Reading this book reminded me why I’m so bitter that Supernatural spin off with the women hunters never went anywhere.
DEATH AND SWEET TEMPTATIONS is Reading this book reminded me why I’m so bitter that Supernatural spin off with the women hunters never went anywhere.
DEATH AND SWEET TEMPTATIONS is the first book in the urban fantasy romance series Alex Bain. I had a wonderful time reading it! The book is fast paced and packed with mystery, action and some heated attraction between the main character Alex and the hot consultant (or is he?) Lucas. More than the romance, I was particularly intrigued by the case Alex and her friend Izzie are working on. (And this is why I mentioned the spin off that never was.) Strange murders are happening that have some sort of ritualistic and symbolic meaning, and everything leads to vampires being behind it. Seeing Alex and Izzie in action was amazing! I loved their friendship, and my heart broke for Izzie once we find out her back story.
As for the romance, we meet Lucas as a new consultant for Alex’s day job at Sweet Temptations Cakes. From the moment we meet him, I had a feeling he was hiding something, that there was more to him than a pretty face who is also very good at playing soccer. I mean, that’s where my brain goes when the female character forms and instantaneous attraction for someone. Was I right? Well, you’ll have to read the book to know. I will say I loved learning his story and I’m curious to see how things progress, although it’s my understanding that there will be another love interest in book 2. While I enjoyed Alex and Lucas on their own, I wasn’t entirely sold on their romance just yet, so I wouldn’t be opposed to a little love triangle to slow things down, shake things up or turn things on their head completely.
This series is perfect for people who, like me, enjoy stories like Shadowhunters and Supernatural. Plus, if you like animal companions, this series has one that has become one of my favorites ever! His name is Argo, and he’s a talking corgi who cooks too! How he manages? Another mystery.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
I’m the first of three siblings, and we have an amazing bond, which is why I love it when I find strong sibling bonds in books. THE DIVINE SHALLOWS haI’m the first of three siblings, and we have an amazing bond, which is why I love it when I find strong sibling bonds in books. THE DIVINE SHALLOWS has one if the purest sister bonds ever. The connection between Elyria and Elowyn is tangible, real and beautiful.
Aside from the sister bond, the book’s strongest component is the beautiful celestial imagery and the worldbuilding that revolves around the seven fey kingdoms and the Moon Goddess. I do admit, there’s a lot of information to process at first, but the world created by the author is beautiful, and this book has a very interesting premise, seeing as Elyria is the only royal who has been refused a blessing by the Moon Goddess upon birth. It was interesting learning how the world works and simultaneously seeing the difficulties and scorn Elyria faces even from her own father. It was especially interesting seeing it from Elowyn’s perspective. Elowyn, who seems to be the only person who doesn’t hold Elyria’s lack of markings against her.
The romance arcs are just beginning. For now we mostly got to see things from Elowyn’s POV. Her romantic arc seems pure and sweet, though I confess I would have bet on a different love interest. Perhaps things will change in the future books. As for Elyria, I hope we get to see even more of her POV going forward in the series. I’m curious to see what happens now that she’s facing her divine trial. As far as her romantic storyline goes, there was a twist toward the end of the book that may be setting up an enemies to lovers arc that has a lot of potential....more
Reading THE PRINCE BEYOND THE VEIL was like stepping into a classic fantasy tale. This is a fantasy rich with Norse Mythology, complete with appearancReading THE PRINCE BEYOND THE VEIL was like stepping into a classic fantasy tale. This is a fantasy rich with Norse Mythology, complete with appearances from the Gods, that is a treat for fans who like this sort of story.
The story’s strongest elements are the mythology aspect, the storytelling that is reminiscent of the classic epic fantasy many of us grew up loving, and of course the characters. It has the classic structure of a coming of age and adventurous fantasy. Indeed, the protagonist, Úlftýr, undergoes quite the journey and growth from the adventurous youth he is at the beginning of the book to the leader he later becomes. The story is quite different, but I couldn’t help but compare the vibe of the story with things like God of War, which is a story I so enjoyed in a different medium. That’s the sort of epic story that you encounter with this book.
And then of course there is the romance storyline with Elksa, available in both a spicy and non-spicy version. While I read the spicy version of their story, the non-spicy version of the book is titled Beyond the Veil. Úlftýr and Elksa’s is a fated love that spans through lifetimes, and I really enjoyed this epic aspect of their love. Seeing as I was introduced to this book as a Fantasy Romance, I would have loved to see a little more of the romance storyline, which is overpowered by everything else. As things are now, I’d rather label this as Fantasy with a romance subplot.
I highly recommend this to fans of plot heavy books with themes of friendship, love, loss and betrayal.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own! ...more
BAD SUGAR BABY is a book I imagine everyone reading at the beach, and the type of story that would do well either as a movie or a series. I had such aBAD SUGAR BABY is a book I imagine everyone reading at the beach, and the type of story that would do well either as a movie or a series. I had such a fun time reading it, and the protagonist’s experience is unique yet at the same time easy to imagine as someone else’s reality. The protagonist of this book is Ollie, a 31 year old aspiring writer who quits her job as social media manager for a spoiled celeb and, thanks to her friend, decides to embrace the sugar baby life to make quick money and chronicle her experience for a book.
As I imagined, this book is a total summer vibe and was so fun to read! Ollie is a wonderful main character and her voice and humor made some of the wild experiences as a sugar baby that much funnier. I’m pretty sure this is the first time I read a story with a sugar baby protagonist and it was both new and eye-opening. I think it’s happened to many of us to just stop and say “you know what? I’m gonna become a sugar baby!” From the outside it looks like a pretty easy life, but then again do we really have any idea what it means? During her time as a Sugar Baby, Ollie meets many people, her experiences range from weird to funny to heartbreaking to surprisingly romantic. The ending of the book is filled with hope and possibility and honestly I would love to have a little glimpse of Ollie’s life after this experience, and hopefully see her finally happy with…well, I can’t spoil the fun. READ IT!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
The blend of mafia and medical romance in this book was chef’s kiss!
DAY SHIFT is the second standalone book in the Broken Heroes series that follows The blend of mafia and medical romance in this book was chef’s kiss!
DAY SHIFT is the second standalone book in the Broken Heroes series that follows the three Thorin brothers, Atticus, Conan and Braxton, who work in the ER. Book 2 follows Conan, who falls for a mysterious woman who winds up in the ER after crashing her car during a high speed chase. Who is she, and why was she entering the estate of the Volkovi Notchi, the Russian mafia clan that has a bone to pick with the Thorin brothers?
Too bad that even once mystery girl wakes up, she has amnesia.
However, we readers know exactly what is going on because we meet Anastasia before the crash and let me tell you, I adored her character from the first page! Sh’s fierce and carves out some independence from her family’s stifling expectations for herself through sheer will and stubbornness. And her attitude doesn’t wane even when she’s suffering from the memory loss. She knows what she wants, who she wants, and she goes for it. Conan, on his part, is both a golden retriever and a passionate, determined man who will move heaven and hell for his girl and his loved ones. He’d even face three different mafia families who are all hell bent on ruining Anastasia’s life by using her as a pawn.
Together, Anastasia and Conan are quite the couple, capable of both tenderness and steam. While I was rooting for them and loved their scenes together, I also very much enjoyed Lucian’s character and his no-strings attached friends with benefits relationship with Anastasia. The threesome that came out of it is one of the best I’ve read!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own....more
I was immediately intrigued by this book the moment I read the description. The vibes give off a mix of cowboy romance, why choose romance and dystopiI was immediately intrigued by this book the moment I read the description. The vibes give off a mix of cowboy romance, why choose romance and dystopian fantasy romance, which are some of the things I ADORE reading. I was happy to read this with the Read Indie With Me team!
My favorite aspect about SHADOWBOUND was definitely the cowboy vibes. The bond between the druadan and their riders was so fascinating, and I loved how we got to see all the facets of such a bond through the three men. I do think we haven’t seen everything yet, that there might be something that the druadan riders themselves don’t know. I have a theory concerning the protagonist, Brigid, and the ending makes me wonder if I might be right.
The other element that was most fascinating about the book is the mystery surrounding the sister’s disappearance. I like how the author set up Brigid’s “secret” undercover investigation and how the guys were involved. This allowed for tension between Heath, Logan and Carter, who have a brother-like bond, and also showed different dynamics between Brigid and each one of the guys. This is a why choose romance, so I’m expecting Brigid to be with all three at some point, but for now dynamics that most interest me so far are the ones with Heath and Logan. They seem to have more obstacles for a potential relationship with Brigid—Heath because he’s trapped in an arranged engagement and Logan because he’s mistrusting of Brigid—which is what makes those dynamics so interesting.
I’m very excited to see how the series continues, especially after that ending which only feeds my theory about Brigid and gives me even more questions about her sister’s intentions....more
I knew that Greedy was going to ruin me the moment I got to see inside his mind and I was right. He’s everything I love in a MMC. In fact while I loveI knew that Greedy was going to ruin me the moment I got to see inside his mind and I was right. He’s everything I love in a MMC. In fact while I loved meeting Levi and I see the potential for a why choose relationship between Levi-Hunter-Greedy, Greedy’s chapters and the THEN chapters about his and Hunter’s relationship were my favorite thing about the book.
As for Levi/Hunter, I enjoyed their relationship especially as friends and am curious to see more about them as a romantic couple. Seeing that theirs was a fake relationship trope I was expecting a little bit more of that—scenes where they are actively pretending to be a couple before they moved to “real” territory.
Unlike the Boys of Lake Chapel series, I see the author having her work cut out for her for having me and potentially other readers warm up to the other love interests. Greedy is the love of my life and Levi is an adorable golden retriever. I feel very protective about them. Speaking of Boys of Lake Chapel, I do recommend reading this series first before jumping into So Wrong. You don’t HAVE to, but I think you’ll appreciate Greedy and Hunter more if you do. Especially Hunter. ...more
The feeling when you start a book and it’s so good that you have to force yourself to stop.
MAGE BRIDE is a beautiful Romantasy standalone that startsThe feeling when you start a book and it’s so good that you have to force yourself to stop.
MAGE BRIDE is a beautiful Romantasy standalone that starts off really strong as Phera, a mage, is to be punished for practicing blood magic BUT she has a choice: her punishment can either be ten years in the dungeons or ten years serving the reclusive Ice Lords of the North. She chooses the Ice Lords, only later to find out that there’s a catch—she has to marry one of them.
I started the book in the morning, and a few hours later I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I finished this in a matter of days because I was that intrigued by the whole story and the mystery surrounding the apparently magical disappearances of the women in the North, which Phera is trying to solve together with her new husband, Lord Rhyme. I really enjoyed Phera as a main character and I also loved her friendship with Lessie, so strong that the woman left her post and decided to go to the far Nord as well.
As for the romance, I loved Rhyme, but ironically it’s the part that I ended up caring for the least when all was done. The potential is all there, and I really enjoyed the two together, but I think their relationship would have benefitted from a longer book, that way there could have been more development between the two. A longer book would have also allowed us to see Phera discovering things that would have made the finale and uncovering of the mystery even more impactful.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
THE CONCEALED is a YA Portal Romantasy where our protagonist, Cate, travels from the USA to England to attend university, only to discover (thanks to THE CONCEALED is a YA Portal Romantasy where our protagonist, Cate, travels from the USA to England to attend university, only to discover (thanks to the two hotties at school, Lucas and Daniel) that she is a princess from a parallel world and the one said to bring the end of the evil Embers and unite the two rival kingdoms of Caelum and Terra.
This book has elements that are familiar to fans of the genre, but it still has its own unique spin and voice. I flew through the pages and found it very enjoyable, and I believe readers who love stories like The Princess Diaries (like I do) but with a fantasy twist will love this one. I enjoyed the initial academia setting and the portal magic aspect. Once we travel to the fantasy world, I likes seeing the differences between the two kingdoms and getting to know the players. One of the most interesting characters was undoubtedly Cate’s father, the king of Caelum. He seems to be the most complex character, the one that holds multitudes and isn’t exactly how he first appears to be. I loved seeing how he struggled between being the king but also a father who wants to know his daughter. He was trying, and at times I saw glimpses of the man that would have led Cate’s mother to fall for someone from the rival kingdom.
I also enjoyed the romance between Daniel and Cate. They fall for each other rather fast, but once you learn Daniel’s true role, things get more complicated. In fact they were cute, but I was waiting for the shoe to drop at a certain point (spoiler alert: it does), considering the forbidden element of their story. He’s the Prince of Terra, she’s the princess of Caelum. Their love would likely be opposed by almost everyone in both kingdoms, not to mention that they would be repeating the same history that transpired between Cate’s biological parents. And yet, Cate is supposed to be uniting the two kingdoms. What better way than through love?
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
WHEN LIES UNFOLD is without a doubt one of my favorite 2024 reads. This is a romantic suspense set inWhen a book is so good you don’t want it to end.
WHEN LIES UNFOLD is without a doubt one of my favorite 2024 reads. This is a romantic suspense set in Costa Rica and starring nårco boss Santiago Hernández and strong-willed Lola Arias, a seemingly normal woman who has many secrets. Lola accidentally witnesses an unalivement made by none other than Santiago’s nephew. Santiago sees himself forced to tie up loose ends, but something about Lola gives Santiago pause, so instead of offing the witness, he allows her to live. And so Lola’s life gets turned upside down as she’s placed under Santiago’s watchful eye, especially since the more he tries to dig up on Lola, the more this woman seems shrouded in mystery…
The way these two have me in a pretty hand necklace is wild. Santiago is one of those men I shouldn’t be attracted to yet he’s so good at being bad and if he bad why he hot, you know? And though he’s what we’s typically consider a villain he’s also heroic in other aspects. So one could say he’s an anti-hero, a morally gray character that toes the line of justice sometimes and severely crosses it most times. And his dynamic with Lola is FIRE. Here he is, expecting a nice, gentle, frightened kitten and instead she’s a tiger with claws who matches him with a barbed wit of her own. A cleaning lady with a surprising knowledge of medicine, who is unafraid of the jungle and who befriends a puma! Special doesn’t even begin to describe the warrior goddess that is Lola Arias. I love her and Santiago equally, which is amazing because I usually follow my ovaries and fall head over heels for the man so for her to hold her own like that shows how amazing of a character she is. And I adore the little found family they have with Alma and Santiago’s men—especially Gordo. I adore him.
The pacing was perfect, as was the tension, and it led up to an ending that ending was exciting, suspenseful and perfect that simultaneously wraps things up and makes me very curious for potential future books. I wouldn’t say no to a book about Gordo, or one about adult Alma.
I highly recommend this to fans of dark romance, romantic suspense, enemies to lovers and forced proximity!
Thank you to the author for gifting me an e-ARC. All thoughts are my own! ...more
NON SERVIAM might be one of the most unique and challenging books I’ve ever read. This is the first in a grimdark political mystery x fantasy gothic sNON SERVIAM might be one of the most unique and challenging books I’ve ever read. This is the first in a grimdark political mystery x fantasy gothic series and it follows Giorgianna and Cesare, respectively a woman seeking vengeance and a revolutionary, and it’s set in the fictional city of Vencenza, where expressing emotion is prohibited.
What immediately stands out about this book is the poetic pose and experimental style of the narration. The author switches between first person, third person, and occasionally second person narration. Some parts of the prose—particularly the past chapters written in italic—are more verbose than other chapters, but the style is always researched, challenging and evocative throughout the entire book. I highlighted so many quotes because they’re that beautiful. The style does take some getting used to, but once you do one can’t not appreciate the beautiful worldbuilding, which is studied in great detail and in a way revolves around theater too. One can see it in the fact that the six hearts of Vencenza are the theaters, and the fact that people walk around in masks, many of which I recognize from my own culture—though in truth a lot of people may find familiar elements given the book’s multiethnic representation. The formatting of the book is also reminiscent of a play, in chapter numbers and also in some of the stylistic choices.
As for the main characters, Giorgianna and Cesare, they’re both very interesting in their own way. I love Giorgianna’s wrath and Cesare’s cockiness, and I especially love when the two of them interact. Giorgianna sees Cesare as a nemesis, yet she soon will come to realize that he’s sort of her mirror, a projection. They’re different, but are they really? Though their goals are different, their enemies are the same, which makes them such powerful allies.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
That feeling when the first chapter of a book still holds you in a pretty hand necklace.
DOMINION OF MAGIC is a dark romantasy with a pSpice: 3 peppers
That feeling when the first chapter of a book still holds you in a pretty hand necklace.
DOMINION OF MAGIC is a dark romantasy with a prophecy and two rival witch clans both looking for a magical artifact. The story follows two established couples and moves on multiple timelines that stretch way far in the past, too, uncovering years and layers of intrigue, heartbreak and drama.
Stress the heartbreak and drama part.
This isn’t the first time I read a book by these wonderful authors, so I was expecting to enjoy it, but something about Dominion of Magic just hit different. The characters are extra wonderful somehow, and I loved all the bi power and rep in the book! My favorite dynamic (if we ignore what happened in the first chapter because again, hand necklace) is without a doubt the one between Lysette and Eiren, who belong to rival witch clans and yet they used to be married. And I say used to, but these two are still very much obsessed with each other so there is the mother dragon of all angst between them. Eiren also has some quotes that make me weak in the knees, and he’s the type of “villainous” morally gray character that I’m always successfully a goner for. Absolutely brilliant, and I loved his storyline throughout the years so much.
Thank you to the authors for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
Welcome to Bretburgh, a small town in Nevada of many mysteries.
Are you a Stranger Things fans? Then this book is perfect for you—perfect for us—becauWelcome to Bretburgh, a small town in Nevada of many mysteries.
Are you a Stranger Things fans? Then this book is perfect for you—perfect for us—because the small town and supernatural mystery vibes go right up that alley. Our heroes in this book are an unlikely group of friends. There’s Eddie and Megan, who are the popular kids in school, but they don’t get along, and then there’s Shelby, Lucas and later Tibby who are the outcasts. The only thing they have in common—the only person they have in common—is Erica, whose mysterious and frightening disappearance at the end of a party gone tragically wrong forces the group to combine forces and figure out what happened to her, why no one aside from them remembers her anymore—her father included—and why they suddenly have strange powers.
I was hooked to the mystery, and the fact that I enjoyed the characters made this read even more enjoyable. The characters are great, my favorite among them being the outcasts I mentioned above—Shelby, Lucas and Tibby—and all the weird supernatural things happening ever since Nero corp. has established itself in the territory are grim and frightening in a way that spooks you but you can’t look away, like in any good horror.
The story itself has a very visual quality that makes it easy to imagine it on a big screen. The narration is very unique, using an omniscient narrator that acts like a sort of pilot throughout the story, fills in gaps we may not know through the character POVs, and sometimes interrupts to veer our attention to things that have seemingly nothing to do with the main storyline but that later connects with the whole story. The narrator speaks to the reader, but also acts as a character in the book, interacting with some of the characters as a disembodied voice that only a few of them can hear. This is definitely the first time I encounter this sort of style, and while it was challenging at first, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Again, this sort of construct would work well on the screen. It’s the kind of complex type of storytelling that would get people hooked!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own. ...more
Maria Elena | pagesofmaria
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