Review: Break the Day

Break the Day by Lara Adrian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't think I can quit this series, no matter how much I am going through the motions with these latest books. I think it has something to do with the audiobook narrator, but like I said - I just can't quit!

At this point, all the books are leading up to some sort of massive Opus Nostrum showdown. This book, however, does not get there. Yes, we get some steps taken to get closer to these bad guys, but in reality, this is a love story. Rafe, who was duped in the previous book by a double agent, is on a secret mission to get into a gang supposedly linked to Opus. It's on this mission that he discovers Devony, a daywalker who has an even bigger reason to hate Opus. They end up teaming up (in more ways than one - get it?) and they fight the good fight together.

This book didn't really distinguish itself from the rest, except that we get a different view of the tragedy that happened. The repercussions are obviously huge, and Devony is just one of what will probably be many people wanting revenge. Not really sure why everyone feels the need to go after the on their own, but we get that again, too. The weapons are firmly in Underworld territory now, so that should ramp up the fighting when we get there.

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Review: Bloodlines and Broomsticks

Bloodlines and Broomsticks by Robyn Bachar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am so glad I continued on with this series. This book is so much better than book#1 and gave me some more enjoyable characters, while still building in this world. You could probably start here if you really wanted to, but as a series, I'm sure it will all connect in the next book even more than in this one.

This book introduces us to the mysteriously untrained magical family of the previous liaison between the fae and human worlds. In the last book, I didn't really understand why she wouldn't have trained her family in magic, but we don't really get that answer here. Instead, we watch Riley, newly introduced to the magical world, be tasked with trying to train for a fight she is woefully unprepared for. She's got her own baggage from her somewhat recent divorce, trying to make her own way when she gets this extra burden. Oh, and people start trying to kill her.

During the first real attempt on her life, she escapes through a mirror, only to be accidentally struck down by a shifter. There's all sorts of badness and prejudice associated with shifters, so this makes Riley's life even harder (ugh). But, bonus, she gets a shifter bodyguard who used to be a sorcerer assigned to her. So - why did I enjoy this book more than the previous one? The magic just seemed more fun. The love interest was not a horrible person. Riley was way more enjoyable and, well, I am kind of on her team in whatever fight that may ensue. Bring on the next book!

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Review: The Spellslinger

The Spellslinger by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I don't even know where to start reviewing these books any more. There is so much baggage and world building that happened prior to this installment that you should go way back and start at the beginning in order to appreciate the gravity and importance of everything here.

Lincoln and Sophie are in bad shape at the start of this book and it only gets worse. We pick off where we left off with the whole end of the world business (again). Sophie is still pregnant and Lincoln is still a pretty big jerk. I've never been a real big Lincoln fan, but in this book I turned a page in that book. Everything changes here (maybe even in other timelines and who knows what else? timey wimey and all that...). The ultimate goal of these two is to set things right and head back to their timeline.

Without too many spoilers here - do they do that? Yes? Kind of? Sort of? Only time (ha-ha) can tell if things have been set right or maybe even better than before. Part of me is hoping for changes, part of me is hoping for going back to the old timeline for everyone but Sophie and Lincoln. There's a lot of changes that I cannot wait to see happen between these two, and I wasn't even mad about this wild, messed up universe and all of its graphically awful things.

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Review: The Enforcer

The Enforcer by Abigail Owen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a continuation of this series of dragon enforcers, but somehow managed to feel totally fresh and new. I really enjoyed the stubborn romance in this one.

Cami is a tough as nails woman who knows how to speak her mind and stand up for herself. This is probably why she was trying to catch the last of her baby goats and load them into the truck when Drake, a dragon shifter fighting the fire that threatened her land, first spotted her. It was pain in the ass at first sight between these two and only got more complicated from there. Drake is his usual glum self, made even more so by his impending death if he doesn't find a mate. Is he looking for one? No, of course not. Well, like it or not, Cami is a possible mate.

Cami does not take the easy path to mate-dom. It takes a visit from the elusive Rune to get her away and safe, only to be reintroduced to Drake. These two were stubborn in the most awesome, reluctant way. I was also reluctant to be on team Cami/Drake, but I got there by the last half. The way they work together is *amazing* by the end, and, of course, we are delivered a solid HEA.

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Review: The Goddess Gets Her Guy

The Goddess Gets Her Guy by Ashlyn Chase
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the last of the wild and crazy installments in this world (I think), so maybe this isn't the place to start the series. Instead, if you've been watching this all play out, it wraps up things nicely for all involved.

Gaia, aka Mother Nature, has played a big role in the previous books set in this world. Some more than others, but she is almost always pretty mean about it, even when she's helpful. I have to admit, I had a really hard time liking her. Sure, I guess everybody deserves to get their HEA, but she's just... so... mean. The book starts with her yelling at all her paranormals about breaking her "one rule" again, but then seems to mellow out a bit with the help of her sisters.

Aaron, the father of a set of witches we met previously, finds himself in a bit of a transition. Due to his failing health, he can no longer be a doctor, but without his job he finds it hard to pass the time. His daughter (the one not mated to a phoenix) ends up getting dumped by her husband while pregnant, leaving them to team up and head to Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is now apparently filled with all our favorite paranormals from previous books and welcomes them with open arms. It's here that Gaia and Aaron end up hooking up.

Again, I had some trouble giving Gaia her HEA, but I supposed everyone deserves one. With all the characters, I also found it a little hard to keep up, so was mostly just along for the ride here. As an ending to this series, it makes sense Gaia would find her match in a human-ish person.

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Review: Boundary Haunted

Boundary Haunted by Melissa F. Olson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was near perfect in my mind - filled with mystery, action, paranormal tough chick goodness, and everything that makes Lex awesome. If you're joining this show already in progress, I'd recommend you back it up and start with Book#1. This world has a lot of baggage you'll want to unpack.

Lex is beautifully broken in this book. She's human (kind-of), so she's actually showing the strain of the traumatic events she's recently gone through. Shocker, right? Usually we power through and the tough girls just ignore what's bothering them. Don't get me wrong - Lex tries the ignore option, but supernatural drama puts her in the unique place to face her fears and accept an out of town assignment that will involve lots and lots of ghosts. You know, the thing that traumatized her in her most recent death defying adventure.

Right after she shows up, it's clear that the job was not truthfully explained. Beau, the local crazy head honcho vampire, also sees ghosts, so these two have something in common. They begrudgingly develop a bit of respect for one another, only to have everything get turned on its head and go badly. There's injuries, not Dresden-level ones, but still, these books are filled with wounds, both physically and emotionally. I fell more in love with Lex in this one, though, and now I'm firmly Team Lex.

Since this is a road trip type book, we don't get everyone for as much as you'd expect - namely Quinn and Maven. I think this was a nice change and gave us a chance to see Lex as her own person. Maybe that's why I think I liked this book best so far out of the series? It was nice to be pretty surprised by a book that's 5 into this series and several into this world. I can't wait to see what Lex does next!

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Review: How to Run with a Naked Werewolf

How to Run with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this third (and last) of the series, I wasn’t exactly sure how we were going to tie this whole world together, but boy oh boy did it ever! I’m sure you can start here and catch up quickly, but as a Molly Harper fan, I’m glad I’m filling in all the blanks.

Remember Anna Moder? She’s the doctor that works on the werewolves, but is not one herself. How does one lure an actual, legit doctor to a werewolf community and swear them to secrecy? Well, they’ve got to be on the run from something. That’s just the background that matches “Anna.” That’s not really her name, but since we use it a lot, let’s stick with that. She was on the run from an abusive husband and hiding out in all sorts of strange places. She eventually got sent to Grundy to act as doctor to this secluded group by her anonymous contact. Said anonymous contact ends up being unmasked by the end (and it’s awesome), so no worries there. So, Anna, she’s back on the run again because she found out her ex had caught up with her trail to werewolf-land. On the run, however, who does she end up getting caught up with? Another werewolf.

Caleb is a werewolf bounty hunter type person who ends up having his life saved by Anna. They pair up in a nice buddy comedy sort of way, except with way more sexual tension. There were just too many secrets between them for it to go smoothly, though, so we get the usual mistrust, deception, reveal, sexy times combo. In the end, we all get a nicely wrapped up ending that doesn’t involve any more violence than you need. As the end of a trilogy, this works nicely. I’m happy I went along for the ride with these werewolves.


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Review: The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is filled with love and paranormals, just like you’d expect a book by Molly Harper to be.

Book 2 and I am here for it! We met Maggie in the last book as a bit of a brat, but a born alpha. She’s the head of a werewolf pack, the first female leader, and she’s mostly taking it in stride. She may be a little bit bloodthirsty, but that comes with being a wolf, right? She’s tasked with “handling” the outsider who comes snooping around to see if werewolves are real, and she’s told not to maim him. At least not too much. She, however, is begrudgingly drawn to him. Nick is not your typical snooper. He’s a nerd, sure, but he is also genuinely curious and just as drawn to Maggie as she is to him. These two are an unlikely pair, but it somehow works for me.

This book definitely made me like Maggie more. She gets a full character, instead of just Cooper’s sister designation. She’s tough when she needs to be, but also so soft when it comes to her people. I also really enjoyed meeting Nick in this book, and am happy that they find a way to make this weirdo relationship (and bit of a rocky start) work. Little bit of a strange ending, but I would expect no less.


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The Darkest Assassin: Blog Tour!

We are beyond excited to be sharing this release from Gena Showalter with you today by participating in the blog tour! THE DARKEST ASSASSIN is part of her Lords of the Underworld series and it is releasing as part of 1001 Dark Nights. Check out an excerpt and book trailer from the title below. Click here to grab your copy now.

 

Purchase your copy of THE DARKEST ASSASSIN today!

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About THE DARKEST ASSASSIN:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter comes a new story in her Lords of the Underworld series… Fox is a demon-possessed immortal with many talents. --Ability to open portals—check --Power to kill the most dangerous Sent Ones—check --Scare away any man who might want to date her—mate Now, the keeper of Distrust has been marked for death, a winged assassin with rainbow-colored eyes tracking her every move, determined to avenge the males she accidentally decimated. If only she could control the desire to rip off his clothes… Bjorn is a fierce warrior with many complications. --Tragic, torture-filled past—check --A wife he was forced to wed, who is draining his life force—check --Ever-intensifying desire for the enigmatic Fox—mate Never has he hesitated to exterminate an evil being. Until now. The sharp-tongued female with a shockingly vulnerable heart tempts him in ways no one else ever has, threatening his iron control. But, as Fate itself seems to conspire against the unlikely pair, both old and new enemies emerge. And Fox and Bjorn must fight to survive. And learn to love… **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**  

Add THE DARKEST ASSASSIN to your Goodreads TBR here!

Purchase your copy of THE DARKEST ASSASSIN today!

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BOOK TRAILER

REVIEW QUOTES FOR KRISTEN'S NOVELS:

“I love this world…this is Gena Showalter at her best!”—J.R. Ward, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“The Gods of War series is my new obsession.”—Christine Feehan, #1 New York Timesbestselling author

"One of the premier authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spellbinding story!"-Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Gena Showalter never fails to dazzle."-Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author

 

 

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine, she’s been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours–and her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Newsletter

Review: The Darkest Assassin

The Darkest Assassin by Gena Showalter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great short set in the Lords of the Underworld universe! I'm always one for completing a series, so I'm eagerly gobbling up all the side stories Gena Showalter gives us.

This story revolves around Fox (aka the darkest assassin) and I was sooooo happy to learn more about this little enigma. Most recently, the previous 1001 Dark Nights installment showed us Galen and Fox's life of destruction, mayhem, and morally questionable behavior. Fox is still adjusting to housing the demon of Distrust, and, like all the other "hosts," she has suffered some "setbacks." One such setback is the slaughter of some Sent Ones. This resulted in a Warrior being tasked with her destruction.

Bjorn is the Warrior that has suffered some horrible things. Killing Fox should have been easy and also shouldn't have taken more than an hour. Things get thrown out of whack pretty much right away - when he barges in on Fox in the shower. He just couldn't do it, though. The attraction is immediate on both sides, and it forces him to kidnap her instead of kill. Somehow, these two supernaturals with pretty busted histories manage to reach a bit of an agreement. Even his rather "by the book" Sent One friends end up on team Fox by the end. All in all, this is a wonderful little tale, showing us more about the life of Fox and giving her a HEA. I am now firmly on Team Fox (and kind of Team Bjorn).

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Review: Tough Shit: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good

Tough Shit: Life Advice from a Fat, Lazy Slob Who Did Good by Kevin Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a big fan of Kevin Smith, but admit to not really knowing a whole lot about how he ended up where he did. I saw him on a variety of shows, in movies, and have some friends who go to his shows. This book was a combination of his history, how he got into the business, who influenced him, and some words of wisdom.

In reality, I probably shouldn't even be reviewing this. He makes a big deal about putting his foot down and not wanting any reviews or press for his stuff anymore. Also, this book was written a little while ago. Some of the content doesn't exactly age well. He spends a large portion of the book talking about Harvey Weinstein. This, obviously, isn't the best, but at least Kevin Smith eventually "breaks up" with him, and sees who he truly is.

All in all, this was the perfect type of book for a roadtrip, which is exactly how we listened to it. He reads the book (stoned), so you get the true experience. It was a fun trip (in the book and in "real life"), so well worth the price of admission.

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Review: Never Date a Siren

Never Date a Siren by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very unexpected and unique paranormal read. I'd say paranormal romance, but it's really more focused on some love gone bad and the magical elements involved. As the start to what could/should be a series, I'm hooked.

Brigit is out in the world, at a fae filled college, trying her hardest to just be "one of the students." Sadly, she has a very strong sense of moral right and wrong, and gets drawn into a bit of trouble that centers around Logan. Logan is a wee bit magical himself, but is suffering from the negative effects of falling for a siren. He was hooked by someone he thought was genuinely interested in him, but was just using him to get to bigger and better things. The bad part? If she doesn't release him, he'll probably die.

Brigit ends up taking up the fight against this siren, determined to free her new pal Logan from a genuinely evil ex. There's a bit that Brigit hasn't told Logan, and oodles more we all learn about dryads and the fae world in general, but the big fight is primarily the Logan/siren deal. I admit to assuming that we would end this book with a big fat HEA between Logan and Brigit, but I assume this will be a slow burn.

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Review: How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I inadvertently tore through all my other Molly Harper books, was finally caught up in the other series, so decided to dive in here, too. This is, obviously, an earlier set of books, so they may not be quite as polished and perfect in the balance of snarky goodness and serious stuff, but I still found this book an enjoyable start to a 3 book series.

This book starts with Mo, a woman determined to start over in her life. It also helps to push her out of her comfort zone because her parents are overbearing, life micromanaging, hippies. She randomly chooses a place way out there in Alaska, determined to make her life her own at last. She quickly makes friends in the small town and gets a job at the local eatery as a cook. Mo is an interesting blend of independent awesome woman and sometime moon-eyed girl. Maybe the local broody guy has something to do with it.

Of course, there's a broody guy with secrets. Mo pretty much has her choice of guys in town, being that newcomers are so rare, but she has her stubborn sights reluctantly set on Cooper, said brooder. He puts up a pretty good fight, watching her go on dates with the nice guy in town, but don't worry - they eventually combust. This also happens after the whole werewolf things comes to light. Mo's pretty open minded, though, so have no fear!

There's also the obligatory mystery of who is killing random people and attacking others, leaving signs of wolves. Things have a little twist and turn, and also some family drama, but we get to a good place by the end, complete with HEA. We meet Maggie in this one, too, who is the main character in the next book (though I don't think you really need to read these books in any particular order).

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