Tag: Book Review

The Duchess Takes It All by Michelle McLean

5 Stars

An Outsider in Society

This story features a newly widowed Duchess of Clevesly, Tamsin Palmer, who is the daughter of a merchant.  She has a toddler whom she adores, her deceased husband not so much.  Being an outcast in high society is not easy, and to make matters harder, her husband had appointed a co-guardian for the son, the German Count of Rauchberg Christian august.  The story of the two of them is interesting and well written, a little slow in the middle, but an enjoyable book.  Michelle McLean does a great job of giving the details of both London society and German city-states political stresses.  The characters were written mostly in the time period the story is set in, and the author did a wonderful job of keeping Tasmin within the constraints of the period.  I have read other books by her that were set in the American West and enjoyed them also.  Ms. McLean does a thorough job of detailing the environment that surrounds her characters.  I’m looking forward to reading more books that she has written.

I received an ARC of the book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Hard Day’s Knight by Katie MacAlister

5 Stars

An Exceptional book!

I love this book!  Wonderful characters and a great storyline.  Katie MacAlister writes as if she’s lived in the world of Jousting and Renaissance Faires, with details and descriptions that are spot on.  My only wish is that she would write additional books set in this part of her well written and varied settings worlds.  “Chef’s Kiss”.

Dark Heart (Elven Kingdoms Book 2) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Interesting and involved.

This is Book 2 in the Elven Kingdoms series, which is part of Donna Grant’s much larger Dark Universe.  This series deals with multiple types of Elves located on the planet Zora, so each books spends time explaining the Eves involved.  Our two main characters, female Arya and male Jai, both are Dark Elves looking for vengeance.  Secondary characters supporting Arya are her mentor Dain, and mates Yasmine and Ravi.  Jai, and his best friend, a female named Priya are tied to an evil group called the Masters, which sets up the underlying plot.  Donna Grant takes these characters and these plot points and weaves an intricate and compelling read.  Detailed enough to make the reader feel the betrayals and darkness but with enough violence to give it realism, and hope that the characters will survive.  While slow in spots, the story moves along in a steady stream to the conclusion.  Well written with good characterizations, I enjoyed this second book dealing with mostly the Dark Elves. 

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

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst

4 Stars

Loved the ending.

I wanted to read this book because it’s set in North Carolina on the Outer Banks (OBX) and touches on the wild horses located around Corolla.  After visiting the area, I am familiar with both the location and the horses. Both were treated accurately.   Our two main characters are Aspen Lourde, a writer of one best selling fiction book that was based on her breakup with her boyfriend, and Brick Babel who has returned to the OBX to run a horse tours business he’s inherited from his grandfather.  Side characters include Aspen’s sister Sierra who lives on the Outer Banks, and Brick’s best friend Kane who arrives late in the story, along with others who provide interest and color.  Aspen is desperately trying to write a follow-up to her first book using the plot of a fake boyfriend, which turns into real feelings and then a break-up. 

While the writing is excellent, the middle part of the book dragged for me.  It seemed to repeatedly cover the same themes, with Aspen becoming more and more desperate to write the follow up to her first best seller. A plus is that Brick is also given a voice which I find lacking in other books.  Knowing more about his history and his thoughts did add to this slow part.  Once the plot has moved to the last quarter of the book the story picks up and brought me back into the story, and the ending is excellent. 

Both main characters are well developed, maybe Aspen to much so, and the secondary characters detailed enough for the reader to care about them also.  Along with a dog, who plays an important part, the parts about the horses ring true to their existence on the Outer Banks.  This would have been a 5 Star read for me, except for the middle, which slowed down the story.  I like Jennifer Probst’s writing and have already found the next book by her to read.  And hopefully, she’ll write more set in the OBX.

I was given and ARC of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens

4 Stars

More than a Romance.

Thinking about this book, I really enjoyed reading it.  The story features two writers, Penelope Skinner and Neil Storm.  Both are Native American, and while Neil has broken into the field of most popular writers, Penelope has not.  The two had a public argument at a book convention on how they treat writing about their culture, and since that Penelope has had writer’s block.  So, she decides to attend a writer’s workshop being held in Scotland in a supposedly haunted castle.  From this beginning, the plot develops into a ghostly mystery with no visible ghosts with a slow to develop romance.  Colby Wilkens did a great job of creating two main characters and two supporting characters who are believable.  The plot is straightforward in moving Pen and Neil from antagonism to a believable friendship.  I have not seen another book that combines a mystery and a romance as the most important elements, but the author makes this work.  A bit of Paranormal is worked into the story, but it adds to the main mystery.  Hopefully the author will write more in this crossover style.

I received and ARC of the book from NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.  

The Bastard King (The Bastard Duology #1) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

An amazing story….

This is book 1 of a duology, but it’s really a part of a much bigger set of books that are all a part of Donna Grant’s Dark Universe.  This particular book features Derek, a Dragon who is not a part of Donna’s regular Dragons.  This separation is what makes this story so different from the others.  We know nothing about him, except his thoughts and memories.  Our second main character is Kora who isn’t human but tries to appear so.  They are on the planet, or realm as they call it, Zora where there are Dragons, Humans, Fae, and Star People.  If you haven’t read any of the other books in this series, you will have questions.  Donna Grant is an exceptional writer, and it would be worth your time to read the other books, at least in this part of her Universe first.  But this book!  It is an intricate weaving of so many bits and pieces and interwoven characters that I didn’t want to stop reading.  Our two main characters are not what a dedicated reader would expect, but this gives us so many new and interesting plot points that I can’t wait for the 2nd book to be released.  As always, Donna’s writing is masterful, with grammar and storyline well done.  Her characterizations are always fresh and insightful.  Take the time to read the series of books, and this one will be a favorite.  I would say that this book is on par with Darkest Flame, Hot Blooded, Fire Rising, and Torched.  This book is escapism at its best.

I received an ARC of the book from the Author and BookFunnel, 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!

Endless Skye (Skye Druids #4) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

More twists and turns…

This is the next book in the series, and features Willa Ryan who along with her brother and sister, live on Skye.  Jasper McCabe is not what or who he seems.  Once the two have met, Donna Grant’s story winds around and through both of them and others from both this series, and other books in her Dark Universe.  It’s well written with good characterization and an intricate plot.  The overall plot that weaves through all of the Skye Druids books is not resolved, but the story for Jasper and Willa gives a satisfying finish.  Can’t wait for the next book in the series as they get better and better.

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

Dragon Frost: A Dragon Kings Novella (Dragon Kings #6.5) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

The Fae Realm

This short novella from Donna Grant revisits Constantine and Rhiannon.  They are still on Zora, and on Earth, Winter is approaching.  Rhiannon is a Fae and feels her emotions deeply.  She missis Earth and the turning of the seasons.  Constantine knows this, and this is the story of how he shows his love and appreciation of her.

This is a well written novella, which showcases two of the main characters of Donna Grant’s Dark Universe.  The characters are true to their written personalities which makes this an enjoyable read. 

I was given an ARC of the novella by Donna Grant through BookFunnel and this is my honest opinion.