Review: The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley

 

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #2) by Brigitte Knightley

Publication Date: July 7th 2026 by Ace

Pages: 416

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

This is book two in the duology series, Dearly Beloathed, which should be read in order. The series is utterly delightful! I appreciated the catch-up chapter at the beginning.

 

Aurienne is a member of the Haelen Order committed to healing and saving lives and Oric is part of the Fyren Order, a guild of mercenary killers. Opposing orders and fierce enemies.

In the last book, Oric bribes Aurienne to cure his seith rot, a disease that weakens his powers and will eventually kill him. His bride enables the Haelen Order formulate a cure for the pox killing children all over the Tiendoms.

Meeting several times for the cure that may or may not work, Oric and Aurienne are forced to work together and with every encounter the hate dims a little more. The reluctant attraction between them ignites into a full blown, steamy affair! This is how you do spice!

Meanwhile, more details emerge about the pox outbreak and the sinister forces behind it. As their plans begin to unravel, the bad guys grow desperate. Aurienne, her order and the children are in grave danger. Despite Oric’s villainous persona, he can’t resist giving aid to Aurienne and her Haelens.

The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy was so much fun! The fast-paced, witty dialogue and gorgeous prose kept me hooked from beginning to end! A romance and mystery set in a rich fantasy world that didn’t weigh down the plot. I absolutely loved this journey and how it all turned out!

5 Stars

Book Description:

The stakes are high, the love is forbidden, and the slow burn turns steamy in this swoony, witty, and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order’s motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark . . .

Until they don’t.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body—and his heart.

Aurienne’s perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon—nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tīendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order—an Order far nastier than either of them can handle.

As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war, and love and hate, trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.

Review: The Antiquarian's Object of Desire by India Holton

 

The Antiquarian's Object of Desire (Love's Academic #3) by India Holton

Publication Date: April 21st 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling, experts on magical antiques, have been close friends since they were children, but when an innocent embrace is misinterpreted, their reputations, and their positions suddenly hang in the balance. To avoid scandal, they decide to fake a feud, a plan that spirals wildly out of control. After one too many magical mishaps (including some literal explosions), Professor Otterstock ships them off to Cumbria to catalog Sir Nigel Harroway’s sprawling collection of enchanted antiques, many of which may be more dangerous than advertised.

 

I really felt for Amelia. Watching her navigate a world where her intelligence is dismissed simply because she’s a woman was infuriating. Throckmorton, Dummersby, and Professor Otterstock were absolute bullies, and their constant digs at her had me seething on her behalf. I kept hoping she’d finally let loose on them, and while she mostly held her tongue, her subtle acts of retaliation were satisfying. The romance, a sweet friends‑to‑lovers arc, was a swoony one.

 

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire leans more toward romantic comedy than tightly plotted fantasy, and the story does wander a bit before pulling everything together at the end. Still, it’s an entertaining romp, slapsticky, clever, and full of quick humor. Even when the plot zigzags, the charm never really lets up.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton.

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

Review: Archangel's Eternity by Nalini Singh

 

Archangel's Eternity (Guild Hunter #18) by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: May 5th 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 448

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Archangel’s Eternity was a beautiful, heartfelt finale to a series I’ve loved for years. From the moment Elena the Guild Hunter met Archangel Raphael, their sparks, clashes, and undeniable chemistry set the tone for an epic romance, and this last book honors every step of their journey.

 

Across the series they’ve battled monsters, faced devastating losses, and navigated the treacherous politics of the Cadre. Here, though, they step into the most meaningful chapter of their lives. The external drama is lighter, a few archangel conflicts and the fragile mental state of another, but the emotional depth is rich. Much of the story centers on Elena and Raphael embracing change, surrounded by the people who’ve become their family.

 

I especially loved how Elena’s memories of those she’s lost remain fresh. Her grief and love coexist, and she finds a way to let those memories shine in this new beginning.

 

I was genuinely sad to see this series end, but Nalini Singh closes it with such grace and warmth that I finished the final page with a full heart and a huge smile.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Elena and Raphael return for the hauntingly poignant conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s genre-defining Guild Hunter series.

A thousand years.

It’s been a millennium since Elena’s fateful first meeting with Archangel Raphael. She has survived war and loss, experienced beauty and cruelty. But no matter what, she has always held on to her mortal heart, as she and Raphael have held on to each other. Passionate and vibrant, they’ve built a life that has stood the test of time, growing ever stronger with each turn of the sun.

But change is coming—of a magnitude they could have never imagined—and it will forever alter the trajectory of their existence.

Even as they grapple with the cataclysmic shift in their personal lives, the Cadre of Ten, which has maintained a hard-won peace for centuries, begins to simmer with dangerous fault lines. The specter of madness looms in one archangel, the promise of war burns between two others, and in darkness far from mortal and immortal eyes stirs an ancient, slumbering power.

Suddenly, the future is terrifyingly uncertain . . . at the very moment that Elena and her archangel need to protect a treasure infinitely more precious than eternity.

 

Review: Half City by Kate Golden

 

Half City (Harker Academy #1) by Kate Golden

Publication Date: February 17th 2026 by Ace

Pages: 496

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Twenty-one-year-old Viv Abbott has been fighting demons alone ever since she watched her father murdered right before her eyes. She’s spent years carrying that burden alone, so when an invitation arrives from Harker Academy for Deviant Defense, a school for demon hunters, she’s stunned to learn she’s not the only one out there. The offer becomes even more suspicious when it comes from Reid, a Brood demon she has every reason not to trust.

 

Viv has always felt like an outsider among her family and friends, forced to hide the truth about her life and constantly missing out when hunting called. At Harker, for the first time, she finds people who understand her. The camaraderie is immediate, the friendships fast and genuine. But the safety she feels is short-lived. When one of her new friends disappears and the academy is attacked, Viv and her tight-knit group are thrust into a dangerous mystery. I loved this crew, quirky, loyal, and determined to uncover what happened. The romance was a slow-burn, chemistry-heavy enemies-to-lovers that I’m on board for.

 

Half City starts with a slower setup as the world and characters are introduced, but the moment Viv steps onto Harker grounds, the story hits its stride. The mystery surrounding the missing student and the escalating attacks unfolds with several surprising twists, leading to a thrilling, high-stakes conclusion. The book ends on a to-be-continued note. I’m eager to see where Viv’s journey goes next!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She just also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father's murder, she's been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider. . . . Until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she'll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about. Not when the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv's father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, and fast. All while trying to ace her classes, not fall for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

 

Review: This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

 

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me (Maggie the Undying #1) by Ilona Andrews

Publication Date: March 31st 2026 by Tor Books & Macmillan Audio

Pages: 480

Audio Book Length: 21hrs 33min

Narrator: Kristen Sieh

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Libro.fm | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Maggie grew up loving an epic fantasy series, reading and re-reading the two books released over and over eagerly awaiting the next book, but it’s never come. So, when she wakes up wet and naked in a medieval-like city it doesn’t take her long to recognize it as the setting of her beloved books: Kair Toren.

 

How did she get there? Did she have a mental break where this is a figment of her imagination? It seems all too real to her and if it is, she needs to make a plan of action because she’s been thrust into a pivotal place in timeline of the books. She knows what’ll happen and it’s devastating to this world. Maggie will use her knowledge to save Kair Toren and its inhabitants. Characters she’s grown to love using every bit of information stored from her countless reads. Some well-known and some new to her, each carving out a place in her heart, and mine! Of course, there’s a few cute, and fierce animals, and a slow-burn romance to root for! There were also a couple of plot twists I didn’t see coming!

 

I was amazed by Maggie’s sharp brain and her political maneuvering! Yes, she had knowledge from reading the books, but even when it was new to her, Maggie weighed the possible outcomes and came up with clever plans.

 

I absolutely LOVED This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me! I think it’s the most epic and ambitious fantasy plotline from Ilona Andrews to date and they knocked it out of the park! That ending! I need the next book!

 

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy and I recommend either version. Kristen Sieh is a new-to-me narrator, and I thought she captured the essence of Maggie’s character perfectly! She had a great range and performed all characters, male and female, a variety of ages and accents beautifully!

5 Stars

Book Description:

A page-turning, unforgettable fantasy set in a city peopled with ruffians, spies, malcontents and murderers. Experience out-of-this world adventure and dangerous politics as Maggie tries to survive waking up in her favourite fictional world.

A heart-pounding epic from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author duo Ilona Andrews.

When Maggie wakes up cold, filthy and naked in a gutter, it doesn’t take her long to recognize Kair Toren. It’s a city she knows intimately from the pages of a famously unfinished dark fantasy series – one she’s been obsessively reading and re-reading, while waiting years for the final novel.

Her only tools for navigating this gritty world of rival warlords, magic and mayhem? Her encyclopaedic knowledge of the plot, the setting and the characters’ ambitions and fates. But while she quickly discovers she cannot be killed (though many will try!), the same cannot be said for the living, breathing characters she’s coming to love – a motley band that includes a former lady’s maid, a deadly assassin, various outrageous magical creatures and a dangerously appealing soldier. Soon, instead of trying to return home, she finds herself enmeshed in the schemes – and attentions – of duelling princes, dukes and villains. This all while trying to save them and the kingdom of Rellas from the ending she’s seen on the a cataclysmic war.

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is the beginning of the most epic adventure yet from genre powerhouse writing duo Ilona Andrews. For fans of Samantha Shannon, Sarah J. Maas, Danielle L. Jensen and isekai portal fantasy.

Review: Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

 

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

Publication Date: February 10th 2026 by Berkley & Penguin Audio

Pages: 448

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 48min

Narrator: Travis Baldree & Jeff Hays

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Love the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, so I was excited to read Operation Bounce House! It’s definitely different but it has Dinniman’s signature humor, characters you bond with and root for as they fight and try to survive! I enjoyed every minute and blazed through the story in one day!

 

Oliver Lewis and his sister Lulu are farmers in New Sonora, a planet colonized by his grandfather who has since passed. Oliver is happy in his life figuring out crops, bickering with his girlfriend, and playing drums in his ragtag band, the Rhythm Mafia.

 

But everything changes when Roger, the farm’s agricultural bot, reports that a scout unit has vanished after chasing down a mysterious radio signal. What Oliver uncovers is far worse than a malfunction: New Sonora is about to be invaded by machines remotely piloted by gamers on Earth. It’s all part of an Apex Corporation “eviction” program, “Operation Bounce House” fully sanctioned by Earth’s government.

 

Now Oliver, his friends and the agriculture bots must band together to fight off these attackers to his home.

 

I adored Roger, a sort of stand in robot uncle to Oliver and Lulu. I had to laugh at antics with Betty Sue, one of the “magic chickens” and the giant pig, Cindy! Plus: “A Pig Plus Some Chickens”!!

 

A definite recommend!

 

I alternated between the audiobook and the e‑copy and can easily recommend either format. Travis Baldree was a new‑to‑me narrator, and he impressed me. His performance as Oliver, and his range of Southern, Hispanic, and even techno‑tinged accents for the supporting cast, fit the story perfectly. And Jeff Hays makes an appearance, too, which was a fun bonus.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

All colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do is run the family ranch with his sister, maybe play a gig or two with his band, and keep his family’s aging fleet of intelligent agriculture bots ticking as long as possible. As a fan of Earth television and culture, he figures it will be a good thing when the transfer gate finally opens all the way and restores instant travel and full communication between Earth and his planet, New Sonora. But there’s a complication.

Even though the settlers were promised they’d be left in peace, Earth’s government now has other plans. The colossal Apex Corporation is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying their own AI soldiers when they can turn it into a game? Why not charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines and remotely pilot them from the comfort of their own homes?

The game is called Operation Bounce House.

Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives against machines piloted by gamers who’ve paid a premium for the privilege. With the help of an old book from his grandfather and a bucket of rusty parts, Oliver is determined to defend the only home he’s ever known.

Review: Fated by Benedict Jacka

 

Fated (Alex Verus #1) by Benedict Jacka

Publication Date: February 28th 2012 by Tantor Audio & Ace

Pages: 302

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 33min

Narrator: Gildart Jackson

Source: Library Lend

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I’ve been wanting to start the Alex Verus series for a long time, and it did not disappoint!

 

Alex Verus is a magic mage who can see into the future, see how different choices will play out, but being burnt by other dark, and mercenary mages has made him cautious.

 

Alex keeps to himself, under the radar of the magic Council and other mages, but he becomes much sought after when different factions need his help to open a powerful relic. Not a safe situation at all!

 

Loved Fated! It was a rich, interesting world created, yet the worldbuilding is worked in so that it didn’t drag the pace down. I’m a sucker for the underdog kind of character, and Alex fits that to a T. He has powers, yes, but it’s through his cleverness and learned experience that he prevails. I love his moral compass and the friends that he’s come to care for: Luna, Arachne, and Starbreeze. I already have my hold in for the next book!

 

This was the first time listening to Gildart Jackson and I enjoyed his performance of all voices! 

5 Stars

Book Description:

Enter a “gorgeously realized world”* and meet a mage destined for greatness in the first novel in the national bestselling Alex Verus series.

Alex is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London that caters to clientele who can do much more than pull rabbits out of hats. And while Alex’s own powers aren’t as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future—allowing him to pull off operations that have a million to one chance of success.
 
But when Alex is approached by multiple factions seeking his skills to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever’s inside must be beyond powerful. And thanks to his abilities, Alex can predict that by taking the job, his odds of survival are about to go from slim to none....

Audiobook Review: First Contact by Kim Harrision

 

First Contact (Eclipsed Evolution #1) by Kim Harrison

Publication Date: April 2nd 2024 by Penguin Audio

Pages: 168

Audio Book Length: 5hrs 27 mins

Narrator: Xe Sands

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Dr. Renee Caisson is drafting into a military project without knowing aliens are at the center of her study. However, once she discovers them her insights help them to connect and communicate with them in a way they hadn’t before. The aliens came to Earth for help, but the higher-ups are concerned about their intentions, as would be expected.

 

First Contact was a quick listen and captured my attention from the beginning! There are good and bad players here and Renee is one of the good ones! I really liked and connected with her! She applied her smarts and instincts and I applauded her courage fighting for what’s right.  There is a potential for romance (I think) and I’m interested in seeing where that goes.

 

I’m eager to pick up with the next installment as this one ended in a “to-be-continued” situation.

 

I listened to an audio version and enjoyed Xe Sands’ performance of all voices.

4 Stars

Book Description:

In the wake of the solar eclipse, a portal between our world and a paranormal realm opens—and a scientist’s life will never be the same, in this thrilling serialized adventure from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hollows.

Dr. Renee Caisson knows there are worse things than an attractive man in uniform drafting her into a secret government project—especially when Major Jackson makes it clear that he isn’t bothered by her questionable past. But when her labs come back with decidedly odd results, the Major is forced to come clean over who the government is actually studying. Renee is shocked to learn her subjects are demonic-looking beings who call themselves “Neighbors”—refugees from a dying world, who arrived during the nation-wide solar eclipse.

The Neighbors’ technology is unlike anything Renee’s ever encountered. At first, she dismisses an injury that inexplicably heals as “just one of those things”. And surely August, the most gregarious Neighbor, begins to speak English overnight because of the team linguist’s skills?

Not until August begins evolving in real time to withstand Earth’s brighter, dryer atmosphere does she admit that the Neighbors’ “tech” feels less like science and more like magic—the same magic that brought them here in the first place, and the same they’re trying to rekindle with a mysterious labyrinth in order to return home and save their world.

At least, that’s what August claims they came for…

Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

 

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

Publication Date: February 6th 2024 by Berkley

Pages: 416

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Misery Lark, the daughter of a powerful Vampyre, is called upon to serve as a “Collateral”, a guarantee of peace between the Vampyres and the Werewolves, but instead of just residing with the enemy, she’s to marry the Alpha of a powerful pack, Lowe Moreland.

Tensions are high between Humans, Vampyres, and Werewolves, with casualties on all sides, but this isn’t the only reason Misery agrees to this arrangement. Misery’s foster sister has gone missing and Lowe Moreland’s name has come up in her search for her.

Misery was so wickedly fun with her clever, ironic humor, and big heart! And Lowe was everything you want in an Alpha: protective, caring, and lethal!

I’ve enjoyed Ali Hazelwood’s contemporary romances, so I was excited and more than a little curious about her venture into paranormal romance.  Bride features all the fun features in shifter/vampire stories: mates, primal instincts, and supernatural abilities! This marriage of convenience between opposing sides/species was sort of a fantasy Romeo and Juliet without (thankfully) all the horrid tragedy! I loved everything about this slow burn romance! Misery and Lowe were deliciously hot together! Bride does not disappoint!

5 Stars

Book Description:

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again...

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she's ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Audiobook Review: My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland

 

My Life as a White Trash Zombie (White Trash Zombie #1) by Diana Rowland

Publication Date: July 3rd 2012 by Brilliance Audio

Pages: 320

Audio Book Length: 9hrs 5min

Narrator: Allison McLemore

Source: Purchased

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

My Life as a White Trash Zombie was unexpectedly good! I was a little hesitant that I’d like Angel being that she’s a self-described loser and drug addict. However, not only was this a zombie story, but it was also a story of positive personal growth, and a mystery. Angel is a smart cookie who had a rough start in life. I’m eager to see her take charge of her life and happiness and excel!

Angel wakes up in the ER told that she was saved from an overdose, but the flashes of memory she has doesn’t match up with the account she’s been given. Also, when Angel leaves the ER she’s given a note and instructions to show up and start work at the coroner’s office or be reported to her parole officer which would likely result in her going back to jail. A threat that motivates her to comply.

Angel’s job sounds like a nightmare for someone with a notoriously weak stomach, but there are some surprising revelations as she settles in. Also, there’s a string of murders where the corpse has been left decapitated.

My Life as a White Trash Zombie was a “page-turner”! A story I didn’t want to stop listening to! I listened to the story straight through and was tempted to continue with the next story, but it was getting too late! Allison McLemore’s performance was perfection! I loved her Southern accent, and her comedic timing was excellent! There wasn’t as much laugh-out-loud humor as I thought there’d be, more ironic, dry humor that worked well with this story.

I listened to the story for the read along I’m participating in hosted by Anne @Books of My Heart and we had a fun online chat about the book today (Sunday)! I’m not sure I’ll be able to hold off until next month to read the next one!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Angel Crawford is a loser.

Living with her alcoholic deadbeat dad in the swamps of southern Louisiana, she's a high school dropout with a pill habit and a criminal record who's been fired from more crap jobs than she can count. Now on probation for a felony, it seems that Angel will never pull herself out of the downward spiral her life has taken.

That is, until the day she wakes up in the ER after overdosing on painkillers. Angel remembers being in a horrible car crash, but she doesn't have a mark on her. To add to the weirdness, she receives an anonymous letter telling her there's a job waiting for her at the parish morgue—and that it's an offer she doesn't dare refuse.

Before she knows it she's dealing with a huge crush on a certain hunky deputy and a brand new addiction: an overpowering craving for brains. Plus, her morgue is filling up with the victims of a serial killer who decapitates his prey—just when she's hungriest!

Angel's going to have to grow up fast if she wants to keep this job and stay in one piece. Because if she doesn't, she's dead meat.

Literally.

Audiobook Review: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

 

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean #1) by Rebecca Yarros

Publication Date: May 2nd 2023 by Recorded Books

Pages: 498

Audio Book Length: 20hrs 43min

Narrators: Rebecca Soler & Teddy Hamilton

Source: Purchased, library lend

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I’m not going to give a summary since this has been reviewed a million times, but the hype is real! Finished the audio of Fourth Wing last night and boy was it good! Even my husband loved it. I will say that I think the spicy parts wouldn’t been better if they were shorter, not so long and drawn out, but there weren’t very many, maybe two (?) so it's just a little niggle.

Other than that, the story and pace were top notch! Exciting and action packed with plenty of surprises! Some stories sacrifice emotional depth or character development when there’s a lot of action but that wasn’t the case here! Violet and her friends are well-fleshed out, their fear, joy, anger and longing palpable!

The audio narration was perfection! Rebecca Soler acted her heart out! She made you feel the intensity and urgency of the story as well as a whole range of emotions! Teddy Hamilton performs Xander in the end and he was excellent as well.

I borrowed a library copy and mine was the updated version. I guess there was an issue with the first recording. I also bought a copy since my lend was about to expire and I had to finish the story!

That ending! I wouldn’t say it’s a cliffhanger, more to be continued… but still! I’m eager for the next one!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

Review: Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh

 

Resonance Surge (Psy-Changeling Trinity #7) by Nalini Singh

Publication Date: July18th 2023 by Berkley

Pages: 432

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Theodora “Theo” Marshall has been raised to believe she’s worthless as a 2.7 Telekinetic Psy. The only reason her evil grandfather, Councilor Marshall Hyde didn’t have her murdered is because her death would’ve affected her twin, Pax, a gradient 9. Theo and Pax have stuck together over the years despite their grandfather’s efforts to split them up. Thankfully, her grandfather is dead and now Pax is the head of the Marshall house.

When Pax notices that a supposedly decommissioned “rehabilitation” center is still drawing money he sends Theo, the only family he trusts, to investigate. Being that it’s in the StoneWater Pack territory, she’s assigned a bear escort, Yakov Stepyrev.

Yakov has had dreams of his mate since the age of sixteen, but only lately has those dreams turned into nightmares with the woman drenched in blood, dying. Little does he know that he’s about to come face to face with her when he’s assigned to escort Theo.

My heart ached at the abuse that Theodora suffered at the hands of her grandfather, a truly evil man! It seems to me in Silence the Psy race committed the worst atrocities. The rehabilitation centers were free to lock up “defective” Psy, those who couldn’t go Silent by suppressing emotion, and do a mental wipe, or worse. Investigating the center loosens traumatic memories for Theo, and Yakov can’t hold his protective instincts back. Just in time too, because there’s danger stalking Theo.

Resonance Surge was mostly Yakov and Theodora’s romance, but we also get the culmination of Pavel, Yakov’s twin brother, and Arwen Merchant’s romance. They’ve been dancing around each other in several of the past books, so it’s been a long time coming! The bears are my favorite changelings: big, boisterous and loving and I just had to laugh at their antics! The way they care for their young cubs just melted my heart!  Yakov and Pavel are labeled “Mischief Bear Number One and Mischief Bear Number Two” by their grandmother, and it was fitting! The joy, playfulness and love from the Bears was exactly what Theo’s soul needed to heal after her nightmare childhood!

While things wrap up with Theo, Yakov, Pavel and Arwen, the ongoing story arc of the Psy Net crumbling, Scarab Syndrome and the evil trying to destabilize the cooperation between Humans, Psy, and Changelings continues. I’m not sure how it’ll all be solved. Pax, Theo’s twin, also has a threat brewing and I wonder if he’ll be the focus of the next installment. This is a series that’s best read in order.. At the very least I’d start from the beginning of the Trinity novels.

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Where are the broken? A propulsive question that unleashes a world of secrets in New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s Resonance Surge . . .

StoneWater bears Pavel and Yakov Stepyrev have been a unit since birth, but now Pavel’s life is veering in a new direction, his heart held in the hands of Arwen Mercant, a Psy empath—and the only man who has ever brought Pavel to his knees.

This is it. A point of irrevocable change. For Pavel . . . for Arwen . . . for Yakov . . . and for another pair of twins whose bond has a far darker history.

A low-gradient Psy, Theodora Marshall is considered worthless by everyone but her violently powerful twin, Pax. She is the sole person he trusts in their venomous family to investigate a hidden and terrible part of their family history—an unregistered rehabilitation center established by their grandfather.

Places of unimaginable pain designed to psychically wipe minds, leaving the victims shells of their former selves, the Centers are an ugly vestige of the Psy race’s Silent past. But this Center was worse. Far, far worse. And now Theo must uncover the awful truth—in the company of a scowling bear named Yakov who isn’t about to take a Marshall at face value . . . especially a Marshall who has turned his dreams into chilling nightmares.

Because Yakov is the great-grandson of a foreseer . . . and he has seen Theo die in an unstoppable surge of blood. Night after night after night . . .

Review: Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews

Fated Blades (Kinsman #3) by Ilona Andrews

Publication Date: November 23th 2021 by Montlake

Pages: 222

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

The Adlers and Baenas are supernaturally powerful families on the planet Rada. Their families have been rivals for years, but Ramona Adler and Matias Baena must work together after their unfaithful spouses steal groundbreaking technology to sell to a deadly enemy.

At first, they don’t trust each other, but since they must work together, they put aside they old family differences. Mutual admiration, respect along with an irresistible attraction starts to form and they find that they work perfectly together. Perfectly deadly to any that get in their way!

I recently read the prior two novellas in the Kinsman series and loved them! Passionate and hot, set in a vivid and unique world! The previous stories are super short, both less than 100 pages, but Fated Blades is longer at 222 pages, but still a quick read. Each features a different couple, standalone story/romance.

Fated Blades would technically be considered an enemy-to-lovers romance, but they were never at each other’s throats. I enjoyed the fun, sensual push and pull between them, but more than that I loved seeing these two open-up, get close and form an intense bond. Ilona Andrews is one of my all-time favorite authors and I’m continually amazed by their ability to suck me into a story whether it be a 50-page novella or a full-length story!

 

5 Stars

Book Description:

An uneasy alliance between warring families gets heated in this otherworldly novella from bestselling author Ilona Andrews.

At first glance, the planet Rada seems like a lush paradise. But the ruling families, all boasting genetically enhanced abilities, are in constant competition for power―and none more so than the Adlers and the Baenas. For generations, the powerful families have pushed and pulled each other in a dance for dominance.

Until a catastrophic betrayal from within changes everything.

Now, deadly, disciplined, and solitary leaders Ramona Adler and Matias Baena must put aside their enmity and work together in secret to prevent sinister forces from exploiting universe-altering technology. Expecting to suffer through their uneasy alliance, Ramona and Matias instead discover that they understand each other as no one in their families can―and that their combined skills may eclipse the risks of their forbidden alliance.

As the two warriors risk their lives to save their families, they must decide whether to resist or embrace the passion simmering between them. For now, the dance between their families continues―but just one misstep could spell the end of them both.