Dragon lover by Donna Grant

3 Stars

She is the one fire I can’t extinguish…

I have sworn to protect. To endure. To survive.

Peace has always been just beyond my reach. Betrayal and war follow the Dragon Kings, and I no longer expect anything else. When I hunt an enemy threatening more than one world, I am prepared for battle.

I am not prepared for her.

Esha is disciplined. Fierce. Untouchable. An elven warrior bound by duty and hiding a fire she refuses to claim. She challenges me in ways no one ever has. I want her—not only her body, but her trust, her strength, her heart.

Desiring her is dangerous. Needing her could be fatal.

She fascinates me. Consumes me. And for the first time in centuries, I question the cost of resisting what burns between us.

I have faced numerous enemies and survived. I fear nothing.

Except losing the one woman who has awakened something I thought long dead.

You need to have read previous books to read this one. Writing was good but got a bit lost in details. It is a short story and was quick to read.

Book 5 Dragon Kings

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Knight Unchained by B M Clemton

2 Stars

I finally have the life I’ve always dreamed of.

Growing up in Stone Brook with my aunt and uncles, I wanted nothing more than to find my place in this world. I longed to discover more about my missing past and make sense of my wild magic. Little did I know those answers would come with so many more questions.

My nightmares are now a reality as the forces against my men and I tear us apart. Heaven and Hell are colliding, the shadows are circling, and the enemy is closing in. But I’m no stranger to the dark.

Thankfully, I’m not alone this time. I will do everything in my power to keep those I love safe, and God help anyone who tries to take them from me.

Overall, the five books could have been cut down to three books and it would have been a better and more concise story. It also needed an epilogue of them in the future to round out the story. It still feels a little unfinished. Overall, the story was good, just needed an editor to cut down some of the extra.

Book 5 Black Veil University

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Knight Awakened by B M Clemton

3 Stars

Meeting Daxton Pierce flipped it on end and made me question everything I know.

My memories and my family had been ripped from me. I have been stalked, tortured, abandoned, and betrayed… but I’m not broken.

This world is not what I thought it to be, and while my new relationships only grow stronger by the day, tensions rise, bringing new and old enemies to our door.

Only this time, I don't have to face them alone.

I’ve learned there are worse things in life than the monsters hiding in the shadows, and I’m done cowering in fear.

This just feels drawn out at this point. This is book 4 of 5. It's the same issues every book. Things that should be on screen are done off page. Like Remi meeting his parents. We do get a ton of secrets revealed finally but it ends in another cliffhanger ending.

Book 4 Black Veil University

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Knight Forsaken by B M Clemton

3 Stars

Betrayal. Chaos. Love.

I came to Black Veil for a new start. A chance to find myself again, and maybe learn how to control my unruly magic.

Instead, I've somehow bonded myself to three amazing men, found out I'm mated to my childhood best friend, and my magic grows more unstable by the day.

Danger lurks around every corner and death lingers in the air. Secrets are uncovered, questions answered, but I'm not entirely sure I'm prepared to face the truths that they bring.

Secrets are slowly revealed with each book. Key word... slowly. We still have the issue of things moving very slowly. The author also spoiled one of the new lovers which sucked since they hadn't been introduced. I'm enjoying the story but wish we had less day-to-day stuff. Another cliffhanger ending and with all the filler it irritates me.

Book 3 Black Veil University

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Knight Revelations by B M Clemton

3 Stars

I'm sorry, Dani.

Those three words echo through my mind and tug at the broken strings of my heart.

Bonds, magic, and lies seem to make up my world right now as it crashes around me.

All I wanted was a normal life, to go to college and try to put the shadows of my past behind me. Instead, my world has been turned upside down, and my bright future at Black Veil University is suddenly looking dim.

The shadows are closing in, putting those I love most at risk, and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.

I loved the guys even more in this book as well as Dani's BFF Kayla. There was a major pacing issue. The book was incredibly slow through most of the book and then sped all the way to the end which was a cliffhanger ending. It felt like the author decided the book had to end this way and wandered around to the end. This made for a less enjoyable book. It was still enjoyable but not as awesome as book 1. 

Book 2 Black Veil University

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Knight Ascending by B M Clemton

4 Stars

My name is Danica Knight and I have a secret… a life changing, whisper worthy secret that will more than likely get me killed.

Trust no one. Is the singular phrase my mother had whispered to me when she abandoned me in a small hospital at the young age of eight. It was the only memory I could remember before I came to live with my Aunt and Uncles here in the largest wolf pack in North America. After graduating High School and having been accepted into one of the most prestigious Paranormal Universities in North America. Black Veil University.

Everything is finally going as planned. Or so I thought before four insanely hot men crash their way into my life. Each with a unique connection to me, whether they want it or not. We are tied together. Lives are turned upside down, hearts are torn and shattered and those deep dark secrets that I have held hostage start to slip. But when the dark shadows of my past come knocking, I may need every little bit of help I can get.

This series has darker elements that readers should be aware of such as, strong language, PTSD from kidnapping, assault, and violence.

I enjoyed this one a lot. The description doesn't do it justice. Danica is a woman who doesn't remember where she came from. She struggles but is willing to keep pushing through. I loved the other characters. The guys she ends up with are fabulous. They want to protect her but also let her grow and change. It ends on a cliffhanger and that made me so mad but the rest of the books are out so I will be checking them out.

Book 1 Black Veil University

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Sugar Rushed by Leigh Kelsey

2.5 Stars

I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue serial killer…

Well, he’s more green than blue. He’s also a lizard maniac determined to take over all of Hell. And with Taj fatally wounded, X kidnapped, and Dev so weak he’s in a coma, I’m more than caught. I’m falling apart—and so are Ark and Joseph.

Eidolon won’t stop until he’s all-powerful, and he’s holding my mate as leverage to make me do his dirty work. If I don’t hand over a deadly relic, he’ll kill X. If I do, he’ll be unstoppable. There’s no way to win this violent game of cat and mouse.

If I want to end him once and for all—and make sure he stays dead this time—I’ll have to risk everything. My sanity. My magic. My mates. And I’m not sure I can pay that price.

Just think of cocktails on a private island when all this is over, Avie. Just think of cocktails.

Sugar Rush is a paranormal romance with psycho men, a badass FMC, twisted romance, and lots and lots of bloodlust. Demon criminals, a dark syndicate, a godlike hunter, and depraved, evil pasts fill these pages, but none of them are as deadly as Aveline Lachesi.

This book was unnecessary. It was too long, and nothing happened. If this had been combined with the last book and modified to be more concise it would have been better. It ended up being a lot of the same stuff over and over. The first book was awesome but the whole series was brought down. 

Book 3 Killers and Kings

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Sweet Violence by Leigh Kelsey

3 Stars

Here’s a tip: when you fall into Hell, seduce the devil.

Not that the devil needs much seducing. He’s seen all the twisted, blood-soaked things I’ve done on Earth, and he’s already obsessed with me. A little too obsessed, if you ask me. I already have four mates, and they’re more than enough trouble.

But when the devil—I’m calling him Dev—gives me a chance to hit my psychopath father where it hurts, and take out some of his minions, I jump at the chance. I’m not an assassin-for-hire, but if Eidolon keeps amassing power, he’ll be even more dangerous. And there’s no doubt he’ll come back for me.

But with cuddly Joseph, obsessive X, dominant Arkan, and ruthless Taj by my side, what can go wrong?

Everything, apparently. But at least I’m not dead…?

The Candyfloss Killer is back, b*tches!

Sweet Violence is a paranormal romance with psycho men, a badass FMC, twisted romance, and lots and lots of bloodlust. Demon criminals, a dark syndicate, a godlike hunter, and depraved, evil pasts fill these pages, but none of them are as deadly as Aveline Lachesi.

This one wasn't as good as the first one. The plot wandered which made for a long book. The book is best when all the mages are together, and it isn't a lot in this one. There were also issues with continuity. Aveline was walking with a demon. Her mates showed up and that demon was forgotten. I literally reread to see what I missed. Overall, it was still enjoyable but less so than book one.

Book 2 Killers and Kings

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Crazed Candy by Leigh Kelsey

4 Stars

Here’s a tip: don’t mess with the demon girl who kills people for a living.

The four self-proclaimed kings of Orchid Vale apparently never got that memo, and now my self care retreat is about to become a bloodbath.

This quaint village was supposed to be a break from my hectic life of death, gore, and high stakes ‘jobs’—that’s code for supernatural murder—but I don’t get a chance to enjoy even a fairground ride without the kings of Orchid Vale getting in my way.

Arkan, the ice cold wraith wants to break me. Joseph, the reaper gangster with a heart of gold wants to save me. X, the incubus maniac wants us to be a killer duo. But Taj, the prince of hell and the worst of them all, wants me dead. Apparently I killed his uncle. Oops.

The kings warn I’ll be lucky to leave Orchid Vale alive, even if their instincts say I’m their fated mate. But they’re the ones who need to watch out. One false move, and they'll find themselves choking to death.

They don’t call me the Candyfloss Killer for nothing.

Crazed Candy is a paranormal romance with psycho men, a badass FMC, twisted romance, and lots and lots of bloodlust. Demon criminals, a dark syndicate, a godlike hunter, and depraved, evil pasts fill these pages, but none of them are as deadly as Aveline Lachesi. This book is medium burn, with moderate heat, and multiple love interests.

This was a short and demented read. Demented in a good way. Aveline is crazy and willing to do anything to be happy. I love how she meets the guys. She gives them such chaos and I loved it. It ends on a cliff hanger and I'm curious to see how this all plays out.

Book 1 Killers and Kings

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Sing Sweet Nightingale by Rebecca Rennick

4 Stars

Lottie Pickle is known to the world as Alexandria, the famous glittering pop star. But the limelight is starting to burn and the things that once appealed to her as a young aspiring singer no longer shine with the brilliance of newly formed diamonds. Not to mention her overbearing momager who works her to the bone to make hit after hit. In the only way she knows how to escape life in her gilded prison she dawns a disguise and runs away. All the way to the small, quiet, unknown town of Snowberry, Montana. Here she hopes to blend in and enjoy her small piece of sanctuary in the woods. Sanctuary that's interrupted by the town's mayor and-unbeknownst to her-owner of the cabin she's renting. But there's more to the tall dark and handsome Hunter Evans than just being town mayor, he's also a wolf shifter. And that's not all, supposedly she's his mate. What more could a girl have to deal with while hiding from the paparazzi, a controlling mother, and millions of fans? Nothing much, just a blackmailing mob boss elf who wants the town of Snowberry for himself. Caught between the unspoken rules of the non-human world and his need to protect his newly found mate, Hunter must decide; break the rules and keep the girl, or follow the rules and possibly lose his mate and the well-hidden haven they've built for non-humans?

This was such a cute cozy para romantic comedy. I loved every minute of reading it. Has some very spicy parts as well. Hunter and Lottie and the side characters were well written and so loveable. I did want more with the mom getting her due. It ended up feeling like a foot note to the overall story but felt like it was more apart of the story. Will definitely be picking up the next book.

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Alpha’s Savior by Reece Barden

3 Stars

Hayley's on the run from a stalker who's determined to make her pay. When she saves the life of the local alpha, exposing her new location, Cooper decides he has to make her his.
His to possess, his to love, his to protect.
He's waited a long time to find his mate. He's not going to let her go.
She risked her cover and her life to save him. He's willing to do anything to keep her safe.

Will Hayley be able to accept this whole new world of wolf shifters, packs and fated mates that she never knew existed, or will her past catch up to her and ruin it all?

The secrets that were being kept got old fast and was so frustrating to see it be dragged out. I enjoyed the give and take between Hayley and Cooper. I loved that she worked on being a strong woman even though she had a werewolf mate that could protect her.

Book 1 Shifters of Grey Ridge

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Cooking Up a Demon by Sabrina Cross

4 Stars

Bea thought all she had to worry about when she moved to Ghostlight Falls was the cold, wet weather and getting her Nonna’s bookstore up and running.

Instead she finds herself accidentally summoning a demon at every turn. An annoyingly sexy demon who insists on helping her, despite her protests.

Now, more than just soup is cooking up between Bea and the Demon. But summoning him puts more than just Bea’s heart at risk.

I loved this book and the characters. There were some plot holes but overall, I enjoyed the read so I am ignoring the holes.

Book Part of Ghostlight Falls

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Good Spirit by BK Borison

4 Stars

He’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. She’s not exactly Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other—get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he’s faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he’s ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future.

Harriet York has no idea why she’s being haunted. She’s a good person—or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what’s expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together— and realize there might be more to moving on than expected.

With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other’s pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection?

 

Super cute holiday romance. I loved the characters and the premise of the book. I actually had some of the twists and turns figured out before they happened, but it was still worth reading.

Book 1 Ghosted

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Druid Cursed by CJ Burright

4 Stars

One week of freedom. One cursed druid. One woman who could break the spell or doom them both.

Every fifty years, Kellen Ravenwood escapes his magical prison for seven days. This Samhain is his last chance to break the curse, or he’ll be bound forever. All he needs is a sacrifice: the blood of Maggie O’Malley, the last living descendant of the witch who cursed him.

Maggie, desperate for cash after a brutal divorce, jumps at the chance to win a $500,000 prize at a mysterious Irish estate. She never expected ancient rituals, strange magic, or Kellen, the dangerously charming man who claims she’s the key to his freedom.

But Maggie won’t be anyone’s sacrifice. And if there’s another way to break the curse, she’ll find it.

Because some destinies are meant to be rewritten.

And some love stories are worth defying fate for.

Pacing was good. I loved the switch between modern English and Old English. I loved the characters and felt they were developed well. Maggie is learning about her ancestors while trying to get enough money to save her family home. Kellen was given a rough life. There are reveals that are big. The biggest issue I had was the ending felt rushed.

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Bookish Girl’s Guide to Mating with a Werewolf by Lola Glass

4 Stars

I ran into a werewolf at a grocery store. The moment our eyes met, he decided I was his mate.

Now he's trapped in his furry form, threatening every other guy who so much as looks in my direction.

His friends try to convince me that I need to stay in his house until he goes human again, but I refuse.

So he shifts back.

And the giant of a man—er, wolfman—basically carries me away himself.

This werewolf is hunting me, and honestly?

I'm a very willing victim.

I laughed so hard at the beginning of the book. She’s looking for a shifter, finds one, and then is shocked…just shocked when he wanted her. It was a short and spicy story. Very easy to read and I will be continuing the rest of the series. It did take a while to realize that shifters aren’t out and so her looking was weird and more amusing to me.

Book 1 Mate Hunt

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Alpha of Grave Hills by Kathryn Moon

5 Stars

She's an omega in hiding.

Broken hearted and rejected by her beta, Brigid Grant has spent the last five years in self-imposed exile. When her former lover comes sniffing at her door, demanding she take her place back in his bed or lose her sanctuary, Brigid knows it would break more than her heart to agree.

There's only one person powerful enough to keep her out of another man's reach.

A new alpha has risen.

With the death of his father, it’s time for Torion to step into his rightful place, as Alpha of Grave Hills. Young, determined to do better for his home and his people, Torion needs to focus on the work ahead of him. What he should not do, is anger a respected beta by stealing away his omega.

It would be an even bigger mistake to fall in love with her, when his heart is the last thing she wants.

Gave this the Best book of the year for 2025. I loved Torion and Brigid. They had so much chemistry and the give and take between them was awesome. I don’t know how else to describe their relationship other than it was comfortable. It felt like they had been together for years and not just coming together. There were some miscommunications between them that is resolved pretty quickly. I love what happens to Brigid’s former mate. He definitely gets what he deserves.

Book 2 Dragonkin

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To Kill Badger by Shelly Laurenston

4 Stars

Nelle Zhao is a loner, born and bred. Her own company is plenty, and her thoughts are certainly way more interesting than the tedium of reality. But she's also fiercely loyal—to her honey badger teammates and their mission, and now to the three gorgeous big tiger shifters known as the Malone brothers. Especially Keane, who doesn't know how to accept a friendly paw. But Nelle excels at helping! And at ignoring other people's irrational demands, such as doing it all alone. Keane, poor pretty kitty, doesn't understand the kind of assistance a shit-starting honey badger like Nelle can truly offer....

Keane knows two things—he doesn't like other people, and he is going to take down the de Medicis' human trafficking ring. Alone, as in by himself. It's safer that way. But the truth is the de Medicis are a seriously evil coalition of male lion shifters who are not only snatching innocent humans for fun and profit, but who also killed his father. And their combined power means that Keane's going to have to let long-legged, jet-setting Nelle join the fight. And getting close to Nelle is suddenly bringing out his roar....

I liked Nelle and Keane a lot. I wish more of the book was with them verse everyone else. There were some characters that had their personality changed from previous books and I don’t understand why. Nelle was managing Charlie which never happened previously. The entire team was terrified of her in previous books. The book still had a lot of humor and I enjoyed that.

Book 6 Badger Chronicles

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I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming

5 Stars

Dorothy Valentine is close to getting her PhD in wildlife biology when she’s attacked by a lion. On the bright side, she’s saved! On the not-so-bright side, it’s because they’re abducted by aliens. In her scramble to escape, Dory and the lion commandeer an escape pod and crash-land on an alien planet that has...dinosaurs?

Dory and her new lion bestie, Toto, are saved in the nick of time by a mysterious and sexy alien, Sol. On their new adventure, they team up with the equally hot, equally dangerous Lok, who may or may not be a war criminal. Whether it be trauma, fate, or intrigue, Dory can’t resist the attraction that’s developing in their trio....

As this ragtag group of misfits explore their new planet, Dory learns more about how and why they’ve all ended up together, battles more prehistoric creatures than she imagined (she imagined...zero), and questions if she even wants to go back home to Earth in this hilarious and steamy alien romance adventure comedy romp.

I loved listening to this audiobook. It had so much humor in it. It was lighthearted and so cute. I loved the FMC and the lion add in the two MMC who want her and it was just a good book. I enjoyed the adventure and the challenges in the book. The aliens that kidnapped FMC were amusing in how stupid they were. I really want to know what happens with FMC’s family and how it plays out on Earth but I always want that information. Cannot wait for book 2.

Book 1 Cosmic Chaos

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A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

5 Stars

Raine Stone is living a nightmare. Ever since she survived the attack that killed her family, she's been hiding a terrible secret--and a Beast inside her.

It feeds on violence and chaos, but she restrains its urges by playing vigilante on the city streets. Until one night, Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal an elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack and discovers a new world of danger—literally.

Remington “Remy” Byrne knows the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very fragile. After all, he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. Raine’s Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if she allies with him.

Will they be friends or foes…or will their dangerous attraction turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?

I LOVED this book so much. It was an interesting new take on Beauty and the Beasts and the ending makes me want the next book to be out now.  I loved the give and take between MMC and FMC. The fact that he insists on having a fake relationship with her to protect her is so sweet. I loved how everything played out in the book.

Book 1 Beautiful and Beastly

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Hot for Slayer by Ali Hazelwood

 

4 Stars

When a vampire slayer loses all his memories, the only person who can help him is the vampire he’s tried to kill for centuries in this unforgettable short story by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood.

When Aethelthryth—“Ethel” to her modern-day Manhattan neighbors—finds her sworn nemesis Lazlo Enyedi with no memory of who or what they are, an ancient hunt becomes an unexpected chance at forbidden passion. He’s crashing on her couch, solving her sudoku puzzles, and looking at her like she’s his eternal flame (minus the whole bursting-into-ashes part). As his memories slowly return, Ethel realizes she might be in danger of losing more than just her head…

I loved this one so much. Aethelthryth “Ethel” is a vampire and she tangles with Lazlo who is a slayer. When he loses his memory of everything she could have totally taken him out but she can’t. It was such a sweet moment. I loved how much care she gives him throughout the book. When the full story comes out it made me love the book even more.

Book 1 Scared Sexy

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