Dark Alpha's Caress by Donna Grant

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

Reborn to serve, I have never once questioned Death’s directives. Until my mission leads me to a Halfling who stirs things within me that I’ve never felt before. Sorcha’s past intrigues me, but not as much as the gorgeous and stubborn Halfling herself. Though the Others are no more, our enemies still lurk around every corner. I can feel it. But for her, I will battle whatever comes my way—be it present dangers or ghosts of the past.

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REVIEW

Dark Alpha's Caress feels like the beginning of a new arc, which makes sense based on the previous installments.  Due to this fact, any new reader of the series will not find themselves lost.  What loose ends remain from the prior storyline are explained.  

For this reason, Sorcha and Cathal find themselves in a situation not quite as precarious as the rest.  Yes, there is conflict, and it sucks for Sorcha.  At the story's conclusion, I got a bit teary-eyed.  But we see very little of the rest of the group, and I missed them a bit.  No need for the big guns, so to speak, when two can seemingly take care of the problem.  

Sorcha has a uniqueness about her that I find intriguing, Half-Fae and Skye Druid.  Utilizing her power in an epic battle could prove to be a great asset.  Cathal embodies those qualities that all of Death's Reapers do.  Sexy, lethal, loyal, and protective.  The two have sizzling, sexy chemistry.

I am curious to see where the books will go from here.  Where the rising factions will cause trouble, or not, and what challenges lie ahead for the Reapers.

Looking For A Cowboy by Donna Grant

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A cowboy finds love in the most unlikely place in New York Times bestseller Donna Grant's newest Heart of Texas novel, Looking for a Cowboy.

A beautiful stranger has come to Clearview, asking questions that are nobody’s business. Cooper Owens also wasn’t born yesterday. He knows that this out-of-towner is hiding a dark secret of her own. Much as he knows he should head in the other direction, he can’t make himself turn away. . .

P.I. Marlee Frampton always wanted to lead a nice quiet life, working as a cop in her local police department. But that dream came to an end when her sister was murdered—and her baby kidnapped. Now Marlee’s come to Texas to investigate the Harpers, who may be linked to shady adoption agencies. Cooper can’t believe that his friends could be involved in anything so sinister...and soon he makes it his mission to help Marlee discover the truth—and keep her safe in his arms.

“Filled with passion, suspense, and strong characters.”—Rendezvous with Romance on My Favorite Cowboy (5 stars)

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REVIEW

The male protagonist in a Donna Grant story is always caring and respectful but never overly forceful. They persevere through the strong ties created by family and friends and the love they feel for their heroine. Cooper is no different. He has a right-minded moral compass, and even though Marlee's introduction in his life could have hindered their relationship, he saw the value of her goals, and his burgeoning feelings were too intense to ignore.

Marlee's purpose is a righteous one that steams from a significant personal loss. She is determined and steadfast in her resolve. When she meets Cooper, he helps her realize a more effective way to attain her aspirations, both in her career and personal life. To her relief, Cooper's assistance prompts a resolution she has been searching for for years.

I enjoyed experiencing the story unfold, both due to Cooper and Marlee's relationship and for the desire to see justice served for the crimes they strive to solve. The thought of infant kidnapping, especially on the level here, is unsettling. Rooting for the good guys is effortlessly done.

Cooper and Marlee mesh well. Their relationship never feels forced, and their chemistry is apparent from the start. Cooper's integrity is endearing. Marlee is intelligent and composed, which moves the plot well. If you enjoy a mystery/ suspense with a smart heroine and a noble cowboy, Looking for a Cowboy by Donna Grant is for you.

All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

All Scot and Bothered is the second book in the stunning Devil You Know series by USA Today bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne!

They are a dangerous duke, a fierce lord, and an infamous earl—dark, bold, brave men who know exactly what they want. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees...

He is first and foremost—at everything. A man who’s made his own way through ruthless cunning and sheer force of will. A strong and imposing Scot who can turn on the charm but does not suffer fools. His title: Lord Chief Justice of the High Court. His name: Cassius Gerard Ramsay. His mission: To investigate the goings-on at London's most notorious gaming hell, owned and operated by one of the most intriguing and desirable women he’s ever met.

IN THIS GAME OF LOVE, THE RULES DO NOT APPLY

Cecelia Teague was an orphan facing a rather dire future—until a secret benefactor from her mother’s scandalous past swept into her life. Sent to a prestigious boarding school and later to university, Cecelia believed high society was at her fingertips...Then, from out of nowhere, she became the inheritor of a gambling establishment. Now Cecelia must live two lives: one as a proper lady who finds herself undeniably drawn to Lord Ramsay and the other as a savvy gaming hell owner trying to save her business from the very same man. He has no idea she is both women...and Cecelia would like to keep it that way. But what happens when consuming passion and escalating danger threaten to reveal the truth?

"With the Devil You Know series, Byrne once again delivers the beautifully nuanced characters and seductive storytelling her readers have come to expect."—Booklist

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REVIEW

Kerrigan Byrne's All Scot and Bothered (The Devil You Know 2) is a lovely historical romance.  Cecelia Teague, the second book of a trio of friends who call themselves the Red Rogues, finds herself wrapped up in a possible scandal upon the death of her aunt.  To make things worse, she finds herself drawn to Cassius Gerard Ramsy is spearheading the investigation into her new inheritance.

Cecelia and Ramsy are a wonderful couple.  Their insecurities equally get in their way at times, but their friendship and passion for each other help to balance that out.  Any story has a certain amount of conflict for the couple, but it did not get drawn out to the point that I was questioning the characters' intelligence.  

I love Ramsy's sense of duty.  He seems a bit stuffy at first, but it quickly fades away.  Cecelia was a woman with her own mind, which is refreshing, and I honestly appreciated she was voluptuous.  

There was a great mystery also present in All Scot and Bothered, one that I did not fully suss out before the reveal.  I appreciate when there is something else going on in a romance other than an internal struggle with the characters.

I would highly recommend All Scot and Bothered by Kerrigan Byrne for any historical romance fan.  I cannot wait for the next adventure of the Red Rogues.

Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls

ABOUT THE BOOK

A DARK PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Fifty houses have been burned to the ground in a fisherman’s village in France. Who would do such a thing? Why target the quiet little village? The police say it’s arson, but their forensic scientists can’t find the cause. If Clelia isn’t the guilty party, then why did the fires start at the same time as her sleepwalking? Why is she dreaming about Joss, her secret childhood crush who abandoned their village nine years earlier? She doesn’t know why Joss is coming for her in her nightmare. All she knows is that she has to run. As fast as she can.

(Each book in the 7 Forbidden Arts series reads as a standalone, but there’s also a series arc.)

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REVIEW

Paranormal romances are what I most enjoy reading so, discovering one of my favorite authors had a series in this genre was good news indeed.  Simply put, I loved Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls and cannot wait to continue with more from the Forbidden Arts books.

As always, Charmaine Pauls knows how to write a fantastic romance.  Joss has just come back to the small community where he and Clelia grew up.  Clelia always carried a torch for Joss and, their reunion proves to the catalyst that changes their lives forever.

Joss has deep emotional scars from childhood.  As much as his adult life has come together, he cannot shake it.  Attempting to latch onto Clelia and do right by her is his goal, but does not always go as planned. His journey is a complicated and heartfelt one.  I love the hero in Charmaine Pauls books.  They tend to be on the aggressive, possessive side and closed off emotionally, but they always find a way to openly love their heroine by the end of the story.  I think Joss is one of my favorites so far. 

Clelia has to come to terms with the fantasy of Joss from her teen years. Her long time unrequited love is very different from the actuality of their current adult situation.  To top it off, she is dealing with a pending threat to her life and a power she does not understand.  

The chemistry between the couple is off the charts.  They are sexy and passionate, and you cannot help but root for their happy ending.  Pyromancist is well worth a read.

The Guardian by Donna Grant

ABOUT THE BOOK

Knowledge is power.

They live to protect. They live to fight for honor and justice. They live to love the women who have captured their souls. These are the Sons of Texas, from New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant.

As a double agent, Maks Petrov has been so many people, he doesn’t know who he is anymore. While he prefers to work alone, taking down an organization like the Saints requires some help—even if he loathes asking for it. Just one day in the company of a sexy, fearless, and brilliant information broker makes him realize what he’s been missing in life…and fantasizing about what he could have.

Eden Fontaine thought she knew the evils of the world until she was confronted with knowledge of the Saints and what they’ve done—and still could do. Lucky for her, she has Maks by her side, a trained operative who not only makes her feel safe and cared for but also makes her blood run hot. Eden’s never thought much about settling down, but Maks makes her crave a world without the Saints and the handsome guardian by her side for all eternity.

With the Saints upping their game, Maks and Eden have one shot at assembling the intelligence necessary to take down the evil organization for good. If they can, they may have a chance at the happily ever after they both deserve.

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REVIEW

The Guardian by Donna Grant is the first book I have read in the Sons of Texas series. Although I did not have the lead-up information, I never felt lost while reading The Guardian.  It can certainly serve as a standalone novel.  Maks is as spy on the run, who commissions help from Eden to uncover a secret government group who seem to be trying to take over the world.

The Guardian had me hooked right away.  The storyline balances action-based thrills with the downtime of computer research and Maks and Eden getting to know each other.  The scenarios never pause long enough to become stagnant, making it a well-rounded plot.  

The Suspense and romance make The Guardian well worth a read.  Even without the benefit of witnessing their past wrongs, watching the bad guy fall here was extremely satisfying.

Inferno by Donna Grant

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Inferno is the explosive, most anticipated, final book in Donna Grant's Dark Kings series featuring Con, the King of the Dragon Kings!

I knew what I wanted. And nothing was going to stop me.

King of Dragon Kings. Driven, ruthless, shrewd. The weight of survival for Constantine and his brethren has pushed him to set aside his own yearnings—for now. He’s the most powerful of all Dragon Kings, and Con will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who dares to threaten his existence.

For years, Con has hidden his pain—his desperation—for there is one smoldering beauty that he craves above all else, even if he feels he doesn’t deserve her. However, his enemies are at every corner. There is no one left to trust. But none of that matters anymore: There is only one thing that Con wants. With this one woman by his side, he can fight for the freedom of his fellow men-in-arms. All Con has to do is get her to surrender her heart…and be his for all time.

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REVIEW

The Dragon Kings are gorgeous, protective, fierce, gallant, amazing Scots.   They do their best to protect humanity from the Dark Fae while maintaining anonymity. Forces continually strive to expose their true dragon form to the world, to initiate their destruction. 

The Dark Kings saga by Donna Grant is one of my all-time favorites out there.  And Inferno is the big one. Con's story. The King of Kings.  Is it worth the wait?  Absolutely it is.  Let's start with the standard warning, especially this far in if you are not familiar with the Dragon Kings, do not start here.  You are going to spoil a whole slew of books if you read this first and believe me, it is a fun test of patience trying to figure out who Con's mate is.  

And the not so standard warning that I will not be able to review further without spoilers. Last chance, stop here if you do not want to spoil, well, the entire series. Of course, everyone's fantasy of how things were supposed to happen are different.  I spent hours analyzing Con and Rhi over the years, and I almost had myself convinced they were not mates.  Until the beginning of 2020, when I ran across the big spoil. I didn't have to read it, but I did, and after the last book, I would have swung back around to that conclusion anyway.  In short, Con and Rhi were no surprise.  I enjoyed getting their flashbacks.  I liked that Rhi made Con work for it. I almost wish we could have got the reveal a few books ago.  That way, Con REALLY would have had to work for it, but that might have been too torturous.

The Usaeil reveal was a bit unexpected.  I know some are a bit offended by it, but it makes a warped bit of sense.  Honestly, I think it is a great final f you.  Her past comes back to bite her in the butt.  And Erith's nice little secret, oh boy.  That one was almost over the top, but I like where it will lead us.  

Melisse and Henry, I approve, if it is what I think it is, and it better be.  She is just awesome.  I mean she's like Maleficent, how is that not the coolest thing ever.  And Balladyn still needs his happy ending.  These are my wishes for the future.  So with the mate of the King of Dragon Kings, the Usaeil saga is closed.  Good frickin riddance.  I will now continue my series reread so I can grin every time Con and Rhi start in on each other.  I know your secret now.

Forbidden Desire by Robin Lovett

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Being a sex goddess should be my dream come true—as much sex as I want, with magic powers to heal people, too. Until I realize the enormously strong human I desire most is completely off-limits. My people will put me in prison if I’m caught with a human.

But one encounter together leaves me panting for more. So I whisk him away to an alien sex retreat. I soon discover not only is my big strong human a virgin, his bio-engineering might have made him the largest person I’ve ever seen, but also it made him unable to feel any sensation on his skin.

We’ve got three days to try to heal him with my sex powers before I risk someone discovering us. Then I find out his biggest secret…

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REVIEW

Graven finds himself on the run, a fugitive human on a foreign planet. Niva is the sex goddess healer that he finds himself unable to stop obsessing over.  When Niva eventually regards him, she discovers he needs her more than anyone she has ever encountered. 

Forbidden Desire by Robin Lovett is what you would expect based on the plot summary.  So ask yourself what do you want from this story.  Some sexy time, under the guise of a healer and her patient? Yes? Okay.  But it doesn't get a lot deeper than that.  Niva and Graven experience a pretty superficial relationship, but it is very steamy. 

That being said, there are elements of Forbidden Desire that advance it beyond mind-numbing erotica.  The author makes an effort to weave a story into Niva's healing sessions, and I did find it intriguing.  Graven's torturous past, Niva's fear of her council's reaction to a forbidden human it was all enough to keep me engaged in their stories. 

Forbidden Desire by Robin Lovett is one of the better erotica's I have run across.  I finished it, which for me and this type of book means a lot, but some of it I only skimmed.  Take that as you will.

Blood and Ash: The Jezebel Files, Book One by Deborah Wilde

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cold-blooded kidnappers. Long-lost magic. When things get serious, she goes full Sherlock.

Ashira Cohen takes pride in being the only female private investigator in Vancouver. With her skills, her missing persons case should be a piece of cake.

She wasn't counting on getting bashed in the skull, revealing a hidden tattoo and supernatural powers she shouldn't possess.

Or the bitter icing on top: a spree of abductions and terrifying ghostly creatures on a deadly bender.

And don't even get her started on the golems.

Reluctantly partnered with her long-time nemesis Levi, the infuriating leader of the magic community, Ash resolves to keep her focus on the clue trail and off their sexual tension because WTF is up with that?

But with a mastermind organization pulling strings from the shadows and Levi's arrogance driving her to pick out his body bag, can Ash rescue the captives and uncover the truth or will the next blood spilled be her own?

Blood & Ash is the epic first novel in The Jezebel Files. If you like headstrong heroines, complex mysteries, and a dash of red-hot romance, you'll love Deborah Wilde's laugh out loud tale.

Get it now!

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REVIEW

Ashira Cohen lives in a world where part of the populace is magically adept. Trying to make it as a mundane detective, where the jobs make less money and are less exciting, Ash attempts to make the best of it.  During a case, a head injury puts her on a path she never thought possible.

I was ecstatic when I discovered NetGalley is now giving out audiobook arcs, which is my preferred method of reading.  A narrator can make or break the audiobook journey, and this was a good one. Hollie Jackson does a good job narrating Blood and Ash: The Jezebel Files, Book One. I never felt her interpretation was disingenuous to the characters.  I was able to simply kick back, listen, and lose myself in Ash's world.

Blood and Ash by Deborah Wilde is my kind of book. I'll be honest you will find elements in this story that exist in a lot of other urban fantasy/ paranormal romances.  But that did not make it any less enjoyable for me.  The supernatural had enough of a uniqueness that I was not comparing constantly to stories from my past. I was engaged and interested in the magical world Ash lives in.

Ash is sassy, amusing, and tough.  Her complicated relationship with her mother drew me in as does the one with her childhood "nemesis" Levi.  Love stories derived from a couple who think they despise each other are most interesting to me.  The conflict in the chase always amps up the passion, and Ash and Levi have it in abundance. 

In short, Blood and Ash is excellent and well worth listening to the audiobook.  After finishing, I immediately started book two, Death and Desire, and now wait impatiently for the audio of book three, Shadows and Surrender. 

Diamonds in the Rough by Charmaine Pauls

ABOUT THE BOOK

A DARK MAFIA ROMANCE

Girls like me, we know how to survive.

We each have our own little ways, but we acquire those skills at the same tender age.

If you ask me how many times a person can die, I'll tell you many times. As many times as a man stabs you in the stomach with betrayal and wrings out your heart with lies.

Girls like me, we live.

We don't get a choice.

We step over the cliff and fall.

Eat, sleep, die, and repeat.

* Diamonds in the Rough is Book 2 of the Diamonds are Forever Trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1) must be read to follow the story. Diamonds are Forever (Book 3), which concludes the story, will be released on 15 September 2020.

Other novels in the Diamond Magnate collection:

Standalone Novel

Beauty in the Broken

Diamonds are Forever Trilogy

Diamonds in the Dust (Book 1) - 19 May 2020

Diamonds in the Rough (Book 2) - 14 July 2020

Diamonds are Forever (Book 3) - 15 September 2020

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REVIEW

Diamonds in the Rough is the second story in the Diamonds Are Forever trilogy by Charmaine Pauls. Diamonds in the Rough ensnared me from the beginning. I could not set this early copy I received down. By the end, I was bouncing in my seat.

The men are very dominating, but the leads are not abusive to their women. It may upset readers sensitive to those topics, but I enjoy the depictions. Charmaine Pauls creates the most intriguing dark and sensual characters. 

After a tumultuous start, Zoe accepts her place with Maxime. His dominance becomes a passionate craving for her, and the couple begins the semblance of a relationship. When Maxime neglects to inform Zoe of crucial personal issues, Zoe has to determine what compromises she is prepared to make. 

Random Spoilery Thoughts: Maxime broke my heart. Zoe struggles, and when she finally reaches some peace with her complex situation, he consistently makes it worse. I believe this will be a harsh lesson for him, especially when those feelings he doesn't think exist smack him in the face. I absolutely cannot wait for the third Diamonds are Forever.

Broken Dawn by Dianne Duvall

REVIEW

The Immortal Guardian series, a standard recommendation to everyone I talk to, takes a unique spin on the vampire mythology, one that sets it far apart from other PNRS. I adore Dianne Duvall's heroes and heroines. Her Immortals are powerful and protective without being domineering. Here you will not encounter the stereotypical situation of the male domineering the female. The couples are equal in tenacity, clever wit, and charm. I enjoyed shifting away from North Carolina to Texas in this installment, while still keeping a direct connection to the original group. 

Nick and Kayla have marvelous chemistry, and they were absolutely adorable together. Their relationship slowly develops over time, and when they discover the mutual reciprocation, their interactions are wonderfully steamy. The action and suspense are on par with what I expect from this remarkable series. Everything that I appreciate about the Immortal Guardians is present in Broken Dawn. Dianne Duvall does not disappoint.

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