ARC Review: Ancient Vengeance (Ancients Rising #6)

Ancient Vengeance  (Ancients Rising #6)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

She’s been sheltered her entire life…

Stella is from a fierce and ancient dragon line, but when her kingdom was invaded and half her family slaughtered, everything changed. She’s been taught to fight, to protect herself, but now that one of her sisters is back after being thought dead, she realizes it’s time to make some changes. After years of being smothered, she needs freedom, to spread her dragon wings and experience life. So when her grandmother tasks her with a job in New Orleans, she jumps at the chance to strike out on her own and prove herself.

He's never met anyone like her…

Dragon shifter Rhodes is a killer. An assassin. And he’s been ordered to kidnap the dragon princess Stella as vengeance against her clan. He’s always finished his contracts—until he meets her. Now he’ll do anything to keep her safe. To claim her forever as his mate. But first they’ll have to overcome the danger stalking her—and then he’ll have to figure out how to get her to forgive him for betraying her.

Themes:  Dragons, Paranormal, Shifters

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I was so excited to get to read Stella’s story, after having met her when her long-lost sister and she were reunited in a previous novel because she seemed like an interesting character that needed her own chance to spread her wings. Katie Reus’s amazing series around her shifters, dragons, vampires and all the other creatures that once secretly surrounded us humans just continuous to be compelling, fascinating, and more sensual than even I can handle at times.  Stella’s story begins with her finally getting the chance to get out from under the thumb of her overprotective parents as she undertakes a solo mission into the human world, hunting the thief that stole their ancestral crown, but she quickly learns that she might not be cut out for this super-operative stuff her sister is when she is poisoned mid-flight.  When she awakens she is in a strange dwelling and finds herself in the company of a sexy and mysterious protector, a Dragon shifter that she immediately trusts with not only her life and protection but soon with her heart and soul.  Rhodes however is not what he seems and has a dark secret, which even as they work together and get closer, might ultimately tear them apart.  With enemies closing in around them Rhodes and Stella have to decide if the truth is enough to keep them apart or they can find a way to be together despite the way they met and his true identity.  I really loved seeing Stella find her way, even if she ultimately stumbles and needs Rhodes to help her find her footing and remind her that she is just as badass as her other female relatives.  She is sweet at times and shows Rhodes a softness he’s never experiences, giving her the love she has to offer and at the same time the protection she craves to be able to offer.  I wish she had thought to ask a few more questions up front in order to prevent her own heartache, but in the end she gave and earned the ultimate love and learned that Rhodes was the only male for her.  Rhodes has had a seriously messed up past, but he has made the best of it and done what he can to protect the innocents of the world from the true bastards out there.  I enjoyed watching him offer what gentleness he had to Stella, showing he a side of himself he’d never shared with anyone else, even at the fear of being vulnerable.  It was obvious that he knew from the beginning he had no chance with her, but I loved seeing him open himself despite that fear.  I have to say the passion between these two was expectedly off the charts, being two sexual beats in their prime that had been kept from being able to share that passion in the past and I loved seeing them be able to share with one another finally.  I am dying to find out who comes next in the series and see who finds their perfect match.  Katie Reus is magic incarnate and her writing never ceases to draw me in every time.

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

Review: Second Chance Alaska (Wild Coast #3)

Second Chance Alaska (Wild Coast #3)

Jennifer Snow

Blurb:

Will they risk taking the plunge from friendship to forever?

Oliver Klein’s wife and oldest daughter were lost at sea—a tragic mystery that left the small coastal town of Port Serenity reeling. Three years later, surrounded by the wild Alaskan waters that claimed them, the grieving lighthouse keeper is still haunted by their disappearance. Oliver knows he should move on for the sake of his younger daughter, Tess, but he isn’t so sure he’s ready to love again.

Carly Walters knew losing her best friend, Alison, would break her heart—yet she never expected Alison’s husband might be the one to mend it. The more her life intertwines with Oliver’s, the harder she falls for him…and the guiltier she feels. Amid the rush of the summer tourist season, can Carly and Oliver finally accept the past while looking forward to a bright future…together?

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The story readers of this series have been waiting for from the beginning has finally come and it is a bit of a heartbreaker but in the end the HEA is much deserved and well-written. Jennifer Snow’s writing is always fille with so much heart and love that you always go away knowing that you have read a story of two people that were meant to be together even as they had to overcome a few obstacles. Many of us that have enjoyed this series and its predecessor have been wondering if Oliver would get a second chance at love after losing his first wife at sea tragically, and I for one was thrilled to see it finally coming to fruition. Oliver Klein lost his wife and eldest daughter at sea three years earlier, leaving him a widower with a young daughter and a lighthouse to run.  Now, with the summer tourist season ramping up, changes are coming to their lives in a big way and he isn’t sure he is ready for so much to change.  Carly Walters, his late wife’s best friend, has been there for Oliver and his daughter from the beginning, but the more she is there for them the more he begins to look at her as more than just a friend.  Carly has wanted Oliver for a long time now, and she knows that being around him without having him is going to make her bitter.  Deciding it’s time to make really changes in her life, Carly begins to take steps to move on, but then the world changes around her once again with a proposal from the man she’s come the want and love above all others. Can the two of them have a future together, despite always having that in their pasts, or will their past continue to haunt them and keep them apart, even as their hearts reach for one another?  Honestly, I loved Carly and Oliver’s story, the love between them one that was both tragic and uplifting.  Carly has been hiding her light in the shadows, unwilling to allow others to see her for who she is and what she has done in her life, but it is time she comes out of the shadows, and when she finally finds the courage to do so, she shines so brightly. I loved seeing her wit, sass, and sweetness as she finds a way to show her friends and family the woman she truly is, the kindness and strength that they have overlooked for so long.  She truly has been overlooked by the entire town as she hid not only her true feeling for the love of her life, but her true calling professionally and her skills. Oliver’s story is certainly a sad one, one that reminds readers that life is short and should be lived to the fullest, but it was wonderful to see him finally open his eyes and see Carly for who she is and who she could be to him. He was rough around the edges, grumpy, and befuddled far too often when faced with changes.  I loved watching him interacting with his daughter and seeing him as he dealt with how his life was changing, but I wish he hadn’t been such an ass to Carly when he got scared and put a barrier into their relationship with thing got too complicated.  I enjoyed the sensuality of this story, though a few said it was too steamy in comparison to previous novels, but I figure after a three year dry spell it would be that way for any guy.  I hope the series continues or spins off into another one, because the characters in this small town never cease to amaze and entertain when Jennifer Snow brings them onto the page to tell their stories and I’m looking forward to much more to come.

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

Review: A Scot to Have and to Hold (Once Upon a Scot #2)

A Scot to Have and to Hold (Once Upon a Scot #2)

Maeve Greyson

Blurb:

Sometimes the best revenge is to thrive…

When Ross MacDougall, fearless warrior, frequenter of brothels, and seducer of other men’s wives, receives word that the Lord of Argyll wishes to reward him for their latest campaign, he’s skeptical. His liege’s gifts are often dubious blessings. Oftentimes, more like curses. Turns out he’s right to be leery. The reward is an Irish lass who looks like a grubby boy meant to work in the stables. And she's not intended to be Ross’s slave. She’s meant to be his wife.

Men turn away from Elise O’Cleirigh because of the accursed red stain on her right cheek. Her father called it the devil’s mark. Her mother promised it meant nothing. All Elise knows is that it’s brought her nothing but suffering. This arrogant Scot looks to be no different from the others, and that’s fine by her. She escaped her first ruthless husband. She’ll flee this one as well. But this Highlander turns out to be sly. He fights with weapons she’s ill-equipped to counter: kindness, respect, and a gentleness that makes her heart hurt. The man even apologizes when he behaves like a selfish goat. He makes her want to be wanted. And needed. By him. Not a good thing at all because come spring, she’s gone.

She’s the victim of a cruel jest. He dared fate one time too many. An unlikely pair, a winter together reveals they’re not so mismatched after all. But the past proves inescapable, returning with a vengeance to destroy them.

Themes:  Historical

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The trilogy of the Gallóglaigh warriors continues as the womanizing Ross MacDougall finds himself gifted with the one thing he never knew he would want above all else—the love of a single woman that is his wife.  Maeve Greyson’s new trilogy is turning out to be much shorter stories than most of her previous reads, but I’m enjoying them immensely and the romance, drama, and action are no less amazing for their shorter length.  Ross MacDougall has spent all his free time when not in battle with his fellow Gallóglaigh warriors drinking and whoring his way through Scotland, but when he is called back in front of his liege, he never imagined that he was being saddled with a wife.  Elise O’Cleirigh has escaped one cruel husband and has no intention of being quietly forced into the bondage of a terrible marriage again, but when the Lord of Argyle forces her to wed Ross, dressed as a beggar and the butt of the joke of his men, she knows that she will do whatever it takes to get away from him.   Ross doesn’t see the birthmark of Elise as the devil’s mark that so many do, but he knows that he is ill-equipped for caring for a wife, despite the connection and chemistry between them.  Elise goes along with the marriage, knowing full well that she will be leaving him come the spring, but soon Ross’s kindness and acceptance mix with the heat between them to make it nearly impossible to keep her heart intact.  But can she truly trust this beautiful and sexy warrior to stay true to her and give her what she needs, or will he turn on her like every other man has, and will the enemy on their doorstep allow them the happiness they are finding? Ross and Elise’s story was filled with angst, fears, and drama as these two found their way through the landmines of their past and the trauma that Elise has suffered at the hands of so many.  Ross has his work cut out for him, but his kindness, willingness to fight for her, and sweetness showed Elise that he was just the kind of man that would be there for her when she needed him.  Elise, despite being kicked repeatedly, never was truly beaten, always fighting for herself and never giving up.  I loved the two of them together and the way they always found a way to fight for that they wanted and deserved in life.  The passion and love between them developed as their trust did and I enjoyed watching the connection form.  I can’t wait for the finale in this trilogy and know it will be fantastic.

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

Review: Deadly Protector (Red Stone Security #19)

Deadly Protector (Red Stone Security #19)

Katie Reus

Blurb:

He’s a former thief.

Dimitri’s world is turned upside down when he meets Zamira. The sweet single mom knows nothing about who he used to be. He should stay away, because he’s the last thing she needs in her life. But when she’s targeted by a threat from her past, he can’t keep his distance any longer.

She’s been burned before.

Zamira is a widow raising her twins with the help of her big family. After a devastating betrayal by her deceased husband, dating hasn’t been on her radar in years—until she meets a man who makes her feel alive again. But before she can think about taking the next step with him, a deadly secret threatens to rip her world apart. She knows she can’t handle things alone, yet when Dimitri steps in she realizes he has secrets too. He’s more dangerous than anyone she’s ever met. And the biggest threat he poses is to her heart.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating:  4.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

The Red Stone security series is one that fell off the radar for a while as Katie Reus built and developed several other series, but I am thrilled to say it is back in a big way. This latest installment revolves around the sister of one of the previous heroines and one of her acquaintances who has developed a bit of a tendre for her.  Katie takes us through the past mistakes and the dangerous forgiveness needed for two people to find their way in love and happiness in this story of two people finding love.  Zamira has buried a husband, raised two children to teenagers, and is settled into a career, she doesn’t see herself as a sexy woman much anymore, but when she looks at her therapy client Dimitri, she still feels that little tug.  Dimitri has been attracted to Zamira from the beginning but between being her client and all the tangled webs of her relationships with Red Stone members, he is hesitant to begin a courtship.  When a unique opportunity present itself, however, Dimitri can’t resist the opportunity to show her a few exciting nights out of the town—and hope it might lead to more. But when danger begins stalking the sensual single mother, Dimitri will pull out all the stops to keep her safe and eliminate the danger at her back so that she can decide if she’s willing to risk her heart on him. I really enjoyed seeing Zamira come out of her shell as a woman and find her footing again, with the help of her family and friends, and remembering what it was like to just be. She was sassy, sexy, and lovable, without being a total pushover which made her perfect for Dimitri.  Seeing her interacting with her slightly crazy family was fun for sure, but the best part was when her children were pushing her out of the nest, kind of the opposite of what usually happens. Dimitri is a man with a hard past, one that has led him down some shady paths, but when he finds a woman that he can fall for he seems willing to pull out all the stops to protect her and keep her safe.  I really loved seeing that and it was intriguing to see him working with the Red Stone guys to protect her and bring the bad guys down.  The passion between these two once they finally stopped fighting themselves was intense and intimate and you could tell it would last a long time.  I am really looking forward to the next in the series for sure.

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

ARC Mini-Review: A Warrior for Christmas (Dark Warriors #10)

A Warrior for Christmas (Dark Warriors #10)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

Defenders against evil. Bound by the gods. The Dark Warriors fought their battle from ancient Scotland to the modern world—where love set them free...

Now, with the past evil behind them and things quieter than they remember in ages, they can celebrate the holidays—and each other—with tradition, love, and fun.

Just days away from the winter solstice, Christmas, and Boxing Day, the Warriors and Druids of MacLeod castle come together once more to give thanks for the family they’ve made and the hardships they’ve overcome. But returning brings back so many memories, and each couple in residence finds themselves lost in reminiscences—and one another.

Tonight is about each other. Tomorrow, they will honor the ties they have forged and the life they have built as a group, putting the past behind them and looking to the future. No matter what it holds.

**Each captivating tale in this enchanting novella is followed by a mouthwatering recipe sure to make your holiday celebrations as festive, fun, and full of cheer as those at MacLeod Castle. Bon appétit and slàinte!

Themes:  Holiday Novella

Rating:  3.5 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

 I really enjoyed the sweet look into the continuing stories of the Warriors and the MacLeod Druids.  This story really was a love letter to Donna’s readers, reminding us all why we love her so much as each couple shared sweet and sexy moments in preparation for the holidays.  I admit that some of these couples were not my favorites when I read their novels back years ago, but it was still fun getting to experience their current relationships and seeing them interacting with those that are my favorite couples.  I also enjoyed see how they come together and support one another during the holiday season.  My favorite part of Donna’s stories is how each of her series intertwine in different ways and I am looking forward to seeing more of the warriors and the ladies in the new Skye Druids series she just launched.  I laughed and loved right alongside these couples and really enjoyed the quirky recipes included as well, making this one of the more interesting and fun holidays novellas I’ve read recently.  Can’t wait for more.

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