🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin

Title: The Scarlet Veil
Series: The Scarlet Veil, #1
Author: Shelby Mahurin 
Format: 640 pages, Hardcover
Published: September 26, 2023 by HarperTeen
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Crystal

Rating:  🍷🍷🍷🍷

This dark and thrilling vampire romance—set in the world of the New York Times bestselling Serpent & Dove series—is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas!

Célie Tremblay has always been a good girl: kind and beautiful, a daughter of whom every parent would be proud. She surprises the entire kingdom when she defies tradition to become the first huntswoman—including her new captain and fiancé, Jean Luc, who rules the huntsmen with an iron fist. He isn’t the only one concerned for Célie’s safety, however. Though her friends try to protect her from the horrors of her past, mysterious whispers still haunt her, and a new evil is rising in Belterra—leaving bodies in its wake, each one drained of blood.

Determined to prove herself in her new role, Célie tracks the killer to the lair of Les Éternels—ancient creatures only spoken about in nursery rhymes—and catches the attention of their king, a monster who hides his plans for her behind beautiful words and sharp smiles. Now Célie has new reason to fear the dark because the closer he gets, the more tempted she feels to give in to his dark hunger—and her own.

Crystal's Thoughts:

🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 #Review of A Dawn of Onyx by Kate Golden

Title: A Dawn of Onyx
Series: The Sacred Stones, #1
Author: Kate Golden
Format: 427 pages, Kindle Edition
Published: December 15, 2022 by Berkley
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Crystal
Rating:  🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 / 0.5 🌶️

Captured by the king of darkness, she was forced to find the light within.

Arwen Valondale never expected to be the brave one, offering her life to save her brother’s. Now she’s been taken prisoner by the most dangerous kingdom on the continent, and made to use her rare magical abilities to heal the soldiers of the vicious Onyx King.

Arwen knows better than to face the ancient, wicked woods that surround the castle on her own, which means working with a fellow prisoner might be her only path to freedom. Unfortunately, he’s as infuriating as he is cunning—and seems to take twisted pleasure in playing on Arwen’s deepest fears.

But here in Onyx Kingdom, trust is a luxury she can’t afford.

To make it out of enemy territory, she'll have to navigate back-stabbing royals, dark magic, and dangerous beasts. But untold power lies inside Arwen, dormant and waiting for a spark. If she can harness it, she just might be able to escape with her life—and hopefully, her heart.

Crystal's Thoughts:

"I thought...I'd lost you. I could eat. Sleep. Move. ... Shave. ... I did not want to live in a world without you in it."

I really enjoyed this fantasy romance with a slow burn and lots of fun banter. The world building was wonderful and I’m really intrigued with it and the characters. Especially the Onyx King. I’m looking forward to continuing this trilogy! Check out my TikTok page for an in-depth review! 

Tropes to Look For: 

✔️ Enemies to Lovers

✔️Warring Kingdoms

✔️ Magical World & Creatures

✔️ Touch Her and Die / Who Did This to You

✔️ Found Family

✔️ One Horse

✔️ Forced Proximity

✔️ Shadow Daddy

#CoverReveal of The Hunted Heir by Holly Renee

Holly Renee has revealed the gorgeous covers for The Hunted Heir!

About the Book

The Hunted Heir
The Veiled Kingdom #2
by Holly Renee
Expected publication July 23, 2024

From USA Today Bestselling Author Holly Renee, comes the second book in the scorching romantasy series with enthralling secrets, impassioned enemies, and luring tension.

Verena was the lost princess of Marmoris, the very thing we had spent our entire lives looking for, and I had let her go.

The lingering taste of her mixed with the deep ache in my chest over her betrayal haunted my days and nights. I knew she was hiding something, but her secrets were far more treacherous than I could have imagined.

Though I wished my own betrayal hadn’t been so bitter on my tongue.

Now my dreams are haunted with the way her deep blue eyes looked up at me in shock when I revealed I knew her truth.

The way I crave for her to look at me now as I hunt for her.

Me, along with half of the rebellion.

If my father finds her before me, there is no telling what he will do to her.

And even though she’s the little traitor I’d always thought she was, I couldn’t allow him to find her.
But his orders were clear. The princess is to be taken by the rebellion or she would be taken by the gods. I don’t know which is worse.

She is the heir to our kingdom, the daughter of the cruel king who was responsible for my mother’s death, and the key to winning our rebellion.

I vowed to my father that I would find her, the one person I wish I didn’t have to.

Verena is the hunted heir. But more than anything, she is mine.

AMAZON

Happy #BookBirthday to A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden

A Promise of Peridot by Kate Golden is out TODAY! 

About the Book

A Promise of Peridot

The Sacred Stones Trilogy #2

by Kate Golden

Format: 481 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication: April 11, 2024 by Berkley Books

A prophecy of death. A weapon of hope. A sacrifice of love.

Arwen Valondale is sailing for the mysterious Kingdom of Citrine after the battle of Siren's Bay. Reeling from shocking revelations and her newfound powers, Arwen directs all of her pain and rage toward the man who betrayed her: King Kane Ravenwood.

Kane's presence is unavoidable as he travels with Arwen and her friends to seek the Blade of the Sun, a legendary weapon inextricably tied to her fate and the future of the realm. Even an uneasy truce proves difficult as Arwen fights against her unresolved feelings for Kane, who is willing to become darkness itself to protect her.

As Arwen faces creatures, foes, and magic beyond her wildest imaginings, she must discover the secrets of her past to defeat the monstrous Fae king Lazarus. But finding the light within might mean the death of her and everyone she loves.

AMAZON | B&N 

🍷🍷🍷🍷.5 #Review of The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

Title: The True Love Experiment
Series: DNADuo #2

Author: Christina Lauren
Format: 409 pages, Hardcover
Published: First published May 16, 2023
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 
Source: NetGalley
Reviewer: Crystal
Rating:  🍷🍷🍷🍷.5 / 🌶️🌶️

Sparks fly when a romance novelist and a documentary filmmaker join forces to craft the perfect Hollywood love story and take both of their careers to the next level—but only if they can keep the chemistry between them from taking the whole thing off script.

Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work in large part because it allows him to live near his daughter. But when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

The True Love Experiment is the book fans have been waiting for ever since Fizzy’s debut in The Soulmate Equation. But when the lights come on and all eyes are on her, it turns out the happily ever after Fizzy had all but given up on might lie just behind the camera.

Crystal's Thoughts:

"Have you ever been slapped? By yourself? This feels like that."

🍷🍷🍷.5 #Review of Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent

Title: Daughter of No Worlds

Series: The War of Lost Hearts #1

Author: Carissa Broadbent

Format: 16 pages, Audible Audio

Published: First published January 7, 2020

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Source: Purchased 

Reviewer: Crystal

Rating:  🍷🍷🍷.5 / 🌶️

A former slave fighting for justice. A reclusive warrior who no longer believes it exists. And a dark magic that will entangle their fates.

Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.

The Orders's intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future . . . or the downfall of them both.

But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders's deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

Crystal's Thoughts:

Tisaanah offered herself to slavery to save her family in the midst of war. With her unique looks and magic, she's been able to live a good life...for a slave... But when she tries to buy back her freedom her illusions are shattered. Running for her life, Tisaanah barely makes it to the Order's doors, an organization of powerful magic wielders. But in taking her in, the Order wants something from her in return. She must fight for them, and they'll fight for her. First though, she must train with the reclusive Maxantarius, who wants nothing to do with her or the Order's scheming's. Can she convince hi to give her a chance without losing her heart to him and her soul to the Order?