Tag Archives: Paranormal

HERON’S FLAME (Devil’s Murder MC 6) by Nikki Landis-review tour

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HERON’S FLAME (Devil’s Murder MC 6) by Nikki Landis-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 15, 2025

All it takes is a spark to ignite a flame.

Heron has been searching for answers since the day he learned about his adoption. With the death of the only father he’d ever known, he spent the following year looking for information about his birth parents. The questions have led him to Crow, the president of the Devil’s Murder MC. To find his family, he has to strike a bargain.

There’s just one catch. If Heron wants to learn the truth, he must patch into the club, which means becoming a prospect first. On the day of his arrival at the clubhouse, he’s not prepared when the young woman from his dreams ends up colliding with him on The Roost’s doorstep. She’s real, gorgeous, and connected to him in ways he can’t explain.

But there’s a problem. Rebel hates him.
Or so Heron thinks. But love, lust, and hate share the same unstable thread, and when fate pushes Heron and Rebel together, they form a truce. The more time they share, the harder it becomes to resist the pull between them. A bond with Heron’s crow confirms Rebel is Heron’s mate. She’s his spark.

But the past, Heron’s origins, and Rebel’s secrets are about to collide. Can they push beyond the painful past and heal from the trauma they both endured? Is love enough to help them survive threats from rival clubs, misunderstandings, and an enemy vicious enough to destroy the club and Heron’s precious flame?

•••••

REVIEW: HERON’S FLAME is the sixth instalment in Nikki Landis’ contemporary, adult DEVIL’S MURDER MC, erotic, paranormal, MC romance series. This is Manu Hales ‘Heron’ Williams, and Rebecca aka Rebel’s story line. HERON’S FLAME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. There is a slight cross over with the multi-authored RBMC series, and the Tonopah MC by Nikki Landis.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: The Devil’s Murder MC is a group of bikers all with special affinities and abilities related to the crows. Some have the ability to shift; call the crows for assistance, or see through the eyes of their ‘familiars’.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Heron and Rebel) HERON’S FLAME follows the building romance and relationship between our story line couple. Manu Hales ‘Heron’ Williams searched for a family to call his own, in the wake of his adopted father’s death, and found a kinship and familiarity with the members of the Devil’s Murder MC. For close to a year, Heron has lusted after our story line heroine but the pain and sadness he felt from Rebel, Heron knew something dark had destroyed her trust and love. Biding his time, Heron will discover that Rebel is his mate, the mate to his crow that calls to his heart but Heron’s past is owed an apology , and Rebel’s past has resurfaced, threatening any potential future for our story line couple.

The world building focuses on the search for Heron’s biological family, and his need to confess the sins of his past. As Heron begins to fall deeper with our story line heroine, Rebel struggles to reveal the truth about what happened and why.

The relationship between Heron and Rebel is one of fated mates. Rebel is unaware of the supernatural aspect of many of the club members but she will quickly discover there is more than one type of shifter, and paranormal entity walking the Earth. As Rebel begins to fall, her past demands reparations and her return. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate .

There is another large ensemble cast of energetic, powerful and supernatural secondary and supporting characters: several members of the Devil’s Murder MC: RBMC- Tonopah, and pack of shifters including wolves, dragon, phoenix, bear, leopard, vampire and gryphon. Here’s hoping the author has plans for a new series. The requisite evil has many faces including the Grave Robbers MC.

HERON’S FLAME is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, acceptance, family and love. The fast paced, character driven premise is detailed and compelling ; the characters are animated, sassy and charismatic; the romance is fated and spirted.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Crow
Raven
Hawk
Talon
Crow’s Revenge

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Nikki Landis is the USA Today & International Bestselling, Multi-Award-Winning Author of over 50 romance novels in the MC, reverse harem, paranormal, dystopian, and science fiction genres. Her books feature deadly reapers, dark alpha heroes, protective shifters, and seductive vampires along with the feisty, independent women they love. There’s heart-throbbing action on every page as well as fated mates and soul bonds deep enough to fulfill every desire.

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Bosse by Dianna Love – a Review

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Bosse by Dianna Love – a Review

 

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Description:
Can a gifted female on an impossible mission and a tortured wolf shifter doomed to die in a cage risk trust to save each other?

Bosse will never leave the cage he’s been locked in for over the past two years. Used as entertainment for a lion shifter pretending to be a king, he’s forced to battle other shifters daily where only one can survive thanks to his pack alpha who sold him. The minute he realized female pack members were coming to his bed only to breed, he refused to have a cub born by women unworthy of being mates only to be taken away. Then a chance for escape comes from a strange female servant who secretly gives him food better than his normal gruel, he’s immediately suspicious but … she also leaves him cookies. Who bakes cookies for a monster? The more he watches her, the more his numb heart begins to feel again, which is dangerous. What if she’s trying to trick him like others who betrayed him?

When an important female leader goes missing, Alifair is tasked with finding the woman. Why? Because Alifair inherited the duty to protect her clan of gifted beings, but her magic is flawed. Even her best asset of clairvoyant dreams has occasional hiccups. That’s how she ended up captured in Slovakia to toil as a servant where the female leader is being held. With no sight of the leader in weeks, Alifair is at the point of panic until a new dream shows points to the person who can aid her in succeeding at her duty. Her dream godmother must have been on a drinking binge because Alifair will first have to free the most dangerous wolf shifter locked in the basement cages. Then time runs out when Bosse infuriates the crazy lion shifter who decrees Boose will die by the next morning, forcing her to gamble her life to make deal with the wolf shifter.

Alifair enters his cage prepared for the worst and discovers a man who touches her heart with one surprising action. Bosse’s cookie fairy offers him the freedom he never expected, but with an unacceptable condition.

 

Review:

Bosse by Dianna Love is another wonderful story in the World of Gallize Shifters.  I am a big fan of Dianna Love, as she always gives us fantastic stories. We meet Bosse, after his alpha sold him to a Lion shifter, and his days are filled with dangerous fights ordered by his king, Krol; with the loser dying. Bosse (his wolf Titan) are slowly losing their strength because of the horrific treatment.

We also meet Alifair, who is imprisoned in the castle with other women, doing cleaning, cooking, etc. She does have dreams that are realistic, and sneaks food to Bosse, as she as some magical ability, and knows she needs to help him escape.  Alifair is also looking for her leader, Rez, who has been kidnapped; she does know somewhere in the complex, she needs to rescue her.

Alifair & Bosse have their dreams, with them discovering some surprising details that just might be their salvation.  She goes out of her way secretly doing everything to keep Bosse alive and healthy; as they both are beginning to become of fond of each other. Their relationship changes quickly and a romantic love between them escalates; and Alifair helps Bosse escape.

Bosse eventually will meets up with the Gallize shifters, who will help him go back and defeat the evil king.  He knows he needs to get back to Alifair, in achieving her goal to save her leader, as well as save another pregnant Gallize woman. The Gallize warriors will join Bosse to defeat the enemies.

The last third of the book was extremely wild, action packed, intense and exciting, with Bosse and his new friends from the Gallize battle to free the woman and destroy Krol. Bosse was a fantastic story filled with twists and surprises, that was very addicting.  Bosse was so very well written by Dianna Love. If you enjoy action, exciting adventure and romance, you need to read Bosse.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied by Author

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BLOOD SKYE (Skye Druids 6) by Donna Grant-review

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BLOOD SKYE (Skye Druids 6) by Donna Grant-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 11, 2025

The only choice is surrender.

In my world, magic and danger go hand-in-hand. It has from my earliest memory. Magic was currency, and if you have it, you have power. I was shaped by some of the most influential Druids into a lethal weapon. Their weapon.

Until the night they betray me—and I wind up in the hands of my enemy.

He’s nothing but a job for me. To him, I’m the key to finding his father. Too bad I know nothing.

But right now, he’s the only thing keeping me alive, so I’ll do whatever it takes. Yet, if we’re going to survive, it means doing it together.

I’ve never allowed myself to care, to feel. To hope. He shows me a world that was always just out of reach, one I was never meant to be a part of—and a love that burns bright enough to scorch the earth.

Together, we will bring an empire to its knees.

••••••

REVIEW:BLOOD SKYE is the sixth instalment in Donna Grant’s contemporary, adult SKYE DRUIDS paranormal, romance series, a spin off, set in the author’s numerous interconnected series. This is Druids Carlyle and Devon aka Song’s storyline. BLOOD SKYE should not be read as a stand alone as each successive instalment builds upon the previous stories. I recommend reading DARK ALPHA’S COMMAND (Reaper 15) for back story and cohesion. Several characters from the other series including Reaper Balladyn and Druid Rhona (Dark Alpha’s Command) appear as secondary characters.

SOME BACKGROUND: Months earlier, betrayal and vengeance forced a take-over of power on the Isle of Skye but someone or something is killing the Druids, not only on the Isle of Skye, but around the world including Edinburgh Scotland. With the focus on the death of the Druids on the Isle of Skye, Balladyn and Rhona (Dark Alpha’s Command/Reaper 15) begin an investigation that reveals a danger targeting the Druids on the Isle of Skye.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Carlyle and Song, BLOOD SKYE focuses on the search for Carlyle’s father, and Song’s sister. As a member of the Skye Druids, Carlyle and the others have been targeted by the London Druids, a group desperate to take control back on the Isle of Skye but hoping to gather information, Carlyle and his best friend Finn find themselves confronted by a woman named Devon, who has led the London Druids to Carlyle’s front door. On the run together, Carlyle and Devon find themselves struggling to comprehend the world in which they live, a world that is beginning to crumble as someone else is determined to take control but all is not as it appears to be when Carlyle and Devon aka Song, must come to terms with the reality of what and whom they discover, a reality that reinforces the betrayal and vengeance by the people they once loved.

The world building is , once again complex, and follows several pathways including the building but tempestuous relationship between our story line couple. Devon struggles to trust the man with whom she is falling in love, and Carlyle finds himself at a disadvantage when Devon begins her final journey alone. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar, magical and powerful secondary and supporting characters from several of the interconnected series: Druids, Reapers, Esther The TruthSeeker and Henry the JusticeBringer, Elodie and Scott, Edie Rhona and Balladyn; Krisi, Callum, and Finn. The requisite evil has many faces.

BLOOD SKYE is a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control, secrets and lies, family, friendships and relationships, acceptance and love. The slow building premise is detailed, intricate and dramatic; the characters are desperate and determined; the romance is limited and subtle. BLOOD SKYE ends on a multi-layered cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Iron Ember
Shoulder the Skye
Heart of Glass
Endless Skye
Still of the Night

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 |  NEWSLETTER SIGNUP / TUMBLR / PINTEREST / GOODREADS

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Because the Night -A Vampire Romance by Kylie Scott-review tour

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Because the Night -A Vampire Romance by Kylie Scott-review tour

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date

Waking a monster from its sleep is never a good idea.

Skye Carter is as normal as normal can be. But when she chances upon a man in the basement of an abandoned Hollywood Hills house, she’s suddenly playing tour guide, and introducing a fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire to this century. And who even knows what’s going on with her teeth.

The truth is, immortality can get old—which is why Lucas Thorne went to sleep for seventy years. But he’s back and ready to take on undead enemies and friends alike. In a world where threatening creatures roam the night streets, he’s the most dangerous of them all.

•••••

REVIEW:BECAUSE THE NIGHT by Kylie Scott is a stand alone, contemporary, erotic , paranormal romance story line focusing on ancient vampire Lucas Thorne, and Skye Carter.

Told from first person perspective (Skye) BECAUSE THE NIGHT follows the building relationship between ancient vampire Lucas Thorne, and newborn vampire Skye Carter. Skye Carter’s latest assignment was to search through an abandoned mansion in Los Angeles, California, on behalf of the Thorne Group but to Skye’s surprise, the mansion was not only not abandoned but a vampire was sleeping in the basement layer. Enter Lucas Thorne. Lucas was desperate to feed having been asleep for close to seventy years but never expected to come face with face with our story line heroine. Feeding from Skye took her life but Thorn was determined to make her his own. With the help of Skye, and fellow members of the Thorne vampire clan Henry, Nicholas and Benedict, Lucas begins to navigate the reality of the world around him : the changes, the betrayals, and the return of an enemy once long thought dead and buried.

The world building follows the building relationship between Skye Carter and the vampire who is now her sire. Skye quickly accepted the life she is now forced to lead but struggles with her attraction to the man who is now in charge. Meanwhile, the world of the vampire has changed in the last seventy years, and Lucas must learn to navigate both the human and supernatural world that is no longer the same.

The relationship between Lucas and Skye is a vampire sire affair but Lucas finds himself falling for a woman who pushes all of his proverbial buttons. Skye knows her life is no longer her own but falling in love with Lucas mean a target on her back from any number of enemies taking aim at our story line couple. The $ex scenes are intimate .

We are introduced to several members of the vampire world including Lucas’ extended family: Henry, Nicholas , Leilah and Benedict, as well as several other vampires with connections to our story line hero including Henry’s brother Marc.

BECAUSE THE NIGHT is a story of betrayal and vengeance, family and relationships, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic, intriguing and enchanting; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are determined and charismatic- I am hoping the author has plans for more stories involving the rest of Henry’s family.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet

Stalk Kylie Scott: Website | Facebook  | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

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Blood Moon Bound / Blood Moon Heat by Sherilee Gray-reviews

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BLOOD MOON BOUND / BLOOD MOON HEAT (Blood Moon Brides 1 & 2) by Sherilee Gray

BLOOD MOON BOUND
Blood Moon Brides 1
by Sherilee Gray
Genre: adult, paranormal, romance, vampires

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 24, 2023

Shut away since childhood by her cruel parents, Delphine longed for the day her mate—a powerful vampire warrior and mysterious member of The Five—would save her from an agonizingly lonely existence. But with their identities kept secret, she never imagined he’d be the Five’s brutal and battle-scarred commander.

Over the centuries just one thing has kept Constantine sane: dreams of the sweet female destined to be his and a life after war without pain or bloodshed. Every part of him hungers for Delphine, yet when he learns who her stepfather is—the male he’s vowed to destroy—he knows he must give her up.

But keeping his innocent bride at arm’s length won’t be easy—especially when Delphine ignores the battle lines completely and launches a ruthless campaign to win his heart...

•••••

REVIEW: BLOOD MOON BOUND is the first instalment in Sherilee Gray’s adult BLOOD MOON BRIDES erotic, paranormal, romance series focusing on The Five ancient vampire warriors-Stefan Valiente, Rainer Beiste, August Drapała, Nero Kossek, and Constantine Caputo. This is ancient vampire Commander Constantine Caputo, and twenty-one year old, vampire Delphine Albertan’s story line.

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

SOME BACKGROUND: Five ancient vampire warriors have returned from the war with the Fae, and each will be presented with their fated mate, a virgin female who is unaware of the position in which she is about to be thrown-claimed and bonded by a man who has lost all emotion and the ability to feel.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Delphine and Constantine) BLOOD MOON BOUND follows the building relationship between our story line couple. Like all virgin brides betrothed to the Five ancient vampires, Delphine has been secluded and kept pure in preparation for her twenty-first birthday but Delphine is struggling with Constantine’s lack of attention, and his disappearances that will leave her alone for days and weeks. As their relationship slowly turns personal, Delphine believes Constantine has betrayed her, and searches for someone to take her away but all is not as it appears to be, and our heroine will become a pawn in a much darker game of winner take all.

The world building focuses on the building relationship between Constantine and Delphine, as well as Constantine’s need to avenge a former lover and friend, as well as his new bride. Delphine has emotionally suffered at the hands of someone who should have protected her heart, and Constantine is determined to make them pay.

The relationship between Delphine and Constantine is a fated mates but Constantine has lost all ability to feel, and in doing so, begins to push his bride out of his life. Delphine, like the other brides is naïve and unaware of what to expect as a bonded bride, and in this, Constantine must slowly take control of the woman with whom he will fall in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and impassioned.

We are introduced to the other ancient vampires: Stefan Valiente, Rainer Beiste, August Drapała, Nero Kossek,, and their new mates, as well as Constantine’s right hand man John, and Delphine’s parents Douglas and Miriam Albertan. The requisite evil has many faces.

BLOOD MOON BOUND is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, family and deception, acceptance and love. The premise is haunting and twisted; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are dynamic and charismatic.

Own a copy

________

BLOOD MOON HEAT
( Blood Moon Brides 2)
by Sherilee Gray
Genre: adult, paranormal, romance, vampires

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 25, 2025

My fate was sealed years ago. I would be mated to one of The Five.

However, the heartless vampire who’ll claim me broke all the rules. Instead of staying away until our blood moon ceremony, Nero watched me intently, fascinated by the pain his nearness caused me.

He is incapable of love, and instead of making me his mate, Nero makes me his prisoner—only offering freedom to savor my fear and the dark sensual need he stirs when he catches me again.

But as danger looms, awakening startling new emotions in him, I learn the ice around his heart is no match for the passion burning in his soul…

••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD MOON HEAT is the second instalment in Sherilee Gray’s adult BLOOD MOON BRIDES erotic, paranormal romance series focusing on The Five ancient vampire warriors-Stefan Valiente, Rainer Beiste, August Drapała, Nero Kossek, and Constantine Caputo. This is ancient vampire Nero Kossek, and twenty-one year old vampire Mina Angelos’ storyline. BLOOD MOON HEAT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. The events of BLOOD MOON HEAT run parallel to, and cross over with the events of book one BLOOD MOON BOUND.

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

Told from dual first person perspectives (Nero and Mina) BLOOD MOON HEAT follows in the wake of the claiming of our story line heroine. At sixteen years of age, it would be revealed to Mina Angelos and her parents that she is to be the fated mate to ancient vampire warrior Nero Kossek. Having spent all of her life a prisoner in a gilded cage, Mina would find herself secreted away except for the one night a year when Nero would quietly visit without speaking a word. Days following her twenty-first birthday, Mina and four other young woman would be called together for a ceremony in which each would be introduced and claimed by an ancient warrior. Enter Nero Kossek, the vampire with whom Mina would fall in love.

Like all ancient vampires, Nero has lost all emotions and the ability to feel , and in this, Mina became nothing more than another prisoner, locked in a room, away from all others but as Mina and Nero continued to dance around one another, Nero would be sent on assignment, and our heroine would become the target of some powerful males.

The world building focuses on the acrimonious relationship between our story line couple. Mina Angelos is painfully naive, naive to the point of pain, and in this, her actions threaten the safety of our story line couple. Determined to make Nero work for her affection, Mina refuses to accept our hero as her fated mate. Nero Kossek struggles with his inability to bond with the woman that would one day control his heart, an inability that threatens Mina’s life going forward. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense but scenes of struggle .

We are introduced to the other four Blood Moon brides, as well as Nero’s assistant Pretender, and Mina’s parents.

BLOOD MOON HEAT is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, secrets and obsession, acceptance and love. The premise is dramatic and dark; the romance is limited; the characters are broken, determined and desperate.

Copy supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy

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Eternal Magic (Magic for Hire 3) by Alexandra Ivy-review

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Eternal Magic (Magic for Hire 3) by Alexandra Ivy-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 25, 2025

Maya Rosen has plenty of experience with vampires, demons, and danger. She wears the scars that prove it. But she established Witch’s Brew, her bookshop and mage’s office, as a cozy place of safety and protection. When the brutally handsome vampire Ravyr appears, decades after she thought he died in the ruins of her master’s lair, Maya is prepared for a fight. Until he saves her life instead—and they realize they have an enemy in common.

Hunting down violent goblins, treacherous mages, and drug-dealing aristocrats with Ravyr isn’t enough to make Maya trust him. She’s been betrayed before, and she knows the vampire isn’t telling her everything. But the attraction between them grows, even as their chase brings them closer to a terrifying possibility. Maya knows desire is its own magic. And with horrors from the past lying in wait, they’ll need all the power they can tame .

••••••

REVIEW:ETERNAL MAGIC is the third instalment in Alexandra Ivy’s contemporary, adult MAGIC FOR HIRE paranormal, romance series. This is mage Maya Rosen, and vampire Ravyr’s story line. ETERNAL MAGIC can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Maya and Ravyr ETERNAL MAGIC focuses on the search for someone using dark magic. Approximately forty years earlier, Maya killed a powerful vampire, the man who held her captive, the vampire who almost destroyed her life. Fast forward to present day, Maya gets up close and personal with the ghosts from the past, one who is determined to claim Maya as his own-enter ancient vampire Ravyr, a vampire long thought dead and gone. Someone is targeting our story line heroine, and Ravyr has named himself guardian and protector as our couple continue to search for person in charge, someone who is taking control one demon at a time.

The world building follows several paths including the the building relationship between our story line couple; the betrayal by fellow supernatural powers; and the search for life ever lasting. The past has returned, and is determined to take back his power and control.

The relationship between Maya and Ravyr is one of second chances of a sorts. Ravyr fell for our heroine years before but Ravyr stayed under the radar, letting everyone believe he was buried and gone. Maya is struggling to trust the people in her life, including our story line hero, and the betrayal possibly coming down from the top. The lone $ex scene is passionate.

We are introduced to several supernatural creatures and characters including Maya’s mentor Tia, mage Alison, vampire Batu, and the return of vampire king Valen.

ETERNAL MAGIC is a story of power and control, betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, magic and obsession. The premise is intriguing and enchanting; the romance is subtle; the characters are determined and charismatic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Wild Magic
Ancient Magic

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes – a Review

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Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes – a Review

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Description:
A KING DESPERATE TO SAVE HIS BRIDE.
A QUEEN DISCOVERING THE DARK POTENTIAL OF HER POWER.
After nearly losing one another in a savage attack on the city, Vor and Faraine return to Mythanar fully committed to their marriage. But the situation in the Under Realm remains dire. With the world poised on the brink of collapse, Vor struggles to protect his kingdom. Though Faraine longs to support him as queen, she fights the weakness in her body at every turn . . . not to mention the strange changes warping her gods-gift.

When war drags them apart, Vor and Faraine face the consequences of their choices. How can Vor lead those who have lost faith in him? Torn between honor and desire, he must decide where his heart truly lies: with his kingdom or his queen.

Meanwhile, as Faraine explores the new dimensions of her power, she starts to believe the coming cataclysm may be prevented. But in doing so, will she unleash a darkness in herself far more disastrous?

 

 

Review:

Heart of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes is the 3rd and final book in her Bride of the Shadow King series.  Vor and Faraine return to Mythanar determined to fill their marriage vows. Upon arrival, the Under Realm situation is very bad, and Vor needs to win over those who have lost faith in him: as he struggles to protect his Kingdom. Faraine wants to help support Vor, as his Queen; but she begins to learn dimensions of her powers, which leads to massive changes to her body warping her gods-gift.

We follow Vor and Faraine as he knows his duty as King, leading to destructive battles ahead; Faraine is deeply plagued by Maylin’s powerful training.  Both Vor and Faraine spent too much time apart, as it did feel stagnant at times. Vor gathers his army to help Faraines’s father fight the Fae. Faraine stays in Mythanar struggling to understand Maylin’s training her to learn about god’s gift, as well as using her ability to become crystal stone. When the world is crumbling, Faraine will be the one who will save them, suffering from her pain, but proving herself worthy of being the Queen by saving Vor and the tortured souls of his dead people during a magical ritual, releasing the stone.

I thought a lot of the story was slow moving, at least till the last ¼ of the book. There was so much chaos and inner dialogue throughout. We did get a backstory about Maylin, who actually was Vor’s real mother. I really loved Hael, who was great.   I loved the ending, when Captain Hael will decide between Sur and Theodre.

Heart of the Shadow King was a very good ending, but I did think there was a lot of confusion within the constant changes and much dialogue.  Heart of the Shadow King does nicely end this trilogy, as Mercedes gives Vor and Faraine a happy ending.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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SIMI (Shadows of Fire 5/ Dark Hunters) by Sherrilyn Kenyon-review

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SIMI (Shadows of Fire 5/ Dark Hunters) by Sherrilyn Kenyon-review

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

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 25, 2025

Life as a demon is never an easy one. Orphaned as a child, Simi was left to make her own way in the world of humans. Bound to the Atlantean god who caused the death of her mother, she’s spent her life trying to make sense of a world that baffles her.

But as the gods vie for a power that leaves demons, Dark-Hunters and humans struggling to take sides, Simi can no longer rely on the god, Acheron, for protection. She must find her own way. Not just for herself, but to save the lives of her family and friends.

Only one entity holds the secret she needs to save Acheron’s life. But the price it demands is steep, and it will leave her at the mercy of a creature known for cruelty. Her choice should be easy. Save Acheron at all costs. Yet some prices are too high and by saving Acheron, she just might destroy everything.

•••••

REVIEW: SIMI is the fifth instalment in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s adult SHADOWS OF FIRE paranormal, fantasy series set in the author’s cross over CHRONICLES OF NICK and DARK HUNTERS series.

NOTE: SIMI should not be read as a stand alone as the current instalment crosses over with most of the previous stories. A working knowledge of the series is highly recommended.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives, covering close to twelve thousand years in the life, SIMI focuses on some of the events in Simi’s life that will lead her to finding her own happily ever after. Simi is a Charonte demon, over ten thousand years old yet a mentality and naivete of someone just barely out of their teens- a demon who often speaks of herself in third person. The beloved and protected daughter of the heart to the Atlantean god Apostolos aka Acheron, Simi’s innocence, and ability to see beyond the surface is a testament to her capacity to love almost everyone she meets (but not the heifer goddess 😉 ).

Throughout the years, Simi will come under the protection of Acheron’s mother, the goddess Apollymi, Prince Leucious aka Thorn, Savitar, Shadow, and Jaden, as well as the large aggregation of Dark Hunters, Warriors, gods and goddess but saying that, a war is approaching, the gods and goddesses want more power, and in order to take control, the most powerful of gods and demons must be destroyed and consumed in the process. Throughout the story, the Malachai dies and is reborn, then dies and is reborn again, until the current Malachai, the most powerful of them all, comes into his powers and is feared by all.

SIMI is a story for fans of the Dark Hunter / Chronicles of Nick series as the current story cross over with most, if not all, of the previous story line instalments and interconnected series. Sherrilyn Kenyon barely touches the surface of Simkey’s life and experiences. As a child having suffered the loss of her mother and siblings, to her introduction and guardianship under Acheron, and her insatiable appetite for …everything covered in BBQ sauce… the reader is up close and personal with Simi’s childlike behavior, attitude and personality as she discovers love with a man who will lose himself to the darkness.

SIMI is a story about innocence and vulnerability, power and corruption, relationships, friendships and love. The premise is endearing, inviting and impassioned yet somewhat YA (young adult) in nature and delivery. Like many series with a favorite character whose story has yet to be told, the high anticipatory factor is often met with some disappointment as expectations are not always recognized, and in this, the childlike attributes and innocence of Simi must be delicately and carefully handled. The characters are numerous, familiar, animated and spirited-always a pleasure to get reacquainted with the wonderful cast. SIMI is not a romance story line but a story about love.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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