Monthly Archives: January 2021

Riot House /Riot Rules(Crooked Sinners)by Callie Hart-Review Tour

Posted on by
13

Riot House /Riot Rules (Crooked Sinners 1 & 2) by Callie Hart-Review Tour

 

RIOT RULES
Crooked Sinners
by Callie Hart
Genre: new adult, contemporary, erotic romance

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: December 11, 2020

You think you know me, but you’re wrong.

CARRIE

You look at me and see Carrie, the girl with the wild hair and the wild clothes.
Reliable Carrie. Friendly. Quirky. Perhaps a little strange.
What do you really know about me, though?
The details of my past are up for debate.
I’ve been careful to hide my sins, and even more careful to follow the rules.
I do as I’m told. I keep to myself. I don’t mess around with boys, and I’m always ready to run.
At least that’s what I tell myself, anyway.
Since I met him, I’ve broken every single rule in the book.
He’s impossible. Arrogant. Terrifying.
If I’m not careful, Wolf Hall’s golden boy will do more than make me break the rules. He’ll wind up breaking me.

DASH

First, they hate me, then they hate themselves for wanting me. That’s how it always goes.

I’m the smart one. The charming one. The guy with the accent that makes girls go weak at the knees. As a resident of Riot House, I’m destined to rule Wolf Hall. Doesn’t matter where you come from. How much money you have. What your future holds. Cross the path of a Riot House Boy and you’re guaranteed to pay the price.
The girl isn’t special. She’s just another cog, turning in the wheel. So why, then, am I protecting her? And why am I keeping her a secret?

Call me a monster.
Call me a fiend.
Call me reprehensible.

Call me Lord Dashiell Lovett IV.

•••••••

REVIEW:Holy Freaking Book Gods! My mind was a conundrum of excitement and fear with this one friends! First! Read the first book please! I know some people will say you can read it as a standalone, but I promise reading the first book -Riot House- will help you so much. Plus, it’s a freaking awesome book. Second! I am going to try to keep this a spoiler free as I possibly can, it’s too good to ruin for other readers. Third! I hope you’re ready to join team Dash.

A little back story first; when I read Riot House, I HATED Dash lol. He was Lord D-Bag, he was a pompous rich boy who didn’t care what he did or who he hurt. You meet him and all the other guys of Riot House in the first book, along with all the other characters. So much of Dash and Carrie’s back story is in the first book, which is why I think it’s a good idea to read it first.

Anyway; Dash’s entire world is rocked by Carrie, the guts of the book are dark and sexy, there’s drama, betrayal, vulnerability, hate and love. Everything you could fit into one book is in this one! I went into this book knowing it was going to be a long read, and at one point I almost stopped because it was starting to feel like it was dragging and then BAM! Dash opens his dirty mouth and I’m living for him all over again. Carrie is the light to his darkness, but don’t take her as a pushover, she has a will of steel and knows how to use it. I love how in depth we get into Carrie and her secrets; we see her at her worst, then her best. Dash and Carrie are so similar, it’s a little sad to read how much they want to be better for not only one another but for their friends as well.

If you’re not ready to cry, like I mean really cry; like your soulmate has been ripped from you cry, then don’t read this book. It’s going to hurt, like crawl into your spouse’s lap and cling to them like a kitten, cry. -Yes, I did that- This was my final read of 2020 and can I say, with a year that by far was the worst year yet, it was a little better ugly after reading this.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

________

RIOT HOUSE
Crooked Sinners #1
by Callie Hart
Genre: new adult, contemporary, erotic, mystery,romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 2020

They might be richer than gods, but they’re morally bankrupt.
As far as the boys who run America’s most exclusive international academy are concerned, I’m an unwelcome interloper, an inconvenience, and they’re determined to make my life a living hell.

When Wren Jacobi sets eyes on Wolf Hall Academy’s newest inductee, all he sees is an easy mark. A reserved little girl with a target painted on her back. He knows nothing of my troubled past, though. Nothing of my mother’s suspicious death, or the horrific treatment I’ve had to endure at the hands of my psychotic father.

And he has no idea of the lengths that I, unassuming little Elodie Stillwater, will go to in order to break the savage beast who dreams of breaking me first.

There’s a wolf stalking the forests that surround my new school.
Little does he know…
There are far scarier predators lurking out there in the dark.

_______

REVIEW: As complete virgin reader to Author Callie Hart, I was both very excited and nervous to sink my teeth into this book. From the blurb alone, I was unsure what type of adventure it was going to lead me on, but I was pleasantly surprised and addicted.

Welcome one and all to Wolf Hall Academy, the knock off version of Hogwarts, just take away the magic, throw in a dash of crazy rich kids and a bunch of steamy goodness and your good to go. Riot House is a mystery suspense romance that revolves around new girl Elodie Stillwater and resident bad boy Wren Jacobi. This book is recommended for mature readers and does have dark triggers, it is also a standalone and a perfect way to dip your toes into Callie Harts world.

Wren Jacobi is one of three guys of Riot House, filthy rich with nothing but time of their hands, and at Wolf Hall Academy they are kings. When new girl Elodie is sent to the Academy by her father, she is surprised by what she finds. Nothing is what it seems in this school, teachers swear, students do what they want and one of the resident bad boys seems to have taken a shine to her. To bad she wants nothing to do with him.

Wren is cold as ice and not just his personality, the Riot House guys seem to thrive on causing others pain, they live on it. They are friends and brothers, this comes into play in the book more and it’s an intriguing depth to the story I was expecting. Elodie changes all of that though. They have a relationship of give and take, there are moments when I was screaming at Wren, then others when I couldn’t love him more. Elodie and Wren are cut from the same cloth and though it takes time for them to realize what they have, their connection is so strong that it changes them forever. While Wren determined to make Elodie his, she is busy fighting the attraction she feels for him and the strong feelings he brings out in her. When Wren learns of what Elodie’s father has done, well lets just say, I have NEVER loved a character more.

The story line is indeed darker than I would normally read, but its quick paced and easy to keep up with. Hart has a way of weaving the mystery and romance together in way that you will never see the next twist coming. The suspense is awesome, you can’t wait to read the next page and see what is going to happen. Riot House is an enigma, wrapped in a mystery shrouded in shadow, or at least that’s what I felt while reading it. The mystery of the journal, the steamy scenes, the connection of two emotionally damaged souls, nothing beats this dark read. I give Riot House 4.5 stars and a personal “Yahoo!!”

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sarah

Callie Hart is a USA Today bestselling author of dark romance novels. She is an obsessive romantic who loves throwing a dark twist into her stories. Her characters are imperfect, flawed individuals who dictate when she eats, sleeps and breathes. She loves to travel, and often pens her books when she’s on the road, drawing inspiration from unique and wild surroundings.

If she’s not writing, you’ll undoubtedly find her with her nose buried deep in a book, hiking a mountain, or trying to perfect her downward-facing dog. 

 

Callie’s Instagram: http://bit.ly/callieinstagram

Callie’s Newsletter: http://bit.ly/callienewsletter

Callie’s Amazon Page: http://bit.ly/callieamazon

Callie’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/calliehartauthor

Callie’s Reader Group: http://bit.ly/calliesdeviantdivas

Callie’s Bookbub: http://bit.ly/calliebookbub

 

Share

Awakened (Steel Brothers Saga 16) by Helen Hardt-Review tour

Posted on by
13

Awakened (Steel Brothers Saga 16) by Helen Hardt-Review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 29 2020

His voice enthrals her. Her vibrancy awakens him.

Ashley White can’t wait to begin her internship at Steel Vineyards. As an oenology doctoral candidate, she knows all the theory but lacks practice. Working under renowned winemaker Ryan Steel—and his equally talented nephew, Dale—is an opportunity she can’t refuse.

Dale Steel is a loner. Despite his huge family full of uncles, aunts, and cousins, he’s more at home in his vineyards, where he finds something that comes close to the tranquility he craves. He’ll never find true peace, and he’s accepted his fate…until his new intern shows up and turns the only world he knows upside down.

Ashley awakens emotions in Dale that he never dreamed possible, and though he resents her intrusion into his life, he can’t deny the sparks that blaze between them. Still, he must remain distant. To succumb to his growing feelings would provoke something else entirely—the darkness he keeps hidden even from himself.

•••••••••

REVIEW: Just when you think the Steel family has finished their story…another makes it way into the mind of Helen Hardt. Awakened is the start of the Steel children all over again; this one beginning with Talon and Jade’s children.

Dale Steel loves his vines and the connection he feels with them, working in the vineyard with Ryan is what keeps his demons at bay. Through therapy he has learned to cope, but still refuses to talk about the past and the trauma he experienced. He’s content in life, all he needs is the ranch and the vines.

Or so he thought.

Ashley White loves all things wine and is planning on making it her career. When she lands the internship at Steel Vineyards, she is so excited and happy, while she has the mental knowledge, she doesn’t have any experiences in the making of it. It’s the chance of a lifetime, but she wasn’t expecting Dale.

As always HH hooks us with her characters and storyline. Ashley jolts Dale out of his content little life and soon he starts to crave her just as much as she does to him. Feelings rise, drama ensues, the plot thickens. I very much enjoyed this new start to the Steels, as always HH leaves us with more questions than anything at the end of Awakened. All the more I want my hands on the new book. Way to go on this secret smiling story!

Previous reviews
Ravenous
Insatiable
Fate
Legacy
Descent

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

Craving – book 1 is **FREE**

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1rZdD4M
Nook: http://bit.ly/1SEMVJJ
Apple Books: http://apple.co/1KZrHnc
Google Play: http://bit.ly/27w3fC6
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1oPBthR

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

#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt’s passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award-winning author of romantic fiction, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family. Helen loves to hear from readers.

Share

The Last Dragon by Daryl Devore-a review

Posted on by
16

The Last Dragon by Daryl Devore-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 December 21, 2020.

What do dragons, knights and romance have in common? Grab a copy of multi-published author Daryl Devore’s medieval fantasy romance – The Last Dragon and discover the answer.

A sorcerer craving dominance merged with a dragon, the power overwhelmed him causing him to split into three dragons. Demora ruled thought, but was lost in time. Yidithe offered protection, shining like the light of the sun. Ayrradex craved chaos, revelling in destroying souls.

Many knights died, attempting to slay the devil beast. One knight, Prince Hawkyns, did not fear death. He’d lost everything. Away on a mission when Ayrradex attacked his father’s kingdom, Penrythe, Hawkyns returned to find his noble father – feeble and defeated. His wise mother – crazed. His beautiful wife and unborn child – dead. Only a pile of ashes remained for him to bury. He knelt before his King and vowed to slay the devil-beast or be slain.

Derry was born with powers that terrified her parents. They delivered her to a nunnery to be raised in secret. Jathe, a wise sorceress, discovered the young girl and trained her to one day use the secret hidden in her soul.

Legends spoken around campfires hinted the sole way to destroy Ayrradex was when the hearts of a knight and a golden dragon became one. But after a vicious battle with Ayrradex, the golden dragon was thought to be dead.

Can Prince Hawkyns’s bravery and Derry’s powers end the reign of the devil-beast’s terror?

•••••••

REVIEW:A very well thought out story.

So basically a wizard merges with a dragon, but the power of them combined was too much, and so the legend of the three dragons was born, each dragon contained a personality/trait, one lost in time and myth, one was a source of goodness and light, but not Ayrradex, this dragon craved chaos, destruction and death! Many tried to slay it, many died trying. The beast becoming more and more powerful!

Hawkyns is a prince of a dying principality, men, women and children slaughtered by the dragon rampaging the countryside. His own beloved wife and unborn son casualties, his mother mad, his father gravelly ill and his brothers missing after going out to hunt the murderous dragon! Enough is enough, he promises his father to kill the dragon or die trying, and he almost dies after defeating a spawn of the dragon he’s hunting!

Derry is a healer with extraordinary powers, living a lonely life, an old woman to keep her company. The only other visitor is a horrid man wanting to “rut” with her!! There has to be more to this life than caring her the elderly woman and evading the unwanted advances of a lecherous man!

Meeting Hawkyns opens Derry’s eyes to the outside world. But before they get a chance to talk, he’s whisked away by the villagers to be taken care of!

Pariset is a young boy who lives in the village. He’s seen how the village has changed! Children go missing (presumably to be fed to the dragon as an offering) he’s seen how the darkness has spread! And with his mother about to give birth, he’s scared for his sibling, can anyone help him?

The threesome prepare to escape the villagers when Pariset’s mother goes into labour, they need to get to the nunnery where the mother and baby will be safe…..

So can Hawkyns keep his promise to his father? Can he find and slay the dragon? And can he remain true to the memory of his dead wife and child, when feelings begins to grow for the lovely maiden he’s recently met? They travel to meet and defeat the dragon together, without giving the story away both are vital to one another’s survival and to defeat the dragon. Pariset joins them on their quest.

This has the potential to be a film, I was drawn into the pages, and time just ceased to exist! Beautifully written, thought out well, and executed brilliantly. The characters were so different from what I’ve read. Hawkyn feeling he’d let his father and family down. Derry wanting more from her life.

There is a twist to the story that i totally didn’t see coming. In fact there was two….It’s a slow burning love story, which is nice to read once in a while. The action is fast paced and well written. The fury and anger that both Hawkyns and Derry feel is well explained. How could a village turn on Derry? And how can they think of even offering up the new born babe to the dragon? I liked when Hawkyns explains to Pariset that he would be honoured to be his friend and King in the future.

So does Hawkyns defeat the dragon? How is Derry pivotal to the plot? And can they honestly be together when date May face different plans for them? Love may not conquer all!!!

I’m hoping for more stories in this land. I’m hoping to see more of Pariset, Derry and Hawkyns.

Do I recommend this book? Hell yes I do. Knights, dragons, fair maidens and magic. What’s not to like and recommend. It’s George and the dragon meets Disney and a whole lot more!

Copy supplied for review

?Reviewed by Julie B

Share

Happy New Year 2021 from The Reading Cafe

Posted on by
12

Happy New Year 2021 from The Reading Cafe

The Reading Cafe and its’ contributors would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Year.

As we say goodbye to the ‘annus horribilis’ that was 2020, many of us have struggled with the death of family members and friends, illness and issues of health, loss of jobs, and the uncertainty of allegiances, alliances and the people in charge.

To the publishers, authors and promoters, thank you for considering The Reading Cafe. We are honored you have chosen The Reading Cafe as part of your promotional system. Please note, we are often overwhelmed with requests, and we apologize to those we are unable to accommodate.

To our followers, thank you for remaining loyal, and trusting The Reading Cafe to give you well written and honest reviews. At this time, our February anniversary promotion is on hold due to the pandemic and lack of availability of prizes from a number of sources. We will let you know when there is a giveaway available or an upcoming promotion.

Entering into a new year, let us hope for peace and prosperity, good health, love and friendship, and the daily escape into the world of fantasy and fiction, if only a few chapters at a time !

Barb, Sandy and The Reading Cafe team

Share