Tag: ARC Reviews

The Lady is Trouble (League of Lords, #1) by Tracy Sumner

4 Stars

Fun Historical Paranormal romance

This is the first book in Tracy Sumner’s new series The League of Lords, with a whole new world for her to develop.  We meet Piper Scott, who sees Auras and can heal and Julian Alexander who is a type of psychic.  Piper’s grandfather was the man who created the League of Lords to help good combat evil, and he rescued Julian from London’s underbelly when Julian was a child.  Julian has promised her grandfather years ago when they were children to stay away from Piper, and he’s done that.  But now, since her grandfather was murdered the forces of evil are looking for Piper to use her power to heal to advance their cause.  Julian is now in charge of the League, and has been “collecting” people who’ve been persecuted because they have magic, and bringing them to the estate he has purchased.  Now, after 3 years, Piper is looking for Julian, to help him with the League, and also because she has loved him since they met as children. 

  Tracy Sumer has done a good job of building the bones of this world that surrounds 17th century London.  She mixes in the way London would have been at that time and then adds in the people who could do magical things who come from all walks of life.  I didn’t notice any writing or grammatical errors, and Ms. Sumner does an excellent job of describing people and places.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a series starter.  I didn’t care for some of the interactions between Piper and Julian- they both are written more like 20th century people.  But the book is entertaining, and I continued onto book 2. 

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

Wind With a Chance of Wolfsbane (Grimm Cove #6) by Mandy M. Roth

5 Stars

More from the supernatural town of Grimm Cove

This next entry into Mandy M. Roth’s Grimm Cove series reminds me of Book 5, Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck. We meet Jonathan Harker, a wolf shifter-vampire hybrid who is working to defeat the evil that is still trying to take over the human world.  Willa Murray (twin of Mina) is descended from Wilhelmina Murray (from the Bram Stoker book).  But she doesn’t think she has any abilities.   And so, our story starts about 20 years in the past. The main characters have their initial meeting, but don’t get the other person’s name.  Mandy M. Roth weaves an intricate storyline, tying characters from previous books, and incidents that have happened in the past into a cohesive story.  It flows smoothly from our characters past into events that are happening now.   This is a very enjoyable read, but readers should have already read the previous books, or you will be lost when characters pop into the story.  A Timeline of major events would be nice, but the author has created a world that is familiar but also so much more.  Spend the time and read this series!

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

Holiday Heat: Dark Universe Holiday Stories by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Stories from Donna Grant’s Dark Universe

This is a collection of 4 stories that have previously been published but are now in one book.  In this you will find Warriors, Reapers, and Dragons, with each touching on the lives of the characters of each of the series.  Dark Alpha’s Silent Night is the Reaper story, which I gave 4 stars when I originally read it.  My Fiery Valentine is set at Dregan with the Dragons, with one couple in particular.  5 stars on this one.  Shards of Hope is only 2 chapters, and features Ulrik and Eillish.  I feel that this needs to be made longer, just because there should be more for us to enjoy. And the last is A Warrior for Christmas which features each couple and their celebration of the Solstice and Christmas.  A bonus feature of this story is the recipes that each couple enjoy.  I gave this one 5 stars.                                                                          

My overall rating for this book is 5 stars, and if you’ve read any of the books in Donna Grant’s Dark Universe you will enjoy this look at what has happened since their books were published.  The writing is excellent, and the stories are in keeping with the characters.  I am hoping that Ms. Grant will continue to add these slice of life stories; fans love the series and love to revisit them.

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

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.