Author: helenmaddix

Married, retired from the AAFES retail world after 39 years, love to read, take photographs, and am interested in a lot of things including gardening and genealogy.

Ground Training (Immortal Outcasts Series Book 5) by Mandy M. Roth

5 Stars

More excitement!

This story gives us the story of Ace Hargraves, a Government made shifter, and Charlotte “Charley” Eyres who was stolen from The Corporation while a small child by her father Samuel.  Mandy Roth gives us a backstory for these two that takes place 25 years in the past.  Then on to the present where the two know nothing of each other. 

This book brings in characters from previous books, which really would help someone who hasn’t read them understand a little of what is going on in this shifter heavy world.  It’s an enjoyable read, but only gives just enough progress with the evil going on to make the reader want the next book NOW.  Well written, with good, interesting characters.  Part of a larger series, for the best understanding of the story and characters, read the previous books.

I was given an ARC by the author through Booksprout, and this is my honest opinion.

Endless Skye (Skye Druids #4) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

More twists and turns…

This is the next book in the series, and features Willa Ryan who along with her brother and sister, live on Skye.  Jasper McCabe is not what or who he seems.  Once the two have met, Donna Grant’s story winds around and through both of them and others from both this series, and other books in her Dark Universe.  It’s well written with good characterization and an intricate plot.  The overall plot that weaves through all of the Skye Druids books is not resolved, but the story for Jasper and Willa gives a satisfying finish.  Can’t wait for the next book in the series as they get better and better.

I was given and ARC of this book from the author through BookFunnel, and this is my honest opinion.

Endless Skye (Skye Druids #4) by Donna Grant

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant returns with another seductive novel in the magical and dangerous world of the Skye Druids.

Passion comes with a price…

For Willa Ryan, family is everything. So, when her brother asks her to locate a book of unparalleled power, she doesn’t hesitate. Except she does more than find it. She attempts to steal it, and in the process, ends up running for her life—straight into the arms of a man waiting to rescue her. Jasper is unlike anyone she’s ever met, and she’s helpless to resist the undeniable passion between them. But desire always comes at a cost.

Jasper McCabe is a master of disguise and deception, and he uses both ruthlessly. Yet nothing can prepare him when he comes face-to-face with the breathtaking women he’s supposed to use for his ruse. Every instinct screams for him to run as far from Willa as he can. But there’s no escape from the captivating Druid and the feelings she awakens. With his darkest enemies closing in, Jasper is forced to choose with his heart, or lose the woman who is his one chance at salvation.

BUY LINKS:

✦SIGNED PRINT→ https://dgrant.co/47FYJUM

✦Amazon→ https://amzn.to/3uARtMr

✦BN→ https://dgrant.co/3T1SZAC

✦Kindle→ https://amzn.to/3P7RbVc

✦Nook→ https://dgrant.co/3X3adht

✦Apple→ https://dgrant.co/3P2JVdb

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✦Google Audio → https://dgrant.co/3I5DQb2

✦Chirp → https://dgrant.co/3wmjB6t

Right on Cue by Falon Ballard

5 Stars

Her first love

The book starts out with our MFC Emmy (Emilia) Harper and her best friend/director Liz attempting to find an actress to play the lead in Emmy’s screenplay of her bestselling book.  She ends up taking the part herself since none who have auditioned do as good of a job as she does when tested with the actors auditioning for the male lead.  Emmy hasn’t acted in over 10 years and is still upset about the circumstances of her first, and only, acting role.  She’s worried, but not about working with the actor who will play opposite her, as they are friends.  But on the day before shooting is to start at a small country inn, she runs into Grayson West, who is the cause of Emmy’s destroyed acting career because of comments he made about her during the filming of their first roles 10 years ago when they were both teenagers.  From this first meeting, anytime they are together on screen everyone can tell neither has moved past that first movie. 

  From this beginning the story moves through hostility, anger, and disrespect until Liz has had enough of the childishness and pulls them both in and gives them an ultimatum- work together or the film won’t get made. From this point on, Falon Ballard does a wonderful job of letting us see how Emmy copes.  The road to the end of the book is not all smooth sailing though, but we get the ending readers deserve.

  I was given an ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Rising Sun (Elven Kingdoms Book 1) by Donna Grant

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant introduces a wickedly seductive new series with a ruthless, jaded elf and a bewitching human hiding a powerful secret—unlikely soulmates whose passion will test the boundaries of life and death.

Nothing could make Yasmin return to Shaldorn, the place of nightmares. But when she’s caught stealing, she’s given an ultimatum: take Ravi over the Dangerous Peaks to the stronghold or face imprisonment.

She has no choice but to agree, though she intends to escape the elf as soon as she reaches the mountains. Yet, as they battle nature itself, the two enemies find common ground—and an all-consuming passion.

Can they prevail in their dangerous heist, or be torn apart by a betrayl?

BUY LINKS:

✦SIGNED PRINT→ https://dgrant.co/3upXfAq

✦Kindle→ https://amzn.to/3EZH2Uj

✦Nook→ https://dgrant.co/3EVaUB6

✦Apple→ https://dgrant.co/3Pxjb3a

✦Kobo→ https://dgrant.co/3PC89JW

✦Google→ https://dgrant.co/3RJmWn9

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron (Supernatural Singles #3) by April Asher

5 Stars

Maxwell sister #3

This third book in the series features Olive Maxwell, a Professor and Bax Donovan, Guardian Angel.  Both have played parts in the other two series books featuring Olive’s sisters.  Olive is looking for a new place to live, when Bax offers the spare room in his apartment to her.  She accepts, and a mostly non-magical story starts.  Olive is nothing like her sisters, which makes sense since they are triplets.  She is the low key one, staying out of the limelight.  Bax’s character is more flashy but has more layers to his makeup.  Of the two characters, Bax is more developed, and because of this, the more interesting one. Olive’s character didn’t generate a lot of interest on my part, and I think because of this, the story dragged in parts for me.  Once I got 2/3’s of the way into the book, the story became more interesting, and all the characters became something “more”. 

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is well written with the storyline giving readers more depth into the world April Asher has created.  I felt the story was a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars.  I will continue to read other books in the series if Ms. Asher continues to write them.

I was given an ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The Duke is Wicked (League of Lords #3) by Tracy Sumner

5 Stars

Is he really wicked?

In this book, our two main characters are an American named Delaney Temple who has a reputation, and the ability to read and absorb the information in books quickly.  Our main male character is Sebastian Tremont, the Duke of Ashcroft of the English aristocracy and who can manifest fire.  Our Duke has been in the other books in the series but in this one we get a better picture of who and what has shaped him.  Our American heroine is considered a Hellion, but you’ll have to make up your own mind it that is true, the same with the Duke being wicked.  I enjoyed this book, and the continuation of the series.  Fun and easy to read with no grammatical errors and the main characters are well developed.  Hopefully we’ll see Delaney’s twin in an upcoming book.

I was given this book as an ARC through BookSirens, and this is my honest opinion.

1001 Dark Nights Dragon Kiss: A Dark Kings Novella

by Donna Grant

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant’s latest installment picks up where Dragon Arisen leaves off. Alasdair and Lotti return to face the biggest foe the Dragon Kings have met yet—and the stakes have never been higher.

Lotti has come a long way since finding love with Alasdair and uncovering her true origins as a Star Person. She has embraced the magic she once shunned—as well as the label of Destroyer by her own. And it has made her powerful. But will it be enough to stand against her family as they target the Dragon Kings?

Alasdair has faced many adversaries who rose up against the Dragon Kings. But nothing could prepare him for the Star People and the discovery that they once enslaved his kind. It’s more than his life on the line this time. It’s the very existence of all dragons. It will take Alasdair and Lotti, together, to defeat their enemy.

BUY LINKS:

✦SIGNED PRINT→ https://dgrant.co/3NUXFEp

✦Amazon→ https://amzn.to/44OuIB9

✦Kindle→ https://amzn.to/3NP5LhZ

Dragon Kiss: A Dragon Kings Novella by Donna Grant

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars

Well, I am not sure….

This short story is supposed to be a good introduction to the Dragon Kings series of books.  I’m not sure that is an accurate description of the book if you haven’t already read the previous books.  Both of the two main characters, Alisdair and Lotti, were introduced in the previous Dragon King book Dragon Arisen along with 2 others from the first book in this series.  I would consider this more of an arc between the last book and the next one which is why I rated this at 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.  The plot drags a little but does have action involving the 2 couples against the danger that is stalking them.  As the book ends, the main plot lines are still unresolved, but for fans of Donna Grant and her Dragon Kings, this only keeps us wanting more.  Well written with no grammatical errors the characters are also well developed and the story will make you want to keep reading this series.  I am looking forward to the next book.

I received an ARC of the book from the author through BookFunnel, and this is my honest opinion.

Dragon Frost: A Dragon Kings Novella (Dragon Kings #6.5) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

The Fae Realm

This short novella from Donna Grant revisits Constantine and Rhiannon.  They are still on Zora, and on Earth, Winter is approaching.  Rhiannon is a Fae and feels her emotions deeply.  She missis Earth and the turning of the seasons.  Constantine knows this, and this is the story of how he shows his love and appreciation of her.

This is a well written novella, which showcases two of the main characters of Donna Grant’s Dark Universe.  The characters are true to their written personalities which makes this an enjoyable read. 

I was given an ARC of the novella by Donna Grant through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.