Ghost of the Gaelic Moon (The Gaelic Moon Series Book 1) by Carol Maschke

4 Stars

Better as it goes on

I had a bit of a hard time with the start of this book.  Mary Kelley to me came across as a bit spoiled and whiney.  As I got further into the story, she became more tolerable.  The story has her as and IT director, and she and her co-worker and friend are sent to Ireland to work on a project for their company.  The two get a flat to share and start going out in the evenings.  While at a pub, Mary meets Sean Calhoun.  The two seem to form a connection, but of course nothing is as it seems.  For me the story got better at about the halfway point.  The two main characters didn’t change much, but the story became more interesting, and the ending was very good.  No grammatical errors, and well written, if you like a ghost or two in your reading, this book might be good for you.  I probably will read the second book, and hope that the 2 main characters have grown up by then.  I was given and ARC of the book by BookSirens, and this is my honest opinion.

Eversong (The Kindred Book 1) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Enjoyed it more the second time

I originally read this in May 2019, and only rated it 4 stars.  This is an updated re-release by Donna Grant, and I’ve enjoyed it more this time around.  I cannot pick out where changes were made, which is a good thing.  The story centers on Leoma and Braith, who meet while trying to find a witch.  Most witches are evil, but not all, and Leoma can pick out a witch easily.  The story flows, and for our 2 hunters they have a book about them.  But the larger story continues with Everwylde, book 2 in the series.  Characters are well-developed and the plot is interesting.  I have a copy of book 1 but received a new copy from the author.  This is my honest opinion. 

One Night in Edinburgh by Nina Kaye

4 Stars

An interesting story

Obviously, set in contemporary Edinburgh, I enjoyed the descriptions of Edinburg on Hogmanay (New Year’s for us in the US) which proved very interesting.  The author describes what you’d be seeing if you were there through the thoughts of the main character Steph.  She’s going through a very difficult time and is single for the first time since high school.  With her friend, they travel through the sights and sounds of Edinburgh, and Steph meets another single who’s alone.  Steph and Jamie spend the entire night together, but Jamie has to leave quickly in the morning before they exchange their last names or contact information.  A large part of the book is dealing with Steph trying to find him.  I received this book through NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

The Twice-Scorned Lady of Shadow (The Guild Codex: Unveiled #3) by Annette Marie

5 Stars

Another wild ride!

Annette Marie has crafted another compelling story for the reader’s enjoyment.  It picks up where Book 2 left off, and it grabs you by the throat and drags you into this incredible world of Druids, Fae, Guilds, and magic and more.  I cannot say enough about Annette Marie and her abilities as an author, writer, and graphic artist.  Each of the books in this larger Guild Codex world are finely crafted and interwoven.  Descriptive and heart pounding with the peril and excitement that the characters are feeling.  Emotional and despairing.  But also, she instills in them the feelings of hope, loyalty, trust, and love.  Read the Guild Codex series, and you’ll become hooked on the story-telling abilities of this amazing author. 

Cadaver on Canal Street: Paranormal Women’s Fiction (Twisted Sisters Midlife Maelstrom Book 2) by Brenda Trim  

4 Stars

So much going on….

Please note that this is book 2 in the series!  If you read this like I did, without reading Book 1, you will be confused.  So many characters that are important to the story with so many challenges for them.  I struggled through about the first third of the book before I figured out(sorta)    what was going on. Once I passed that point, the book became easier and more enjoyable to read.  I gave it 4 stars for having so many characters that keeping them separate and understanding what was going on was a challenge.  The actual writing and punctuation were good.  As part of an even larger series, I would say read the prior books for the best reading experience.  I was given this book from the author through Booksprout, and this is my honest opinion. 

Starry With a Chance of Nightshade: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel (Grimm Cove Book 4) by Mandy M. Roth

5 Stars

More from Grimm Cove!

This is the 4th book in Mandy Roth’s Grimm Cove series and introduces us to Detective Stratton Bright and Astrid Franks.  Moving back into the past and then into the present it was a little confusing at first.  There are ins and outs to the story that make this a very interesting read.  I enjoy this series so much!  Well done, Mandy!  I received and ARC of this book from the author through Booksprout, but also purchased a copy.  This is my honest opinion.

The Bastard Prince (It’s Raining Royals Book 2) by Alix Nichols

4 Stars

Book 2 in the series

Starting with book 2 in this series made me feel like I missed some important details.  So, I would first say read book 1 The Boss Prince (It’s Raining Royals Book #1).  But I didn’t realize I needed to read it before I started The Bastard Prince …  Arnaud Launay and Sasha de Croy are our two main characters.  Arnaud is a plastic surgeon in Cannes, France and Sasha is primarily a journalist who is also researching a supposedly hidden kingdom located in central Europe for a book she plans on writing.   Sasha also has a medical condition that plays a prominent part in the story.  The story reads a little like The DaVinci Code in that it has a lot of research done by the main characters and a little action provided by the villain working against them.  A romance develops between the two of them and has challenges for them.  I believe I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the first one, but the story is interesting, and I wanted to know what happened to Arnaud and Sasha.  Read book 1, then enjoy reading this book.  There will be additional books in this series.  I received this book from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. 

That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant

BLURB and LINKS

Another stunning cowboy novel from New York Times bestseller Donna Grant, That Cowboy of Mine!

Is he an enemy?

Dillon Young is proud that she inherited her aunt’s ranch. The problem: someone is trying to run her off and is willing to do whatever it takes. Strange, dangerous things keep happening. Dillion suspects her no-good neighbor and fellow wealthy rancher Hank Stephens. Never a man to get his hands dirty, he sends others to get the job done. So, when the irresistible Cal Bennett is found passed out drunk on her property, Dillion is on high alert. Until someone takes a shot at her and Cal springs to her rescue. When the hard-bodied, no-nonsense-talking cowboy points out that she may need some help, Dillion is inclined to reluctantly agree.

Or a lover?

Waking up on a stranger’s property with a shotgun in his face is not Cal Bennett’s idea of a good time. Never mind that the person on the other end of the barrel is one of the most fiercely beautiful women he has ever seen. Things get more interesting when he finds himself shielding her from flying bullets. It’s clear that this smart, savvy woman could use a hand and Cal is all too happy to lend any part of his body she requires. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them and there is no turning back.

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That Cowboy of Mine by Donna Grant

5 Stars

A great story!

This is a stand-alone contemporary romance.  Main characters Cal Bennet and Dillon Young are both well developed, showing us natural human traits and failings.  Set in ranching country, we first meet Cal, who awakens after having passed out while drinking, but he’s in the middle of nowhere.  He’s found by Dillon, who is searching her property for a missing show horse.  This starts the mystery, which is a very large part of the story.  Cal and Dillion are strangers to each other, and this gives the plot lots of conflict.  There is romance also but is mostly secondary to the multiple questions that arise from the search for the missing horse.  Donna Grant has written 2 other series set in Texas with cowboys as the main characters, but this book is set in a new location.  That Cowboy of Mine is marked as a Christmas book, but it starts in the fall and continues on through the New Year.  I enjoyed this book very much, and don’t hesitate to recommend it for anyone who enjoys Contemporary Romance and Western Themes.  I was given this book through NetGalley and also the author and this is my honest opinion.

Act of Freedom (PSI-Ops #8) by Mandy M. Roth                 

5 Stars

Worth the wait!

If you’ve been reading these interconnected books (Immortal Ops, PSI-Ops, Immortal Outcasts, Shadow Agents, Crimson Ops) by Mandy Roth, you will recognize Striker (Dougal McCracken) from previous books.  His character has grown with each appearance, and I, for one, have been waiting to hear his story.  A big Scotsman, who would be called a player in today’s world, he has lived hundreds of years.  Nothing has bothered him until about 5 years ago.  He met 2 women in a hotel in Egypt.  He helped save one, but the other has been lost.  Striker has tried to move on and forget that he was unable to save her.  And this is where his story starts.

  Well written, with fully developed characters, Mandy M. Roth has done an outstanding job of giving us Striker’s story.  Characters from the other books in this series make appearances, but they add to the story, not just fill space.  If you are a new to Mandy Roth reader, this is a terrific book, but you really need to know the backstory that encompasses the entire series.  Either start with book 1 in the PSI-OPS series Act of Mercy, or book 1 of the entire series from Immortal Ops entitled Immortal Ops.  All are easy to read and entertaining.  And you’ll join the rest of us, waiting for the next book in this Paranormal world. 

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