.

Gregor Valdemar is a vampire prince who chafes under the strict rule of his sire and longs for a different life.

When the two finally meet on Liss’s 21st birthday, sparks fly. But blood magic, murder, and political intrigue stand in the way of their growing romance. Vampire seduction meets the power of the blood in this first volume of the Supernaturals of Las Vegas series.

My Review:

Thrall is a paranormal romance involving the crown prince vampire and his newest thrall. Liss is the 21-year-old daughter of Gregor's family of thralls. The book begins with her making her court debut. When Liss enters the room the air shifts between her and Gregor. Their chemistry is amazing and electric. I enjoyed their interactions. What follows is a chain of events that lead to changes in power, reveals in magical abilities, treachery, and just maybe, love. 

I enjoyed Thrall. The characters were interesting and written well. I enjoyed their development throughout the story. The world-building allowed me to imagine the scenery and feel the emotions of each character. The only issues I had were the abrupt changes in the scenes and the continued miscommunication between Liss and Gregor. I had to re-read several sections because the thoughts changed to abruptly that I thought I missed something. When addressing the nobles and the rest of the court, Gregor made some announcements that affected Liss but he didn't discuss them with her first. So, now we have a 21 year-old thrall trying to pick the announcements all apart and figure out what is real and what is fake. 

The story might be over 200 pages, however, the book reads quickly. I enjoyed the characters, story, scenes, and writing of the author. The book quickly fills with suspense, and I was on the edge of my seat during certain situations. If you're looking for a book filled with vampires, politics, suspense, and romance, grab your copy of Thrall.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: 

Book Review ~ Unleash You (Cole Brothers #4) by Diana A. Hicks ~ @diana_hicks ~ Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Unleash You
Cole Brothers, Book #4
Diana A. Hicks

Publication date: March 11th 2020

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

About the Book:

Eight years is a long time gone…

After graduation, artist Anabelle Copenhaver returns home to find that the only family member she has left is missing in action.

With her brother gone, his infuriatingly handsome best friend, Wesley, is now responsible for her family’s estate. Anabelle doesn’t need a babysitter, especially not her childhood crush—the first guy she ever loved.

Former marine Wesley Cole lives by his word. He promised to protect Anabelle and that’s exactly what he intends to do. His biggest challenge will be to keep his hands off the blue-eyed beauty who has a way of setting his soul on fire.

Anabelle is resourceful and determined to bring her brother home, but how can she when Wesley blocks every turn, messing with her plans and her heart?

My Review:

Unleash You is another wonderful book in the Cole Brothers series by Diana A. Hicks. Years after leaving her home, Anabelle Copenhaver comes finally returns. The place has caused such heartache and just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, there isn't anyone to greet her because her only living relative is missing. The absence of Ana's brother, Charlie, is exacerbated by the fact that Wesley Cole, the son of her family home's neighbors, is now in full control of Ana's estate until she turns 25. She doesn't need a babysitter, especially not the Cole brother has has always held a soft spot in her heart.

Wesley Cole feels guilty for the men he had to leave behind in a failed mission in Venezuela. He's been searching for Charlie since that fateful day but Charlie manages to keep evading Wesley's attempts. When Anabelle returns to their family home to discover Charlie missing, Wesley will do anything and everything to keep her safe. Except, safe is not what Ana cares about right now. She wants to infiltrate the harsh jungle of Venezuela to bring her brother home.

Unleash You is full of twists and turns, double-crosses, heartaches, and danger. The relationship between Charlie and Ana crumbled back when Ana was barely a teenager and she's tried so hard to put her life back together. She knows her brother changed eight years ago and felt that if he could just see her and let her explain that they could rekindle to relationship they used to have. Only, Charlie isn't the brother she used to know and trying to rescue him may cost Ana her life.

The author injects so much emotion into her Cole Brothers stories. I felt Anabelle's frustrations and her sense of loss. I felt her lack of confidence yet powerful yearning in regards to Wesley. The magic is there between the Ana and Wesley and the author unraveled their issues layer-by-layer. I was engaged in the story and couldn't put it down. The book is full of heart-pounding danger, along with the realization that some people just aren't who you thought they were and others are better than you could ever imagine.

The characters are realistic and imperfect. They are strong, heroic, and noble. They make mistakes, bad judgement calls, and put themselves in danger. Best of all, though, they love hard and true. The chemistry between Ana and Wesley is unmistakable. The sparks sizzle off of their skin every time they are together, whether right next to each other, or across the room. The book flows along perfectly paced, had a wonderful plot, side stories, and secondary characters. I could not put Unleash You down.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:



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Book #Review ~ Devil In Disguise (The Lily Harper Series, Book 7) by H.P. Mallory ~ #Fantasy #Romance ~ @HPMallory

Book Details:

Print Length: 218 pages
Publication Date: February 23, 2020
ASIN: B0852YNL2M

Amazon

About the Book:

When Lily finds herself reunited with Tallis and Bill after her last harrowing escape from The Underground City, she'd like to think things are finally getting back to normal.

But, things are far from getting back to normal. And in this episode of the Lily Harper Series, Lily will find herself:

... in danger of being sent to Shade for one hundred years
... still the subject of Alaire's fascination and now he's more determined than ever before to make her yield to his entreaties
... returned to the Underground City, and more pointedly the seventh circle, where she'll have to survive amidst the battling Blood Plains
... and last, but not least, there's a new character in town--the Minotaur who just happens to spark something within Lily she doesn't understand.

My Review:

Lily has finally made it back from the Underground City and reunited with both Tallis and Bill. Just when they thought there was order in their world, the trio is thrust back into the Underground City. They are specifically sent to the seventh circle, finding themselves seeking out a Minotaur and attempting to cross the Blood Plains during a never-ending battle. Alistair is still up to his tricks and his obsession with Lily continues to increase.

Lily is a strong character, rolling with the hand she's been dealt. Her ability to stay level-headed while attempting to find her way through the seventh circle and during her not-so-pleasant reunion with Alaire, shows the excellence of her character. Tallis has a soothing effect on her, especially when her interactions with Alaire become quite personal. Tallis is a broody Scotsman but his feelings for Lily are quite evident. Bill, Lily’s foul-mouthed guardian angel, is a hoot. His mishmash of the English language had me laughing out loud and shaking my head.

While this is book 7 in the Lily Harper series, this is only the second book I've had a chance to read. I enjoyed the story very much and will eventually start reading the series from the beginning. Despite only reading one previous book, I was able to move through the pages and most of the book fell into place. The author does a wonderful job providing some details from previous events to aid in keeping the reader abreast with the story.

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

My Rating:

Book #Review ~ Hidden Truth (Stealth, Book #1) by Danica Winters ~ @DanicaWinters ~ #RomanticSuspense

Book Details:

Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue; Original edition

Publish Date: November 19, 2019
ISBN-10: 1335604804
ISBN-13: 978-1335604804

Amazon

About the Book:

Wary of each other’s secrets

Neither knows the other is undercover.

Rancher Trevor Martin has as many dangerous secrets as his housekeeper, Sabrina Parker. She’s undercover FBI, investigating whether Trevor is a gunrunning terrorist. She doesn’t know he’s CIA. But living under the same roof and in close proximity becomes a liability. Trust is uncertain, but attraction is undeniable. When they become embroiled in a series of grisly murders, will their secrets cost them their lives in the end?

My Review:

I love the premise of this book - both the hero and heroine are undercover for two different government agencies. Trevor Martin is CIA and Sabrina Parker is FBI. Sabrina is investigating the Martin family's involvement in illegal arms dealing. Trevor is laying low...for now. When Trevor and Sabrina meet and must live in the same house; Trevor as a rancher and Sabrina as their housekeeper, sparks fly. Early on, the duo become involved in a murder of some squatters, and as their investigation  continues, the danger for both of them escalates. 

The author has a masterpiece with Hidden Truth. I enjoyed the characters and how the author developed them. Trevor and Sabrina have secrets and a sheer mistrust of strangers, yet they managed to come together, professionally and romantically. The world building was impeccable and I was able to visualize the story in my mind and feel the emotions of the characters. I was completely engaged in Trevor and Sabrina's story.

The entire book was excellent but my favorite part of Hidden Truth involves the cat-and-mouse game. The author includes so many twists and turns involving Trevor, Sabrina, the squatters, and other factors in the story. The huge twist at the end was a complete shocker I did not see coming. Well done, Danica Winters, well done!!!

My Rating:

#Book Review ~ Never Date A Vampire (Beware of Vampires, Book One) by Marilyn Vix ~ #PNR ~ @MarilynVix

What happens in Vegas is supposed to stay there. But date a vampire, and you may never leave. Cass finds herself in a mess. Can a vampire save her?

Never Date A Vampire
Beware of Vampires
Book One
Marilyn Vix

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Shadowcat Publishing

Date of Publication: Oct. 22, 2019

ISBN: 9781393015406
ASIN: B07ZHQHLNP

Word Count: 20K

Cover Artist: Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers

Watch the Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/yhkIV_DEfV4

Purchase Links:

Amazon Kobo Apple

About the Book:

A trip to Las Vegas can be the most fun of your life.

But what if you know witches? Warlocks?

What other creatures could there be in the Las Vegas paranormal underground?

Cassandra Sanders has witnessed a messy witch divorce. Things have blown apart behind her as her friends fought with a warlock. She rides to the Stratosphere with her witch and warlock friends thinking that the worst is behind her. Throw in an Elvis impersonator, and you already have a good time ahead. But she wonders, what about her? She’s all-alone in Las Vegas. What could go wrong if she played some blackjack?

The meeting of a mysterious stranger doesn’t alarm Cass. After a casual drink, she seems to start to lose her will. Is she losing her mind? Drawn to him, she knows that maybe, this was too good to be true. He was too perfect. But in the world of the paranormal underground, where witches and warlocks played, what else should she be afraid of? Will she find out when she reaches his hotel room?

My Review:

Cassandra is in Vegas with freshly divorced and newly married friends who happen to be a witch and a warlock. Part of the trip involves a pretty irate warlock who is destroying everything in sight. To escape his wrath, they head to the Stratosphere. To relax and get past the previous goings-on the group heads to the casino for some drinking and gambling. Cass meets a strikingly handsome man and the next thing she knows she's moving under someone else's volition, because she's certainly not the one in control. As the night progresses, Cass's life will forever change and "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" will ring true.

Never Date a Vampire is a paranormal story about Las Vegas's night life and the creatures within. The story was written well with a succinct storyline. I would have liked a little more about the battle between the warlocks at the beginning of the book but otherwise the story was great. I enjoyed Cass's character and really felt her joy, unease, and awe. Her friends meant well but the lack of preparation and permission brought calamity to Cass's door which may mean the end of her life. 

I enjoyed the book, the characters and the timeline of Cass's life. It will be interesting to see how Cass develops and what happens in future books.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

#Book #Review ~ Paws For Murder (The Barking Mad Mysteries) by Scarlett English ~ #Cozy #Mystery

Paws For Murder (The Barking Mad Mysteries) by Scarlett English

Paws For Murder 

The Barking Mad Mysteries, Book 1

Cozy Mystery

Independently Published 

January 5, 2020

Print Length: 163 pages 

Digital ASIN: B083JKWXVZ
Amazon

About the Book:

Welcome to Adlebury where village life can be downright deadly.

Veterinarian Petronella Knight seems to have it all. A job she loves, good friends, and patients who adore her. But when she gets into an argument with dog breeder Gladys Harrington, and she finds the woman dead, she also finds herself accused of murder.

Ella will need all her friends, including the new and very handsome American policeman, and all her sharpest sleuthing skills to figure out who murdered the dog breeder before another dead body pops up.

Paws for Murder contains one enthusiastic amateur detective with a penchant for rescuing animals, a guard duck called George, a large amount of homemade gooseberry wine, and a very confused American who has never met an English village quite like this one.

You’d be Barking Mad to pass this one by.

My Review:

Paws for Murder is the first book in a new series by Scarlett English. A young, local veterinarian is having a difficult time with some of the other locals. She's a capable and competent vet but some villagers refuse to accept her. When one resident, a local Sheepdog breeder, comes to the clinic on a day she thought the original vet worked and discovers it "only" Petronella, she proceeds to verbally assault Ella. Later, when Ella goes to the woman's home to pay for a dog the breeder was going to have put down, Ella finds her dead. Ella then finds herself on the opposite side of the law when a constable accuses her of murder. It's a good thing for Ella that a new American police officer's first day on the job brings him to the scene of the grisly murder. Now, Ella, with help of her friends and the American cop, must try and figure out who would want the woman dead.

Paws for Murder is a wonderfully written cozy mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the character development, and the world building. I was able to connect to Ella, who is friendly, compassionate, and smart. The fact that some characters in this book find her sub-par boggles the mind. The book is fast-paced (but not too fast), never dull or slow. The points-of-view in the book alternate allowing the reader inside the minds or more than one character. Knowing Ella's thoughts and Garrett's thoughts gave the book a nice feel.

If you are looking for an amusing, cute, quick read with lovable characters, a terrific plot, and a story that doesn't give away the suspect, I highly recommend Paws for Murder.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: