Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore ~ Review

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for review consideration.

Bringing Down the Duke (A League of Extraordinary Women #1) by Evie Dunmore

A stunning debut for author Evie Dunmore and her Oxford Rebels, in which a fiercely independent vicar's daughter takes on a duke in a fiery love story that threatens to upend the British social order.

England, 1879. Annabelle Archer, the brilliant but destitute daughter of a country vicar, has earned herself a place among the first cohort of female students at the renowned University of Oxford. In return for her scholarship, she must support the rising women's suffrage movement. Her charge: recruit men of influence to champion their cause. Her target: Sebastian Devereux, the cold and calculating Duke of Montgomery who steers Britain's politics at the Queen's command. Her challenge: not to give in to the powerful attraction she can't deny for the man who opposes everything she stands for.

Sebastian is appalled to find a suffragist squad has infiltrated his ducal home, but the real threat is his impossible feelings for green-eyed beauty Annabelle. He is looking for a wife of equal standing to secure the legacy he has worked so hard to rebuild, not an outspoken commoner who could never be his duchess. But he wouldn't be the greatest strategist of the Kingdom if he couldn't claim this alluring bluestocking without the promise of a ring...or could he?

Locked in a battle with rising passion and a will matching her own, Annabelle will learn just what it takes to topple a duke....

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I don't read historical romance very often, but this one caught my eye. First thanks to the cover, then thanks to a tweet I saw where Death by a Thousand Cuts by Taylor Swift (aka my favorite song on her album Lover) was paired with it. Then, when I couldn't decide what to read, I picked up Bringing Down the Duke and flipped to a random page not too far in. That random page had me SUPER excited to read the book. And so, it was my next read and it was so good I'm glad I picked it up!

From the beginning I was rather into the story. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know the two main characters, Annabelle and Montgomery. They're both very intelligent and respect that in one another. Their banter was witty and fun. I especially was a fan of Montgomery's shift from grumpy to caring to sweet to in love.

The romance featured multiple tropes that were perfect to me. A slow burn, forced proximity, grumpy hero, a slight bit of enemies to lovers (though I wouldn't quite say they start as enemies). I loved seeing their relationship grow as they spent more time together, and I totally get the comparison to Death by a Thousand Cuts now--which was kind of painful but also SO GOOD and beautiful.

There were a couple of things that just barely held this back from being a 5-star read for me, both of which I suspect may be because I don't read historical often. First of all, while I was interested in the storyline the entire way through the book, there were portions that dragged a smidge--and those portions were ones with great detail about Montgomery's and Annabelle's day-to-day life. Though I suppose it's not surprising that I much preferred the parts where they were together. Second of all, it kind of pricked at my nerves at the step the romance took before they started toward their happy ending. I'm not going to be specific, because spoilers, but his proposition irked me. The way he worded it was freaking sweet, though, so my feelings are mixed.

Overall, Bringing Down the Duke was a sweet, fun romance. As the first historical I've read in a while, I'm super pleased with how easily it drew me in and how quickly it won me over. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you're looking for some solid witty banter!

4 stars - A sweet, fun romance full of witty banter!

One Tough Cowboy by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwich ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

ABOUT ONE TOUGH COWBOY:

First in a brand-new series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick about one man’s pursuit of justice—and unbridled desire. 

LAW AND ORDER. 

For as long as Samantha can remember, Hunter—a man as strong as steel, with a heart of gold—has been her hero. It came as no surprise to Samantha when she found out that the ranch-hardened cowboy who always protected her from bullies went on to become the town’s sheriff. What does surprise her is how incredibly hot he still is. And how much she still wants him…

PRIDE AND PASSION 

And, lo and behold, Hunter still has feelings for Samantha. The long-smoldering heat of their innocent flirtation has grown into a full-raging fire. But when tragedy strikes, and their small-town community is shattered, Hunter vows to do everything he can to keep his childhood sweetheart safe. But can Samantha trust that Hunter has her best interests at heart…and that, after all these years, his love is true? 

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Now Available from St. Martin's Paperback

He hadn’t changed much. He seemed bigger, his shoulders broader. His signature thick, black hair was cut in a shorter style. As he got closer, Samantha noticed his face had changed quite a bit. Any boyish softness he’d once had was all gone and had been replaced with hard planes and angles, except for his full, well-defined lips. There were fine laugh lines fanning out from the corners of his steel gray eyes. Those eyes were more intense, hard. The easy laughter that lit them when he was younger seemed to be gone.

“Ms. Bell.” He nodded in greeting to the diminutive lady.

“Good of you to come by, Sheriff. Little Samantha is handlin’ all this by herself.” She winked and patted his arm. “She could use a little help, I’m thinkin’.”

Samantha wanted to walk away. She also wanted to throw her arms around Hunter and hold on for dear life. Not just because he still made her heart pound, but because he was a part of her life she thought she’d lost. She wanted to hold on to a stable, warm part of her past where she was happy and safe. Seeing him again brought those memories and emotions all rushing back. “Hey, Sam.” The smooth, deep bass of his voice was

quiet and soothing.

“Hey, Hunter.” His name left her lips with more com- posure than she felt.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the funeral, but I wanted to come by to extend my condolences, and to see how you’re doin’.” He stepped closer and rubbed her bare upper arm. “You holdin’ up okay?” His hand, a bit rough and callused from real work, was warm, reassuring.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m okay, Hunter, thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Everyone brought food. The dining room table is overflowing. Help yourself.”

He followed her through the living room to the din- ing room. She turned and almost jumped back. He was standing inches away, looking down at her. His brows furrowed, his gaze sharply assessing her. He smelled in- credible, and he stood so close she could feel the heat from his body.

She opened her mouth to say something but forgot what she wanted to say. She must look completely ignorant gaping up at him like that.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Sympathy and con- cern shadowed his expression, softening the harsher lines of his face.

“It’s been a long day. I’m fine, really.” She was a bas- ket case, and not just because of her aunt’s death.

Hunter gave her a gentle smile and pulled out a chair. “No doubt. Sit and talk to me for a while. I haven’t seen you in what? Ten years?”

Samantha welcomed the chance to get off her feet and get away from the crowd for a bit. “Yeah, about ten years, I think.”

He pulled out the chair beside her, turned it toward her, and sat, staring at her solemnly. “I’m real sorry about Dottie.”

“Me too.” She looked into his eyes, assessing whether she could or should continue. “I really didn’t get enough time with her. I’ll always regret that.”

Hunter shook his head. “Sam, you know Dottie thought the world of you. She knew you loved her and she loved you.”

Had she? Samantha couldn’t help but question the ob- servation. School, her career, and far too many emo- tions had seemed to always get in the way of returning to Deerhaven.

“Yes, I know, but I look around at these people and think of how some of them probably knew her even better than I did, her own niece.” Samantha frowned and gestured toward a blue-haired woman sitting on the couch sobbing, clutching another woman’s hand. “Mrs. Holt is devastated.”

She obviously had not talked to her aunt on the phone enough either, because Dottie had never mentioned the other woman.

A small smile touched Hunter’s far-too-sensual lips as he lowered his head and leaned closer. “Sam, Irene Holt never even met Dottie. She attends any and all fu- nerals and wails and carries on like that at every one of ’em.” Amusement touching his gaze.

Samantha looked at him incredulously until he raised his hand and said, “Hand to God. Every one of ’em.”

“Wow.” No wonder her aunt Dottie had never men- tioned the other woman.

“Yep.” Hunter’s smile broadened. “As for the rest of them, they’re just being neighborly or nosy. Most of ’em still remember your family and you. You were pretty hard to forget . . . Pixie Pest.” His brows lifted playfully. Teasingly.

Samantha narrowed her eyes. “Ugh. That nickname.

I don’t know which is worse, that or Sami Jo.”

She protested it. Just as she always had. That flare of warmth she felt whenever it passed his lips was still there, though.

“You earned it.”

“Psh, whatever.” She’d actually worked at it at the time.

Hunter chuckled and she nearly sighed. Lord, she’d missed his laugh, his smile, even the way he’d tease her. She’d missed him.

“Aw, you know I was always fond of you, Pixie. You were a great kid, even if you were a pest that was con- stantly following me around and giving my girlfriends hell.”

She had been such a tomboy with wild, young girl fantasies of being swept off her feet by the cutest boy in Deerhaven, or the whole wide world, for that matter. He’d called her his Pixie Pest whenever he’d seen her and tugged at her long, tangled hair.

“I’m not a kid anymore.” She held his gaze and couldn’t imagine how she’d gotten so bold.

Hunter’s gaze traveled over her body, a single black brow arching slowly in acknowledgment. “I’ve noticed. I’m trying really hard to remember what a pain in the ass you used to be.”

Samantha lifted a brow. “I can still be a pain in the ass.”

“I bet you can.” The look in his eyes was making her feel way too hot, way too needy.

She didn’t want to go there. Not now. After Tom No- vak, the very last thing she needed was another relation- ship. Besides all that, she was here to get answers, not to get laid.

Clearing her throat again, she changed the subject to the one on which she had to keep her focus. “Hunter, what really happened to Aunt Dottie?”

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

#1 New York Times bestseller Lora Leigh is the author of the Navy SEALS, the Breeds, the Elite Ops, the Callahans, the Bound Hearts, and the Nauti series.

Veronica Chadwick started storytelling when she was a little girl. She was first published in 2004. She lives in Tennessee with three cats, a very spoiled Shih Tzu and two grand dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s hanging out with friends, reading or badly playing video games.

Buy this book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250309488

Author website: https://loraleigh.com/

Author Twitter: @LoraLeigh_1

                        @RoniChadwick

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loraleighauthor/

SMP Romance Twitter: @SMPRomance or @heroesnhearts

SMP Romance Website: https://heroesandheartbreakers.com/

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A Merciful Fate by Kendra Elliot ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

Title: A Merciful Fate

Author: Kendra Elliot

Release Date: January 15, 2019

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Summary

Raised by preppers, survivalist and FBI agent Mercy Kilpatrick has a deep-rooted need for a safe place. Her getaway in the Cascade Foothills is her secret. But when skeletal remains are unearthed—those of a murdered man linked to a notorious heist—Mercy realizes she isn’t the only one with something to hide.

Thirty years ago, an armored-car robbery turned deadly. The mastermind was captured. Four conspirators vanished with a fortune. One of them, it appears, never made it out of the woods alive. For Mercy and her fiancé, Police Chief Truman Daly, their investigation opens old wounds in Eagle’s Nest that cut deeper than they imagined. Especially when a reckless tabloid reporter draws fresh blood. It’s clear to Mercy that somebody in this close-knit community is not who they seem to be.

Some are still shattered by the heist. Some still have reason to be afraid. But which one will kill again and again to hide three decades of secrets? To land this case, it’s up to Mercy to unmask a familiar stranger before someone else dies.

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Excerpt: A Merciful Fate by Kendra Elliot

“Sit.”

Mercy sat on a stool that was too high for the makeshift table. She didn’t care. They could sit on the ground and she’d be happy with Truman. Currently the home had plywood subfloors and open framing, but part of Mercy loved the empty, bare look; it promised that something fabulous was coming.

Fabulous and practical.

Truman leaned over and poured red wine in the plastic cup by her paper plate. She sighed and buried her nose in her cup. The fragrance was deep and bold, with hints of plum and smoke.

“Italy,” she mumbled into the wine.

“What?” asked Truman.

“I want to visit Italy. How does a honeymoon in Italy sound?”

A grin filled his face, and the sensation of butterflies fluttered up her spine.

Or maybe it’s the wine.

She took a sip of her wine as she studied his face. So familiar and dear to her.

A smile to stop traffic. Eyes that crinkled in happiness. Several scars that testified to his love of law enforcement. Her attraction to him was more than skin deep. She was in love with the person he was. He was a natural leader and easily commanded respect. His people turned to him, followed him, admired him. His natural sense of honor was a magnet for her.

No. It’s not the wine.

He gets me.

He understood how her mind worked, and they fit together like a couple of complicated puzzle pieces. She’d been painfully aware of her missing puzzle piece when he’d been taken away, chained by men planning to kill him, and then rescued thanks to Ollie. The two weeks when no one knew his fate had been the worst of her life. When he’d been returned to her, she’d known she couldn’t waste any more time.

He’d been of the same mind-set and had proposed.

“I’ll try Italy.” He dished spaghetti carbonara onto their plates.

“And what’s on your agenda for tomorrow?” he asked over the rim of his plastic cup. She perked up. “The bank confirmed the money bags are from the Gamble-Helmet Heist. And I have the go-ahead to visit Shane Gamble at the Two Rivers prison tomorrow.”

“What are your thoughts on the remains?” Truman asked. “Did the medical examiner get to them yet?”

“Yes. They spent the afternoon removing the remains, and Dr. Lockhart was going to start an examination tonight. The woman never takes time off.”

“Same could be said for you.”

“Only when I’m deep in a case.”

“I guess this means your weekends are booked for a while?”

Mercy sighed. “I know. The two of us are supposed to be working on the interior of this place … We’ll get it done at some point. It’ll have to wait awhile.”

A grin filled his face.

“What?” she asked.

“You’re not the same person I met last fall. Back then, if the cabin had been in the half-completed state it is now, you’d be climbing the walls with anxiety because your safety net wasn’t perfect.”

“You’re right,” she agreed. “I had a similar thought earlier, but nearly all my supplies are still intact, so it’d be rough living but doable. I can temporarily live with that for now. Especially with this case to distract me.”

His lips twisted.

“Jealous?” she asked with a grin. “It’s an amazing case, isn’t it?”

“It is. Considering there have been no leads for decades, and the robbery is practically modern folklore. It’s like a buried treasure hunt, and Ollie found the first clue.”

“Is Ollie okay after his morning?” she asked with a small wince. She’d nearly forgotten the teen had made the grisly discovery.

“He’s okay. I spent some time with him and he was very quiet, but I could tell he was processing it. He’s dealt with death before.”

“He’s been through a lot,” sympathized Mercy.

They silently ate for a few moments until he glanced up and caught her staring at him. Longing shone in his eyes, an appetite and craving that had nothing to do with food, and she struggled to find her breath.

How does he do that to me?

“You know,” he said, his voice low and tempting, “this place hasn’t been christened yet.”

Mercy blinked. “People do that to homes?”

Patience filled his features. “That’s not what I meant.” His brown gaze held hers.

“Ohhh,” she breathed as heat flashed through her.

“Dessert.” His smile was sinful, and energy pulsed between them.

She melted. “Yes. Dessert.”

***

Author Biography

Kendra Elliot has landed on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list multiple times and is the award-winning author of the Bone Secrets and Callahan & McLane series, as well as the Mercy Kilpatrick novels: A Merciful Death, A Merciful Truth, and A Merciful Secret. Kendra is a three-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award, an International Thriller Writers finalist, and an RT Award finalist. She has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on classic female heroines such as Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Laura Ingalls. She was born, raised, and still lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters, but she looks forward to the day she can live in flip-flops. Visit her at www.kendraelliot.com.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.kendraelliot.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKendraElliot 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KendraElliot

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6150778.Kendra_Elliot

Giveaway

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Raze (Scarred Souls #1) by Tillie Cole ~ Review

Source: Purchased.

Raze (Scarred Souls #1) by Tillie Cole

TO TAKE BACK LIFE, ONE MUST FIRST FACE DEATH...

Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge... bloody, slow and violent revenge. Revenge on the man who wronged him.

Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill 'The Silencer' Volkov, head of the infamous 'Red' bosses of New York's Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it's a virtual prison. Her father's savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring-The Dungeon-ensures too many enemies lurk at their door. She dreams to be set free. Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. While working for her church-the only reprieve in her constant surveillance-Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn't talk. Doesn't communicate with anyone.

He's a man beyond saving. But Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man... ... this man they call Raze.

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I've had my eye on Raze for a while. Since before I read anything by Tillie Cole, actually, but it wasn't until after I started the Hades Hangmen series (and was enjoying it) that I decided the Scarred Souls series was something I really, really wanted to read. Fast forward to recently when I one-clicked the first 2 books. And then this past weekend when I finally got around to reading Raze. To be wholly honest...Raze did not live up to my expectations.


Let's kick this off with the things I liked about the book:

- The premise. Reading the description, Raze has so. much. potential. It sounds like it could be cool and dark and gritty, with just the right balance of romance. Exactly the kind of thing that would hook me and I'd get obsessed with. I love the idea of this book.

- Raze. He was such a complex character. He struggled with a lot--what was done to him, his memories, his revenge, his emotions... I appreciated getting to be in his head and see things unfold from his perspective.

- The bond between Raze and Kisa. It was so sweet. So beautiful. I LOVED them together. Their connection was palpable.

- It read quick. No parts of the novel dragged for me at all. At no point did I not want to continue reading or want to put the book down or look ahead to see when things would pick up. I was pretty into the book from the first page to the last.

- The dual POV. I said above that I appreciated being in Raze's POV. It really added a lot to the story. I also liked being in Kisa's head and seeing her side of the story. Their experiences and perspectives were so interesting.


Now for the things I did not like:

- I mentioned above that I love the idea of Raze...well, I don't love how the execution of the plot fell so flat for me. It had potential, but I ended up only feeling okay about the book as a whole. It was disappointing.

- The pacing of the story. The whole story is jammed into just a few days--with all the plot and emotion all rushed. If more time was taken to develop the emotions and story and tension on the page, I think it all could have had a much better affect.

- Kisa. I feel for her, I do. She landed in an effed up situation when she was vulnerable and that is NOT her fault. However, I don't think there was much of anything to her character. She was basically just...there. All I could tell you about her is that she loved Raze. She had no personality traits beside that. I wish she'd been a more developed character.

- The world-building seemed kind of iffy to me? Like, okay, there was the fighting ring. That's dark. But I feel like the families were so soft. I don't know. It didn't feel very authentic, I guess. This particular gripe is more of a passing thought than anything that really made me not love the book, so I'm not going to get super up in arms about it.

- The predictable plot. Oh my goodness! This is a big one. I've been non-spoilery in this review out of courtesy and will continue doing so, but really, y'all, if you read this book you'll figure all of the things out VERY quickly. There is no subtlety in the hints (read: neon signs) pointing to the "twist." And the plot...isn't very original. This might not have been something that really bothered me if not for the pacing issue mentioned above--but since it DID have that issue, this just added to the weakening of the story execution, unfortunately.


Overall, Raze has so much potential but ended up falling flat. I did enjoy Raze and Kisa's romance, however, and I am intrigued enough to continue the series. Hopefully the next book will be an improvement.

3 stars - An intriguing series starter, but the overall execution was disappointing.

While Beauty Sleeps by Ripley Proserpina ~ Review

Source: ARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

While Beauty Sleeps (Once Upon a Harem #7) by Ripley Proserpina

“She shall prick her finger on a spinning wheel, and fall to sleep...”

There once was a girl who was born to be cursed. By no fault of her own, she was doomed to remind her kingdom of everything ugly. No matter how many good deeds she did or how kind she was, it was her destiny to die, and take her kingdom with her. Her mother and father wept when they saw her, and the witch who cursed her celebrated gleefully as each year passed.

Except there was hope. Her sisters, older and wiser, and with no small amount of magic of their own, countered the witch's curse. If Kumiko could be loved, truly loved, the curse would be broken, and everyone would see what the witch had hidden.

But all her life, Kumiko had been let down—by the parents who hid her away and by an ill-fated curse.

Until they arrived.

Four princes, full of smug confidence and pride, were determined to break the princess's curse before her twenty-first birthday.

All they had to do was fall in love.

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**NOW AVAILABLE!!**

I've been meaning to pick up a Ripley Proserpina book for a good while. Her Searchers series, in particular, has been recommended to me numerous times. For some reason, I have yet to get around to picking it up. But then an ARC of While Beauty Sleeps landed in my inbox and it piqued my interest. A standalone reverse harem fairytale retelling? Sign me up! (Note: this is technically the 7th in the Once Upon a Harem series, but each story in the series is written by a different author and stands alone, so don't let the series thing intimidate you! This is my first read in the OUAH series, so I can vouch that it stood completely alone.) So now this has been my first book by Proserpina, and I'm glad to say it was a total success.

While Beauty Sleeps has an amazing premise -- it's a reverse harem retelling of Sleeping Beauty. How cool is that? Proserpina also put a unique little spin on the curse put on Kumiko, adding an extra layer to the story that I very much enjoyed. On the level of being a retelling, I'd say this one was amazing. It had a whimsical, enchanting feel. But the story also felt so fresh. It was well executed.

The characters were another strong point in the story. Kumiko was the best developed, I think, and I liked getting to know her. Her sisters were pretty great too. Then there were the guys. I liked some more than others -- I think this is mostly because a couple of them were better developed than the others. Dai and Goro were my favorites (Dai more than Goro). Reiji was awesome, I just wish we'd gotten to know him BETTER. Same with Wataru. That said, I loved getting to be in all their minds throughout the story, and though I wish a couple of them were developed more thoroughly I did grow very fond of them.

The best way to describe the romance was sweet. So, so, so very sweet. I adored the relationships between Kumiko and her princes. I like how pure it was. How cute. It started as "maybe we won't be in love, but we'll definitely be friends because I like this person" to more and it was lovely. And the romance fit perfectly into the enchanting atmosphere of the story as a whole.

All that said, I do have a few *slight* issues. The first of which I already mentioned -- the little lack of character development. As I said above, I ended up fond of them anyway so it's not a huge deal, but it's worth mentioning. My other gripe is the timeline of the novel...maybe I wasn't paying enough attention and missed something but I don't think the timeline matched up. It started with there being two weeks until Kumiko's 21st birthday. Then the princes were there for a few days. Then all of a sudden her birthday was the upcoming Wednesday. Maybe I simply lost track of days in the time in between? But if I did, that'd probably mean it was hard to follow/keep track of, which is still worth at least mentioning. 

Overall, While Beauty Sleeps is a sweet and dazzling retelling! I really enjoyed this one, and definitely plan on picking up more by Proserpina soon. If the idea of a unique, reverse harem version of Sleeping Beauty intrigues you, I say give this one a shot! 

4 stars - A sweet & dazzling Sleeping Beauty retelling--featuring a reverse harem!

Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5) by Nalini Singh ~ Review

Source: Purchased.

Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5) by Nalini Singh

Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy--cool, calm, emotionless...at least on the surface. Inside, she's fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper's embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard's rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian's agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules...

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Reading this series is turning into a long-term thing for me. I read the first four books what feels like forever ago now. Like, I honestly can't remember how long ago it was that I read book 4. And it's not because the series isn't good -- heck no. It's because the series is so dang long, it's intimidating to me to think if binge reading it. So then I take way too long to pick up the next book. And then when I do, I wonder why I didn't do so sooner because the book, just like the series as a whole, is. so. good. Yes, that was the case with Hostage to Pleasure.

Nalini Singh is brilliant. This world she's created? Large and complex, but oh so easy to fall into. The PLOT? Dear goodness. So. Damn. SMART. There are countless threads, both throughout this one book but also throughout the series as a whole, and the way they seem to effortlessly build and work together is something that I am truly in awe of. Singh's writing is out of this world amazing.

Then there's the romance, which is top notch. Dorian and Ashaya have one of the most sensual slow burns I've ever read. Ashaya slowly growing on Dorian, despite Dorian wanting nothing to do with his attraction to her...wow. And Ashaya gradually opening up her emotions to him, feeling safe enough to do so...the growth of trust and affection and tenderness between the two... Nalini Singh is truly a master.

And how could I not mention the other relationships? In Hostage to Pleasure, in particular, there's Ashaya and Dorian's bonds with Keenan. The sweetest, I swear. Ashaya being his mommy. And Dorian being protective and kind and caring. It was beautiful. Then there's the pack dynamics -- the close friendships and die-hard trust. I loved spending time enfolded in their world.

There were only two little things holding the novel back from being perfect for me. One of those things was Amara. I just did not like her plot thread. I have no doubt she'll come into play somehow later, but in this installment her portion was just so over complicated when all I wanted was for her to go away. The other thing is the overall pacing -- it was slow for me. I suspect this is just a me thing (trying not to miss anything, catch all the important tidbits while also enjoying the parts I loved, which were many) but it felt like it took me forever to read this book. I'd read twenty pages but it'd feel like I read at least double that. Which in a way is good -- it meant the pages were jam packed -- but it made my overall reading experience feel like it was dragging.

All that said, Hostage to Pleasure was another amazingly written installment in the Psy-Changeling series. A masterful slow burn romance, brilliant plot and world building, and other lovely relationship dynamics make this a PNR I don't recommend passing on.

4 stars - A brilliant, passionate installment in a series that is not to be missed!

Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington ~ Review

Source: Purchased (through my KindleUnlimited subscription).

Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

Willa Knight: Dweller. Slave. Non-magical being.

In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods.

At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won’t ever be forced to present herself to them... Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world—a position that she definitely did not earn.

Under the sudden, watchful eye of the gods, she will be tasked to serve the Abcurse brothers, five sols built of arrogance, perfection and power. They are almost gods themselves, and under their service she is either going to end up sentenced to death, or else they are going to ruin her so badly that she will wish for it.

Either way, she is in trouble.

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After getting into the Kit Davenport series, and then quickly catching up on it, I went looking for more reverse harem books/series I needed to read. I asked a couple of friends for recs, because it can be TOUGH to find quality RH, and one of them directed me to the Curse of the Gods series. I'd seen the books around since the first had released and for some reason never picked it up--but now I was like, why not? And now that I've read Trickery, I can very solidly say that while it was such a strange reading experience, I really enjoyed it!

But why was my reading experience so strange? Well. Because I spent so much of the book unsure about it. Was I enjoying it? Was I going to continue the series? Did I actually like what was happening or was I just unable to look away? I read the whole book in a few hours, mostly while watching the Yankees/Braves game. And I was SO entertained throughout it. When I reached the end, I was like "you know...that was actually great." Then I decided to start book 2 tomorrow (which is now today, and I will be starting it just as soon as I finish writing this review).

Now I'm going to break down a few things I liked and a couple of things I didn't like/was on the fence about so maybe y'all can understand why I was so torn about how I felt as I read the book.

Things I liked:
- Willa and Emmy's friendship. This is what the book starts off with, and I was such a fan of how close they were. Like sisters. Devoted and supportive, even while Willa is an annoying clutz and Emmy lectures all the time.
- The Abcurse brothers. First and foremost, they were entertaining as all get out. But also they were so interesting. I loved the time Willa spent with them, and I loved learning about them.
- The...friendship formed between the brothers and Willa. This is my FAVORITE thing. They are so cute and funny and I am here for this dynamic all day every day. Them always sticking together? Yes, please.
- The plot, once it started to shape up. As I said before, I was entertained and could not look away from the pages. I don't know where the series is going next, but I am beyond ready to jump on board for it all.
- The premise. This ties in with the plot, but the ideas in and of themselves that were executed in the novel were so good. Its part of what kept me reading even while I wasn't quite sure how I felt about everything.

Things I didn't like/was on the fence about:
- The world-building. This is kind of a ME problem--I have no patience for world-building. But I feel like the beginning of the book in general is a lot of info-dumping that wasn't necessary considering I just skimmed a lot of it to get to the good stuff and I got the gist just fine.
- Willa's clumsiness...kind of. For the most part it was entertaining and I liked how her friends were like "ugh of course she fell again." Like, it was cute. But it was also...a lot? I don't know. I'm on the fence on this one.
- The Abcurse brothers...kind of. Everything I said in the "Things I liked" section is true. But also, I feel like they're individual personalities need to get more defined because sometimes I had trouble telling them apart. Something would happen and I'd thing it was, like, Siret and then I'd look back and oh, it was actually Yael. I suspect this is something that will improve as the series continues, as we get to know them better and learn more about them individually and they get closer to Willa. But for now, it was a little bit of a qualm I had.

Overall, Trickery was a funny, entertaining series starter, and can't wait to dive into book 2! If you're looking for a reverse harem that isn't insta-love, starts as super great friends, and is borderline addictive, I'd say you've found what you're looking for. And it available with KU! ;)

4 stars - Fun, entertaining, and oh so good!

Dragon Avenged by Ophelia Bell ~ Cover Reveal

Dragon Avenged 
Ophelia Bell 
(Immortal Dragons Epilogue)
Publication date: September 4th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

The indulgently sexy epilogue of the “Immortal Dragons” series is here!

A year has passed since the explosive conclusion of the Dragon Council’s quest to find their mates and destroy their mortal enemy. Revisit all six Immortal Dragon siblings to see how they’ve fared in the aftermath.

The world of the higher races is on the verge of a dangerous shift. The dragons have one more ritual to undertake to ensure their secrets are kept and the human world remains oblivious to their presence. One woman is the key to their safety.

With a mix of power no other creature in existence possesses, Deva Rainsong is finally on the verge of understanding her purpose. She must cast the spell required to reach all the humans tainted by the enemy’s bloodline, even if it comes at the expense of her innocence. But Deva’s nature craves a true awakening, and her rapture might just be the thing that saves them all.

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Author Bio:
Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren't apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don't mind being with a woman who's in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom.
Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats.
If you'd like to receive regular updates on Ophelia's publications, freebies, and discounts, please subscribe to her mailing list: http://opheliabell.com/subscribe/

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