Tag: ARC Reviews

Ruin (Kindred: The Fated #2) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

A wider field for evil

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.  Enjoyed this book, with the turns and reappearance of others who are fighting this new evil.  I received this ARC from the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.   

An American in Scotland (A Scottish Isle Mystery) by Lucy Connelly

5 Stars

Hopefully the first book

This is my first book by Lucy Connelly and she gives us a really fun and intriguing story with our main character an American named Dr. Emilla McRoy.  Having spent years as an Emergency Room doctor, and had a recent death in her family, she takes a doctor position on a small island off the coast of Scotland to hopefully move past the trauma she’s endured.  She was hired by Ewan Campbell, who is the Deputy Chief Constable, Mayor, and Laird of Sea Isle.  She settles into her new living quarters/office which is located in an old church.  And she is also the Coroner for the island.  Her first night on the Isle, as she’s heading back to the church, she’s caught in a rainstorm and takes shelter in an outbuilding on the church grounds.  And that’s where she finds a dead man.  I really enjoyed the characters in this book, Lucy Connelly has done a great job of describing the island and developed both her main and secondary characters well.  The ensuing mystery is well written-any one of the characters could be the murderer as each has motive and opportunity.  Even Ewan, who could become/is becoming Em’s romantic interest, crosses her mind as a suspect.    I wanted to read this book because the title and blurb caught my interest and I’m very glad I did.  I want to know more about the people and the places on Sea Isle and hope for a second book in this series.  I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. 

Shoulder the Skye (Skye Druids #2) by Donna Grant

4 Stars

Enemies to friends

Picking up from book 1, we meet Bronwyn Stewart a Druid who has become drough (dark) and has chosen to use Blood Magic to strengthen her magic.  She draws the attention of Elias MacLean while leaving a small shop.  They have a connection dating back to when they were children on Skye, before Elias made the choice to leave.  He has since joined a group of Druids calling themselves Knights who are trying to find out who and why are killing Druids worldwide.  Donna Grant has woven several plotlines into this story, not just the one between Bronwyn and Elias.  While we do find out a little more about what is happening on Skye there is a much broader picture being painted.  It’s best if you’ve read the previous book, Iron Ember, before this one.  Donna Grant has also brought in characters who were introduced in her Reapers series.  All of these, plus her other Dark World/Universe books are exceptional reading and worth the time.  If you love to read a complete book that is part of a larger series, you can’t go wrong with Ms. Grant’s works.  I was given an ARC by the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion. 

The Plus One by Mazey Eddings

3 Stars

Well written, but …

This book is well written story of Indira and Jude who haven’t gotten along.  I had a difficult time reading this, the characters didn’t mesh with other characters nor made me want to know what was going to happen between them.  The book seemed to go on and on even though it’s just over 300 pages.  I found out after reading it that it is the third book in a series, so maybe that’s why I really didn’t enjoy it.  I didn’t find it romantic but more realistic in how all the characters are.  If you’ve read Mazey Eddings other books and enjoyed them, you’ll probably enjoy this one, but for me there were too many things going on that had me questioning the main characters.  I was given and ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. 

Candle Me With Care by Mandy M. Roth

4 Stars

More from Hedgewitch Cove

Set in the southern town of Hedgewitch Cove, where all kinds of supernatural beings have made homes for themselves, this is the story of Beatrice Caillat and Samuel Gentry.  Bea and Sam were together years ago, but Sam left her…for no reason that she was aware of.  Now he’s back and avoiding her.  Mandy M. Roth takes these basic facts and writes another fun romance in this short story.  Other characters from prior books make appearances which only adds to this world that she’s built. This is one story from the Anthology “Witching the Night Away”.  Looking forward to more from Hedgewitch Cove.  I was given an ARC of this story by the author, and this is my honest opinion. 

The Grumpy Count (It’s Raining Royals Book 4) (What the Royals Want: Book 1) by Alix Nichols

4 Stars

Interesting take on a play

This book is part of a larger series where members of a Royal family of a very small country are trying to find keys that will, when all 9 are found, save the country from being absorbed by France.  We meet Count Jonas d’Alenq and his young son Matteo.  He’s providing the location for an audience participation play of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and because of this, he is now Mr. Darcy in it. One of the secondary characters in the play is Caroline Bingley who is played by a somewhat feminist name Margot Nolan.  Both are good actors even though Jonas is performing for the first time.  But the two don’t see eye to eye, and there are some negative feelings between the two.                                                                                                 

  If you’ve read the other books in the It’s Raining Royals series, you’ll know that one of the family is seen in a vision as the next to search for the key needed by the family, and that is Jonas.  He doesn’t trust anyone, especially Margot.  But his inner feelings keep pushing him toward her.  In comparing the prior books to this one, they have much more action and mystery happening but in The Grumpy Count, this isn’t the case.  It’s a change but not for the worse, the story is enjoyable, and the circumstances seem plausible.  Alix Nichols has done a great job of defining and fleshing out her main characters, and the reader cannot help but root for them.  Well written, with no grammatical errors, and a satisfying conclusion.  I am looking forward to reading the next book.  I was given and ARC by the publisher and BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. 

The Prospector’s Only Prospect by Dani Collins

5 Stars

Ready for a second book.

This is the first book I’ve read by Dani Collins, and I really enjoyed it.  The two main characters, Marigold Davis and Virgil Gardner are both well developed and have a likability that made this book such fun.  Marigold is a divorcee which is almost unheard of in 1859.  Her life since her husband divorced her has been horrible so she decides to leave St. Louis and accept being a mail order bride (replacing her sister) in Denver City in the Territory of Kansas.  The intended husband is Virgil who has just found out he has to take the 3 children from his now deceased wife.  Neither of them really want to marry, and so when they finally meet both decide to have Marigold be the housekeeper/nanny.  After the days Marigold has spent on a stagecoach to reach Denver City, Virgil takes her even further into the wilderness.  The story that progresses from there is well written, with plausible situations occurring.  The mining camp makes for an interesting backdrop, along with the “home” that has been built for Virgil and the 3 kids.  There is quite a bit of tension, along with a continuing series of choices for both Marigold and Virgil.  If you enjoy romances, this book is a winner.  Hoping Dani Collins continues with the many characters that are in the background in this one.  I was given an ARC of the book by the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion. 

A Vampire’s Spooktacular Wedding (Misfits of New Orleans: Book 2) by Valerie Twombly

4 Stars

Short but cute.

Book 2 in the Misfits of New Orleans gives us Sabrina and Christoph having a baby and getting married.  This book allows vampires a lot more leeway than other authors have given them, which makes this book interesting.  With a number of side characters, this story gives us everyone from Satin to an ex-girlfriend.  A fun quick read, looking forward to the next book.  I was given an ARC thorough BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. 

Witching the Night Away Anthology-A Potion for Your Thoughts by Michelle M. Pillow

4 Stars

How lucky is Lucky Valley?

This is part of an anthology series called Witching the Night Away which has 12 different author’s short stories.

Michelle M. Pillow has written other stories set in (Un)Lucky Valley, and this short story gives us Jessamine (Jessie) Goode as our main character.  She is being forced to go to Lucky Valley to refuse an inheritance.  Her aunt and sister both are living there, so she is staying with them.  And she has a handsome hot half-Elf trying to help her with everything that is going sideways for her.  I enjoyed this 3rd installment of the (Un)Lucky Valley series and look forward to more tales of the strangeness that happens there.  I was given an ARC through BookSprout, and this is my honest opinion.

Grot: A Monster Romance (Backyard Goblin Gods: Book 3) by Roxy Collins

4 Stars

Continuing the series with Book 3

Readers need to read the first two books of this series to completely understand and follow the events.  This book features Grottu, called Grot by most of the characters, who has come through the crust to find his fated one.  Here, waiting by the opening in the crust are sisters of a “Chosen Family” who are hoping to be the one the goblin finds.  Except the one sister, Jessica, called Jess, Capulet is a nursing student who wants to finish her studies.  But her offering, thrown into the opening in the crust, is the one that Grot knows marks his fated mate.  And along for this ride is Grot’s brother Glintu, called Glint, who also claims Jess is his fated one.  The author, Roxy Collins, takes us on a winding journey to a satisfying conclusion for our main characters.  The writing is good, with no obvious errors or grammar problems. Characters are well developed, and the story moves along at a steady pace.  Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  I was given an ARC of the book by the author through BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.