Necromancer's Bride by Brianna Hale

I ran across this story on Goodreads. A group I recently joined recommended it on a best paranormal romance list of theirs. I figured I would give it a shot. The story is quite short, 66 pages I believe. I just needed a little time out, and I finished this in one sitting.

The author gives readers a warning.

This story is a dark fantasy romance with scenes of non-consent and dubious consent. Additionally, Meremon is a necromancer and enjoys unusual things. Some sex scenes might be strange or creepy for some readers.

Heed the warning, as this story does not mess around.

Holy crow. That is the first thing that comes to mind. But in a good way. Yes, there's kink, and weird stuff, and dubious consent, but it is done well. And it is sexy. As long as you can envelop in their world, which I could, and see Meremon for what he is and accept it, which I do, you should have a good time. The romance was quite sweet, as was the ending. But again, I would caution to pay attention to the warning.

It's a shame the story isn't a full-length novel. I could have easily spent a few more hours with Meremon and Rhona, and been okay with it. So, I enjoyed my time out. If this type of erotica sounds like your thing, I recommend giving it a read. 

When I was a child he brought me back from the brink of death. Since that day I have borne his mark, a black star in the center of my left palm. The villagers say it brands me as evil. I think it means something far worse. It marks me as his.

The disease that nearly killed me has returned to the village and children are dying. I’m the only one who dares to climb the mountain and learn his secrets. In exchange, I’m to clean his house and help with his strange experiments, but Meremon wants more. He wants me. And it isn’t long before I discover that his demands are as twisted as his experiments.

As always with Brianna Hale books, no cheating, and a guaranteed happily ever after. THE NECROMANCER’S BRIDE is a novella of 16,000 words.

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Dragonfire by Donna Grant

Dragon Kings V and Roman are on a quest to find V's stolen sword. Due to V's amnesia of the incident, they travel to V's territory hoping to find clues when they arrive. The duo meets Camlo and Sabina while on their search. V and Roman discover that the brother and sister, who are descendants of the clan V protected, have information relating to V's curse and his lost weapon. V and Camlo work together to uncover V's memories, while Roman and Sabina, the couple of the story, descend inside a mountain for V's sword.

The path to retrieve the Dragon King sword was tense, and fast paced. At the climax of the story, I was bouncing in my seat. Roman's clever Dragon power lends to his artistic tendencies. Sabina's creativity, although different in expression than Roman's, gives the couple a common interest. Roman's dominance induces fantastic desire during their intimacies. The spark between the pair is potent, which is a common thing with Donna Grant novels.

I make it no secret that I am a huge fan of the Dark World series. The subplots continue to grab my attention. At this point, the recurring characters are as much of a focus for me as the main couples are. Dragonfire is the first novel since Ulrik's redemption. He played a minor, but crucial, part here. I believe his presence will be game-changing, especially for Con. I see Con reaching his breaking point, and that could be a very good, or a very bad thing.

Every Dark King book is a comfort, and a curse, all rolled into one. There is an overwhelming sense that resolution is just around the corner, and I am eager for the good versus evil showdown. But at the same time, I do not want them to end. Dragonfire by Donna Grant was given to me by Saint Martin's Press, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion.

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In the Mood Fur Love by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden, Kate Baxter

In the Mood Fur Love by Eve Langlais, Milly Taiden, Kate Baxter is a compilation of short stories centering on shifters finding their mates. I am torn when faced with short stories. Reading novellas are an excellent way to sample new authors. 

I enjoyed two stories out of the three. Bearing His Touch by Eve Langlais has charming characters. The bear shifters are quite hilarious, and there is a unique take on vampirism. Fake Mated to the Wolf by Milly Taiden was, unfortunately, not engaging to me. The dramatic undertone did not grip me. I felt the lack of full novel development most here. Perhaps if I knew these characters a little better, the struggle would interest me more. The Witch, the Werewolf and the Waitress by Kate Baxter was also enjoyable. I suspected as much, having read prior novels from this author, and her short story did not disappoint. A bonus was the setting takes place in my neck of the woods, which rarely happens in popular fiction.    

Every couple experiences what is close to love at first sight. The men are very alpha, and the women slightly subservient. These are not bad traits, but, short stories can lack substance leaving the genre cliches more prominent. Overall I did enjoy In the Mood Fur Love. I was provided an ARC copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.  I encourage all readers to form their own opinions.

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Consumed by J.R. Ward

Consumed by J.R. Ward was addicting from page one. We meet Anne and Danny with their fire crew when a call takes them to an abandoned warehouse fire. It is clear, in the first few pages, that Anne and Danny have a connection that goes beyond platonic colleagues. A bad choice on Anne's part puts her life in danger. Danny, rushing to her aide when ordered not to, is forced into extreme action to save her life, nearly losing his own. The several chapters between the beginning incident and Anne and Danny reuniting were fast-paced and incredibly addicting. I couldn't get through it fast enough.

Ten months after the accident, Anne begins work as a fire inspector. The loss she suffered due to the fire left her in a very dark place. She can no longer work at the firehouse, and she, to her irritation, continues to think about Danny. Meanwhile, Danny spirals out of control. Too much alcohol, too many one night stands, too many bad choices when battling fires; all this eventually drives a crew mate to contact Anne, with the hope she can help Danny become more stable. I was desperate for Anne and Danny to have their time together. Anne was fighting a losing battle with her feelings for Danny, and Danny needed a break from his anxiety. They needed each other to start emotionally healing from their accident.

Anne and Danny both fear admitting their feelings for each other, but for very different reasons. Anne wants to keep Danny from entering her life again. She has convinced herself the romantic feelings she has will fade but, the attraction is still prominent. A past trauma has left Anne distrusting of their emotional bond. She does not make things easy for Danny, and she is slow to open up to him. Danny knows Anne will run as soon as love is mentioned. He takes what she will give him, which amounts to a quick physical interlude. Nothing is new in this scenario, but I had become quite attached to the characters at this point. I sympathized with Danny and his desire to be with Anne.

Clues to a series of warehouse arson, that include the one she last fought in, lead Anne to a business tycoon who is untouchable. Something sketchy is happening, but Anne finds it difficult to prove. Anne pursues a lead, and after discovering its legitimacy, someone begins to terrorize her. Danny learns she is in danger and offers to watch over her. Anne brings down some defenses and agrees to let him stay. The intimacy Anne and Danny share, during this time, brings them closer to a sustainable relationship.

A woman from Danny's past soon comes between the couple. I found Anne's quick judgment of Danny predictable, not necessarily in a bad way, but her lack of trust in him did cause some frustration. I understand her lack of faith due to her past, and I know she did not have the benefit of hearing Danny's thoughts, but her decision to immediately see the worst did not sit well with me.

Following a hunch, Anne pursues her terrorist and nearly loses her life. Danny happens upon the scene and again, keeps Anne safe. I did not see the ending coming, which was a welcome surprise. The lovers, of course, have their resolutions, but the antagonist came out of nowhere.

It is clear this book is the start of a series.  Short prequel stories are available that I did not read, but it may be worth checking out to get a feel for the characters. I enjoyed Consumed by J.R. Ward and will be checking out the proceeding novels when they are released. I received this book from Gallery Books, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to draw their own conclusions.

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