Loyal: Little Red Riding Hood retelling

 I received a free copy of Loyal by Kristina J Jordan via Storyorigin in exchange for an honest review.

It’s an interesting take on Little Red Riding Hood, although the beginning did have me question if it was a little red riding hood retelling (the silkworms and introduction to the characters threw me off).

Gunther is my favorite character because any guy who is willing to drop all of his duties to help you on your quest to find your mother despite you saying no and rescuing you from wolves is a keeper. My only major complaints are that a) there wasn’t a lot of build up to the romance and hardly any romantic tension especially since she was pretending that she despised him because he wasn’t hers. Which leads me to point b, I wished it had indicated that the person she saw was a girl because I thought Gunther was a closeted gay. In my defence, Katherine always talked about men after being all I saw Gunther with someone he can never be mine. He will always be loyal to Prince Frederick and forgive me if I spelled it wrong).

Also most of the names were very similar so the author would mix up the characters names (ex. Avella would become Althea and vice versa). That coupled with the fact it jumped around a lot led to a very fun, crazy, confusing ride.

Highly recommend for those looking for a different Red Riding Hood retelling.

4.25 out of 5 stars for all the moments between Gunther and Katherine.

Daughter of the Sky Alison Blasdell

 I received a free copy of Daughter of the Sky by Alison Blasdell in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not for me. I wanted to try reading it because it sounded like Outlander, but more my speed and who doesn't love a book that has King Henry VIII in it with an illegitimate daughter?

Yeah, it was not what I thought it was because I was also under the impression that this was the first book and upon finding out it was not, well, I had hoped most of the issues had been resolved in the first book. It flip flopped between the past and present too much that I could not get a firm grasp on who the characters were, and Jen collapses way too many times in this book.

The pacing felt rushed and clunky in places to the point I skimmed the book and started skipping huge sections of it. It had potential, but it reminded me why I don't read books with historical aspects in it.

My one positive about this book was I loved the dogs.

Married by Monday

 I received an e-arc of Married by Monday from the author (Cathryn Brown) in exchange for an honest review.

If you love books that have small towns, fake (real) marriages, wholesome characters, clean romances, a tight knit community, and discovering the beauty of chances then this is the book for you.

Married by Monday is too cute to put into words. The world building was gorgeous and the characters are perfection especially Micah and Bella. The two of them together are adorable and their relationship 😍 (why is there no emoji of clutching a hand to heart or swooning). This book made me swoon, laugh, cry, and shake my head. There were several “oh Bella, what are we going to do with you” moments. Yes, Bella I’m looking at you disappearing in the middle of the night instead of sitting down and talking to your husband. Goes to a sketchy motel instead *sighs*.

Micah’s grandfather who instigated the whole be married by Monday or become a law partner with him by Monday or else none of the children will see a cent of their inheritance. Oh, it gets worse but I’ll let you read the book and bask in how shred the grandfather really is.

And the picnic tables 😂 oh Bella only she would do something so out of the box even I didn’t think about that color. And the town’s reaction to it: priceless.

I could go on and on about this book’s praises from the how do we not sleep in the same bed to how can Bella save her business and the small town of Two Hearts.

It is such a delicious read and if you like your romances clean you will not regret this book. Highly recommend you snag a copy for yourself.

500 out of 5 stars.

Review for Brigand Children

 

I received an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Brigand Children by Lainey Delaroque is an interesting sequel. Honestly, I don’t feel like it should be labeled as a stand-alone because it relies heavily on things that happened in the first book to shape the characters. If you have not read the first book The Lavender Phantom you might struggle with this book a bit because it talks a lot about what happened in the first book but you need to have read the first book to understand why it affects them so much because I feel like it was downplayed in this sequel. That is the only negative thing I will say about the book.

Now onto the positives:

Sophie and Damien are so sweet and I love how they take care of each other. They will never do anything the other one is uncomfortable with, nor will they push for it. There are a couple kinky sex scenes, but it was okay reading then because of the love and respect that they have for each other. I love that because so many times authors feel the need to have the male be dominate and not respect the woman which makes those books not okay in my book. I’m glad Lainey did not feel the need to go down that route it made me love Damien even more. I was kind of hoping for more of Damien’s past* and feel like it could have been fleshed out more, but the little bits and pieces that we did get were beautiful. 

*I thought we’d get things like how he built the club in the first place, the meeting of Pen for the first time, their marriage etc. Those were the things that intrigued me, but I’m okay with learning a bit about his father and the birth of their son. I guess those things are important to Damien.

The world building was good. It didn’t really build much in this one and was mostly things we know in the first book.

There is just something about sequels that never seem to meet up to the expectations of the first book.

4 out of 5 stars.

Cover Reveal for Veritas by A L Woods

 I'm so excited to be part of the cover reveal for Veritas by A L Woods. All photos are not my own.

For your information, here is the information at Grey Productions was willing to provide.

Releasing October 6, 2021

Blurb

Maria

It was supposed to be a fling.
A one-night stand.
Then Jordan Kovacs asked for more.
A date. I don't date—I f*ck.
While he showered, I left.

The end.
Or so I thought. I have a problem.
My ex-f*ck buddy is getting married.
And I can't get out of going—long story.
I need an arrangement I can understand from a man who only had me for a night.
But Jordan has other plans for me.
Things that will tip the scales in his favor.

Jordan

A tryst was what she was looking for.
A date was what I wanted.
A chance.
I understand Maria Tavares.
She's a beautiful lie.
Now she needs something from me: a favor.
So I'll function in a way she can understand: an arrangement.
Three months.
All in. Strings attached. No interferences. Titles exchanged.
The plan is simple, with only one rule—veritas.
Let's see if Maria's ex-f*ck buddy understands that, too.

Cover Designer: Ana Beatriz Cabús Rangel

Preorder today on Amazon!

US: https://amzn.to/3yfNnG4

WW: http://mybook.to/veritas

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3emkJuZ

If you want information on the author or would like to connect with her (whatever you need to do before deciding to buy a book).

Meet A.L. Woods

A.L. Woods is an author of rollercoaster romances, caffeine aficionado, and collector of Sailor Moon paraphernalia.

She lives 40 minutes west of Toronto, Ontario with her partner, Michael, and their 8lb larger-than-life miniature dachshund, Maia-whom they lovingly refer to as their 'doghter.'

Woods can be found holed away in her office writing her next novel with a bowl of Nibs within arm's reach. When she's not writing, she's likely belting out an ad-libbed song, emotionally investing in a fictional bad boy with a strong jawline and fluency in sarcasm or inventing fresh ways to procrastinate.

She believes that burritos should be in their own food group, loves the fall, winged liner, and listening to metalcore at an offensive level.

 

Connect with A.L.

Website | amandawrites.ca

Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3oC8U67

Amazon | https://amzn.to/2YCdaYG

Facebook | https://bit.ly/3tr5G9k

Facebook Group | https://bit.ly/3oFL0qp

Instagram | https://bit.ly/2YxC6R0

Twitter | https://bit.ly/3cq2gxs

Pinterest | https://bit.ly/3oKl7G8

BookBub | https://bit.ly/3CgDnP8

Newsletter | https://bit.ly/2YCitrf

I hope this is enough information and that you will decide to give this book a go. You never know when a book might be the one you needed in your life until it is in your life.

The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson

I did receive a copy of The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson via NetGalley and the publisher, but the only reason I got a copy was because of a bookclub that no longer exists because it did bad things. The copy I am reviewing is the newer paperback edition with the two bonus stories. I'm sorry, but I felt bad and could not in good conscience read the e-arc given to me.

Rating with the bonus stories: 5 out of 5 stars.

Rating without the bonus stories: 4 out of 5.

I loved the bonus stories and how they added to the world through characters you don't get to read about (Ericen and Kiva).

This is the one problem with sequels is that the author is assuming the readers remember things in the first book (I thought Cayus was ten with the way she was describing him, and the only character I remembered was Ericen although I thought the ending was them standing on the dock while she was on the boat, but that apparently was not the case. The crows did all get murdered though and later rediscovered in the castle, that was the only thing I remembered correctly). I guess one of the positives is that the author did not bombard us with all the info from the first book like most books are inclined to do, but it was gradually throughout the book. Good news: it wasn't information overload. Bad news: as clearly stated earlier I could not remember things from the first book, so I was lost for a vast majority of the story. There was a lot of who is this character to her again? Oh, that's who that person was. I couldn't even recall the villain, guys. 

I'm not trying to make it out like the book sucked or anything, it's just a sequel and comes with the usual bouts of not being as great as the first (does anyone know of a second book being better than the first? I cannot name one, although if you do feel free to recommend in the comments below.)

The world building was okay, but I wished the author had expanded on things a little more like the holidays and celebrations because I had no clue what any of them were for and why they needed to get there before the celebrations commenced. I did love the training of Res though and found that adorable as he got put through his paces. I do love the explanation as to why he can access all eight abilities (Sella? Seela? blood anyone).

I did love those creatures as they reminded me so much of proper fae where they are just as likely to cause mischief as they are to help you and even their help might not be so helpful. I loved how each one controlled an aspect that correlates to a crow. (oops I might have spoiled something sorry, its crossed out now y'all).

My favorite characters were Ericen and Res because both are absolute sweethearts and will do anything to protect those they care about.

I could have sworn the Sella doors were in the first book and maybe the character did not remember it because I remember reading those exact words before even though this is my first time reading this book. 

This could be a good thing or a bad thing you interpret how you wish: the battle scenes felt like something out of the LOTR movies like I was expecting Gandalf to come riding down a hill with a herd of horses and men. Thankfully, that did not happen, but I could not shake that image out of my head especially since there are a lot of parallels which I will not tell you. You will only have to read the book to see if you draw the same conclusions or if it is just me because we do a LOTR movie marathon every year (hence why I cannot spell anything).

Besides the general confusion and LoTR like battles, I liked the book overall. I will read it again preferably right after the first one to see if maybe my memory will be a little bit sharper.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommend if you don't mind sequels (honestly I feel like we cannot expect much from sequels because of how frequently there is a disconnection between the first and second).

Oh, and the second one kind of starts off where the first one ends, which was helpful (very helpful indeed in making sure I knew that I did not remember as much of the first book as I thought I did).

Cover Reveal of The Brigand Children by Lainey Delaroque

 Cover Reveal 📕

I'm excited to be a part of the cover reveal of the second book to the Lavender Phantom by Lainey Delaroque.

I'm also excited because this is the rare times my blog has let me upload a photo onto a blog post.

✨Cover Reveal and info from the author✨

The Brigand Children: Club Lavender Duet #2 

.

Book 1 Free on KU https://bit.ly/TLD1TLPzon

Preorder Book 2 https://bit.ly/TLD1TBCzon

Blog Tour for Book 1 https://bit.ly/TLD1TLPtour

His ex stole his dream and his people. Now this fallen gang leader will rally new allies 

against an old enemy.

The Brigand Children is a romantic thriller with:

A tortured hero

A fierce heroine

A gang war

Lavish kink parties

Romance and steamy scenes

***Blurb***

After being a prisoner in his own home, Damien Grey tastes freedom for the first time in six years. Yet his

criminal past, gangster ex-wife and an unfair police charge mean that he is far from free. When he learns

some of his underlings have gone missing, he grabs the chance to investigate, prove his innocence and

come out into the light.

But the case requires Damien to enlist the help of the father he put in prison and face his deepest

insecurities. Unable and unwilling, he finds solace in the company of Sophie Taylor, a former thief and a

newcomer in Damien Grey’s life.

They choose to explore their connection while the clock dangerously ticks away. Will high-octane action

and kinky play bring them together or pull them apart? When one of the missing women turns up dead,

Damien realizes the time of reckoning is nearing faster than expected.

How long can Damien ignore his past before it catches up with those he's sworn to protect?

I do not know about anybody else, but I'm excited to read more about Damien. He's broken, but that is okay. Go grab a copy while you can.

Warnings: there will most likely be rope play, violence, abuse.

I will let you all know more about the warnings after I've read it, so people know what they are getting themselves into. However, if you are one of those people where not much fazes you then definitely grab a copy of the first one or preordered the second if you have already read the first book.