I'm excited to attend my first StokerCon this week, in Grand Rapids, Michigan! This is not a convention I plan to attend normally, but the stars aligned to make attending this year too awesome to pass up, such as my publisher Raw Dog Screaming Press winning this year's Specialty Press Award. For most of the … Continue reading StokerCon 2019 Schedule!
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2019 Resolution Project: Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews
My 2019 Resolution Project over at my other blog, Speculative Chic, is to read the entire Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by Ilona Andrews, finishing up with a first read of the final book in the series. I've read the second book, Magic Burns, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review … Continue reading 2019 Resolution Project: Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews
April Wrap-Up & May Goals
I definitely had a productive month, just not in the way I originally thought. I also got to see some great friends and read some great books, so no complaints here. I'm in the middle of reading some pretty awesome book series that I'm alternating with each other, which just makes me want to read … Continue reading April Wrap-Up & May Goals
Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 3 (Eburosi Chronicles #3) by R.A. Steffan
When their rock shatters, Carivel and Senovo have to work together to put Andoc back together again. Their relationship arc goes through another set of trials, just enough to make a reader worried while also keeping faith that everything will work out for the best. The world of Eburosi grows again when the characters travel … Continue reading Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 3 (Eburosi Chronicles #3) by R.A. Steffan
Review: Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals #2.5) by Alyssa Cole
Though the initial attraction I had to the Reluctant Royals series was the royalty aspect, I quickly fell in love with Cole's writing and amazing characters. Even though no royals even appear onscreen in this supplemental novella, the story still packed an amazing combination of love and heartbreak into a limited number of pages. The … Continue reading Review: Once Ghosted, Twice Shy (Reluctant Royals #2.5) by Alyssa Cole
Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 2 (Eburosi Chronicles #2) by R.A. Steffan
The epic fantasy world of Eburosi deepens, along with the relationship between Carivel, Senovo, and Andoc, in this second installment of The Horse Mistress. Many of the quibbles I had about the first book are addressed here, such as external conflicts that stand in the way of their relationship and more extensive world-building. Along with learning … Continue reading Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 2 (Eburosi Chronicles #2) by R.A. Steffan
Review: A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2) by Alyssa Cole
Saying that I didn't like this book as much as the previous in the series does a disservice to this book, because I still enjoyed it thoroughly. This is completely subjective reasoning on my part, because I did not connect with this heroine as much. She's a rich trust fund kid, even though she struggles … Continue reading Review: A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2) by Alyssa Cole
Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (Eburosi Chronicles #1) by R.A. Steffan
The downside to growing as a reader is realizing how much epic fantasy is problematic in terms of representation. Therefore, I thoroughly enjoyed discovering this series, which features queer characters, including a gender-fluid character. Carivel is a delight to read, and her relationship(s) with Andoc and Senovo are just the right mix of emotional and … Continue reading Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 1 (Eburosi Chronicles #1) by R.A. Steffan
Review: A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole
I picked up the first book in this series because a later installment features a woman in a wheelchair on the cover, and I am all about supporting representation in books. The fact that this book has two characters of color on the cover, which is a rarity for a romance novel by a major … Continue reading Review: A Princess in Theory (Reluctant Royals #1) by Alyssa Cole
Review: Maelstrom (Whyborne & Griffin #7) by Jordan L. Hawk
Family has been a running theme in this series, and things come to a head in this installment of the Whyborne & Griffin books. Whyborne's father has had a major shift in attitude, which causes Whyborne to be suspicious of the man's motives. In the grander scheme of things, Whyborne's own position in the town … Continue reading Review: Maelstrom (Whyborne & Griffin #7) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: Babylon’s Ashes (The Expanse #6) by James S.A. Corey
We've reached the point in this series where it's okay for the authors to throw a bunch of points of view at the reader. By now, the world-building is solid and the political landscape is pretty clear. The downside to this is that the only POVs I really want are Holden, Naomi, and the others … Continue reading Review: Babylon’s Ashes (The Expanse #6) by James S.A. Corey
Review: Any Old Diamonds (Lilywhite Boys #1) by K.J. Charles
K.J. Charles has officially become one of "those authors," in which I purchase the book on release day and stay up way too late finishing it on a work night. And I have zero regrets about it. This particular book references the concept of the Victorian-era melodrama multiple times. Then, it drags the reader along … Continue reading Review: Any Old Diamonds (Lilywhite Boys #1) by K.J. Charles
Review: Elle by Night (Dommes by Night #2) by Rachell Nichole
Disclaimer: The author is a friend of mine; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The premise of this book immediately hooked me. Two dominants sparring with each other, even by telephone? Yes, please. However, Jo and Spencer immediately proved themselves to be amazing and three-dimensional characters. That 3D part is key in a … Continue reading Review: Elle by Night (Dommes by Night #2) by Rachell Nichole
Review: Hoarfrost (Whyborne & Griffin #6) by Jordan L. Hawk
Something different about this book is immediate from the first page -- scenes from Griffin's point of view! This made me nervous at first, but Hawk obviously has a great handle on his character. Switching between two first-person POVs is never difficult, because Griffin's voice is so distinctive from Whyborne's. The need for scenes to … Continue reading Review: Hoarfrost (Whyborne & Griffin #6) by Jordan L. Hawk
Review: The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) by Kresley Cole
I started this series on the recommendation of a friend who is a romance author, and I devoured this sexy novella in a single evening. I had certain preconceptions about the two main characters based on the back-cover text, which were smashed immediately. The heroine Myst, especially, was not what I expected at all. The … Continue reading Review: The Warlord Wants Forever (Immortals After Dark #1) by Kresley Cole
Book Excerpt & Giveaway: Into the Ashes (Taine McKenna Adventures #3) by Lee Murray
Last month I posted a spoiler-free review of the latest installment of Lee Murray's thriller series, the Taine McKenna Adventures. In Into the Ashes, Taine faces his biggest foe yet: the active volcanic isles of New Zealand itself. Check out an excerpt from the book below, then follow the link to enter a giveaway for an … Continue reading Book Excerpt & Giveaway: Into the Ashes (Taine McKenna Adventures #3) by Lee Murray
March Wrap-Up & April Goals
I'm feeling pretty positive about how this month turned out, even if (as usual, these days) I did not accomplish all my goals. I did get to spend lots of time with awesome people and read cool books, which also have to be priorities in life. A person cannot always "exhale" productivity; sometimes you have … Continue reading March Wrap-Up & April Goals
2019 Resolution Project: Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews
My 2019 Resolution Project over at my other blog, Speculative Chic, is to read the entire Kate Daniels urban fantasy series by Ilona Andrews, finishing up with a first read of the final book in the series. I've read the first book, Magic Bites, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review … Continue reading 2019 Resolution Project: Magic Bites (Kate Daniels #1) by Ilona Andrews
Review: Nemesis Games (The Expanse #5) by James S.A. Corey
It's a little crazy that this is the first book that gives us point-of-view scenes from all four members of the Rocinante crew: Holden, Naomi, Alex, and Amos. On the downside, this is because for much of the book none of them are together! While I hated to see the "family" broken up, it was awesome … Continue reading Review: Nemesis Games (The Expanse #5) by James S.A. Corey
Review: Bloodline (Whyborne & Griffin #5) by Jordan L. Hawk
The Lovecraftian influence in this series goes deeper once again, featuring mythical monsters hinted at in previous installments. The larger world of sorcery also opens up, and along with Whyborne, we find out there is more to learn than just spells in an old book. Family is the true theme of this story, however, as … Continue reading Review: Bloodline (Whyborne & Griffin #5) by Jordan L. Hawk