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Angelbound (Angelbound Origins #1)
Angelbound (Angelbound Origins #1)
Christina Bauer | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is another book that has been on my Kindle for years. It's been a little over six years since I bought this from Amazon so it's about time I read this.

This starts with Myla, a quasi-demon, waking for school, only to find she has to fight in the arena again, something she lives for. There's some politics going on with the angels and demons and she finds herself being drawn into it. Add in Prince Lincoln of the thrax, a group of human demon killers, and she's not having the best time... Not with the tension that sparks between them.

I'll admit I'd been put off by the number of pages in this. I am not a fan of really long books and this is listed as being 500+ pages... But, I was quickly drawn into this. It had a really easy to read style and I quickly grew to like Myla. She's the kick arse, evil soul defeating, demon killing quasi-demon that want's to know who her dad is. And it is a mystery that I enjoyed seeing unravelled. There were quite a few twists and turns along the way.

The romance was kinda cute. They really don't like each other much to start with what with Lincoln being a demon hunter and Myla being part demon but the more time they spent together, it was pretty obvious that they had a spark between them and I enjoyed the build up to their relationship starting and flourishing.

I also really liked a few of the secondary character's such as Walker and Cissy. Zeke also wasn't so bad when he stopped being so "I'm hot, no-one can resist me" and started acting more normal.

It was a very well thought out and detailed story that I enjoyed getting my teeth into but I'm not going into too many details as it would totally ruin it for you. Let's just say Purgatory is in for a hell of a ride. If you like stories involving demons and angels then I'd give this a go.
  
This review and more can be found at my blog https://aromancereadersreviews.blogspot.com

A Romance Reader's Reviews

2.5 stars

This has been borrowed from the Kindle Unlimited library and has been on my "want-to-read-don't-own" shelf on Goodreads for quite a while

This starts with Tate crawling across the garden with her mother as they try to spy on their neighbour, who Tate's mum believes has taken her cat, Amy. They are interrupted by tattooed pretty boy, James, who happens to be their neighbours son. Instant attraction leads to flirting. Flirting leads to lots of hot almost-sex, almost because they keep being interrupted by the residents of the older peoples housing facility where they're visiting their respective parents. They finally do the deed before they both have to head home, only they now know they live in the same city. And of course they end up meeting again.

Before I started this I thought it was more of a new adult type thing with it's older cover but the new one (above) has made it all a bit more mysterious. I wasn't sure what the story was going to be other than a romance so its detailed sex scenes threw me off a bit and after so many, I started skipping them entirely. The romance was already starting to bloom so I wasn't really missing anything.

There's also a secondary storyline involving Tate's family restaurant and someone trying to get her to close it with daily threatening emails and stuff going wrong in the restaurant. When James gets wind of what's been happening he insists on helping her deal with it.

I have to admit that I liked James, quite a lot to be honest. He was a little take-charge and bull headed at times but you could tell he did it because he cared. Tate was far too judgmental at the start and it took me quite a while to warm up to her. She seemed really argumentative at times and somewhat whiny.

I'll admit that towards the end I started skipping bits, starting to lose interest in it. I was mainly waiting for the show down with the bad guy.

Not as good as I wanted it to be.
  
Rejected (Shadow Beast Shifters, #1)
Rejected (Shadow Beast Shifters, #1)
Jaymin Eve | 2020
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I grabbed this one from Kindle Unlimited after taking advantage of their 6 months at a reduced cost offer because, you know, have you seen that cover?!

So this starts with Mera and her best friend heading to school while discussing the fact that they can't wait to have their first shift into their wolves so they can leave their pack after the abuse Mera has received off them after her father tried to kill the alpha when she was younger. Mera runs from the pack before her shift, knowing that death is likely to be her outcome either way - either from the shift itself or from the pack - but she's tracked down before then and brought back. Before long she shifts and finds her mate amongst her pack, only to be rejected by him and the intense pain both she and her wolf are in has her calling out to the Shadow Beast - the god of shifters - and he comes and takes her away.

I don't quite know how I feel about this book. It's like one extreme to another for all the males in Mera's life. Torin; doesn't like her and taunts her continuously but doesn't want her harmed by his father. Jaxson; one of her old best friends - torments her/attacks her almost daily but also seems to have feelings for her. Shadow; can't seem to stand her but won't let anyone else have her or touch her. I was so confused and conflicted by it. I wasn't cheering for anyone in particular. I even briefly wondered if it was going to turn into some reverse harem kind of thing...but nope. Or at least not in this one.

I honestly have no idea if I'm going to continue the series. It was the cover that pulled me into reading this one as it is...so maybe if the cover is as good...? I honestly don't know. I was expecting some romance and it was filled with an angry female and stupid alpha males, though there was a hot scene or two.
  
Fearless (Scarlet Suffragette #1)
Fearless (Scarlet Suffragette #1)
Nicola Claire | 2021 | History & Politics, Mystery, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
54 of 250
Kindle
Fearless ( Scarlet suffragette book 1)
By Nicola Claire

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Nicola Claire's captivating new Gothic romance series introduces a dark and sinister early settler New Zealand at the end of the nineteenth century - brightened by a fearless and talented heroine and a loyal and secretive police inspector...

Free spirit. Brilliant. A Liability?

Doctor Anna Cassidy has been trained by the best; the former Chief Surgeon for the Auckland Police Force. She knows how to dissect a body. She knows how to treat any ailment. And she knows how to find a cause of death.

But society is not ready for a female surgeon.

Fighting for what she believes in has been ingrained in Anna since she was a young child. But the battles she faces now are not all based on equality. A murderer stalks her fellow Suffragettes and the police inspector in charge of the case could be Anna's downfall.

Experienced. Dedicated. Something to hide?

Inspector Andrew Kelly holds duty and honour in the highest regard. His role as a detective proves just that; he never stops until justice is served. Love is something he has forsaken, for reasons he'd rather you didn't know.

But Anna is not a woman a man can ignore.

Fighting his instincts with cold determination is something Kelly has become accustomed to. But a murderer is loose in his adopted city, bringing memories to the fore of a killer who walked in the shadows of Whitechapel, and shining light on a dark past the Inspector is trying hard to forget.

A gritty, twisted, and authentic Victorian romantic suspense, sure to rip you apart... just like old Jack.

This had all of my favourite things! Gruesome murders linked to Jack the Ripper, historical romance , strong female lead and a very good story. Although the murderer was quite clear to me from the beginning I absolutely loved reading it play out! Definitely worth a try if you like any of the things I mentioned!
  
The Jaguar King (The Wild Rites Saga #1)
The Jaguar King (The Wild Rites Saga #1)
Anne McIlwraith | 2021 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
50 of 250
Kindle
The Jaguar King ( The Wild Rites saga book 1)
By Anne Mcilwraith
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
Magic is real? Big deal. Bills still gotta be paid.
Especially when you’re heading into vet med. Emma Chase is nothing special – if anything, with a roomie who turns into a jaguar on a regular basis, she’s the sidekick, not the heroine. Her superpowers have more to do with acing her finals and overworking herself. Knowing her best friend’s secret makes it easier to justify her own inclination to keep people at a distance, but it doesn’t change her life.
Until others like him show up on her doorstep, convinced she’s the fated savior of their race, telling her she’s destined to command the magic of – well, Emma doesn’t quite catch that part, she’s too busy getting her ass the hell out of there.
What she does know? The Jaguar King is after her, his rivals want her dead, and she doesn’t have to believe in prophecy to believe they’ll stop at nothing to catch her.
Violence. Magic. Inappropriate humor. Step into a world of wonder and savagery in a gritty urban fantasy with an unlikely heroine, sizzling heroes, and complicated villains. The Jaguar King is a full-length read and the first in a series, and all the books have satisfying resolutions as well as a series-spanning story arc. Definitely no cliff-hangers – just bad-ass shifters with one goal: claim the prize. Claim the Caller of the Blood.
I so wanted to give this more than 2 stars! The main character is good she can kick ass and has sass but it’s all a bit over complicated. I found it rushed in places and hard to read in others. It’s not all bad though I’ve been dying for a spider shifter for so long and in this area I was not disappointed and I love the link that Emma has with Fern!
The fighting scenes were a bit all over the place too nothing seemed clear.
For me overall it showed promise just didn't deliver.
  
Corrupt (Devil's Night #1)
Corrupt (Devil's Night #1)
Penelope Douglas | 2015 | Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
24 of 250
Kindle
Corrupt (Devils night book 1)
By Penelope Douglas

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

Erika

I was told that dreams were our heart’s desires. My nightmares, however, became my obsession.

His name is Michael Crist.

My boyfriend’s older brother is like that scary movie that you peek through your hand to watch. He's handsome, strong, and completely terrifying. The star of his college’s basketball team and now gone pro, he’s more concerned with the dirt on his shoe than me.

But I noticed him.

I saw him. I heard him. The things that he did, and the deeds that he hid…For years, I bit my nails, unable to look away.

Now, I’ve graduated high school and moved on to college, but I haven’t stopped watching Michael. He’s bad, and the dirt I’ve seen isn’t content to stay in my head anymore.

Because he’s finally noticed me.

Michael

Her name is Erika Fane, but everyone calls her Rika.

My brother’s girlfriend grew up hanging around my house and is always at our dinner table. She looks down when I enter a room and stills when I am close. I can always feel the fear rolling off of her, and while I haven’t had her body, I know that I have her mind. That’s all I really want anyway.

Until my brother leaves for the military, and I find Rika alone at college.

In my city.

Unprotected.

The opportunity is too good to be true, as well as the timing. Because you see, three years ago she put a few of my high school friends in prison, and now they’re out.

We’ve waited. We’ve been patient. And now every last one of her nightmares will come true.



I was in two minds all the way through this book but something kept me hooked! It was intriguing and turned out to be an interesting storyline. There were some bits I was uncomfortable with as I don’t really enjoy reading certain scenes. Overall though I enjoyed it in the end.
  
Salvaged (Releasing the Magic #2)
Salvaged (Releasing the Magic #2)
Maya Riley | 2019 | Dystopia, Romance
6
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
98 of 250
Kindle
Salvaged (Releasing the Magic book2)
By Maya Riley

Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments

What do you do when you find out you’re the thing you fear most?

Seven months ago, the Void Virus was set loose on Earth. The world is now in chaos. The origin of the virus has been unveiled, and mysteries of my past have come to light.

A lot has changed during that time. I started out alone, struggling to survive. Now I had four guys, my sister, and Puppy who all had my back no matter what.

Not only did I gain a strange healing ability, but now Lincoln could create fire. That isn’t the last of the weird things going on, though. On top of that, I discovered I was created in a lab, with the intention to bring about a great change. Those intentions weren’t necessarily good. Now that I’m back on their radar and I know more about what I might be capable of, I have become the thing I fear most, and am left with more questions than ever.

We receive word of some sort of sanctuary for survivors. A place that promises protection for those who seek it. It could be a trap, but it could also be true. We do our best to travel in search of this place, but rotters aren’t the only things standing in our way. Our journey is filled with twists, turns, and straight up chaos.

If there is a safe place for survivors, we won’t stop until we find it.

Together, we will find The Salvaged.


So this was a struggle at first which was annoying as I enjoyed the first book so much, I still like her style of writing and the fact it wasn’t relationship led. Something was missing and it wasn’t till the last few chapters it got exciting. I’m hoping she is just setting the next book up as I was close to give this a 2 star rating. It was one of those books that just plods along not bad but not brilliant either. I’m curious to find out more about the magical side and the powers Blyss is bringing out.
  
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ClareR (5667 KP) rated The House Guest in Books

Jul 10, 2021 (Updated Jul 10, 2021)  
The House Guest
The House Guest
Charlotte Northedge | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The House Guest is a psychological thriller that had me so frustrated in parts, that I could happily have thrown my kindle across the room (I really liked the book, by the way)

Kate’s sister disappeared when she was 10 years old, and now 15 years later Kate decides to move to London after one of her sisters old friends phones to say that they’ve seen her. Could this be Kate’s chance to find her sister?

Kate is overwhelmed by everything: the fact that she can’t find a decent job, she’s having no luck in finding her sister, and her parents expectation that she’ll come home to be with them, that London is just a phase. In fact they are very protective of Kate, almost suffocatingly so. They want her to phone them regularly, and make it clear that they expect her to come back to Oxford.

So when Della walks in to the cafe that Kate works at and invites her to join in her life-coaching class for some free sessions, Kate jumps at the chance. After all, she might just get the help she needs.

Kate is such a vulnerable character: she’s emotional and needs constant reassurance, whilst at the same time she doesn’t want anyone to know about her past. Della, on the other hand, is confident in every aspect of her life. She’s a successful life coach with beautiful children and a supportive husband - but there always seems to be something lurking under this glossy exterior. You just can’t put your finger on it until it’s too late!

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to shake or hug Kate, if I’m honest, and I’m sure other people will feel the same way, especially as more of her past is revealed. But my standing ovation goes to Della’s character and how she manages to manipulate Kate into getting exactly what she wants!

I hope this has piqued your interest. It’s a pretty gripping read especially in the latter half, and I’m sure you will really enjoy it - I did!
Many thanks to HarperCollins for my NetGalley copy of this book.
  
If I Die Before I Wake
If I Die Before I Wake
Emily Koch | 2018 | Mystery, Thriller
6
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
It has a very interesting blurb, and I was expecting a really suspenseful thriller, but it didn’t really impress me.

The main character of this book is Alex, climbing enthusiast who gets paralyzed after climbing accident (or maybe an attempted murder…) He doesn’t remember how the incident happened, and he hears snippets of it and other information with every new visitor. What left me shook and baffled was the situation he was in. His brain was fully functioning but the body didn’t whatsoever. All his inconveniences, cramps, feelings were very painful to read about and really scary, to be honest. You can’t even scratch your itching nose, it is a mental torture! :S

The characters used in this book were not very interesting to me. I did like reading Alex’s story, but I was missing personality and character in other participants of this journey. The whole book was told from Alex’s perspective, and I would have liked to read other people’s perspectives as well. I don’t think other characters were fully utilized in this novel.

I liked that Koch used little snippets of new information in every chapter to kindle the interest to continue, but I didn’t feel tension while reading, and I think it needed some better twists. The dilemma of “To live or to die?”, raised in this book was really difficult and got me thinking, what I would like in such case.

The writing style of this novel was really creative, pleasant and easy to read. The chapters were pretty short and filled with some interesting details of not only Alex’s present but also with memories of his past and his dead mother. All this combination made this book quite an amusing book. After all the suffering and pain, the ending didn’t leave me satisfied as well…:( So to conclude, this novel was really an emotionally difficult journey for me, filled with pain, suffering and helplessness, where you have to choose between death and living. There were some interesting parts which I enjoyed, but it didn’t really work for me. I do hope you will give this book a chance and see for yourself, whether you like it or not. Enjoy 🙂
  
Before the Fall
Before the Fall
Noah Hawley | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.4 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
For more reviews please visit https://bbookinspector.wordpress.com

This book was on my Kindle for quite a while, and after reading another book about a plane crash, I thought to finally finish this one as well. Unfortunately, it did not impress me.

The book starts with seven passengers and three crew members boarding the plane. After eighteen minutes, the plane crashes into the water, where only Scott Burroughs and Millionaire’s four-year-old son, JJ, survives. The base of this book is the life stories of all the people who boarded the plane, entangled with the present story of Scott. I really liked the stories of the passenger’s lives, I think they were intriguing and it gave a great understanding of the characters and the reasons why they were on that plane. However, I found Scott’s present story quite boring, and I couldn’t wait for it to be over.

The narrative of this book was flowing pretty smoothly, I didn’t find any strong turns or twists in this story and it kind of just plodded along. I really liked the insight into flight crew people’s lives, and what challenges they are facing. It was really intriguing to me. The narrative was told from different perspectives and I think that was really necessary for this novel, it gave better insight into different characters, and made it a little bit less of a yawner for me, as a reader.

The writing style of this novel is easy to read, and the language used was not difficult. The chapters quite long, but they were divided into smaller subchapters, so it did not drag. The ending of this book concluded the whole story nicely, and it was quite unexpected. However there are some unanswered questions left and I would like to know, what happened to the security personnel. So, to conclude, there were some parts which I really liked, but overall I wasn’t very impressed with this book. But it is just my humble opinion, so please, do give it a try, and I hope you will enjoy it.
Was given this book by publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.