The openings of epic fantasy stories can often be either overwhelming or too spare in the details, but Z hits the perfect balance of worldbuilding and backstory in the first chapter without any sort of info dump. I got a good sense of Symon and his immediate circumstances enough to feel invested in his character … Continue reading Book Review: Alliance (Triad #1) by Cari Z
Book Review: All I Fear (All’s Fair #2) by Abrianna Denae
Read my review of the first book in the All's Fair series, All I Want. Though this is not always true, the found-family nature of some series means that the books are so interconnected that they cannot stand alone. While I think this novel could be read and enjoyed without the broader context of the … Continue reading Book Review: All I Fear (All’s Fair #2) by Abrianna Denae
Book Review: On the Double (The Renegades #3) by Cara Dee
Read my reviews of previous books in The Renegades series: Rogue Launch (#1) | Enemy Combatant (#2) Reece, River, and Shay Tenley (affectionately known as “TenShay”) are some of my favorite Dee characters across her expansive, connected universe. I’d have read this stand-alone series even without the promise of a book concentrating on this trio, … Continue reading Book Review: On the Double (The Renegades #3) by Cara Dee
Book Review: Teach Me to Sin (Water, Air, Earth, Fire #4) by Riley Nash
I binge-read the first three books (and supplementary content) in this series in a single weekend, put the release date for the final book on my calendar, and anxiously counted down the days. Then, because I’m a lucky brat, the author was kind enough to send me an advanced copy! Which, of course, I promptly … Continue reading Book Review: Teach Me to Sin (Water, Air, Earth, Fire #4) by Riley Nash
Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Colette Davison
I was warned a few times before I was offered an advanced copy of this book that this was not the typical “MMM” story like most of those I’d read previously in the genre. Since I am all about unexpected stories, especially those that push at genre tropes, I still jumped at the chance to … Continue reading Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry by Colette Davison
Book Review: Bloodlines by A.E. Lister
Vampires are still my first love in the urban fantasy and paranormal romance genres, but I’m to the point of being so picky about how they’re portrayed that I was originally hesitant to volunteer to read an advanced copy of this book. However, Lister does an excellent job leaning into the vampire tropes that are … Continue reading Book Review: Bloodlines by A.E. Lister
Book Review: Luck of the Devil (Reckless Damned #4) by Lark Taylor
Read my reviews of previous books in the Reckless Damned series: Devil’s Mark (#1) | Devil May Care (#2) | Deal With the Devil (#3) Though this review is being posted long after the book launched, that’s because I’m fighting a backlog of reviews, not because I didn’t immediately dive into this series finale the day it was … Continue reading Book Review: Luck of the Devil (Reckless Damned #4) by Lark Taylor
Book Review: An Embrace to Hearten Me (Magi Accounts #3.5) by Michele Notaro
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Magi Accounts series: Our Hearts That Tie Us (#0.5) | The Scars That Bind Us (#1) | A Kiss to Revive Me (#1.5) | The Shackles That Hold Us (#2) | A Date to Impress Him (#2.5) | A Purpose That Restores Us (#3) | A Holiday to Sustain Us (#3.4) This side … Continue reading Book Review: An Embrace to Hearten Me (Magi Accounts #3.5) by Michele Notaro
Book Review: DragonRider (DragonKin #1) by S. Rodman
Rodman hooked me on this urban fantasy setting within the first pages of the book, using quick, subtle details to set up the broad scope of the secret fantasy elements without resorting to direct explanation. Once Kirby arrived at the castle and learned the true reason for his presence, I knew I was in for … Continue reading Book Review: DragonRider (DragonKin #1) by S. Rodman
Book Review: The Magic That Binds (Haelan #1) by A.J. Sherwood
Sherwood launches an imaginative and immersive urban fantasy world with this series opener featuring a delightful mix of primary and secondary characters. I was immediately intrigued by the mystery of how Dag’s “magic” isn’t allowed in this setting, especially when he is blatantly on the side of good, but I was also excited for him … Continue reading Book Review: The Magic That Binds (Haelan #1) by A.J. Sherwood
Book Review: Split Rock Ranch Series by Rory Maxwell
This post includes reviews of the following books in the Split Rock Ranch series: Something Undeniable (#1) | Something Unexpected (#2) Something Undeniable (Split Rock Ranch Book 1) I’ve been shying away from age-gap romance stories lately, but this new author has been on my radar, and I didn’t mind diving into this one when … Continue reading Book Review: Split Rock Ranch Series by Rory Maxwell
Book Review: Day of Judgment (Virtuous Sinners) by Briar Kearney & Aurora Crane
The surface-level tropes were what originally attracted me to this book, but the deeper story and connections that developed between the characters drew me in completely. Even though it begins with a married couple in a long-term established dynamic, I found myself immediately invested in the external plot, which is much more than Justin taking … Continue reading Book Review: Day of Judgment (Virtuous Sinners) by Briar Kearney & Aurora Crane
Book Review: Wholly Trinity (Les’s Bar #3) by Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga
Read my reviews of the previous books in the Les's Bar series: Just Dex (#1) | Hide Bound (#2) Many books by this author pair fall into the “comfort read” category for me, especially because of the fascinating intersection of city versus cowboy, power exchange, and surprising external story elements. While always coming from unique characters, the … Continue reading Book Review: Wholly Trinity (Les’s Bar #3) by Jodi Payne & B.A. Tortuga
Book Review: Ignite (Ignite #1) by Nora Phoenix
Despite my love of this author’s works, I delayed reading this series because I burned out on dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories a few years ago. But I’m still a science-fiction geek at heart, bonus points if it involves aliens and alternate history, so I knew these books would eventually make it to the top of the queue. … Continue reading Book Review: Ignite (Ignite #1) by Nora Phoenix
Book Review: Weavers Circle Series by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
This post includes reviews of the books in the Weavers Circle series: Broken Warrior (#1) | Wild Warrior (#2) | Blind Warrior (#3) | Tangled Warriors (#4) | Storm Warrior (#5) Broken Warrior (Weavers Circle #1) This series contains many urban fantasy concepts that I love, and the authors are two I have read and … Continue reading Book Review: Weavers Circle Series by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Book Review: Shah Mat (Shattered Pawns #4) by Jennifer Cody
Read my reviews of the previous books set in this series/world: Diviner's Game series | Shattered Pawns series Some books are easy to review, no matter the genre. These things happened, the characters were like this, and this is how I felt about it. Some books, on the other hand, are the culmination of half … Continue reading Book Review: Shah Mat (Shattered Pawns #4) by Jennifer Cody
Book Review: The Secret Plan (The Game #10) by Cara Dee
Read my reviews of the previous books in The Game series: Top Priority (#1) | Their Boy (#2) | Breathless (#3) | Doll Parts (#4) | Out of the Ashes (#5) | The Shepherd (#6) | Adrift in the Embers (#7) | Hostile Takeover (#8) | Senseless (#9) One of the things I love best about this series is how it explores the intersection … Continue reading Book Review: The Secret Plan (The Game #10) by Cara Dee
Book Review: Shattered Pawns Series by Jennifer Cody
This post includes reviews of the following books in the Shattered Pawns series: Pass (#1) Capture (#2) Promote (#3) Pass (Shattered Pawns #1) I fell in such love with this fascinating urban fantasy world that I devoured this trilogy soon after finishing the first one, Diviner’s Game. A previous antihero, Tio, is now solidly in … Continue reading Book Review: Shattered Pawns Series by Jennifer Cody
Book Review: Soft Hands (Sin Bin: West Coast #2) by E.M. Lindsey
Read my review of the first book in the Sin Bin: West Coast series, Breakaway Lindsey treats us to a few of my favorite tropes in the latest installment of their hockey romance series. Poly romance arcs are a particular favorite because it’s like getting multiple story arcs for the price of one, and as … Continue reading Book Review: Soft Hands (Sin Bin: West Coast #2) by E.M. Lindsey
Book Review: Deceiver of Minds (SPECTR #3.5) by Jordan L. Hawk
Read my reviews of the previous books in the SPECTR series: SPECTR: The Complete First SeriesSPECTR: The Complete Second SeriesStalker of Shadows (#3.1) Bringer of Night (#3.2)Seeker of Truth (#3.3)Harvest of Bones (#3.4) If Hawk continues the pattern from previous SPECTR collections, this novella is the penultimate installment of this particular adventure. A mystery about John’s past has been building … Continue reading Book Review: Deceiver of Minds (SPECTR #3.5) by Jordan L. Hawk