#Review: Grudges (Dungeon Raider, Book 1) by J.R. Rain and H.P. Mallory

 

The Forge...

It’s not a place that gives anyone the warm and fuzzies.

No, The Forge is a dungeon mine that used to be home to the Deep Mountain Clan of dwarves. Then the orcs took control of it and forced the dwarves out.

Now it’s a death sentence to any who try to voyage into its dark depths.

That’s where I come in.

No, I’m not some sort of soldier or mercenary trying to set things right.

I’m a thief.

And I’ve plundered many dungeons—enough to have earned a reputation for myself.

I’m good at what I do and that’s the exact reason why I’ve been hired by holy knight, Cade, to take him into the bowels of The Forge.

Cade was entrusted by his higher-up to retrieve a holy scroll, located in the belly of The Forge.

The only problem (aside from the territorial orcs, the nightmarish beasts that roam the tunnels and shafts, and the fact that no one has ever reached the final level of The Forge) is…

My ex-boyfriend, Aram.

Right.

So, this isn’t one of my prouder moments, but a long time ago, Aram and I were together. Then I stole something precious from him and he’s been after me ever since.

Well, you know what they say about karma…

My karma finally caught up to me when Aram staged a setup and I fell for the bait.

Imagine Aram’s irritation when he finally gets the chance to arrest me, but then Cade shows up with this quest. Even though Aram is a Justiciar, an enforcer of the law, Cade’s rank trumps Aram’s which means Cade’s word goes.

And Cade wants me to lead this expedition.

As I see it, I have two choices: rot inside a jail cell for the rest of my life or take my chances in The Forge, with the potential to earn my freedom.

I choose The Forge.

After all, I’m always up for an adventure.

ASIN: B08PNVJ4KV
Publisher: Rain Press
Publication date: December 3, 2020
Print length: 317 pages

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My Review:

Rogue is a dungeon raider and experienced thief. She's also on the run from her ex, Aram. When he finally catches up to her, Aram isn't alone. With Aram is Prator Cade, a Paladin of the First Order Temple of Panthenoeosis. Pator Cade requests her assistance in retrieving something from The Forge, a danger mine dungeon full of murderous Orcs. After setting some terms, Rogue agrees to lead an expedition into The Forge, but getting out may be almost impossible.

As a player of World of Warcraft, this book sung to me.  I loved the adventure, the danger, the methodical ways the group used to wind their way through The Forge. Rogue is a smart and tough heroine. Yes, she got caught in a trap but she was able to talk her way out of jail time, earn money, and do what she does best. She's a natural leader and people are drawn to her. The back and forth between Rogue and Aram brings a spurned romance into the equation, as well.

There was ample world building as Rogue's group entered The Forge and made their way to the bottom to locate the scroll Prator Cade is seeking. There is never a dull moment between the main players and their adversaries. I was rooting for them through the entire book. I can't wait to see where the authors takes this motley crew in the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Paranormal Romantic Suspense #Review ~ The Protector (Fire's Edge, Book #4) by Abigail Owen @AOwenBooks @EntangledPub

 

The cousin of the High King, Lyndi Chandali has lived with the constant threat of being pawned off as a political prize. A rare, female-born dragon like Lyndi can’t truly mate—not in the way it counts. Which is why she's kept her distance from a certain sinfully delicious Beta. Instead, she's built a life for herself giving orphaned dragons in the Americas a home.

As Beta of his team of enforcers, Levi Rowtag is a fighter first, last, and always. His job is to protect—his team, the shifters in his territory, and the stubborn woman hell-bent on fighting with him at every turn. He knows from the moment they first meet what she’ll never accept—they are destined to be mated.

But with the kings at war, the enemy is now coming for Lyndi. Worse, he’s coming for her orphans, too. He’ll have no choice but to defy his king and go rogue if he has any hope of protecting them all...and finally claiming his mate.

Publication date : December 7, 2020
Publisher : Entangled: Amara
Print length : 254 pages
ASIN : B08NH9B4L2

Purchase Link: Amazon

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My Review:

This is my first experience with the Fire's Edge series by Abigail Owen. I have all the rest of the books but opted to start here (which is unusual for me. I'm generally a strict "start from book one of a series" girl). Lyndi and Levi blew me away. Both are strong and so into each other but avoided each other for completely different reasons. With the war coming, Levi is called home to his Gold Dragon king and, while the timing stinks, he has to let Lyndi know how he feels. When he discovers she feels the same way, time is running out to convince her that she's his destined mate. 

I love the dynamics between Lyndi and Levi. Their relationship is turbulent and Lyndi has a hard time accepting anyone would want her as mate for anything besides a political means. As a female-born shifter, there are many things she can't do that a human-born mate can. This pushes Lyndi away from Levi for hundreds of years. When Levi is called back home and Lyndi directly threatened by the enemy, Levi makes a choice - one that may come back to bite him but as long as Lyndi is safe he throws caution to the wind. 

This book is full of action, suspense, and romance. There are several storylines woven throughout the book and the author did a wonderful job threading them around Lyndi and Levi. There isn't a ton a backstory, and of course, I missed everything that lead to The Protector, but I wasn't confused and never really felt lost. I love the author's writing style - this isn't the first novel by Abigail Own I've read (just the first one in this series) and she has become a top favorite. Starting the series from the very beginning will be my next endeavor.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Visit the Author: https://abigailowen.com/

Spicy Contemporary Romance Review: Bodywork (The Works, Book #1) by Marie Harte

 

First time’s the burn
He ran into her and her coffee and raced off with a burn and a snarl.

Second time’s a hitch
Being sexually attracted to Mr. Tall, Dark, and Rude hadn’t been on her agenda. She just wants him out of her massage clinic before he recognizes her or she jumps that sexy body. Not professional. Not at all.

Third time’s the charm
When Shelby Vanzant and Shane Collins meet again, the sparks fly. Shane has found his match in a sexy, intelligent woman he can’t stop thinking about. Shelby is scared, because she might grow to like this guy. The last guy she liked dumped her for someone hotter… She’s willing to take a chance–if her flamoboyant mother, Shane’s macho best friend, and his Casanova of a younger brother don’t screw things up. With fate on their side, they might have a shot at a love they’d stopped looking for.

Publication date : November 30, 2011
Print length : 258 pages
ASIN : B006GR3GPM

Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review:

Shane Collins is always late. One particular morning he's particularly late getting to work in order to meet a client. Calling on his best friend Mac, Shane finds himself in front of a coffee shop. In his haste, he runs into a woman, spilling her coffee all down the front of him. Blaming her, he grumbles off as his makes his way to Mac. Later the same day, the same rude man who spilled her coffee is lying face down on a table in her massage clinic. Shelby Vanzant can't believe her poor luck. Hopefully when the massage is over, he won't recognize her. That, of course, in not the case.

Sparks fly between Shelby and Shane but they've both been burned by past relationships. Shelby and Shane are still nursing broken hearts from each person's previous relationship and, despite the wishes of their family and friends, want to remain single - until they meet each other. They decide to try a friends-with-benefits arrangement in secrecy. What begins as no-strings attached quickly morphs into anything but. 

Bodywork is a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance with wonderful main characters and quirky side characters whose meddling may just mess up everything between Shelby and Shane. The book is a cute and fun read. The story and characters kept me engaged. The book contains role-playing along with steamy and vanilla sex. The author excelled in the character development of Shelby and Shane, also providing the set up for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Contemporary Holiday Romance Review: The Mistletoe Trap (Heart in the Game #2) by Cindi Madsen @CindiMadsen @EntangledPub

From the moment Julie sees her best friend, Gavin, in the airport, it’s like no time at all has gone by instead of months and months. No matter how long they’ve been apart, their relationship has always been steady, comfortable, and decidedly just friends. Even though their meddling parents have hung what seems like unlimited amounts of mistletoe everywhere she goes this holiday season, Julie knows some things will never change.

Gavin is well-aware his family’s wanted him and Julie to get together since forever, even though he’s been friend-zoned since they could talk—and he’s been happy to play that role. After all, as the new starting quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs, he’s got enough on his plate without adding romance to the mix.

But between playing elves in the holiday bazaar to nights spent one-on-one watching rom-coms or soaking in their town’s hot springs, suddenly the “reverse parent trap” they’ve fallen into is actually starting to work. But this could be one scheme where letting themselves get trapped might be way too dangerous.

Each book in the Heart in the Game series is STANDALONE:
* The Wedding Deal
* The Mistletoe Trap

Publication date : November 16, 2020
Publisher : Entangled: Amara
ASIN : B08L1PKJ26
Print length : 269 pages
Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review:

The Mistletoe Trap is one of the cutest romance books I've read in a long time. Julie is a quirky heroine who spouts stories about her life in the lab, some of which would be considered inappropriate in certain circles. She and I would get along great. It takes a lot to gross me out and her stories about things she's dissected would be interesting to me. As such, though, she finds dating to be a problem and the last guy she dated called her boring. Talk about a low-blow to her self-esteem. Fortunately, she has her bestie, Gavin, a pro football player, who she's known since their days in diapers. They may live miles and states apart- Julie in Arizona and Gavin in Texas - they talk as often as they can and are about to join their families in their hometown in Colorado.

Gavin has just been signed as the new quarterback for the San Antonio Mustangs. When an injury sidelines him, he chooses to rest and relax with a little more time at home in Colorado. Knowing his family and Julie's family have been trying to set them up for years, Gavin takes their shenanigans in stride. That is, until feelings for Julie bubble to the surface and they find themselves falling for each other. Everything boils over, however, and Julie and Gavin wonder if changing their relationship could ruin what they have together.

I absolutely loved Julie and Gavin in this book. Everything I want in a romance is front and center with this one. There was laughter, tears, joy, and sadness, complete with meddling family members and a little bit of heat. The Mistletoe Trap is everything I expect in the friends-to-lovers trope and then some. The author's writing style is mesmerizing and I was engaged in the book from the minute I read the synopsis. I couldn't put the book down and read it in one day. I really need to read more by Cindi Madsen, she is a great writer.

I was provided a copy of this book to read but my opinions are my own.

Rating:

 

Visit the Author: http://cindimadsen.com/

#Review: Temptation's Crown (Mists of Magic and Mayhem Series, Book 6) by H.P. Mallory ~ An Epic Fantasy Romance Series

 

Episode 6: Temptation’s Crown

Rowan is just a child, but living in the world she is has forced her to grow up, faster than maybe she should have. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, the most unlikely of allies will come to her defense…

Pagan knows he shouldn’t trust Nyx and yet, he can’t help but feel like he’s falling for her. But when he agrees to infiltrate the Masked Magistrates in order to steal a lodestone, they will both find themselves in a situation they didn’t bargain for...

Stone is frantic. Emma has been abducted by possessed students, Clark at the forefront. Meanwhile, Stone, Jupiter and Kevin are imprisoned in the one place they’d turned for refuge. How will they escape and what will this delay mean for Emma?

And what happens when Jolie is reunited with her sister and her closest friends?

Find out what happens in the sixth episode of the Mists of Magic and Mayhem Series!

MISTS OF MAGIC AND MAYHEM:
1. Shadow Phantoms
2. Circle of the Moon
3. Hallowed Flames
4. Hush of Ruin
5. Arcane Ambitions
6. Temptation’s Crown

Publication date : November 10, 2020
ASIN : B08N71QBSH
Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review:

Episode 6 in the Mists of Magic and Mayhem series is wrought with danger everywhere. Rowan is attacked with only one or two saviors. Emma has been kidnapped and Stone is in a frenzy to save her. Pagan and Nyx find themselves in a treacherous situation. Jolie, Bryn, Sinjin, Odran, and Morse are united in the Abyss but getting out may not be as easy as getting in.

The sixth episode in the Mists of Mayhem series is action-packed, fast-paced, and pulls the reader in effortlessly and keeps them engaged. I am excited to be back in this world. Along the way through this fresh, new adventure we get to meet new characters, venture into new settings, and learn new things. The story is engaging and branches in several directions, but it's done smoothly.

This series is amazing. I love that we are back in the world of Jolie Wilkins and we get to see what they are up to 10 years after the end of the Bryn and Sinjin series. Each book draws you in and the endings keep you wanting more. I’m constantly on edge, waiting for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Review:

Gallant Ghosts and Ghastly Gentleman: A Paranormal Mystery Novel (Lucy Westenra Book 2) by J.R. Rain and H.P. Mallory

 

So, that saying that goes: ‘when it rains, it pours’… yeah, it’s pretty much spot on. Not that I ever really had good luck, but I’m not sure how much worse my luck could get…

For the first time in a really looooong time, I’ve got a boyfriend—Dr. Henry Jekyll. And he’s everything you’d want a boyfriend to be—charming, sweet, loyal. Only problem is, I can’t be left alone with him.

Yeah, you heard that right. Ever since I agreed to becoming a full-time employee of the Holmwood Association (that apprehends monsters), I’m being kept under lock and key. If I’m allowed outside the compound, it has to be with a chaperone—all owing to the fact that I’m half-vampire.

But here’s the part where my luck takes a serious plunge… while on a date with Henry (and Simone—our chaperone), I notice a shadow lurking just outside the opera house. Thinking it’s none other than the bane of my existence—Dracula, himself—I follow it. And I nearly get killed by a collapsing parapet of bricks.

That’s when I realize this isn’t the work of Dracula, because Vlad would never kill me—not when he wants me to return to him forever (ahem, over my undead body).

Meanwhile, numerous people around Sacramento are spontaneously combusting and the finger seems to be pointing at Morfran—a demon who grants favors. Yet, when I start to investigate, I realize Morfran is involved, yes, but only in so much as he’s being targeted. Also targeted are all his clients who bear his mark… and guess who’s included in that esteemed crowd?

Yep, you guessed it.

Now, I’ve got to hurry up and figure out whodunit before I become another spontaneously combusting victim.

Le sigh.

Publication date : November 18, 2020
Print length : 251 pages
Publisher : Rain Press
ASIN : B08NWJH4JD
Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review:

I was thoroughly entertained by Gallant Ghosts and Ghastly Gentlemen. The Lucy Westenra series has shot up to the top of my favorites list. The paranormal elements, inclusion of characters from several different classic stories, mystery, and humor are a wonderful combination. I enjoyed Lucy's wit, sense of humor, and sarcasm. She may be half-vampire but she blends into the human world seamlessly. 

They mystery is fun and full of twists and turns. The characters are quirky, well-written, and some are quite complex. Other characters are in the background or we only get a brief glimpse. Hopefully, they are characters that we may see expanded on in future books.

Vlad's amorousness toward Lucy still has her see-sawing between her vampiric side wanting him and her human side detesting him and it takes an abrupt turn when memories begin to surface. Lucy has been battling against her vampire for generations, knowing that once she fully embraces her, she will go from the bounty hunter doing the hunting to being the vampire being hunted. She's clearly on team human but Vlad is a temptation threatening her ability to stay that way. Fortunately, Vlad is slowly losing his allure to Lucy (not to her inner vamp, though), as she now has a boyfriend in Henry Jeckyll.

If you're looking for a fun and fast-paced read by a wonderful pair of authors, look no further. Gallant Ghosts and Ghastly Gentlemen today!

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

My Rating:

#Review ~ Caught A Mermaid Romance (Sea Temptress Series #1) by Kimberley Cale #Mermaids #Romance

 

A vengeful pirate…

Ruthless pirate captain Quinn O’Connor is bent on getting revenge on the creatures who wrecked his ship and killed his crew. When he claims their leader as his captive, he doesn’t expect the scorching consequences that come with being stranded with her on a mysterious island.

A beautiful sea temptress…

Lorelei, a daughter of Poseidon, is willing to bargain with the dangerous pirate who captured her in order to save the ones she loves. He believes the worst of her and her kind, and when he drags her onto dry land, turning her beautiful tail into a pair of unsteady legs, she’s not sure if she’ll be able to return home—and soon she starts to wonder if she really wants to.

Magic and mayhem bring them together…

With each smoldering kiss, each heated touch, their desire blazes higher. Can they overcome misunderstandings and monstrous enemies seeking to tear them apart? Will a mermaid challenge her fate for the love of a pirate? Will the vengeful pirate give up his revenge and take on a god to save his mermaid?

Paperback Info:

ISBN-10 : 177728211X
ISBN-13 : 978-1777282110
Paperback : 224 pages
Dimensions : 6 x 0.56 x 9 inches
Publisher : Kimberley Dow
Publish Date: August 11, 2020

eBook Info:

ASIN : B08D7T8YSK
Print length : 226 pages
File size : 391 KB
Publication date : September 10, 2020

Purchase Link: 

Amazon

My Review:

Quinn O'Connor is pirate captain of The Mayhem, until sirens wreck his ship and lure is crew to their watery graves. All Quinn wants now is revenge and if taking a siren captive is what it takes then so be it. When Lorelei awakens on an island, she knows her life is over. She can't survive on land, no mermaid can. When her captor tells her a tall tale about how mermaids become human, she stares at him in disbelief. Unfortunately, the tale becomes true. The misfit pair, a pirate and a mermaid, soon turn their hatred for one another into something else after Lorelei makes a deal - her body for his help to find a treasure on the island on which they currently are stranded. After the treasure it found, will Quinn keep his part of the bargain and will Lorelei not only turn back into a mermaid but be able to save her sisters and herself from her dangerous father, Poseidon?

Caught is an interesting and unique mermaid tale. Poseidon is not very nice to his daughters. Lorelei is being forced to wed the son of an ally but he manages to kill each of his brides. While trying to keep her sisters in line and figure out how to avoid marrying someone dangerous or having her sisters forced to marry him, Lorelei gets captured by Quinn. She's told of a treasure on the island containing a weapon that could change the power in the ocean in short order. In an effort to prove to Quinn she's not the siren that destroyed his ship or crew, she makes a deal with him. Her body for the treasure - as long as she gets the weapon.

The line the author writes in the sand concerning consent almost had me putting the book down. Quinn's character is so hellbent on bedding a mermaid after she loses her tail, I wanted to reach into the book and slap him. The author avoids any true assault but the discussion is there in Quinn's mind and there is some rather risky hand placements. I hope the next book doesn't include any similar scenes between the hero and heroine. Once I was past this particular section of the book, the rest was smooth sailing. The sex was steamy and there was a definite shift in the interactions between Quinn and Lorelei.  

The character develop was well done. She took Quinn from aggrieved pirate with woman issues to a kind, caring, and loving man willing to do whatever was necessary to help Lorelei. Lorelei, herself, was a strong character. She may have had a rough go of it after turning human but the author did not write her in a way that perceived weakness. She new what she had to do to get off the island and save her sisters. She also broke Quinn's heart out of its stone fortress, allowing him to see that not all women are out to swindle men or that women are only good for one one thing. Other than the issues I discussed above, Caught is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance. Events taking place in the sea are a bit dark but just add another element to the story. 

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

My Rating: