Tag: Adventure

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. 

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. 

A Billionaire in Disguise: Royal Romance with a Twist Four Book Boxed Set (Billionaires in Disguise Boxed Sets 2) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

One of my go-to re-reads

This boxset is Wulfram’s and Rae’s story.  Complex and compelling, this set is the 2nd of Blair Babylon’s Billionaire’s in Disguise series.  The characters are well developed and are true to life.  Set in the American Southwest, the descriptions are very well done giving the reader the feeling that they are actually there.  One of my favorite reads, Wulff and Rae are everything a reader hopes for in a Contemporary romance, with a complex background on both main characters and great secondary characters also.  Not just a romance but lots of action too.  Once you start reading you will be glad that you have the entire series available to continue reading this excellent series. 

Secret Billionaires: A Prince and MI-6 Spy 6 Book Boxed Set (Billionaires in Disguise Boxed Sets 1) by Blair Babylon

5 Stars

Wow! Just WOW!

I have read everything that Blair Babylon has written, and love all of the books. But my first read was Arthur and Genevieve’s books, which is really the second set of books in the series. Which took me to the first books in the series giving Casimir and Roxanne’s story. Putting them altogether into a box set is brilliant! If you enjoy alpha males, that are tall, handsome, and very wealthy you need get this bundle. And prepare to be engrossed in the world that Blair Babylon has created. And be prepared to re-read the series over and over again. You could just read part of the series, but why? All are well written with very well-developed characters, including secondary ones. All are very detailed and make the reader feel that they are really in the story. Get the set now!

Kindred: The Fated Trilogy by Donna Grant

5 Stars

All three books from The Kindred: Fated Series

Rage:  First book of this trilogy, which follows Evernight the Kindred book 4.  Rage picks up the story.  We meet Elin, who is a witch on the run from the Coven, a group of witches who are determined to dominate their world.  She lost her sister to the Coven, and she wants no part of them and their schemes.  She has stopped running for a short time, squatting in an out of the way hunting cabin, hoping to recover some of her strength and come up with a plan to keep away from the witches hunting her.  The cabin is on Mackenzie land, and the brother of the Laird, Rob Mackenzie decides to find out who has been using the abandoned cabin.  As any book written by Donna Grant, there are issues for the main characters to overcome, and a larger challenge that has to be addressed. 

Ruin; Book two in the series.  In this, book 2, we meet two new characters, Asa, a witch from the Viking homelands and Rory Sutherland who is the banished 3rd son of the Laird of Sutherland of Scotland.  He has been tasked by Asa’s sister in Norway to find her and warn her of an impending crisis.  Traveling from Norway Rory is dying from his wounds after being attacked while hunting Asa.  He finds her in Scotland, and collapses after only telling her she must run.  Asa has been meandering after having lost everyone who has meant something in her life.  She left her home in Norway and now finds herself trying to help this man who is dying on the ground in front of her….  And so, Donna Grant starts weaving another compelling tale in her Kindred universe.  An exciting storyline will keep you reading and invested in the main characters, along with new evil in the wilds of Scotland where the Kindred stories are set.

Reign; Book three, the final book in this series.  Donna Grant has finally gotten to Malene and Armir’s story.  This is a continuation from book Everspell (Kindred series by Donna Grant) which gave us questions about whether she was killed or if something else happened to her.  In Reign Armir has not given up his search for her after the battle that finished Everspell.  But it’s been a year, and he is starting to doubt he’ll find her….and Donna starts an interesting, suspenseful, and surprising story.  As the last book, the story is exceptional, taking readers on a ferris wheel of characters emotions.  Well worth reading, it gives a fitting ending to this story arc. 

This set of books is well worth reading.  It can be read as a stand-alone, but for the best experience should be read after the books in The Kindred series.  I was given an ARC by the author, through BookFunnel, and 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.