#BookReview: Crown of Starlight by Cait Corrain

Synopsis:
Greek mythology takes to the stars in this steamy, sci-fi reimagining of the tale of Ariadne and Dionysus—the first book in a snarky, queer, lushly romantic duology set in a galaxy of monstrous mortals, bloodthirsty gods, and love fierce enough to shatter the cosmos.

Raised amongst monsters, Ariadne Tholos, Crown Princess of the interstellar Cretan Empire, fears nothing more than becoming one herself. But trapped within the labyrinth of imperial politics and the puritanical restrictions of her father, King-Emperor Minos—and his totalitarian regime of militarized death cultists—she might not have another option. When the chance arises to take her fate into her own hands, Ariadne seizes it, only to find herself on the run—injured, alone, and in desperate need of a miracle.

Enter Dionysus—the exiled god of wine, madness, and revelry. He needs a Cretan royal to join his cult in order to end his banishment and return home to Olympus. Their meeting is the opportunity he’s been waiting for, but there’s just one problem: the Cretans are heretics, and Ariadne is no exception.

With a vengeful Minos closing in, Ariadne strikes a bargain. She’ll marry Dionysus and “join” his cult. In exchange, he’ll hide her away in the only corner of the galaxy beyond Minos’s reach: Olympus itself. But while Ariadne can handle the deadly politicking of the Olympians, a life of repression has left her unprepared for how powerfully Dionysus’s uninhibited debauchery will call to her darkest desires, and make her question parts of her identity she’s kept locked away her entire life.

#BookReview: Blood Bound: A Novel (Cursed Covenant, #1) by Ellis Hunter

Synopsis:

A debut high-stakes fantasy romance trilogy set against a once-in-a-generation duel to the death between rival witches and dragon riders as they battle to control the source of all magic in their kingdoms. Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, and Quicksilver.

You duel or you die.

Astrid has always known she is destined to die. She is the last Nachstern witch and heir to the Queendom of Arturea, cursed by a centuries-old covenant to duel the heir to the Kingdom of Vatra for the source of all magic: the Heart. And now Astrid’s time is up. She is heading into enemy territory to face Prince Zryan, the most powerful dragon rider in eons, with only her familiar, her potions, and her wits to aid her. She is going to die, and any chance her queendom has of curing the Blight that’s ravaging the lands and killing her people will die with her.

Meanwhile, deep in dragon country, Skylar and her travelling troupe arrive in Vatra’s capital, ready to profit off the legions of spectators swarming to the city ahead of the duel. She despises the royals and all they stand for, especially as the King’s guard murdered her mother. But when her best friend disappears, suspected to have been taken in the conscription, her search takes her closer to the royals than she ever could have imagined.

As the duel looms over the kingdom, Skylar and Astrid’s fates intertwine. They must battle a growing rebellion, their inner demons, and ultimately, those they love most, to determine if together they will save—or doom—their world.

#BookReview: I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com (Cosmic Chaos #1) by @kimberlylemming

Synopsis:
A hilarious and sexy romance about a woman who gets dropped on a strange planet only to fall for not one, but two, aliens, from the author of I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf.

Dorothy Valentine is close to getting her PhD in wildlife biology when she’s attacked by a lion. On the bright side, she’s saved! On the not-so-bright side, it’s because they’re abducted by aliens. In her scramble to escape, Dory and the lion commandeer an escape pod and crash-land on an alien planet that has...dinosaurs?

Dory and her new lion bestie, Toto, are saved in the nick of time by a mysterious and sexy alien, Sol. On their new adventure, they team up with the equally hot, equally dangerous Lok, who may or may not be a war criminal. Whether it be trauma, fate, or intrigue, Dory can’t resist the attraction that’s developing in their trio....

As this ragtag group of misfits explore their new planet, Dory learns more about how and why they’ve all ended up together, battles more prehistoric creatures than she imagined (she imagined...zero), and questions if she even wants to go back home to Earth in this hilarious and steamy alien romance adventure comedy romp.

#BookReview: Summer State of Mind by @kristywharvey @gallerybooks

Synopsis:

“Queen of the beach read,” (Cosmopolitan) New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

#BookReview: A Steep and Savage Path by J.J.A. Harwood

Synopsis:
From the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE THORNS REMAIN comes an enemies-to-lovers journey to the underworld unlike any other, for fans of THE CRIMSON MOTH and THE CRUEL PRINCE

An immortal vampire. A mortal bride. A vow that even death can’t break. 

Irina is about to be married to a dead man. She is the willing village sacrifice for the Wedding of the a desperate ritual designed to lay the hungry vampire that has been terrorising her Transylvanian village to rest. Irina’s beloved sister’s soul is trapped in the land of the dead. If Irina can retrieve it, she could bring her back – but Irina would need a guide, one who can walk between the living and the dead.

Irina strikes up a deal with her new husband – if he agrees to get her safely there and back again, then he can drink her blood as much as he wants.

They begin a perilous journey through the afterlife together, in which Irina realises Stefan isn’t the cruel and terrifying monster that she thought. In a land of three-headed beasts, winged creatures and walking corpses, the last thing Irina would have expected was to fall in love.

Only, Irina learns that by bringing Stefan to the land of the dead she has put him in grave danger, and will be faced with an impossible choice. Will they be able to make it out, undead or alive?

#BookReview: The Antlered King (The Raven's Trade, #2) by @theivyandtheoak

Synopsis:
In this stunning conclusion to the Raven’s Trade duology that began with The Gilded Crown, Hellevir’s bargains with Death to save the ones she loves—including the princess she risked everything to bring back to life—may just lead to the ultimate sacrifice.

Hellevir’s gift to raise the dead once thrust her into the center of a court filled with backstabbing and treason, where she became duty bound to protect Princess Sullivain, the sole heir to the kingdom’s throne and target of many rivals eager for the crown. But the more Hellevir risked to keep Sullivain alive, and the more deeply she fell in love with the princess, the greater the cost became—for Hellevir’s power can only be granted by the strange figure who rules the afterlife, and there is always a price to pay.

Now Hellevir may have risked too much, and Sullivain has become obsessed with consolidating power to vanquish her foes once and for all—by whatever means necessary. Cast out to the fringes of a country on the verge of civil war, Hellevir is torn between protecting her heart or giving what little she has left to finish what she started. Yet, her connection with Sullivain runs deeper than the mortal world, and saving her friends and family might mean risking the woman she is still bound to by soul and blood.

To stop a war, Hellevir must unravel the last of Death’s riddles and decide, once and for all, who deserves to live, what a life is worth, and whether she can pay the price. This explosive finale to the Raven’s Trade duology is sure to satisfy fans of dark fantasy and queer romance.

#BookReview: Charming Devil (Gilded Monsters #2) by @rebeccafkenneybooks

Synopsis:
The painting that has kept Dorian Gray flawless for over a century is beginning to fall apart, saturated and rotted by his life of reckless decadence. Desperate, he seeks out the only person who might be able to save Baz Allard. She's a talented young painter who just inherited her aunt's house and studio in Charleston—and she happens to be a direct descendant of Basil Hallward, Dorian's first love, and the man who created the magical portrait. Baz has the same gift as her ancestor, but for deeply personal reasons, she has vowed never to paint anyone's likeness, and she refuses Dorian's commission.

As Dorian tries to persuade Baz that the money and prestige he offers are worth breaking her vow, he and Baz become aware of something else awakening in the coastal city. Dangerous forces, long dormant, have been stirred up by Baz herself…and perhaps by some mutual enemy hiding in the shadows. As tensions rise and desire flares ever-hotter, Baz and Dorian become enmeshed in a complex net of conflicting motives, messy mistakes, and a growing, desperate passion, with only one question burning between Does anyone, even the love seared deep into your very soul, deserve the burden of eternal life?

#BookReview: Whisper of War and Storms (Heirs of Elydor #1) by C.L. Mecca

Synopsis:

A spellbinding, epic romantasy adventure of tangled secrets and dark magic for fans of Sarah J Maas, Callie Hart, Rebecca Yarros and Jennifer L Armentrout. A lost princess. A forbidden love. A destiny she never knew awaited her.

When a forgotten ring reveals Mevlida Brennan’s true heritage as the long-lost princess of Aetheria, a kingdom of immortals and magic, her world is turned upside down. But there’s just one problem—Mev didn’t know she was missing.

Thrust into a realm on the brink of war, Mev is caught between her newfound legacy and a dangerous political game. A powerful king holds the key to restoring the ancient portal that connects their realms, but his son, Kael, stands in her way. Brooding, relentless, and dangerously irresistible, Kael is sworn to protect his people—even if it means kidnapping Mev to keep her from uncovering the truth.

As dark forces rise and her dormant powers awaken, trust is a luxury neither can afford, yet their hearts may leave them no choice. Mev must embrace her destiny or risk losing everything. Because the storm isn’t coming—it’s already here.

In a battle of elemental magic, loyalty, and love, one whisper could spark a war.

#BookReview: Detained (Beneath the Mask #4) by @authorlunamason @kensingtonbooks

Synopsis:
Frankie
I don’t have to hide behind a mask anymore.
I rule New York, and now all I have to do is finish what I started ten years ago. 
To destroy the man who took my life from me. 
No one can get in my way. 
That is until I am arrested for murder and have my first taste of Detective Zara O’Reilly.
The woman hell bent on ruining my plans. 
She thinks I don’t know she’s watching my every move, waiting to drag me back into that prison cell. 
She can pretend I’m the enemy all she likes. 
In reality, she craves me as much as I do her. 
No matter how much we fight it.
My stalker becomes my obsession.
She doesn’t realize the power she holds, not only over me, but the city. 
Together we will be unstoppable… if she lets me break her.

#BookReview: Godkiller (Fallen Gods #1) by Hannah Kaner

Synopsis:
Kissen’s family were killed by zealots of a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing gods, and enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skedi, a god of white lies, has somehow bound himself to a young noble, and they are both on the run from unknown assassins.

Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, they must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favour.

Pursued by demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning – something is rotting at the heart of their world, and only they can be the ones to stop it.

#BookReview: The Body by Bethany C. Morrow

Synopsis:
The Body is a pulse-pounding supernatural horror story from bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow, where one woman must survive a series of bizarre and escalating attacks on her marriage.

Mavis broke from her parents’ congregation years ago, but she still hasn’t recovered. Their impossible expectations and soul-shredding critiques have dug deep into her mind, and she’s taunted by the knowledge that even when she’s done nothing wrong, she’ll never be right.

Now Mavis is afraid she’s about to lose the only thing she has: her husband, Jerrod. The man she’s always known was too good to be true. No one thinks she deserves him—not even after surviving the serial cheater they wanted her to stick by—and soon they’ll all find out they were right.

Mavis is already unraveling when a brush with death shows her what real fear looks like. Soon, she’s under constant attack from all directions. As the assaults turn increasingly vicious and bizarre, Mavis realizes that Hell isn’t reserved for the afterlife.

And sinner or not, no one is coming to save her.

#BookReview: In the Shadow of Silence by @raedumont7 @shewritespress

Synopsis:

After a lonely childhood, this novel follows love and joy—until the descent untreated depression ends with unbearable loss, forcing a family to deal with the shocking and immediate aftermath of suicide.

Eva’s lonely childhood has given her an intuitive connection with kids and teenagers. She is a gifted child psychiatrist. Single, she dreams of having her own children, and she yearns for love. The future seems bright when she meets Lyman; They build a family. They share adventures. They meet life’s challenges as team. They navigate a bout of Lyman’s depression; treatment works.

They share rich, fulfilling years while their careers develop, and their children grow up.

When their sons enter adulthood and their daughter is a teenager, they plan an entire summer as a family. But Lyman abruptly stops both therapy and medication. He spirals into a dark and irritable isolation that none of them can penetrate.

After his brutal suicide, Eva is left to cope and to guide her children through the trauma, as they each rebuild their lives.

EDITOR'S PICK BookLife and Publishers' Weekly

#BookReview: In the Name of Honor (Vows & Valor, #1) by Courtney Collins & Clarke Collins

Synopsis:

A half-elven princess grieves the loss of one father, and fears for the other.
A loyal guardsman torn between his word and her safety.
And a creature so corrupted, he’ll hurt them all to make the world kneel.

Dimitar delivers the worst message of all: vile Corrupted creatures have returned and murdered the king’s best friend. Eager to earn knighthood, he’s surprised when given an order he doesn’t expect: guard the princess… from herself.

Kaleela grieves her father’s friend, who she loved like a second father. She’s left behind while her father seeks justice, shadowed by Dimitar to keep her from following. When Corruptors then capture her father, Kaleela resolves to rescue him, more afraid of losing him than the dangers ahead.

Dimitar must break his vow to keep her safe in the kingdom and together head to the enemy’s lair to free the king. They’re ambushed and come to a disturbing realization: Corruptors now hunt Kaleela for leverage against the uncooperative king. Kaleela and Dimitar must evade capture and rescue her father before he suffers a fate worse than death: total corruption.

By saving one Dimitar will fail the other, and no one is shielded from the Corrupted retribution against both human and elven lands.

This stunning debut weaves competing revenge arcs, intergenerational healing, and sacrifice in a delicious page-turner driven by unforgettable characters and heart-wrenching heroism.

#BookReview: Between Two Kings (Split or Swallow, #2) by @oxfordlemon

Synopsis:
From internet sensation and Amazon bestseller Lindsay Straube comes the second book in the sexy, biting Split or Swallow series, featuring dangerous basilisks, competitive seduction, and a love triangle that could destroy kingdoms.

#BookReview: My Funny Demon Valentine (Hell Bent, #1) by @aurora.ascher.author

Synopsis:
Asmodeus, Prince of Hell, just wants to play music. Jazz, specifically.

Unfortunately, he’s a demon, and he’s supposed to be evil. A career as a musician isn’t exactly an option.
And he’s cursed, to top it all off.

Sick of playing by the rules, Ash and his brothers escape Hell in search of freedom on Earth, only to discover it’s harder than they thought to keep their enemies off their tail. The four rogues quickly become the Underworld’s Most Wanted, and if they’re caught… 
The consequences will be dire.

Everything changes for Ash when he meets a beautiful violinist who can see through his curse. It must be too good to be true, but he can’t resist the temptation.
No matter the risk, he has to have her.

Evangeline Gregory is just your average human. She works at a jazz bar, plays gigs on weekends…
And, apparently, hallucinates demons.

At least, that’s what she tells herself happens when, moments after she meets the man of her dreams, she sees him shift into a seven-foot-tall, red-skinned monster.

Not believing her own eyes, Eva decides to investigate and soon finds herself caught in the middle of a supernatural clusterf**k of epic proportions. But Ash isn’t the only one keeping secrets, and the search for answers reveals a shocking truth that will change the course of her life forever.

Or maybe just doom it.


My Funny Demon Valentine is a steamy paranormal romance about learning how to love (and what love is in the first place) with an HEA, clothes-ripping-hot love scenes, and a crew of devilish demon brothers who are supposed to be the bad guys.
There’s violence, sex, and too much swearing. You’ve been warned.

#BookReview: The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard

Synopsis:
A bladesmith blessed by the stars. A prince with a dangerous secret. A god bound in shadows. From USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard comes a scorching new romantasy that will leave you spellbound.

“His Imperial Majesty King Zarek requests your presence as his esteemed guest.”

When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saab’s forge, she believes it’s a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmith—one of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realm—but she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.

But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imagined—and fraught with danger. It’s not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who captures her interest…and her ire. The invitation isn’t a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the Starkeeper—a girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.

When the rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the Starkeeper. But Roshan is guarding secrets of his own. And with no control over the power stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of a dark god, an immortal whose interest might be the biggest threat of all.

#BookReview: The Empress (Towerfall #1) by Kristin Cast

Synopsis:
From New York Times bestselling author of the House of Night series Kristin Cast comes a spicy and spellbinding light romantasy filled with tarot, adventure, and a hero who is broody, sexy, and just the right amount of trouble.

What happens when a no-nonsense modern woman stumbles into a world of magick, mystery, and one ridiculously hot, broody hero? She breaks all the rules, obviously.

Hannah has always played by the book―until a tarot reading goes sideways and drops her into a world where magick is real, danger lurks in the shadows, and men look like they've stepped out of a fantasy novel. Case in point: Kane, the kingdom's gruff yet infuriatingly gorgeous protector, who claims Hannah's arrival isn't an accident. Apparently, she's the key to saving his realm from ruin.

Hannah's priorities?

Get her tarot card back.

Find a way home.

Absolutely not fall for the battle-scarred warrior who makes her want to forget all her plans.

But as the palace's secrets unravel, and enemies close in, the line between duty and desire blurs. Because if Hannah wants to return to her world, she'll have to embrace the magick inside her and trust the one man who makes her question everything.

#BookReview: Ruthless Creatures (Queens & Monsters #1) by @jtgeissingerauthor

Synopsis:
An explosive new novel of love, lies, and obsession from bestselling author J.T. Geissinger.

Five years ago, my fiancé disappeared. He left me with a wedding dress I’d never wear. Left me with the kind of scars that can’t be healed. The man I built my future on vanished like a ghost. All that remained were my broken heart and unanswered questions.

Until a mysterious stranger arrives in town. 

Tall, dark, and dangerous, Kage is as full of secrets as he is sex appeal. Though I know he’s hiding something, I’m drawn to him like a moth to flame.

The intensity of our connection is addictive, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Heat crackles between us with every look, desire flares into passion, and I fall hard, unable to resist.

But when I discover how he’s tied to the darkness in my past, I learn what happens when you fly recklessly into fire:

You get burned.

#BookReview: Gilded Hero by @c.mtillman

Synopsis:

When you are a human living in a world full of Superheroes, making something of yourself seems like an impossible task. Supers are on the highest pedestal, leaving the rest of us to chase after them in the streets like they’re celebrities.

I don’t want to end up like everyone else - stuck in a menial job for life while the Supers are fawned over for doing even the simplest of tasks.

I want more. I need more.

And more comes in the form of Athos, a charismatic Super whom I can’t stop thinking about after a spicy one-night stand. Athos has everything, from super strength to the ability to fly, and a smile that can weaken your knees. The only thing he doesn’t have is fame.

Until we come up with an idea to help us both succeed on our terms.

Then the other Supers catch on, and I find myself entangled in their secret world, fighting for survival with only Athos to rely on.

Not all heroes are what they seem.

#BookReview: Cursed (Court of Isles #1) by @ginalamanna

Synopsis:
Allie Wells is many things: Doctor. Runaway bride. Fae.

Except for two huge problems:

She doesn’t believe in magic.

The Fae were killed off centuries ago.

Alessia “Allie” Wells is a woman of science. She doesn’t believe in things like werewolves and vampires, sparkly or otherwise. Until her wedding day, when a darkly alluring man appears and kidnaps her in the middle of her glamorous Upper East Side nuptials, whisking her away to a magical island.

As the weeks pass, Alessia struggles to accept this new world—an enchanting land rife with fascinating creatures—and her place in it. She soon learns of the curse that is holding her new island captive…and killing everyone on it. Only a true Fae can break the curse. Which is impossible, seeing as Fae have been extinct for centuries.

When Alessia discovers that she is the only remaining full-blooded Fae in existence, she accepts her responsibility to save the island, and everyone on it. The longer Alessia stays, the more she falls in love with her new home. For the first time ever, she feels like she belongs. Not least of all because of the intensely powerful man who has slowly been capturing her heart...

But if Alessia can’t undo the curse holding this island hostage, then none of it will matter—because she’ll lose everything she’s come to love.


But if Alessia can’t undo the curse holding this island hostage, then none of it will matter—because she’ll lose everything she’s come to love.