Tag: Contemporary

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 X-Files: Perihelion by Claudia Gray

5 Stars

Just like the TV Series

As a long-time fan of the Television Series, I’ve enjoyed the movies that were produced along with the series.  This is the first book I’ve read that features the quirky, and now more than ever relevant show. 

The story picks up right after the last episode of the series “My Struggle IV” which aired in March 2018.  Claudia Gray has written the characters, feeling, and tension of the original series as if she were Chris Carter.  As I was reading, I could see the writing play out in my mind.  The plot and pacing were excellent, the threads of the last episode picked up carefully, and the characters are spot on.  I am hoping that if Chris Carter and company don’t decide to follow up Season 11, then I hope that Claudia Gray picks up the still open threads and continues to weave them into more books.  As other reviewers have said, this book is near perfect, and is true to the original series. 

I received and ARC copy of the book from the Publisher, Hyperion Avenue through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

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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!

Right on Cue by Falon Ballard

5 Stars

Her first love

The book starts out with our MFC Emmy (Emilia) Harper and her best friend/director Liz attempting to find an actress to play the lead in Emmy’s screenplay of her bestselling book.  She ends up taking the part herself since none who have auditioned do as good of a job as she does when tested with the actors auditioning for the male lead.  Emmy hasn’t acted in over 10 years and is still upset about the circumstances of her first, and only, acting role.  She’s worried, but not about working with the actor who will play opposite her, as they are friends.  But on the day before shooting is to start at a small country inn, she runs into Grayson West, who is the cause of Emmy’s destroyed acting career because of comments he made about her during the filming of their first roles 10 years ago when they were both teenagers.  From this first meeting, anytime they are together on screen everyone can tell neither has moved past that first movie. 

  From this beginning the story moves through hostility, anger, and disrespect until Liz has had enough of the childishness and pulls them both in and gives them an ultimatum- work together or the film won’t get made. From this point on, Falon Ballard does a wonderful job of letting us see how Emmy copes.  The road to the end of the book is not all smooth sailing though, but we get the ending readers deserve.

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

1001 Dark Nights Dragon Kiss: A Dark Kings Novella

by Donna Grant

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant’s latest installment picks up where Dragon Arisen leaves off. Alasdair and Lotti return to face the biggest foe the Dragon Kings have met yet—and the stakes have never been higher.

Lotti has come a long way since finding love with Alasdair and uncovering her true origins as a Star Person. She has embraced the magic she once shunned—as well as the label of Destroyer by her own. And it has made her powerful. But will it be enough to stand against her family as they target the Dragon Kings?

Alasdair has faced many adversaries who rose up against the Dragon Kings. But nothing could prepare him for the Star People and the discovery that they once enslaved his kind. It’s more than his life on the line this time. It’s the very existence of all dragons. It will take Alasdair and Lotti, together, to defeat their enemy.

BUY LINKS:

✦SIGNED PRINT→ https://dgrant.co/3NUXFEp

✦Amazon→ https://amzn.to/44OuIB9

✦Kindle→ https://amzn.to/3NP5LhZ

Dragon Kiss: A Dragon Kings Novella by Donna Grant

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars

Well, I am not sure….

This short story is supposed to be a good introduction to the Dragon Kings series of books.  I’m not sure that is an accurate description of the book if you haven’t already read the previous books.  Both of the two main characters, Alisdair and Lotti, were introduced in the previous Dragon King book Dragon Arisen along with 2 others from the first book in this series.  I would consider this more of an arc between the last book and the next one which is why I rated this at 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.  The plot drags a little but does have action involving the 2 couples against the danger that is stalking them.  As the book ends, the main plot lines are still unresolved, but for fans of Donna Grant and her Dragon Kings, this only keeps us wanting more.  Well written with no grammatical errors the characters are also well developed and the story will make you want to keep reading this series.  I am looking forward to the next book.

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

A Christmas Miracle in the Little Irish Village by Michelle Vernal

3.5 rounded to 4 Stars

More about the twins than the couple.

I wanted to read this book because of the setting being in Ireland.  And it is, in what anyone not from Ireland, exactly how you’d picture it.  Our three main characters are Grace and Ava Kelly and Shane Egan.  Grace and Ava have left the village of Emerald Bay a year ago for the bright lights, big city of London.  Ava broke up with Shane before she left because he wouldn’t leave the village to go with her.  Shane is part of his family’s business, a fisherman who believes that he can’t leave his father and brothers.  Neither Ava or Shane have moved on, even though Grace is pushing Ava to forget Shane, and Shane had told Ava there was no coming back to him.  This is the basic setup for the book, which take place just before Christmas.  I felt the story of Ava and Shane was resolved fairly quickly and satisfactorily, but this creates another problem for the pair, and this part of the story seemed to take a long time to be resolved. 

The book is well written with good main characters and supporting characters, with no noticeable grammatical errors.  The plotline seems to drag in places, which is why my rating is 3.5 Stars, rounded up to 4 stars.  An enjoyable book, but not enough conflict or tension. 

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

New Release! Donna Grant’s Holiday Heat: Dark Universe Stories

Features four novellas from the Reaper, Dark King, and Dark Sword/Dark Warrior series by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

DARK ALPHA’S SILENT NIGHT
The holiday season is for revelry, and the Reapers take full advantage to celebrate as a family.

MY FIERY VALENTINE
It’s Valentine’s Day at Dreagan, and V has special plans for his mate.

SHARDS OF HOPE
Ulrik, King of Silvers, comes face to face with his past and discovers a link to his mate that had been there all along.

A WARRIOR FOR CHRISTMAS
Just days away from the winter solstice, Christmas, and Boxing Day, the Warriors and Druids of MacLeod castle come together once more to give thanks for the family they’ve made and the hardships they’ve overcome.

✦SIGNED PRINT→ https://dgrant.co/43JpLJj

✦Amazon→ https://amzn.to/3mqmUo8

✦BN→ https://dgrant.co/3Xz4H6g

✦Kindle→ https://amzn.to/3mqmUo8

✦Nook→ https://dgrant.co/435cFq8

✦Apple→ https://dgrant.co/3nMCECH

✦Kobo→ https://dgrant.co/3ZLPizz

✦Google→ https://dgrant.co/3X7i3GH

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.