Stranded by Selena Winters

1 Star

In the cold wilderness of Alaska, my host is as wicked as he is enticing. I thought I had my golden ticket to love until I stumbled upon my boyfriend’s betrayal. A romantic Christmas vacation to Alaska, planned for two, is now a solo venture. Little did I know, I was stepping into the lair of a dark, dangerous man I knew nothing about.

Maddox, a tattooed giant of a man, a fugitive turned recluse, has been living in the shadows. But his obsession ignites when he sees a photo of me online after booking his cabin, the golden girl with a silver spoon. He’s dangerous and unstable, and yet I’m drawn to him. The rugged man in front of me is nothing like the polished lawyers and businessmen I’m used to. Maddox is raw and real.

In the isolated cabin, the icy Alaskan wilderness becomes our playground. Maddox, the man obsessed with masks, pulls me into his twisted game of obsession and desire. But as the temperature drops, our dangerous dance only heats up, pushing boundaries.

I thought the snow stranded me, but I’m exactly where Maddox wants me. In his world, under his rules. I’d come for solitude, but I’m in for a wild ride. No one can hear you scream when you’re miles from civilization. After all, there are no rules in the heart of the wilderness. The only law is survival. But can I survive Maddox?

Just NO for me. I am all for dark and gray characters. This wasn’t it at all. Guy stalks her. He had every intent to take out the boyfriend and keep her for himself. That’s the entire story. The rest is them hooking up. Major pass for me.

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Myths and Monsters by Beatrix Hollow

2 Stars

My plan was to travel the country writing about the things I see and to get away from my strange family. Instead, my first stop in West Virginia shows you can never get away from the strange. Will I survive what’s coming for me?

This book had a good idea but needs work. There was no world building or character development. This led to the book basically being all about sex and nothing else. Nothing wrong with that but I like to have some story with my sex and this was not the case.

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King of Flesh and Bone by Liv Zander

 

3 Star

Enoch is the God of Death and has taken a break from collecting souls. Humans when they die are left to wonder the earth without rest. The only way he might consider going back to collecting souls is if he gets a wife. Ada ends up in his kingdom asking for his help and in return she will become his wife. Will they find their happy ending?

This is very much a horror dark romance. It hit all the right notes for me. The story was intriguing. I loved the villain as the love interested. The 3 stars is because of the cliffhanger ending. So tired of having to wait for the next book in a series. When I read this there was almost a year before book two was set to come out. It is now out, and review is forthcoming. I liked seeing Enoch coming out of his anger to be with Ada and then the ending where he thinks she’s betrayed him chef’s kiss. If you enjoy dark gory stories this one hit all the notes for me and was worth reading.

Book 1 Pale Court

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Ruled by Magic by Zara J Black

 

1 Star

Lord Commander Leo Rahl gave Livet a choice, to take the 15 years in prison for exposing the magical elite or 6 months of being his toy. She opts for the 6 months figuring it won’t be that bad. He can do whatever he likes to her and there is nothing she can do. Will she regret her decision to take Leo’s deal?

So I borrowed this book twice cause I forgot I read it, that is how forgettable it is. I wanted to like it but it just came across as an abusive relationship vs a dark, BDSM esq book. I don’t usually have a problem with dark or Dub/Con but this one crossed a line. Some people might be ok with the content and there’s no judgment for my morals it crossed a line. There was a lot of public humiliation, and this would have been fine but she hated it. None of it was for her pleasure but all his. He wanted revenge on her and it twisted into love at some point but I never felt the connection. Overall, the writing style was good and I will probably give the author a second chance but this book wasn’t for me.

Book 1 Ruled by Magic

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Den of Monsters by Avery Song

 

3 Stars

People with debt are required to attend the masquerade to clear it. Esmerelda was never supposed to go but her father’s debts were too much and she enters where she meets Joaquin, Talon, Dagger, Croix, and Creed. They may be evil men but she wants to see their monstrous selves. The more she reveals and the more debt she clears the stranger things become. Will she take out those who want her dead and get her men?

I enjoyed this story up until the end. It was going along quite nicely and I was digging finding out all the secrets this book had to give until the last couple of chapters. Then it was bam let’s change everything and make it seem like everyone was aware and set it all up to get Esmerelda “father”. It was just very jarring that it was all turned on its head and made to seem like she was now aware of everything. It just didn’t work for me. I will be reading book two when it comes out in January because I did like the writing.

Book 1 Devils Serenade

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