The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers Lover's Triangle #3 - Calista Fox

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The Billionaires: The Stepbrothers is #3 in the Lover's Triangle series by Calista Fox. I did not feel I was missing any pertinent information beginning with book three. This book would appeal to those who enjoy a modern romance with a ménage à trois focus.

Scarlet is investigating a cold case involving a missing art collection of great value. During her investigation, Scarlet must question the stepbrothers, Michael and Sam. Scarlet is immediately enamored with both men when they meet individually, and soon she learns they have an affinity for enjoying their women together. Scarlet must decide how to handle her growing attraction to the stepbrothers while staying impartial during her investigation.

The good: Michael and Sam are both appealing for different reasons. Michael is spontaneous and a little aggressive, Sam is sweet and a bit tender. The characters had intelligence, indicating they did not exist solely for sake of the cliché. The chemistry between the couples did not feel forced and was quite sexy. There was a decent plot with a twist I did not predict right away. I appreciate the attempt to tell a story amidst the romantic fantasy.

The bad: The story fell a bit flat for me. It mimicked what I get out of watching a crime of the week television show. I felt the emotions where appropriate, intrigue with the art heist, desire for the men, sympathy for the loss the characters experienced, tension when new clues come to light, but now that it's over the story will fade and be forgotten. Perhaps I needed more quality time with the characters as a unit to feel more connected to them. Leaving the story as is, that connection just isn't there.

Despite its faults, this story was not bad. It was engaging and entertaining. If one is looking for a quick and easy read with some sensuality, this book will deliver that. All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

Dubious by Charmaine Pauls

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Dubious by Charmain Pauls is part 1 of the Loan Shark Duet.  This book ends on a cliffhanger. I would suggest part 2 be close at hand when reaching the end of part 1.

Valentina's brother found himself indebted to the infamous loan shark Gabriel the Breaker. Valentina has always felt responsible for her older brother Charlie. During Valentina's teenage years Charlie was in a severe accident that caused his brain damage and took their parents lives. When the money owed to Gabriel is more than Valentina can pay, she agrees to become Gabriel's live-in help.

Valentina and Gabriel eventually form a believable romantic bond. Their attraction to each other goes beyond the physical. It is clear Gabriel cares for Valentina, and despite her situation, she begins to care for him. Gabriel's past is not conducive to a proper relationship, but he does his best to keep Valentina content. Valentina's compassion and patience help her bond with Gabriel. Gabriel's mother, the leader of their illegal activities, is mentally abusive to Gabriel and has been his entire life. When Magda repeatedly threatens Valentina's life, Gabriel does everything he can to keep Valentina safe. Valentina has a horrible set of circumstances that surround her parent's death and her brother's need for care.  Their pasts create the desire to find comfort in each other, further drawing them into a relationship.

At its heart, this book is a very dark romance.  Valentina is essentially Gabriel's indentured servant with little choice in what happens to her in his care.  Valentina is unable to say no to Gabriel, and she is fully aware that his mother is not at all happy with her presence.  I had to suspend these thoughts at times to enjoy the book, but in the end, I accepted their connection.  I will most definitely be continuing their tale.  I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

Twin Savage (Porn Star Boyfriend Book 2) by Sunniva Dee

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“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I whisper, “but it feels like I... love you... back.”

My chest is full of relief and misgivings. I just gave away a game I hadn’t planned. I’ve left myself fragile to him. Now he can treat my heart the way his brother did, crush it, make me suffer and fear for the night and for tomorrow. 

“Don’t be scared, baby. Nothing changes, okay? I’ve known for a while now. It’s why you’ve been so angry with me. Woman are odd creatures.”

Twin Savage is book two in the Porn Star Boyfriend series. No background information is necessary to read this installment. I will be honest. I began this series and expected nothing but a quick, salacious read. It was not at all what I expected. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. It deals with grief, guilt, friendship, and love. It is not at all a sexual exposition. Twin Savage surpasses the enjoyment I got from The Truth About Porn Star Boyfriends, the first book in the series. I highly recommend them both.

As Geneva's grief and guilt consume her over her fiance Julian's accidental death, insomnia develops. She attempts to quiet her pain by visiting her family, which does not help. When Geneva returns to the house she shares with seven roommates, the men begin to cater to every need she has, even her inability to sleep. Finding solace in the arms of her male friends helps Geneva get through the painful nights.

Geneva has always been less than pleasant to Luka, who is also Julian's twin, due to his job in the porn industry. Luka adheres to the pattern, one roommate a night making Luka number seven, and the barrier between the two of them begins to fall. During this time spent with Luka, Geneva learns important things about her relationship with each twin, and her emotions start on the long road to healing.

Geneva takes what some would say an unconventional approach to get through her grief. I found her arrangement with the roommates appropriate for the character and the situation. Geneva is clear the rules of their agreement, one man at a time, one man per day, and none of her roommates take advantage of her. I genuinely believe they care about Geneva and want to ease her pain. Geneva and Luka's struggle to be together is a painful, frustrating, sensual, and wonderful one. Luka is patient and perceptive to Geneva's needs as she comes to terms with her desire for him. Geneva's distaste for Luka's lifestyle does not fade so easily. In the end, what occurs broke my heart, but it had to go as it did for Geneva and Luka to become a couple.

It becomes clear early on where the story is going to go, but that does not take away from the journey there. The basic plot's predictability in no way hindered my enjoyment reading it. All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

The Vampire Fight Club by Larissa Ione

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Vampire Fight Club takes place in the Demonica world and works fine as a stand-alone. This story is good for anyone who enjoys paranormal romances. The series is one of my favorites and reading this short was like visiting old friends. All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

For decades Nate has managed club Thirst and finds himself apathetic to the horrors going on around him. He took the job decades ago in hopes of gaining revenge against the club's owner. As time passed, Nate found the opportunity for him to act on those intentions never seemed right. During Vladlena's shift at Underworld General, the staff brings in her victimized brother. Because of this event, Vladlena goes undercover at the club her brother lost his life. With help from her friends at UG, she hopes to bring down the fight club they suspect is running there.

Nate and Vladlena meet and strong feelings manifest immediately between them. These feelings are both a hindrance and the thing that saves them. As their relationship develops, the chemistry between them sizzles. Their attraction feels genuine, and the actions they take reinforces their connection.  I hoped for them to make things work.

In the Demonica world, not all demons are inherently evil. The characters are capable of as much good or bad as anyone is. It intrigues me when the bad guys are harder to find, and this demon trait lends to that. It helps creates tension wondering if everyone will do the right thing. I love this about the Demonica series.

One romance story trope I do not like is using a character's virginity as a plot point. Vladlena has a rare shifter ailment that is threatening her life.  Because of her ailment, she is a virgin. Nate, of course, has to save her from a terrible fate that threatens her solely because of her virginity. I will admit the scenario plays out as good as it can. However, it felt to me like a situation created just to elongate the book. It was already a short story so what is the point? It is highly possible someone who does not have my aversion won't find it bothersome.The only other bad thing I could say is that the story felt a tad rushed.  As previously stated it is a short story so ultimately I can forgive it.  However, I could have spent more time with the characters in a full length novel and been okay.

Temptation Trials Part 2 by B Truly

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The Temptation Trials Part 2 by B. Truly continues directly after the events of The Temptation Trials Part 1. Prior knowledge from Part 1 is necessary to feel the story's full impact. Fans of dystopian future, paranormal romance or urban fantasy genre novels could enjoy this series.

In the future, Cali and Stef live in a world devastated by World War III. The new world ruler, Eminence, and his Regime enforcers impose strict rules on the population, including arranged marriage. The age for arranged marriage for Cali and Stef was quickly approaching. They decide to take part in the Temptation Trials to prove the love they share with Cade and Tobias is real, and that Eminence should allow them to stay together. The Trials do not go well for Cali, Cade, Stef, and Tobias.

The couples in the Temptation Trials, as well as those sent by Eminence to tempt the participants, all travel home together. Cali and Stef are unable to share the secrets they learned during the Trials with Cade and Tobias while the Regime is on constant watch. Animosity builds for the characters with the ever-present reminder of unfaithfulness during their Trials. Cali and Stef begin to feel it will be impossible to save their relationships by the time they arrive home. Cali and Stef impart the information they discovered when the group arrives at the Opposition headquarters. The Opp who formed to fight the unfairness of the Regime make plans with Cali, Stef, Cade, and Tobias. Their goal is to make sure Eminence can not cause any more harm with the Temptation Trials.

It was tense anticipating how the group would react to each other, especially with the knowledge the girls had about being drugged on the island. I was hoping they could find a way to communicate their secrets with Cade and Tobias quicker to relieve hostilities. It made sense why they had to guard their information, but it played out too much like a soap opera for me. However, excused or not betrayal is hard to overlook for anyone. Emotions would run high when surrounded by the reminders of another's infidelity. The antagonist created the perfect storm. Frustration distracts the characters so much it prevents them from resolving their problem. It works well. Even as the observer, I felt the impact of it.

The consuming lust during the Trials that is also surfacing with the public is part of a vast problem. I did not expect the spiritual impact this would have on their world, and I enjoyed the shock of it. When things take on a religious undercurrent, I often find it annoying. I typically have no desire to ponder the scripture helping save one's soul. The way religion manifested and blended with the plot here felt natural in an inoffensive way.

I sensed how Stef would end up with one man over the other. The event leading to Stef's resolution lacked necessary emotional impact for me, which it should have caused. I unfortunately just felt it as a plot device, and I resented having that moment taken from me. It could be I just over think the conclusion before it's time. Figuring things out can frustrate me, but I have nothing to blame it on but my analytical mind. This plot point may not affect others as it did me.

Overall Temptation Trials Part 2 wasn't a bad book. I rooted for the characters to find their way back to each other, or at the very least forgive each other. The bad experiences they had fueled their determination to help others and I wanted that for them. The surprises I saw coming balanced with the ones I didn't. I would be willing to give future books set in this world a chance.

Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Reread

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Acheron is part of a book series but works as a stand-alone. Newcomers to the Dark-Hunter world will have no issues with missing information. Acheron keeps his origins a highly guarded secret. This book finally explains what that secret is.

Warning: this book is not for the faint of heart.  The story, especially the first half, has profound suffering and torment of the main character. Those with trigger issues should be cautious. Do things get better for him? Yes, but not for a long time. Is the journey worth it? Yes. Acheron deserves a happily ever after and he finally gets one.

Those not involved in the Dark-Hunter series should still read Styxx after Acheron. Styxx's journey is as heartbreaking - personally, I find it more so - but it expands on some plot points in Acheron. To paraphrase the author: there are three sides to every story. Yours, theirs and the truth that lies somewhere between.

Acheron's story begins 11000 years in the past. At Acheron's birth, a wise woman makes claims that result in his father's eternal hatred and abuse. Through journal entries Ash's older sister Ryssa expresses her love and remorse for the injustice he suffers. Ryssa struggles with her family to keep him from harm, but his mishandling continues.

Acheron and his twin Styxx grow into their late teens. The twins get confirmation of their life force connection mentioned when they were born. Ash is then a forced prisoner in his family's home. Acheron discovers life more bearable when he meets Artemis. He is eventually betrayed, which transforms his existence forever.

Part two of Acheron takes place in present day. Tori believes she has proof that Atlantis is not a myth. Acheron is desperate to keep his Atlantean past a secret and a piece of Tory's discovery puts this in jeopardy. At Tory's presentation of her findings, Acheron sees no choice but to destroy her credibility.

Without the support of her fellow historians, Tory does not give up her quest. She seeks to translate an object found in her dig. When told of a rare historian able to read the ancient text, she again clashes with Acheron. The historian, Acheron, refuses to help her until they have cause to strike a bargain. Tory's life is in danger due to her association with the Atlantis dig. If Acheron helps her translate she agrees to let him stay by her side for protection. Acheron finds himself profoundly drawn to Tory. The more time they spend together, the more he craves love and trust be a part of their relationship.

Acheron's past fits with his personality traits very well. This being is considerate, sacrificing, secretive, insecure and sometimes a bit scary. All things hold true to the preconceived notions. Honestly, the only enjoyment I got from the first part of this book was through understanding. The emotional torment was hard for me at times.

Acheron and Tory interacted well together.  Tory is a bit brazen at times, but I can see how that will be good for Acheron. He is the same way and needs the challenge. They also made me laugh which is important.

The tension was well placed. I thought there was no way they would wind up alive and together by the end of the book. Most the Dark Hunters get their happily ever after. Here, I worried about them.

Tory was a virgin which is a romance trope I am not a fan of. I didn't give it much thought until their big moment together. It started mildly silly, but by the end, it worked. Out of the series, their scene is one that sticks with me. I was affected by Acheron, and frankly, he's not my favorite twin. So the author did something right. There were moments of overkill with the mushiness. Some of it is understandable, but it still gave me pause at times. Acheron needed someone to love him, so I forgive it.

What appeals most to me about the Dark Hunter world is the substantial subplots that carry through the entire series. Sherrilyn Kenyon's stories are intricate and subtle clues span multiple books. As a Dark-Hunter fan, here are some quick snippets of the series arch I enjoyed.

We get insight into Apollymi's struggle and imprisonment. I wonder if she isn't the evil being everyone claims. Powerful and vengeful yes, but I don't blame her for going Destroyer in this case.

I love every scene with Savitar. I always hope for the little things that might uncover more backstory. He's one mystery I have gone over in my head hundreds of times. I even have notes on him. Really.

I relish any time spent with Nick. I do wish he could get over his angst as it is killing me. Finding a friend in the heifer goddess is not an idea I like, at all. Maybe they will make each other better, but now I just don't see it. He has better friends out there I wish he could remember. Or others he could forgive. And maybe forgive himself.

In short, this book is well worth a read. All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Reread

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The Dream God Xypher has four weeks to prove his humanity or be returned to Hades in the Underworld.  Xypher instead uses his time to plot revenge against the one responsible for his imprisonment. Simone is a medical examiner with the gift of seeing and speaking to ghosts. Simone uses her gift to help solve murders. One night a chance meeting brings Xypher and Simone together. Xypher and Simone soon discover they need each other to survive the threats to them.

The author's love stories typically stem from "love at almost first sight."  This romance stereotype does not really hinder my suspension of disbelief when she is utilizing it. The character development and the romance usually fit the situation without feeling forced. What appeals most to me about the Dark Hunter world is the substantial subplots that carry through the entire series. Sherrilyn Kenyon's stories are intricate and subtle clues span multiple books.

I liked Xypher. He is loud, overbearing and sarcastic but he has a troubled past that influences his present.  His inner turmoil is very reality-based. And I am honestly more drawn to cranky brooding characters. It was tense debating his ability to do the right thing. Simone was charming enough, but I did not feel a huge connection to her. She had pivotal moments that held my attention. Her past family trauma and how it affects her was well-developed. The romance brewing between the two leads felt organic and I rooted for their relationship.

This book further integrates the demon races of the series mythology. Here we learn no being, including demons, are evil at birth. It is the individual that chooses their emotional path. I appreciate this theme.

Dream Chaser would work as a stand-alone story. I suggest reading the entire series to enhance the experience. This book links to at least one plot from an earlier book. Repeat characters are present here, and characters introduced in this story become important later. (The demon broker character who we meet here is one of my favorites in the entire series.)

This review represents my opinion after the second read through of the book. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusion.

Lie to me by Melinda Di Lorenzo

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Audrey Albertson is an investigative reporter for the Between the Sheets magazine. A belittling at her high school reunion causes her to reevaluate her life, starting with her career. She disguises herself to get a job with recently released felon Derek Stone. The untold story of his crime is what she thinks could gain her notoriety. Derek Stone is desperate to escape public scrutiny after his release from jail. He seeks to hire an image consultant to help him change the public's mind in a month. He instructs his assistant to hire the consultant that arrives first and dismiss the rest. The first applicant on site is Audrey. As soon as they meet Audrey and Derek feel drawn to each other.

The chemistry between Audrey and Derek is fantastic. I am endeared by characters who make me laugh out loud and the characters in this book did that repeatedly. It is hilarious as they quip back and forth and their inner monologues are equally amusing. Audrey and Derek are well-developed characters. They have inner strength and hidden turmoil that unites them. For reasons they can't explain they share secrets no one else knows and feel better doing so. Their captivation with each other was credible.

A turning point for the couple took place in Derek's basement studio. Derek wanted to share with Audrey art he was preparing to sell. Derek's sadness showed distinctly in his paintings and these emotions compelled Audrey to confess the lie between them. Derek begged Audrey not to break his heart, sensing her confession would change everything. This section was an emotional contrast to their earlier exchanges. It was one of my favorite parts of the book.

After the lies and half-truths come out they deal with them. I worried with the secrets they kept, a happily ever after would feel forced but here their resolutions matched their personalities. Usually, I prefer paranormal situations be at the center of the stories I read. I find most modern romances just bore me. This story and its characters kept my attention. I would recommend any fan of the romance genre give it a try.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received a free copy of this book through Library Thing for my honest review.

The Walking Dead: Here's Negan by Robert Kirkman

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I believe villainy has a lot to do with perspective and I anticipated Negan might be less evil than he looks on the surface. Negan's origin story did not disappoint. I see him in a slightly different light now. I am more versed with the television show. I have read a few Walking Dead comics mostly from the beginning of the series. I can't judge how this story compares to Negan's comic incarnation. My only complaint is that comics take very little time to read. The wait between installments is worse than a tv show, although not as bad as waiting for an epic fantasy novel. I imagine this is why I don't invest more time and effort in comic book reading.

Beyond the Rules by Anna Del Mar

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Beyond the Rules by Anna Del Mar. This book was an enjoyable deviation from my regular preference of urban fantasy or paranormal romance. I would recommend Beyond the Rules to readers who enjoy modern erotic romance. The following is my summary and honest opinion of the book.

Nina is discovered when trying to expose Dimayev is working with a cyber-terrorist. She is desperate to get to the hacker Ulysses who can help her uncover his crimes. Nina's escape is almost thwarted when her small passenger plane is shot down by Dimayev's men.

Ex-SEAL members Tanner, Aiden and Zar rescue Nina from the plane wreckage. The men take her to their secure home in the secluded mountains of Montana to recuperate. Nina soon realizes these men are the key to her survival in more ways than one.

Tanner, Aiden, and Zar have strongly bonded through past experiences. The men have decided that to be romantically successful they need one woman to share. Tanner is educated in personality profiling. He quickly comes to the conclusion Nina is the girl who could fulfill all of their desires.

The good: Where this story succeeds for me is in the execution. Nina is not just an intimidated, naïve virgin. She is intelligent and could feasibly make a go at protecting herself from Dimayev. Nina makes sound decisions and is comfortable and open about her sexuality. She comes to conclusions about her relationships with the men from a place based in reality. Their actions are not driven only by the fantasy of the ménage a quatre scenario.

There is a plot present beyond the romantic couplings. The characters may struggle but they seem stronger together mentally as well as physically. Throughout the story Tanner, Aiden, and Zar hunt to bring Dimayev down. When Nina is cleared to help them gather evidence she effectively contributes to the case. These things were important for me to relate to the characters in the story.

Random tidbits: I appreciated that the first couple that got together did not profess to love each other the day after they met. They recognized the chemistry between them and just let things happen. I appreciated although the men claimed jealousy would not be an issue, it eventually was. Realistically it would come up. They dealt with it as a group in a way I believed would suit them. The sexual encounters lived up to the genre of erotic romance. The explicit scenes were steamy and most of them felt organic.

The bad: The surface plot is pretty basic. There is the girl who needs to be rescued from the bad guy. Said girl happens upon her saviors that take her in and immediately try to make her theirs. She quickly falls for the level-headed alpha male, followed by the sweet but troubled alpha male and then slowly connects with the abrasive alpha male to round out the trio. And of course one of the men is a sexual dominant. I have read this story before. I did not like this story very much.

This author has caught my attention. I will look to Anna Del Mar for my next modern erotic romance.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through Netgalley.

Loving Her Alphas by Ari Thatcher

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Rayne was spending summers at her Grandpa Joe's hunting lodge when she met the Whitmore brothers Caleb, Nick, and Dalton. She decides after a bad break up to turn Grandpa Joe's run-down lodge into a resort. Rayne wrecks her car on her move to Silver Bear Mountain.  A wolf attacks and bites Rayne while she is looking for help after the accident. Rayne escapes the wolf only after another wolf appears and a fight ensues. She makes her way to an isolated house and finds a key to let herself in. Rayne attempts to clean herself off and tend her wound when the owner of the house returns. Rayne realizes Nick and his brothers live in the house and the fantasies she had as a teenager rush back.

As the shifters in charge, the Whitmore brothers must stop Rayne from opening a resort. The other shifters on the mountain do not want strangers near their land. They have declared they will kill to protect it. Caleb, Nick, and Dalton are hoping Rayne will rethink the resort or she will sell the land to them.

The brothers share everything, including their women. They know Rayne possessing a dormant shifter gene that can awaken by bite or sex is a slim one, so they try to resist their attraction. For their pack to remain shifters, they cannot mate with a human. Their shifter gene will breed out if they do. What they don't count on is how hard they fall for Rayne.

Rayne and Nick had decent chemistry and acted on it quickly.  When Rayne began to consider multiple partners she did not suffer a lot of inner torment about it being wrong. It gets on my nerves when women in books judge themselves in ménage situations. I appreciate that was not the case here. The frequent sexual encounters were pretty steamy.

Rayne showed signs of some anxiety.  Her rubbing her arm to stop the desire to crawl out of her skin or itching from the inside out soon seemed like subtle hints toward a shifter transformation. I enjoyed the narrator's approach to this scenario. It caused little twinges of tension waiting to see if, how and when she might turn.

The plot itself did not hold a ton of depth. It was mainly an anthology of sexual fantasies. It did not bother me too much until the end. One of the brothers decided to leave the pack for fear of his jealousy tearing them apart. It felt sudden. Until that point, Rayne and the brothers interacted fine. Lacking an emotional tie to them, it just made me roll my eyes.

The flow of some of the sex scenes was problematic. For example, a character would be lying on top of another and suddenly would be beside them doing something different with no segue. This issue happened often enough I started backtracking to find where I misunderstood. Feeling like I missed something became annoying.

Overall this book was decent. Not the best I have read but not the worst either. It would be good for someone looking for a tantalizing paranormal romance.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

Intensity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

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My first impression was not terribly favorable, but I had a certain expectation which I now think logically never would have come to pass.  On my next read through I think I will have a better chance of being a bit more impartial.



Intensity is the official end of the Chronicles of Nick series. Knowledge of CoN is necessary for things to make sense in this book. Intensity is laying the groundwork for the upcoming Shadows of Fire series. I believe this is why I have more questions than answers. I hope the next installment continues to clarify things.

As the story begins, Nick finds himself accused of murder. Nick's family and friends work to prove the charges are false. The murder conflict wraps up a little too quick.

Nick encounters characters who have more information on his ancestry. These meetings take place in a separate realm that one could argue are not based in reality. One of my frustrations with this story derives from this concern.

Nick finds someone has counteracted his attempts to fix his timeline. By the end of the book, Nick believes he has found a way to protect it. For the Dark Hunter storylines to remain unchanged, Nick makes a logical choice. Nick's place in the Dark Hunter series is an important one that cannot be altered. Despite the necessity, the decision is difficult for me to accept. One could argue the experiences in the Chronicles of Nick are now pointless. I will trust in the author's master plan but what good are our lessons if they are forgotten?

The gang discovers crucial information about the Sephiroth swords and the mystery surrounding them could aide in future conflicts. The Dark Hunters series is moving forward as CoN plays out in the past. We have come full circle with Nick's journey. It is time for the CoN characters to come out of hiding to impart wisdom and help with these conflicts.

I don't want to communicate I didn't enjoy this book, I did. Sherrilyn Kenyon's stories contain intricate plots. Subtle clues are everywhere and can span multiple books. I love and hate her for this. I get easily frustrated when I cannot solve a puzzle right away. Nick has been a favorite of mine since the Dark Hunter series. After all he has been through, he deserves his happily ever after.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Deathtrap by Dannika Dark

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Deathtrap is Book 3 of the Crossbreed series. This book is fine as a stand-alone, background information enriches the story but is not necessary. I highly recommend the entire series for anyone who loves urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Raven belongs to Keystone, a group of investigators for the breed world. The members happen upon a murdered female. During the search for clues, they realize her newborn has gone missing. The higher authority keeps them on the case since it is likely the child will end up on the black market. The crime uncovers and connects to one of the character's pasts. The full connection is deep, emotional and I did not see it coming. I felt the betrayal. I even had a verbal reaction to it. If I had a physical copy, I would have thrown my book. I appreciate when a story grips me so much I forget what is around me.

The bonds between the members continue to grow and their trust in each other builds. I enjoy getting to know everyone better as partners and individuals. I feel their loyalty to each other and do not doubt they would do anything necessary to keep each other safe. Shepard has a heartbreaking backstory. I hope he gets full closure to the wrongs he has suffered. I hope he finds the courage to confide in someone and not carry his burden alone.

The author takes time for romance to blossom for her couples. Their sexual tension is more fierce that way. The chemistry between Christian and Raven is intense. They complement each other perfectly and are realizing they cannot deny the attraction they feel. Christian and Raven have an intimate talk about his bodyguard job. I think this is important for him to come to terms with things in the present. It was also important for me to hear. I never felt right about how that situation ended for Christian. Christian and Raven realize they have an unexpected connection in their pasts. I am so rooting for them to make their relationship work. They both deserve some happiness.

Raven and her father Crush spend a few emotional moments together. Christian gains knowledge of him that could be good for Raven. Raven's relationship with her father is important to her. I don't know if she will be able to walk away and never see him again. I worry how Viktor is going to react to the things going on with Raven. Between the potential romance with Christian and now her father's knowledge he is going to need to be understanding. I sense Viktor is a good man it just makes me nervous.

Raven meets an interesting character she dubs Chaos. The two of them have some great interactions. I suspect Chaos gave Christian and Raven unseen help during the pursuit of the bad guys. It is obvious he will play a part in future books, possibly as an antagonist. I hope he does not lose his charm and I am eager to find out his breed.

Other conflicts for Keystone develop to set up future installments. The world Dannika Dark has created is rich, the characters are unique, and the relationships are meaningful. I have not read a book of hers yet that I did not love.

All my opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.