The Rebel King by Gina L. Maxwell ARC Review!

 

Title: The Rebel King (Deviant Kings #2)
Author: Gina L. Maxwell
Publish Date: July 25, 2023
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

All work and no wicked play makes Tiernan a very unsatisfied king…

Of all the Verran brothers, Tiernan is the least suited to wear the Night Court crown. The Rebel Prince is happy with no responsibilities or accountability―just the freedom to pursue his own dark, lush pleasures in Sin City. Including his secret hunger for a certain smart-mouthed, fiery redhead.

Only, the possibility of having Fiona is stripped away when Tiernan is thrust into the one role he never king . As king of the Dark Fae, wanting―let alone pursuing―anything with a lower-caste fae like Fiona would shift from fun…to forbidden.

Now war is emerging from the shadows of Vegas, and Tiernan is caught between who he’s meant to be and who he wants . And somewhere in this maelstrom of lust, love, and rebellion is the key to the Dark Fae’s survival…even if the cost is more than he can imagine.

Penelope's Review

So this is the second book in the Deviant Kings series, each of which focuses on a different Verran brother. The first book was based on Caiden and Bryn, and now we get Tiernan and Fiona. While I did absolutely enjoy this book, I think I am in the minority of people who actually preferred Caiden's story. I'm not sure what about this book was a bit less appealing, as it is definitely action packed, but it just didn't leave me with the same satisfied feelings as book 1. Again, that doesn't mean it wasn't good, because it was, it just wasn't my favorite of the two.

I think my feelings maybe stem from the fact that the writing here felt a little more juvenile. We get alot of slang, emojis, and new gen speak - I think I read someone say Gen-Z speak in another review?? It sort of took away from the story for me a bit because that's not the vibe you get from the first book. That being said, I understand that Tiernan is more of the 'chill, rebel' brother, so sometimes his manner of speaking is true to his character, but a lot of the times it just seemed forced. Other than that, I did really like his growth throughout the novel from reluctant king to someone who is ready to break barriers for the good of his people. 

Fiona was also a great character, but I found that I liked her more in the beginning of the book than I did nearing the end. She was strong, independent, and snarky and while that didn't necessarily change throughout the book, I just found myself getting less absorbed with her character as the story unfolded instead of more. 

Overall, I think it was a good read, but there were aspects that I didn't like as much as I thought I would. I have a feeling that the next book, Finnian's story, is going to be my all-time favorite of the series. But we shall see...

Rating: 3/5 Devils!

Highland Beast by Heather McCollum ARC Review!

 

Title: Highland Beast (Sons of Sinclair Series #4)
Author: Heather McCollum
Publish Date: April 25th, 2023
Publisher: Entangled - Amara
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

Bàs Sinclair is the cold and brutal hand—and sword—of justice across the Highlands. He has one destiny: to bring fear into the hearts of guilty men. But when he is called to execute a midwife for her crimes, he cannot raise his weapon. For Bàs already knows this lovely, part-wild creature. After all, she gave him his first and only kiss…

Shana Drummond will do anything to protect her beloved sister. Now her cruel, merciless brother-in-law has called upon Bàs to have Shana killed for crimes she didn’t commit. She can’t reconcile the cold, lethal warrior before her with the gentle one she met—nay, kissed—only days before.

But mercy from Bàs can only lead to one thing: war among the clans. A war that will test allegiances, tear families apart, and challenge everything Bàs knows about himself and his heart. Because once this Highlander knows love, nothing will stop him from keeping Shana safe…even if it means destroying his own destiny.

Penelope's Review

I'm such a huge fan of this series and I've been looking forward to reading Bàs's story for awhile now. I'm so happy he's finally getting his turn. On the surface, Bàs appears to be cold and merciless, dedicated to his duty as executioner for Clan Sinclair. But deep down, Bàs is tormented with guilt and lives a life of solitude. When Shana whirls into his life, he doesn't know what to do with these new feelings and revelations. She gets under his skin and forces him to look deep within himself in a new light. 

I definitely liked the dynamic between these two, would have loved to see them together more! There were times when the Ivy/Edward/Erskine drama overshadowed Bàs/Shana's story but I still really enjoyed the plot. I also loved all of the animals! Bàs's love of animals was one of my favorite aspects of his personality. It added a really nice touch to the story. 

Overall, I think this was a really sweet story with some exciting plot elements. I liked the characters, and was very happy to have gotten Bàs's story. Very much looking forward to reading the sister's story!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

A Crown of Ivy and Glass by Claire Legrand

 

Title: A Crown of Ivy and Glass
Author: Claire Legrand
Publish Date: May 9, 2023
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca 
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review.

Lady Gemma Ashbourne seemingly has it all. She's young, gorgeous, and rich. Her family was Anointed by the gods, blessed with incredible abilities. But underneath her glittering façade, Gemma is deeply sad. Years ago, her sister Mara was taken to the Middlemist to guard against treacherous magic. Her mother abandoned the family. Her father and eldest sister, Farrin—embroiled in a deadly blood feud with the mysterious Bask family—often forget Gemma exists.

Worst of all, Gemma is the only Ashbourne to possess no magic. Instead, her body fights it like poison. Constantly ill, aching with loneliness, Gemma craves love and yearns to belong.

Then she meets the devastatingly handsome Talan d'Astier. His family destroyed themselves, seduced by a demon, and Talan, the only survivor, is determined to redeem their honor. Intrigued and enchanted, Gemma proposes a bargain: She'll help Talan navigate high society if he helps her destroy the Basks. According to popular legend, a demon called The Man With the Three-Eyed Crown is behind the families' blood feud—slay the demon, end the feud.

But attacks on the Middlemist are increasing. The plot against the Basks quickly spirals out of control. And something immense and terrifying is awakening in Gemma, drawing her inexorably toward Talan and an all-consuming passion that could destroy her—or show her the true strength of her power at last.

Penelope's Review

I wanted to love this book so much more, but unfortunately it just didn't hit the mark for me. I felt like it was really long but didn't need to be? Don't get me wrong, I love a good, long book when it's well done and holds my attention, but I found myself able to put this book down and wasn't really overjoyed at the prospect of picking it back up again.

The book starts off good - we get a little bit of background, we meet the characters, we get a good story set up. Gemma seemed like she was going to be a really interesting character to follow through this book (and she was!), but I didn't really like Talan. Unfortunately, disliking the main male lead does not bode well for a romance. I was actually more interested in Farrin's love life than I was Gemma's lol. And we only get VERY TINY glimpses and hints at that aspect of Farrin but it seems like it could be an EPIC story. 

Anyway. After the beginning, things sort of seemed to just spiral out of control. The story seemed all over the place, and I was sort of confused and little bit bored for a lot of it. It felt very stop and go, and I just couldn't get into a flow with this book. The romance didn't work for me, not just because I didn't like Talan, but because there was no substance to it. It was very insta-love, and then the relationship was just all over the place, and not in a good way.

I think there are definitely people who are going to like this book, but it just wasn't for me unfortunately. If there was another book from Farrin's POV, I think I would definitely read that. Very curious to see what happens with her and Ryder. But in terms of Gemma's story, I don't really feel like I need to know more. 

Rating: 2.5/5 Devils

Blush by Helen Hardt ARC Review!

 

Title: Blush 
Author: Helen Hardt
Publish Date: January 24th, 2023
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

What he wants from you will make you…Blush.

Amanda Thomas is hopelessly in love with Jackson Paris, but he will never see her as anything more than his sweet and innocent bestie. After being virgin-adjacent for too long, Mandy is officially ready to move on. She wants to learn about hot, dirty sex, so she joins an online dating app where the enigmatic Mr. Dark promises to fulfill all of her wicked fantasies...

Jackson Paris has been keeping secrets from his stunning, too-innocent best friend—like forbidden sexual proclivities and his membership at the exclusive Black Rose Underground club. But Mandy has decided she needs an education—the filthy kind. As Mr. Dark, Jackson can safely give her a taste of what she wants—and deter her from pursuing more—without revealing his identity.

But in the dim, provocative atmosphere of Black Rose Underground, there are no secrets. Here, every wicked appetite is satisfied. And for the first time, Mandy will discover who her best friend really is...just in time to shock him with a secret of her own.

Penelope's Review

This was such a steamy, sexy read! Surprisingly enough, this is my first Helen Hardt book and I can't believe I've been missing out on such a great author all this time. Definitely looking forward to delving more into her books. In Blush, we have Amanda and Jackson - best friends who know almost everything about each other... except the more intimate aspects of their lives. Jackson thinks Amanda is sweet and innocent, and much to naïve for his sexual proclivities. Amanda knows that Jackson is a serial dater but has no idea about his membership to the Black Rose Underground and his darker urges. 

This is a friends-to-lovers story which isn't usually my favorite trope, but I thought it was really well done here! I loved the contrast between the characters and felt like bringing them together only made them stronger. Despite the hot erotic scenes, this book remains a really sweet story, and I loved that contrast. Jackson could be a bit annoying with his back and forth inner mantra on whether or not to get with Mandy, but by the end of the book I was happy with where the two ended up.

Overall, a good read with great writing style. Looking forward to checking out this author's many, many other books!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert ARC Review!

 

Title: Court of the Vampire Queen
Author: Katee Robert
Publish Date: September 6th, 2022
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review! 

Three Powerfully Alluring Vampire Men

And One Queen to Rule Them All

All Mina ever wanted was to escape her father's control. Half human, half vampire, she lived eternally torn between two worlds, never fully experiencing the pleasures of either—until her father chose her as the pawn in his latest political move, gifting her to the darkly powerful and dangerously seductive Malachi Zion.

Malachi is not a vampire to be trifled with. He rules with an iron fist and has a reputation for the darkest of sins. But the longer Mina spends with him, the more she realizes he's not the monster she first thought—and as fear bleeds into lust, then trust, then something more, Malachi opens Mina up to a world she never knew could be hers for the taking: including the love of Malachi's two closest friends and companions.

Now surrounded by all three men, the center of their shockingly seductive world, Mina may finally have the power to face down her father and take back the life—and crown—that by all rights should be hers.

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN.

Penelope's Review

Ooohhh I love me some vampires! And this book has not 1, not 2, but 3!! THREE SEXY VAMPIRES! We start with one, then move into a threesome and eventually into a foursome and damn. Just damn. If you're into reverse harem, this one's for you!

Mina is a dhampir, so half-vampire half-human, and she's been sent by her father to Malachi to basically be a blood bag/sexual servant. We get off on a sexy note right from the beginning and we never really look back! Yes, there is a plot. And it's actually a decent plot! But if you came for the sex, you won't be disappointed. 

Our three vamps each have their own personality and I grew to love every one of them in their own way. They all brought a different perspective, and it made everything that much better. 

Could the plot have been fleshed out a bit more? Sure. Did I really care all that much because I was getting all of the steamy scenes my heart could imagine? Nope! Not a bit lol! 

Overall, it really was a decent read. I liked the characters, I liked the storyline, I liked the sex. It's a fun read! Dive in, you won't be disappointed if you know what you're getting into!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

The History of Us Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE HISTORY OF US by Jennifer Bardsley Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my review and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About The Book:

Title: THE HISTORY OF US

Author: Jennifer Bardsley

Pub. Date: July 12, 2022

Publisher: Montlake

Formats: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 317

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

From Sweet Bliss author Jennifer Bardsley comes a poignant romance about a small-town crime that throws together ex–high school sweethearts who have never quite gotten over their past.

Andrea Wint’s life in the small town of Port Inez, Washington, is a simple one. She works, enjoys the gorgeous view from her bay window, and visits her dad at the memory-care facility. Her father is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s, but Andrea brings in one coin from his valuable collection every day—little bits of precious metals that seem to bring him back to himself, even if just for a few moments.

So when Andrea’s house is burgled and the coins disappear, she’s bereft.

To track down the culprit, she turns to Dustin Karlsson, who just happens to be her former high school sweetheart. Years ago, they broke each other’s hearts, and some wounds are slow to heal. But Dustin feels indebted to the ailing Tom Wint and wants to help.

What’s more, Dustin has a personal stake in finding the perpetrator. In fact, he suspects the thief could be his own brother-in-law, a gambler and a drunk who skipped town, leaving Dustin’s sister and two young nieces behind.

As Dustin and Andrea travel the Pacific Northwest in an effort to recover the missing coins, old feelings rekindle. Maybe their happily ever after can still be minted.

 

Advanced Praise:

“Jennifer’s story peels back layer after layer until Dustin and Andrea get down to what really matters—what they feel down deep in their hearts. A lovely story of finding love, healing old hurts, and working together toward a lovely future together.” —Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Riverbend Reunion

“Equal turns thoughtful and sweet, The History of Us is a darling read. Dustin and Andrea shine as a couple, and Port Inez is the type of small-town that will draw you in like you are a member of the Karlsson family.” —Addie Woolridge, author of The Checklist

“Jennifer Bardsley delivers a beautifully written story of love, family, and second chances. You will experience all the feels as the hero and heroine navigate their way toward happily ever after. The characters were written with such authenticity that you will feel as if you know them personally. I enjoyed the love and devotion both main characters showed for their families. Bardsley skillfully handled the delicate subject of Alzheimer’s disease with grace and care, weaving it into the storyline flawlessly. These two characters truly went on a journey that led them back to each other. —Joy Avery, author of Something So Sweet

“Gripping and emotional, The History of Us is a beautiful story of what it truly means to love someone. Bardsley weaves a captivating tale of the complicated but powerful nature of family bonds, taking readers on a journey through the Pacific Northwest with two broken people looking to recover something lost—and along the way, rediscovering their enduring love for each other.” —Elissa Grossell Dickey, author of The Speed of Light and Iris in the Dark

“Jennifer Bardsley’s love stories are exactly what we need right now—books with hope, family, and characters that feel like home!” —Brooke Burroughs, author of The Marriage Code and The Name Curse

 

Penelope's Review

This is the third book I'm reading by Jennifer Bardsley, after really enjoying Sweet Bliss and Good Catch! I was very excited to pick up The History of Us, and it ended up being a cute and cozy read! We have romance, a bit of mystery, and lots of history in this latest addition to Bardsley's bookshelf!

The story features Andrea Wint, a woman in her mid-thirties living in Port Inez (a ferry ride away from Harper's Landing!) where she can visit her dad, who suffers from Alzheimer's. Andrea is doing the best she can in the wake of her father's diagnosis, and I really did admire her strength and outlook on life throughout this book. I really like how realistic the character was, with Bardsley showing both sides of the coin (haha, punny) in which we get a glimpse into the various emotions Andrea feels including guilt, relief, love, anger, sadness, and so on. Andrea was definitely a relatable character, which I find is thanks to very good writing on behalf of the author. 

Then we have Dustin Karlsson, the boy who broke Andrea's heart 18 years ago... except it turns out she also broke his heart? This ends up being a heartwarming second chance romance - though I did wish for just a little bit more - things seemed to resolve themselves rather quickly, and I was just hoping to get a little more tension, a little more fight and passion. But if that's not what your looking for, and you want a nice, clean sweet romance then this will be absolutely perfect for you! 

In terms of plot itself, we have a crime to solve! Not what I was expecting in a contemporary romance, but it ended up being such a great outline for the story! Andrea's dad was a rare coin collector in his prime, and his love of numismatics remains strong, even after his diagnosis! It's one of the few ways Andrea is able to connect with her dad, so when his entire collection is stolen from her house, she is determined to get back every piece. With the help of Dustin, the two go on a mission to locate their prime suspect - Dustin's scummy brother-in-law. What follows is a fun story, rich in research and history that you have you putting another little notch into your "random things I now know" belt lol!

As always, the writing style here is great! I enjoy the way this author puts pen to paper, and will continue to pick up her books as they come out! I like the characters, and how relatable their struggle are, and the range of emotions they convey. Overall, a good read and looking forward to what comes next from this author!

Rating: 3.5/5 Devils!

About Jennifer Bardsley:

Jennifer Bardsley believes in friendship, true love, and the everlasting power of books. A graduate of Stanford University, she lives in Edmonds, Washington with her husband and two children. Jennifer's "I Brake for Moms" column has appeared in The Everett Herald every week since 2012. She also writes Young Adult Paranormal Romance under the pen name Louise Cypress. When she's not writing books, or camping with her Girl Scout troop, you can find Jennifer walking from her house to the beach every chance she gets.

Subscribe to Jennifer’s newsletter!

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE HISTORY OF US, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/1/2022	BookHounds	Interview/IG Post
6/2/2022	Jenguerdy	IG Post
6/3/2022	BETTER_0FF_READ	IG Post/TikTok Post
6/4/2022	pickagoodbook	Guest Post/IG Post

Week Two:

6/5/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
6/6/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post
6/7/2022	SJ_Bookshelf	IG Review
6/8/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
6/9/2022	Viviana MacKade	Guest Post
6/10/2022	M reads often	IG Review
6/11/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post

Week Three:

6/12/2022	onemused	IG Post
6/13/2022	@kristens.reading.nook	Review/IG Post
6/14/2022	TakeALookAtMyBookshelf	Review/IG Post
6/15/2022	@thechattybookworm	Tik Tok Review/IG Post
6/16/2022	LatestBookCrush	Excerpt/IG Post
6/17/2022	Fire and Ice	Review
6/18/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	IG Review

Week Four:

6/19/2022	Emmiepooh2	Review/IG Post
6/20/2022	beersbooksandboos	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
6/21/2022	@My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review
6/22/2022	A Court of Coffee and Books	Review/IG Post
6/23/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
6/24/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
6/25/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

6/26/2022	onemoreexclamation	Review/IG Post
6/27/2022	Lychburg Reasd	Review/IG Post
6/28/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review/IG Post
6/29/2022	Book Sniffers Anonymous	Excerpt/IG Post
6/30/2022	The Reading Devil	Review/IG Post

Wicked Beauty by Katee Robert ARC Review!

 

Title: Wicked Beauty (Dark Olympus #3)
Author: Katee Robert
Publish Date: June 7th, 2022
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review!

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Helen of Troy, Achilles, and Patroclus that's as sinful as it is sweet.*

In Olympus, you either have the power to rule...or you are ruled. Achilles Kallis may have been born with nothing, but as a child he vowed he would claw his way into the poisonous city's inner circle. Now that a coveted role has opened to anyone with the strength to claim it, he and his partner, Patroclus Fotos, plan to compete and double their odds of winning.

Neither expect infamous beauty Helen Kasios to be part of the prize...or for the complicated fire that burns the moment she looks their way.

Zeus may have decided Helen is his to give to away, but she has her own plans. She enters into the competition as a middle finger to the meddling Thirteen rulers, effectively vying for her own hand in marriage. Unfortunately, there are those who would rather see her dead than lead the city. The only people she can trust are the ones she can't keep her hands off—Achilles and Patroclus. But can she really believe they have her best interests at heart when every stolen kiss is a battlefield?

Penelope's Review

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this, as it's my first book by this author (this is one of those series that doesn't really need to be read in order) but I really enjoyed it! I liked the writing style, enjoyed the tropes, and loved the overall plot. The world-building here is great - lots of details are given but in a "show" rather than a "tell" way if you know what I mean. I am a sucker for any kind of competition in a book, so the fact that this was trial-based hooked me right from the beginning!

The sexual chemistry just FLIES off the pages - Helen is a gorgeous, layered character who fits into the story well, and fits in with Achilles and Patroclus even better! I've never read a book with a ménage à trois before, so again, wasn't sure what to expect but it ended up being SO HOT! The sex scenes are written well, you can feel the emotions and tension and it just works! Achilles is a man who knows what he wants and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals whereas Patroclus is the one with a head on his shoulders and a penchant for seeing 10 steps ahead of everyone. The two are complete opposites and yet they work so well together. With Helen thrown into the mix, who's personality is almost like a combination of the two, it just makes everything that much better.

I loved the trials that they had to go through to become Ares - though I will say that I thought there would be a bit more when it came to the two "outsider" competitors... maybe that will go somewhere in the next book?? But in this one, the villain aspect that I thought was going to play a larger role, sort of fell flat for me. Other than that though, really enjoyable read! I like the twist on mythology and look forward to trying the other books in this series!

Rating: 4/5 Devils!

The Carnival of Ash by Tom Beckerlegge Blog Tour!

 

Hi everyone! Today is my stop on The Carnival of Ash blog tour hosted by The Write Reads Tours! I am so excited to share the details about this book with you - read below to learn more! 

Title: The Carnival of Ash
Author: Tom Beckerlegge
Publish Date: March 15th, 2022
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing

About the book:

Cadenza is the City of Words, a city run by poets, its skyline dominated by the steepled towers of its libraries, its heart beating to the stamp and thrum of the printing presses in the Printing Quarter.

Carlo Mazzoni, a young wordsmith arrives at the city gates intent on making his name as the bells ring out with the news of the death of the city’s poet-leader. Instead, he finds himself embroiled with the intrigues of a city in turmoil, the looming prospect of war with their rival Venice ever-present. A war that threatens not only to destroy Cadenza but remove it from history altogether…

About the Author:

Tom Beckerlegge grew up in the northwest of England in a house filled with books. Writing as Tom Becker, he won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize with his debut novel; The Carnival of Ash is his first adult book. He lives in Enfield with his wife and young son.

Where can I see more/purchase?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1786185008/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58438204-the-carnival-of-ash