Category: Books and Book Reviews

these could be my own book reviews, or information on authors and books.

An Heir to Blood and Power (Billionaire Sanctuary: The Heir Book 2) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

More and more!

This picks up where A Prince of Smoke and Mirrors left off.  Lexi Byrne, a country girl from Nebraska, and Nicolai Romanov, royal billionaire, who married yesterday evening are trying to work out how they will stay married for a full year.  Nicolai married Lexi to avoid having to marry the daughter of a Russian mafia boss, Demyan Volkov, who is now planning on his revenge.

Blair Babylon writes billionaire romance with adventure, and in this book so far, we have the romance and I’m sure that upcoming books will be giving us the adventure. Well written with great characters they are fun to read and are an escape from all our more mundane lives.  Can’t wait for book 3!

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

Mountain Fire by Donna Grant releasing 11 November 2025

He’s the fire I crave—and the danger I can’t escape.

I entered a hidden city of power and secrets, only to find myself consumed by him. Body and soul.


Strong, unyielding, and impossible to resist, he commands everything around him—including me. Every movement, every word, every heated glance pulls me deeper into his orbit.

His touch scorches, his gaze dragging me closer to the edge where passion and danger collide.

Darkness lurks around every corner, but desire is the deadliest temptation. I never meant to surrender my heart.

But some flames are impossible to fight.

And in this world of shadows and lies, I must face what’s burning between us before it destroys us both.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant weaves a sensual tale of forbidden love, fiery passion, and the impossible choices that come with it in the electrifying fourth installment of her Elven Kingdoms series.

BUY LINKS:

✦ DG SIGNED PB → https://dgrant.co/4bCvPsj

✦ DG Store ebook → https://dgrant.co/4bCvPsj

✦ Kindle → https://amzn.to/42eOuHf

✦ Audible → https://dgrant.co/478SbQ2

✦ Nook → https://dgrant.co/3FGGJRK

✦ Nook Audio → https://dgrant.co/47vvS7F

✦ Apple → https://apple.co/4iEkRVl

✦ Apple Audio → https://apple.co/4hdUlmn

✦ Kobo → https://dgrant.co/4iG7STm

✦ Kobo audio → https://dgrant.co/478VJBU

✦ Google → https://dgrant.co/4hOTjvA

✦ Google Audio → https://dgrant.co/42EGCyM

✦ Tantor → https://dgrant.co/3KR3kgX

Mountain Fire (Elven Kingdoms #4) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

The story continues.

Our two main characters-Inej, a human and Manu, a Mountain Elf- are both complex characters.  I never really connected with Inej, but found in Manu a wonderful character to read about.  Inej has traveled to the mountains to try and find a co-worker who has been abducted.  She’s been told that Manu is the one behind the abduction.  Manu is the de-facto head of his tribe of Mountain Elves the Navara.  Unknown to Inej, Manu is working against the evil that is spreading through the planet Zora.  This is the start of the book Mountain Fire. Somewhat slow to me through the middle of the book, it picks up as we get closer to the end. 

Well written, with a good plot that ties into the prior Elven Kingdom books and has some characters from the Dragon Kings series, this is an overall enjoyable read with a mostly satisfying ending. 

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

A Prince of Smoke and Mirrors (Billionaire Sanctuary: The Heir Book 1) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

Another amazing start to a series!

Blair Babylon writes intricate and interconnected series; not just a story but a saga that once you start reading you will not want to stop. And so, with this first book in the Billionaire Sanctuary series we are introduced to Lexi Byrne, a young woman who thought she was getting married.  But as she approaches the altar, she finds out her fiancé is not who he’s been pretending he is.  Now ditched by him, his family, and all her supposed friends she is alone in Las Vegas.  Wearing her wedding dress since she has nothing but the clothes she has on, she starts busking for a few dollars as a statue in front of a hotel like building. 

Nicolai Romanov, who is related to the deposed and murdered Tsar of Russia – though he wants no part of Russia and its politics, is traveling with Harry and Megan (!) to a mutual friend’s bachelor party being held at the Las Vegas Billionaire Sanctuary.  As they and their security detail are moving toward the entrance, Nico sees a woman in white, who catches his attention.  This is the start of a compelling, exciting, and interesting set up for book 1 of this series.  Blair writes contemporary adventure romances which always have a believable plot and intertwine current political and social events into it.  None of her main series are short so there are always several books that end with a development that hooks you into the next book.  I find that I learn a lot of new things when reading Blair’s books, and her research is always spot on.  She likes to write about billionaires, which I find a bit fascinating since I, and probably most other readers, fall far below that level of income.  But I love reading about them, and this first book in the series is no different- giving us a look into the lives of the rich and famous.  Cannot wait for book 2! 

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

You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Sophie Sullivan

4 Stars

Christmas second chance

Six months ago, Maisie Smart, photographer with an always forward, never backward mindset and Nick King, professional hockey player who is currently injured and on the bench, had a one-night stand.  Nick felt the best way to handle the morning after is to leave without talking to Maisie.  So now Maisie has a burning anger at the man who up and left without a word.  Nick almost right away regrets not talking to Maisie and thoughts of her are in his head.  Now, just before Christmas, they find themselves in Merry, Washington.  Maisie and her family are celebrating the holiday season staying at a Christmas tree farm called Tickle Tree Farm.  Injured Nick has come to stay with his sister Ellie and nephew Asher at the tree farm she owns, Tickle Tree Farm.  With almost no chance of avoiding the other, the two have to work through the feelings that they have for each other. Will this be the second chance for them? 

Well written with all the characters interesting, the story moves along with minimum angst.  I enjoyed how the characters changed and developed and gave me a happy, holiday feeling.  Great read for the weeks before Christmas, or just when you want that holiday feeling.

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

A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart

5 Stars

Worth it!

I struggled to read this story whose two main characters, Rowan Midwinter, a witch who won’t use her magic, and Gavin McCreery, non-magical but son to the man who wants to sell a big part of the magical town they live in, try to avoid each other and are failing at that.  Rowan is not a happy character and this gave me some trouble dealing with her almost overwhelming negativity.  In contrast Gavin is much more positive in his outlook.  In the past the two were close until Gavin made a decision which ultimately drove Rowan away from her family, friends, and hometown.  The ensuing story is more interesting, and the author allows her characters to grow.  I enjoyed the book excepting for Rowans lack of self-worth, which in the end she decides to push that part away and becomes a more likeable person.  Set around the Mid=Winter solstice the story also gives off Christmas season vibes.  In the end a very enjoyable book. 

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

After Midnight (Skye Druids Book 7) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Excitement off the charts!

In this book we have our two main characters-Kurt Barclay, son of two London Druids, and a turncoat hacker know to the Skye Druids as Sabretooth, aka Saber.  He is guilt ridden due to a betrayal of Sabryn one of the group of Skye Druids trying to stop a seemingly unstoppable evil that is on Skye and targeting the Druid population.  From this start. Donna Grant has written one of the most exciting books I’ve read in this series.  She writes mostly about our two main characters but also expands to others who have been featured or will be featured in up -coming books.  I could not stop reading this!  I thoroughly enjoyed After Midnight and wish that Donna Grant had already written the next book. The author has an extensive catalog of books, in her ever-expanding Dark Universe.  If you enjoy well written, contemporary, romantic paranormal fantasies Donna Grant should be your go to author. 

  This book has no obvious grammatical issues, a strong plot, great characters, and solid characterizations.  Read as a standalone, but you will get more enjoyment if you start at the first book of the Skye Druids series.

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

After Midnight (Skye Druids #7) by Donna Grant

She was always my weakness. Now she’s my only hope.

She was my salvation once—wild magic in her blood, fire in her kiss, and a body I still dream about. I touched heaven with her.

Then dragged us both to hell.

Now she looks at me like I’m the enemy. But I see the way she trembles when I get too close. Feel her power pulse when I say her name.

She hasn’t forgotten.

And I’ll make damn sure she remembers.

An ancient evil is rising beneath Skye—older than our magic, and twice as ruthless.

Only she and I can stop it. We’re bound by fate, fueled by everything we never stopped wanting.

She doesn’t trust me. Doesn’t want to want me.

Too bad. Because I’ll fight for her. Claim her.

Ruin her all over again—if that’s what it takes to keep her safe.

This isn’t just about saving the world. It’s about us.

What I destroyed.

What I’ll never let go again.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant returns to the Skye Druids, where destiny awakens, secrets unravel, and a love long denied refuses to fade.

Buy Links:

After Midnight: https://dgrant.co/40uILwe

✦ DG SIGNED PB → https://dgrant.co/3FCtjGw

✦ DG Store ebook → https://dgrant.co/3FCtjGw

✦ Amazon → https://amzn.to/40fKTXu

✦ Kindle → https://amzn.to/40fKTXu

✦ Audible → https://dgrant.co/3TNx67z

✦ BN → https://dgrant.co/3WiQI53

✦ Nook → https://dgrant.co/3WiQI53

✦ Nook Audio → https://dgrant.co/4nyumJ5

✦ Apple → https://apple.co/3DR8NRz

✦ Kobo → https://dgrant.co/3ZVsP5C

✦ Kobo audio → https://dgrant.co/4nhUE1U

✦ Google → https://dgrant.co/4fYoJyD

✦ Google Audio → https://dgrant.co/42cl39s

✦ Audiobooks → https://dgrant.co/40iQqxp

✦ Tantor → https://dgrant.co/4nrsH7O

Season of the Witch – A Spicy Witch Christmas Romance (Toil and Trouble Book 3) by Sophie H. Morgan

5 Stars

Bring back House Parties!

Our two main characters Tia Hightower and Henry Pearlmatter were a couple eight years ago, but Henry choose work over Tia.  Now both the Pearlmatter and the Hightower families and in business together and a prospective investor invites Tia and Henry to a Christmas house party in England. He thinks they are a couple after finding them kissing and wants them to share his love of Christmas while he considers investing in their family’s business.  But the only room left at his estate has only one bed.  On top of this is that Tia did a forgetting spell on Henry which went wrong, taking away all his memories of his breakup with Tia. 

There are characters in this book from books 1 and 2 but their stories don’t impact this one.  This book is well written with well-developed characters and the plot is a fun look at Sophie Morgan’s magical world.  Both characters grow in this book, and the road they follow is a fun, twisting, Christmas filled romp. 

I was given an ARC by the author and NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. 

Shadow Agents: Covert Affections (Psi-Ops/Shadow Agents #5) by Mandy M. Roth

5 Stars

More excitement for the Agents!

This book features Jesse Culbertson as an employee of The Corporation (the Evil guys) and Lindy Delgado, former test subject of said Evil.  Written in both characters voices, the story covers over 30 years.  If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, at least go back to the one just prior to this one (Ground Training – Immortal Outcasts Series Book 5) or you won’t get parts of the story you’ll need to understand what is happening. 

Both of our two main characters are shifters, and both have memory loss due to their pasts.  There is interaction with other characters from other parts of Mandy M. Roth’s extensive Universe of shifters, fae, demons, and other paranormal creations, so some prior reading will be helpful.  This book is much longer than prior books but well written with a lot of information presented in the story.  If you enjoy paranormal storylines, this is the book -and series – for you!  Cannot wait for the next book in whatever part of her numerous series Ms. Roth decides to take us.  Every book I have read of her many and varied series has been excellent, with some short quick reads and others more detailed.  Almost all have a past/present telling which helps if you start a book that is later in her overall timeline.  All are compelling stories that are enjoyable to read.  Also, the books are interconnected, and while some think they end in a cliffhanger, they really are just setting up for the next book which will have 2 or more “new” main characters. 

I was given an ARC of this book by the Author and BookSprout and this is my honest opinion.