Review: Dragon Night by Donna Grant

Dragon Night by Donna Grant

Book 13.5 of the Dark Kings series

Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts

Publication Date: October 9, 2018

Rating: 5 stars

Source: eARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads): 

New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant brings you another sizzling Dark Kings novella. 

Governed by honor and ruled by desire 

There has never been a hunt that Dorian has lost. With his sights sent on a relic the Dragon Kings need to battle an ancient foe, he won’t let anything stand in his way – especially not the beautiful owner. Alexandra is smart and cautious. Yet the attraction between them is impossible to deny – or ignore. But is it a road Dorian dares to travel down again? 

With her vast family fortune, Alexandra Sheridan is never without suitors. No one is more surprised than she when the charming, devilish Scotsman snags her attention. But the secrets Dorian holds is like a wall between them until one fateful night when he shares everything. In his arms she finds passion like no other – and a love that will transcend time. But can she give her heart to a dragon?? 

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.** 

What I Liked:

I've read a previous 1,001 Dark Nights novella by this author, of this series, and I LOVED it. When I saw the review opportunity for this book, I wanted in. One day I will read the non-1,001 Dark Nights books. But for now, I'm really enjoying the novellas. This one was fantastic!

Dorian, one of the ancient Dragon Kings, has been asleep longer than any other Dragon King. Years ago, his hatred for humans led him to decide to sleep indefinitely when the wars were over. But now, years later, he is awakened by the King of Kings, Constantine. Con needs his help to steal an artifact that could aid the Dragon Kings in the war against an ancient foe. Dorian hates humans and wants nothing to do with them, but his unique ability of invisibility makes him the perfect candidate to steal the artifact. But things don't go according to plan when Dorian meets Alexandra Sheridan, the heiress who has the artifact. Alexandra knows there is something different about Dorian, but that doesn't stop her from wanting him more than she has ever wanted someone. Little does she know that her life about to change.

This story went by incredibly quickly! I could not put it down. I couldn't read fast enough. Dorian's heartbreaking backstory, and Alexandra's loneliness, made the story so much more intense and engrossing. I loved their love story, but I also loved each of their backstories.

Dorian and Alexandra are both similar in that they keep to themselves, on purpose. They suffered greatly in their past, and their power and status make them targets in their communities. Alexandra is a rich heiress who doesn't date anyone or let anyone close to her. Dorian is an ancient Dragon King who suffered great loss at the hands of humans and for that, hates all humans. Dorian and Alexandra are an unlikely pair, but that is exactly what makes them irresistible as a couple.

How they meet: Alexandra does a lot of charity work, and one event she does every year is a bachelorette auction, in which she is bid on, and the highest bidder gets to take her on a date. The money does to a charity. This year, a handsome and mysterious Scotsman (with a sigh-inducing accent!) outbids everyone - by a lot. Dorian appears to be different than previous dates - he doesn't seem to be after her money, or trying to seduce her.

But their attraction is pretty much instantaneous. The chemistry between Dorian and Alexandra is off the charts. I love that about Grant's books! You can pretty much expect a ~fiery~ hot read (makes sense, given that we're dealing with dragons). This is a novella and therefore shorter than a full-length novel, but the chemistry was super hot. The steamy scenes were hot. So much steamy!

At the same time, you could see Dorian and Alexandra's shifting feelings for each other. Dorian began the book hating humans, but Alexandra changed that. His rage and thirst for vengeance cooled. Alexandra was lonely and sad, but Dorian changed that.

Did I mention how much I adored Dorian yet? No? Dorian is a tortured sweetheart that I could not help but fall for. He is filled with rage and grief, and he wants so badly to torch the earth and kill all the humans. What he needed was healing, and he got that with Alexandra. Dorian is a charming, brooding, mysterious guy - the definition of tall, dark, and handsome. And broody.

I love that, when Alexandra found out that Dorian was after her artifact, she didn't storm out of his life. Hear me out. She got very angry - and justifiably so! Everyone wants something from her, and she thought Dorian was different. So she was angry. BUT she evaluated her feelings, and his actions, and she realized that he never tried to hurt her, and he could have taken the artifact at any time, but he didn't. I like that she thought things out and went to talk to him - rather than declare him dead to her and out of her life. This is a very rational response on her part and I liked that.

Shout-out to her assistant Meg, who helped Alexandra in many ways, but especially when it came to the decision to talk to Dorian. Meg is so supportive and patient, and a good friend to Alexandra (even if she is an employee of Alexandra).

To sum things up - I really enjoyed this book. It was a refreshing read that pulled me out of my reading slump (I hope it did). The ending is really sweet and a great HEA. I love HEAs and I'm so glad Dorian and Alexandra have theirs. I am hoping to read the next book in the series soon (it publishes at the end of October) and I am crossing my fingers for a Dorian/Alexandra cameo!

What I Did Not Like:

Nothing to say here, except maybe that I wish there were more pages for me to read and enjoy!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend the Dark Kings series in general! But in particular, these Dark Kings novellas published in the 1,001 Dark Nights collections. Dragon Night was fantastic - unputdownable, mesmerizing, and very sexy. Who doesn't love dragons? Especially sexy ones.

Rating:

5 stars. Another great read by Donna Grant. I can't wait to read her next book in the series. It publishes soon!

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Review: Beautiful Sinner by Sophie Jordan

Beautiful Sinner by Sophie Jordan

Book Five of the Devil's Rock series

Publisher: Avon Books

Publication Date: October 30, 2018

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Locked in with the town bad boy . . .

Most women would be scared, but Gabriella’s only worried about resisting Cruz Walsh, who’s even hotter than he was back in high school. Cruz was wrongly accused of the high-profile crime for which he was imprisoned; Gabriella’s desperate for the scoop that will get her career off the ground and get her out of Sweet Hill, where everyone still remembers her as “Flabby Gabby.” Being stuck in a supply closet with Cruz is the perfect opportunity to land an interview. What Bri doesn’t count on is Cruz taking “up-close and personal” to a whole new level.

If there’s a silver lining to the hell Cruz went through, it’s that losing his freedom put everything in perspective. Maybe starting over someplace new would be easier, but after years locked up, Cruz values his family—and his true friends—more than ever. So he’s back home, facing the gossip, dodging reporters . . . and face-to-face with Gabriella Rossi. They’ve both changed: Bri wants a story and Cruz just wants her. Another thing he’s learned? Don’t let a good thing slip away.

What I Liked:

I've been in a bit of a reading slump, and I decided to pick up this book even though it doesn't publish for another month and a half. I love this series - books one and four are my favorite, but all four are great - and I had a feeling that this fifth book would be excellent. I believe this is the final book in the series, and it's a great concluding story.

This is Cruz's story; Cruz is the older brother of Piper (heroine of Beautiful Lawman). He is a good friend of Knox and North (they went to high school together, and went to jail for the same incident, though with varying offenses). This book is set approximately six months after the ending of Beautiful Lawman - so Cruz has been free for six months. He's living in Sweet Hill, he owns his own home, and he opened a gym in the town. He's doing well, except most citizens of Sweet Hill still treat him like he was the one who killed Shelley Rae, seven years ago. Enter Gabriella Rossi, who went to high school with Cruz. She has always had a crush on him, and never believed that he killed Shelley Rae. She has been living in Austin, but moved back to Sweet Hill to live next door to her grandmother and take care of her, post-surgery. Gabriella doesn't expect to run into Cruz, or to feel the immense attraction she used to feel when she was in high school. What she doesn't know is that Cruz also crushed on her in high school, and years later, he hasn't gotten her out of his mind.

This was a unique love story. We have two people who never dated, were never friends, never interacted much, but went to high school together, and crushed on each other. Cruz was always the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Gabriella was always the smart, good girl who was going places. Twelve years later, life has stalled for both of them, in different ways. But life has a way of surprising everyone. Imagine Gabriella and Cruz's surprise when they get locked into a closet together, the night of a high school function. (Cruz's youngest sister is in high school, and Gabriella's niece is in the same high school.)

When Cruz and Gabriella run into each other in the high school event, the chemistry is electric. When they get stuck in the closet after the event, the chemistry ignites. I love how good Sophie Jordan is at building chemistry! There is explosive chemistry from the start, and it doesn't let up. 

I liked seeing Cruz and Gabriella's progression, in terms of their relationship and the mushy gushy feelings. It was the cutest thing - Cruz decided he wanted to spend more time with her, so he started bringing her food and "chasing" her. Don't get me wrong - Gabriella is not opposed to this! I would be mildly worried about consent and creepy behavior, but Cruz and Gabriella are both interested in each other, and Cruz makes a move. The romance is as sweet as the chemistry is steamy.

This book is steamyyyyy, as per Jordan's usual when it comes to her contemporary romance novels. There are closet scenes. There are backed-into-a-car scenes. There are gym scenes. So many steamy sexy times, and a great buildup to the bigger moments!

I should talk a little bit about Cruz and Gabriella individually - I adored them both. Cruz is a sweetheart. He seems like a block of marble, a hardened individual whom the town has not accepted since he was exonerated. But he's a good guy who wants to make a difference in the town. Gabriella was never a popular kid in high school, and she always wanted to get out of Sweet Hill. She has self-esteem issues, and she was bullied, and so Sweet Hill doesn't hold good memories for her. She's a kind and hard-working person, very smart and sweet and a tough on the innocent side. She and Cruz are a great match!

The climax of the book came quickly - I couldn't stop reading! This book has the usual conflict in which there is drama that could separate the couple. In this case, Gabriella's job as a reporter directly conflicts with Cruz's privacy. So it's understandable when he feels like she has stepped over a line. But I LOVE how Gabriella fights for him and holds her ground. (Side note, she did nothing wrong, and was never using him to boost anything at her job.)

Obviously I loved this book. I highly recommend it, and the entire series. Book four is probably my favorite, and then book one, but the whole series is worth reading!

What I Did Not Like:

The only complaint I have is that this book felt too short! Which is absurd because it's like 350 pages long! I think I breezed through it - I was totally engrossed. I didn't realize I was almost at the end until the big drama came along. I wouldn't have minded more pages, but I'm not unhappy with what is presented!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this book and the series in general. I've not read too many books involving ex-cons, or those exonerated, so this series was a little different. Jordan doesn't romanticize the felon aspect - I thought she did a great job with this. She isn't just looking for big, bad heroes. (Though they definitely are big and bad, no complaints there.) There is so much depth and backstory to each hero in this series. Start from the beginning, with Knox and Briar! They'll sway you.

Rating:

4 stars. I love this book! I think it's the final book in the series which makes me a little sad, but now I have a good excuse to reread the entire series. I have reread most of the books anyway, no excuse needed. I can't wait to read more adult contemporary romance by Sophie Jordan!

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Review: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Book Two of the Caraval series

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publication Date: May 29, 2018

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.

What I Liked:

I'm actually a bit disappointed by this book, which is of course very surprise given how much I loved Caraval, and given how much everyone has loved Legendary. I felt so meh about this book while reading it, and when I finished it, I was left with a rather sour taste in my mouth. Definitely not what you would want to feel after reading a supposed masterpiece. But these things happen.

Caraval followed Scarlett Dragna, who entered Caraval in order to save her younger sister Donnatella. Legendary follows Tella, who enters Caraval in order to save her and Scarlett's mother Paloma, who has been missing for years. Paloma is trapped in a card of the Deck of Destiny, a cursed deck of cards that contains the Fates. If the Fates are released, chaos will ensue (or something like that). If Legend gets the Deck, he could gain the powers of all of the Fates in the Deck. In order to save her mother, Tella must find the Deck of Destiny. In order to uphold her bargain with a mysterious criminal who gave her information about her mother, Tella must give the criminal Legend's true identity. Tella has neither of those things, and so she must enter Caraval and win - so that she will receive the ultimate prize from Legend. It's a tricky game that Tella is playing, and it is not without consequences - or sacrifices.

In the first half of the book, I was pretty engrossed in the story. I wasn't totally sold on the whole finding-my-mother thing, but I was intrigued, and I liked Tella. I liked seeing Scarlett and Julian, though I hated the unnecessary drama (more on that below). I looooved Dante's appearances. I even loved Jacks' ridiculous, cruel self. The first half of the book was so fascinating.

I liked Tella for the most part. In book one, I pretty much hated her and branded her the most selfish, unworthy sister ever. But I liked her in this book. She is bold and uninhibited, and while she seemed selfish in Caraval, she seems more selfless in this book. It's clear that she loves her sister, but is very guarded. She is selfless when it comes to Paloma, which is how this book came to be. Finding her mother is so important to Tella.

I adored Dante and his wicked, charming self. I actually didn't totally care for him in book one, but he's so swoony and magical in this book. And not just in a love interest kind of way - the game of Caraval would not be the same without his presence. He's a charming devil, but he's also kind and sweet. He has a commanding presence about him and he has a way of popping up whenever he is needed (and whenever he isn't). 

There are many Scarlett/Julian cameos which I appreciate, though I wish they were all happy cameos showing Scarlett and Julian helplessly in love. I guess that will have to wait until Finale. Still, I'm glad that Julian and Scarlett are part of this book, and an important part.

I liked the Dante/Tella romance, but there wasn't nearly enough. The author teased with this romance.

Once I reached the second half of the book, I was kind of finished with it all. I'll talk about all of my dislikes next. I can't even say I liked the ending.

What I Did Not Like:

Ugh, where do I even begin? I just felt so meh about this book at the halfway mark and beyond. What went wrong, you might ask? I have no idea. 

I was never truly sold on the whole I-must-find-my-mother plot. It seemed forced and contrived, like the author desperately needed a good reason to bring back Caraval for a second time in a short period (like The Hunger Games), and so she grasped at straws and came up with Scarlett and Tella's missing mother. I just never bought into that plot. It didn't feel important.

I didn't care for the barely-there tease of a romance that was Dante/Tella. I loved Dante. I liked Tella. I loved Dante/Tella. I didn't love the lack of kisses and swoon.

And the implicated love triangle - for both Tella and Scarlett! Like two completely separate love triangles going on! What the heck! I thought Julian/Scarlett was a done deal but apparently not. You know what I hate? When girls want to make their man jealous and so they flirt with someone else. Or go find their ex. And they call it "exploring their options" or some bull***t and they want to bring about some competition between their man and the ex/side man. For real? This isn't cute. There's nothing wrong with dating. But there IS something wrong when you claim you love someone and yet you go look for your ex or another man just to make the man you love jealous, or some bull***. That's playing games and it's maddening. I'm talking about Scarlett.

Oh but Tella is embroiled in her own love triangle, don't you worry. I know she is in love with Dante by the end of the story, and I know he loves her, but there is another guy that seems to be in love with Tella and noooooooo thank you. I actually LOVE this character and I wouldn't mind a Tella/This Character pairing IF Dante had never existed. Meaning, This Character as a love interest is so unnecessary. Why though. Why.

Speaking of unnecessary, let's talking about all the unnecessary drama that is in this book. I already talked about Scarlett's bull**** that she's pulling with Julian, but I hate that she also let's so many factors bring down their relationship. She takes every little thing as a reason not to trust him. She knows who he is, what his role in Caraval is, and yet she whines about it all the time. I liked Scarlett in the first book. But she really got on my nerves in this book. And as much as I liked seeing her and Julian in this book, I would appreciated it more if there was less drama and more swoon. More of them working together as a couple, rather than Scarlett acting like a crazy girlfriend who runs off to her exes every time she believes something about her man (to put the situation in modern terms; Scarlett technically never runs to any exes, but hopefully you understand the picture I'm trying to paint). The drama is just so unnecessary. But I guess it's middle-book drama?

I think this is part of my frustration with YA these days - the drama is so unnecessary, and sequels tend to suck. In adult romance, a book is a standalone and the story is done within that one book. Thank goodness.

The ending of this book is not a happy ending. For anyone.

Would I Recommend It:

Honestly, this is one of those books where you have to read it yourself. Decide for yourself. 99% of the people who read this book love it, so what do I know? I felt so meh while reading at least half of this book. And the ending made me so sour. Not just because of the obvious love triangles, but because of the drama, and the cliffhanger, and it was just so stupid.

But again, decide for yourself. I would say that if you're on the fence, maybe just stop with the first book. Wait until the third book publishes and binge-read the series. Or just stop with Caraval. Caraval had a lovely ending and you can imagine an epilogue of Scarlett and Julian 40 years down the road, happily ever after. No need to read about unnecessary drama. 

Rating:

2.5 stars -> rounded up to 3 stars. Perhaps I'm being generous, and maybe I just really wanted to love the book. I was so excited about it and so prepared to love it like I did Caraval. But I'm glad I didn't buy this book because I would have regretted. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to review it (I was supposed to post this review two months ago, whoops), but I would have regretted spending the money on it. I will read Finale but it'll be a library request from me.

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Review: Captivated by Tessa Bailey & Eve Dangerfield

Captivated by Tessa Bailey & Eve Dangerfield

Publication Date: June 11, 2018

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Review copy provided by publicity

Summary (from Goodreads):

Secret aspiring comedian Autumn Reynolds is a girl gone...not wild exactly. More like lazy. Since her boyfriend abandoned her in New York City for a bunch of improv groupies she’s had two priorities; sucking the nitrous out of whipped cream cans and making sex comics about her mysterious landlord. 

Blake hates people—and sunlight—with good reason. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself lusting after his upstairs tenant, a sunny, Australian people pleaser down on her luck. Turns out his ability to terrify with a single scowl comes with an advantage. Autumn seems to like it. A lot. As evidenced by the prisoner-captive comic Blake was never meant to see. 

As they embark on a three-date arrangement the rules are clear; filthy, ground breaking sex, no feelings or commitment required. When chemistry is this strong, though, attachment follows. As Blake and Autumn attempt to negotiate their New York romance, their prior histories and secret dreams come to the foreground. How long can these polar opposites remain Captivated, when all signs point to disaster? 

What I Liked:

I love Tessa Bailey's books. I'm part of her fan group and I am always watching eagerly to see what she is writing next. I'd not heard of Eve Dangerfield before, but when I saw that Tessa was writing a book with Eve, I was 100% on board and couldn't wait to read the book. The duo seemed to have a lot of fun writing this book together. As it would turn out, Captivated was a funny, sweet, and very sexy novel. I didn't doubt that I would love it, and I'm glad I wasn't disappointed.

Autumn is having a rough couple of weeks; her boyfriend (who convinced her to move from Australia to New York with him, for his acting career) has been cheating on her with improv groupies, he abandoned her in their apartment in New York, and let's just say that she is unhappy. She has been spending her days at work at the vet, and at home, she's a mess, and constantly fantasizing about The Landlord. He's big and silent and rarely sets foot outside the apartment building. He fits her naughty fantasies perfectly... little does she know that Blake the landlord has been fantasizing about her as well. A trick of fate has them colliding, and it doesn't take long before they decide to do something about the chemistry between them. 

I have to say, there are many great things about this book, but quite possibly my favorite is that it is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Beauty being Autumn, and the Beast being Blake. Autumn is sunshine and happiness, humor and sweetness, and she's a vet - she even brings injured pigeons home and nurses them back to health. Everyone loves her and is drawn to her. Including Blake, the big hulking landlord who lives in the building and rarely comes out in the daytime. Or at all. He walks with a limp and says very little. Autumn has always been intrigued by him, and he has always been intrigued by her.

I liked Autumn immediately; she is a sweetheart with a dirty mind and some x-rated fantasies. Her ex-boyfriend was terrible for her self-consciousness (and just terrible in general), so she has some self-esteem issues, and she's embarrassed about the x-rated fantasies. Especially when Blake finds out that she has included him in her fantasies. But to her surprise, he isn't disgusted or freaked out. Rather, he wants in. 

Blake is the best "Beast" I've seen in a romance novel. He is big and surly and really does not like people. He has a really sad past that made me want to hug him over and over. He has been hurt - physically, but also emotionally - and he didn't deserve any of the pain. He has always had an eye on Autumn, but knew that his tastes were too dirty for an angel like her. But he was wrong.

These two had great chemistry, especially with them being complete opposites. Autumn is light and sunshine to Blake's storm and darkness. Autumn is a chatterbox of opinions and ideas, whereas Blake is a quiet observer who communicates so much without saying a single word. The pair are perfect for each other on so many levels.

This book was hot! X-rated fantasies indeed. In all fairness, I actually expected more x-rated scenes, but that's okay. The book had plenty of sexy times and good buildup of tension. I like that the authors explored this kind of kink without making it seem non-feminist. You'll have to read the story to see what I mean. Consent was always there, and desire.

On top of this book being very hot, it was also really, really sweet. I was struck by how sweet this book was. It wasn't just sex 24/7. The relationship between Blake and Autumn was a thing to behold. They are so good for each other, and good to each other. I loved watching them fall for each other. Blake with his grumpy, silent self, and Autumn with her energetic, sweet self. Towards the climax of the book, I was less concerned with the sexy times, and more invested in the emotional aspect of the romance. It was so sweet!

The climax was a little angsty but in the best of ways. I love how the conflict was presented and I like how it was handled. Blake and Autumn had some things to work out on their own, and together. There is drama, both individually and between them, but it's not unnecessary drama. 

The ending is a very nice HEA! I like the idea of this book being a standalone and I hope that it remains that way. It was a lovely story and I will definitely be rereading it again!

What I Did Not Like:

Nothing specific comes to mind! Perhaps more x-rated sexy times?

Would I Recommend It:

If you enjoy Tessa Bailey's books, this is one that you won't want to miss. The combination of Tessa and Eve is a good one. I've not read any of Eve's solo books but I can clearly see Tessa's writing, and the other half being Eve's writing. The humor of the story is so great, and the tension, and the romance. These two authors wrote a sexy, sweet, heartwarming retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and it is so worth the read.

Rating:

4.5 stars. I am curious to see if the pair will write more books together! It would be neat if they retold other fairy tales, like Sleeping Beauty or Snow White. (Perhaps not in a problematic way, but hey, they did a great job with this book in making it not problematic, so I'm down for whatever!)

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Review: Going Rogue by Chantal Fernando

Going Rogue by Chantal Fernando

Book Three of the Cursed Ravens series

Publisher: Pocket Star (Gallery)

Publication Date: August 6, 2018

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Love blossoms in the most unexpected of places in this sweet and steamy Cursed Ravens Motorcyle Club title featuring a hunky bad boy and a charming nurse.

The men might tease Rogue and call him pretty behind his back, but no one is going to say that to his face. As the vice president of the Cursed Ravens—and with an unpredictable and unruly temper—respect is given to him at any cost.

But Rogue reins himself in when visits his mother in a local nursing home. Overwhelmed with guilt that he can’t take care of her himself, he can barely handle watching her fade away with dementia. And he knows the staff is exceptional—especially the sweet and beautiful caregiver who pays extra attention to his mom.

It isn’t easy working at a nursing home, but Zoe enjoys spending time with her favorite patient Anne. She knows Anne has a son who dutifully visits her, but when Zoe sees the tall, muscled, handsome stranger, she can tell he’s trouble—beautiful trouble. She knows he’s a Cursed Raven and she knows better than to admit she’s attracted to him. There’s no way her brother will let her hang out with a rival MC member. But as Zoe and Rogue start to get closer, they realize one way or another, they’ll have to fight to stay in each other’s lives. 

What I Liked:

I read books one and two last week, both of which have not been published, and I had been wondering how long it would be before the third book (Going Rogue) would appear on Edelweiss, as its predecessors had. Lo and behold, not two days later, this book showed up on the site, and I downloaded it immediately. I'm jumping the gun here, in posting the review for an August '18 publication in May, but I couldn't wait. I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, and I'm happy to say that I liked Going Rogue. 

Rogue is the VP of the Cursed Ravens club - he's the backbone of the club, and the one who shoulders much of the responsibility. He always seems to have a lot going on, from helping his club brothers with their new babies, to taking the lead on club deals, to watching his mother wither way in an old-age home, suffering from dementia. It's there that he meets Zoe, the nurse who takes care of his mother. Zoe always knew Mrs. Kennedy had a son, but she never knew he was a tall, darkly handsome, very muscular man with wicked charm and quiet, lethal power. It's lust at first sight, but both of them will quickly start to realize how far they'll go for the other.

I adored Rogue in the first two books, and could not wait for him to get his own book. It's unfortunate that this book is written exclusively from Zoe's first-person POV, but Rogue is still so present and so swoony - it didn't matter that his POV wasn't featured. He dominates the book from start to finish. Rogue is deadly and precise when he needs to be - as the VP of the MC, he has to be. But he's also thoughtful, sweet, and considerate. He's good with babies (none are his own - they're  his "nephews"), and he's a sweetheart of a boyfriend. And he can sing and play the guitar! Throw in the muscles and pretty face, and you've got the full package. (That too. *nudge nudge*)

Zoe is the perfect complement. She is sweet and gentle, which is great for her profession. She has a kind heart and a lot of patience. Mrs. Kennedy (Rogue's mother) likes her a lot, because she is so kind and considerate. But Zoe isn't a passive person; she knows her mind and she's very sassy too. She isn't as aggressive as previous heroines (I don't say "aggressive" in a negative way, mind you), but she isn't passive either. She fits Rogue very well.

The two of them together are fiery hot but also richly sweet. They are a great pair. They have instant chemistry, but they also mesh together well in terms of personalities. Both of them are very selfless and giving.

In terms of the romance, as always, the pair have hot chemistry and this leads to very sexy sexy-times. I only wish there were more sexy times on page! Rogue is super yummy, a "good" type of alpha male. Zoe is sweet and assertive too, and that dynamic works for the pair. 

There are a lot of cameos from the MC members, such as Ace, Knuckles, Shack, and the president. Erin and Celina are very present as well, and there is some surprises along the way involving some of the ladies and gentlemen of the club. I love how the author kept us readers in the loop with the rest of the club. The whole gang is so fun and get along so well.

I have to mention the strong sisterhood that emerges, in this book. Erin and Celina are cousins and always had each other's back, in the previous books. Zoe and her older sister Vanessa are an even stronger pair. But the four ladies together are unstoppable and unshakable. I love how quickly they all become friends and how well they get along and support each other.

The same can be said about the men in the MC. Ace, Knuckles, Rogue, Shack, and Prez have a close bond - especially Ace, Knuckles, and Rogue. They support each other and keep the brotherhood close. Loyalty is everything to these men, and it really shows, in the story. The MC aspect of the story (and series) is alive and well in this book.

The ending is such a wonderful HEA! We get a peek into everyone's future, in the epilogue. But I especially loved Rogue and Zoe's ending. Theirs was hard-fought and almost had a tiny bit of bittersweet something to it, but they worked through their issues. I love how communication is a big part of the resolution, and how quickly the couple works through their problems. This is so important to see, in romances. Anyway, the ending was really satisfying. I'm sad that the series is over (at least I think it is), but I loved the ending.

What I Did Not Like:

I guess there could always be more sex (ha!), and I'm also sad that the series is over. Could Vanessa get her own book, maybe? She is HILARIOUS. I relate to her - I'm not as dramatic as she is (she is awesome, "dramatic" isn't a bad thing), but I'm probably as sassy and exuberant, so I think we'd get along.

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this particular book (it's so sexy and sweet!), but also the entire series. There are so many great aspects of the series. Yes, it's a motorcycle club romance and those always have the rough-and-tumble appeal. But there is also a strong brotherhood, a growing sisterhood, slow-burn sexy romances, tough heroines, swoony heroes... I really enjoyed this series.

Rating: 

4 stars. I'm so sad that the series is over. Part of me is hoping that Vanessa gets her own book. Given that the epilogue of this book goes somewhat ahead into the future, I'm not sure her book would be a thing, but maybe a novella? It would be nice. I adore Vanessa!

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Review: Knuckle Down by Chantal Fernando

Knuckle Down by Chantal Fernando

Book Two of the Cursed Ravens series

Publisher: Pocket Star (Gallery)

Publication Date: July 9, 2018

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

A single father struggles to change for his daughters and the woman he loves in this second book in the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club series from New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando.

As a single father of two girls and the sergeant at arms for the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club, Jack “Knuckles” Chester doesn’t have much free time. And having earned his road name from his reputation as a fighter, Knuckles isn’t one to back away from a challenge.

But what he'll never admit out loud is that his two daughters have changed him irrevocably, softened him even. And these two girls are the only women who will ever hold his heart forever. That is, until he meets the cousin of another biker’s old lady.

Celina is nothing like the women Knuckles used to date. She’s a journalist for the local newspaper, dresses well, and basically just has her life together. And the last thing she wants is to be involved with a Cursed Raven. But when the ripped, badass biker worms his way into her heart, she has trouble remembering all the reasons they would never work.

But when a scandal at her newspaper breaks the thin trust she has with Knuckles, will she walk away for good? Or will Knuckles fight to keep Celina in his life?

What I Liked:

This book was an honest-to-goodness roller coaster. It had a little bit of everything in it. There was a tough, guarded heroine, a sexy and sweet hero, his two daughters, some baby mama drama, arrests, pregnant strangers, sabotage, plagiarism (our heroine is a journalist)... there was a lot going on, in this book. I'm still trying to decide how I feel about everything. I know I didn't like this book quite as much as I liked Ace of Hearts. That book had a fresh, sexy feel to it. This book involved a lot more drama, and I don't really care for drama. But I did like the protagonists. There were plenty of things to like, but plenty of things that I didn't care for, so I'm torn!

Celina is Erin's cousin (Erin is the female protagonist of Ace of Hearts). Despite her and Erin's age difference - Erin being in her early twenties, Celina being in her late twenties - she and Erin are very close. When Erin invites her to her birthday party at the Cursed Ravens clubhouse, Celina isn't going to say no. There she meets Knuckles, the MC's "protector", and Erin's and Ace's friend... let's just say neither Celina nor Knuckles had a chance, after meeting each other. But both of them have been burned by previous partners, and both of them have trust issues. When Celina's job as a journalist interferes with their fragile trust, she and Knuckles will have to decide if it's game over between them. Celina runs when things get difficult, and Knuckles hides behind his temper. But they both can't hide their feelings for the other, and they both will fight for what they have. 

Knuckles was one of my favorite characters from Ace of Hearts, so it was no surprise that I really loved seeing him in a closer light. He's the rough-and-tumble protector of the MC - hence the nickname - but he's also a teddy bear sweetheart. He has two girls - Willow and Westley, around the ages of nine and thirteen, and he loves them dearly. Despite his relationship with their mother Flora not working out, Knuckles has kept things cordial with Flora, and he has gone above and beyond for his daughters (more than Flora). Knuckles is kind and persistent, protective and genuine. He's loyal and honest and just a good person all around.

I loved his relationship with his girls, and I loved the girls too. Usually I do not go for romance novels that feature the hero or heroine with children from a previous relationship. I do not like romance novels with children involved, or surprise pregnancies. But I liked Willow and Westley a lot, and I was pleased with their growing relationship with Celina. She accepted them as Knuckles' children, and she also didn't try to become their mother.

Celina is a tough nut to crack. She has so many walls up because of her last relationship (mind you, she was in a relationship with someone who is still a coworker, which is awkward). She doesn't let anyone in, so it's a miracle that Knuckles got past her defenses. Celina is a strong independent who don't need no man, but she finds one anyway, and he's a strong equal and complement. I liked Celina, I didn't like Celina. Let's put it this way - I liked her sometimes, and other times, I wanted to press her mute button. She was annoying sometimes - her logic didn't always make sense. She passed blame around and didn't accept any, and this always gets on my nerves. But she wasn't all bad, and I definitely see why Erin admires her so much. 

As far as Knuckles and Celina's relationship goes, I'd say they are a great match. He's a tough alpha male (though not an alphahole), but also a sweet protector and caregiver. Celina is a tough woman who is guarded but also loves with her whole heart. They get comfortable and peaceful with each other fairly quickly, because they clicked fairly quickly. Their personalities fit together, and their chemistry definitely did too.

I want to say that Ace of Hearts was steamier, but this book had its fair share of sexy times. I feel like the author didn't write out as many though - there were a lot of fade-to-black sexy times.

I said this earlier, but this book was a roller coaster! There was a ton of drama, and a ton of events occurring back to back. You'll have to read the book to see what I mean. But the plot didn't stop until the very end, when the book was over. The ending was a very cute HEA, which is always a good thing. There was a lot going on, but a good HEA makes up for a lot.

What I Did Not Like:

There was a lot of drama in this book, and I personally don't like too much drama in romance novels. For one, Knuckles has a baby mama, and while she doesn't show up for most of the book, she does show up towards the climax, and she's a mess. There is some baby mama drama and it felt so unnecessary and petty. It didn't belong in the story.

And then there was another thing that presented some drama, which I won't talk about because it's super spoiler-y. That thing also felt a little unnecessary, though I do understand why the author worked that trope into the story. It just felt sudden and also near-impossible.

And of course, this book features two protagonists who experience second love with each other. Each of them dealt with lying, cheating exes, before meeting each other. I have nothing against second love romances. It's second-chance romances that I don't like. But somehow, this second love romance had a little too much drama for me. Leave the exes out of the story. But sides of exes felt unnecessary to the story.

I mentioned above how I didn't always like Celina. Sometimes she was irritating. She didn't know how to accept blame, or accept the fact that she was also at fault and also needed to apologize. Knuckles shouldn't be the only one swallowing his pride, at the climax. She needed to fight for him just as much as he fought for her, because the issue was mostly HER fault (not his). He reacted badly, but anyone would, when what Celina did came to light. I felt bad for her because she didn't do everything wrong, but in the end, she should have also been apologizing and trying to win back Knuckles, and not just the other way around. This really irritates me, when it's only the man groveling and begging, but it's the woman who is at fault and should be begging.

I felt like there wasn't as much involving the motorcycle club, in this book. Perhaps because most of the book was spent at Celina's house or away from the clubhouse. I liked how Ace of Hearts showed life inside the clubhouse, and the brotherhood, and the motorcycles. This second book could have been a non-MC-romance novel, honestly.

Also, more sexy times! More written-out sexy times! The fade-to-black scenes were numerous and frustrating. Great chemistry needed to unfold on the page!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend book one, Ace of Hearts. It has basically no drama, no baby mamas, no [insert trope here that I absolutely hate], no children (not that I minded Willow and Westley), and the heroine (Erin) was likable in her entirety. This book... I don't really recommend it like I would the previous book, but it wasn't that bad. Mostly it just wasn't for me.

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. I feel positively towards this book, but I just didn't love it like I loved Ace of Hearts. I am really excited about Going Rogue though. Rogue is so dreamy, and I LOVE the sweet nurse + alpha bad boy trope. I can't wait!

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Review: Ace of Hearts by Chantal Fernando

Ace of Hearts by Chantal Fernando

Book One of the Cursed Ravens series

Publisher: Pocket Star (Gallery)

Publication Date: June 11, 2018

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

The New York Times bestselling author of the “swoonworthy and addicting” (Kim Karr, New York Times bestselling author) Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club series is back with more bad boy bikers in this first novel in the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club series.

Erin Dawson had the perfect life growing up in a perfect home with a perfect family. Her parents gave her and her sister everything a child could want. But after learning that the man she’s called “dad” her whole life isn’t actually her biological father, Erin is determined to find the man who is.

Armed with her original birth certificate, she finds her father, but begins questioning if her mom had been right all along to keep this information buried. It turns out he is the president of a motorcycle club, which could not be further from the life Erin leads. But, she’s determined to get to know the man who she gets her striking blue eyes from. Despite getting what she wants and finding her biological father, it’s the slightly older, much rougher but incredibly sexy biker Ace that catches Erin’s eye.

As the new “princess” of the Cursed Ravens, Erin is learning a whole new world, but her father has made it clear she is off limits. Will Ace follow his President’s orders or will he put his heart ahead of his duty? A sizzling tale of family and passion, Ace of Hearts features Fernando’s signature “snark and sass” (Booklist) and is perfect for fans of Kristin Ashley.

What I Liked:

This was an impulse read for me. I'd not heard of the book. I'd not heard of the author. But I stumbled upon this book on Edelweiss, and it sounded interesting, so I thought about giving it a chance. I've been in a massive reading slump for weeks, and the thought of just reading felt like too much. I am so behind in my review copies TBR, and I haven't had the zeal to read anything familiar. This book was totally unfamiliar and I've seen absolutely no early feedback for it (within my blogging circles), so I had no expectations for the book. I am so glad that I decided to give it a chance, because it was fresh and untouched and very good. I'd not heard of Chantal Fernando before, but I can see what critics are talking about, when they refer to her signature snark and sass, and great storytelling. 

This is the first book in a new motorcycle club (MC) romance novel by Chantal Fernando. This author has written previous MC romances, but this series is new and separate. In this first novel, the heroine Erin has recently found out that her father isn't biological father - her biological father is a member of the Cursed Ravens motorcycle club. Erin decides to meet her father in person, and finds out that he is not only a member, but the president, and he had no idea she existed. Erin is welcomed with open arms, and she is labelled as the princess of the Cursed Ravens. She wants to develop a good relationship with her father... and maybe the sexy, brooding, intense man who didn't stop staring at her when she first came to the clubhouse. Erin has a lot to learn, and it isn't all fun and games. Is the new lifestyle worth it? 

This book is written exclusively in Erin's POV, which was slightly disappointing at first (I love reading romance novels written in dual POV, with the hero and heroine's narratives). But I got over that quickly, because I simply loved reading from Erin's POV. She is sassy, tough, and bold. She says exactly what she means, and she doesn't play games. She goes after what she wants and doesn't let anyone sway her. There are times when she is vulnerable and unsure of herself, and I liked seeing this softer side of her. The tough, snarky side of her is so likable, too. She isn't rude and abrasive, but she does stand up for herself.

I adored Ace and so wish we could have gotten to read from his POV (though again, it was okay because I loved reading from Erin's). Ace comes across as the silent, brooding type. He is protective and alpha but not in an alphahole way. He is traditional is some ways, but very respectful and aware of Erin's boundaries. He doesn't push her, and he definitely doesn't want to go against her father's wishes (that no one touch her - she's off-limits). Ace is the blond-haired, grey-eyed sexy Viking that all the girls want, but he isn't an alphahole. He's a good guy with a lot of charm and broodiness.

I love the forbidden romance! Erin is supposed to be off-limits to all of the motorcycle club members, but she can't stop her attraction to Ace, and he can't stop his attraction to her. Their connection is undeniable, and they aren't the only ones that notice it. The tension builds as they risk more, and the chemistry gets steamier and steamier. Fernando does an excellent job of raising the tension and keeping the chemistry sizzling. 

The chemistry is steamy and the romance is steamy but also very sweet. Ace and Erin are a cute couple who just click, and they get along very well. They are compatible in many ways, and it shows throughout the story. There is an age gap - Ace is twenty-eight, Erin is twenty-one - but they fit together regardless. Erin fights for her man and Ace fights for his girl, and this made me so happy.

I loved so many of the secondary characters! Gage (Erin's dad) is a complicated man, but you could see he was really trying to be a good dad to her. Knuckles is hilarious and adorable - a good friend to Erin, even if he is a big MC enforcer with two daughters. Rogue is probably my favorite (behind Ace), and I can't wait to read his book (book three, coming out in August). The MC members made this book even more worth reading - they're hilarious and also really good guys.

The conflict involves the forbidden romance, but also several attempts on Erin's life. Someone is trying to kill Erin, but how could it be a club member? There are several twists and turns to the ending. But the ending is a HEA for Ace and Erin. Things wrap up really well, which I wasn't quite expecting (Erin is doing one life path and Ace is doing another - but they end up compromising and it works out really nicely). I loved the ending. You all know how picky I am with happy endings!

What I Did Not Like:

Nothing specific! Perhaps more steamy scenes (and not just the alluded ones)? You can never go wrong with more written-out steamy scenes!

Would I Recommend It:

If you like MC romances, this is definitely one to try. I was laughing at Erin's snark constantly, I was swooning over Ace, I was sighing and fanning myself over Ace and Erin's chemistry, I was dying to see what comes next after the climax rolled around. There is a tiny bit of angst, but it's the best angst possible, and I loved it. I usually hate angst, so you'll have to trust me on this. No love triangle, very little drama, and a little angst. It was a great story!

Rating:

4.5 stars. I actually came across this book when I found book two on Edelweiss, and I read the first sentence and immediately decided not to read book two (Knuckle Down). The hero has two daughters so I was like NOPE, I don't read romance novels with children involved. But having read this book, which had the hero of book two featured, and the heroine of book two, I might actually read Knuckle Down. I loved Knuckles in this book, and I am curious to see what kind of match he and Celina will be. So perhaps I will read it!

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Review: My Royal Sin by Riley Pine

My Royal Sin by Riley Pine

Book Two of the Arrogant Heirs series

Publisher: Harlequin Dare

Publication Date: June 1, 2018

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

She’s totally off-limits… 

…which makes her even more irresistible!

Famed for his iron control, Prince Benedict is unprepared for the chemistry that ricochets through him when he meets Ruby. She is temptation personified…but couldn’t be more inappropriate for a royal fling! Except after years of choosing duty over desire, his control has finally snapped—he’s choosing pleasure, of the most X-rated kind. After all, if he’s going to indulge in the forbidden, the higher the stakes, the greater the thrill!

What I Liked:

I read My Royal Temptation a few months ago and really enjoyed it. I didn't know the book would be part of a series, so I was really surprised and very pleased to find out about My Royal Sin and My Royal Hook-Up. While I didn't totally dislike this new book, I think my expectations had been a little too high, and I felt a little disappointed. Still, it was a fairly decent companion sequel.

Benedict is the second son of the king, the spare heir, the one destined for priesthood. There are only  a few weeks before he takes his vows and becomes a priest. But no one knows what goes on in Benedict's head - like how fascinated he is by desire and pleasure, and how much he wishes he could give in to temptation. It only gets harder to resist when a mysterious woman named Ruby shows up to seduce. Ruby - Evangeline - was set to seduce Prince Benedict and find a painting he owns. She doesn't expect him to be quite so tempting himself - or for her to fall in love with him.

It was an interesting struggle, with a priest-bound hero and a seductress heroine. Two opposites, both struggling with their lives. Evangeline isn't an escort - she's a struggling artist trying to provide for her sister-in-law and niece while her brother is in prison. She is given a job to seduce Prince Benedict, and she takes the job because she needs the money. Evangeline has never done anything of the sort, but she's desperate, and she'll do anything for her family.

Benedict has always struggled with his desires. He is determined to see his duty through, but he has always wanted to experience a great manner of things with a woman. And when Evangeline shows up, he knows she has an ulterior motive, but he doesn't want to resist her. Benedict is a good guy. I felt for him, and I understood his willpower in trying to fulfill his duty.

These two are a good pair. They learn to trust each other quickly, and they fall for each other. They are very compatible in other ways - the chemistry is there from the start. 

I like that there is something more than the romance going on in this book. It's not something you'd expect, so I won't go into details, but think secret societies and hidden treasures. Definitely makes the story even more interesting.

There is a happy ending! I always love those.

What I Did Not Like:

I think my expectations were a little too high, in terms of the sexy times. I soooo expect more sex, and the sex to be more x-rated (as implied by the synopsis). A virgin priest with a dirty mind and a novice seductress? That should have made for a combustible pair. And believe me, Benedict was ready for some dirty action. He is well-read in terms of pleasure and Evangeline is perfect for him. But I found the sexy times lacking - there weren't enough scenes, and the few that were there weren't particular hot - like, not more so. It was a little disappointing! This is supposed to be Harlequin's hottest line yet, AND here we have a priest with a filthy mind - come on! I expected more.

Would I Recommend It:

I recommend book one, and honestly this one isn't too bad so I'd recommend this one too. I think my own expectations had been high, so I felt a little let down, but if you don't have expectations for this book, then you won't be disappointed. It's hot, just not as hot as I was expecting. And the romance is also kind of sweet. This is a short, quick read, so there's low commitment!

Rating: 

3 stars. Despite this slightly low rating, I did enjoy the book, and I am looking forward to reading the next one. I love the idea behind this series and I'm so curious to see what kind of man the hero of the next book is.

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