Review: Shadow Fallen (Dream-Hunters #6)

Shadow Fallen (Dream-Hunters #6)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon 

Blurb:

For centuries, Ariel has fought the forces of evil. Her task was to protect the souls of innocent mortals when they die. Captured by a powerful sorceress, she is transformed into a human who has no memory of her real life or calling.

And is plunked into the middle of the Norman invasion of England.

Cursed the moment he was born with a "demonic deformity," Valteri wants nothing of this earth except to depart it and will do his duty to his king until then. When a strange noblewoman is brought before him, Valteri realizes he has met her before…in his dreams. When others come for her, bringing with them preternatural predators, he is faced with a destiny he had no idea was waiting. One he wants no part of.

The truth is that Valteri isn’t just a knight of William the Conqueror. He is the son of one of the deadliest powers in existence, and if he doesn’t restore Ariel to her place, she is not the only one who will be in peril. The world itself hangs in the balance, and he is the necessary key to hold back the powers of evil. But only if he can find a way to work with the woman who stands for everything in the universe he hates.

Themes:  Paranormal, Historical

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

Soooooo… I can honestly say I was expecting the setting on this one. I was thrilled to be able to jump back into the Dark-hunter series, after having been on a forced-sabbatical so long due to Sherrilyn’s personal battles, but I was kind of expecting this story to take place in the current timeline. That being said, once I got into the groove and understood just what I was reading I really loved this story and getting to see that pasts of so many of the characters we have come to know and love in the present of the dark-hunters series.  It was interesting as hell to see how Sherrilyn wove her characters and storylines together and brought so many answers to my questions in the end.  It is a little bit tricky to give details on this one without giving a lot away, but I will try my best.  Ariel is a battle angel and has been captured by an evil sorceress and turned human, leaving her with no memory of who she is and in the path of a deadly foe that she should never have come into contact with.  Valteri is a savage warlord who has fought for every scrap of freedom and respect he gets in life, but his loneliness from being seen as demonic spawn due to a birth defect has left him leery of others, and women in particular.  When the beautiful and innocent Ariel is thrown into his life, Valteri fears a trap, but he find himself unable to resist the sweet and oddly brave woman that embraces him and offers him a chance to have happiness for the first time in his shitty life  But when the truth of her past and identity is discovered and the full implications of their actions come to light, Ariel and Valteri have to find a way to come to terms with their new relationship and all the danger they now find themselves in, before their enemy kills them both and starts a war between the forces of heaven and hell that could end the world.  Wow I have to say I have never met to characters that are so seemingly mismatched that turn out to be so perfect together in the end.  I loved seeing Ariel find her humanity and come to terms with her present as she learned to live as a human for the first time. She obviously had to deal with some issues as she experienced true emotions for the first time and learned to do things for herself as a human for the first time in eternity.  Seeing her trust in Valteri and how she showed him love and gentleness from the beginning showed that she could see the goodness in him that he himself denied.  It was rough seeing her dealing with the pain she faced throughout the book, but in the end I felt she grew and changed beautifully into a character that I could recognize as one of Sherrilyn’s bad-ass heroines.  Valteri was a piece of work through a lot of this story, showing only his darkness to everyone but Ariel as a way to protect himself from pain and rejection, but we get glimpses of the vulnerability and softness that he has had to hide for so long in order to survive.  It’s obvious that he is looking for someone to love him and give him their love, but he doesn’t know whom to trust and only when he learn to offer his heart and faith to Ariel unconditionally does he become the strong and vibrant hero he is always meant to be. The passionate pull between these two is there from the very first time they set eyes on one another and only grow more intense as they come to know the heart of one another.   Am dying to read the next in the series of course, though I have no clue where Sherrilyn might be heading in the series, but there were certainly some CRAZY revelations in this story that will make this world interesting. The Queen is back in a big way!

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Loving Her Highland Thief (Time to Love a Highlander #1)

Loving Her Highland Thief (Time to Love a Highlander #1) 

by Maeve Greyson 

Blurb:

Stay? Lose all she’s ever known. Go? Lose the love of a lifetime.

As a struggling, 21st century farmer, Kenzie MacMartin knows if she doesn’t recover that registered ram that cost her a bundle, her dog won’t be the only one howling in the Highlands. And to make matters worse, when she chases that fool sheep through a cave, she discovers a troupe of trespassing re-enactors mucking up her land with some kind of clan skirmish complete with realistic weapons, monstrous warhorses, and a restless herd of Highland cows. The only upside is their strikingly handsome leader—until he kidnaps her.

Mathias Stronach questions his sanity in laying claim to the strangely dressed woman and her vicious wee dog. Perhaps he should have let the MacPhersons take her prisoner. Then, she would’ve distracted them instead of him. Such daring and fire in this feisty lass. He’d bet his best dagger; her passions burn just as fiercely. And that fine round backside of hers nestled between his thighs as they ride. Makes a man think twice about choices he’s made. Like promising to marry a woman he’s never loved so he can be the next chieftain of Clan Stronach.

When Kenzie realizes she’s barged into the thirteenth century, her priority is getting back to that cave and hoping if she retraces her steps, she’ll find her way back home. But vengeful clans, a medieval sociopath, and the mesmerizing warrior who draws her in like a bee to sweet clover thwarts that priority at every turn. Her head knows better. Her heart refuses to listen.

Themes:  Historical, Time-travel

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating:  

Review:

 So we all are familiar with the hugely successful story of Outlander, and know that there have been many other time travel romance set in Scotland written both before and since that success, but I can honestly say that of all of them I have read I haven’t enjoyed any as much as I did this new first-in-a-series.  I was thrilled to have the chance to jump into a new series by one of my favorite historical romance authors after the ending of the Highlander heroes series by Maeve Greyson and this first story makes me think I will be roped in for a while as she takes us on a journey with their women out of time and the sexy men that capture their hearts.  Kenzie MacMartin just wanted to get back the ornery ram that escaped his pen again, but when she ventures into a cave system she’s never seen before and finds herself in unknown territory she, her beloved border collie, and the crazy ram are in for a terrifying adventure.  Mathias Stronach never imagined when he and his men were returning to their keep with reeved cattle they would stumble across a confused and oddly-dressed lass wandering the land with her faithful dog and strangely protective ram.  When he determines to take her back to his keep, for her own safety, the fight she puts up only makes her more desirable, which he definitely doesn’t need as he is promised to another.  The fire between these two only continues to grow as Kenzie fight for a way to return to her time even as she develops emotional ties to Mathias and his people, but can a woman out of time really find happiness in medieval Scotland? Kenzie was a wonderful character to get to know and watch grow as she found her footing in her new world, though it was obvious she fought her circumstances every step of the way.  She doesn’t quite know how to deal with the fact that while she wants to return home, she is falling in love with this crazy and somewhat terrifying medieval warrior that can  be sweet at the most unexpected of times.  I loved seeing her deal with those dichotomies and embrace her new circumstances.  Of course her interactions with her dog, the ram, and Matthias’s men were a laugh riot and brought me to tears laughing several times.  Mathias is a man of his time to be sure, but at the same time he understands that women are to be treasured and he gives himself to the women in his life in a way many men of his time never would have.  I enjoyed watching him interacting with his men, his friends and family, and of course with Kenzie as he found a way to untangle himself from his betrothal and give his heart to Kenzie without losing the respect of his clan or his place as their protector.  The best times of the story was the quiet moments between Kenzie and Mathias when they were finding a way to share their hearts and bodies, that passion and sweetness was wonderful to experience.  I am loving this series already and cannot wait for more; the wit, passion, and intelligence of the characters and the plot line will be keeping me coming back for many more installments for sure, Ms. Greyson. 

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Just One Dare (The Kingston Family #5)

Just One Dare (The Kingston Family #5)

by Carly Phillips

Blurb:

A one night stand with no names exchanged.

Six years later, she comes face to face with her baby’s father again.

Aurora Michaels isn’t the same girl she was that spring night. No longer homeless and living in the back room of a diner where she worked, she’s now a member of the wealthy Kingston family. She has her daughter, a career and has adjusted to her new normal.

Billionaire Nick Dare is a man who takes charge. He runs the hotel arm of the family empire and his life revolves around business and travel. A quick stop at his brother's movie premier has him doing a double take.

The woman who haunts his dreams is there. He’s been given a second chance and is determined to make the most of it.

When he learns about their daughter, Nick becomes a man on a mission. Aurora and their child are his. Even if he has to knock down Aurora’s emotional walls to prove it.

Themes:  Contemporary, Second Chance

Rating:  4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Fans have been waiting for this one for the last six stories and it was worth every second of the wait. I cannot express how much I was looking forward to reading Nick and Aurora’s story. This series is a continuation/spin-off of the Dare series, which is one of the longest running Carly Phillips’s series and one off my favorite by far, and I am thrilled that her imagination seems to be able to continue to stretch and give us more and more Dares to love. Carly is truly one of the masters at her craft but I just cannot understand how she manages to continue to create these amazing and interesting stories and make it seem so easy. Aurora and Nick’s story actually began 6 years earlier for them when they had one magical night and created a beautiful little girl from their passion, but they never exchanged last names so Aurora was never able to share their daughter with Nick.  When she looks across a crowded movie premiere and her past slams into her in the form of Nick standing with an acquaintance of her new family, Aurora has a moment of panic and runs for it.  Nick is beyond surprised but instantly thrilled to see the girl he’s never forgotten and he determines to chase after her, never imagining just how much his life is about to change.  Sharing her daughter with the man who helped create Leah is going to be difficult for Aurora, but Nick is determined to be more than just a father to his daughter.  Fighting to overcome the walls and fears that Aurora’s past have erected around her heart and find  a chance for him to create a family with her is the ultimate battle for Nick, but he is up to the fight.  They have to both get over past hurts and accept the love being offered in order to have the family they all want, but sometimes it just isn’t that easy even if it worth it.  Can Nick convince Aurora he is the man for her and the perfect mate or will he forever be connected but apart from the woman he has lost his heart to?

I loved every single second of this story, no lie, and I was not able to stop reading, even when I went hours past my bedtime on a work night (which is a miracle for me!). Aurora has had a truly tragic and heartbreaking life, but she has never lost the loving and sweet nature that attract people to her; the love she spreads to those around her keeps them pushing against the walls she tried to put up.  She knows that Nick is back in her life for good now that he knows about Leah, but letting him into her heart fully and offering herself to him challenges her on a whole different level and leaves her terrified.  Her vulnerabilities and strengths made her such a real character, one that despite the outrageous recent changes she has gone through keeps her a truly believable woman that I know I could be friends with.  I loved getting to know more about the woman she has grown into now that she is secure in the arms of her new family and seeing how she became such a loving and devoted mother despite not having a role model as such.  Nick is the perfect model of a freewheeling bachelor on the surface, but he’s obviously never forgotten Aurora and once he learns about Leah he steps up and his personality locks down into dad-in-training.  Seeing him begin to grow up and find his niche as a father and mate was painful as he dealt with some fears and insecurities, but he never lost his temper or his cool and became an ass as I have seen in so many similar situations (both real and fictional).  I loved seeing him interacting with his big family and cannot wait to get all their stories (loved how you introduced such a great new set of stories for us, Carly) and know that these Dirty Dares and, hopefully their younger siblings in the future, will be awesome reads.  The passion and fire between these two has been hinted at since the beginning, when Aurora described Leah’s conception, but it becomes much more obvious the minute these two are back in one another’s sphere and once they begin to give into the heat there is no stopping that magnetic pull, which made them combustible.  I am so glad that these two finally got their chance to build a family and find love with their obviously destined match.  I am dying to read the next story in the Dirty Dare’s Series (Just One Kiss) and, whatever comes next, I know that Carly will astound and surprise along the way.  Keep up the fantastic work Carly and I can promise you’ll continue to have more and more lifelong fans like me filling their shelves with your work.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Black Mail (Black's Bandits #6)

Black Mail (Black's Bandits #6)

by Lynn Raye Harris

Blurb:

Shy Cassie Dixon was never the girl most likely to succeed. Then she moved to the big city, landed a job she’s good at, and started her own YouTube channel for plus-sized girls like her.

When her channel attracts unwanted attention, the threats quickly turn personal—and vicious. But nobody takes the danger seriously. Not even the police.

BDI operative Tyler Scott agrees to check on Cassie when his favorite cousin insists her bestie’s in danger.

The decorated former Marine doesn’t remember Cassie from high school, but one look into her pretty green eyes and he’s got a feeling he’s hooked.

Before he can fight for her heart, he’ll have to fight for her life—and his.

Because someone wants Cassie dead. And they’ve got a foolproof plan to make it happen.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

There is always a point in a series where an author decides that they need to introduce a new heroine that has a body type that most would not consider ideal, most commonly being a “big girl”, and I have to tell you that is usually when I begin to lose interest in a series.  Being a bigger girl myself currently, but one that has gotten considerably smaller, I have to tell you it bothers me a lot when authors decide to try to “Tackle body image” because most of them do not do it well especially if they don’t live that issue themselves every day.  I am thrilled and proud to say that this did NOT happen with Lynn’s newest story when she decided her awesome female lead was going to be a curvy girl, one with body image issues herself, but that is working hard to make other ladies learn to accept themselves for the beautiful women we are no matter what we look like.  I have loved all of the stories in this spin-off series and this newest story was no exception for sure.  Tyler and Cassie were sensual, sweet and inspiring as they found a way through all their issues and into a future together.  Tyler had his work cut out for him to sure, breaking down Cassie’s walls, but he is the perfect man for the task and succeeded beautifully. I cannot wait for more from this series and with the hints we got it sounds like the next story might be even hotter, which might not seem possible, but each time I think that I am pleasantly surprised.

Cassie Dixon is on a mission to prove that even a curvy girl can be beautiful and find a way to enhance the gifts she has, but that mission seems to have put her in the crosshairs off a stalker.  Tyler Scott, a serious badass and cousin to Cassie’s best friend, barely remembers the young woman from his childhood and what he remembers is just a quiet and shy shadow, but when his cousin calls in a favor he is bound to look into Cassie’s issue.  When he sets eyes on her again for the first time as an adult, Ty is blown away and finds himself instantly drawn to and attracted by the sexy curvy woman that Cassie has become.  Cassie doesn’t think this is that big of a deal, but when Ty forces his way into her life it’s not worth fighting to push the deliciously sexy male that she loved from afar as a child away.  Soon Ty and Cassie as getting closer and closer as the danger to Cassie becomes more deadly and when they begin to explore the passion between them it becomes apparent there is more to them than just two old friends forced together.  Will they admit to their true feelings for one another before a madman makes his move or will they be forever left wondering what could have been?

Cassie was a great character to get to know, beautifully written and more complex than even a lot of my favorite heroines She was such a dichotomy of confidence and vulnerability that you never knew what she might project in any given situation, but the best part was as she grew and spent more time with Ty she accepted more and assimilated the two sides of herself into one complex picture instead.  She was raised in an environment that left her reaching to better herself and get away from her past, with only a few people kept close to her heart, but she stayed a down-to-earth and sweet woman even as she embraced the truth that even as a curvy girl she was beautiful and could present herself well.  Being a bigger girl myself, one that also didn’t get a lot of support in the confidence department growing up, I could really appreciate that she was working to uplift other women and show them the support she lacked.  Once Ty showed her that he truly found her sexy and was attracted to her body, mind, and soul, I think she become even more confidently sensual and there was just no way that he was going to resist losing his heart and soul to her.  Ty was the typical guy, one we have gotten to know well enough in previous stories, that we knew he wouldn’t be mean to Cassie in the beginning but it was obvious from the start that he saw more in her that just her surface layers of “big girl” and into her sweet and stunning soul. He is the quintessential sweet, alpha badass, but his patience, subtlety and willingness to give Cassie all the time she needed to accept the changes in their friendship were a bit surprising to be honest.  The heat he generated any time he thought about or clapped eyes on Cassie were undeniable, and I give him mucho brownie points for being gentle with her and giving her what she needed to blossom and find her footing in their love lives.  I have to say I loved Ty almost as much (though not quite) as I did Ian and I can’t wait to see more of him in future stories as he and Cassie continue their love story far into the future.

Black Mail is one of the best stories I have read in ages, filling me with a true level of contentment in the loving HEA while still giving me a suspenseful story with action and sensuality.  Ty is a man that is after my own heart for sure, giving his all for the woman that has captured not only his interest but his heart in her gentle hands and he refuses to allow her to push him away no matter how hard she resists. Cassie is pretty much 90% me and I loved seeing her bloom in her assurance and strength, giving me hope that maybe someday with the right supportive mate I might be able to do the same.  She was sweet, passionate, loving, and determined to never let another person bring her down which made me love her.  The heat between Cassie and Ty was an undercurrent from the very beginning, with both of them denying and/or fighting the pull, until the explosion was inevitable then there was no denying they both reveled in the change in their relationship.  I am dying for the next story that Lynn is going to give us, especially if it is what was hinted at because I expect the usual heat, humor, sweetness and love that makes Ms. Harris one of my favorite authors and definitely one that I never miss a release from.  If you are looking for a sensual read to while away a hot spring day, I highly recommend Black Mail, along with a full pitcher of ice cold water!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini ARC Review: Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)

Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)

by Carly Phillips

Blurb:

He was her first love. She was his.

They broke up to follow their dreams.

Axel Forrester became a world famous drummer.

Tara Stillman became a veterinarian.

Years later, he’s scrolling social media and sees they’re both in East Hampton, NY.

Fate? Or Coincidence?

What’s a rockstar to do other than borrow his friend’s dog as an excuse to see the good doctor.

And—show up at her office after all this time.

Axel wants a second chance with the one who got away. He’s not going to let Tara go this time.

Themes:  Contemporary, Novella

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 I just love when an author gives us a sweet connecting novella to bridge two series and bring us closure for a character that has come into the lives of the main characters for a secondary reason.  Carly is great at doing this for us and her latest story does it again.  Axel Forrester came into the lives of the Kingston family when he joined Dash’s band the Original King’s also bringing his sister closer into their circle which gave her and Dash the perfect excuse to fall deeper in love and have their HEA.  But that of course left us wondering “what about Axel?”; well in Just One Wish we get to see Axel get a second chance at love with his high school girlfriend and first love when he discovers she is in his new hometown.  Axel finds himself more and more at loose ends when he isn’t working on his music, seeing his sister and new friends all settled into marital bliss and wondering when he will find love and a mature relationship.  He stumbles across his old girlfriend on social media and discovers she is just down the road now and, with the help of a cute and loving pup, he goes to sweep her off her feet. Tara Stillman lost her heart to Axel years ago, but since then her life has been devoted to work and her family.  She never imagined her first love would walk into her veterinary practice, with a borrowed dog in order to ask her out.  Quickly they both learn that they still have deep feelings for one another, but can their differences be overcome in order for them to have a relationship? I really enjoyed this short read and getting to see Axel as he came to terms with some of the behaviors and parts of his life that might not have made him so obviously marketable as the perfect lover.   He learned and grew as a person in a short period of time in order to become the man that he needed to be to offer Tara the love and committed relationship she deserved.  Tara was a little bit fearful in the beginning, but at the same time she never denied her feelings for Axel or that she wanted him deeply.  I loved watching the playfulness between them and the sweetness as Axel worked hard to convince Tara that she could rely on him and give her heart again.  I am dying for the next story in this long running series arc which will begin the new Dirty Dares Series (Just One Dare) and that new series looks to be intriguingly sexy for sure.  Carly keeps the magic coming and I see no end in sight for the Dare family and their friends.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: Turn Up the Heat (Turn Up the Heat #4)

Turn Up the Heat (Turn Up the Heat #4)

by Marie Harte

Blurb:

Officer Cass Carmichael loves her job and does it well. Giving firefighter Mack Revere a speeding ticket after a warning was deserved? Knocking him off his feet in a soccer game? Beating him at darts, dominoes, and pool? Par for the course. Cass has always played to win. Yet when she fails to resist Mack's kisses, she doesn't mind losing.

Every time Cass sneers or jeers, Mack likes her a little bit more. For a firefighter, he's a laid-back guy in a profession that takes a lot of heart. Even though he's used to handling the heat, Cass makes him burn. But they both have concerns about their families and their futures, and they’ll have to decide if they should fan the flames between them or douse what might have been before one of them gets burned.

Themes:  Contemporary, Finale

Rating: 4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The final Station 44 Hottie is finally going to find love and while the end of this series is bittersweet, his story is full of laughs, tears, and sensuality that will keep you glued to the page from beginning to end. I have followed this series from the beginning and it has kept me laughing and loving along with these sexy firefighters and the women that have grabbed them by the *ahem* hearts and lead them into love. Marie Harte has a way of making her characters just outrageous enough that while we can laugh and roll our eyes at their antics, at the same time we are rooting for them to find the perfect match.  Mack’s story was one that we have long anticipated because we knew that whatever woman stole his heart would be spectacular and their story would be explosive. I enjoyed every second of reading their journey and watching as they learned more about themselves sand one another as they found a way into an HEA with the help of their friends and family.  I am sad to see the series ending, but I do hope that we get more contemporary romance from Marie because though I enjoy her paranormals, I feel she really shines in her humor and realistic contemporary romances the most. 

Mack Revere is the last single man standing of his crew at Station 44 and he has begun to feel a little bit like the third wheel any time he tries to get together with his friends and their new ladies. He knows that his friends are just growing up and finding love and he is happy for them, but at the same time he hasn’t yet found a woman that he wants to settle down with, or has he?  The sexy, sassy, and kind of mean police officer Cassandra Carmichael has caught his eye in a big way, but she seems too able to resist his allure.  Cass Carmichael is more than attracted to the arrogant firefighter, but she’s not really sure if she wants a relationship, beyond a bed partner.  Soon they find that their emotions run much deeper than just friends and lovers and that connection is scary to them both in different ways and they have to work through their pasts and their hang-ups in order to have a chance to build a deeper relationship, assuming they want one.  Will either of them be willing to set aside their pride and fears to accept the truth and connection or will they step back and leave the love blossoming to die on the vine?

Mack was, on the surface, the typical egotistical, prideful and smartass alpha male that you would expect in his profession, but as you dig through the layer of his personality you begin to see all the vulnerabilities and fears that he carries.  He has a lot of hang-ups from his family and past that colors his relationships and certainly causes a few issues between him and Cass, but thankfully they work through those, but I enjoyed seeing him finally stand up to his family, even if that didn’t come to a perfect ending, because it finally gave him the confidence in himself to move on. He also had to accept a few failings in his own personality when it came to Cass in order to offer her what she needed which more than anything was a safe place to land if things went wrong in her life.  I loved seeing him force her to accept that there was more to them than just bed partners and proving again and again how great they were together outside the “bedroom”. Cass was a serious badass, and I mean that in the way that I could never be that mean and get away with it for sure, but it made her a great character. She has just the right level of competitiveness and nasty sass to be the alpha bitch and stand up to the arrogance of Mack’s level, but underneath she is a sweet and loving friend, daughter, and partner to be sure. There was a softness that Cass kept hidden that you had to dig deep to see but once we got to share that with Mack  her own insecurities were easy to spot. It’s difficult to be a woman in her profession and retain any softness, but she retains some softness inside her shell and it’s wonderful to see.  I could see Cass being that smart-ass friend that you always want to share a drink with and shoot the breeze at the end of a long week in order to wind down.

While this series has been one that touched on a lot of issues with characters exploring their fears, insecurities, and personal growth, ultimately each story was about two people discovering they were meant for one another and Mack and Cass’s story brings that around full circle. I couldn’t put this story down and know that it will be one that I could back to again and again in the future.  Cass was a badass with a heart of gold and led Mack on a merry chase to make him prove that he was good enough for her to risk her heart on him.  Mack was an arrogant alpha male that had a sweetness that made him perfectly equipped to prove to Cass they were meant for an HEA and their relationship was fun to watch develop and grow.  The passion between these two sparks from the very beginning whether they are throwing insults or heated looks and kisses at one another, then once they decide the time comes to fully embrace the heat, its almost too much to bear.  I am definitely sad to see the series ending, but I adored the entire experience of reading this series and I cannot wait for whatever Marie sends my way next.  If you are looking for a sexy read with hot firefighters, cute animals, and sassy women Turn Up the Heat will leave you more than satisfied!

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Ancient Vendetta (Ancients Rising #4)

Ancient Vendetta (Ancients Rising #4)

by Katie Reus

Blurb:

His responsibility is to his pack, his people—the territory of New Orleans.

When the world devolved into chaos and fire, Alpha wolf King kept his territory from collapsing. Now, every day it seems there’s a new challenge—rogue witches, treacherous vampires, evil dragons. But his biggest threat is Aurora. Unique, magical, a female who sees him, the male, and not simply the Alpha in charge. But she’s thrown up so many walls that he’s afraid he’ll never be able to break through to the woman behind them. When the most dangerous threat they’ve ever faced ravages the city he’ll need her at his side—to defeat it, and then claim the woman who already owns him, body and soul.

But she makes him want more.

After being held captive for a year, Aurora has embraced her freedom. For the first time in her life she’s living away from her older sister in a new territory. A new world. She’s made friends and is helping New Orleans get back on its feet. Giving to others is helping her combat her PTSD, but she’s far from the woman she used to be. Even so, she can’t fight her ever present and growing attraction to King. Except she’s afraid she’s broken, that she’ll never be able to have a normal relationship again—that she can’t handle being an Alpha’s mate. When an evil linked to his past threatens to tear them apart and destroy the city, she must set her fears aside and find the courage to follow her heart—and the wolf who’s already won it.

Themes:  Paranormal

Rating: 4.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 We’ve been waiting for this book for a long time now, ever since the fall of New Orleans and our introduction to the male that keeps everyone safe and the city from crumbling.  King is one off the best characters in this entire series and we have been rooting for him to get an HEA for a long time now and I was so glad to see him finally find a way to bring his mate into his life and make her understand how much they needed one another.  Aurora doesn’t trust herself with men, ever since she allows a male to lead her into a trap that cost her years of her life and almost meant her death and her sister’s.  But now that she is in NOLA, helping King maintain order and bring the city back from the brink she is finding her self-confidence again and knows she is almost ready to acknowledge what she has known all along.  When a terrible evil from King’s past comes back to try to annihilate the man she has come to love and need more than anything, Auroras knows she can no longer deny the truth and determined she will do anything to keep King safe, even travel with him into the most dangerous situations and risk her life.  Can they trust their newfound relationship and the people returning to King’s life in order to defeat their enemy or will King’s life be forfeit before they even have a chance to explore their new love? I loved every moment of this fast-paced and exhilarating story.  King was a male who would risk it all for not only the woman he loves but all the people that depend on him for protection, asking him a true alpha and one to be admired.  I enjoyed seeing him find out more about his past and learning about his heritage alongside him.  His sweetness and determination to protect Aurora showed how much he treasures his mate and knows that his love for her are a strength for him, not a  weakness like some might assume.  Aurora was a kick-ass alpha female and seeing her find that confidence and step up was awesome! She has always been a fighter, but watching her come back to that realization made the battles they faced worth the pain and fear.  I shed many a tear as these two dealt with their bumpy road to love, but in the end there is nothing that can truly defeat two people giving their wall for love and the protection of those under their care.  I am looking forward to the next story in the series and seeing more of King and Aurora as they settle into their mating for sure.  As always Katie Reus amazes me with her imagination and flair for the dramatic without making the story seem too much.  A Masterpiece as usual.

*eARC provided by publisher (via NetGalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.