Book Review of Dragon's Promise (Mills & Boon/Nocturne) by Denise Lynn

Book Title: Dragon's Promise (Mills & Boon/Nocturne)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 304

Author: Denise Lynn

Date Published: 1 September 2015 (E-book)

Synopsis:

Succubus, slayer or soul mate?

He was a Drake, a dragon. She was a St. George, born to slay them. They were meant to be mortal enemies, yet for three days the shifter and the succubus had been insatiable lovers. From that union a secret child had been conceived. Now Caitlin St. George had to finally tell Sean Drake she'd not only borne his son, but that the baby had been kidnapped. And only Sean could save him…

The tasks in front of Sean were not easy. He'd had to give his family's enemy all he demanded…and then become what he'd feared the most. Would this mission cost Sean the last shreds of his humanity, or could love finally tame the beast within?

Review:

Dragon's Promise by Denise Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful paranormal romance. I loved it!

Sean Drake is a wonderful character. I liked him a lot. He is loyal, loving and sexy. He is the youngest of three brothers, who also happen to be dragon shifters. However, Sean's dragon was woken by magic and he and his dragon half are struggling for control. When Sean meets Caitlin St. George, sparks fly.

Caitlin St. George is also a wonderful character. She is feisty, stubborn and deadly. She's a succubus and a dragon slayer, which makes it awkward when having to swallow her pride and ask for help from Sean, her mortal enemy and father of her child.

I have a huge soft spot for Mills & Boon romances. They were my favourite staple romances as a teen and beyond. I devoured these stories like candy at every opportunity, sometimes reading two or three a day. I must admit that I haven't read one of these for at least three years due to expanding my reading habit into other genres. Thus, it was like coming home when I started reading this book. I had forgotten how much I loved them!

This story is your typically formulaic romance, but there are a few twists that kept it feeling fresh. The story is told through both Sean and Caitlin's points of view, which gives the reader a chance to get to know the characters better. I love the chemistry between the two protagonists. The passion between them is definitely scorching, though not as explicit as some books I have read recently. Sometimes it is nice to have the heat without it being too in the face.

There are some interesting characters introduced too. Braeden and Cam are Sean's brothers' and are quite intimidating in their own way. However, Aunt Danielle is way scarier! Aelthed is a High Druid, imprisoned in an enchanted puzzle box by his nephew, Nathan the Learned. He's been trapped for hundreds of years in spirit form, though he still has his secrets.

This book is full of magic, dragons, danger and romance. I reached the end of the book and sighed in satisfaction. Perfection! I am now looking forward to getting back to reading these books once again.

Denise Lynn has written a fantastic, fast paced romance. I love her writing style, which brought the characters to life. The flow was wonderful too. I would most definitely read more of her books in the future.

I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romance stories with bite (dragons and vampires amongst others). - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Denise Lynn lives in NW Ohio with her husband, son and slew of 4-legged "kids". She has been an avid reader of romance novels for many years, travelling to lands and times filled with brave knights, courageous ladies and never-ending love between the pages of those wonderful books. She writes medieval romances set in England, Ireland, Normandy, France and a few fictitious islands in the waters surrounding Great Britain. When not writing historical romances, she's likely working on paranormal romances with dragons, wizards and other assorted praeternatural beings - some set on the same fictitious islands created for her medievals. When Denise isn't writing, she can be found hiking, baking, sitting in front of a sewing machine, or snipping herbs for various edible and not-so-edible recipes.

Author's Links:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Audio/Book Review of The Cathedral of Known Things (The Relic Guild Book 2) by Edward Cox

Book Title: The Cathedral of Known Things (The Relic Guild Book 2)

Genre: Science Fiction/Dark Fantasy

Pages: 480
Audio Run Time: 21 Hrs 53 Mins

Author: Edward Cox 

Date Published: 15 October 2015 (E-book & Audiobook)

Synopsis:

Divided, hunted and short on resources, the surviving members of the Relic Guild are in real trouble. Their old enemy, the Genii, and their resurrected master have infiltrated Labrys Town and taken over the police force.

So the Relic Guild must flee their home, and set off on a dangerous journey across the worlds of the Aelfir. One that will lead them to a weapon which might destroy the Genii. Or the whole universe...

And forty years before all this, the war which led to the fall of the Genii continues. And what happens to the Relic Guild during that conflict will change the course of their desperate flight.

Review:

The Cathedral of Known Things by Edward Cox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Relic Guild series. I absolutely LOVED it!

The story is again narrated by Imogen Church, who also narrated Bridget Jones's Diary. She did a fantastic job in bringing the characters to life. Her ability to voice the different accents used for the various characters impressed me. I loved her speaking voice, and her reading pace was perfect.

Clara is a young woman of eighteen, who has been working as a prostitute in a brothel since the age of fourteen in the Labyrinth city called Labrys Town. I really liked her. She is stubborn and determined. She has magic in her veins and is known as a magica; she's a wolf shifter.

The story continues from the end of the first book. Now working with the remaining members of the Relic Guild, Clara finds herself, together with Van Bam and Old Man Sam, on the run from Fabian Moor and the Genii in an attempt to contact the Thaumaturgists. Meanwhile, Hamir, the Necromancer is pursuing his own line of investigation. There are also new characters introduced, such as Sergeant Ennis, a policeman of Labrys Town, who has been tasked to investigate and locate the members of the Relic Guild. Then there is Namjee (sorry, not sure of the spelling since I can only go by phonetics due to this being an audiobook), who is an intriguing character. She is an Aelfir that Van Bam had met before the end of the Genii war. Then there is Hillam and Gloguilder, who are also Aelfir. These two characters are extremely likable, their banter made me grin. They are best friends and sound like siblings at times. We also get to spend time with the Genii: Fabian Moor, Hargie Tabbet, Victor Gadrill and Mo Asherzad. This gives the reader a deeper understanding of their motivations and actions. Are they as evil as painted? Only time will tell.

This is a unique story; the world building and character development is extraordinary. I loved the descriptions of the scenes and characters. The story has a post apocalyptic feel to it, with a hint of steampunk, which is further enhanced by the split timelines, which are forty years apart. The characters in both the past and the present are quite interesting. This split timeline shows the reader the events in the past that led to the isolation of Labrys Town from the houses of the Aelfir, and also reveals secrets hidden by a few of the characters. This story has several twists and turns that kept me hooked. There is not a lot of action (as in explosions and weapon fire, although there is some in a few scenes) but, it's the storytelling that instantly pulls you in. I found myself on a roller coaster ride of emotion from beginning to end. There is a huge twist near the end of the story that had me in tears. I will not say whether they were happy or sad, because that would be a spoiler. However, the story does end in another little cliffhanger that made me gasp. I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers because they frustrate me to the point of screaming, but I am looking forward to continuing this story as soon as I can.
At the end of the audiobook, there is a 15 minute interview with Edward Cox and Imogen Church, which I found very interesting.

Edward Cox has written an interesting sequel to his debut novel. I loved his fast paced writing style. The flow of the story seemed a little more seamless than the first book, and this increased my enjoyment. I will be keeping an eye out for more of this author's work in the future.

Due to scenes of violence and gore, I do not recommend this book for younger readers under the age of 15. However, I highly recommend this book if you love science fiction and dark fantasy genres. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Author of THE RELIC GUILD, THE CATHEDRAL OF KNOWN THINGS and THE WATCHER OF DEAD TIME (2016) published by Gollancz. Represented by John Berlyne of Zeno Agency: http://zenoagency.com/

Edward Cox began writing stories at school as a way to pass time in boring lessons. It was a hobby he dabbled with until the late 80′s when he discovered the works of David Gemmell, which not only cemented his love of fantasy but also encouraged a hobby to become something much more serious.

With his first short story published in 2000, Edward spent much of the next decade earning a BA 1st class with honours in creative writing, and a Master degree in the same subject. He then went on to teach creative writing at the University of Bedfordshire. During the 2000′s he published a host of short stories with the smaller presses of America, where he also worked as a reviewer.

Alongside David Gemmell, Edward's influences continue to range from past masters to current authors. Neil Gaiman and Gene Wolfe, George Orwell and Richard Matheson, Angela Carter, Kafka, Tad Williams, Michael Moorcock, Susanna Clarke and Chuck Palahniuk - these are the kinds of authors with something to teach on the craft of storytelling, and they inspire Edward in a continual pursuit to get better at what he does.

Currently living in Essex with his wife and daughter, Edward is mostly surrounded by fine greenery and spiders the size of his hand. The Relic Guild is his first completed novel, and it is the result of more than ten years of obsessive writing.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Website ; Twitter

Book Review of Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 4) by Charmaine Pauls

Book Title: Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 4)

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Pages: 261

Author: Charmaine Pauls

Date Published: 17 October 2015

Synopsis:

She’s sleeping with him.

She lied to him.

She loves him.

Can she destroy him?

Tough and invincible Maya Martin is part of Cain Jones’ paranormal crime taskforce. Her ability to manipulate water makes the South African born hydromancist an invaluable asset to the team. When AK47’s are smuggled from Mexico to Zimbabwe via Costa Rica, Maya is sent on a mission to destroy the arms and expose the syndicate. Her main suspect is the new Australian ambassador, Timothy Fardel, but the dark side of his personality is not the hidden truth Maya expected. Neither are the emotions that get in the way. Faced with honoring her oath or following her heart, Maya has to make the most difficult choice of her life.

This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Suited for an adult audience.

Review:

Hydromancist by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the Seven Forbidden Arts Series. I loved it!

Maya Martin is a wonderful character. I really liked her. She is an extremely tough character; she's had to be. Growing up on the Cape Flats, a notoriously dangerous area of Cape Town, she's had to face vicious gangs and survived. Now older and working with the paranormal taskforce with her gift of hydromancy, she's on a dangerous undercover mission to destroy an arms dealing syndicate. Maya faces a battle between her heart and her head when her attraction for Timothy Fardel brings even more trouble.

Timothy Fardel is a bit of a dark horse. I really liked him. I know it sounds weird to say that considering his involvement with arms dealing. However, as I got to know him better and his secrets were revealed, I found myself liking him even more.
Having enjoyed the other three books in the series, I was eagerly looking forward to reading this one. I started reading and didn't put it down until I had finished it. The story is told through both Tim's and Maya's point of view. I would have liked to have had a little bit more from Tim's side of things. However, as the story unfolded, I could understand why the author decided not to take that path; it left Tim to be more mysterious.

It was nice to meet all the other members of the paranormal taskforce again. However, they were mostly on the peripheral edges, rather in the thick of it. It was interesting to meet Tim's bodyguards. They take their duty very seriously and are extremely loyal to Tim. I must admit that I didn't take to his secretary, Frida Adolfsson. She is very bitchy towards Maya, which I can understand, as she is also protective of Tim and doesn't want to see him hurt. However, I still found her cold at times.

There are several twists and turns that surprised me. Though none more so than when Tim's secret is revealed. I won't say what it is, as that would be a spoiler. The chemistry between Maya and Tim is extremely hot and the bedroom scenes are scorching! I reached the end of the story and it left me looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

           

About The Author:

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

Book Review of Aeromancist: The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 2) by Charmaine Pauls

Book Title: Aeromancist: The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 2)

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Pages: 144

Author: Charmaine Pauls

Date Published: 14 May 2015

Synopsis:

Passion always comes with a price.

All that Russian aeromancist Lann Dréan wants, is to enjoy a month of peace in the privately owned convent in Santiago he is turning into a home. When an American literature student walks into his library of ancient books, his holiday intentions change. The untouchable Lann is inexplicably enraptured. For all his famed control, he cannot stay away from Katherine White.

Gifted with a hunted talent and a price on his head, the best Lann can offer Kat are thirty days of unrivalled passion before returning to his paranormal crime taskforce in New York. If Kat consents to his terms, she will agree to walk away on Day Thirty. Forever. But his uncontainable desire comes with an unforeseen price.

This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Suited for an adult audience.

Review:

Aeromancist: The Beginning by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Seven Forbidden Arts series. I loved it!

Lann Dréan is a complex character. I liked this man very much. He can come across as cool and aloof at times but, this hides his deeply felt emotions. He knows that if he lets his emotions out, his ability to control air could cause serious damage. He is intrigued with Katherine White, who visits the ex-convent (now Lann's home) looking for research material for her thesis. Determined to learn more about her, he dangles the opportunity for her to study at the convent, with a small proviso.

Katherine White is a wonderful character. I liked her very much but felt that she wasn't given enough rein by the author to fully explore her strengths. She came across as strong willed, but seemed to submit too easily to Lann's authority at times. I don't know if this is a good thing or not.

I started to read this story and didn't put it down until I had finished it. The story is told through both Lann's and Kat's point of view. However, I would have loved to had more of Lann's point of view for certain scenes, the plane ride for instance. This book is, however, definitely more erotica than erotic romance. There is a story, but it felt secondary to the protagonists' attraction. Their chemistry is explosive and hot. There is a little BDSM and bondage play that may upset some readers. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't the same level of danger as the first book of the series. But, having read book 3 before reading this book, I had some questions about their relationship. Now that I have read this book, my confusion quickly cleared. Therefore, don't do what I did. Read this book first before reading book 3. I am now looking forward to reading book 4, Hydromancist, as soon as I can.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18, or those who may suffer a trigger event brought on by breath play/asphyxia in sexual situations. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

About The Author:

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

Book Review of Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 1) by Charmaine Pauls

Book Title: Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 1)

Genre: Paranormal Erotic Romance

Pages: 311

Author: Charmaine Pauls

Date Published: 19 March 2015

Synopsis:

At the same time as mysterious fires commence to rage through Clelia d’Ambois’ home village in Brittany, France, she starts sleepwalking. Daughter of a Japanese orphan, Clelia’s heritage is riddled with dark secrets that threaten anyone she loves. In a recurring nightmare she sees Josselin, the haunted man who abandoned their village nine years earlier, come for her, but she doesn’t know why. All she knows is that she has to run. As fast as she can.

Leader of a paranormal crime taskforce, Josselin de Arradon is called back to his hometown with a mission–find and kill the firestarter responsible for Larmor-Baden’s blazing destruction. Sensing that Clelia is the key to solving the crime, Josselin kidnaps her to use her as bait. The battle doesn’t turn out quite as he expected. Nothing could have prepared him for the truth, or the depth of his desire for his prisoner.

Pyromancist is Book 1 of the Seven Forbidden Arts series. All books in the series are stand-alone novels with no cliffhangers, but it is recommended that they are read in chronological order.

This book contains adult content with explicit language and consummated love scenes. Suited for an adult audience.

Review:

Pyromancist by Charmaine Pauls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Seven Forbidden Arts series. I loved it!

Clelia d’Ambois is a fascinating character. I really liked her. She is kind and loving, but hides a dark secret. Her mother was a firestarter. Fires begin breaking out in the village and Clelia is terrified that she's the one causing them.

Josselin de Arradon is also a fascinating character. I liked him a lot too, but found his jealousy and possessiveness to be a little off putting. He is the leader of a team of a paranormal crime force that investigates crimes committed by those using the forbidden arts of magic. Though he's not a vampire, he can detect the magic and/or guilt/innocence through tasting a suspect's blood. Investigating the fires in the village he grew up in gets a little more complicated than he anticipates when he meets Clelia again and attraction sparks.

The author originally contacted me requesting a review of the third book, Aeromancist, in July this year. I enjoyed it so much, I decided to get the first book in the series to see how it all began. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to read it until now.

I started to read and didn't put it down until I finished it. I quickly found myself intrigued with the story. The story is told through both Clelia's and Josselin's points of view. I would have loved to see more of it through Josselin's eyes though. Nevertheless, the story had me enthralled. I loved Clelia's grandfather, Erwan. He's a kind and loving man, who loves Clelia very much and would do anything to protect her. There are several other characters that are introduced: Lann Dréan, Maya Martin and Cain Jones. These are Joss's teammates and each of them have their own secrets and gifts. I am looking forward to reading their stories, although I've already read part of Lann and Katherine's by reading the third book first.

This book is an erotic romance and there are explicit scenes of a sexual nature that are extremely hot and bordering on erotica. Talk about scorching! There is also a lot of danger and intrigue mixed in to make this one series I am looking forward to continuing. I am hoping to read Aeromancist: The Beginning soon.

Charmaine Pauls has written an entertaining standalone erotic romance. Her characters are lifelike and come alive on the page. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. I would definitely consider reading more of her books in the future.

Due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes, as well as use of foul language, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love science fiction, erotica, erotic romance or paranormal romance genres. – Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

About The Author:

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a masters degree in Communication at the University of Potchestroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to France with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published six novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in Chile with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

Book Review of Next Stop: Nina by Robin Raven

Book Title: Next Stop: Nina

Genre: Coming of Age/Romance

Pages: 243

Author: Robin Raven

Date Published: 18 July 2015 (E-Book)

Synopsis:

Nina is pushed to the edge, then falls over that edge into a whole new world.

There's something different about Nina; she never felt comfortable in this world. As she struggles to cope with the pain of her present and past, the young girl's life is changed through the beauty of art.

When Nina grows up and winds up in over her head in a dark place, she finds herself somehow transported to another time when nothing is quite what it seems. She must fight the horrors of her past all over again. Along the way, she faces greater challenges than she imagined and enjoys sweet surprises when she discovers true love.

This is a character-driven novel with a heroine who faces suicidal depression on her own terms, and that's just the beginning. At its heart, Next Stop: Nina is a love story that takes on the types of love that change us and allow us to discover the truth in ourselves.

Review:

Next Stop: Nina by Robin Raven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is an intriguing time travel story. I enjoyed it, with some reservations.

Nina is an intriguing character. Unfortunately, although I empathized with her, I just couldn't find it in me to like her. She is a young woman in her thirties, who has suffered a traumatic childhood. Suffering with depression (un-diagnosed), she finds herself thrust back in time to her eight year old self, unable to change a crucial event in her life.

I started reading this book and, although I hate to admit it, was not really hooked by the story. I am normally one of the first people to admit that I love time travel stories. Unfortunately, I felt that the story was too long-winded. In a way, it was a mix of Groundhog Day and Freaky Friday (though without the body swapping).

Nina, as a character, felt slightly one dimensional and, unfortunately, so did the other characters. The one thing that did shine through was the author's love of art. Her descriptions of the paintings were vivid and brought them to life. Nina's journey of going back to that awful event and making different choices over and over again quickly became a little stale. However, I felt her love of Leonard (Lens) became obsessional in the end, rather than heartfelt.

Nina is a character who seems to have slipped through the cracks and did not get the medical assistance she needed after the traumatic event in her young life and spiraled into depression as she grew up. I guess the time travelling was a way for her to learn valuable lessons in life and love. Depression is a very difficult and complex emotion to deal with. Many sufferers feel unloved, unwanted, ugly and suicidal. They suffer with low self esteem and self loathing. Whether brought on by physical trauma or emotional overload, many people who suffer in silence are the ones that really need the help. The hardest lesson to learn for someone who suffers with depression is that they are loved, are wanted and are beautiful.

I reached the end of the book with mixed thoughts. I was happy that Nina managed to find what was important in her life, but wished she had found out a lot sooner! As an outsider looking in, I could see she needed help, but no-one else in the book ever did apart from Lens. But, if you decide to read this book, you may have a different take.

This is Robin Raven's debut novel. I enjoyed her writing style, but felt that she needs to work on her characterizations. They didn't feel as lifelike as they could have done and needed a little more fleshing out. The flow of the tale was a little bogged down by the repetitive nature of the story, but it was fast paced enough for me to keep turning the pages. I urge her to keep writing, as I feel she has potential to become a wonderful author.

Unfortunately, this book was just not my cup of tea. However, I recommend this book if you love time travel, coming of age or romance genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

About The Author:

Robin Raven is the human who once belonged to the greatest dog that ever lived. "Next Stop: Nina" is Robin's debut novel. She has several other works of fiction that she hopes to share in the near future.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, Robin grew up in a nearby town called Saraland, and her hometown is a lovely place that still inspires her. As an adult, Ms. Raven has mostly lived in Los Angeles and New York City, so she also considers those cities to be home.

Robin blogs at RobinRaven.com and often has her nose in a book. If she's not reading or writing, you can probably find Robin daydreaming about adopting a rescue donkey. Delicious vegan food rocks her world. So does effective altruism. In addition to being an author, Robin has worked as a professional actress. She loves to connect with fellow writers and readers, so feel free to say hi to her on social media.

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Twitter ; Website ; Facebook

Charmain Paul author of Hydromancist

If you click on the pic you can get your copy from Amazon.UK

 

My Review.

 

Be still my beating heart.

Oh no.  It is not my heart I am afraid off.  It is my hormone level.

Ok so this book is not my cup of tea.  I actively dislike erotica. Especially when a story is thinly disguised purely for the sake to get to the next hot scene.

This book actually has a strong story line carrying the erotica not centred around it.  Still, it has enough erotic scenes to make me shy away.

That said.  The story is really well written.  The book is well edited and the plot is entertaining but if erotica does not do if for you, hear me now.  Skip this.  If you love erotica.  Trust me, you will adore this book. 

 

So get your copy today and decide for your self.

 

WaAr rrg

 

About the author

 

 

Charmaine Pauls was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She obtained a degree in Communication at the University of Potchefstroom, and followed a diverse career path in journalism, public relations, advertising, communications, photography, graphic design, and brand marketing. Her writing has always been an integral part of her professions.

After relocating to Chile with her French husband, she fulfilled her passion to write creatively full-time. Charmaine has published nine novels since 2011, as well as several short stories and articles. Two of her shorts have been selected by the International Literary Society for an anthology from across the African continent.

When she is not writing, she likes to travel, read, and rescue cats. Charmaine currently lives in France with her husband and children. Their household is a linguistic mélange of Afrikaans, English, French and Spanish.

 

Book Review of Fae - The Sins of the Wyrde by Graham Austin-King

Book Title: Fae - The Sins of the Wyrde (The Riven Wyrde Saga Book 3)

Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror

Pages: 448

Author: Graham Austin-King

Date Published: 10 December 2015 (E-Book)

Synopsis:

The thrilling conclusion to the Riven Wyrde Saga.

With her king’s plans laid bare, Selena must take drastic steps as the invaders push deeper into Anlan, driven by the schemes of the Sealord. The war between Anlish and Bjornmen rages, even as the fae remain unchecked. Politics is not merely a game for mankind however, and within the fae court ancient plans are coming to fruition, while the armies of the fae are readied in preparation for the purge.

The answers to the mysteries of the Wyrde may already rest with Devin and Obair. Their shocking discovery may hold the key to the Wyrde and the lost secrets of the druids, but the price is higher than anybody could have imagined.

Review:

Fae - The Sins of The Wyrde by Graham Austin-King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 6*

I received a complimentary copy from the author in return for an honest review. However, when the book became available to pre-order, I placed my order right away.

This is the third and concluding story in The Riven Wyrde Saga. I absolutely LOVED it!
First off, I would like to say that I absolutely love the covers in this series. I am definitely considering getting them in print too, just so I can look at the beautiful artwork. Each book cover is amazing and the attention to detail by the artist is exquisite.

I normally do a character breakdown in the reviews I write, but there are just too many characters in this book to do one for all of them, so I will just jump straight into my review.

I love dark fantasy novels, and because I really loved the first two books in the series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one!

The story continues from the end of the second book, and is told through several points of view. I loved this, because it gave the story an almost film-like quality. I loved meeting not only the previous characters, but new ones too, who give a different perspective on events. I found myself gripped by horror at the savagery of the Fae. Miriam, Devin's mother, is still alive, but has suffered greatly at the hands of Ileriel, the Fae who captured her. Klöss and the Bjornmen find themselves fighting for their lives, and he makes a decision that could see him hanged as a traitor. Meanwhile, Selena (who happens to be one of my favourite characters) is still dealing with political machinations and bureaucracy of a King who won't lift a finger to help the people of Anlan fight against the Fae. I kept wanting to say to her, "You go girl!". Devin and Obair have a difficult task ahead of them, but could the price for fixing the Wyrde be too high? I thought so, but suggest you read the book to decide for yourself.

There are several twists and turns, not to mention the occasional surprise, that kept me riveted with this tale. Suffice it to say that it is just as intense and enthralling as the first two books. The descriptions of the people and scenes were extremely vivid and I could picture everything in my mind's eye like a movie. In fact, I could see this as a rival to Tolken's "Lord Of The Rings" on the big screen with ease. Unfortunately, I was also left with a few unanswered questions when I reached the end of the book, due to what I perceived as loose ends. However, I don't want to say what those questions are in case I accidentally give away a spoiler. I am sad to say goodbye to this saga, as the characters have become my friends. I do hope that the author visits the land of Anlan and The Barren Isles in the future, even if it's a novella, as I would love to know how everyone is doing.

Graham Austin-King has written an exciting, dark fantasy novel that kept me turning the pages! Although it can be more difficult to better the first book in some cases, the second was a lot better. However, this book is superb! I think that this book is a lot stronger and shows this author's growth in confidence with his characters and storyline. I love his fast paced writing style and the story flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. The characters came alive on the page and felt extremely lifelike. I'm definitely adding this author to my Favourite Authors' list and will read anything else that he writes.

Warning: This is NOT a children's fairy tale! I do not recommend this book to young children or those of a nervous disposition, as there are scenes of violence and gore (battle scenes amongst others) that could be very disturbing to some readers. However, I highly recommend this book to older teens and adults alike if you love dark fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton

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Synopsis:

Sometimes the fairy tales are true...

For a hundred generations the Fae have been locked away from the world, in the cold, the Outside. They have faded out of sight and mind into myth and folklore.

A woman fleeing a life of domestic violence in search of a better future for herself and her young son unknowingly set in motion a series of events which will change the lives of mortal man forever.

Now as a new religion spreads across the world sweeping the old ways and beliefs away before it, and a warlike people look hungrily across the frozen ocean for new lands, the Wyrde of the Druids begins to fade. Can the world realise the truth lost in children's tales before it is too late? Will it withstand the Wild Hunt?

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About the Author:

Graham Austin-King began his writing with children's stories to entertain his children when walking them to and from school. When he started getting demands to repeat the same story over and over again he decided to write them down.

Liam and the Grump was soon followed by Captain Pegleg and the Greatest Treasure.

Fantasy is the genre which has always appealed to him, a result of reading too many books and playing too many roleplaying games and computer games. Having weaned himself on Tolkein he cut his teeth on David Eddings and Raymond E. Feist.

Finally the keyboard beckoned, there were worlds to create.

Graham lives in Kent in England with his wife and three younger children. 

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Audio/Book Review of Falling Into Place (Others of Edenton Book 3) by Brandy L. Rivers

Book Title: Falling Into Place (Others of Edenton Book 3)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 326
Audio Run Time: 11 Hrs 06 Mins

Author: Brandy L. Rivers

Date Published: 23 December 2013 (E-Book)

25 August 2015 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

Robert would have done anything for Liz, even let her go when she claimed she needed to be alone. With his life in shambles, he dove into his work as a Silver Council enforcer.

Liz never fit in, but to protect her first love, she walked away when a wild burst of magic nearly killed him. Tremaine found her, and helped her put her life back together.

The man who tore her world apart awakes from a 21 year slumber with revenge on his mind. Nothing will stop James from tearing the power from Liz’s body.

After learning James is alive, Robert rushes to Liz and bands together with Tremaine to keep her safe. Facing her worst fears Liz realizes she can only fall apart or fall into place.

Review:

Falling into Place by Brandy L. Rivers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book in audio format from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Others of Edenton series. I really enjoyed it!

This book is again narrated by Kelley Hazen Story Teller Productions. I enjoyed her narration but felt that there was something missing. I struggled to put my finger on what exactly the issue was until I started to write this review. Although she read the story clearly and gave each character a different voice, she seemed almost bored. Some of the story was told in monotone, and other parts were overly dramatic. This gave an uneven feel to the story and made it not flow as well as it should.

Liz is a wonderful character. She is a strong, independent woman, who has faced evil and survived (barely). She is a mage who has not had the easiest of childhoods. Now an old enemy re-appears after twenty-one years. With the help of Tremaine, her avenging angel, and Robert, her first love, Liz will have to find the strength to confront her fears and battle her demons in order to heal.

The story hooked me from the start and didn't let me go until it finished. There are various view points, though Liz, Tremaine and Robert have the most say. This story takes the reader though a roller coaster ride of emotions. The reader is taken back through time (over 70 years) to Liz's childhood where she is 12 years old and the horror she endured at the hands of a sick and twisted individual. It then jumps forwards in time in increments until present day and is told in two parts. This gives the reader a deeper understanding of the history between not only Liz, Tremaine and Robert, but James and his twin sister Emily too.

I loved meeting the other characters too. Tremaine is a wonderful character. He is an enforcer for the Council who rescues Liz from a horrific situation when she was 12 and sends her to live with Wilhelm, his best friend, and his family. Robert, James and Emily are Wilhelm's children and are completely different in temperament and personality. Robert is 16 when we first meet him. He's charming and caring, and falls for Liz at first sight. Emily is jealous of Liz and never really accepts her as a friend. James is a nasty piece of work! He's a dark mage, who rips power out of other mages to fuel his own power.

As the cover suggests, this book is a menage. I haven't read many menage books, maybe a handful at that. However, this story, although erotic, is written in such a way that it makes sense for the two men in Liz's life to complete her. She has been shattered emotionally and put back together by each of them at different points in her life. This creates an unbreakable bond.
The story doesn't end in a cliffhanger, though it left me wanting to read the next book in the series, Breaking Free, as soon as I can.

Brandy L. Rivers has written an intriguing continuation in the series. I loved her fast paced writing style, and the flow was wonderful.

Due to explicit scenes of a sexual nature, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 18. However, I do recommend this book if you love hot erotic paranormal romances full of werewolves, vampires, fae, druids etc. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

I've always loved books, especially about monsters and magic, so I started writing. I'm working on a prequel and the next few books in the Others of Edenton series, and I have a head full of stories to share.

I'm a stay at home mother with a wonderful husband who lets me write and write to my hearts content.

For more about me and my books, please visit:

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Book Review of Roller Coaster Love (Roller Coaster Love Series Book One) by J.S. Wilsoncroft

Book Title: Roller Coaster Love (Roller Coaster Love Series Book 1)

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Pages: 474

Author: J.S. Wilsoncroft

Date Published: 31 July 2015

Synopsis:

Thirty-something Amie Wilson lives a simple life grooming dogs. Being hearing impaired and a single mom life isn't always easy, but she manages. She never expected to win tickets to her daughter's favorite band, but when backstage passes lands her face to face with the lead singer, Rob Robertson, life takes an unexpected turn.

At twenty five, Rob Robertson is living the dream. With his band at number one, he should be happy. But he feels out of place, like something is missing in his life. When Amie walks onto his tour bus, he's immediately drawn to her and everything he wants in life suddenly becomes clear to him. He wants to date the beautiful mother but she keeps making excuses as to why a relationship between them won't work.

Living in two vastly different worlds, they both struggle to embrace their love, but Amie's insecurities become overwhelming by a mysterious visit to the hospital and Rob's new career. Will they be able to hold on as their love spirals like a roller coaster or will their love derail?

Review:

Roller Coaster Love by J.S. Wilsoncroft
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the first book in a new contemporary romance series by this author. I loved it!

Amie Wilson is a wonderful character. I really liked her. It's nice to read a book about a normal person once and a while. She is a thirty-five year old mother of two. She struggles to make ends meet by working long hours as a dog groomer. When Amie wins concert tickets to her daughter's favourite boy band, she wasn't looking for love. However, fate had other plans.

Rob Robertson is also a wonderful character. I really liked him. He is the oldest member and lead singer of the group Wrong Way. Facing a difficult decision, Rob finds himself contemplating his future career. However, when he meets Amie, something clicks and he realises what's missing. Now he just has to convince Amie that he's not like her ex.

This book is told through the eyes of both Amie and Rob, though mostly Amie's, which gives the reader an insight into their thoughts and feelings. I love a story to sweep me up completely. This book did exactly that. I started to read and didn't put it down until I finished it.

Roller coaster is an apt name for this story. There are many ups and downs, never mind the twists and turns that kept me hooked. I ran through a whole gamut of emotions: from happiness to sadness, anger to frustration. I did want to shake Amie and tell her to stop being an idiot at times (okay, most of the time), as I found her insecurity a little trying. But, I can also understand her reluctance to let her heart, and that of her family, be broken again.

I loved meeting Joy, Amie's thirteen year old daughter. She is a typical teen girl, who has a huge crush on Henry, one of the other member's of Wrong Way. She still has the exuberance of a pre-teen and hasn't quite reached the angst riddled stage yet. Craig, Amie's fifteen year old son, is also another wonderful character. He has a good head on his shoulders, though not as moody as my nephews' were at that age.

This story has a twist that had me reaching for the tissues. I will not say whether it was in joy or sadness, because that would be a spoiler. However, I will say that it touched me deeply. Amie and Rob faced many obstacles on their roller coaster ride of love, and it has been an emotional journey for all concerned. The story has an ending that is a little ambiguous and it made me feel that the story is not quite finished. Whether it carries on into book two of the series, I'm not sure. However, whether is does or it doesn't, I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series as soon as possible.

J.S. Wilsoncroft has written a fantastic contemporary romance. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow is wonderful. Her characters are extremely lifelike and likable. This is the second book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that (although not erotic or as explicit as some romances out there) are a little on the hot side, I do not recommend this book to younger readers (under 16). I do, however, highly recommend this book if you love new adult or contemporary romance. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

J.S. Wilsoncroft lives in a cozy, little town in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, two children and two VERY yappy chihuahuas. When she is not busy shaving dogs or working at the local pharmacy, or running her two teenagers to concerts, you can find her sitting on the couch typing another romance story. In her spare time, whenever that may be, she likes to ghost hunt and take her kids to rock concerts.

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CD/MP3 Music Review of Mystical America by Laura Sullivan

CD Title: Mystical America

Genre: New Age/Instrumental

Length of CD: 1hr 5mins

Artist: Laura Sullivan

Date Published: 1 August 2004

Mystical America: Relaxing Piano Music, Spa Music, Calming Music, Meditation Music, Yoga, Reiki, Soothing, Instrumental, Background, New Age, Healing, With Mt. Shasta: Beethoven Moonlight Sonata

Review 5*

I don't usually review music unless I've purchased it for myself, but I was approached by the artist to review this album. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to purchase a physical CD so that I could listen to it on my CD player/radio in my bedroom.

I love all different types of music, from classical to hard rock (although, rap and improvised jazz is a no-no for me), so when I was asked if I wanted to listen to Mystical America, which is new age, I eagerly agreed.

This is a fantastic album! I love every single song on this album (of which there are twelve), which is rare for me. I struggle to find a CD nowadays where I enjoy every single song. There are four themes (Magical Creations, Sacred Symbols, Mysterious Messages and Nature's Splendor) with three songs in each theme. Each song filled me with peace and serenity. The music is ideal for those of us who want a little "me" time from the frantic rat race we call life. This is the type of music I associate with massage therapy (aromatherapy or Reiki) or meditation. I have tried other CD's in the past (with whale calls and sea washing on a beach) in an effort to calm my mind. However, I found myself either getting bored or annoyed with it and ended up turning it off. Not so with this album. Although this is just over an hour long, I could listen to it on repeat quite easily. The piano, which is played beautifully, is accompanied by a variety of instruments including flutes, harps and violins amongst others. It has an almost Celtic/Folk feel to it. The music is instrumental, with no singing, which I didn't mind at all. Sometimes I feel that voices can ruin music, rather than accompany or enhance it. Instrumental music is beautiful in it's own right.

Laura Sullivan is an accomplished and award winning artist. As I listened to her music I felt her passion. She pours her soul into each song. I am grateful to her for contacting me, and I am looking forward to listening to more of her music in the future.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend this music to everyone looking to wind down the stress levels with easy listening, soothing music. If you like listening to instrumental or new age music but haven't listened to this artist yet, I urge you to do so soon. Whether it's relaxing in the bath or sitting on the couch with a good book, this music will help sooth the soul. If you're a beautician, Yogi, massage therapist or shop owner looking to relax your customers, this is just what the doctor ordered. - Lynn Worton

               

About The Artist:

GRAMMY® Winning artist Laura Sullivan has created another blissful masterpiece that you will love for MEDITATION MUSIC, MASSAGE MUSIC, HEALING MUSIC, RELAXING SPA MUSIC, MUSIC THERAPY, BACKGROUND MUSIC, YOGA MUSIC, MUSIC FOR RELAXATION, CALMING MUSIC FOR KIDS, DINNER MUSIC, CALM MUSIC, and RELAXING MUSIC FOR SLEEP.

This album of of BEAUTIFUL PIANO MUSIC combined with violin, guitar, flute, oboe and other ambient instrumentation, takes listeners on a SOOTHING MUSIC journey of music inspired by America s mystical and sacred places.

Included in this collection of MODERN CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR RELAXATION and NEW AGE MUSIC is the CALMING MUSIC of the popular BEETHOVEN SONATA known as theBEETHOVEN MOONLIGHT SONATA.

If you are a lover of CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC, RELAXING CLASSICAL MUSIC, ROMANTIC PIANO MUSIC, STRESS RELIEF MUSIC, and THE MOONLIGHT SONATA then you will love Mystical America.