Review: John's Yearning

John's Yearning by Tina Folsom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These books always deliver a solid story, good characters, and a HEA ending to make you smile. This book was no exception.

We met John in a previous book and he’s got oodles of baggage. He lost his previous mate in a pretty horrible way and now he’s justifiably reluctant to get into any real relationships. He’s become a workaholic to hide from his demons, but this only ends up pushing them back to the surface when he gets assigned review of a kidnapping case involving kids. Savannah is desperate to get her little girl back and John might be the only person who can do that. Even after being told not to pursue this non-supernatural case, John is drawn to protect this poor little girl with the unfortunate name of Buffy.

Savannah and John were a little bit of a strange couple. Their relationship grew out of this very high stress situation, but became a real thing, even at the end. That and the mystery of the kidnapping were the highlights of the book. Man, I still hate Grayson. Some of that younger generation is super annoying, so I hope we don’t have to spend much more time with them. There were also parts of this book that made it clear I should probably have read the spinoff series. That being said, I was still able to enjoy it all. I’m glad I picked this book up, because now we have some closure for poor John.


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Review: Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic

Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I admittedly took a really long time to get from book 1 to book 2, but was somehow able to dive right into this magical, wild world of Jade’s. Warning: Do not read this book while hungry because there is a lot of cupcake and chocolate talk throughout. Yum!

We join Jade, the cupcake maker, 3 months after her world was essentially shattered. Her foster sister, Sienna, went all darkside with blood magic. There were some casualties along the way, and Jade is still working to recover. Between baking for a living, navigating her relationship with her mother, and grieving, she’s finally getting a crash course in all things magical and other that had been withheld from her growing up. The magic in this book was so interesting that it really sucked me in. I love when a book can surprise me with a twist on typical paranormal.

Given the opportunity to make some sort of amends, she dives right in with very little information (which is not really her fault). Throughout the book, we get to watch her magical abilities grow and develop – and we even get to the end of this book with some *serious* answers to open questions. I am completely hooked on this world and the characters within – even the growly ones! If this is how this series continues, I will eagerly binge through them all.


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Review: Hour of Darkness

Hour of Darkness by Lara Adrian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure if these books are something I'll continue with, but the world is familiar and they are easy to read, so I bought this on on audible to listen to while I walk.

We met Cain in the previous installment. He made some questionable decisions but ultimately redeemed himself. Now he's on the road, trying to run from his past. A stay at a swanky hotel, however, ends up putting him right in the middle of trouble. His gift of seeing briefly into the future helps him save the niece of a Russian mobster (essentially). Marina, who believes she is just out for a pleasant swim, ends up being saved from a bullet by Cain. From there, things just continue to spiral out of control.

Cain, luckily, has a safe place nearby which puts him back with his estranged "family." Cain and Marina really seemed like an unlikely pair, but they grew on me as the story continued. Poor Marina ends up pretty wounded in her own family life, so this new extended family helps offer some consolation. Overall, if you want an easy vampire read with a bit of an edge to it, these books are definitely for you. They can probably be read even if you are unfamiliar with the larger world these stories take place in.

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Review: Boundary Broken

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

I'm addicted to these books. Something about Lex is just so compelling. She takes on so much responsibility, is a constant soldier, and yet remains really likable to me. I also enjoy that she messes up in ways I'm not mad at her for, if that makes sense.

Lex is still working as daytime security for the local big bad vampire and trying to juggle a relationship with a vampire, being a great aunt to a null, and fulfill all her other obligations (rescue pets included). A while ago she promised to repay a debt to a somewhat local werewolf. One night he comes calling and it just goes downhill from there. Lots of people die in horrible ways. Evil horrible people return. So much badness goes on and Lex is seemingly helpless to stop it, no matter how amazing her powers are.

Ultimately, a sort of happy compromise is reached and most people get out alive. These books are not kind to characters, but watching them evolve is really wonderful. Even Lex, the perfect soldier, ends up stuck in lots of no win situations here. The witches play pretty prominently in her drama, but she still tries to please them. I feel for her, and am looking forward to what waits for her in the future.

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Review: Twisted

Twisted by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Admittedly, I was a little mad that after all the buildup to Maggie's backstory and love story, she only got a spinoff short. She has played such a vital role in all the other books, I felt like she really should have gotten the full length treatment. Either way, there was *a lot* of unexpected happening in here. It probably could have used many more pages, but still gave a good HEA.

Maggie, we know, lots her memory prior to her kidnapping and experimentation on by the Kurjans. She's mostly recovered, and can even shift, but she never really got her memory back. After a lot of demanding and stomping of feet, she finally decides to multitask and actually visit Terrent and some wolf shifters. They've suffered some vaccine tampering and she's going to be sneaky and investigate.

Terrent knows all about her sneaking and he also knows way more about her than he has let on in the past. These guys and their secrets! All of it ends of coming out in this story and we finally get some answers. Also, we get a lot more than a steamy kiss shared between these two. Of course, there's some bad guys (more than a few) and some adorable cheerleaders, but they push through all of those obstacles to get to a nice happy ending for all.

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Review: A Phoenix Is Forever

A Phoenix Is Forever by Ashlyn Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh no - is this the last book of this series?! I'm sad if it is, because I loved these (mostly) firefighter, shapeshifter, family-oriented guys!

This story deals with the last of the single Fierro's - Luca. Being the youngest, and the only one who was interested in becoming something other than a firefighter (for a girl?!), he was sure to be the last to pair off. He may have been dating a horrible woman in secret, but that has recently ended, and his cop career has just started. After a rough shift, he runs into Dawn, who just so happens to be a bit of a paranormal as well. These two have an odd meeting that rapidly grows into something more.

Of course, all the characters were lovely. I especially enjoyed Dawn and her grandmother. This let us see more of Gabriella, which is always fun! Nothing is truly straightforward in this universe, so we get a good kidnapping, mystery, and HEA all rolled into this paranormal package. I'm happy to see that the entire family (extended and otherwise) gets a real nice wrap-up at the end, but I am so sad to say goodbye to all their quirks. Please, more?

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Review: Playing with Demons

Playing with Demons by Cally Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a pretty amazing start to a whole new world. This world really pushed the good/evil paradigm and left you questioning your own biases.

Grace has been raised to fight and kill demons. Sounds light a legit calling, right? She is half demon herself, from what "the Organization" tells her, it's because her mother was raped by one. Things all start to get a little muddy when people she trusts end up throwing her literally into hell. Once there, all of her previous understanding is thrown out the window. Oh, and did I mention the hottie? There's ways a hottie, right?

In between fighting for her life, coming to grips with being used, and making unexpected friends, Grace is also navigating the world of dating in the underworld. Not too complicated, right? She is just starting to truly find her own independent voice when we have to end this tale. I eagerly anticipate more from this author and this world. Grace is rapidly shaping herself into a warrior for true good.

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