Fantasy Romance Review ~ The Fiery Crown (Forgotten Empires, Book #2) by Jeffe Kennedy

Print Length: 398 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1250194334
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 26, 2020)
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
Sold by: Macmillan
Language: English
ASIN: B0818MRNYH
Amazon

A queen and her rebel prince turn from enemies to lovers while evil forces plot to destroy them in this lush romantic fantasy.

Following The Orchid Throne, Conri and Lia’s marriage of convenience has turned into an uneasy alliance. If only the two leaders could agree on something. Driven by revenge, Conri wants to attack Emperor Anure before the tyrant gets to them first. But Lia needs to keep Calanthe safe, and refuses to sacrifice her kingdom. Their ongoing battle for control has built up tension they’re both more than happy to release in bed, the only place where they find common ground. But Conri and Lia are developing deeper feelings for each other that are complicating matters. In the second book in the Forgotten Empires trilogy, Conri and Lia find their loyalties torn, and with Emperor Anure’s threat growing, will they be able to risk everything with each other before it’s too late?

The Fiery Crown is the second book in Jeffe Kennedy's Forgotten Empires fantasy series. A fake emperor has overthrown all kingdoms claiming the lands, resources, and citizens for himself. All that is but Calanthe, the flower island, because he was promised Euthalia's hand in marriage - a marriage Euthalia has managed to delay time and time again. In book 1, she made the delay permanent by marrying Conrí, a former crown prince, now king, of a long-destroyed kingdom.

Their union is one of convenience and has slowly turned into one of uneasy alliance. Euthalia and Conrí continue to battle for control over what to do about Emperor Anure and how to protect Calanthe. Concessions are made that both allow for Conrí’s revenge and for Euthalia to protect Calanthe but the Emperor has tricks up his sleeve that may destroy Calanthe and Euthalia before the battle is over.

I love both Euthalia and Conrí. They have endured so much in their short lives. So much death, destruction, and injustice and they both seek revenge on the tyrant that brought it all about. I was equally intrigued and horrified by the events that unfolded during the battle between Calanthe and the Emperor. What transpires in the last half of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying not to cry as the inhumanities of war were delivered front and center. The author’s descriptions and vivid imagery brought forth disturbing scenes and emotion-evoking events, but they were necessary parts of the story being told.

I enjoy the author's continued slow path bringing Euthalia and Conrí together. As their affection for each other grows in The Fiery Crown, we get to see the different, tender sides to them, providing views into their humanity outside of the revenge and protection armor they typically wear.

With breathtaking imagery, heart-wrenching scenes and events, and a plethora of twists and turns, The Fiery Crown drew me in, captivated me, and kept me engaged. The book weaves together many other genres besides the fantasy element. The book also features paranormal and magical elements, romantic undertones, mystery, and suspense. I devoured this epic fantasy novel and look forward to The Promised Queen’s release.

I was given a copy of this book to read.

Cozy Mystery Review ~ Something Read, Something Dead (Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #5) by Eva Gates @evagatesauthor #CrookedLaneBooks

Print Length: 317 pages
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: March 13, 2019
Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher Services
ASIN: B07H7Q5L1C 

Amazon

Dark deeds in the Lighthouse Library threaten to send Lucy Richardson’s soon-to-be-wed cousin Josie to an early ‘til-death-do-us-part.

Winter falls on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help her favorite cousin, Josie O'Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie's Cozy Bakery and her fiancé, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding.

But to their horror, Josie's imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the “Louisiana Mafia”: a gaggle of aunts and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn't do small and simple, and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie's wedding, something grand and lavish—and paid for by Josie's parents, of course—that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom…and Jake doesn't seem entirely adverse to her attentions.

To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses—soon after eating the gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book in this fifth festive Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.



I absolutely love the Lighthouse Library series and every book is fantastic. Each book is filled with wonderful character interations, a plausible murder mystery, and a fantastic and breathtaking setting (at least in my mind, anyway). I love the anticipation the author creates with the death of Mirabelle and the indication that it was Josie and her treats. Knowing Josie didn’t do anything, I loved trying to figure out who did what to the treats without anyone noticing. The mystery of the death of Mirabelle so much to the story. There are so many potential suspects it becomes hard to narrow the list down to any one person. Means, motive, opportunity, lack of alibi all plague those who made it to the list.

As per my reviews of the other books in the series, I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money, but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. Her character is down-to-earth and likeable. I love Charlene's obsession of rap music and her passion for wanting to share. I enjoy her slow and chaste relationship with Connor. They are sweet together, yet you are able to feel their chemistry. The secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.

The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense, anticipation, joy, and redemption. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. Something Read, Something Dead is a fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Cozy Mystery ARC Review ~ A Charming Deception (Magical Cures Mystery, Book #13) by Tonya Kappes

Print Length: 153 pages
Publication Date: July 30, 2020
ASIN: B087DY4JJF
Amazon

Welcome to Whispering Fall where magic and mystery collide!

Bubble... Bubble...

June Heal and Oscar Park are beyond thrilled with the upcoming arrival of their baby.

Cures and Trouble...

June's pregnancy is turning out to more at risk than anticipated and she has to go to a specialist doctor outside of Whispering Falls where patients are nosey and hormones are raging, leaving the nurses and receptionist at their wits ends and bickering at each other.

Magic Stirs...

Poor June is put on limited activity. The baby is proving to a little mischievous and magic before it's even born and leaving the doctors a little miffed with all the different ultrasound shenanigans.

Trouble Doubles...

June's hormones have messed with her intuition and spiritual gifts, leaving her unsure of things going on around her. On one of her many doctor appointments, June arrives a little early and find the receptionist strangled to death. June can't help herself and decides to put her amateur and magical sleuthing skills to the test to try to bring the killer to justice... or are her hormones deceiving her?



A Charming Deception is the final book in the Magical Cures Mystery series by Tonya Kappes. The book reads like a stand-alone even though it's book 13. As someone who has only read this book in the series, I didn't feel lost or confused. 

June and her husband Oscar are expecting their baby soon. They are taking their baby outside of Whispering Falls to see an obstetrician. When the doctor orders a test to double check why the baby isn't moving around as much, June finds herself back there the next day. Only, when June arrives, the clinic is surrounded by police because the receptionist at her OB's office has been strangled.   

Roma, it seems, was digging into the insurance records of her employer. In an effort to keep the magical world a secret, June decides to use her amateur and magical sleuthing skills to find out what happened. Secrets run rampant in this magical tale and June suddenly finds herself toeing the line between the human and spiritualist worlds. 

A Charming Deception is a cute paranormal story. June and Oscar are a wonderful couple. I love their excitement over the impending birth of their first child. The story flows well and I had a great time visiting Whisper Falls.  

I was provided a copy of this book read.

Contemporary Romance Review ~ The Rival Roomies (The Rooftop Crew, Book #3) by Piper Rayne @PiperRayneRocks

Print Length: 278 pages
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
ASIN: B07XXF23KL
Amazon

I’ve loved him from afar.

Though most times he’s only a foot away.

I’m smart enough to know he’ll never be anyone’s forever.

He checks all the bad boy boxes. Tattoos. Check. Motorcycle. Check. Chip on his shoulder. Check check.

If he wasn’t my neighbor and friend I may have thrown myself at him. Okay, yeah. I wouldn’t. Because guys like Dylan don’t want a woman who writes kid’s math textbooks under him in bed. Instead, I pathetically savor morsels of moments where I have his sole attention.

That was until his archenemy moved in with me. Now suddenly, Dylan’s moving in too and warning off the first guy in a long time who’s showing me interest. Could he finally see me as more than a friend, or am I just a prize to win and show off to his enemy?



I have been waiting for this book since I met Rian and Dylan in book 1 of this series. I knew it would be sexually tense, boil over, and just rock both characters to the core. I was not disappointed. We have watched them in the background of books 1 and 2 of The Rooftop Crew. We knew their repressed feelings would combust. We were given exactly what we needed in the eventual union of my favorite Rooftop Crew couple.

Everything about The Rival Roomies worked for me. The characters are awesome and include everyone from the previous books. While this is considered a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the series in order so you have context. The character development is great and the authors introduce a new person, Jax. Jax is a rival of Dylan's from back in the day. When Jax begins to show interest in Rian, Dylan just goes berserk, going as far as moving in with Rian and Jax, after Jax takes one of the spare room in Rian's apartment. The level of emotions in this book run high, are expertly written, and make the reader feel exactly what the characters are feeling.

The entire series is awesome and highly recommended. The Rival Roomies is exceptional and my absolute favorite of the three books. I'm glad I will be able to read the story again anytime I want. 

I look forward to the next book.

Cozy Mystery Review ~ A Midwinter's Tail (Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery, Book #4) by Bethany Blake @KensingtonBooks

Print Length: 300 pages
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: May 28, 2019
ASIN: B07H1YJQBN

Amazon

Daphne Templeton's sister Piper is getting married--and their mother is getting carried away. She insists on hiring Sylvan Creek's top event planner, Abigail Sinclair, who proposes an Independence Day theme complete with Statue of Liberty-inspired bridesmaid dresses. With all the bickering among the families, Daphne's glad her only duty right now is pet-sitting for Abby's cat, Ms. Peebles. But there are some fireworks coming that aren't part of the ceremony. The Poconos will never be the same . . .

At a tension-filled dress fitting, the abrasive wedding planner is found strangled by a garter--a weapon both borrowed and blue. Now Daphne's services are required not just for organizing the big day, but for figuring out whether one of the in-laws is an outlaw . . .



Welcome back to Sylvan Creek. The Lucky Paws Petsitting Mysteries are one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series’. In this book, it’s time for Daphne’s sister Piper’s wedding. Their mother has insisted on hiring Sylvan Creek’s top wedding planner, Abigail Sinclair. Abigail goes a bit over the top in suggesting a Fourth of July themed wedding, producing a lot of squabbling between members of both families. When the wedding planner is found strangled, Daphne dives right into the fray to help bring a murderer to justice and save her sister’s wedding.

Something Borrowed, Something Mewed is a fantastic fifth book in Bethany Blake’s Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery series. The cozy mystery is full of action, suspense, drama, and animals. I love Artie, the chihuahua Daphne rescued in book 1 and convinced Jonathan to adopt. He is such scene stealer in every book. I adore how he absolutely loves clothes. Tinks is a feisty cat with a mischievous and cantankerous personality, and Socrates is quite a long-suffering basset.

Daphne is a wonderful character. She is snarky, compassionate, without too many cares in the world. Some may think she's flaky since her cell never works and she's never on time for anything, but she's a strong protagonist that doesn't live by the timeline of others. She even has a PhD in philosophy but doesn't use her degree. She's down-to-earth, kind, and gentle. She loves her pet sitting business and she and the business continue to prosper.

The author does a spectacular job with the continued character development and world building. I love Sylvan Creek and how alive the author writes the town and characters (that is, unless you happen to be the latest murder victim). The book is engaging from the beginning and kept me entertained. There was never a dull moment and some of Daphne's antics had me smiling. The author's writing style is phenomenal. All dialogue was smooth, thought out, and conversational. The twists and turns kept me guessing all the way until the end.

I was provided an ecopy of the book to read.

Cozy Mystery Review ~ Mousse and Murder (Alaskan Diner Mystery, Book #1) by Elizabeth Logan @BerkleyMystery

Print Length: 302 pages

Publisher: Berkley

Publication Date: May 5, 2020

Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC

ASIN: B07WCZPZY7

Amazon

A young chef might bite off more than she can chew when she returns to her Alaskan hometown to take over her parents' diner in this charming first installment in a new cozy mystery series set in an Alaskan tourist town.

When Chef Charlie Cooke is offered the chance to leave San Francisco and return home to Elkview, Alaska, to take over her mother's diner, she doesn't even consider saying no. After all--her love life has recently become a Love Life Crumble, and a chance to reconnect with her roots may be just what she needs.

Determined to bring fresh life and flavors to the Bear Claw Diner, Charlie starts planning changes to the menu, which has grown stale over the years. But her plans are fried when her head cook Oliver turns up dead after a bitter and public fight over Charlie's ideas--leaving Charlie as the only suspect in the case.

With her career, freedom, and life all on thin ice, Charlie must find out who the real killer is, before it's too late.

Charlie Cooke has just come home from California back to Alaska to take over running her mother's diner. She jumped on the opportunity to come home after a relationship disaster, hoping to find solace and strength in her hometown. She was not counting on butting heads with her mom's long-time head cook. Charlie wants to make changes and Oliver resists them every single time. There have been more than one heated argument between them since Charlie came home and took over. Their latest blow-up sent Oliver storming out of the diner. When the police show up in his stead, Charlie can't even believe it when they tell her Oliver has been found dead. His death is suspicious and now Charlie is the prime suspect. 

Mousse and Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery set in Alaska. The weather is cold but the arguments between Charlie and Oliver are heated. His death is a huge blow to the diner but it also brings to light several characters with means, motives, and opportunities to bump Oliver off. The path to discovering the real murderer is twisted and bumpy, leading Charlie in several directions that are dead-ends or just lead to more questions. Who actually was Oliver? Why did he end up in their Alaskan town, working for Charlie's mom? 

The book is full of surprises and twists in the plot the reader will never see coming. I was saddened during parts of the reveal for reasons you'll have to read the book to find out. No spoilers here. The author does a great job with the mystery, the character development, and providing the reader vivid imagery allowing the story to played out like a movie as you read along. The book also has some pretty amazing characters, ones I will definite enjoy learning more about in the next installment of the series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Cozy Mystery Review ~ Pulp Friction (A Cider Shop Mystery, Book #2) by Julie Anne Lindsey @JulieALindsey @KensingtonBooks

Print Length: 336 pages

Publisher: Kensington Books

Publication Date: April 28, 2020

ASIN: B07TT2LWBQ

Amazon

Nothing’s sweeter than a fruitful family business, and for Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe, that means Smythe Orchards in Blossom Valley, Virginia. But this year’s apple crop is especially juicy—
with scandal . . .

SEEDS OF DANGER

Thanks to Winnie's new cider shop, Smythe Orchards is out of the red and folks can get their fix of the produce and other delectable products they love all year round. The locals are even booking the shop for events, including a June wedding! Winnie couldn’t be happier to see the barn filled to the rafters for the big bash—until her doting ex, Hank, is caught in a heated argument with the groom. Winnie plans to scold Hank after the party, but spots him running off instead. And when the groom turns up dead, apparently hit by the honeymoon getaway car, Hank is the main suspect. Now Hank is on the lam, and it’s up to Winnie to get to the core of the truth—before the real killer puts the squeeze on her . . .

Pulp Friction is a wonderful second book in the Cider Shop Mysteries. The mystery was solid, exciting, and kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the small-town setting with the main character living with her granny on an apple orchard. 

Winnie is a fantastic, down-to-earth heroine who wants the wedding being held at the orchard to go off without a hitch. Unfortunately, when Winnie’s ex, Hank, is noticed arguing with the groom, who is later found dead outside the reception, he becomes suspect number one. Knowing he would never arbitrarily take another person’s life, Winnie begins looking into the bride, the groom, and anyone who would want the groom dead. 

I loved Pulp Friction as much as I loved book 1, Apple Cider Slaying. The murder isn’t the only theme in the book, giving the book a lot of realism. Winnie’s granny and granny’s friend Delilah are a hoot, and everyone should have a friendship like theirs, regardless of what stage in life you happen to be in. Friends are priceless. The romance build-up between Winnie and the sheriff is slow and exciting. I love the chemistry and the ease in which the author is developing their potential relationship. We were also provided excellent imagery, character development, and a great story.

The author's writing style is fluid, the pacing is perfect, and the story is so easy to read that I couldn’t believe I was almost done already. I found myself engaged and completely captivated in the story from the very beginning. I really enjoyed Pulp Friction and can't wait for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Book Review: Crush the King (Crown of Shards, Book #3) by Jennifer Estep ~ @Jennifer_Estep #EpicFantasy #Fantasy

Book Information:

Series: A Crown of Shards Novel (Book 3)

Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Publish Date: March 17, 2020
ISBN-10: 0062797697
ISBN-13: 978-0062797698

About the Book:

Queen Everleigh Blair of Bellona has survived the mass murder of the royal family, become a fearsome warrior trained by an elite gladiator troupe, and unleashed her ability to destroy magic. After surviving yet another assassination attempt orchestrated by the conniving king of Morta, Evie has had enough. It’s time to turn the tables and take the fight to her enemies.

There is no better opportunity to strike than during the Regalia Games, a time when warriors, nobles, and royals from all the kingdoms come together to compete in various sporting events. With the help of her loyal friends, Evie goes on the attack at the Regalia, but things don’t turn out the way she hopes. Soon, she is facing a terrifying new threat, and she will have to dig deep and learn even more about her growing magic if she has any chance of defeating her foes.

Because to secure her throne and ensure her kingdom’s survival, Evie must think like a true Bellonan: she must outsmart and outwit her enemies . . . and crush the king.

My Review:

Crush the King is the final action-packed fantasy novel in Jennifer Estep’s Crown of Shards trilogy. The story is filled with magic, deception, death, romance, action, and strategy, all leading to one epic battle.  The showdown is against the King of Morta, who continues to commission assassination attempts against Lady Everleigh Winter Blair. Apparently he doesn’t remember that Evie has ascended to the Bellona throne after dispatching her deceiving and murderous cousin, Vasilia, dealt with nobles who have everything but her and Bellona’s best interests at heart, and is capable of defending herself, her people, and her new alliance with Andvari.

After the last attempt on her life, Evie knows it’s time to put the King of Morta in his place. Evie plans to put her plan into place at the upcoming Regalia Games. All the kingdoms are brought together, and the very best members compete against one another. What better time to be up close and personal with the enemy and try to turn the tables?

I love Evie’s form of magic. Evie’s magic allows her to destroy other forms of magic, making her a formidable foe. Jennifer Estep has created a very strong character in Evie. She’s had a tragic upbringing but one that allowed her to move through the kingdom and learn both the important aspects and those that were most unsavory. She trained as an elite warrior while Vasilia and the rest of Bellona though she was dead. She brought Vasilia to her knees and took her rightful place on the throne.

The epic conclusion to the Crown of Shards series delivers suspense and riveting action. The King of Morta’s tricks know no bounds and has Evie fighting her life, the lives of her people, and the preservation of all the other kingdoms. Unbelievably complex situations are threaded through this book and unsuspecting events threaten the sanctity and spirit of the Regalia Games. It’s a battle of wills, strength, and know-how and Evie relies on everyone to do their part in taking down the Mortan king.

There hasn’t yet been a book written by Jennifer Estep that I haven’t like, and I’ve ready most of them. Her stories are fascinating, full of action, and engaging. Crush the King is a well-written fantasy novel with wonderful characters and detailed world building. The story played out like a movie as I read. The book has a killer cover and intriguing synopsis and I was pulled in from the start.

My Rating:

Book Review ~ Hard Knox by Amber Malloy ~ Perfect Stats, Book 2 ~ #SportsRomance

Hard Knox by Amber Malloy

Genre: Sports Romance

About the Book:

A simple favor to save the girl turns into the quarterback losing his heart.

As beautiful as she is fun, Remy Bell has only one problem—a psychotic killer with political power wants her dead. Always a ‘two steps ahead’ type of gal, she plans to outrun the maniac. Marriage and a sweet life in the football star’s hometown in Canada would give her the cover she needs, but Remy doesn’t stick around long enough to find out. She travels all over the world, photographing the most beautiful and devastating events, but her now-husband’s tabloid activities lead her to the one place she should avoid…back home.

Superstar Gavin Knox wins at everything. However, once he scores the girl of his dreams, he’s suddenly in danger of losing the one thing he has always needed. Before she can slip through his fingers, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse—marry him for Canadian citizenship, which will protect her, and after five years, they can divorce. Knox is positive that she will fall head over heels in love with him, but it doesn’t happen. After six years of marriage, two playoff titles and a third on the way, Knox is forced to contend with a successful wife almost more famous than he is.

Determined to get exactly what he wants, which includes having Remy and a family, he devises a stupid scheme that puts everything he’s worked so hard for in jeopardy.

Book Details:

Print Length: 169 pages
Publisher: Totally Bound Publishing
Publication Date: June 16, 2020
ASIN: B087D62GH4

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2CsWoDH

My Review:

I enjoyed Hard Knox, book 2 in the Perfect Stats series by Amber Malloy. I was pulled in by the synopsis and couldn't put the book down. The story is engaging, fast paced, and includes intriguing characters. Remy and Gavin have a marriage of convenience but it's mostly to keep Remy safe. Both of them are like magnets to one another and when they get withing range, the sexual tension and steamy scenes are inevitable.

The suspense in the novel is subtle but I couldn't help sitting on the edge of my seat. Remy is running from someone and he/she may have just followed her right back home. I can't imagine having to look over my shoulder at every turn. The scene in Barbados was anxiety-inducing and I wondered who/what Remy was facing. The romance is hot. The chemistry between Remy and Gavin is undeniable and completely realistic. There are definite feelings between the two, despite their marriage to keep Remy safe.

The only thing I found off-putting about the story are random thought shifts and mentions or phrases  that didn't go with what was happening in the scene. This didn't happen often but I had to re-read some passages and try to figure out what I missed because something would happen or someone would say or do something that didn't make sense. I still enjoyed the story and was able to move past those parts.

If you like a good romance with a touch of suspense and scorching-hot passion, I recommend Hard Knox. The author's writing style is smooth and conversational, the story is interesting, and I enjoyed the entire book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: