Tag: ARC Reviews

Dragon Arisen (Dragon Kings #6) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

What a story!

First, I want to say that you will get the most enjoyment from this book if you have read the prior books in the series.  But, if you haven’t, you’ll still be able to enjoy reading Dragon Arisen.  Our two main characters are Alasdair, a Dragon King, and Lotti, who might or might not be human or magical.  While a little slow to start, the story picks up and becomes a thrill ride for the reader.  Donna Grant gives us a story to spark our curiosity and imagination.  No spoilers, but readers, you can’t begin to imagine all the ways that this book will grab you and make you want the next book right away.  Well written, with great characterizations, Donna puts more into this book than the previous five.  And she gives us hints as to the upcoming developments that will affect not just Zora, but Earth also.  This book reminds me of the earlier Dragon King books and is very welcome to those of us who’ve been reading this very extensive series.  Grab this book and enjoy the rollercoaster!  I was given an ARC of the book from the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion. 

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

4 Stars

Unexpected connection

Our story starts with the two main characters Alexander Reddington, second son and now the Duke of Beaubrooke and Lady Lavinia Wynnburn, the socially inexperienced middle daughter of the Earl of Abberforth.  Alex, never expecting to become the Duke of Beaubrooke has spent his life studying botany, and his goal is to create a hybrid plant that can help people.  Lady Lavinia, Livy, feels that she has been outshone by her two sisters’ beauty and talents, so she has devoted her time to reading, and fading into the background.  An accurate description for one, and a shield for the other. Michelle McLean takes the story she’s set up and gone where her readers might not expect.  Well written, with characters developing throughout the book, with good side characters.  Of the two main characters Livy is the one I felt did not really grow through her life with Alex.  She becomes a totally different person to the people around her, while her inner self is still stuck as who she was before she met Alex.  I enjoyed the book, and by the end of it saw that both Alex and Livy deserved the lives they wanted. The only thing that threw me was the title, which I still am not sure about.   I was given an ARC of the book through NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and this is my honest opinion. 

Two Scandals and a Scot (Duchess Society Book 5) by Tracy Sumner

5 Stars

More Duchess Society fun

This book is fun, but not nearly as compelling as the prior books.  Our story starts out with Theodosia Astley, who is the Duke of Leighton’s (from Book 2) sister.  She’s about to marry, when she finds out the bridegroom isn’t what she wants.  She runs, but not too far, into a waiting coach.  The coach belongs to Dashiell Campbell, a self-made man and former pickpocket and current card sharp, author, and friend and partner in the gaming hell of Xander Macauley (from Book 3).  Though the book is well written, it doesn’t have the sharpness and details of the prior books.  Both of the characters could have been more developed, and the overall plotting is not as detailed as in the other books.  Still, it is a very enjoyable book that I enjoyed reading.  I’m looking forward to additional books in the Duchess Society.  I was given and ARC of the book through BookSirens and this is my honest opinion. 

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.