🍷🍷 #Review of Sign of the Slayer by Sharina Harris

Title: Sign of the Slayer

Author: Sharina Harris

Format: 464 pages, Kindle Edition

Published: August 29, 2023 by Entangled: Teen

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Source: Entangled/NetGalley

Reviewer: Crystal

Rating: 2/5

🍷🍷

Full Metal Alchemist meets Vampire Diaries in this fun and clever dark academia series…

High school is supposed to be about studying, socializing, and marching-band practice. Not fighting vampires. Then one night flipped my world inside out―now, my life sucks. But it isn’t all bad. I’m at a slayer academy, learning things like the real origin of vamps and how to make serious weapons out of thin air.

Every last one of them will pay for what they did. I’m doing great.

Until I come face-to-face with the actual vampire prince…and I’m not sure of anything anymore. Vampires are supposed to be soul-sucking demons. But Khamari is…something else. He’s intelligent and reasonable―and he seems to know things about me that could change everything.

He’s also hiding something big, even from his own kind. And when a threat from an ancient evil is so extreme that a vampire will team up with a slayer to take it down, it isn’t just my need for revenge that’s at stake anymore.

It’s the whole damn world.

Crystal's Thoughts:

Sharina Harris's Sign of the Slayer held a lot of potential. Vampires, slayers, the supernatural, and a forbidden romance... As a Buffy fan, I couldn't wait to dive into this story! Unfortunely, this book didn't live up to it's promise and it was a struggle for me from the onset.

Happy #BookBirthday to Love on the Byline by Xio Axelrod + #Excerpt

Love on the Byline, an all-new captivating, beautifully-crafted Plays & Players novel from USA Today bestselling Xio Axelrod is available now!

About the Book

Love on the Byline
 Plays and Players #1
by Xio Axelrod
Format 292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2023 by Blue Box Press
ISBN 9781957568676

Blake Dillon isn’t exactly living the dream. She longs to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and make a difference in the world as a journalist. Unfortunately, her current job has her paying-off hotel staff for celebrity gossip. Tasked with shadowing a film star for an in-depth profile, Blake sees it as a chance to finally prove her worth. She never expected the interview to reconnect her with her old college crush.

Oliver Benjamin agrees to move to Los Angeles to work as the executive assistant to his best friend, a rising star. He hopes it will give him some direction. However, he soon discovers the only difference between being a frat boy and a Hollywood heartthrob is the amount of free stuff and the level of media attention. Ollie spends most of his time putting out fires, leaving little time for anything else. When Blake is sent to chronicle their lives, he finds himself face-to-face with the one that got away.

Blake and Ollie are smart enough to recognize the signs—there are enough sparks between them to melt glass—but they agree to put a lid on it until the article is finished. Much easier said than done when they’re forced to spend more time together than apart. There’s more going on than a simple interview, but they’re both professionals. They must resist temptation or risk unraveling both their lives.

AMAZON | B&N 

🍷🍷🍷 #Review of Omen of Ice by Jus Accardo

Title: Omen of Ice

Series: Omen of Ice #1

Author: Jus Accardo

Format: 356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published: August 1, 2023 by Entangled: Teen

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

Source: Entangled/NetGaller

Reviewer: Crystal

Rating: 3/5

🍷🍷🍷

Keltania Tunne has spent her whole life training to become a bodyguard for a Winter Fae. It’s the highest of honors for a druid…only when Tania arrives at the Winter Court for the first time, nothing is what she expected.

Her assignment is the heir to the throne, Valen, and he doesn’t want her protection. In fact, he wants her gone. Yesterday. But Tania will not compromise, even if he is the most arrogant jackass she’s ever met—because something isn’t right in the Winter Court.

Everyone has secrets. From the Winter Lord to the kitchen maids to the rising faction that wants the prince dead—no one is who they seem. And now it’s up to Tania to keep her sacred oath and protect Valen, even when his smart mouth makes her skate the razor-thin edge between love and hate.

But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes his secret is the biggest of all—and might just get them both killed.

Crystal's Thoughts:

"When the right one comes along- human, fae, male, female- it doesn't matter- gender, lifespan- allegiances- you love who you love, Valen. It is the simplest thing there is. "

Read an #Excerpt from Cherry Lane by Kristen Proby

Cherry Lane, an all-new heat-filled Huckleberry Bay novella from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby is available now!

About the Book

Cherry Lane
Huckleberry Bay #3.5
by Kristen Proby
Format: 111 pages, Kindle Edition
Published: August 22, 2023 by 1001 Dark Nights Press
ISBN: 9798885420242

From New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Kristen Proby comes an all-new small town romance set in her beloved Huckleberry Bay series, Cherry Lane!

Sometimes, love is waiting in the most unexpected of places.

Zeke Cross is a big city guy who finds himself living in the smallest town on the face of the earth, running an auto repair shop with his best friend. Not just running, but owning. He’s not used to sleepy little towns. He craves noise, excitement, and people. And yet, he’s grown to love the town of Huckleberry Bay, and the people who have welcomed him into the fold. Almost everyone has been kind and accepting of the outsider.

Everyone except Cherry Dubois.

Cherry is a small town girl, and she misses the sleepy community from her childhood. Now, her home is overrun by move-ins, who seem hell-bent on bringing big city ideals to her little town, and ruining what she’s always had. Her neighbor, Zeke, is the most annoying of all, with his loud music and arrogant attitude. How is she supposed to think when he’s around? Sure, he’s handsome, but that almost makes it worse.

Then Cherry needs Zeke’s help, and she finds out that the big city guy isn’t all that bad, especially when he has his hands on her and makes her forget all the reasons why she doesn’t like him. But at the end of the day, will she be able to trust this man to stay for good, or will her worst fears come true?

AMAZON  

Read an #Excerpt from Shadow Dance by Christine Feehan

Dive deeper into the world of Chicago's most powerful crime family in SHADOW DANCE, the next propulsive installment in the Shadow Riders series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

About the Book

Shadow Dance

Shadow Riders #8

by Christine Feehan

Format: 396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published: August 22, 2023 by Berkley

ISBN: 9780593638729 

Tensions and passions rise in the city that never sleeps in this propulsive novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan’s Shadow Riders series.

As the head of the New York City Shadow Riders and his branch of the Ferraro family, Geno bears the weight of dual responsibilities on his broad shoulders. There’s nothing more important to Geno than protecting his territory and his famiglia. So when his own parents become the latest victims in a string of vicious murders, Geno is ready to go scorched earth. He thinks he has the assassin in his sights, but he’s unprepared for the firestorm their connection ignites....
 
Amaranthe Aubert’s lithe dancer’s body conceals a spine of steel. Even held captive and faced with the threat of lethal interrogation, she’s not about to cave under pressure. She had nothing to do with the murders, no matter what the ruthless man in front of her believes. But before Amara knows what’s happening, Geno connects to her in the shadows, stripping her bare of all artifice. Now, she has no way to hide her true reason for being in New York—and nowhere to run from the man who’s very presence steals the very breath from her lungs...

AMAZON | B&N 

🍷🍷🍷 #Review of A Kingdom of Fire and Fate by Holly Renee

Title: A Kingdom of Fire and Fate
Series: Stars and Shadows #4
Author: Holly Renee
Format: 222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published: August 17, 2023

Links: Goodreads | Amazon 

Source: Valentine PR

Reviewer: Crystal

Rating: 3 out of 5

🍷🍷🍷

Passion ignites, torn between desire and duty.

Love and loyalty collide in the aftermath of war, where Sorin consumes my every thought. Haunted by nightmares, the intensity of our connection blazes brighter than ever.

In the dead of night, he visits, whispering promises of a future that weakens my resolve. The fear of losing him becomes an inferno, overshadowing all else.

But destiny takes a wicked twist. When news arrives that the human king, now allied with Evren's father, has invited Starblessed contenders to compete for his hand in marriage, I embark on a perilous journey into enemy territory. My goal: to uncover the enigmatic ruler's hidden secrets.

Yet, Sorin, fierce and unwavering, refuses to let me face this danger alone. He risks everything to protect me.

Together, we navigate a treacherous realm of secrets and deception, shrouding my true identity as we unravel the twisted web spun by the human king.

As our desires intensify, so does the peril that surrounds us. Loyalties blur, and the line between friend and foe fades amidst an imminent threat.

In a world where trust is fragile and danger lurks at every step, we confront choices that shall shape our destiny. Will we betray our hearts in the name of duty, or plunge into the flames of an all-consuming love that could set realms ablaze?

In this breathtaking installment of the Stars and Shadows series, Thalia must confront her deepest fears, summon the strength to follow her desires, and embrace the power that lies within her. The kingdom's future hangs in the balance, and the choices she makes will shape the very fabric of all she holds dear.

Crystal's Thoughts:

With their enemy dead and the loss of a dear friend that yearned for more, Thalia struggles in the aftermath. Sorin only wants to be there for her, but in her guilt she pushes him away. When the human king is rumored to be meeting with the fae king, they know that the threats to the blood kingdom have not ended. But when the human king puts out a call for a Starblessed wife, Thalia knows that she is the only one who can find answers and protect her kingdom from further war. Sorin is torn between wanting to protect Thalia, knowing she would hate him for it, and letting her go to a far-off kingdom alone. She may deny what is between them, but Sorin knows that she hold's his heart in her hands and that he would burn the world for her. As the competition intensifies, so does the undeniable connection Thalia feels with Sorin. Until their every look and touch is a risk if she hopes to win the kings trust and unveil his secrets. Can Thalia allow another's hands on her when all she can see is Sorin, even if those hands may hold the fate of her kingdom in them?

Happy #BookBirthday to A Kingdom of Fire and Fate by Holly Renee

Holly Renee's sexy and deliciously passionate Stars and Shadows series continues with the journey of Thalia and Sorin. A Kingdom of Fire and Fate  by Holly Renee  is now live! 

About the Book

A Kingdom of Fire and Fate

Stars and Shadows Series #4

by Holly Renee

222 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 17, 2023

Passion ignites, torn between desire and duty.

Love and loyalty collide in the aftermath of war, where Sorin consumes my every thought. Haunted by nightmares, the intensity of our connection blazes brighter than ever.

In the dead of night, he visits, whispering promises of a future that weakens my resolve. The fear of losing him becomes an inferno, overshadowing all else.

But destiny takes a wicked twist. When news arrives that the human king, now allied with Evren's father, has invited Starblessed contenders to compete for his hand in marriage, I embark on a perilous journey into enemy territory. My goal: to uncover the enigmatic ruler's hidden secrets.

Yet, Sorin, fierce and unwavering, refuses to let me face this danger alone. He risks everything to protect me.

Together, we navigate a treacherous realm of secrets and deception, shrouding my true identity as we unravel the twisted web spun by the human king.

As our desires intensify, so does the peril that surrounds us. Loyalties blur, and the line between friend and foe fades amidst an imminent threat.

In a world where trust is fragile and danger lurks at every step, we confront choices that shall shape our destiny. Will we betray our hearts in the name of duty, or plunge into the flames of an all-consuming love that could set realms ablaze?

In this breathtaking installment of the Stars and Shadows series, Thalia must confront her deepest fears, summon the strength to follow her desires, and embrace the power that lies within her. The kingdom's future hangs in the balance, and the choices she makes will shape the very fabric of all she holds dear.

AMAZON 

Read an #Excerpt from Ignite the Magic by Donna Grant

The origins of the Dark Kings/Dragon Kings and the entire Dark Universe is finally revealed!

About the Book

Ignite the Magic
Dark Kings #0
by Donna Grant

Format 392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2023 by DL Grant, LLC
ISBN 9781958353172 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant delivers an epic prequel to her long-running and critically acclaimed Dark Universe series. 

Passion’s magic ignites a fire too hot to touch—and too wicked to die…

The stars have always called to Ailis, beckoning her to see what other realms were out there. She’s told its impossible, but that doesn’t stop her need to explore beyond what others believe. Ailis never expected to change history by creating the first doorway to another realm. She certainly never imagined opening that door to find a commanding dragon who shifts into a man. She’s irresistibly drawn to Lennox, powerless against the yearning of her body and the longing of her heart.

Magic might have chosen Lennox as King of Dragon Kings, but it’s a position he’s never wanted. Until the day a new being arrives—and irrevocably changes his life. The closer he gets to the fearless, ravishing woman, the more he fights the passion that flares between them. He lives only for his duty, but one fiery kiss unleashes a firestorm of desire that will ripple across eons and realms. Fate might have brought them together, but will it also tear them apart?

AMAZON | B&N 

Happy #BookBirthday to Red Flags by Skye Warren

Red Flags by Skye Warren is now live! 
"You’re part of the circus now, which means you belong to me. You’re mine."

About the Book

Red Flags
Cirque de Miroirs #1
by Skye Warren
Format 231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2023
ISBN 9781645960959 

Logan Whitmere, the handsome owner of Cirque des Miroirs, is full of red flags. Secretive. Commanding. Dangerous.

I know better than to trust him, but I'm desperate for a way out of my small town.

He offers me a job as the fortune teller.

What does Logan know that he isn't telling me? He seems to want to protect me...from the performers. From himself. I fall for his possession. I'm afraid of his obsession.

There are secrets even the crystal ball won't reveal.

When the truth is unveiled, I'm forced to confront my dark past.

AMAZON | B&N

#Spotlight on Start Us Up by Lexi Blake

Start Us Up, the steamy, swoon-filled first standalone romance in The Park Avenue Promise Series from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake is available now!

About the Book

Start Us Up

Park Avenue Promise #1
by Lexi Blake

Three young women make a pact in high school—
to always be friends and to one day make it big in Manhattan.

She’s a high-tech boss who lost it all…

Ivy Jensen was the darling of the tech world, right up until her company fell apart completely after she trusted the wrong person. Her reputation in tatters, she finds herself back in the tiny apartment she grew up in, living with her mom. When a group of angel investors offer her a meeting, she knows she has to come up with the new big idea or her career is over.

He’s an up and coming coder…

Heath Marino has always been fascinated with writing code. He’s worked on a dozen games and apps and is considered one of the industry’s more eccentric talents. But now he’s back in New York to spend time with his grandmother. She was known as one of the city’s greatest matchmakers, and he wants to know why. Surely there’s some kind of code in his grandmother’s methods, and he’s going to find them.
When Ivy meets Heath it’s instant attraction, but she’s got a career to get back to and he just might be her on-ramp. It could be a perfect partnership or absolute heartbreak.

AMAZON

#Spotlight on Mixed Signals Lovelight #3 by B.K. Borison

After swearing off men, Layla Dupree decides to focus on her bakery and loyal customers only. That is until her most loyal customer, Caleb Alvarez, proposes a no-string dating proposition to renew her faith in men. It’s a win-win situation until Layla’s fake feelings start to feel very real.

About the Book

Mixed Signals
Lovelight #3
by B.K. Borison
Format: 335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published: August 30, 2022 by Berkley

Layla Dupree has given up on love.

She’s waded through all of the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite her best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.

Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution.

After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple proposition: One month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his dating game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating, without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.

But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red hot and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s double fudge mocha brownies.

Will the heat between them boil over? Or will it be another case of mixed signals?

Mixed Signals is a sweet and steamy small-town romance. Our story features a bashful man who can rock a Hawaiian shirt, a hopeful and dreamy bakery owner, enough sweets to give you a cavity, and your favorite Inglewild residents. Mixed Signals is a standalone romance and the third book in the Lovelight series, a collection of interconnected novels.

AMAZON | B&N