Tag: ARC Reviews

Dark Alpha’s Fury (Reapers #16) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

What a finish!

Wow!  For this last book in the Reapers series, Donna Grant has given us the final Reaper, Aisling, who has been following the Fae Xanath for several books.  This gives us the ending of a story arc that has covered numerous books, going back to when Usaeil was Queen of the Light Fae. With the evil that is trying to destroy the Reapers, and take over Earth, we get to enjoy appearances from other Reapers, Death, and some Dragon Kings.  Well written, with an exciting plotline, I enjoyed this book as much as Balladyn’s.  The authors blub for this book hints that even though this series is complete, we will probably still see some of them in her new series, the Skye Druids, which is also a part of her larger Dark World.  A fitting finale for the Reapers, I look forward to continue reading books set in this expansive world.  I was given an ARC of the book by the author through BookFunnel, and this is my honest opinion. 

Take the Lead: A Dance Off Novel by Alexis Daria

4 Stars

Is this really how this works?

If you’ve read the other reviews, you’ll know this is the author’s version of a TV reality show like Dancing with the Stars.  Stone Nielson has been in his family’s realty show set in the Alaskan wilderness (not too wild) for years and plays his part in it as a strong, quiet, survivalist.  He’s roped into another realty show called The Dance Off and partnered with a 4-year veteran of the show who’s never won named Gina Morales who is Puerto Rican via New York City.  The show’s producers want them to fake a budding romance during the series.  The writing of the book follows the course of the show with good descriptions of what goes into making a realty series.  I’m not a fan of most reality-based shows, so I can’t say how accurate the book is, but the author knows how to make this read like it is how everything works.  At 362 pages, it dragged for me, but I did enjoy the mechanics of both The Dance Off and Living Wild.  Alexis Daria does a great job of giving both characters interesting personalities, who do grow as the story progresses.  If you’re a fan of any reality show you will enjoy the story.  I was given an ARC of the book by NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

Not Your Ex’s Hex’s (Supernatural Singles #2) by April Asher

5 Stars

Not the Prima

This story is Rose Maxwell’s, who is a former Prima Apparent.  She lost the position to her “magicless” sister when her magic finally manifested.  Rose isn’t sad about this, she’s happy to be able to just be herself.  The other main character is Damian Adams, half-demon, who is a trained Veterinarian running an animal sanctuary.  Rose has been a little wild since she’s no longer the Heir and has been sentenced to community service at the animal rescue.    This is a fun read, furthering the story started in book 1, Not the Witch You Wed.  A lot more action in this story, which keeps things interesting.  Rose is one of a set of triplets, so I’m looking forward to book 3 which will be Violet’s story.  If you are considering reading this, read book 1 first.  But a reader can start with this book and still enjoy it.  Well written with great characters and story, I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Dragon Lover: A Dragon Kings Novella (Dragon Kings #5) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

More surprises on Zora

In this 5th book of the current series, Dragon Kings, we meet Kendrick, King of the Sienna’s, one of the Dragon Kings from Earth who has made his way to the planet Zora where all the Earth dragons were sent to in the past.  He is patrolling along the edge of dragon land when he encounters the new foe, an invisible powerhouse, who attacks him.  He is almost defeated by this entity, when a group of mortals, Asavori Rangers, come to his assistance.  Led by a woman, Esha, the group manages to drive it away.  Kendrick had crossed into the adjoining territory of Idrias which he finds is the home of the Asavori Rangers who are also elves.  The story takes off from this beginning into an interesting look at another part of Zora and its inhabitants.  Donna Grant continues to develop the world of Zora, intertwining the Dragon Kings with not just their own descendants but the other groups living there.  Not all is peaceful and happy.  But each book adds to the quilt that Donna is making.  Both main characters are well developed, and the book is novella length.  Dragon Lover could be read as a standalone but will be much more enjoyable after reading the prior books in this series.  For the best experience, a new reader should go all the way back to the beginning of Donna Grant’s Dark World.  Well written, with a good plot and characters, I am looking forward to the next book.  I was given an ARC by the author through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.

Grunge (Backyard Goblin Gods – Book 1) by Roxy Collins

5 Stars

An underground world.

This is the first book in the series Backyard Goblin Gods, and it introduces a very different kind of goblin from what we’ve always thought of.  Our two main characters, Grungu, the goblin, and Cassie, the human (who calls Grungu Grunge) meet when the Underhill opens a small hole to the human topside.  One goblin is allowed to go in search of his fated mate.  Other hopeful goblin males must wait for the first to find and claim his women.  Roxy Collins gives this world an interesting perspective on goblin society in comparison to the humans above, which in Cassie’s case in a motorcycle club called the Iron Goblins. She also populates both sides with interesting secondary characters.  The book is well written, with no obvious errors and moves through the story at a steady pace, not rushed or dragging.  I enjoyed this book, and as soon as I finished it, went on to read the second book in the series, Grouch.  I was given an ARC of the book through BookSirens, and this is my honest opinion. 

The Prime of My Magical Life by Tia Diamon and Brenda Trim

4 Stars

Not sure yet….

Reading a lot of Paranormal Women’s Fiction books, I find that I mostly enjoy them.  There is an odd series or two that don’t strike me as fitting this new category, and this book, The Prime of My Magical Life is one of them.  Our main character Eve comes across as a downtrodden unhappy woman.  Her husband has divorced her, and has a new, beautiful girlfriend.  But Eve still has issues with him controlling her thoughts and feelings.  The story itself doesn’t give enough information on the world she is living in and her actual place in it.  My overall feeling of this book is dark and pretty hopeless.  Though I will say that the story did pick up in the second half.  I’ve read both of the authors before and haven’t had such an unhappy feeling for their other books.  I found no editing or grammatical errors, but this Magical Life wasn’t my cup of tea.  I received and ARC of this book through Booksprout, and this is my honest opinion.

A Warrior for Christmas (Dark Warriors, #10) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

One of my favorite series!

For her readers this Christmas, Donna Grant has written a short novella about the Warriors, who are part of my favorite series, Dark Sword and Dark Warriors.  Each chapter gives the reader a glimpse into one Warrior and his mate and their lives at MacLeod Castle.  And underlying these chapters is a thread of forgiveness for one who betrayed them centuries ago.  As a bonus, Donna Grant gives us the recipe for the featured food or drink item that the couples consume.  This is a great novella, one that Donna’s fans have been waiting for.  For the most enjoyment in reading this, the reader should have already read the prior books in the series.  I hope that the author will keep adding in these characters into her current series, the Dragon Kings.  I was given an ARC of the book from the author, and this is my honest opinion.

Wishes Under a Highland Star (Order of the Dragon Knights) by Mary Morgan

5 Stars

The last brother

The final book in this series tells the story of Alex MacFhearguis, younger brother to the laird, and half-fae Aine Fraser.  Aine has some magic, which makes her a target for many people.  She makes a wish, and this changes her life.  The story is well-written, with characters who are interesting.  Though it seemed to take quite a while to get into the meat of the story, some characters from previous Dragon Knights books make an appearance and are always welcome in these books.  Once you reach the final third of the book or so the story picks up and before you know it the book is finished.  Mary Morgan is a wonderful writer and has created a world that is compelling and fun to read.  And it’s set in winter, which I always enjoy reading about.  I was given an ARC of the book from the author, and this is my honest opinion.

The Seventh Key: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Romance Novel (Order of Magic #6) by Michelle M. Pillow

5 Stars

A new addition…

Nina Cole has been unlucky, but she escaped a serial killer.  Since then, her life has been getting worse and worse.  Trying to escape from reporters, she ends up in Freewild Cove.  Following her there is Private Investigator Jacob Paddock, who proves to her he is really interested in her and not her story.   Instead of things getting better, they continue to get worse until she meets Heather, Vivian, Lorna, Sue, and the ghost of Grandma Julia.  For me, the story started slow, and I wasn’t sure that this book was going to be a god addition to Michelle M. Pillow’s series.  I was wrong!  The story got more and more interesting. and I wanted to see how the women would be able to help Nina.  The story is well written, with Nina and Jacob well fleshed-out.  This is a complete story, but ties into the series Order of Magic.  I am ready to read the next book now!  I received an ARC of The Seventh Key from the author through BookSprout and this is my honest opinion.

Pride and Puppies by Lizzie Shane

5 Stars

Only barely like “Pride and Prejudice”

The heroine of this book is Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez, who is a huge fan of Jane Austen, especially of Pride and Prejudice.  So much so that nearly everything she says is either from the book, or about the book, or comparing to the book.  Which means when she dates, she compares the man to Fitzwilliam Darcy.  And no man has come close to being “her” Mr. Darcy.  Working with Charlotte in the same medical center in the small town of Pine Hollow, Vermont is George Leneghan, a physical therapist who is originally from Colorado.  He’s moved to this small town to start over, leaving his home and his sisters behind.  All he has is his dog Duke for support.  He is a giver and has had a crush on Charlotte since he arrived 2 years ago.  This is a very sweet story, with a lot of moving parts.  It is well-written, with well-developed characters and plot line.  One small thing that bothered me during my read was that Charlotte, who is a medical doctor, comes across as someone who isn’t sure of herself, which I find hard to believe in a profession that requires such a large amount of confidence.  George is the nicest person, doing things for everyone else but himself.  Those two bits made the story seem to go on and on…. sometimes less can be more.  But Lizzie Shane writes a great story, and overall, the story is very well done.  I did not realize that this is part of a series, so I will be reading the other books; this can be read as a standalone with no problem.  I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.