American Witch by Thea Harrison

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the first in a new spellbinding trilogy…

Power can change a person…

For months Molly Sullivan endures the inexplicable: electrical surges, car breakdowns, visions. She even wonders if she might be the cause… and wonders if she might be crazy. Then she discovers her husband has cheated on her. Again. Now Molly realizes she is a newly awakening witch and a woman pushed over the edge.

Revenge can shape a person…

Josiah Mason is a Powerful witch and the leader of a secret coven with a shared goal: to destroy an ancient enemy who has ruined many lives. Josiah lost years to this man, and his sole focus is revenge. He’s prepared for every contingency—except encountering a beautiful new witch who understands nothing of the immense Power building within her or the attraction she wields over him.

Danger can bring them together…

When divorcing her husband, Molly uncovers a dangerous secret he’s willing to kill to protect. She turns to Josiah for help, and they discover a connection between Molly’s husband and Josiah’s enemy.

As they work together, a spark ignites between them that threatens to become an inferno. But Molly is done compromising herself for any man, and Josiah’s mission is his top priority. And the enemy is cunning, cruel, and drawing ever closer.

As the danger escalates, so does the tension between them. Is a lasting relationship possible? Will either of them live long enough to try?

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 REVIEW 

What I liked: American Witch was engaging from the start.  Mary was easy to identify with, and her decisions were reasonable. I liked that the main couple had a moment of passion, but did not immediately disclose eternal love for each other. They recognized their shared desire did not guarantee a relationship would be the best for them under current circumstances.  

Experiencing Mary coming into her witch powers was tense and exciting. The big battle at the end of the story shows Mary, Josiah, and other coven members are going to be a formidable force. I cannot wait to see where the rest of the American Witch series goes.

What I didn't like: Honestly, the plot mechanics used to get Mary out of her current life was predictable to a point. The conflict with her husband, and the repercussions of their break up, I saw coming. I will say that in the end, that predictability did not matter. Watching the characters develop, and their priorities change overshadowed what little I didn't like.

Demon's Mercy by Rebecca Zanetti

ABOUT THE BOOK

Duty meets desire . . .

Mercy O’Malley hates killing people. So when she’s assigned to take out Vampire-Demon Logan Kyllwood, she lures him to a seedy bar in Scotland, then decides to kidnap him instead. How can she cold-bloodedly end all that heat, those green eyes, that ripped body?

Unfortunately for Mercy, attempted murder and kidnapping are just foreplay for the Kyllwood brothers. Logan may be the youngest of the bunch, but death and violence are already a way of life. Now he’s ready to complete a painful, terrifying ritual to become one of the Seven, dedicated to protecting this world from the most dangerous evil it’s ever known. But first he has to deal with a blackmailing Fey, a ransom demand and his own pounding need for the last female he ever should have fallen for . . . 

“Sizzling sex scenes and a memorable cast.”

—Publishers Weekly on Claimed

“A fast-paced, excitement-filled explosion of action… Zanetti keeps getting better.”

—RT Book Reviews on Marked, 4.5 Stars Top Pick

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REVIEW

What I liked: I enjoy my urban fantasy/paranormal romance with multiple supernatural races. Rather than following one species with a smaller vantage point, I enjoy an open world. Demon's Mercy has various characters trying to accomplish multiple tasks relating to the main couple. Broader conflicts create the desire to revisit the same world over multiple books. I already have plans to backtrack in this series and catch up on what I have missed. 

I am fond of a forbidden love story as it adds additional tension to the pairing. Demon's Mercy does this well. Their situation, romantic and otherwise, immediately drew me in. Dodging hostile attacks while fighting their desire for one another, Logan and Mercy charmed me. 

 What I didn't like: not much. The mythology is such a large part of the series, it is clear right away how comprehensive it is. To a non-series enthusiast, that fact won't matter much. The narrative explains the current goings-on quite well. I never felt confused during Demon's Mercy, only upset I did not find the series sooner. That, however, is easy to remedy. In short, I definitely recommend Demon's Mercy by Rebecca Zanetti. It is a great read.

Beauty in the Broken by Charmaine Pauls

ABOUT THE BOOK

A DIAMOND MAGNATE DARK ROMANCE NOVEL

Six years ago, Harold Dalton framed me for theft and sent me to jail to steal my diamond discovery. He gave his daughter to Jack Clarke in exchange for the excavation rights. Today, I’m walking free, and I’m coming for him with a vengeance. Six years of cruelty make beasts out of men. I’m going to take back what he stole from me, and more. I’m not interested in his properties or shares. I don’t want his small change. I want his biggest asset. Beautiful, mentally unstable, Angelina Dalton-Clarke.

Worth billions, she’s the wealthiest widow in the country, and also the craziest. Her self-harming tendencies had Jack declare her incompetent before he put a gun to his head and blew out his brains. Lina isn’t allowed to touch a cent of her riches. Her father manages her finances. He has all the signing power. As her husband, that chore will fall to me. But if she thinks I only want her for her money, she’s sadly mistaken.

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REVIEW

Lina's circumstances have nearly crushed her will at the beginning of Beauty in the Broken. Damian shackles Lina to him convinced this is the only way she will stay by his side. Charmain Pauls does a fantastic job of balancing her dark romances, and Beauty in the Broken is no exception. Lina and Damian begin their relationship emotionally crippled, often using sexual intimacy to elicit an emotional bond. They are flawed but find strength from one another. With the emotional give and take between Lina and Damian, they repair the damage inside of them. Be warned the consent is sometimes suspect, and a strong dominance theme is at play here. This scenario fits the characters well. I believe it advances their development and leads to a magnificent place. In the end, their roles are balanced, and they are both better for it. I enjoyed reading an advanced copy of Beauty in the Broken by Charmaine Pauls. I would highly recommend giving it a try.