Monthly Archives: July 2024

When Kings Bend (O’Sullivan’s Brides 2) by Vi Carter-review

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When Kings Bend (O’Sullivan’s Brides 2) by Vi Carter-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 28, 2024

Three brides have been given to me: Niamh is as delicate as the careful steps she takes, Selene is as challenging as the secrets she’s trying to unravel, and Amira who has been lost to me.

Someone has taken her and that fool does not realize that a King never forgives or forgets.

Blood debts must be paid and the collectors are knocking on doors. The Hand himself keeps the ledger and my name has been written in red.

Yet, no shadows appear at my doorstep.

He may be the Hand of the Kings, but I am Diarmuid O’Sullivan. Before this cult infiltrated Dublin, my family ruled it.

And this King always fights for his throne.

This time, I am not fighting alone. Despite my desire to keep them safe and secure, my brides have no fear of shadows.

In fact, they are determined to shine a light in every dark crevice where my enemies hide.

They don’t realize that if that light shines on me, they may not like what they see.

Some Kings are monsters.

•••

REVIEW: WHEN KINGS BEND is the second instalment in Vi Carter’s contemporary, adult THE O’SULLVAIN BRIDES dark, erotic, romance series focusing Irish Mafia King Diarmuid O’Sullivan, and his three virgin brides Selene, Naimh, and Amira. WHEN KINGS BEND should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book one-WHEN KINGS RISE.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Kings is a cult-like organization with the ability to replace and control CEOs, Presidents and Popes, and Diarmuid is about to rise to the position he has always wanted in the face of the death of his uncle Andrew O’Sullivan but family secrets and demons are threatening from the past.

Told from four first person perspectives (Diarmuid, Selene, Naimh, Amira) WHEN KINGS BEND follows the building but struggling relationship between Diarmuid and his remaining two brides Selene and Naimh. Amira has been chosen by someone else, and in this, the trio is struggling with the truth. As Selene continues to search for any information about the ‘cult’ into which they have been thrown, Amira’s new life is anything like she could have ever imagined. Death and destruction are waiting for them all when vengeance and retribution take aim at our story line hero.

The world building continues to focus on the Diarmuid, his embittered cousin Wolf, and the three brides chosen: Selene, Naihm, and Amira. Selene has come through as the dominant and more aggressive bride, while Selene focuses on protecting someone back home. As Amira’s life begins to spiral out of control, Wolf loses his touch with sanity, threatening everyone and anything that gets in his way.

The secondary and supporting characters include Diarmuid’s brother Ronan and Lorcan, their embittered cousin Wolf; head of the Hand of Kings Victor Maddigan, as well as the appearance of Naimh’s parents, and the Amira’s mother.

WHEN KINGS BEND is another story of power and control, betrayal and retribution, secrets and lies, murder and madness, desperation and denial, family and relationships. The premise is dark, dramatic and twisted; the characters are determined, desperate and tragic; the romance is limited to acceptance but jealousy prevails. WHEN KINGS BEND ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one WHEN KINGS RISE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

VI CARTER: When Vi Carter isn’t writing contemporary & dark romance books, that feature the mafia, are filled with suspense, and take you on a fast paced ride, you can find her reading her favorite authors, baking, taking photos or watching Netflix.

Married with two children, Vi divides her time between motherhood and all the other hats she wears as an Author.

She has declared herself a coffee & chocolate addict! Do not judge

AUTHOR LINKS

Newsletter and FREE book / Website / Facebook/Twitter / Instagram / Bookbub / Goodreads Pinterest

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BIKER BITCH (Hell on Heelz MC 2) by Morgan Jane Mitchell-review

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BIKER BITCH (Hell on Heelz MC 2) by Morgan Jane Mitchell-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 26, 2024

Our reputation precedes us – we’re known for riding hard and playing even harder, sometimes at the expense of men who can’t keep up.

Plunge into the raw, uncharted territories of cross-club romance in the biker world. After the historic truce between the Seville Slayers and Hell on Heelz MC the road is rife with new possibilities and dangerous liaisons.

I’m Tank, known as the notorious biker bitch of Hell on Heelz MC. My life’s been one hell of a ride, escaping abuse to become as tough as the steel I straddle. Swore off love. It’s just another road to pain. Then comes Boiler, Slayers’ enforcer. Ex-military, single dad, and carrying a storm of secrets as dark as mine. Our truce brought us together, revealing we’re not so different. He thinks he can tear down my walls, but I’m not one to yield easily, not even to a man who mirrors the battles I’ve fought inside.

Boiler here, Seville Slayers’ muscle, with scars from the past and a kid to raise alone. Life taught me to fight quietly, keep my demons under wraps. Then I met Tank, the embodiment of rebellion and resilience. She’s got her own scars, hiding behind that biker bitch facade. Our unexpected connection, born from a fragile peace, stirs something in me, a need to reach her, and not just in the bedroom. I aim to share the load of our haunted pasts. She’s wary, used to standing solo against the world, but I’m determined. Can I prove to her that together we can face anything, even the ghosts we’ve been running from?

••••

REVIEW: BIKER BITCH is the second instalment in Morgan Jane Mitchell’s contemporary, adult HELL OF HEELZ MC erotic, MC romance series, a spin off from the author’s Asphalt Gods MC. . This is Seville Slayers’ enforcer / former soldier, and single father Tom ‘Boiler’ Parker, and Hell of Heelz MC enforcer and pet shop supply owner Vanessa ‘Tank’ Monroe’s story line. BIKER BITCH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tank and Boiler) BIKER BITCH follows the building relationship between our story line couple. Several years earlier Vanessa ‘Tank’ Monroe saved the life of Tom ‘Boiler’ Parker but at the time their two clubs were at war, and all was forgotten in the aftermath. Fast forward to present day, The Slayers and the Hell on Heelz MCs have signed a tentative peace, and Boiler is determined to claim the woman that calls to his heart. Tank wants nothing to do with a relationship having suffered at the hands of every man in her life but something about Boiler draws Tank like a moth to a flame, a flame that is going to burn. As Tank and Boiler’s relationship builds into something more Tank’s past returns demanding everything, including his right to destroy our story line heroine.

The world building focuses on the sins of the past: Tank’s ex refuses to let go, and Boiler’s past insists on returning time and time again but all is not well when Tank’s past demands more, and our heroine will pay the price.

The relationship between Tank and Boiler is an enemies to frenemies to lovers but Tank doesn’t do relationships, and in this, our heroine is afraid of getting hurt. Bearing the emotional scars of past abuse, Tank is willing to go it alone than have to face the pain over again. Boiler is determined to claim Tank as his own but first he must get past the ice that has frozen her heart. The $ex scenes are numerous and impassioned.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and over the top secondary and supporting characters including several members from the Seville Slayers, and the all women Hell on Heelz MCs. We are introduced to Tank’s ex Jeff, and Boiler’s son Max.

BIKER BITCH is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and abuse, power and control, determination and damnation. The fast paced premise is dramatic and intriguing; the romance is provocative and intense; the characters are determined and dangerous.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one BIKER BRAT

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Find all my books ➜ www.morganjanemitchell.com

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SAPPHIRE SCARS (The Jewelry Box 3) by Pepper Winters -review tour

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SAPPHIRE SCARS (The Jewelry Box 3) by Pepper Winters -review tour

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 June 26, 2024

“I thought I was strong enough to survive this awful nightmare. I did my best to take back my power and refused to let my heart fall. Only problem is…my heart is an idiot.”

It only took one droplet of blood to forever change me.
Her blood.
The taste of it. The heat of it.
I swallowed her down and devoured her.
For a while, it was enough.
My monster was content. I believed I’d found where I belonged.
But now…that droplet is no longer enough.
I want rivers of it. Oceans of it.
I want the world dripping in red, and I honestly don’t know who I’m hunting anymore.
Her?
Me?
Them?
One thing’s for certain, someone is going to die today.
I just hope it won’t be me.

•••••••

REVIEW:  SAPPHIRE SCARS is the third instalment in Pepper Winters’ contemporary, adult THE JEWELRY BOX dark, erotic, series focusing on twenty-nine year old, Henri Mercer-Ward, and Ilyana Sharma. SAPPHIRE SCARS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book two EMERALD BRUISES. Henri Ward is the half-brother to Q Mercer (Monsters in the Dark).

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE SIGNIFICANT TRIGGERS for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: A desperate need to know about the family history, and acceptance by his brother Q, Henri Mercer-Ward is tasked with infiltrating a human trafficking ring known as The Jewelry Box but Henri must first seduce a potential jewel, a woman to be trained, to be broken, to be claimed as his own.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Henri and Ilyana) SAPPHIRE SCARS continues to focus on the deranged, dangerous and dark proclivities of a man named Master Victor, and his harem of slaves called The Jewelry Box. Henri Mercer -Ward had hoped to uncover the truth, and shut down Victor’s sickening actions in the $ex trade but Henri’s claiming and need for Ilyana Sharma has pulled Henri into a world he once thought he wanted but discovered he no longer needs. As Victor continues with his sadistic rituals and hunts, the slaves make plans, plans that will be discovered, threatening the lives of everyone concerned.

The world building continues to be dramatic and dark, darker with each consecutive instalment. Victor’s games become more sadistic, pulling Henri into the abyss . The games are darker, more dangerous, and often fatal. The slaves have plans to end it all.

SAPPHIRE SCARS is raw, gritty, tragic and sensational. No one is safe; many of the guests have become unwilling participants in a game where someone is meant to die. SAPPHIRE SCARS ends on a cliff-hanger, you have been warned.

Once again, heed the triggers warnings-they are numerous, dark and intense.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
.5The Mercer Curse
1 Ruby Tears
2 Emerald Bruises

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Pepper Winters is a multiple New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller.

After chasing her dreams to become a full-time writer, Pepper has earned recognition with awards for best Dark Romance, best BDSM Series, and best Hero. She’s an multiple #1 Apple Books bestseller, along with #1 in Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Romance Thriller.

Pepper currently has close to 40 books released in nine languages. She’s hit best-seller lists almost 40 times, is a self-confessed hermit, yoga convert, has a house rabbit, six horses, and a long suffering husband.

To learn more about Pepper please visit: www.pepperwinters.com where she regularly posts videos of behind the scenes writing, horses, books, and more.

STALK Pepper: Website | Pinterest | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads / Amazon Author / Instagram / Bookbub / Verve

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The Night Ends With Fire by K.X Song – a Review

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The Night Ends With Fire by K.X Song – a Review

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Description:
Infused with magic and romance, this sweeping fantasy adventure inspired by the legend of Mulan follows a young woman determined to choose her own destiny—even if that means going against everyone she loves.

The Three Kingdoms are at war, but Meilin’s father refuses to answer the imperial draft. Trapped by his opium addiction, he plans to sell Meilin for her dowry. But when Meilin discovers her husband-to-be is another violent, ill-tempered man, she realizes that nothing will change for her unless she takes matters into her own hands.

The very next day, she disguises herself as a boy and enlists in her father’s place.

In the army, Meilin’s relentless hard work brings her recognition, friendship—and a growing closeness with Sky, a prince turned training partner. But has she simply exchanged one prison for another? As her kingdom barrels toward destruction, Meilin begins to have visions of a sea dragon spirit that offers her true power and freedom, but with a deadly price.

With the future of the Three Kingdoms hanging in the balance, Meilin will need to decide whom to trust—Sky, who inspires her loyalty and love; the sea dragon spirit, who has his own murky agenda; or an infuriating enemy prince who makes her question everything she once knew—about her kingdom and about her own heart.

 

 

Review:

The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song is a fantasy built around Chinese mythology.  Three Kingdoms are at war, and Meilan’s (our heroine) father, who has an addiction, refuses to enter the draft. He decides that he will sell his daughter, who is 18 years old, for a dowry, with her husband-to-be being a violent and evil man.  Meilan leaves home and enlists in the war, disguising herself as a young boy, named Ren. Meilan/Ren has trained over time to be excellent in martial arts, as well able to fight better than most men. She is assigned to the Seventh Company, and is surprised that the leader is Liu Sky, the prince of Anlai. Meilan knows she must conceal her identity, as women are not permitted to fight or practice black magic (she is a spirit medium); revealing her secret could mean death.

In the army, Meilin/Ren earns respect from fellow soldiers, as she is a workaholic; bringing recognition and friendship along the way.  Slowly, her commander, Sky admits that Ren is better than any of the other men in the group; until when he discovers that she is a woman.  At first, Sky ignores her, but keeps her secret; and in time he begins to have feelings for Meilin; as she also slowly falls for him. I did like the chemistry between Meilan and Sky, as they were very good together. When Meilan is captured by Prince Cao Ming Lei and his army, he knew from the start that she was a woman; and in time he also was attracted to the beautiful Meilan. 

As the war escalates, Meilan beings to have visions of a dragon spirit that offers her magical powers, which could come as a price. Meilan needs to know who to trust; Sky, whom she is loyal to; The Dragon Spirit, Qinglong, who may not be telling the truths or Lei, attractive possible enemy, who could be revealing the real truths. 

The Night Ends with Fire was an exciting intriguing, fast packed adventure of magic, war, feminism, romance and betrayal.   I thought the first third of the book was a bit slow, though that last half was very exciting. To say too much more, would ruin things along the way.  This was an enthralling epic fantasy, with an ending that was wild and climatic.  The Night Ends with Fire was very well written by K.X. Song, and I look forward to the next book in this dulology/series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

K. X. Songis a diaspora writer with roots in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Raised between
cultures and languages, she enjoys telling stories that explore the shifting nature of
memory, translation, and history. She is the author of An Echo in the City and the
forthcoming The Night Ends with Fire, her adult fantasy debut. You can learn
more at kxsong.com.

 

 

 

 

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Ciao Bella (The Rise of the De Langes 1) by Rachel Van Dyken

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🤎Ciao Bella (The Rise of the De Langes 1) by Rachel Van Dyken-review tour🤎

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 25, 2024

The Five Families thought the war was over.
They have no idea, I’m the very beginning.

I kidnapped her to prove a point—at knife point, it seemed sharper that way.
See what I did there?

I used the perfect virginal daughter from one of the most powerful Families in the Cosa Nostra to fix the broken pieces, knowing that in the process—I’d spread hers for the world to see.
I would embarrass her, shame her, use her, but I would never touch her… my one and only vow to her father in exchange for his allegiance.

The flowers at our wedding would be extravagant—people would watch it like a celebration, she’d live it as her funeral.
Call me twisted, but I thrive off her hate, I wouldn’t know what to do if I had her heart—I’m not good with pretty things I’m capable of breaking.

I’ll use every single person I can to restore order… to bring about the peace that my Family deserves.
But something sinister lurks in the darkness.
In the end, it may not be just my Family I save but theirs as well.

They say the past comes back to haunt you—that history repeats itself.
Bet they never saw this coming.

After all, when one Family falls—another will rise.

Ciao Bella.
The Rise of the De Langes

•••••

REVIEW: CIAO BELLA is the first instalment in Rachel Van Dyken’s contemporary, adult THE RISE OF THE DE LANGES dark, Mafia romance series, a spin off from the author’s MAFIA ROYALS series, set in the EAGLE ELITE world. This is twenty-one year old Ivan De Langes, and twenty year old Bella Abandonato’s story line. For background and cohesion, I recommend some knowledge of the Abandonato family via the Eagle Elite series as many of the current events are as of a direct result of the original series.Bella is the daughter of Nixon Abandonato; Ivan is believed to be the sole surviving member of the De Langes family.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from three first person perspectives (Ivan, Bella, King) CIAO BELLA follows the arranged marriage between our story line couple. Ivan De Langes, in the wake of the murder of his entire family, was placed under the guardianship of the Abandonato family but Ivan is about to reign holy h*ll, and Bella is about to be the pawn in a dangerous game of winner takes all.

The world building follows several intersecting paths including the life-long animosity between our story line couple. Forced to work out their differences with violence, Ivan and Bella find themselves forced into a marriage in an effort to protect our story line heroine but behind the scenes, the secrets are dark, and the lies will bring heart break for everyone concerned.

The relationship between Bella and Ivan is an enemies to frenemies to married couple to lovers but Bella struggles with what is happening and why, suspecting there is more to the story than she could have ever imagined. Ivan, as the sole surviving member of the De Langes crime family is about to come into his dues, and with it, a target has been aimed at our story line couple. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, familiar and dangerous secondary and supporting characters including many of the couples from the author’s Eagle Elite series, and the Mafia Royals series.

CIAO BELLA is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The premise is dark, dramatic and intense; the romance struggles in the face of prior issues; the characters are determined, broken and charismatic.

 

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Website / Facebooks / Goodreads / Twitter /  Instagram

To learn more about Rachel & her books, visit here!

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

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Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

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Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout – a Review

 

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Description:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals–well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem–staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is.

If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

 

 

Review:

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the first book in her Covenant series.  I have read almost everything by Armentrout, but I never read Covenant; which is now a rerelease.  Alexandra (Alex) is a half-blood, born of a pure-blood “Hematoi” mother and a human father. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Alex was schooled at Covenant, until her mother decided to run from Covenant with her daughter, with them hiding for three years.  One day, Alex finds her mother has been killed by daimons, and she escapes; and while on the run, she is saved by the Sentinels, and returned to Covenant.

When her uncle and stepfather want to relegate her to being a servant; it is Aiden (her sentinel friend) who convinces them that Alex has a lot of potential, especially since she managed to kill a couple of daimons while on the run, which impressed him. Aiden offers to teach Alex, volunteering to train her, during the summer, giving her the chance to be allowed to stay in the Covenant; both the uncle & stepfather agree.  

Alex learns from her stepfather that her mother is still alive, but she is now a daimon, which she has a hard time believing that.  In the middle of the night, she leaves the Covenant, to find her mother. She and her friend Caleb are kidnapped by the daimons, and discovers that her mother is now one of the daimon leaders.  In order to save Caleb, Alex will end up killing her mother, who was trying to change her to a daimon.  Aiden and the sentinels manage to find Alex and Caleb, and bring them back to Covenant; as she realizes that the implications of her actions needed to change her ways.  Alex will learn some truths about why her mother left three years ago; as she has more abilities that she never knew, since Seth (Apollyon) has a bond to her.   Alex has slowly fallen for Aiden, but knows that a relationship between pure-blood and half-blood is forbidden. Alex learns more about Seth, but she only cares about Aiden.

Half-Blood is an exciting and different kind of paranormal story line revolving around Pures and Half-Blood, and the enemy, daimons.  I really liked Alex, even though early on she a bit wild; but the last half, she improved a lot.  I liked her and Aiden together, but I wondered where this will go in the next book, since Seth is now a bigger part to the story.  Once again, Jennifer L. Armentrout has me waiting for the next book. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

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