Eros by Carly Spade

 

3 Star

Elani Stewart is done with true love. She feels love can be found using science to find the compatibility of two people. When her clients start dropping off, she tracks it to a bar where her former clients swear the bartender has found them the love of their lives. When she confronts Alex about his claims, he makes a bet with her. Who will win the bet of love?

This book was more like the first book Hades, and I loved it. I loved seeing Elani fight her feelings for Eros. I enjoyed seeing them work through secrets and finding their happy ending. What I didn’t like was the how it seemed like Elani was such a shrinking violet. She faints when she finds out about him being Eros. It was frustrating. It wasn’t the be all end all to the book and there were other things I liked enough that countered this issue.

Book 4 Contemporary Mythos

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A Shifter’s Sin by Debbie Cassidy

 

3 Star

Quinn has made it her life goal to make herself useful to the pack who doesn’t want her. When she is notified, she has inherited property from her mother her alpha orders her to go and bring back a relic the pack there has. She agrees to go and bring it back. When she gets to Hawthorne Cove, she finds out everything isn’t as it seems, but she is still determined to do as her alpha says. All she has to do is infiltrate the Hawthorne pack and find the relic.

I enjoyed this but with reservation. I had a hard time understanding why Quinn would keep running after her pack for their approval when the Hawthorne pack is willing to take her in and train her without her having to do anything. Another issue I had with this book was it ends in a cliff hanger esq ending. I’ve read all that are out now, and they all end this way, and you will want to wait until they all are out so you don’t have to wait for the conclusion of the story. I didn’t discover this until I finished the most recent book and had some very choice words that I have to wait.

Book 1 Wolves of Hawthorne

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Ares by Carly Spade

 

3 Star

Harmony “Harm” Makos loves stepping into the ring and being an MMA fighter. For her this is helping her more than therapy ever did. When her life is threatened, her manager hires a bodyguard to keep her safe. It just so happens to be former MMA men’s heavyweight champion Mars. They butt heads at every turn. Will they find out who wants to cause Harm harm and learn to love each other?

Where the first book had some really good things about it this book didn’t work so well for me. I really didn’t like Ares or Harm. This leads to a not so good book. I wanted to like them, but they come across as obnoxious people. As for the romance Harm and Mars are too much alike and it just didn’t work well for me.

Book 3 Contemporary Mythos

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Descend by Maya Nicole

 

2 Star

Danica still can’t get her dad back. They’ve tried so many things and nothing is working.  Now they will need to storm the castle and save him from Lillith.

Well, these books probably could have been better as a 2-book series. Dani also never got better from the first book to the last. The series was also listed as an MM book, and I feel like this is not the right book if you are looking for a good MM. It seemed like an after thought to bring people into the series. Meh I read it from the library, and I’ve read worst books.  If don’t mind a whiney heroine and you like most books that have Lucifer in it you might enjoy this series.

Book 3 Paranormal Academy

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Moon Touched by Elizabeth Briggs

 

2 Star

Ayla is outcast in her own pack. The Cancer pack would love to be rid of her, but they can’t. Now that she’s an adult they are hopeful at the annual retreat she will find her fated mate and they can be rid of her. When she does find her fated mate, he’s the future alpha of the Leo pack and he’s not interested in her at all. He refuses her and then murders the Cancer pack. Ayla is rescued by the 13^th pack that was banished years ago. They want her to help them and all she wants is revenge for her brother’s murder. Will she be strong enough for what needs to happen?

GRRRRRRR. Books should end on a cliffhanger. Why do authors think this is a good idea? Now instead of getting and reading the second book I will be waiting until all three are out and then read them all. This is very much a guilty pleasure type read. It reads as a corny daytime soap opera. Very predictable but it was still enjoyable. The biggest reason for the 2 star is the ending.

Book 1 Zodiac Wolves

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Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath

 

3 Star

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland needs a wife. With the help of Miss Pettypeace is his secretary he hopes to find a wife. She would love to take that role but doesn't feel worthy enough to be his wife. He is happy with her taking the lead on the search but soon finds himself more interested in her then finding a wife. When he finds out the truth about her will they have their happy ending?

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The twist at the end didn't work for me at all. The secret was when Penelope was young she posed naked for an artist who sold those prints for and wide. This led to her being booted from her family from the shame. I have no problem with this part of the story. a lot of women did what they had to, to survive. I just wasn’t a huge fan of Hugh. He never really does anything to win over Pen and I wanted her to get someone who deserved her. Overall, it was a fine book just not one of my favorite.

Book 2 Once Upon a Dukedom

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Romancing the Gravestone by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe

 

2 Star

Jane Landling has overseen the family’s cemetery for several years. During her usually rounds she discovers an extra body resting in Plot #39. To help the locals investigate Special Agent Conrad Ryan is called in. When he doesn’t solve it fast enough Jane takes it upon herself to investigate. Will she be able to discover who murdered the good doctor?

I love cozy mysteries and I HATED this book. I picked this up and put this down so many times before I finished it. It was incredibly slow, and Jane was so FUCKING annoying. It felt like the authors wanted to make a quirky main character, but she just came across as annoying. I didn’t care when she was in with the murderer and could have died. That might have made the book better. One of the big things that kept bringing me out of the story was the made up GBH. Why would you make up a new state agency without explaining what they are there for. GBI is real and would have worked this case. I love Showalter books so I don’t know if it was Monroe or what that made this such a bad book, but I am not interested in the sequel. I don’t care what happens to any of the people in this book.

Book 1 Jane Ladling Mystery

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Shadow Thief by Eva Chase

 

3 Star

Sorsha rescues monsters from collectors in her spare time. One night it’s not like all her other jobs she ends up saving three higher shadowkind “monsters”. Ruse, Thorn, and Snap feel indebted to her and wanted to stay with her until they’ve repaid their debt to her. The problem they need to track down their boss Omen, who was captured at the same time but sold off to someone else. As they track down Omen the four of them get close. Will things change once the debt has been paid?

I actually enjoyed this up until they rescued their friend. At that point the way he acted kind of turned me off of the book/series. I looked at the other books to see if I wanted to continue the series as I was concerned about some of the things that happened at the end, and I didn’t want to invest in more time if it continued. My fears were confirmed, and something happens in a later book that is on my unforgivable tropes. I am very disappointed as I enjoyed this book a lot and wanted to continue the series.

Book 1 Flirting with Monsters

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To Catch a Witch by Heather Blake

 

3 Star

As You Wish is hired to organize the Wicked Mad Dash by Abby Stillwell. It looks like everything is going ok until blizzard conditions rage. That is until Abby is found dead. Darcy will find out who killed her and why but will she end up injured or killed herself?

This one frustrated me. It had a lot of repetitive information that after reading all the other books made it hard to listen to at times. I also had a LOT of issues with Harper.  I get she was in a lose lose situation, but this book bordered on a trope I hate. This one felt like it took forever to finish, and I really hated listening to this book. I ended up saying screw it and picked up the book to read. Then I skimmed the book so I could be done. The bad guy was also a meh. I also had an issue with all the secrets that are being kept by so many of the characters. It just felt like people were being dishonest with each other. I remember why I haven’t finished the series as this book always brings me to a halt. I’ll try some other books and then get to the last book where Darcy should be getting her HEA.

Audio

I wasn’t sure if I would like Coleen Marlo but she does an amazing job with each of these characters. I enjoyed how she gave each character their own voice. Even listening to it faster didn’t take away from the story.

Book 8 A Wishcraft Mystery

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A Reckless Match by Kate Bateman

 

4 Star

Madeline Montgomery and Earl of Powys Gryff Davies’ families have had hundreds of years rivalry. To keep the dispute going they must meet at a certain location every year, or the other family gets the land. Madeline wasn’t expecting Davies to show up, but he did. Davies is bored with the country life but loves poking at Madeline to get her ire up. With secret tunnels and smugglers make them realize their hate was attraction and possibly love.

I enjoyed the first half of this book. My biggest complaint is the miscommunication that happens about halfway through the story. Gryff says some very asshole things to her and never apologizes for what he said even though he had ample time when they were trapped in the cave, but he never says anything. Then they have another misunderstanding Maddie puts distance between them because she thinks he wants her for a mistress and not a wife. Instead of talking it out she ignores him which solves nothing. Even with these two issues I enjoyed the story and can’t wait for the next one.

Book 1 Ruthless Rivals

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Darkest Destiny by Gena Showalter

 

4 Stars

Brochan is determined to take down Viola. She was his fated mate and she stole something important from him. He will forsake all he’s lived for to take her down. Viola holds the demon of Narcissism and lives for herself and her pet. Everywhere she goes she is followed by a forsaken. She isn’t sure if she wants him to catch her and keep her and neither is he sure what he wants. Will they figure it out before other’s take Viola out?

I enjoyed this short story. It was slow to get started and that might have been because it’s been a while since I’ve read the rest of the series and I wasn’t remember characters as well as I feel I needed. Once the story got going, I enjoyed the book. I liked seeing Brochan and Viola work through there issues and find their happy ending.

A Lords of Underworld Novella

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Apollo by Carly Spade

4 Star

Laurel Berg loves being a ballet dancer. She may not lead the troop, but she is happy with whatever role she can play. When the company director announces Apollo’s Suns lead singer Ace was going to be joining them for a new production she was intrigued. That was until she meets him because of the man’s ego. Ace is thinks very highly of himself. The more time they spend together the more her opinion changes. Will Laurel see beyond his image to man/God underneath?

After meeting Ace in the last book, I was interested in seeing what his book would be. I enjoyed seeing Laurel makes Ace work for everything she was willing to give. The one downside is once they have sex the book took a turn from sexy and slow burn to corny with lines like “play me like a cello.” Overall, the first book was way better but this one was still good.

Book 2 Contemporary Mythos

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Breathless by Elise Faber

4 Star

Marcel had everything going for him until he caught his girlfriend hooking up with a teammate because she was bored with their life. Marcel has moved on losing himself in books and hockey. Then he met Prudence Hansley. She is everything he’s not. She is a true daredevil. Nothing is too much including swimming with sharks or jumping out of planes. He wants her and is willing to do just about anything to get and keep her.

Prudence backstory is so sad and traumatic. You really feel for her and want her to find her happy. When she finally wants to be all in Marcel comes home with someone else. It was so incredibly sad. I will say he thought they were one and done since that is what Prudence wanted, she just happened to change her mind. They work through there issues and are an incredibly cute couple. I loved the group text the rest of the team has to send gossip about them including pictures. I laughed my ass off when Marcel’s family walks in on them during some heavy petting. This was a really good addition to the series and I loved them and was happy to see them get their happy ending.

Book 3 Breakers Hockey

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The Witch and the Dead by Heather Blake

 

3.5 Star

Now that Darcy has a new home, she needs to clean out the garage to move all her stuff over. What she wasn’t planning on was finding Miles Babbage her Aunt Ve’s second husband. Ve didn’t know he was dead, and she really doesn’t know why he was in her garage. Darcy will investigate to clear her aunt but it will bring a lot of secrets to light that some people don’t want brought out.

I figured out who the bad guy was pretty quickly.  I also didn’t like some of the main people in this book.  In addition to all of that I also lost a lot of respect for Marcus (Harper’s boyfriend). It would give too many spoilers if I explained why. Overall, Darcy grew as a character and the book ends on a positive note for her but others in her life have theirs ending in chaos.

Audio

I wasn’t sure if I would like Coleen Marlo but she does an amazing job with each of these characters. I enjoyed how she gave each character their own voice. Even listening to it faster didn’t take away from the story.

Book 7 A Wishcraft Mystery

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Gone with the Witch by Heather Blake

 

4 Star

Darcy is asked to enter Missy into the annual Pawsitively Enchanted pet contest to see if someone is rigging it to ruin it. She is happy to do it until she finds her main suspect dead. Now she is on the trail of the murder and dealing with a pet snatcher. Will she track down the pet snatcher AND find out who murdered Natasha.

Glinda whose been the one character we are meant to hate is growing on me. She’s not that bitchy anymore since she’s not going after Nick. I loved seeing the progress Darcy’s relationships take in this book. I also liked the mystery itself. It wasn’t a complex one but it was still a good read.

Audio

I wasn’t sure if I would like Coleen Marlo but she does an amazing job with each of these characters. I enjoyed how she gave each character their own voice. Even listening to it faster didn’t take away from the story.

Book 6 A Wishcraft Mystery

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Transcend by Maya Nicole

 

2 star

Dani’s life is crazy.  Her men help her, but her dreams are nightmares until Reve appears. When her friends are in danger, she will do whatever she needs to keep them safe. Will her 4 men be able to keep her safe?

I loved Lucifer and Reve. That’s the good. All of Dani’s relationships feel more like friends with benefits vs all out love. I think it will get there but it hasn’t yet, and it supposed to be. Dani is still very much a childish little girl who irritated me throughout this book. I’ve officially invested too much into the series not to finish the last book.

Book 2 Paranormal Academy

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