Review: The Predator by RuNyx

The Predator by RuNyx

Series: Dark Verse #1

Publication date: January 1st, 2020
Pages: 374

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object in the field of death?

In the dark underbelly of the mob, Tristan Caine has been an anomaly. As the only non-blooded member in the high circle of the Tenebrae Outfit, he is an enigma to all - his skills unparalleled, his morality questionable, and his motives unknown. He is lethal and he knows it.

As does Morana Vitalio, the genius extraordinaire daughter of the rival family. What Caine does with weapons, Morana does with computers. When a twenty-year old mystery resurfaces, Morana infiltrates Caine's house, intent on killing him, unaware of a tie that binds them together. Hate, heat, and history clash together with unexpected sparks.

But something bigger, something worse is happening in their world. And despite their animosity, only they can fight it down.

Available at:

Review:

Morana needs to get her codes back from the one man who was sworn to be her enemy. The codes getting out could mean ruin for both families. But it seems that the codes Morana's boyfriend had sold to Tristan Caine had not made it to the man in question and were missing. Now two enemies must come together to try to track down the codes before things get bad for them. Along the way Morana starts to do some digging into their family history and the fall of their family's Alliance twenty years prior. What she finds will call into question the man she is meant to hate and what had occurred one fateful night to cause them to be linked completely. Add to that the fact that the both of them can't seem to shake their attractions for each other even as they are determined to be the death of each other in the end.

I loved that Morana was such a tough-as-nails chick who was unwilling to give the man who made other grown men shake an ounce of fear. She would bump chests with him with a huff and a puff and not let him walk all over her for nothing. She was like that with everyone. I loved the attitude. In the mob lifestyle women are meant to be loyal and quiet. Morana once threatened her father with sending all his dirty dealing on to the FBI if he didn't stop trying to control her. That is just the type of girl she is. And I am here for it.

Tristan was a bit hard to get a read on. Even after completing the book I am still a little curious about him. I kind of wish the book had have given a bit more insight into his mind than just Morana's. But I like that I can't really get a feel for him yet. He's still very closed off which leaves a lot of room for growth and for him to start opening up as the series goes along. I am anxious to see what a fully unguarded Tristan will even look like. Better yet, a Tristan that gives a full belly laugh? He doesn't seem the type. I'd love to see it though.

I think the plot was unlike any I have read before which is saying something since I read a lot. The mystery I still can't seem to form a theory on. What is with the missing little girls? How do they connect to the families? Why was Morana returned and Tristan's sister not? Who stole the codes? Who is feeding information to people to move the mystery along? I have no idea! I am anxious to find out though.

I think this book was absolutely stellar. The writing was a dream, the plot was enthralling, the characters were loveable even when they were being a weinie like Tristan is sometimes. I couldn't find a single flaw in anything I read. I was captivated from one page to the next.

Review: Ashes to Ashes by Tory Palmer

Ashes to Ashes by Tory Palmer

Series: Men of Clarke County #1

Publication date: February 7th, 2020
Pages: 317

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

My life in Medicine Mound is amazing! I have friends, my own home, and a successful business. In short, everything a young woman could hope for...

Oh, who am I kidding? My husband left me, my best friend is an oversexed trust-fund kid, and the silent partner in my business just dropped dead. And, without him, I've got maybe one season before my art gallery goes under.

And, as if all that weren't enough, now I have a stalker!

When Rachel, my oversexed pixie of a friend, drags me out to the rowdiest biker bar in the country, we find not one but two sexy, capable hunks to keep both my mind and body "busy."

But, as my stalker begins to escalate, both of my handsome bikers, Ryder and Tommy, come to my defense.

Will the three of us be strong enough to stand against the criminal forces at work, even as they grow in danger and scale? More importantly will we be strong enough to embrace our hearts' desires?

Or will we all end up as nothing but ashes in the end?

Available at:

Review:

The last thing on Jessica Bloom's mind when she is confronted with not just the potential downfall of her business but the new stalker leaving her hateful messages is trying to get laid. Sure, she has rarely had an orgasm with her ex-husband and all their experiences left a lot to be desired. But does that mean that she should give into her horny friend, Rachel's, demands and go out for a night of no-strings-attached sex with a stranger? Apparently so, because that is exactly what Jessica does. And when she does so she means two ex-military bikers named Ryder and Tommy. The night had started out with Tommy and Rachel hot to trot while Jessica found pleasure in the arms of Ryder but when something calls Rachel away what are they to do with the third wheel? It seems the answer is to invite him in for some group fun. But if that dynamic isn't enough of a head scratcher in the light of day the next morning, then an old enemy of the boys shows up in town and seems to be connected to Rachel. Could this be her stalker? And what will the two men do to protect Jessica from an unknown as well as finding a way to bring down their known enemy?

This book was all over the place. Even trying to summarize the book as I always do in the beginning of my review I felt some of my eye-rolling snark surface. It was not a reverse harem. Reverse harems are a dynamic with one woman and three or more men all involved with the same woman. This was a thruple where the two men refuse to cross swords. Although there were some moments where I was like, "hmmm..." in reference to Tommy and Ryder's closeness. The romance was odd and felt very forced and not at all the whimsical romance that most books of its kind are. No professions of love. Barely any acknowledgement of a connection outside of great sex. I didn't fall in love right along with the main characters because there was no love. 

Then you have the mystery which just felt like an afterthought. It was meant to be this big huge antagonistic event that drove the three together but it was just a clusterfuck. There were pot holes and missed information all over the place. It wrapped up without incident which was a huge let down. It's like the excitement of going up a hill on a rollercoaster. The anticipation and excitement mounts, your heart starts to race, your breath starts to quicken and when you get to the top... you go over a speed bump and the ride is over. Let's face it, this book was meant to be a smutty read catering to the taboo nature of reverse harem-type romances and the rest of the story was just fluff thrown in to give the characters reasons to be pushed together so they could have sex. 

So... the romance was non-existent, the plot was also missing, but the sex scenes... those were really well done. The author took her time with the scenes and fleshed them out to make them pretty hot to read. I just wish the rest of the book had some of the same passion she put in these few sex scenes. It would have made the book a lot more redeeming to me. I don't believe I will be continuing the series as the next book is about Rachel and I don't like the character enough to want to read her story. If I stumble across anything else by this author I'll give it a whirl but this one was just not it for me.

Book Blitz with Excerpt + Teasers + Giveaway: The Penance of Valentine Cash by Rebecca Rook @XpressoTours

The Penance of Valentine Cash by Rebecca Rook

Publication date: January 16th, 2024

Synopsis:

Neil Gaiman's American Gods meets Jennifer Mason-Black's Devil and the Blueburd in this modern adaptation of the Greek legend The Twelve Labors of Hercules for young adult fantasy readers.

Valentine Cash is dead.

When she dies in an accidental collision she caused on the cusp of musical fame, Valentine is offered a deal: Complete a series of difficult tasks to get her life back. Fail, and she dies a final, everlasting death. Guided by Route 66 the Mother Road of America on her quest, she tackles one herculean task after another, giving up a piece of herself with each trial.

Valentine begins to understand that the fame she once sought won't bring her happiness or belonging -- and if she fulfills the penance, she must decide what's more important: Her old life or restoring the lives of the strangers who died alongside her.

The young and the ancient, the tangible and the mythical, collide as Valentine learns the true meaning of redemption, connection, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Available at:

Excerpt

The Huntsmen had arrived.

They were all large, dressed in furs, leathers, and thick boots. The men had thick beards and braids; the women either wore braids or had shorn hair. All of them wore armor of some kind, with runic designs upon their crests. Ghost green flames danced and kissed across their skin. As Valentine watched, she saw that their skin flickered and faded in the moonlight, alternately translucent  and opaque. During the translucent phases, she saw their skeletons underneath.

She shivered.

Then, beyond the Huntsmen, she saw the mounts.

They were stunning.

Each horse shimmered, dressed in golds and silvers, blues and violets, coppers and moonlight. They were enormous, with hooves the size of dinner plates and lush manes that draped across the starlit skin. Valentine watched as they huffed, stamped their feet, and half-reared. They were ready, she could tell. They wanted to hunt, to chase.

She heard Malcolm's prosaic voice in her head. Choose the smallest mount.

Valentine scanned the herd. There.

The smallest mount glowed like a golden fire in the moonlight, with a silver mane. Compared to the others, this one was dainty, almost delicate. Valentine cast a quick glance at the Huntsmen, then started forward, crouching low to avoid notice. As she moved forward, she draped the bridle over her shoulder, then pulled out the packet of frankincense and myrrh. She poured it into her hands, then crept forward. She stopped before the golden creature, a good six feet away. Though this mount was smaller than the others, it was by no means tiny.

When Valentine stilled, the horse raised her head.

What do you want, mortal? The voice sounded like a crack of lightning in her head. The eyes glowed with violet flame.

REBECCA ROOK designs tabletop games, manages a little free library dedicated to sequential art and comics, and lives in the Pacific Northwest with two wonderful dogs. She writes young adult fiction in the fantasy, thriller, and horror genres.

A 2021-2022 Hugo House Fellow in Seattle, WA, she also attended the 2021 Tin House YA Fiction Workshop in Portland, OR. Rebecca was selected as one of the 100 invited writers to participate in the Write Team Mentorship Program's curated Pitch-a-Thon event before being chosen as a Mentee for the 2021 Program. Prior to this, she completed the wonderful Yearlong Workshop for Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction at Hugo House.

WEBSITE | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Book Blitz with Teasers + Giveaway: Lavender Moon by Natalie Parker @nataliecparker @XpressoTours

Lavender Moon by Natalie Parker

Publication date: December 4th, 2023

Synopsis:

Kaleb

I was always the bad boy.

The kid from the broken home and the wrong side of the tracks.

But in her eyes, I hung the moon.

The girl from my summers who I thought I'd never see again.

Finding her now right before I'm due to deploy is like a gift, one I'm not going to waste.

She was always meant to be mine and I'm going to make it official.

My silly girl is now my spirited wife, giving me someone to come home to.

Little do I know I won't be coming home - at least not as the same man.

Luna

I never thought of myself as a good girl... but he does.

The boy I used to see every summer has grown into a brave soldier that I now get to call my husband.

Getting married so quickly was supposed to be a way to protect us both and keep us together for good.

But we both take on demons while he's away, and when he comes home, it's his that try to tear us apart.

Someone has to fight for us while he's weary and wounded.

And now it's my turn to go into battle.

From the author of the Turn it Up Series, comes an all new standalone about young love, and two people's harrowing journey to save it -- as well as each other.

Available at:

NATALIE PARKER resides in the Seattle area with her husband and two rugrats, but is originally a Michigan girl.

She always enjoyed writing and noticed she had a knack for it while earning her Psychology degree and ha always been an avid reader, but never thought of becoming an author until one day there seemed to be a story to tell.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, reading, reading to her kids, drinking coffee, reading, occasional yardwork, reading, listening to music, reading and writing.

Stay tuned for more to come for your favorite characters of the Tune it Up series!

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by: