The Daughter Between Them by Alretha Thomas – a Review

The Daughter Between Them by Alretha Thomas – a Review

 

Amazon / Bookbub

 

Description:
Two mothers. One missing daughter. One life-changing secret.

In 2019, Leslie Graham is within arm’s reach of her goal to become the news editor at the Dancing Hills Times. At thirty-five, she has it all—a promising career and a close relationship with her two teenage girls, Rhonda and Jillian. But when an old enemy from her past resurfaces, threatening to reveal life-changing information about one of her daughters, Leslie does everything in her power to keep her world from crashing down.

A decade earlier, in 2009, Barbara Morris’s seven-year-old daughter, Nancy, goes missing in Queens, New York. Barbara and her husband frantically search for her. But all is not as it seems in the disappearance of Nancy Morris, and Barbara may not be the innocent victim she’s painted herself to be. After ten years of her life spiraling out of control and Nancy still missing, Barbara decides to head to Dancing Hills, believing she’ll find the answers she’s looking for. Barbara and Leslie’s worlds will collide there, and the secrets of the past will finally be revealed.

 

Review:

The Daughter Between Them begins in 2019 with Leslie Graham deep in thought while she is going through things in her office at the Dancing Hills Times. She is on the verge of becoming the first African American news editor at the paper, something which she has worked towards for quite a while. She then receives a phone call from the Dancing Hills police department concerning her two daughters, Jillian and Rhonda.

Once Leslie arrives at the police station, she finds out that her girls were involved in an accident and thankfully are okay. However, it was no accident. The girls say that the car came out of nowhere and plowed into their car then took off without stopping. Leslie cannot help but wonder as things continue to happen if her past may be catching up with her.

Barbara Morris has a daughter who goes missing in 2009. She and her husband try to present a united front when looking for their daughter, but things are not at all what they seem. Barbara’s past has caught up with her present and will have a profound affect on not only her future, but Leslie’s.

The Daughter Between Them is another wonderfully written book by Alretha Thomas. The characters are beautifully written and multidimensional, and the world building is second to none. The twists and turns keep you turning the pages because just when you think you know what has happened, or about to happen, you find out you are close………but no cigar. If you are a fan of suspense, you will not go wrong with this one. I have been lucky enough to have the privilege of reviewing Mrs. Thomas’s books for several years now and have never been disappointed once. I do believe, though, that this one may be my favorite. Well done, Alretha Thomas! Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

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Make Mine a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

Make Mine a Marquess by Tina Gabrielle – a Review

 

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Description:

He lost everything. Now he’s come to take it all back—along with her—in this entrancing romance that’s ideal for fans of Sophie Jordan and Eloisa James.

Everyone thought that the Marquess of Landon was lost at sea. Instead, Robert Kirkian defied all the odds and survived. Now he’s returned to London to reclaim his title, his property, and his lands from the foul snake who tried to have him killed: his own cousin. But proper vengeance requires patience—and the perfect weapon. Which is precisely when Robert meets his cousin’s charmingly spirited betrothed…

Miss Phoebe Dawson is everything an ambitious gentleman could desire in a wife. Wealthy, exceedingly lovely, and with a sparkle in her blue eyes that could entice even the most reluctant suitor. But Phoebe’s come too close to ruin—the humiliation of it!—to be fooled by yet another handsome face and silken words . But oh, how he makes her feel. So flustered, so flushed…and so thrillingly alive.

Phoebe knows that love is a fool’s game, even if the Marquess does play his hand like an expert. Her reputation can nary afford the tiniest spark of scandal, let alone those slow, deep kisses that leave her breathless. But she’s about to discover the only thing more dangerous than a rogue is a wronged man hellbent on revenge…

 

Review:

Make Mine a Marquess begins with Robert Kirkian, Marquess of Landon (who typically goes by Landon), peering inside a ballroom as he stands in the shadows outside. The costume ball is the beginning of a weeks long house party that is being hosted by his cousin, Lord Willard, whom he spots quickly. As Landon steps back into the shadows, Lord Willard and a beautiful blond woman, Miss Phoebe Dawson, step out onto the terrace. After a brief chat, Willard goes back inside as Landon approaches Phoebe. Learning that Phoebe was Willard’s betrothed, Landon approaches her and the two speak for a brief time before Phoebe heads back inside not knowing to whom she had been speaking. All she knows is that the handsome pirate piqued her interest.

The following day, Landon, along with his friend, Aram, approaches the country estate where the house party is being hosted and lifts the brass knocker. The butler answers the door to discover that the true Marquess has returned home after being lost at sea for five years. In Landon’s place, his cousin, Lord Willard, had taken over all that was rightfully Landon’s.

Once Landon makes himself known to those in attendance at the house party, it is hard to say who is more shocked: Lord Willard or Phoebe Dawson, albeit for vastly different reasons. What follows is a cat and mouse game as Landon tries to ferret out the truth of his ship going down and exactly why Phoebe intrigues him so.

Make Mine a Marquess is another wonderfully written tale by Ms. Gabrielle. Her stories draw you in from the beginning and the worlds she creates are easy to see in your mind’s eye. Landon and Phoebe were beautifully written, and their chemistry leapt off the page. The secondary characters were a bonus that gave the story depth. If you are a fan of regency romance novels, you will never go wrong with one of her books. Well done, Tina Gabrielle! Very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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When A Dragon Falls (Embraced by Magic) by Kerrelyn Sparks-review

When A Dragon Falls (Embraced by Magic 4) by Kerrelyn Sparks-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 24, 2023

Princess Lenushka of Norveshka prides herself on her courage. She’s faced down the doubters who think a woman dragon shifter is worth less than a man. She will marry to secure the support of her nobles—and ensure she’ll hold the Norveshki throne. A battle-hardened soldier, she’s prepared to destroy the Brotherhood of the Sun, who threaten all Aerthlan. But she can barely look at Bran Morris, the Raven. His dark, brooding beauty is off-limits for a princess who must wed for advantage. And he has far too many secrets of his own for Lennie to trust him with hers.

Bran’s quest is for vengeance, against the Brotherhood monsters who killed his brother and abused his sisters. He can’t dream about the sharp-eyed woman warrior whose memory haunts him, not even when she appears to rescue him from an unknown dragon shifter. But when Lennie and Bran discover they’re Aerthlan’s last defense against a powerful, murderous mastermind, they can no longer afford to deceive each other—or themselves. And when a dragon’s passion is freed, anything is possible .

••••••

REVIEW:When a Dragon Falls begins with Princess Lenushka (Lennie) of Norveshka arriving for Princes Roslyn’s wedding. Once she sees the bridesmaid’s gowns, she contemplates an accidental hiccup and burning them all. Not wanting to upset Roslyn, she decides against it. Roslyn’s wedding to Earl Freydor worried not only Lennie, but the other bridesmaids as well. When Queens Brigitta and Luciana arrived, Queen Brigitta (Roslyn’s mother) was aghast at the sight of the dresses. Things got really interesting when one of the bridesmaids bumped into Queen Luciana. Anyone who comes into contact with Luciana was compelled to tell the truth. Once Roslyn realized that no one liked the dresses, she was heartbroken and didn’t think it could get any worse. Until one of the maids touched Luciana as well and blurted out that she had been having an affair with Earl Freydor. And she wasn’t the only one.

Bran and his younger brother, Zane, have been tracking Greer for quite a while and argued over who would be the one to deliver the killing blow once they found him. Greer was a member of the Brotherhood of the Sun, just as Bran and Zane had been, until their brother had been killed by Greer. Bran was a spy for the Brotherhood and a raven shifter. He knew more about the outside world than Zane so the two were at odds often about how to handle things. They do agree on one thing: the rest of the Brotherhood had to be taken down.

As Bran and Zane and their two companions enter town, they encounter Earl Freydor heading to where they thought Greer may be. Bran shifts and spies on the Earl who does indeed meet with Greer. Greer gets away with Bran following, only to be chased by a dragon. He doesn’t understand why and does his best to outmaneuver the dragon and is ultimately brought down by an arrow. Roslyn’s arrow. Seems she and Lennie were heading to confront the Earl as well and saw Bran giving chase. Bran had been part of a plot to kidnap one of the Queens a long while back and that is all that Lennie and Roslyn knew.

As Zane is kidnapped, along with two others, Lennie knows she must work with Bran and the others to save everyone. Bran has no idea who, or what, Lennie is and at first refuses. Once they decide to work together, they will move heaven and earth to save those they love.

When a Dragon Falls is another exciting addition to the Embraced by Magic series. Lennie and Bran are slow to admit their feelings for each other. They are written well, and their chemistry is sweet. The love they have for their families, both blood and chosen, draws them closer together. There is a large secondary character presence. I loved getting to catch up with the Kings and Queens from the earlier books and see them interacting with their children in this one. As I’ve said in previous reviews, Sparks is one of very few authors that can pull off a story that builds slowly yet keeps you turning the pages. I love the humor, the intrigue and the romance. I would recommend reading the series in order due to the continuing story arc throughout. And, once again, I can’t wait for the next installment in this series. Well done, Kerrelyn Sparks! Very, very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

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Bad Luck Vampire (Argeneau 36) by Lynsay Sands-review

Bad Luck Vampire (Argeneau 36) by Lynsay Sands-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 26, 2023

Alasdair MacKenzie has never once considered himself unlucky in all the centuries he’s been an immortal rogue enforcer. Not until he meets Sophie. Finding the beautiful, smart, and funny woman who is his life mate is great luck, actually. But meeting her at a wedding full of Argeneaus, not to mention his own busybody uncles determined to “help him claim his woman,” is bad luck. And the fact that Sophie is someone else’s date? Well that’s just the next level of unlucky.

From the way her gaze travels over his body like a caress to the electric zing whenever they innocently touch…he wants her for all eternity! He’ll keep his hands off Sophie until her date is over. After that all bets are off and he’ll pull out all the stops to win her. Great plan—until he gets hit by a car. And then he’s poisoned. Is his luck that bad, or is someone out to stop this immortal from claiming Sophie as his life mate?

•••••••••

REVIEW: Bad Luck Vampire begins with Sophie Ferguson realizing within a few minutes that her blind date with Carl was not going well. She knew there was no reason to continue and told him she was leaving. Carl would not take no for an answer and followed her outside. Sophie defended herself and was trying to make it to her car when she noticed Carl was no longer following her. Carl, in fact, was being “detained” by two huge men who came to her aid.

Tybo and Valerian take “care” of Carl for her, which she is immensely grateful for. What she doesn’t expect is for Tybo to ask for her number. Since they had saved her from more of Carl’s antics, she gave it to him. What she doesn’t know is that Tybo and Valerian are not quite human.

When she sees Tybo again, he invites her to be his date at an upcoming family wedding. She accepts the offer. Once they arrive at the wedding, she realizes she has never seen so many beautiful people in one place. What she doesn’t understand is her attraction to another guest, Alasdair MacKenzie. She chastises herself and tries to settle in and just enjoy the festivities. She also doesn’t understand why a certain guest, whom she just met, is suddenly, subtly, pushing her to sit by Alasdair. That certain guest is none other than Marguerite Argeneau. If you know, you know!

Once the wedding is over, Alasdair starts to court Sophie, only to have so many bad things happen to him. Talk about unlucky. However, it doesn’t take long for him to figure out that someone is either trying to kill him or he is indeed has the worst bad luck of any vampire.

Bad Luck Vampire is another great addition to the series. Sophie and Alasdair are a great couple. As always, there is a huge presence of secondary beloved characters, but it is his Scottish uncles who steal the show. They are hysterical in trying to help Alasdair “woo” his life mate. Sands has always written with humor, but this one made me laugh out loud. I can only hope one of the uncles gets a story soon. If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. If you’ve not read the series, what are you waiting for? Well done, Lynsay Sands! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Vickie

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How the Italian Claimed Her by Jennifer Hayward – a Review

How the Italian Claimed Her by Jennifer Hayward – a Review

 

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Description:
The Italian wants her…between his billion-dollar sheets in this passionate opposites-attract romance.

He always puts business first…
then it’s mixed with pleasure!

After taking the reins of his family’s legendary but failing fashion house, CEO Cristiano Vitale vows to restore its legacy. To do that he needs the face of the brand, supermodel Jensen Davis, to do her job. Only she’s committed to living up to her headline-hitting reputation.

Jensen doesn’t want to jeopardize Cristiano’s company, but courting scandal distracts from her mother’s self-destructive spiral. So, lying low at his Lake Como estate, she’s caught between her familial duty…and how much she wants the dangerously sexy Italian to claim her!

 

 

Review:

How the Italian Claimed Her begins with Cristiano Vitale in the midst of planning a launch that, hopefully, will bring the legendary Francisco Vitale fashion house, back to the top of the fashion world.  In Christiano’s words, “……it is a do or die moment that he has spent a decade rebuilding”.  The “face” of the house, on which everything is riding, is supermodel Jensen Davis.

Cristiano is approached by his CMO with unsettling news that Jensen has made the headlines in the most unsettling way, characterized as a catfight with an actual princess.  Cristiano is more than livid and takes it upon himself to speak with Jensen himself, in person.  He travels to London and ultimately speaks with Jensen about her antics, and she assures him it won’t happen again.  Imagine her surprise when he informs her that he knows it won’t happen again…….because she’ll be staying at his Lake Como estate until after the launch.

Jensen fights the declaration with everything she has but eventually gives up because she needs this job worse than anyone knows.  She has been trying to distance herself from her family reality show, which she has already quit.  However, it doesn’t take Cristiano long to figure out that things aren’t always as they appear. 

How the Italian Claimed Her is another wonderfully written story by Jennifer Hayward.  Cristiano and Jensen are both very well written and their chemistry is palpable from the beginning.  Their interactions draw you in immediately.  The world of wealth and beauty created in this one is easy to “see” and what happens is easy to “feel”.  It has been a very long time since I’ve read a story that was, in my humble opinion, this timely.  The world we live in is so easily influenced by ones’ perceptions of everyone and everything, without really knowing what’s actually happening or why, with taking things at surface value instead of digging just a little deeper to see what’s below said surface.  This story is one of betrayal and redemption, doubt and certainty, love and trust and ultimately believing in yourself. 

How the Italian Claimed Her, I believe, is my favorite so far by Jennifer Hayward.  If you’re a fan of the genre and romance in general, you will never go wrong with one of her tales.  Well done, Jennifer Hayward!  Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for Review

 

 

 

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The Girl in the Blue Blazer by Alretha Thomas – a Review

The Girl in the Blue Blazer by Alretha Thomas – a Review

 

Amazon

 

Description:
Two women. One powerful man. A decades-old secret binds them together.

In 2019, Pamela Carter is determined to secure her dream internship with billionaire businessman Andrew Clifford III.

Twenty-five years ago, in 1993, Andrew is just starting out. Without any of his later fame or fortune, the party boy becomes a legitimate hero when he intervenes to save assaulted Elizabeth Westlake. Sure, she’s a waitress at a strip club, but that’s not her dream. Elizabeth is determined to write her way out of the Harlem hellhole she lives in. Maybe Andrew is the ticket? Even the best-laid plans go awry, and for Elizabeth, tragedy looms.

Pamela is impossible not to notice and she soon becomes Andrew’s prime intern. But, just as with Elizabeth, not all goes to plan. The stocks are plummeting. The company is careening. And then, Andrew himself goes missing. Will Pamela also be plunged into the tragedy that surrounds this man? Or is Pamela the one person who really knows what happened that fateful night in 1993? More than a company is at stake, as Andrew struggles for survival. But sometimes, the past is too powerful. Some secrets refuse to remain buried. Sometimes, truth kills.

 

Review:

The Girl in the Blue Blazer begins with Pamela Carter anxiously waiting to mee with Andrew Clifford III, having made the cut to the final two from a grueling process for his prestigious internship program.  This is her third time, and her last.  That is the maximum number of times that you can apply and she is determined to make it.  When she is called into Andrew’s office, they have a frank, albeit strange at times, conversation. When Pamela leaves, she feels good about her chances, only to have them dashed a few days later when she is told they chose the other candidate. Imagine her surprise when she receives another phone call a few days after that informing her that they were choosing her.  She has waited soooooo long for this opportunity and she will not waste one moment to do what she needs to do.

Elizabeth Westlake is trying to make it on her own, having run away from home to escape her mother’s abusive, ever changing, boyfriends.  Her story begins in 1993 when she is seventeen (she lied about her age)  and working as a waitress at a strip club.  When Elizabeth is groped by a customer, Andrew steps in and saves her.  He then requests she have a drink with him in the VIP room.  Little does she know how much that encounter will alter the direction of her life……….and so many others.

The Girl in the Blue Blazer is written with dual timelines and draws you in from the very beginning that have you turning the pages faster and faster as you navigate all of the twists and turns.  One moment, you’re convinced of one thing, the next, not so much.  What you ARE convinced of is that Mrs. Thomas has once again written an amazing story and built a world that draws you in and doesn’t let go until the very end.  One thing that hit me while reading this is that it is so refreshing to read a story that has “real” dialogue between the characters.  Due to the subject matter of this book, that frank and real dialogue will endear the characters to the reader even more. If you’re a fan of suspenseful storylines with awesome and strong women, you will not go wrong with this book.  So happy that she is back to writing with her busy schedule.  Well done, Alretha Thomas!!  Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy supplied for review

 

 

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Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne – a Review

Never Cross a Highlander by Lisa Rayne – a Review

 

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Description:
Ailsa Connery has waited three long years to finally escape her enslavement at Stirling Castle and reunite with her clan. But her carefully laid plans are completely destroyed by the arrival of the infamous Highland warrior known as Dubh Mahoun, the Black Devil…who has plans of his own.

Kallum MacNeill’s fearsome reputation has long allowed him to keep hidden his secret double life of freeing enslaved captives across the land. It’s only when he kidnaps a servant lass—quite by accident—that he finds himself facing a wee predicament. He must accompany the lass home or risk her exposing his true identity. It’d be easy enough…if the feisty hellion didn’t fight him at every turn.

As they make their way to the Highlands, the perils the two must face are surpassed only by their constant sparring. Soon, their heated sniping sparks heat of a totally different kind. The kind that ignites a hunger that could consume them both. Yet the difficult journey is no match for the dangerous secrets they’re about to uncover.

 

Review:

Never Cross a Highlander begins with Ailsa Connery in service to Princess Elizabeth.  Ailsa know that a tournament is being held and that her clan will be in attendance.  The only way for Ailsa to be able to view those coming to attend is from the Princess’ balcony and she, the Princess, is less than enthused.  Through some mental manipulation, Ailsa gets Elizabeth ready and onto the balcony just as the riders from the clans start entering. 

Duff Kallum MacNeil, the MacNeill war chief, is less than enthusiastic when he’s told he must enter yet another tournament ordered by the King.  When his “brother” tells him that it is a must, Kallum knows he has to go.  Once they enter the King’s lands and parade by for all to view, Kallum (aka The Black Devil) hears the whispers.  What he doesn’t plan on is catching the eye, and vice versa, of a striking lass.

Once the tournament begins, it comes down to  Kallum and another fighting to be the victor.  Once Kallum’s foe is defeated, he faces the King for his approval only to be attacked again.  Thankfully Ailsa’s face told him what he needed to know.

Having seen her clan, Ailsa, who was born free and taken by the King’s guard into servitude for the last few years, makes her plan to escape to be reunited with them.  Once she sneaks from the castle, things take an interesting turn for her as she is mistaken for someone else running for a different reason and is forced to go with the group that is being taken out under the cover of darkness.  Having no other choice, Ailsa finally submits, but has another plan to escape to finally make it back to her clan after all these years.   Little does she know the twists and turns ahead……………..

Never Cross a Highlander is an interesting and timely twist on the highland historical.  As Ailsa and Kallum navigate her continuous attempts at escaping, things start coming to light that she had never thought of.   Once Kallum convinces her she can trust him, things start to happen quickly.  Ailsa’s whole life was not what she thought she knew.  And once Kallum discovered what the true plot was behind her being held in servitude by the King, all hell breaks loose.  They trust no one as they uncover plot after plot against her, but hell hath no fury like a Highlander crossed.  ? 

Never Cross a Highlander is a uniquely written tale of inequality being brought into the light and all being made right.  The romance was a slow build which added to the two main characters’ chemistry.  If you’re a fan of historicals, with a twist or without, you won’t go wrong with this one.  Well done, Lisa Rayne!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

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Bound by Honor (The Clan Donald Saga 2) by Regan Walker-a review

Bound by Honor (The Clan Donald Saga 2)by Regan Walker-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 24, 2022.

The friendship that changed the destiny of a nation…

In the waning years of the thirteenth century, two young noblemen form a bond that forever changes their destiny and that of Scotland’s. Their shared pledge of honor would endure for a lifetime to secure power in the Isles for Angus Og Macdonald and a crown for Robert Bruce. This is the story of their friendship, their times and the battle that secured their future.

Standing beside them would be two women from Ireland, Áine O’Cahan, the dark-haired beauty from Ulster, who captured the heart of the Lord of the Isles, and Elizabeth de Burgh, the fair Norman heiress who stood by her man, King Robert Bruce, though it would cost her dearly.

Enter the world of medieval Scotland and live the adventure!

••••••

REVIEW:Bound by Honor begins in 1286 with Angus Og Macdonald watching his father, Angus Mor Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, speaking with the captain of his galley. Angus Og had sailed with his father several times before and asked if he might again sail with him. His father agreed and Angus Og was even more intrigued with his father’s reply about the purpose of the trip: Scotland’s future. Being the second son, Angus Og’s older brother, Alexander (called Alex) would travel with them as well and be involved in the meetings their father had planned.

Once they arrived at their destination, Angus Og was introduced was introduced to Robert (referred to by his friends as Rob) Bruce, Robert the Noble’s grandson, along with others in attendance. Once the true meeting starts, Angus and Robert keep themselves busy talking and a game of chess. When the meetings are finally over, neither Angus nor Rob knew just how the pledge that bound their families together that fateful day would play out in their fight for Scotland’s freedom.

As Angus navigates the politics of Scotland and the King of England’s desire to possess it, he meets Aine O’Cahan, a widowed lady from Ireland. It doesn’t take either of them long to start having feelings for the other, although it takes one longer to admit. However, Angus is in high demand with his warriors and his fleet of ships and finds himself often in high demand as things heat up in Scotland. When duty calls, Angus answers knowing Aine will be there for him.

Bound by Honor is another wonderfully written book by Regan Walker. The characters are written extremely well. Angus’ loyalty knows no bounds and his sense of honor will endear him to all who read his story. Aine was the perfect match for him. Her loyalty and faith are what keeps Angus going battle after battle. Rob has his own love interest, Elizabeth de Burgh, but it is Aine who inspires him when he is at his lowest point in his quest for Scotland’s freedom. Angus and Rob’s friendship and support of each other is palpable. The respect they hold for each other is a thing of legend. The secondary characters are all well written as well. I did find myself lost a time or two trying to keep all of the characters straight, but it didn’t detract from the story. Once again, her effortless entwining of actual historical facts and characters with her stories is amazing. The worldbuilding is amazing and leaves you feeling the spray of the ocean or hearing the call of Aine’s birds. This story packs more history and details than any of Walker’s previous books, which does make it a longer tale. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll never go wrong with one of her books. Not only do you enjoy the story, but I always say I feel a tad bit smarter after I’ve read one of her books. Well done, Regan Walker! Very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

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