Tag: Series

Just This Once (Chicago Billionaires Series) by Alexis Winter

5 Stars

For Adults Only!

This book is about Savannah Grace Monroe, a pretty brilliant young woman who becomes COO for Baxter Technologies.  The owner is Warren Bexley, CEO, who is 15 years her senior and unmarried.  When Savannah interviewed for the job, she is 26, but Warren decides she is the best person for the job.  4 years later, they are friends, but each is hiding an attraction to the other.  The story is well written, with fully developed characters.  Chapters alternate between Savannah and Warren, giving their points of view.  In addition to being and age-gap, boss and equal subordinate, the story introduces Savannah proposing a “Just Once” encounter, which changes their friendship.  And the author, to make this even more interesting adds blackmail to Warren’s plate. 

  I enjoyed this book very much, and my only issue is that it seemed to go on too long- I’d have suggested about 50 pages or so less of the back and forth between Savannah and Warren.  Other than my issue, the story is satisfying and complete.  I was given an ARC of the book through Booksprout, and this is my honest opinion. 

Vampire’s Fae Witch Healer (Dark Lords of London, #2) by Jessie Donovan

4 Stars

Book 2 of the Dark Lords of London

This second book of the series gives us the vampire sister of Leo Yates (Book 1), Nora who has lived a traumatized life while she was a teenager, and the brother of Yesenia Vale, Dr. River Vale.   Yesenia was attempting to use her Witch Time Bender powers to bring into the past a Fated Mate to a vampire.  She did not focus on Nora, but Nora’s Fated Mate is who she has brought back in time- who turns out to be her brother.  The story continues as the two try and reconcile their different lives.  Jessie Donovan gives us quite a bit of backstory for both of these main characters, which would allow a reader who hasn’t read the first book to read this one with minimum problems.  The characters are well developed, and the plot is easily followed.  This series is a new direction for the author and shows that her imagination knows no bounds.  I was given an ARC of this book by the author, and this is my honest opinion.

Vampire’s Modern Bride (Dark Lords of London Book 1) by Jessie Donovan

4 Stars

New Series!

This is the first book in a new series by Jessie Donovan.  Set here in our time briefly, it moves back in time to 1890s London.  Vampires, shifters, and fae are common in both times, and our heroine, Yesenia Vale, is a Time Bender, but she is unaware that she holds magic at all.  Thrust back in time, she meets a Dark Lord of London (there are several) Leopold Yates.  Leo is a vampire.  This is their story. It is well written with good characters.  Jessie Donovan gives us quite a bit of backstory, and the history of this different timeline from what we know.  This book also sets up the second book.  I enjoyed reading this ARC and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.  I was given an ARC of this book by the author through BookFunnel, and this is my honest opinion. 

The Boss Prince (It’s Raining Royals #1) by Alix Nichols

4 Stars

A fun read!

This is the first book in the series It’s Raining Royals, but I read it third, after The Bastard Prince and The Beast Prince which are books 2 and 3.  I enjoyed this book so much.  This one especially can be read as a stand-alone, but it sets up the story for books 2 and 3.  The Boss Prince is Max Delaroche, who at the start of the story is given a quest, to look for a missing key that will be necessary to save his family’s kingdom.  To assist him in finding this key, he is partnered with a woman whom he’s never met- Lucie Laborde.  The circumstances of their meeting are funny, setting the tone for the rest of the book.  The author, Alix Nichols, has written a smart, interesting mystery-romance.  Her characters are human, flawed, and very likeable.  Of the three books in this series that she’s written so far, this one is my favorite, but I did enjoy all of them.  Well written, with no obvious grammatical errors, the story is worth reading.  Hopefully book 4 will be out soon, as the overall story, the mystery, gets into your brain, and the reader wants to know what happens next.  I was given an ARC of the book through BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.

Mansplainer (Last Man Standing #3) by Avery Flynn

4 Stars

Great finish to the series!

I really enjoyed this final book of the series, which features the last Beckett cousin, Nash, and his “date” Michelle (Chelle) Finch.  This is a fun book, with Nash really starting out as a “mansplainer” to everyone he meets.  And Chelle is the unexpected woman whom he finds before his turn at winning a bet between him and his two cousins.  For me the book was a bit slow in the middle, but I laughed out loud at some of the situations the main characters found themselves in.  Avery Flynn is one of my favorite authors, and this is a worthy effort for her in finishing this series-but she left enough of the story open that there could be additional books about the other cousins.  Mansplainer can be read as a stand-alone, but for the best experience, read the prior two books.  I was given this book by the author through Prolific Works, and this is my honest opinion. 

The Notorious Dr. MacT: A Hot Scots Prequel by Anna Durand

3.5 Stars

A prequel to Notorious in a Kilt

This is the first book that I’ve read in this larger world series by Anna Durand.  Notorious in a Kilt is Book 5, so this short book gives the back story for Dr. Iain MacTaggart and Rae Evehart.  The story was well-written, with no grammatical errors that I could see, but took a long time to get to the point of the story.  But it did not explain why Iain has the label of Notorious.  If you haven’t started the series, this would be a good place to start, which is why I wanted to read this before the others.  I am looking forward to reading the rest of Iain and Rae’s story.  I was given an ARC of this book from the author through Booksprout and this is my honest opinion.

Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings Book 4) by Donna Grant

In the next installment of her captivating new Dragon Kings series, New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant connects an enigmatic and determined Dragon King and a courtesan sent to tempt him to his doom.

He’s a man of few words, but she fills his soul with poetry.

Quiet. Brooding. Capable. Shaw’s mission is simple: Root out Stonemore’s leader and determine what the Divine has in store for the people of Zora and the Kings. Just as he gets started, however, a breathtakingly beautiful woman finds and tempts him like no other. Nothing can stop him from engaging in the pleasures she offers. After all, pillow talk is sometimes the best way to uncover secrets.

Nia’s life has never been hers. From starving on the streets to becoming a slave to the Divine, she merely does what’s needed to survive. But when her latest assignment brings her face-to-face with a handsome man who makes her feel things she’s never experienced before, she begins to see that while she’s been living, she’s not really thriving.

As truths are revealed, and Nia’s blinders are removed, she realizes that she can no longer sit by and allow things to continue as they have been in her city. It’s time to take a stand. With Shaw by her side, they spark a war so many have tried to avoid. But the injustices being perpetrated must be stopped—no matter the cost.

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✦Audible→ https://dgrant.co/3aoNEzd

✦Tantor→ https://dgrant.co/3JzePng

Now Available!

Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings Book 4) by Donna Grant

4 Stars

On Zora

I have to say that I miss the Dragon Kings having stories located on Earth.  The challenges that were presented here were mostly believable; at least if you believed in dragons.  On Zora, and Earth clone, I know that they could be real, but more than likely not.  So, my review is for the story between Shaw, a Dragon King, and Nia who is a courtesan for the ruler “the Divine”.  They meet in the city that belongs to “the Divine” because Shaw and Merrill, another King, have been sent to gather information on this person, and the inhabitants of the city.  Shaw becomes enamored of the beautiful Nia, and because of Shaw, she starts to question her own actions in acting on behalf of “the Divine”.  The story takes a while to move to the exciting ending, with bits of what is happening with Merrill, and with the Dragon part of Zora.  Donna Grant gives us just a glimpse of what is going on with Con and his fellow Dragon Kings, Rhi, and the dragons who have made Zora their home.  Wish that more had been written on this part- for as important a character as Constantine is, it seems that his intelligence and abilities as King of Dragon Kings isn’t useful on Zora.  The interplay between the Dragon Kings is what kept me involved and interested in prior books. 

  This book is well written, and the two main characters are fairly well developed.  The story that takes place in the city is interesting, if a bit long.  The ending is definitely a 5-star ending.  But the overall book only deserves 4 stars- scenes of personal interaction are great but don’t make the slower parts deserving of more stars.  Donna Grant is a wonderful writer, who writes interesting books.  She continues to give readers reasons to enjoy her books.  This book is interesting, but the first half or so seemed to take forever to read.  A new reader should read the prior books in this part of the series- Dragon Kings- so that they understand the world it’s written in.

  I did receive an ARC of the book from the author through NetGalley, and this is my honest opinion.

Eversong (The Kindred Book 1) by Donna Grant

5 Stars

Enjoyed it more the second time

I originally read this in May 2019, and only rated it 4 stars.  This is an updated re-release by Donna Grant, and I’ve enjoyed it more this time around.  I cannot pick out where changes were made, which is a good thing.  The story centers on Leoma and Braith, who meet while trying to find a witch.  Most witches are evil, but not all, and Leoma can pick out a witch easily.  The story flows, and for our 2 hunters they have a book about them.  But the larger story continues with Everwylde, book 2 in the series.  Characters are well-developed and the plot is interesting.  I have a copy of book 1 but received a new copy from the author.  This is my honest opinion. 

The Twice-Scorned Lady of Shadow (The Guild Codex: Unveiled #3) by Annette Marie

5 Stars

Another wild ride!

Annette Marie has crafted another compelling story for the reader’s enjoyment.  It picks up where Book 2 left off, and it grabs you by the throat and drags you into this incredible world of Druids, Fae, Guilds, and magic and more.  I cannot say enough about Annette Marie and her abilities as an author, writer, and graphic artist.  Each of the books in this larger Guild Codex world are finely crafted and interwoven.  Descriptive and heart pounding with the peril and excitement that the characters are feeling.  Emotional and despairing.  But also, she instills in them the feelings of hope, loyalty, trust, and love.  Read the Guild Codex series, and you’ll become hooked on the story-telling abilities of this amazing author.