Tag: Romance

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.