ARC Book #Review: Grand Theft N.Y.E (Heist Holidays 1) by Katrina Jackson .@katrinajax

Book Title: Grand Theft N.Y. E ( Heist Holidays Book 1)
Author:  Katrina Jackson |Website| Twitter| 

Publisher: Katrina Jackson
Genre: Romance, Interracial Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 1
Format: ebook

Cost: $0.99

Pages: 161

How I got it: ARC from Author 

Purchase: Amazon |
Publication Date: December 31st, 2019
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Synopsis:

Cleo Wright is just a happy scammer on a mission to rob a rich man before his ex-wife or the federal government seize all of his money and possessions. She's not expecting to meet another rich man who makes her want to use her nimble fingers for other, not thieving, things. But Robert Shimizu is just that man.

The two share a night of fast cars, expensive champagne and the best sex of her life. But Cleo is who she is and when Robert wakes up the next morning, she's long gone... with his car and a few other very expensive possessions.

It takes him months to track down the woman who stole his favorite watch and his heart, but when he does, there's fireworks.

Content Warnings: Mentions of parental illness and death

Y'all already know that I go into books blind. I absolutely love following Katrina on twitter, so when she put out the call for reviewers I ran so fast to join the line. I have already purchased Neighborly from her and plan to read that next and I'm going back into Pink Slip series by her to get some more info about the trio in the end but I'm getting ahead of myself.  First, I want to thank Katrina for having a content warning at the beginning because it gives you time to prep for what is coming, it doesn't spoil anything but it does make sure your shields are up and in force for when it happens.

Cleo is running a successful con when she meets a distraction she can't afford. However, once she realizes that the chemistry is mutual she decides to take a bit of time for some fun for herself.  From the beginning, this night is like nothing she's ever done before and it just keeps getting better. Robert has also never been so attracted to a woman and when he gets Cleo alone it's mindblowing and he starts planning how to get more time with Cleo. When he wakes up, Cleo is gone, so is his watch and his favorite jag, now he's on a mission to find her. Cleo ran when she woke up because Robert wasn't apart of her plans and he wasn't a mark, so she needed to leave. Once gone that night affects them both until they meet again in Miami. Whew that moment?!!! Get you a fan.

From the beginning, this story flowed well and I loved the personalities we got to meet and hope we get more from them in future books. Both Robert and Cleo were strong characters that I loved. Cleo knew she was bomb and acknowledged she needed more. When I was reading I kept hearing Trina's song with Lady Saw ('cause I'm Jamaican it had to be with Lady Saw & of course Trina reps Miami which is a location in the story as well). Robert POV is also shared in the book and I love that

Can I say that I was reading this while on vacation in Florida with family for the holidays and I kept finding places to hide and read? First of all, Robert can totally get it because OMG fine, I can totally feel the heat and steam coming off the pages while they were together. Chemistry on 10. Cleo was such a fun character to read, her reactions were so me, I loved her. I almost lost it when the fire alarm went off like DAMN IT!! This was gearing up to be a sweat your perm out romp. It totally kept me glued.

I absolutely loved this story. I loved how the timeline worked out so that it played into the story as well. With it all coming to a head-on NYE. Those final pages I wanted to savor and at the same time rush thru so I could find out what happened  I'm not sure how to explain that while I love the historical romances and the contemporary sprawling cowboy saga ('cause who don't love hot Black men in cowboy hats??) there is something about reading books about millennial women living with social media and using so much of today's lingo (like when her team overheard her conversation & said her "p*ssy be yanking". It grounds it in the here and now and just makes you feel like you would know the characters or have met them before. While I might not have Cleo's experiences that led to her lifestyle, the sister bond and the use of colloquialisms make her more like a girl I would have met and hung with.

I really enjoyed the story and wish we could have it in a physical form as well so I can have her work on my shelves. I loved the ups and downs (and not just the bedroom ones, which were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G) of the story and since it's the beginning of the series I can't wait to see who else gets a story. And how the other series will tie into this one. Now excuse me while I go look up the other books Katrina has that I don't already own, I see a binge in my future.

 ★★★★☆

Erotic Rating
 ★★★★★
5 ~ Extra Steamy: great story excellent plot, amazing sex scenes

Series In Order

• Grand Theft N.Y.E

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Beverly Jenkins Sexy/Dangerous  (for another thicc woman with hella confidence) 

Enjoy and Happy Reading my loves, 

AudioBook #Review: Echoes In Death # 44 by J. D. Robb

Book Title: Echoes In Death (In Death 44)
Author:  J. D. Robb |Website| Facebook| 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/ Brilliance Audio
Genre: Mystery/ Suspense/ SciFi Romance/ Futuristic SciFi
Series/Standalone: Book 44

Format: Audiobook, Hardcover, Mass Market
Narrator: Susan Eriksen

Audio Service: Scribd 

Hours in Book:  13 hours and 43 mins

Cost: $8.99

Pages: 371

How I got it: Scribd Subscription 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
Publication Date: February 07, 2017
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

This chilling new suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.D. Robb is the perfect entry point into the compelling In Death police procedural series featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas.

As NY Lt. Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke are driving home, a young woman—dazed, naked, and bloody—suddenly stumbles out in front of their car. Roarke slams on the brakes and Eve springs into action.

Daphne Strazza is rushed to the ER, but it’s too late for her husband Dr. Anthony Strazza. A brilliant orthopedic surgeon, he now lies dead amid the wreckage of his obsessively organized town house, his three safes opened and emptied. Daphne would be a valuable witness, but in her terror and shock the only description of the perp she can offer is repeatedly calling him “the devil”...

While it emerges that Dr. Strazza was cold, controlling, and widely disliked, this is one case where the evidence doesn’t point to the spouse. So Eve and her team must get started on the legwork, interviewing everyone from dinner-party guests to professional colleagues to caterers, in a desperate race to answer some crucial questions:

What does the devil look like? And where will he show up next? (

Overall:
Another great addition to the In Death series, focusing mostly on the case with only a few moments of splashes into Eve's life we get one hell of a story. Despite what appears to be a random set of perfect crimes Eve knows there is always a connection and she digs for them.  I loved how vulnerable Eve was in this one and the balance between her and Roarke being what it is, he's able to see it and prep to aide her when she needs it. And there is a moment in her office that brought tears to my eyes, just he's so freaking awesome.

Narrator:
Fantastic, she's able to embody each of the characters. After a while you don't even realize it's still one person sharing the story as her voice, inflections and intonations change with each character and she really conveys the emotions of each. It helps bring each of the characters to life in a way that I couldn't stop listening and finished the book within two days (which is a feat when you're working two jobs okay?!!)

Story:

Sweet Gawds this is another of the stories that focuses on the case but has a few echoes in Eve's life.  Eve and Roarke are coming home from a swanky event and almost run over a woman who needs their help. From there the case takes many turns as they are unraveling the mystery of who did this to the couple and why. And will he strike again??

Once Eve begins to work the case she discovers there are even more victims than they had been aware of. Working the case slowly the tiny threads that connect all the couples start to come up and the reasons for the attacks begin to come out.  And because of the circumstances of the cases it brings up echoes of Eve's childhood which makes it hard to work the case.  And yet as many of her cases have forced her to reconcile with her past, and deal with it she's on steadier ground than sh'd been when we first got to know her.

From the beginning Roarke is involved in the case and keeping an eye on Eve's emotional levels. As the story progresses and the case is worked, Eve shows us the growth that has led to her being a better officer, and partner.  With her understanding of both victim and pathology of what makes the villain tick she's able to work the case faster. With this one we get very little of Eve's life and focus more on the case and the spaces it splashes on her private life. I liked the focus on case, even as we see the moments when Eve learns to embrace more than the job. She's still not comfortable with being the wife of a multi-billionaire, but she's learning to get better with it. The last few cases have been pushing her and she's had to make adjustments in her thinking and the way she handles relationships.

For me at times Eve reminds me of Dr Brennan from Bones, with her lack of social conditioning due to being raised in the system, so at times Eve is unaware of how things come off, or the point of a common saying and doesn't have the references for a lot of 'normal' things a lot of people do. I also appreciated that while the case was no more brutal than it normally is for Eve, that this time the sexy lovemaking we come to expect from them wasn't included. While dealing with the difficult topic, Eve and Roarke were still intimate and taking time with each other, in fact I would say Eve is starting to learn to relax more with the new level of wealth she's married into, she doesn't take it for granted yet as someone who has been married into it for decades might but she isn't always gawking like a country bumpkin either. I loved that they comforted each other, had great moments that were't about lovemaking while they worked this case and dealt with how it triggered Eve.

I'm going to be doing a post perhaps even a video about my dislikes about Eve's character because there are a few and they really work my nerves. However in this case, Eve was fascinating, as she knew who the criminal was and worked backwards to make the dots work and that was intriguing. When she had the criminal in the interrogation room is when she really came alive. I loved the new side to Peabody as well. This was a great addition to the series and if you've never read the series this would be a good place to start as it does a good job of summarizing the whole series without weighting down the book.

I love the way the team came together, how Roarke kept Eve even and worked well with the others to really bring this case in . Another great addition to the series.

 ★★★★☆

Series In Order

• Naked In Death       Glory In Death         Immortal In Death
• Rapture In Death     Ceremony In Death    Vengence In Death
• Holiday In Death     Midnight In Death 7.5   Conspiracy In Death
• Loyalty In Death      Witness In Death          Judgement In Death
• Betrayal In Death     Interlude In Death  12.5      Seduction In Death
• Reunion In Death     Purity In Death      Portrait In Death
• Imitation In Death    Big Jack 17.5        Divided In Death
• Vision In Death        Survivor In Death  Origin In Death
• Memory In Death     Haunted In Death 22.5      Born In Death
• Innocent In Death     Creation    In Death           Eternity In Death 25.5
• Strangers In Death    Salvation In Death             Kindred In Death
• Missing In Death 29.5      Fantasy In Death        Indulgence In Death
• Possession In Death 31.5  Treachery In Death    New York To Dallas
• Chaos In Death 33.5          Celebrity In Death     Delusion In Death
• Calculated In Death           Thankless In Death   Taken In Death 37.5
• Concealed In Death        Festive In Death       Obsession In Death     
• Devoted In Death     Wonderment In Death 41.5   Brotherhood In Death
• Apprentice In Death  Echoes In Death 

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Heather Graham
• Julie Garwood  

Happy Reading my loves, 

ARC Book #Review: The Bear's Fated Mate (Borealis Bears 2) by Vivian Arend .@VivianArend

Book Title: The Bear's Fated Mate (Borealis Bears 2)
Author:  |Website| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram

Publisher: Arend Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series/Standalone: Book 2
Format: ebook, Paperback

Cost: $3.99

Pages: 168

How I got it: Author Street Team Group

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: November 19th, 2019
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

He’s going to pick someone perfectly wrong for him—because fate isn’t in charge of his world!

A stand alone title in a brand-new shifter trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Vivian Arend.

As head of security for the family company, polar bear shifter Alex Borealis has intel warning something big is about to happen. His prime suspect? Tantalizing, infuriating Lara Lazuli, youngest daughter of Borealis Gems’ main competitor. But when mating fever hits, he decides she’s the perfect one to turn to. They’ve got chemistry hot enough to melt the polar ice caps, but he doesn’t trust her enough for a permanent connection to form.

Being with Alex is one step shy of torture for Lara. As a wolf shifter, she scented the truth the instant she met him months ago—he’s her mate. But she’s not about to trap anyone into being with her, especially not a man who thinks she’s up to no good. Add in her own suspicions of wrong-doing in her pack and Lara’s caught between heaven and hell.

But tangled sheets lead to real communication, and a bond of friendship forms that neither expected. When Lara asks for help, Alex finds himself living in the pack house, scaring off random Alpha wolves and fighting at her side.

Because the mating fever knows a thing or two about fate and forever.

Like most of the books I read, I went into this one blind, I love Vivian's work and have been apart of her street team for a while. When the link came for this one based on the cover I asked to be apart of the reviews. I'm so glad I did, this was so funny and sweet and I totally want to read the rest of the trilogy now. Basically, these three polar bear brothers make a pact not to be influenced by their busybody Grandfather during their mating fever, except you don't live this long and remain as Patriarch for as long as their Grandfather if you aren't a wily bear.  He's got a few plans in place to help his grandsons realize their potential mates and he's not afraid to meddle when he needs to. I loved it.

Lara is the sister to the Alpha of the local wolf pack, having gone away for college and lived her life away from the pack, she returns home to help with the security for the pack. When she returns she notices there appear to be things the leaders of the pack won't share with her and she's suspicious of what that could mean for their people. She's also discovered who her mate is and the infuriating man doesn't even recognize her. Alex the security expert for the local bear pack is suspicious of the little wolf Lara and her interest in being friends with his newest sister in law and he's beyond attracted to her but can't fathom why her.  When his Grandfather begins to drop hints he's suspicious the wolf pack may be making moves he decides to look into it. 

Alex's brother has recently discovered his mate and he's broken the vow the brothers have made and now it's up to Alex to hold out. He's going to find out what the wolves are up to and if he can get close to the wolf his bear likes who is he to complain?? Lara wants to find out what her family is up to and she wants her mate, but she's not willing to put herself out there to be hurt, as the first to recognize the mating bond she's feeling the full effects and he's unaware of it. 

These two were a riot to read, their animals were separate personalities and would inject their ideas on how to handle the other often. Alex's bear certainly had his mind made up his human just had to catch up. This was a great romantic story that focused on the two getting to know each other as friends first then as mates. Neither were aware of just how much they were being pushed together not just by their animals but their family as well.  I certainly didn't expect what was happening in Lara's pack to happen. And I loved how great their familial relationships were.  The Grandfather was hilarious and the way he went about getting them together was too funny. His voice is what kick starts the story and I was hooked from reading his journal entry.

These two were so good together and I loved how even as they tried to navigate being friends then becoming more all while trying to figure out just what is happening with the leadership of the pack. I loved the bit of tension that brought to the story and even how it was all resolved.  The ending had me cracking up when all the answers came out and I now need to read the third book because it's going to be interesting to see how she gets this one hooked to his mate. I absolutely loved that despite Alex being described as a 'bear' of a man Lara was still able to handle him because she was so kick ass. Just so awesome!!! And of course, the sexual chemistry was off the charts. There are so many cute moments in the book that I just ugh couldn't stop smiling while reading. Lara's sister?? I love her and I sure would love a story about her and her mate (which we learn about in this one but still). Highly recommend for those seeking a good romantic comedy with a kick-ass female and a polar bear that loves to play.

 ★★★★☆

Series In Order

• The Bear's Chosen Mate (Book 1) ** haven't read yet**
• The Bear's Fated mate (Book 2) 

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Christine Feehan Carpathian Series
• Lora Leigh Breed Series

Happy Reading my loves, 

Book #Review: Seized by Seduction (The Protectors 2) by Brenda Jackson

Book Title: Seized By Seduction ( The Protectors 2)
Author:  Brenda Jackson| Website| Twitter| Facebook
Publisher: HQN Books

Genre: Romantic Thriller, Romantic Suspense
Series/Standalone: Book 2
Format: ebook, mass market

Cost: $5.99

Pages: 400

How I got it: Purchased 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: April 25th, 2017
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

One glance is all it takes

From the moment his eyes meet hers across the crime-scene tape, ex-con turned bodyguard Quasar Patterson knows he has to see the mysterious Dr. Randi Fuller again. She's a renowned psychic investigator who can foresee danger for others, but not for herself. That makes Quasar doubly determined to watch over her—the closer, the better—as she's drawn into a dangerous gang rivalry.

Both her psychic gift and their blinding chemistry tell Randi that she and Quasar are fated to be entwined. Even as they surrender to the heat between them, there's no guarantee of a happily-ever-after now that an enemy has her in his sights. And claiming a future will take more than Quasar's strength and skill. If he can't risk the heart he's always held in check, they'll both lose for good…

I actually listened to the audio of this book and anything Ron reads I'm going to be listening to, my gawd that man's voice is everything. Just amazing.

I absolutely loved this one. Quasar was one of my favorite guys from the trio once we were introduced to them. He's funny and hell bent on making a life for himself that doesn't diminish his past but also isn't built around it either.  Having made changes while in prison and having created the beginnings of a new family for himself he isn't afraid of love so much as not willing to give his heart again after his last betrayal.  Randi herself has dealt with people doubting her abilities for as long as she has had them, she herself hadn't wanted the gift she was being given but when she's made to take the time to learn more about her gift and herself she comes out of the crisis a better woman, a woman who knows who she is and what she wants from her life.

These two met because of Randi's involvement with the case in Forged in Desire.  Her skills helped to save the life of a few people and helped bring the case to somewhat of a close. Having had a vision that she and the two other women she met on the case would one day be close she's not surprised when she realizes that will happen because of Quaser. Unlike him she's aware that they are fated to be together but she must allow Quasar the time he needs to come to the same conclusion and she must let the path they are on play out on it's own, she can't influence him or they won't end up together. (Talk about pressure) They have instant chemistry and Randi knows she has to deal with this the right way for her to end up with the love of a lifetime, but Quasar has to want it too, and for now he's only seeking to find out how deep this attraction goes.  Unlike most people she meets Randi can't read Quasar and this means he's a mystery to her.

I loved the way this unfolded. I loved that she was psychic because we don't often see black psychics in romantic thrillers/ suspense. I was so excited to read this story and loved it all the way to the end. I yelled at the book, talk back to the book, and had to fan myself a few times. This was one hell of a roller coaster of a ride. Every time I thought "nah, it really can't be that bad, maybe he misconstrued...oh.. wait .. nah he right they trash"  I was so addicted to seeing he common threads which tied back to the Granger series as well.  The criminals in this were savvy and went even deeper than anyone believed. Cases from years before became even more interconnected and we learned just how far some will go to line their pockets.

Randi is also a behavioral psychologist so she's not just relying on her gift to help her solve the crimes and this makes her even more dangerous to some. Called out to help with a potential gang war, Randi walks into the middle of a conspiracy with deeper ties than anyone is aware of.  Quasar follows Randi out there under the guise of seeing his family because his dad is insisting that they all need to come together around his brother who is announcing his candidacy for office.  Quasar would rather eat rusty nails but he goes because he's not willing to leave Randi unprotected, something in him tells him she's going to need him.  While there and getting to know her he's realizing this woman is even more different than he previously realized and this doesn't just intrigue him it makes him want to unravel the puzzle that is her.  There is so much that happens to make this one hell of a story, from the past unraveling for Quasar, to Randi understanding the depth of her talents. I just couldn't believe how much happened.

While working the case and getting to know each other they take on their pasts, challenge each other and of course rock each other's worlds. I loved every second of it.  I found myself hooked to the very last page, just dying to know and then very satisfied with the ending.  I highly recommend my loves, especially if you love a little paranormal in your mystery thriller.

 ★★★★☆

Series In Order

• Forged By Desire
• Seized By Seduction
• Locked in Temptation 

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Maggie Shayne Brown & Deluca Series 

Happy Reading my loves, 

Audiobook #Review:Butterfly In Frost by Sylvia Day .@Scribd

Book Title: Butterfly in Frost
Author:  Sylvia Day |Website| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram

Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Romance
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Format: Audiobook, Physical
Narrator: Emma Wilder & Joe Arden 

Audio Service: Scribd
Hours in Book: 4 hours 48 mins

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 199

How I got it: Purchased/ Listened via Scribd

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher
Publication Date: 08/27/2019
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

From #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon Sylvia Day comes a hotly anticipated and passionate new love story.

Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.

Then Garrett Frost moves in next door.

He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.

And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.

Emotional and heartrending, Butterfly in Frost marks a brilliant return by global sensation Sylvia Day, the #1 international multimillion bestselling author of the Crossfire saga.

Overall:
Trigger Warning:
***Go in with knowledge that there is discussion of grief, loss of a child and depression. ***

I was anticipating this book and pre-ordered as soon as the link popped up on her website, I didn't need to know what it was about and went right into it once I saw the audiobook on Scribd. While I didn't know the synopsis I dived right into the story. I liked the story the narration, however, left much to be desired.  The story flew by but with the narration I kept going back wondering if I missed something. Nothing about the synopsis tells you what the true story is about and I kind of liked that.

Narrator:
For a majority of the story, it's told in Teagan's voice and therefore told from Emma Wilder which was fine. I really enjoyed her because she was good at doing Teagan's voice and Roxy's and later when we meet a few others. Her inflections totally made the characters come alive. However, the last few chapters are from Garrett and they have Joe Arden narrate that. Please explain to me if you're going to hire a male voice actor why the HELL was Emma deepening her voice to do his parts in the first half????? Did the budget not kick in until later?? It totally ruined the story because I'm like why didn't he just do the voice the whole time?? Cause now this is a whole new character since Emma's been doing the voice completely differently. UGHHHHH Y'all need to get it together.  Did Not Like

Story:

While reading this I kept wondering if I had somehow skipped pages or if the book was missing pages. I love a good insta love story but this was fast even for me. Then I determined they must have known each other because Garrett was way too familiar in his habits for this to be the first time they try some of these things.

I was very glad that we had a character dealing ( or not really dealing ) with depression and grief. They were two people broken and finding comfort in each other, at least that's how it read until we got to the end and we learn more from Garrett.

I really loved that we got to meet up with Ava from the Crossfire series and in the process got some information on all the other characters, as this is in the future ( I won't tell you how far in the future but it was pretty cool). This was a pretty fast story that feels like it could have been fleshed out more, we could have learned more from them. They were both trying to cope with major changes, Teagan with a divorce that devastated her,. and Garrett with the loss of a child.

At the end of the story so much of their conversation make more sense and it fills in the cracks and makes the story richer, but when I was reading the first time through I kept feeling like I was missing something, honestly, I felt like Roxy at the end.

I did love it at the end, but man getting there was a little confusing. I ended up loving the story once it all unfolded. Especially after reading her notes on the book and the song choice for the theme of the book: Happier by Marshmello ft Bastille

 ★★★☆☆

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Finding Home Again (Catalina Cove 3) by Brenda Jackson
• Love In Catalina Cove by Brenda Jackson

Happy Reading my loves, 

October 2019 In Review:

This has been one of the better months this year. Not only did I read quite a bit and read widely too, I also had good audiobook experiences. I'm so hooked to them now. I shared my deep dive into a new favorite author's catalog, Seressia's work really pulled me out of the start of a slump and jumpstarted the month.  Checkout below to see what else I read this month

Also I'm going to have a separate post about my adventures at KissCon in Mohegan Sun this past Saturday October 29th, 2019. It was awesome, I will also have a haul from there as well.

Book Hauls:
Stacking The Shelves # 24: The NetGalley Edition
Stacking The Shelves # 25: The Library Book Sale
Stacking The Shelves # 26: Harlequin Haul

Weekly Wrap Up Post:

Check out the wrap up here

Reviews on the Blog This Month:

Part Two:

1. Dark Illusion by Christine Feehan Review
2. Sleep with the Lights On by Maggie Shayne Review
3. Dream of Danger by Maggie Shayne Review
4. Shadow Blade by Seressia Glass Review
5. Shadow Chase by Seressia Glass Review
6. Shadow Fall by Seressia Glass Review
7. ARC Wake To Darkness by Maggie Shayne Review
8. Innocent Prey By Maggie Shayne Review
9. Deadly Obsession by Maggie Shayne Review
10. ARC Xeni: An Marriage of Inconvenience by Rebekah Weatherspoon Review
11. Seducing The Jackal by Seressia Glass Review
12. Hunting The Jackal by Seressia Glass Review
13. Claiming The Jackal by Seressia Glass Review
14. Audiobook Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn Review
15. Audiobook Love In Catalina Cove by Brenda Jackson Review
16. Audiobook Forget Me Not by Brenda Jackson Review
17. ARC Finding Home by Brenda Jackson Review

Books Read This Month: 

Yearly Goal: 150   Monthly Count: 15   Balance: 16

Part Two: 

Book Reviews To Look Forward to Next Month:

These are just a few of the books I've read recently that I want to review and share my thoughts on with you. I also have a video and a small haul from a recent author event I can't wait to share withy ou as well. How did your October go??

What have you read recently that I should check out??  Thanks for stopping by and seeing the progress my loves.

Yule Holiday Reading List 2019

Yule Reading Challenge

November 1, 2019 - January 6, 2020

Welcome back to another year of the Yule Reading Challenge, here I attempt to read all the Yule/ Christmas books listed on my shelves and any ARCs I might have.  Last year I did this list and really enjoyed reading some of the books I owned.  This lead to me falling in love with a few new authors and adding them on to the TBR Pile but also made me aware of the awesome stories already sitting on the pile from those authors as well.

With another season on us I wanted to give myself plenty of time to really fall in love with these books, since I don't celebrate Thanksgiving I'm going to be going right from Halloween reads right into the Yule season.  If you would like to join in just share in the comments down below and we can work on motivating each other to clean up the TBR Pile just a little bit more.  To make this more fun, this year we are going to be doing some giveaways as well. More to be announced so be on the lookout!!

Now onto the books to be read:

Books From the Stockpile

• Naughty or Nice by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Friends
• A SEAL Wolf Christmas by Terry Spear
• A Bride For Christmas by Heather Graham and Friends
• This Christmas by Jane Green and Friends
• Under The Mistletoe by Stephanie Bond
• The Secret Life of Mrs. Claus by Carly Alexander
• Christmas on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStefano
• Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand
• Three Days on Mimosa Lane Anna DeStefano
• @Home For The Holidays by Meredith Efken
• Jingle Bells Rock Anthology Lori Foster, Janelle Denison & More
• Mistletoe Games Jaci Burton
• Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley (re-Read)
• Christmas Star by Roz Denny Fox
• Yule Be Mine by Lori Foster
• I'm Your Santa Anthology Lori Foster & Friends
• Holiday Temptation Donna Hill, Farrah Rochon & K.M. Jackson
• Mistletoe & Molly by Janet Dailey
• The Gift by Nora Roberts
• First Impressions by Nora Roberts
• Winter Nights (Anthology)
• Mistletoe and Molly by Janet Dailey
• Santa in Montana by Janet Dailey (Calder Saga)
• Searching For Santa by Janet Dailey
• 
  
  The Holiday Inn (Anthology) 

ARCs That I Need To Read:

• The Keepers Christmas In Salem Heather Graham 
• A Last Chance Christmas by Vicki Lewis Thompson
• A Christmas To Remember by Jill Shalvis and Friends
• Christmas With The Seal by Tawny Weber 
• Christmas With The Billionaire Rancher by Mandy Baxter

Books I'm Adding on This Year (2019):

• Once Upon a Cowboy Christmas by Soraya Lane
• Secret Prince's Christmas Seduction by Carol Marinelli
• Christmas with the Billionaire & A Tiara for Christmas by Niobia Bryant & Carolyn Hector
• Her Christmas Wish & Designed by Love by Sherelle Green & Sheryl Lister
• His Christmas Gift & Decadent Holiday Pleasures by Janice Sims & Pamela Yaye
• Oh Naughty Night by Leslie Kelly
• Once Upon A Cowboy Christmas (River Ranch 3) by Soraya Lane
• Mistletoe Baby by Donna Hill
• Happy Holidays by Janet Dailey

Let me know if you have read any of these and should I move them to the top.  I'm sure I will find more in my kindle, but for now, these are the ones I would like to work on.  The goal isn't to add any more books to this list but to clean up the books that have been waiting all year for me to read them.

Any comments or questions please feel free to leave them down below, and I will see you tomorrow my loves.

AudioBook #Review: Witchling (Otherworld Sisters of The Moon Book 1) by Yasmine Galenorn .@YasmineGalenorn

Book Title: Witchling (Otherworld/ Sisters of the Moon)
Author: Yasmine Galenorn |Website| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram

Publisher: Tantor Media
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Series/Standalone: Book 1
Format: Audiobook Unabridged
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell

Audio Service: Scribd
Hours in Book: 10

Cost: $7.99

Pages: 276

How I got it: Scribd

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher

Publication Date: December 15th, 2008
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

We're the D'Artigo Sisters: Half-human, half-Faerie, we're savvy--and sexy--operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But our mixed-blood heritage short-circuits our talents at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she's stressed. Menolly's a vampire who's still trying to get the hang of being undead. And me? I'm Camille--a wicked-good witch. Except my magic is as unpredictable as the weather, which my enemies are about to find out the hard way...

At the Wayfarer Inn, a portal to Otherworld and the local hangout for humans and beasties alike, our fellow operative, Jocko, has been murdered. Every clue points to Shadow Wing, the soul-munching, badass leader of the Subterranean Realms. He's made it clear that he aims to raze humankind to the ground, turning both Earth and Otherworld into his private playground. Our assignment: keep Shadow Wing and his minions from creeping into Earth via the Wayfarer. The demons figure they're in like Flynn. After all, with only my bumbling sisters and me standing in the way, how can they miss? But we've got a secret for them: Faulty wiring or not, nobody kicks ass like the D'Artigo girls. . .

Overall:
I listened to this over the course of two weeks, not because it wasn't good but because I enjoyed it then put it down for a few books for tour dates, I found that it was extremely easy to jump back in when I wanted to come back to the story and the narrator Cassandra was wonderful, her voice able to keep you entertained and engaged while keeping the story flowing.

Narrator
This was narrated by Cassandra Campbell and she was wonderful. She carried all the emotions and made them tangible without bogging down the story. I loved when she managed to make Camille's voice sound like an overall narrator while still sharing the story from her POV and sharing her funny as hell self talk. I enjoyed her voice a good deal.

Story:

I loved that this was an urban fantasy. In this world, the Fae and all the creatures of the paranormal world are out and they are all form Otherworld. Camille and her sisters who are all half-fae, half-human were more prepared to live among the human than most. They are guardians who really only have a few instances in which they have to step in. Until the day someone opens the portal to Otherworld and let in three dangerous creatures who immediately set about upsetting the balance of the town.  Something or someone is killing Fae and leaving a mess behind and now the sisters must work with their human liaison and try to find out just what came through and what it's got to do with the coming upheaval in Otherworld.

I loved that this world had so many complex courts and the lore that was included. It's going to be interesting to see all the stories that develop and come out of this world. Camille and her sisters are interesting, as each young woman has different strengths and weaknesses. Camille is the witch in the family but her spells don't always work, she's in love with a race of people that are looked down upon in the Otherworld ( because even in the fantasy world dark-skinned people can't catch a break le sigh). Knowing that the Svartans love to enthrall their lovers then leave them she cuts him from her life first and now that there is an upcoming battle the Svartan is back in her life. Can she trust him or is he here only to break her heart.

Her two sisters will have their own stories as one was changed into a vampire while on assignment and another has a tendency to shapeshift whenever she's stressed. That makes it hard for her to help during battles. As the story grows legends come to life, a long lost key comes into play and there is a hot dragon. Oh and several earth spirits including a drop-dead gorgeous Kitsune.  Camille has to complete a bargain of getting a demon finger, finding the murderer of the Fae, stop a powerful artifact from falling into the wrong hands and take on a seemingly indestructible Fae nicknamed Badass.

She's gotta do all of this while making sure her bookstore doesn't get protested by those who want the right to hunt their paranormal neighbors and of course protect the city.

I did wonder if this was a spin off of a established series, while the world building was good; I felt like a bit of the storytelling was a 'given' like you should know because you've been here before. Also the relationship that Camille is in was done really quickly as they are an established couple from before the story started.  There is also a weird relationship that develops with one of the sisters, and it happened off screen and we don't know how it all went down. The sisters were quirky but I'm hoping it's not too much of the chick lit quirk where they are so 'helpless' without the male protag. I enjoyed this one for the lore we were getting as well as Camille's view on things. She didn't have any too stupid to live moments which let's be real sometimes these books have the heroines do just so they can be rescued. Nope she was smart, and on top of it including being knowledgeable about the lore she needed to be able to save her family and stay one step ahead for now. I'm hoping this shapes up to be a polyamory story but I won't hold my breathe.

I enjoyed it, and can't wait to check out the rest of the series which I now own up to book 18 thanks to Savers over the summer.

 ★★★☆☆

Series In Order

• Witchling (Book 1) 

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Kitty Norville Series by Carrie Vaughn 
• Merry Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton ( I can only vouch for up to Swallowing Darkness after that y'all are on your own. ) 
• Magic series by Cheyenne McCray
• World of the Lupi by Karen Chance

Happy Reading my loves, 

Book #Review: Dark Illusion (Dark # 29) by Christine Feehan .@AuthorCFeehan

Book Title: Dark Illusion (Carpathian Series #29)
Author:  Christine Feehan |Website| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram

Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romance,
Series/Standalone: Book 29
Format: Hardcover

Cost: $13.99

Pages: 400

How I got it: Purchased

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2019
Add To Goodreads
Synopsis:

A mage and a warrior must see beyond their facades and embrace the bond that links their souls in this powerful Carpathian novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

At any other time, Julija Brennan would find solace in the quiet of the Sierra Mountains, but now the mage is in the race of her life. Having broken free from her controlling family, Julija's attempts to warn the Carpathians of the coming threat has failed and put a target on her back—and those who hunt her are close behind...

After centuries locked away in a monastery in the Carpathian Mountains, Isai Florea can't believe he's finally found his lifemate—the missing half of his soul. The second he sees Julija his world blazes with color. But despite their explosive connection Julija rebels against what she sees as Isai's intent to control her and rejects the bond that would prevent him from becoming a monster.

As their unfulfilled bond continues to call to them both, Julija and Isai aim to complete the task that brought them together. They are used to facing danger alone, but now the mage and the ancient warrior must learn how to rely on each other in order to stop a plot that threatens all Carpathians...

****Review May Contain Spoilers*** Trigger Warnings: ***Book Contains discussion of sexual assault ***

This journey into the Carpathian world started when a Mage betrayed by her own decided to break ranks and warn the Carpathians of just how far the true deception goes, on her way to warn Mikhail the Prince she runs across another stealing a book that belonged to one of the Darkest Mages ever and she decides to follow him and the book because she can't allow it to fall into the hands of the Dark mages.  While following the thief she is thought to have been to one to steal it and so Mikhail sends another after her to find it and I just. The story that unfolds?? I cried a few times in here when I realized the despair some of these warriors face while seeking their true lifemates.  UGH just take all my money Christine, this is just one of my absolutely favorite series by her. 

Julija was trying to find a way to help the other races fight back against her people's concentrated effort to eliminate them. While growing up she's exposed to those who would harm others for the fun and sport of it and she can't handle it.  On that journey to recover from her own education, where she was required to hide just how talented she was to stay alive amongst her own clan; she befriended a Carpathian woman in captivity and they helped each other survive even if her captures never knew she was helping her.

I absolutely loved this story, I feel like if I talk too much I'll give it all away because I want to gush about it.  This was a fantastic tale, filled with magic, mages and steamy hot love scenes, scheming wizards, loser vampires ( I call them losers cause they forever want to takeover the world like do us all a favor and stay in your corner) and a great love story.  Christine has a tendency to write the stories in a way that's either overarching story heavy or romance heavy, this time she managed to balance it well and we got advancement of the bigger plot points while letting us learn about the two lifemates, and their battle to stay alive. I loved that we got a bit of a 'case' that needed to be handled here in this story and this helped to move the bigger plot along and gave us glimpses of future romances and warriors seeking their lifemates.

We learn about Julija and the life she lived within the Mage community and how she had to learn to dim herself to survive and then she thought she wouldn't survive betraying them ( and honestly she probably wouldn't have, not with all that was coming at her) and learning to see beyond her conditioning to see what a badass powerful witch she was. I loved her and Isai together because for the first time in a long time as a Carpathian he wasn't a 'tortured' soul and was willing to adapt to the world of his lifemate, and yet also didn't believe he was worth the light the lifemate would bring him. They were two people who needed a bit of love to make them see how wonderful they were for hanging on and fighting for the light despite everything that happened to them.

I loved the battles as it helped them each peel back a little bit more of who they were and embrace the magic a bit quicker. I'm glad we are finally seeing more of the world of the mages, as we had only caught glimpses before. There were times in reading that I kind of guessed where things would lead but I still found that I needed to read as fast as possible to see how it would be solved. I was addicted to it.

While I loved the story I will point out that Christine tends to make her heroes and heroines go through it ALL. Especially the women, my gawds these women truly go though some serious trauma. One of the things I didn't like was the way in which Julija's history was discussed, and not trying to be spoilery but those scenarios were rape an it was never called that, it wasn't even 'prettied up' as assault, it was called sex and just NO.  I loved that Isai knew this and worked not to trigger her, but my gawd was she in denial about it. Maybe that was her way of dealing but truly I wish this wasn't the only way to show how strong the women are.

Despite that star dropping issues (it's why it's a four and not a five) I really loved this story, seeing the subplot of another warrior, knowing the options for one of the Brotherhood (from the monastery) I was hooked and can't wait until the next one (which will probably late next year Boooo!!!)

 ★★★★☆

Happy Reading my loves,