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Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh – Review & Giveaway

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Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh – Review & Giveaway

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Description:
Daughter of two ruthless high-gradient telepaths, Auden Scott is not the child her Psy parents wanted or expected, even before her brain injury. Her thoughts are scattered, her memories fuzzy—or just terrifyingly blank. The only thing she knows for certain is that she must protect her unborn baby…a baby she has no recollection of conceiving and who draws an abnormal intensity of notice from her dead mother’s closest associates.

Leopard alpha Remi Denier is a man driven by the primal instinct to protect. Protect his pack, protect his allies… and protect the mysterious woman who has become a most unlikely neighbor. With eerie eyes that see too much and a scent that alters in ways disturbing and impossible, Auden Scott is the enemy…but nothing about this strange Psy is what it seems, Remi’s feline heart as fascinated by her as the human half of his soul.

Then Auden asks Remi to help her shatter the wall of secrets that is the Scott bloodline. What they unearth will reveal a nightmare beyond imagination. This time, the battle is to the death…

 

 

Review:

Primal Mirror by Nalini Singh is the 8th book in her Psy-Changeling Trinity series. I can’t say enough about Nalini Singh.  She has become my go to author, as I love her Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series.   She never fails to give us a sensational story, wonderful characters, and each book continues to flow seamlessly.  No one does world building so smoothly and flawlessly better than Nalini Singh.   Once again, in Primal Mirror, Nalini has created a masterpiece that grabs hold of me and never ever let’s go until the very end.

We meet Remington (Remi) Denier, our hero, who is the alpha of RainFire, a pack of cats. RainFire is slowly continuing to grow, especially with Remi’s close connections with Lucas (leader of Dark River) and Aden (leader of the Arrows). Remi enlists the aid of the Arrows to track down who owns part of the land near their territory.

Auden Scott, is the daughter of two evil high-gradient telepaths (Shoshanna and Henry Scott), who were part of the Psy Council. Auden was considered a disappointment to her parents, even though she had a powerful psy gift. Shoshanna Scott was evil, and knew she was about to die; so, she set up a plan to experiment on Auden, to take over her mind. 

Remi first meets Auden near his land, and senses something is not right with her; as her scent is quick to change, as she seems far away. But Remi hears her talking about her ability to read about his mother.  Remi finds himself fascinated by Auden, and in a short time they will meet again; discovering that she is now pregnant. Remi is shocked, when during his security rounds, he sees Auden all alone, with no one to help her, in case of emergency; his alpha instincts rise to protect her. Remi does sense two different personalities, but it is the real Auden who asks Remi to help her shatter the secrets that are causing damage to her brain.  She knows she can’t trust her assistant and doctor who have been doing things without her overall knowledge; and her baby is part of their secrets. Auden and Remi slowly become close with both finding themselves falling for each other. Remi, with some help from his pack, will do all he can to protect Auden and the baby; with members of RainFire, as well as others making sure to protect them.

I did enjoy getting knowing the members of Remi’s pack (Rina, Finn, Lark, Angel, Kit, etc) who were wonderful secondary characters.  Loved how they all came together to help Remi and Auden, and Liberty (baby); not to mention Alden, Arrows, Lucas, Krychek, Zaira, Tamsyn, just to name a few.

While Remi and Auden are in the process to stop the enemies, and work on fixing Auden, the PsyNet is severely on its last days; as many will die, unless another network can be provided.  At the last moment, Auden’s baby might be a temporary solution, with her high gradient power, and the hope for Auden to survive against her mother’s nightmare.

What follows is an exciting, suspenseful, intriguing and action-packed story, with me unable to put the book down. Primal Mirror was a tense and emotional story between Auden and Remi, as well as, Liberty, The romance between them was wonderful and I love how the RainFire team accepted Auden and Liberty. 

Nalini Singh once again gives us another wonderful story in Primal Mirror, which was so very well written by Nalini Singh, which has always been the norm. She never fails to captivate me with her engaging creative stories, fantastic plots, and seamless world building; wonderful couples in each and every story; super secondary characters and fantastic world-building.   I loved every moment of Primal Mirror.  As I have noted many times, if you have not read Nalini Singh, you are missing a gem of an author.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Nalini Singh’s publisher is offering a hard copy of PRIMAL MIRROR   to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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7. Giveaway is open to USA  only

8. Giveaway runs from July 23 – 27, 2024

 

 

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The Blood Coven World 4-6 by TM Smith-reviews

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The Blood Coven World 4-6 by TM Smith-reviews

THE RAPPER’S GROUPIE
(The Blood Coven World 4)
by TM Smith
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 3, 2024

The Rapper
D Monz is a rap icon on two realms—Earth and Scath. When threatening hate mail pours in, the Firebrands send aid.

The Groupie
Celie isn’t really a groupie. She’s a witch warrior who gets off on the wrong foot with the rapper when she’s sent to protect him.

The Romance
Because of D’s family genetics, he requires more sex than most of his demon breed. The problem is simple. With the threats, outside help for his situation could be dangerous. So, if Celie wants to protect the rapper, she has a decision to make.

•••••••

REVIEW: THE RAPPER’S GROUPIE is the fourth novella in TM Smith’s adult BLOOD COVEN WORLD erotic, paranormal/fantasy series-a spin off set in the author’s Blood Coven Series. This is rock star/animus demon D Monz, and Firebrand witch Celie’s story line. THE RAPPER’S GROUPIE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Celie and D Monz) THE RAPPER’S GROUPIE follows in the wake of death threats against our story line hero. D Monz is a world famous musician, and he has attracted the wrong kind of attention for his back stage antics. As a rock star and animus demon, D Monz feeds off of orgasms and $ex, and in this, D Monz is now facing the ire of an angry fan. Enter Firebrand Witch Celie, who has been assigned to protect our story line hero. Constantly needing to feed, D Monz finds himself with a new source of food, the woman with whom D Monz will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Celie and D Monz, and the potential fall-out as the death threats become more dangerous and personal.

The relationship between Celie and D Monz begins acrimoniously as Celie is revolted by D Monz’ apparent us of all the females but D Monz needs to feed regularly, and in an effort to protect the man with whom she will fall in love, Celie offers herself up as lover and nourishment. D Monz is a bit of a manwh*re, and in this, his reputation precedes his introduction to our story line heroine.The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to the members of the band: Riot, Beast and Helms: publicist Lonnie, manager Marko, as well as several groupies and fans.

THE RAPPER’S GROUPIE is a story of obsession and madness, betrayal and revenge, acceptance and love. The fast paced novella is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is hot and heavy; the characters are desperate and determined.

Reading Order and Previous review The Blood Coven World
The Lawgiver’s Firebrand
The Firebrand’s Succubus
The Holy Man’s Sinner

Reading Order and Previous Reviews from The Blood Coven Series
The Firebrand
The Demon’s Fire
The Satyr’s Guilt
The Vampire’s Thirst
The Phoenix

_____________

THE FIREBRAND’S SHY LYNX
(Blood Coven World 5)
by TM Smith
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 12, 2024

The shy lynx…
Chloe, a local bookstore owner, is being coerced by her father, the alpha of her pack, to mate a loathsome male.

The Firebrand warrior…
When Mix, a rough-around-the-edges mountain lion-wolf shifter, happens to overhear her dilemma, he offers a way out.

Breaking free…
Their defiance and love in the face of tyranny could exact a high price. Are they willing to pay?

•••••

REVIEW: THE FIREBRAND’S SHY LYNX is the fifth instalment in TM Smith’s contemporary, adult BLOOD COVEN WORLD erotic, paranormal/fantasy novella series, a spin off set in the author’s BLOOD COVEN series. This is Firebrand warrior /mountain lion/wolf shifter Mix, and bookstore owner, lynx shifter Chloe’s story line. THE FIREBRAND’S SHY LYNX can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Thousands of years earlier, a powerful group of witches and warlocks, in an effort to protect the human race, divided the world creating three realms: Earth, Scath and Darque. The Blood Coven series focuses on the fight to keep the worlds separated in the face of some powerful people hoping to destroy the people of earth.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Mix and Chloe) THE FIREBRAND’S SHY LYNX follows the forbidden relationship between our story line couple . Chloe is a lynx shifter who has refused her father’s selection for a mate. Overhearing the aggressive nature of Chloe’s potential mate, Mix declares himself guardian and protector over our story line heroine but when Chloe goes missing, Mix calls in reinforcements, and faces a challenge to claim Chloe as his mate.

The world building is fast and furious. Mix is a cocky lion/wolf hybrid mix, and in this, Mix knows what he wants, and he wants Chloe as his mate. Standing up to the challenge, Mix is ready to kill or be killed for the right to claim Chloe as his own.

The relationship between Chloe and Mix is a forbidden affair; an immediate attraction and insta-lust to love, in which Chloe is defiant in her choice for mate,and is forced to stand up to the abusive alpha and his mate. The $ex scenes are provocative and passionate.

The secondary and supporting characters include Amazon Kara,warlock Kilem and wolf shifter Lobo, as well as book store employees Adah and Magda, and Chloe’s mother Horatia.

THE FIREBRAND’S SHY LYNX is a story of power and control, betrayal and demands, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is entertaining and intriguing; the romance is fated; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Copy supplied for review

______

THE FIREBRAND’S PREY
(Blood Coven World 6)
by TM Smith
Genre: adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 17, 2024

Lobo, a Firebrand wolf shifter, stumbles upon Faeth in the woods. Believing the captivating ylve with golden hair and enchanting blue eyes is with a drug ring, he pursues her.

When he captures his prey, the wolf’s primal instincts recognize her as his destined mate. She is more cautious, finding it hard to trust a shifter known for his impulsive nature.

In a world where mix-breed relationships are met with prejudice, Lobo and Faeth confront their own doubts and fears while betrayal lurks in the shadows. Their journey takes them through a fantastical realm brimming with passion, the eternal bond of love, and intrigue. Will the fierce wolf and the alluring ylve find solace in each other’s arms, or will the forces of hatred tear them apart? The strength of their love is put to the ultimate test.

••••

REVIEW:THE FIREBRAND’S PREY is the sixth first novella in TM Smith’s contemporary, adult THE BLOOD COVEN WORLD erotic, paranormal / fantasy erotic romance series-a spin off set in the author’s THE BLOOD COVEN world. This is wolf shifter /Firebrand warrior Lobo and Ylve Faeth’s story line. THE FIREBRAND’S PREY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty but some previous knowledge of the original series may be helpful. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

SOME BACKGROUND: Thousands of years earlier, a powerful group of witches and warlocks, in an effort to protect the human race, divided the world creating three realms: Earth, Scath and Darque. The Blood Coven series focuses on the fight to keep the worlds separated in the face of some powerful people hoping to destroy the people of earth.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Lobo and Faeth) THE FIREBRAND’S PREY follows the building relationship between our story line couple. Wolf shifter Lobo is one of the newest Firebrand warrior, and his latest assignment is to clear the streets of drug pushers and addicts but when Lobo mistakes Faeth for a dealer, all bets are off when Lobo quickly realizes the Ylve could be his fated mate. Days and weeks, in and out of one another’s lives finally culminates with a proclamation of fate, of love, and a promise for the future but not everyone is as happy as our story line couple, and Lobo will soon discover, his mate will be a victim of those who don’t want to see the intermixing of species.

The relationship between Lobo and Faeth begins as a case of mistaken belief, and in this, Lobo is determined to convince Faeth they are meant for one another but Faeth struggles to trust a wolf whose sexual aggression is over the top but an aggression that will be met by one of her own. The $ex scenes are provocative and erotic.

The secondary and supporting characters include Firebrand commander and jaguar shifter Nace, as well as Faeth’s co-worker and lynx shifter Ravine, and Faeth’s unbending parents.

THE FIREBRAND’S PREY is a story of betrayal and speciesism, power and control, fate and love. The premise is entertaining and captivating; the romance is a seductive case of insta-love; the characters are dynamic and energetic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

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The Hanged Man / The Star by HP Mallory-reviews

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The Hanged Man/ The Star (Daughter of the Moon 2 &3) by HP Mallory

THE HANGED MAN
(Daughter of the Moon 2)
by HP Mallory
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, fantasy

ebook only 99¢ for a limited time: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 2, 2024

KATE:

After inheriting my aunt’s crappy castle in the rinky dink town of Maplewood, Vermont, my life will never been the same again. And I’m not even slightly exaggerating.

So why the pity party? Well, first off I’m now a celestial guardian (called a Daughter of the Moon) and prior to moving here, I didn’t even read my horoscope. Second, I’m the caretaker of a talking goat and a shrunken head and I’ve never even owned a goldfish. And third? I’m stuck with literally the WORST bodyguard in the history of terrible bodyguards. Magnus is about as fun as a hemorrhoid.

And let’s not even talk about the fact that as soon as I made my vow to the moon, my body decided to morph into a fertility statue (and I’m forty freaking five!) Still not exaggerating–the Andes have sprouted up on my chest and my ass needs it’s own zip code.

But that’s not even the worst part! Nope, not by a long shot.

The absolute kicker is that my sex-crazed, nudist of a mother has just decided to relocate to a town nearby which means we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other. That might sound nice, but it isn’t. Not at all.

At least I have Luke Montgomery to rely on—Luke’s a magician in town and he’s the only one who’s able to keep me from wanting to tear my hair out. Not only that, but Luke’s in a word: hot. And, yeah, I might have a crush on him…

As if things weren’t weird enough, they get even weirder when I start having dreams of an incredibly sexy man who appears to be stuck in a garden. I can’t decide if he’s simply the result of one too many snacks before bedtime or if he’s meant to teach me something about the newest tarot lesson I’m embarking on—The Hanged Man.

Sometimes life is truly stranger than fiction.

••••••

REVIEW: THE HANGED MAN is the second instalment in HP Mallory’s contemporary adult DAUGHTER OF THE MOON paranormal , fantasy romance series. This is the continuing story of forty-five year old, divorcee and author Catherine ‘Kate’ Murray. THE HANGED MAN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events of book one THE FOOL.

SOME BACKGROUND : Following the death of her estranged aunt Artemis, Catherine ‘Kate’ Murray inherited her aunt’s castle, a guardian named Magnus; a magician named Luke Montgomery; Rocco the talking goat; Yolanda the shrunken head, and the mantle of DAUGHTER OF THE MOON.

Told from first person perspective (Kate) THE HANGED MAN focuses on Kate’s self-defense training with Magnus, and learning to use the magic buried within but someone or something is targeting our story line heroine. From the tarot to hellhounds, ghosts and vampires, warlocks, magic and dreams, Kate soon discovers all is not well in the world of Daughter of the Moon, or within the castle that is now a part of her life.

THE HANGED MAN is a story of secrets and magic, power and control. The premise is captivating and intriguing; the characters are magical and interesting-there are a growing number of potential suitors for our story line heroine.

Copy supplied for review

____________

The Star
Daughter of the Moon 3
by HP Mallory
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, fantasy

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 19, 2024

An irreverent, sexy, and hysterical romp through the tarot…

KATE:

I’m finally getting used to being a Daughter of the Moon.

Getting used to living in my aunt’s wacky castle in Vermont, getting used to my enormous… assets, and getting used to living with a talking goat, an annoying shrunken head, and my oafish barbarian of a protector.

The thing I haven’t quite wrapped my head around? The fact that my mother is now living in a nudist colony up the street.
And that’s not the worst of it.

Apparently, my mother has her own set of powers, she’s bumping uglies with my protector, and she won’t keep her nose out of my business.

But everything is taking a backseat to the fact that I’m worried my new vampire friend, Gray—a man I met while strolling the dream-world—might not be the man I hope he is.

In fact, he happens to be my #1 enemy.

Or he used to be. But he’s been atoning for his mistakes for the last thirty years, so I’m hoping he’s found his way to the light. Otherwise, the fact that I’m harboring a major crush on him isn’t going to go down so well.

And that’s not the only crush I’ve got (ahem, enter sexy magician, Luke), but life is complicated and I guess so am I.

Regardless, I’ve got a new tarot card mission (The Star) I need to conquer so I can find out what new power I’ve earned which hopefully will help me in the battle between light and dark…

•••••••

REVIEW: THE STAR is the third instalment in HP Mallory’s contemporary, adult DAUGHTER OF THE MOON paranormal/fantasy series. This is the continuing story of forty-five year old, divorcee and author Catherine ‘Kate’ Murray. THE STAR should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff hanger of book two THE HANGED MAN.

SOME BACKGROUND : Following the death of her estranged aunt Artemis, Catherine ‘Kate’ Murray inherited her aunt’s castle, a guardian named Magnus; a magician named Luke Montgomery; Rocco the talking goat; Yolanda the shrunken head, and the mantle of DAUGHTER OF THE MOON.

Told from first person perspective (Kate) THE STAR follows in the discovery of Kate’s vampire friend Gray is the vampire her aunt placed in stasis, locking down the evil that was once Valerian Shadowbane. Gray has been visiting Kate in her dreams but the reality proves that Gray’s intents may be a manipulation of someone else. Freeing Gray has Kate’s intrepid gang of protectors on alert including Luke who suspects Kate has fallen for the vampire. When Grey’s memories are restored, the vampire Valerian Shadowbane takes control, and Kate will find herself at the mercy of his demands but Kate has yet to come into her powers, and in this, she leaves herself unprepared and at a disadvantage when her mentors desperately try to instil the truth about her new reality, a reality that is about to get more dangerous and dark.

The world building continues to focus on residents of the castle; the cast of characters who all have a role to play in Kate’s life, and the surprising revelation with the appearance of Kate’s mother, a woman who may or may not have some magic of her own.

The large ensemble of magical and quirky characters add a significant amount of comic relief. Kate’s mother is a little eccentric; a woman whose own life runs towards the unconventional; a woman who finds herself falling for one of Kate’s guardians.

The relationship between Luke and Kate is struggling in the face of her attraction to Gray/Valerian. Valerian is a master manipulator, and in this, Kate refuses to heed to Luke’s warnings, and finds herself pulled into the aura that is Valerian Shadowbane.

THE STAR is a story of power and control, secrets and lies, magic and mayhem that relies heavily on the tarot. The premise is fun yet dramatic; the characters are bizarre yet charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
The Fool

Copies supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

Haven’t started the series? THE FOOL book one is FREE for a limited time:

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Dragon Born (Dragon Kings 8) by Donna Grant-review

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Dragon Born (Dragon Kings 8) by Donna Grant-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 9, 2024

She’s the most dangerous being alive…and the only one I crave.

I feel her across realms. Through the vast emptiness of space, weaving among the stars. She is the Queen of Violets. Powerful, shrewd, defiant. Utterly exquisite. Feared among her own and pursued by all.

She is the Dragon Queen.

I was an ordinary MI5 agent before being thrust into the world of Dragons Kings, Fae, Reapers, and magic. But it was a world I soon discovered I was bound to by blood from my Druid ancestors.

The instant we met, I was hers. Forever. I would have ripped the moon from the sky for her. I would have razed worlds. Then she deceived me.

Yet, I can’t stop thinking about her. Craving her. She’s in my very psyche, like a fever that burns through my veins like dragon fire. Scorching and eternal.

When I sense a malicious danger closing in around her, I defy every rule to get to her.

My love.

My queen.

•••

REVIEW: DRAGON BORN is the eighth instalment in Donna Grant’s adult, DRAGON KINGS paranormal, fantasy romance series -a spin off from the author’s Dark Kings, which in turn is a spin off from several other fantasy series by the same author. This is Druid/ JusticeBringer Henry,and Queen of the Violet Dragons Melisse’s story line. DRAGON BORN should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events of book seven DRAGON KISS. I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise including the search for a missing King, and the history as to how the dragons came to live in Zora.

SOME BACKGROUND: For tens of thousands of years the Dragons have lived and ruled on Earth but a war between the dragons and humans forced the Dragon Kings to send the other dragons through a portal into an unknown world. Fast forward to present day, the portal has been revealed, and the Dragon Kings have been reunited in Zora, with their family and kin, but a new war is on the horizon between the Dragons, the Divine and the people of Stonemore.

Told from numerous omniscient third person perspective DRAGON BORN follows Melisse as she venture into the bramble thickets in search for a missing pink dragonling. No dragon has ever returned from within the brambles, and Henry is determined to find the woman that calls to his heart. Henry is a Druid, from a long line of JusticeBringers and Truthseekers, and in this Henry is determined to uncover the truth. Rescuing an injured Melisse finds Henry confronted by another powerful Druid, someone who is determined to destroy the dragons, one beast at a time.

The world building continues to focus on an enemy that has captured and taken prisoner a Dragon King. Much like the story line in many of the previous interconnected series, the Dragons face an enemy who is searching for revenge, the ultimate quest for power, and the take down of dragonkind.

The relationship between Melisse and Henry has been building for several story line but Melisse has refused all of Henry’s attempts at seduction, and in this, Henry is about to save the woman with whom he has fallen in love. There time together in the brambles reveals a haunting past for our story line heroine, a past filled with heart break and betrayal. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters including several couples from the Dragon Kings and Dark Kings series including the return of Con and Rhi.

DRAGON BORN is a story of betrayal, vengeance and mistaken beliefs. A tale of power and control, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is intriguing and impassioned; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are determined and dynamic.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Prequel-Ignite the Magic
Dragon Revealed
Dragon Mine
Dragon Unbound
Dragon Eternal
Dragon Lover
Frost Dragon
Dragon Kiss

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Donna Grant is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the sizzling Dark King series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

She was born and raised in Texas but loves to travel. Her adventures have taken her throughout the United States as well as to Jamaica, Mexico, and Scotland. Growing up on the Texas/Louisiana border, Donna’s Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding.

Despite deadlines and voracious reading, Donna still manages to keep up with her two children, four cats, and one long haired Chihuahua.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | NEWSLETTER SIGNUP / TUMBLR / PINTEREST / GOODREADS

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A HEART OF ICE AND SHADOW (Shadows Eternal 2) by Ashley Lockwood

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A HEART OF ICE AND SHADOW (Shadows Eternal 2) by Ashley Lockwood-review

ebook only 99¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27, 2024

Gwen’s indoctrination to the world of magick was swift and bloody but after surviving the horrors of the magick mirror she’s determined to adapt to her new life. Sirus vows to keep her safe within his clan’s hidden ancient castle and Gwen vows to get over her irritating crush on her vampire protector. But the deeper she’s drawn into the mysteries of Volkov and her untapped powers, the harder it becomes to resist the primal connection pulling her toward Sirus. But the deeper she’s drawn into the mysteries of Volkov Castle and her untapped powers, the harder it becomes to resist the connection pulling her toward Sirus.

Sirus survived the magick mirrors because of Gwendolyn’s gift of blood but he is determined to keep his distance and keep her safe. As she recovers within the bounds of Volkov, Sirus finds himself captivated by Gwendolyn’s courage, strength, and vibrant spirit. She is a sweet temptation who threatens to bring a monster to his knees.

While Gwen, Sirus, and their friends try to unravel the depths of her magick and mysterious history, the evil High Priestess and her loyal servant, Aldor, continue their unyielding hunt. Gwen and Sirus’s bond transforms into something beyond anything they thought possible, except old insecurities are not always easy to overcome, pushing Gwen to wonder if a vampire with a heart of pure ice could ever truly fall in love.

••••

REVIEW: A HEART OF ICE AND SHADOW is the second instalment in Ashley Lockwood’s adult SHADOWS ETERNAL paranormal/fantasy romance series. This is the continuing story of ancient vampire Sirus, and Gwendolyn ‘Gwen’ Moore. A HEART OF ICE AND SHADOW should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book one SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE.

SOME BACKGROUND: Sirus is an ancient vampire who has been contracted and tasked to find and protect our story line heroine. Gwen Moore is a human; without powers or parents, and in this she believes Sirus has mistaken our heroine for someone else but Sirus has been hired to protect Gwen Moore, a woman who is much more than she appears to be.

Told from omniscient third person perspectives A HEART OF ICE AND SHADOW follows in the aftermath of an attack against our story line couple. With the help of emerging powers, Gwen will save the man with whom she is falling in love but Sirus believes his existence is a threat to our story line heroine, and in this, Sirus is willing to sacrifice his own happiness to protect the woman that calls to his heart. As Sirus’ coven and family continue to search for the truth, Gwendolyn Moore is quickly falling for a man who is willing to die to protect her life.

The world building continues to focus on protecting our story line heroine. Gwen’s power and magick are believed to be blocked by a powerful force, and someone else is determined to claim the power for themselves.

The relationship between Gwen and Sirus building towards something more. Sirus has fallen in love with a woman he believes belongs to someone else, and Gwen is determined to prove Sirus is worthy of his own happily ever after. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

WE are reintroduced to Barith (dragon), Levian (mage), Abigail (witch), and Sirus’ sister Niah. The requisite evil has many faces. Gwendolyn’s true identity will not be revealed until the end of the story.

A HEART OF ICE AND SHADOW is a story of secrets and lies, magic and obsession, acceptance and love. The slow building premise is enchanting and entertaining; the characters are magical ; the romance is subtle but impassioned.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

If you haven’t read book one SHADOW OF DARK DESIRE it is currently FREE:

FREE ebook Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / B&N / KOBO /

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THUMOS RISING (Σ Book I) by Demitrios Lopez-a review

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THUMOS RISING (Σ Book I) by Demitrios Lopez-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 15, 2024

“They said he was handsome,
but with alien features,
purple, pupil-less eyes…”

With the world of Ninivon on the brink of annihilation, Zeno finds himself pitted against a vampiric overlord from beyond the stars. The tyrant, wraithlike purple glowing from his eyes, is obsessed with one thing: unraveling the mystery of the Σ a primordial and otherworldly power. A power that has chosen Zeno as it’s champion.

But Zeno will not accept the power, terrified of what the Σ will make of him. Until he discovers that Alexandra, his childhood best friend, is leading a rebellion against the Vampire and his monsters. Then Zeno becomes the demigod he was destined to be and joins the fray. But the lines blur between his duty to save Ninivon and his desire to protect Alexandra, whose past is shadowed in secrecy.

Where dragons soar alongside futuristic spacecraft and magic intertwines with advanced technology, Thumos Rising chronicles Zeno’s quest to unlock the mystery of the only thing those with purple eyes fear: The Σ.

••••••

REVIEW: THUMOS RISING is the first instalment in Demitrios Lopez’ adult Σ paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi series focusing on Ninivon warrior Zenosthenes ‘Zeno’ Andrea, and his rise to power as the Vessel of Thumos.

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

Told from numerous omniscient third person perspectives (Zeno, Lysandros, Ghost, Vampire, Alexandra) following several back and forth timelines, THUMOS RISING focuses on a war between the Vampire and everyone else. The Vampire is determined to take control, annihilate every civilization, but never expected to come up against Zeno, a demi-god who has been chosen by an otherworldly power. More than ten years earlier, Zeno’s best friend Alexandra would be sent away for her protection, and in the ensuing years, would herself become a powerful warrior. Reconnecting years later, Zeno and Alexandra continue to profess their love but the Vampire is taking aim, separating our couple, once again. Fighting alongside Alexandra’s father Lysandros, Zeno would, at twenty six years of age, come into his powers, powers bestowed by an otherworldly Priestess. Family will be pitted against family, as Zeno is tasked with saving the world, becoming the ‘Truth’, the savior of men.

THUMOS RISING is an action-packed, multi-layered, exceedingly complex, and detailed story line using virtually every type of fictionalized creature from the supernatural to science fiction, and several others created for this tale. Using mashed-up words from Greek and Roman mythology, Latin and English, THUMOS RISING is a complicated tale of power and control, war and madness, as an alien priestess reveals the chosen to lead an offensive against the Vampire, and his army of the ‘undead’. There is an inordinate number of characters, worlds, peoples and names, and in this, the info-dumping is exorbitant, way beyond a simple or easy read-I could not fathom the pronunciation of many of the names and worlds. A well-written and elaborate yet convoluted and difficult read . THUMOS RISING ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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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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Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs – Review & Giveaway

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Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs – Review & Giveaway

 

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Description:
In the supernatural realms, there are creatures who belong to winter. I am not one of them. But like the coyote I can become at will, I am adaptable.

My name is Mercy Thompson Hauptman, and my mate, Adam, is the werewolf who leads the Columbia Basin Pack, the pack charged with keeping the people who live and work in the Tri-Cities of Washington State safe. It’s a hard job, and it doesn’t leave much room for side quests. Which is why when I needed to travel to Montana to help my brother, I intended to go by myself.

But I’m not alone anymore.

Together, Adam and I find ourselves trapped with strangers in a lodge in the heart of the wilderness, in the teeth of a storm of legendary power, only to discover my brother’s issues are a tiny part of a problem much bigger than we could have imagined. Arcane and ancient magics are at work that could, unless we are very careful, bring about the end of the world.

 

Review:

Winter Lost by Patricia Briggs is the 14th book in her wonderful Mercy Thompson series. I am a big fan of this series, and its heroine, Mercy Thompson.  It is always fun to spend time with Mercy and Adam, and their pack. Refresher:  Mercy has always been independent, and she continues to surprise many as she always manages to find a way to outsmart her enemies, who constantly underestimate her.  Mercy is strong, savvy, smart and a coyote shifter, but it is her love for Adam that makes her very loyal to the pack also; she will do anything to protect those she loves. 

Winter Lost picks up not too far when the last book ended, with Mercy still feeling the effects of what the Soul Taker did to her. She still hides some of the symptoms left over, but those close to her still try to find a way to heal her. When her brother Gary shows up, they discover he has been cursed. The local frost giant Ymir is called in to find out why Gary was cursed, but he tells them his other brother, Hrimnir created the curse. Mercy and Adam embark on a journey to Montana to find the person behind the curse, to help her brother.  

When they meet Hrimnir, he explains that Gary had stolen an important artifact; in retaliation, he has brought a major blizzard to the hotel, where a wedding will take place.  No one can leave the resort until the artifact is returned, or all will die.  Mercy and Adam go to stay at the hotel and try to find the artifact; while there they meet a host of supernatural beings, such as fae, vampires, wolves, etc. We also learn about the myths and traditions, such as the wedding, as well as end of the world threats.  I did like some new characters, such as Liam (Fae), and Grandmother Spider, who was a great addition, with her magical abilities.

What follows is an exciting, non-stop, tense, action packed adventure that captivated me from start to finish.   Winter Lost was a tense, exciting, wild, pulse pounding climax. To tell too much more would be spoilers, which would ruin the story. 

Winter Lost was a page turner, and so very well written by Briggs, with so much action throughout. I loved every moment of it.  I love Adam and Mercy together, as they have a wonderful bond.  This is a fabulous series.  If you have not read the Mercy Thompson series, and love paranormal, shifters, wolves; it is time to start reading this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Patricia’s publisher has graciously offered a paper copy of WINTER LOST to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

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8. Giveaway runs from June 18 – 21, 2024

 

 

 

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