A fun, quick read. The developing relationship between the characters could have been fraught and over-dramatic, but Rose balances the need for tension in the story with the realities of modern, mature adults. It's a romance story, so you already know that there's going to be a happily ever after. My favorite part of this … Continue reading Review: “Mr. Gold” by Margot Rose
Review: Can’t Escape Love (Reluctant Royals #3.5) by Alyssa Cole
Once again, Cole impresses me with her ability to weave timelines together within different stories. This series interlude fills in some of the gaps of the second Reluctant Royals book, including interactions between the main heroine and her parents. I adore Regina, and I don't even pity her for not getting to become a "royal" … Continue reading Review: Can’t Escape Love (Reluctant Royals #3.5) by Alyssa Cole
Review: The Contract by Margot Rose
This read was a fun escape. But where I thought I understood what I was getting into, it managed to surprise me at every turn. "Love at first sight" is a romance trope I just can't get behind, but "insta-lust" can be a LOT of fun when done right. Rose does it right in this … Continue reading Review: The Contract by Margot Rose
Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 2 (Eburosi Chronicles #9) by R.A. Steffan
I finished the first installment of The Dragon Mistress on a Friday night, right before I was supposed to play video games with my spouse and a friend. Instead, I devoured the next installment in a single evening while they played without me. I regret nothing. The dragons play a larger role in this story, as … Continue reading Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 2 (Eburosi Chronicles #9) by R.A. Steffan
Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 1 (Eburosi Chronicles #8) by R.A. Steffan
This amazing series picks up approximately a decade in the future with the story of Frella, the younger sister of one of the heroes of the previous collection. Possibly my favorite thing about Steffan's writing is their ability to create fully fleshed female narrative characters who each have their own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities. Frella … Continue reading Review: The Dragon Mistress: Book 1 (Eburosi Chronicles #8) by R.A. Steffan
Review: Magic Mourns (Kate Daniels #3.5) by Ilona Andrews
This novella takes place between Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds in the Kate Daniels universe, but the point-of-view character is Kate's friend Andrea Nash instead. We've already been introduced to Andrea and know secrets about her character from previous books in the series, but this time, she's the hero of her own adventure. Once again, … Continue reading Review: Magic Mourns (Kate Daniels #3.5) by Ilona Andrews
Review: The Lion Mistress (Eburosi Chronicles #5-#7) by R.A. Steffan
Because of how much I enjoyed each installment of The Horse Mistress, my first experience with the world of the Eburosi Chronicles, I went ahead and bought the full collection of the next adventure as one book. I have no regrets about that decision. This world gave me one of the most intense book hangovers of … Continue reading Review: The Lion Mistress (Eburosi Chronicles #5-#7) by R.A. Steffan
Review: Noelle by Night (Dommes by Night #3) by Rachell Nichole
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased this ebook for full price. The final installment of the Dommes by Night series once again flips the script on its head. Nichole heightens the tension on multiple fronts, from the relationship between the main characters, to the hidden secrets, to the drama of the … Continue reading Review: Noelle by Night (Dommes by Night #3) by Rachell Nichole
2019 Resolution Project: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) 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 third book, Magic Strikes, before, but never officially reviewed it. You can find my full review here. An excerpt: "Kate … Continue reading 2019 Resolution Project: Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews
Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 4 (Eburosi Chronicles #4) by R.A. Steffan
Now that our three heroes are in a solid relationship, it was time to shake things up a bit. It would have been easy for the author to focus on a more character-driven story, but I love how they don't let the readers forget that war is coming. Times are changing, and our heroes have … Continue reading Review: The Horse Mistress: Book 4 (Eburosi Chronicles #4) by R.A. Steffan
Review: “A Lord to Love” by Sara Dobie Bauer
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I read a much earlier draft of this story, but it was just as much of a pleasure to read the final product a second time around. Bauer features the best of both worlds here: despite this being a … Continue reading Review: “A Lord to Love” by Sara Dobie Bauer
StokerCon 2019 Schedule!
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!
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
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