Updated Review for Audio Revenge and Rapture by Deborah Wilde

 

5 Stars

Ash is trying to figure out how to take down Isaac and Chariot and doesn’t know how it will play out.  When Isaac's wife hires Ash to find something her husband wants so she can get out of the marriage.  The Queen of Hearts doesn’t want to help her find the something that will help her with quest.  She finds out her mother has gotten a blackmail message threatening to reveal Ash’s magic and she has to track down who is behind it.  All of this while dealing with the fall out of the break up with Levi.  Ash could use a long break.

This was one of the best conclusion to a series I’ve read in a long time.  It wrapped everything up nicely.  I loved how Ash and Levi resolved their conflict from the last book.  I would love to see more with the Queen of Hearts but it didn’t take away anything from the story.  I just want to know more about what led her where she was.  The character development continue in this story and fleshed out even more.  I loved the secondary characters just as much as I do Ash.  Can’t wait for her next series.

Audiobook:

Hollie Jackson did an amazing job narrating this story.  She gave each character their own voice and tone.  She kept the story moving with the tones she used in the narration.  Hollie Jackson makes it easy to connect to the story and forget about the world around you   

Book 4 Jezebel Files

Unlikable Demon Hunter by Deborah Wilde

 

5 Star

Nava Katz is a smart-ass and is a hot mess.  Her twin brother Ari is the responsible one and is supposed to join the Brotherhood of David to hunt demons.  On the night of his induction she shows up half-drunk and accidentally takes her brothers place with the Brotherhood.  She is required to go through the training her brother had already started and deal with men who don’t want her around as there has never been a woman in the group.  One of her trainers Rohan is everything she ever wanted but can’t have.  After killing some half demons, she will have a fight on her hands.

I really enjoyed this book.  It was different from other books I’ve read.  I really like Nava’s character.  She’s flawed in so many ways, but she has her reasons for those flaws.  Deborah Wilde writing in this book draws the reader in and made me want to see how it would work out.  She is able to build these relationships between the characters that are complex, and she does it in a short amount of time.  The world building, she does in the book is also really well done.  I am very interested in seeing where this series is going.

 

Audiobook:

This book is narrated by Hollie Jackson and she does an amazing job narrating it.  She is able to give each character their own voices, so you know who is talking.  The pacing in the book is spot on even with me listening to it at a faster speed.  I love listening to any book she narrates.

Book 1 Nava Katz

Updated Shadows and Surrender by Deborah Wilde

 An updated review.  I recently listened to the audiobook of this story and I loved it.  I know I like Hollie Jackson as a narrator but I forget how much until I listen to another book she narrates.  In this book you know exactly which character is speaking because she changes the tone or accent and you just know it is this character.  There is no guessing about who is talking.  Hollie Jackson brings this story to life and enhances the overall book.  The book was awesome and Hollie Jackson made it even better.

5 Stars

When a murder scene leads to Ash’s past she is determined to investigate the murder.  Trying to be a team player she brings Levi in.  They discover more information about her father what they discover will close some wounds but open more.  Levi also asks for her help with his ex-girlfriend.  The paths merge will Levi and Ash be able to survive what is coming?

I loved this story.  I should have waited until the fourth and final book was out so I wouldn’t have to sit here waiting for October.  The story ends cliffhanger esc but completes the story that was started at the beginning.  The ending was WOW and it leads into the next book in a good way but bad if you don’t have the patience to wait.  There wasn’t any part of this story that felt like it lagged.  It was a really good addition to the series.  It answered some questions that had been raised previously and throws some new ones at you.  You see growth in the characters and the relationships.  Definitely worth checking out.

Book 3 Jezebel Files

Last Dragon Standing by G.A. Aiken

 

3.5 Stars

Keita dragoness and youngest daughter of the Dragon Queen isn’t a fighter like the rest of the family.  Even though she isn’t a fighter she has her own talents.  Ragnar, Lightning Dragon from the Northern territories has a treaty with the Queen.  He HATES Keita.  She is a spoiled royal who is annoying.  When he finds out that she isn’t quite what she seems will he be able to woo her?

This was not one of my favorite books in the series.  Even knowing what Keita means to the thrown and she uses her act to get what she wants she still annoyed me so much.  Ragnar also wasn’t my favorite male lead in these books.  I did like seeing the progress the overall story with all of the characters from previous books.  The other reason I had issues with it was the middle part was a little slow for me.  Once it picked up the book was way better.

Audiobook:

I loved Hollie Jackson narrating this book.  She does an excellent job with each character.

Book 4 Dragon Kin

What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken

 

5 Stars

Gwenvael the Handsome irritated Annwyl and is sent off to the north to try and broker an alliance with the Beast.  He is shocked when he finds out the Beast is Dagmar Reinholdt the only daughter to the Reinholdt.  Gwenvael does what he does best and annoys all of them until he can get the information from Dagmar.  However, the only way she will give him the information is if he helps her first.  This starts them on a journey to the south where their lives will be changed forever.

I loved this story so much.  Gwenvael is so cocky but he finds out the information they need in his own way.  I love how he freaked out Dagmar’s family to get her to do what he wanted too.  But the main reason this book was a 5 star read/listen for me was Dagmar herself.  She was just awesome.  She ignored and challenged Gwenvael throughout the book.  I also loved how she saved the day in the end.  There were so many emotional bits in this book that had me laughing and crying it just made the book that much more enjoyable.  Definitely one of the better books by G.A. Aiken.

Audio Book:

Hollie Jackson does an amazing job bring the new voices out and staying true to characters from past books.

Book 3 Dragon Kin

About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken

 

3.5 Stars

Nolwenn witch Talaith was taken right after she had given birth, separated from her daughter, and given to a man to serve a god.  Not her god but another.  She will be trained to kill someone in the future when the god has decided she is needed.  What the god didn’t factor in was the villagers wanting to burn her at the stake and a dragon taking an interest in her.  Briac the Mighty figured she would be all lovey dovey for him since he rescued her.  Instead what he gets is someone who argues and fights with him all day and night.  He’s not sure if this is bad.  They will need to work together to keep the kingdoms safe and reunite Talaith with her daughter.

I didn’t like this book as much as the last one.  Part of it comes down to the fact the two main characters like to argue about everything and for me it got old fast.  I liked how it intersected with the previous book and builds onto Dragon Actually.  They also set up the next book nicely.  This book also had some pacing issues where I was wanting it to move on already.  It wasn’t a bad book just kind of a let down from the last book that was so awesome.

Audiobook:

Hollie Jackson did an amazing job bring to life the new characters while stay true the characters from the last book. 

Book 2 Dragon Kin

Ready to Were by Robyn Peterman

 

3 Stars

Essie has been living in Chicago since she left Georgia with no plans to go home.  When her job with secret paranormal agency sends her home to investigate the missing shifters she is forced to confront the reasons why she left.  Mainly Hank the Tank, town sheriff.  They were hot and heavy and she thought they would be mated but she discovered something that drove her away.  Hank never new why she had left him and he’s determined this time she’s staying with him even if he has to move to stay with her.

This story was pretty funny and it was a solid story.  There were some issues with character development, but it was meant to be a short story so maybe later books will be a little bit better.  The bad guys were somewhat one dimensional.  Even with that the story was funny enough to overcome the one dimensional characters and make a solid story.

Audio Book

Hollie Jackson narrated this story and she did a really good job with the southern accents as well as giving each character their own voice.  Made the book enjoyable to listen too.

Book 1 Shift Happens

A Tale of Two Dragons

 

4 Stars

Braith of the Darkness likes to go unnoticed by everyone at court.  She is able to accomplish this until her father forces her into an evil plot against the crown.  Addolgar the Cheerful knew Braith but never spent time with her until his queen tells him that to help escort another dragon royal to the border.  He gets pulled into evil plot against the queen but is determined to keep Braith safe and claim her for himself.

I loved this prequel to a series that I love.  It was interesting to see one of the Cadwaladr clan’s story.  You get bits and pieces in the main story so it was nice to see the family when Ailean and Shalin were alive.  It definitely added to the overall story and world of Dragon Kin.  It was a short story and it didn’t feel like it.  There wasn’t any part of it that felt rushed and the story itself was interesting.

Audio Book:

This book was narrated by Hollie Jackson.  I loved this narrator so much.  She did an amazing job bringing the story to life and was able to give each character a unique voice.  It made listening to the book so enjoyable.

Book .02 Dragon Kin

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

 

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

5 Stars

Annwyl the Bloody needs to take out her brother to protect the kingdom.  While in a mini skirmish with some of her brother’s men she is grievously wounded and rescued by a dragon.  Feargus the Destroyer normally ignores what’s going on with the humans in the realm other than an occasional snack until he is disturbed by a battle just outside his cave.  He ends up killing the remaining men attacking Annwyl and brings in a healer to save her life.  With their many nights chatting he comes to feel so much for her and wants to help her to be able to destroy her brother.  What Annwyl doesn’t know is the knight the dragon brings in to train her is the same dragon she has come to care for.  She will have to take the throne and make it work with the dragon.

I loved this story.  When I originally read the book it was an interesting new take of paranormal romance for me.  I loved the humor of the story as well as how strong the women in the book are.  There is also the short story at the end of the main book called Chains and Flames.  This is the story of Princess Rhiannon and Bercelak coming together.  It was interesting to see how they came together but wasn't my favorite story.

 

Audio Book

Hollie Jackson does an amazing job with each character and made me realize that when I read the book I mispronounced almost every single name.

Book 1 Dragon Kin