Monthly Archives: November 2020

Something to Hold Onto by M.K. Oien – a Review

Posted on by
12

Something to Hold Onto by M.K. Oien – a Review

 

Amazon

Description:
She was supposed to be the key. The one person who could assist me in finally getting what I wanted. 
Revenge. 
But all the good things I’d coveted in my life including her, wouldn’t lead me down the pretty path I originally planned. 
The moment I met Claire Evans I knew she’d be the death of me. 

He was arrogant, unapologetic and cruel. The golden boy of Seattle, the ever perfect and always winning Mickey F***ing Silver. 
I hated him. 
I followed him into the darkness with the promise of reward. When he let go of my hand I was left abandoned and shattered. I knew he’d be the death of me. 

This is a tale of love and hate, revenge and forgiveness, life and death. 
A story that starts with good intentions and obliterates every expectation. 

Reading Order :

Silver Duet Series
Book 1 Something to believe in

Book 2 Something to hold onto 

 

Review:

Something to Hold Onto by M.K. Oien is the second book in her Silver series. Something to believe in starts that story, Mickey’s brother and best friend are in that one, so the second book is all about Mickey Silver. I haven’t read the first book, I know it says the book stands alone, but when previous characters are woven into the first book, it really makes me want to read that one first! And I have a feeling there are things in that book pertaining to this one! 

Claire hates Mickey with a passion the reason, her ex boyfriend worked for him selling drugs! The way Cory talked about the awesome Mickey Silver, you thought the sun rose and set on his boss! And the arrogance when Claire met him was enough for her to never want to see him ever again! 

Mickey Silver has worked hard to get to where he is now, he’s also cheated, stolen, lied and crossed a few other lines. I was prepared to hate him, a drug dealer is not usually high on my list of books to read. A taker, someone who would probably blow your brains out if he thought you had crossed him! 

But something most people don’t know about Mickey, he wants out of this business. And he’s making preparations to leave this business to someone else, he’ll have enough money to live comfortably and he’s sick of watching his back.

What made me continue with the book was his love for his best friend and his brother. It made him seem human, to worry about other people other than himself, so with that in mind I continued…..

The chemistry between Claire and Mickey sizzles almost from the first. The hate that Claire says she feels for Mickey probably feels real to her, but you have to wonder if she was hiding her feelings for him from the start. Mickey thinks “stripper” and has preconceived notion of his “rat’s” girlfriend, she’s got to be easy and willing to give up her boyfriend. He’s blown out of the water in both cases…… 

So Mickey’s plan, kidnap Claire and get her boyfriend come rescue her! Claire can only see one problem with that, they split up! Mickey is going to have to come up with some other plan! But he’s convinced that Corey will come and rescue her, then he will convince Corey to back to him, and then he will deal with the real culprit (A man that was prominent in the previous book) he wants Delgado in prison or dead for the hassle he caused his brother and his best friend. 

The kidnapping is actually a contract between Mickey and Claire, she’s to be paid for her time, but she needs to be close to Mickey for it to work!! 

This book is a rollercoaster of emotion, guilt, anger, hate, double dealings and back stabbing. But there is also family loyalty, love, tender moments and a connection that sizzles across the pages. What starts out as blackmail, turns into two people slowly turning to one another as the world they know goes crazy!! 

Mickey can’t get enough of Claire, there is nothing he won’t do for her, she is it for him, and for Claire, the sun rises and sets with him. Neither thought they’d find this kind of love, both thought it would be like fireworks (short but intense) 

So is my review a little off? Maybe, I wanted to know Mickey before this book, so I kept looking for something else.So I stopped, read something else and came back up it, and I’m glad I did. It’s got a few triggers, it’s got a few heart wrenching moments, and it’s got pages where it just took my breath away. I’m still not a fan of drug dealers, I’m still not a fan of excess violence, but I am a fan of this author. 

I’d recommend this book for several reasons. And I know I’m going back to read the first story (if only to read about Mickey) 

Reviewed by Julie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

Share

Lightbringer by Claire Legrand – a Review

Posted on by
12

Lightbringer by Claire Legrand – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
In this epic finale to the Empirium Trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claire Legrand, two queens, separated by a thousand years must face their ultimate destinies.

Queen Rielle, pushed away from everything she loves, turns to Corien and his promises of glory. Meanwhile, whispers from the empirium slowly drive her mad, urging her to open the Gate. Separated from Audric and Ludivine, she embraces the role of Blood Queen and her place by Corien’s side, determined to become the monster the world believes her to be.

In the future, Eliana arrives in the Empire’s capital as a broken shell of herself. Betrayed and abandoned, she fights to keep her power at bay—and away from Corien, who will stop at nothing to travel back in time to Rielle, even if that means destroying her daughter.

But when the mysterious Prophet reveals themselves at last, everything changes, giving Rielle and Eliana a second chance for salvation—or the destruction their world has been dreading.

 

 

Review:

Lightbringer by Claire Legrand is the 3rd and final book in her Empirium trilogy.  I waited with high anticipation for this final book of this trilogy, and am happy to say that LeGrand did a masterful job of ending this to our satisfaction. Refresher: The theme of this trilogy revolves around two heroines, Rielle and her daughter, Eliana; one destined to be the Blood Queen (who would destroy the world) and the other to be the Sun Queen (who is the Queen of Light and Salvation).

Lightbringer picks up immediately after the cliffhanger in Kingsbane, where Rielle fully embraces her role as the Blood Queen, even though she is now pregnant.  Her powers, with help from the controlling evil angel, Corien, continue to grow to unstoppable proportions, opening the gate to allow the bad angels to wreak havoc on the world.  Legrand gives us amazing look into Rielle as she descends into the darkness as the madness controls her.

Eliana, whose POV is in current time, a thousand years after Rielle, has been captured by the Emperor (Corien), who uses his powers to invade her mind, causing her to suffer badly, but she is determined not to give in to him despite the horrifying pain.  She also is filled with hatred to Simon, who betrayed her with Corien, leading to her capture.  Corien wanted Eliana to use her powers to allow Simon to bring them back to the time when Rielle was alive.  While Eliana suffers, she begins to hear a voice talking to her, and teaching her to do things to enable her escape. Who is this person, the Prophet?  I loved Eliana, who was strong, independent, powerful and a true wonderful heroine.

At the same time, Audric (Rielle’s husband, who still loves her despite her terrible deeds), has escaped his territory taken over by an evil cousin, and eventually will gather friends to help him fight Corien.  We do get a few other POV’s, such as Audric, Ludivine, Simon, Navi, Jessamyn & Zahra. 

The last half of the book was an amazing and epic climax that kept me glued to my kindle, unable to put it down.  There was so many things happening, you couldn’t blink or you would miss something.  All these characters from Eliana to Rielle to Audric and all the secondary characters played a major role in all the pieces falling into place, changing the end game as Rielle and Eliana story reaches its climatic ending.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and this is one ending you need to read.

Lightbringer was an intense, exciting, emotional and wonderful ending to this fabulous trilogy, with major twists along the way.    It was such a great finale, and I loved how Legrand pulled it all together so seamlessly, as well as being a befitting ending.  Well done by Claire Legrand, as Lightbringer was a terrific conclusion.

Reviewed by Barb

Owned copy

Share

Outfoxed (The Fox Witch #1) by RJ Blain-Review & Giveaway tour

Posted on by
15

Outfoxed (The Fox Witch #1) by RJ Blain-Review & giveaway tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 3, 2020

Death is a way of life outside of the safety of Inner Tulsa, and Jade means to keep flipping Mother Nature off until old age claims her. With one eye always on the sky, the last thing she needs is a pack of bounty hunters out for her living head. With no idea of why anyone would want her, her wits might keep her free, assuming she can resist the charming lures of Sandro, one of the men out to claim her as his own.

Left with the choice of being the evening snack of a tornado or taking shelter with the bounty hunter, she does what she does best: she lives on the edge.

Striking a bargain with the handsome bounty hunter buys her another day of life, but it also dumps her into the heart of a sinister plot, one meant to enslave the residents of the storm-tossed city—and the others brave and foolish enough to call the Alley home.

•••••••

REVIEW:A new author and series for me. I loved the chapter names, they did make me chuckle. The chapters are pretty long, but are chopped into day or time slots, it’s a little like reading a diary.

Jade is a fox shifter, now most shifters can only partially shift, Jade is a full shifter, her genes are a top prize. But she’s not interested in becoming a wife, Jade is a free spirit and will stay that way, unless the bounty hunters get hold of her! I liked Jade, she was independent, she was resourceful and she had an attitude I just loved, she had me chuckling at odd moments.

Vagrants are poor people who live in the alley. Asylum is where the rich and powerful live. It’s very much a dystopian story. It’s very descriptive, really well written. When she’s not being chased by her “ethical” bounty hunter, she’s thinking about him. It’s driving her crazy!

Sandro is the current bounty hunter on her tail, he’s caught up with her, and now they are hiding out from a fierce storm. Really wasn’t too enamoured with him at first, all he saw was cash when he saw Jade, then insulted her by saying she could make money as a stripper!!
But promising her a five minute head start after the storm abated.

When he finally catches up with her, he persuades her to live with him for a while! That part I was confused with, if he’s a bounty hunter, then why not take her straight to where you’ll get paid? Unless he has an ulterior motive?

Jade also uncovers why she’s so valuable, and if she’s sold as a courtesan then she could be made to have children to more than just her husband! That’s why she has so many bounty hunters after her! She’s worth a small fortune. She needs to hide, and stay hidden under they get bored and move on. But she’s not that lucky, she’s being targeted, and Sandro has to pull strings and throw money at the problem.

But in the end, Jade is entered into the auction (I really did think differently) and what will be her fate? A brood mare, a plaything, or a beloved wife?

I have to admit it’s slow, it’s a little long winded, but there was something that kept me reading. I wanted to find out if she escapes Sandro, I wanted to know if they ever got out from under the rule of the Asylum……And in the end, I have to admit, it was a pretty good book.

Sandro’s family is absolutely hilarious, I loved his mother, I had a permanent smile on my face as I read the whole families interaction with one another and Jade.

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Julie B

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until satisfied.

Author links:

NOTE: THE READING CAFE is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Share

Man in Charge (Man In Charge #1) by Laurelin Paige-Review tour

Posted on by
10

Man in Charge (Man In Charge Duet #1) by Laurelin Paige-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Apple / Google Play

Read the Prequel: MAN ON TOP #0.5 AVAILABLE NOW AND FREE!!

https://geni.us/ManonTop

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 20,2020

The Sebastians own this city.

Hell, they own the whole world.

All I want is one little piece of it, a corner that I can call my own.

So when my boss runs away to “find herself”, I seize the opportunity and dive head first into the Sebastian’s glamorous universe. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted—fast paced and high stakes—and, even though I don’t fit in, I’m excellent at faking it.

Until I come face to face with the man in charge, Scott Sebastian, the arrogant, playboy heir with the mind of a devil and the body of a god and a mouth I can’t stop thinking about.

He’s infuriating. He’s a distraction. He’s the man who wants me in his bed as much as I want to be there.

And, if I get too close, he’ll be the one person who could expose me for what I really am—a fraud.

•••••••

REVIEW:MAN IN CHARGE is the first instalment in Laurelin Paige’s contemporary, adult MAN IN CHARGE erotic, romance duet focusing on billionaire businessman Scott Sebastian, and PA Tessa Turani.

Told from first person perspective (Tessa Turani) MAN IN CHARGE follows the building romance and relationship between billionaire businessman and philanthropist Scott Sebastian, and PA Tessa Turani. A one-night stand with a stranger finds Tessa Turani facing her fears when Scott Sebastian, of SIC (Sebastian Industrial Corporation) is the man she hasn’t stopped thinking about but also the man from whom to win funding for a charity near and dear to her heart. Going against her ‘boss’s’ orders, Tessa approaches SIC , representing the company for which she works, a representation predicated upon a lie. What ensues is the week’s long presentation to the board members at SIC; the building but forbidden romance and relationship between Scott and Tessa, and the potential fall-out as both Scott and Tessa entered into the relationship with secrets and lies.

Tessa Turani was explicitly told not to approach Sebastian Industrial Corporation but Tessa believed SIC would be the perfect business to fund the charity for which she represents. Discovering her hot and sexy one-night stand is none other than Scott Sebastian felt like all kinds of wrong but neither one was willing to walk away from their palpable sexual chemistry and attraction. Scott Sebastian felt drawn to Tessa Turani but was quick to admit he doesn’t do relationships and he wasn’t offering our heroine a happily ever after but Scott’s secret was about to break our heroine’s heart, a secret she never could have suspected or known.

The relationship between Scott and Tessa begins as a one-night stand wherein Tessa spent one night with a stranger, a stranger with whom she would fall in love. Having started their relationship with secrets of her own, Tessa will be blindsided when she discovers the truth about Scott, and his reputation as a player with the opposite sex. The $ex scenes are intimate, passionate, erotic and intense, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Tessa’s best friend Teyana; her boss Kendra; Scott’s father Henry Sebastian; his cousin Brett; PA Eden; charity rep Sarah Boynton, as well as several members of the board of directors.

MAN IN CHARGE and the prequel Man on Top is a story of secrets and lies; family and relationships; power, struggle, betrayal and heart break. The character driven premise is fast paced, captivating and engaging; the characters are energetic, strong, and determined; the romance is seductive, steamy and provocative. MAN IN CHARGE ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

With millions of books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling Author. She is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however.  

When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Killing Eve or Letterkenny, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She’s also a proud member of Mensa International though she doesn’t do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio.

She is represented by Rebecca Friedman. 

Follow: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest / Instagram / Facebook Fan Page

Sign up for Laurelin’s Newsletter: HERE

Share

Blacklisted (Loveless Texas #3) by Jay Crownover-Review tour

Posted on by
11

Blacklisted (Loveless Texas #3) by Jay Crownover-Review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 27 ,2020

Dr. Presley Baskin has always lived a quiet, calm life. Unfortunately, nothing about her life in Loveless, Texas—especially not the wild, rowdy, and impossibly close-knit Lawton family who’ve claimed her—is quiet or calm. Which is how loner Presley finds herself roped into patching up local bad boy Shot Caldwell against her better judgment. Presley wants nothing to do with the dangerous, brooding leader of the local outlaw motorcycle club. But when someone starts stalking her, Shot is the only person she trusts to help. Plus he owes her one…

Palmer ‘Shot’ Caldwell has always known his life isn’t made for relationships. At least until shy, secretive, Presley reluctantly pulled a bullet out of him. He’s oddly protective of the pretty doctor, so when she comes to him for help, hard-hearted Shot suddenly realizes there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her safe.

•••••••

REVIEW:Ms. Jay Crownover has gifted us with the next book in the Loveless, Texas series, and what a great read it was! Now this is the third book in the series, and while reading the books in order is my preference, Blacklisted can be read as a standalone.

Dr. Presley is trying to get used to what has become her new normal. The loss of her mother, of the relation she had with her siblings she knew nothing about pressuring her to spend time with them, and to cap that off a former friend is not only out to ruin her life, but kill her as well. With the drama of life swirling around her, Presley finds herself stitching up the one and only Shot Caldwell, rough and ragged man of danger.

Shot is not what Presley thought she would need in her life, but with a murderer out to get her she calls in a favor for saving his life. Shot is a biker to the core and never goes back on a debt or a promise. When he proclaims himself Presley’s protector, he brings his club members to help keep her safe. Through this high paced, angsty romance, we welcome characters back from previous books. It is always fun to read about where characters are and how they have grown in the next books when they come out.

Shot and Presley are my favorite couple in this series so far. While Shot is strong and protective, he is also the most understanding to Presley’s situation with life. She wants her life to stop being put on hold, to live life to the fullest, Shot is on board with this plan and ready to help her take life the horns if you will. Way to go to Jay Crownover! 4.5 Stars from me.

Reading order and Previous Reviews
JUSTIFIED
UNFORGIVEN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Follow: Goodreads /Website /Twitter /Facebook/Instagram /

Jay Crownover is the International and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, and The Point and Breaking Point Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.

NEWSLETTER Sign up-   http://www.jaycrownover.com/#!subscribe

Share

Radical (Clandestine Magic #2) by Colleen Cowley-a review

Posted on by
10

Radical (Clandestine Magic #2) by Colleen Cowley-a review

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 25, 2020

Women have no ability to cast spells. That’s what wizards have said for generations—and it’s a lie.

In this second book of the Clandestine Magic trilogy, Beatrix Harper wants to expose that lie to protect her sister’s life. Her desperate plan: Train tens of thousands of women in secret, then shock the nation with a display of their magic. She thinks it will work—if only she can keep the details from her town’s wizard, Peter Blackwell.

But that’s nearly impossible thanks to their unwanted magical connection. Peter, meanwhile, fears that his own desperate goal—to counter the terrible weapon he should never have invented—is doomed to fail.

Their plans are about to collide. Disastrously.

If you’re a reader who prefers to know upfront whether a book has a happy ending, what the level of violence or trauma is, whether there are sex scenes and how substantial a part romance plays in the plot, you can find a link to those details in Colleen Cowley’s author profile. One scene in the book includes a character discussing a past trauma, and the link has more specifics.

•••••••

REVIEW:RADICAL is the second instalment in Colleen Cowley’s multi-genre CLANDESTINE MAGIC /paranormal/ UF/ Gaslamp fantasy series focusing on thirty-three year old, wizard/omnimancer Peter Blackwell, and store clerk/suffragette Beatrix Harper. RADICAL should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book one SUBVERSIVE.

NOTE: If you have not read book one SUBVERSIVE, there may be spoilers in my review.

SOME BACKGROUND: CLANDESTINE MAGIC is classified as ‘Gaslamp Fantasy’ – a sub-genre of both fantasy and historical fiction with elements of steampunk and the paranormal. The story line is set in an alternate 21st century, one in which the rise of feminism and equal rights has only just begun, and women are still considered second class citizens with no power, no magic and no rights. For decades wizards aka men, have controlled the world, using magic and the elements to increase their power and domination but subtle cracks begins to fragment their authority, and a magical weapon commissioned by our story line hero is needed to regulate the users of magic.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Beatrix and Peter) RADICAL follows several paths and picks up after the events of book one in which Beatrix sister’s Lydia, in her fight for women’s rights, may or may not have been the target of some very powerful men. In an effort to ‘arm’ women with magical powers, powers of which they have been led to believe have not been bestowed to their gendered sex, Beatrix recruits several women volunteers to teach them the ability to work with magic but someone is hoping to take them down, and in doing so destroy any semblance of a relationship between Peter and Beatrix. With the number of visiting wizards both seen and unseen, Peter begins to suspect they are under watch, first discovering the spells and hidden devices in all of their homes. As Beatrix and Peter’s relationship begins to take on a more ethereal existence, someone else is working behind the scenes to destroy everything they have accomplished to date.

RADICAL is a complex and detailed story of secrets and lies, power and control, misogyny, feminism, rights and beliefs. With elements of the paranormal, magic, and mayhem RADICAL is an edgy, unique and haunting tale of challenges, disillusionment, drama and desperation.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one SUBVERSIVE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Share