REVIEW: My review of FIRE OF THE FROST anthology

 Rating: 4.5

FIRE OF THE FROST is a collection of fantasy-romance stories set during a midwinter holiday. Each novella is distinctively different. The anthology has four amazing authors, ones who are well-known in the fantasy genre.

 

FAMILIAR WINTER MAGIC by Jeffe Kennedy     

Haniel “Han” Hanneil is uncategorized – a student who has not yet manifested as a wizard or familiar. Iliana is a familiar from House Ariel. The two are secretly in love. However, the Convocation forbids undergraduates and uncats to fraternize. When Han is finally categorized, it spells doom for the forbidden lovers. Can Han and Iliana escape their fates? What reckless risks will the lovers take to be together?

I feel for Hans. It must have been difficult for him, especially when others his age, and younger, were already classified and graduating. What I adore the most about Hans is his protectiveness towards Iliana. Even as an uncat, he always thought of her welfare over his own.

Iliana surprised me. She starts off on the timid side, the model student and familiar. Iliana has no reason to fight the normal expectations forced on her kind, until Hans is categorized. What I admire the most about Iliana is her bravado. She refuses to allow her and Hans’ emotional attachment to be cruelly severed. I cannot wait to see how she further grows in upcoming stories.

FAMILIAR WINTER MAGIC is book 3.5 in Jeffe Kennedy’s fantasy romance series, BONDS OF MAGIC. This story can easily standalone. The novella takes place in the same world; however, it revolves around a new cast of characters. I still find it deplorable how familiars are treated in this world. This story does give readers a glimpse of the unfairness familiars face from wizards. Gabriel and Veronica are only mentioned.

 

KING OF HEL by Grace Draven 

Castil il Veras is from a low-ranking noble house. She works as a scribe. Castil attends her friend’s wedding, only to find herself attracted to the otherworldly groom. When that friend sends her a letter, she travels to Helenrisia to visit. Doranis is the witch king of a frozen and mysterious kingdom. He could never forget the fascinating woman he met in Caskadan. When his queen dies in childbirth, Doranis intends to choose his next wife. Can Doranis convince Castil to be his? Can the two ignore the gap between their social statuses?

Doranis is a fascinating hero. He sparked my curiosity from the beginning. I would have liked more of Doranis’ point-of-view. It did feel a little one-sided. What I adore the most about Doranis is how he acknowledged Castil’s true worth. He admired her intelligence and her forthrightness. Plus, she is the only woman who was not repulsed by him.

I liked Castil from the start. She is a woman who accepts her lot in life. Castil has no interest or aspirations in improving her social status. She openly ignores the higher noble houses’ disdain of her interests. What I admire the most about Castil is her loyalty towards her friend. She tried to be there for Kareena when the woman needed her the most.  Castil even approached Doranis on the best way to win Kareena.

KING OF HEL is a standalone novella. Originally, it was Grace Draven’s first published story. She revised and expanded it for this anthology. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this world. It differs from the author’s THE FALLEN EMPIRE series, the one I am familiar with.

 

WYNTER FYRE by Darynda Jones   

Wynter of Skadeesh is the daughter of an ice demon. She has one task: to protect the vampyres from extinction. If Wynter tastes vampyre’s blood, she turns into stone. Gareth of Abilene is known as the vagabond. He has been hiding from Skadeesh. Gareth asks Wynter to help him kill her demonic mother. What secrets will Gareth reveal about the Blood Wars? Will he and Wynter succeed in defeating Skadeesh?

I had a difficult time connecting with both Wynter and Gareth. I would have liked more of Gareth’s point-of-view. It would have helped with the story’s pacing.

WYNTER FYRE is a standalone novella. I have heard about Darynda Jones from other book friends. This is my first time reading this author’s works. I had a rough time getting into this story, especially the characters and plot but I am not a fan of vampire stories.

 

OF FATE AND FIRE by Amanda Bouchet 

Sophronia “Sophie” Iraklidis is a high school French teacher. She receives a mysterious yet dangerous package from her friend. Sophie needs to evade Novalight and to deliver the Shard of Olympus to the Goddess Athena. Piers is a warrior from the world Thalyria. He finds himself in an alien city with no memory of how he got there. Piers jumps to Sophie’s rescue. Can Piers and Sophie keep the Shard of Olympus from Novalight’s hand? What sacrifices are the two willing to make?

Sophie is not your typical, run-of-the-mills heroine. She is just an unsuspecting woman thrust into a perilous situation. What I like the most about Sophie is her lack of interest in magic. She knows the modern world is dangerous enough with our advanced technology and magic would add another unnecessary danger.

Piers is a total love! He may have found himself in a strange land; however, that did not stop him from coming to a woman’s aid. What I adore the most about Piers is his ability to swallow his male pride. He knew to survive in this new world, he needed to rely on Sophie for almost everything, despite how it rankled.

OF FATE AND FIRE is book .5 of Amanda Bouchet’s fantasy series, KINGMAKER CHRONICLES SERIES. I have been curious about this author and this series for some time. I quite enjoyed the harmonious blend of mythology and fantasy. I will check out her other books in the future.

 

FIRE OF THE FROST is a fantasy lover’s dream. Jeffe Kennedy and Grace Draven are the main reasons I wanted to read this anthology. It also gave me the opportunity to sample Darynda Jones and Amanda Bouchet.

Review: Janna MacGregor's RULES FOR ENGAGING THE EARL

 

Rating: 4.5

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Jonathan Eaton, Earl of Sykeston, is a former marksman for the British army. He returns home a broken shell of his former self. With the threat of a possible court-marshal, Jonathan isolates himself from the world. When his childhood friend asks for help, he rushes to her side. He willingly agrees to marry her. However, Jonathan cannot be the husband and father-figure Constance needs, not with an inquiry hanging over his head. Can Jonathan clear his name? Will he come to grips with his mental and emotional demons? Or will Jonathan realize too late what he has with Constance?

Constance Lysander owns and operates her family’s maritime business. Her late husband leaves her penniless, pregnant, and two other wives. Constance needs to marry quickly to escape polite society’s harsh scrutiny. She chooses Jonathan for the part. Constance intends on making their marriage work; however, her mulish husband insists on keeping an emotional distance. Plus, she has a malcontent patron intent on destroying her business’ reputation. Can Constance help Jonathan overcome his emotional and mental hurdles? Or is this marriage doomed from the start?

Jonathan is such a swoon-worthy, damaged hero! He demonstrates the difficulties some soldiers have on returning home from war or active duty. I empathize with Jonathan’s need to alienate himself from the world. He has had his trust betrayed in the worst way possible by his commanding officer. What I adore the most about Jonathan is his dependability, especially towards Constance. He came to her when she needed him most, even at his lowest. Jonathan, also, had no interest in taking over her family business. Instead, he offered to help only when she wanted it.

I am so happy that Constance received her happily-ever-after. She really deserved one, especially considering the ordeal her late husband left her to face. I like that Constance never tried to play the victim. Instead, she became proactive in finding a solution for her and her newborn daughter. What I adore the most about Constance is her patience with Jonathan. She understood he had some emotional and psychological issues that he had to come to terms with. Jonathan’s behavior sometimes tried her patience, but Constance never once gave up on him.

RULES FOR ENGAGING THE EARL is book two in Janna Macgregor’s historical romance series, THE WIDOW RULES. The story can easily standalone. However, I recommend reading the first book to understand Constance’s peculiar situation and her close relationship with Kat and Beth. The author does an excellent job gleaning the important parts from the previous book. I hope the next book reveals what the late Lord Meriwether did with the three ladies’ dowries.

RULES FOR ENGAGING THE EARL is a charming tale of two souls learning to overcome their trust issues. I am so glad I took a chance with this series. It does not disappoint. I cannot wait for Beth and Grayson’s book!

REVIEW: Donna Grant's MY FIERY VALENTINE

 

Rating: 4

V, the King of the Coppers, and his mate, Claire, have passed the most harrowing ordeal of their lives… and their infant daughter is the proof. Life at Dreagan will be vastly different now with a baby.

Claire and V want to surprise each other for Valentine’s Day. They manage to succeed thanks to their extended family.

Okay, I found V worrying about his daughter’s safety and future so irresistible. It is nice to see that he has the normal concerns any newbie parent would about their daughter. His protectiveness towards her is adorable!

MY FIERY VALENTINE is a part of Donna Grant’s paranormal romance series, DARK KING. I would recommend newcomers to read IGNITE, book fifteen. That is V and Claire’s full-length story.

I am glad the author chose to write this short story with Claire and V. It feels like a continuation of IGNITE.

REVIEW: Shoko Rakuta's I'M LOOKING FOR SERIOUS LOVE.

 Rating: 4.5

This manga is not for everyone. There are many triggers within this volume: dubious consent, date drugging, sexual assault.

Kyouhei is from the countryside. He moves to Tokyo to attend university. Kyouhei is having a difficult time adjusting. His neighbor, and upperclassman, is not making it any easier.

Takara is Kyouhei’s neighbor. He is a blatant womanizer. Takara cannot help teasing his innocent, country-bumpkin neighbor. However, things take an unexpected turn when he rescues Kyouhei from a situation.

I absolutely adored this manga! It starts out on the cute side. However, further into the story, things start to mature. The ending gets raunchy and steamier.

 There are some funny parts. Kyouhei and Takara compliments each othere. Takara’s experience balances Kyouhei’s inexperience. Kyouhei even balances out Takara’s insect phobia.

I cannot wait to add this title to my collection. I hope there is going to more to come.

REVIEW: Allison Pang's MAGPIE'S SONG

 Rating: 4.5

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies: https://romancejunkies.com/reviews/magpies-song/

Raggy Maggy, aka Magpie, is a Moon-Child, a supposed unwanted child of a BrightStone woman and a Meridian male. She collects scrap in the desolate wastelands of the Warrens for her clan. Maggy stumbles upon a strange clock-work dragon and a dead Meridian male. The dragon’s presence heralds all kinds of changes for poor Mags. When her clan exiles her, she has no alternative but to agree to her saviors’ mad plans of sneaking down into the Pits, a dark place where the Rot-infected people are placed. Can Maggy find the truth behind the peculiar plague’s existence? Or will Maggy lose more people she cares about before the journey begins?

Maggy is quite the unorthodox, yet interesting, character. I love how she refuses to allow the pariah status associated with her kind to have any real power over her. Maggy proves continuously through the book she’s capable of thinking for herself. She tends to consider angles her companions would never consider. I love her wily cleverness. I enjoy Mag’s interaction with Ghost, and I cannot wait to see the direction their relationship takes in future books. But what I admire the most about Maggy is her tenaciousness in both the things she puts her mind to and the people she cares about.

MAGPIE’S SONG is book one in Allison Pang’s brand new, self-published series, IRONHEART CHRONICLES. The story starts out rather slow, which is necessary for the author to properly set up the world and the characters. I like how the story is written in Maggy’s point-of-view. It did take me some time to adjust to Maggy’s distinct narrative.

MAGPIE’S SONG is a dark dystopian story with a balanced mix-mash of steampunk and fantasy. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the author’s world, especially the details she intricately wove into the tale. I cannot wait to delve into more of Maggy’s adventures.

Review of Stefanie London's The Dachshund Wears Prada

 Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Rating: 4.5

Theodore “Theo” Garrison is New York royalty, the orphaned son of an actress and a CEO of a major book chain. He is known to the public as the Hermit of Fifth Avenue. Theo inherits his grandmother’s ill-tempered, high-maintenance dachshund. When another dog sitter quits on him, he scrambles to find a replacement for Camilla. Isla seems to be the answer to all his canine problems. However, the beautiful yet caring woman threatens to disrupt his quiet, solitary life. Can Theo trust Isla? Or will she too use him as others did in the past.

Isla Thompson works as a social media consultant, until a mistake blacklists her. She hopes to eventually come back once the backlash wanes. However, she needs a job quickly to help support not only herself but her fourteen-year-old sister. Isla runs into an incognito Theo Garrison, who offers her a job as his dachshund’s dog sitter. The pooch proves to be a moody mess, just like her reclusive owner, and Isla refuses to give up on either of them. Can Isla win both Theo and Camilla’s trust? Will she make her social media comeback? And at what cost?

Theo tugged on my heartstrings. He may have been born into a wealthy and privileged family; however, his life had not been easy. Theo’s rudeness and closed-off disposition are his defense mechanism. I understand Theo’s dislike and distrust towards the press. They are partly responsible for his parents’ death, and they exploited him at his weakest when he was a young boy. What I love the most about Theo is how he recognized a fellow kindred spirit in Isla. He knows that she has been ridiculed by the press like he had. However, Isla did not allow that to corrupt her kindness towards others.

Isla is such a beautiful soul. She has endured many difficulties with her humanity and kindness intact. I admire Isla’s selflessness. She voluntarily steps forward to raise her half-sister when their mother abandoned them. Isla willingly sacrificed her happiness to support her sister’s dreams for the future. What I like the most about Isla is her compassionate nature. She recognized that both Camilla and Theo behaved rudely, only to protect themselves. She genuinely wanted to help them let go of their hurt and trauma to truly live.

THE DACHSHUND WEARS PRADA is book one in Stefanie London’s canine-oriented contemporary series, PAWS IN THE CITY. It is my first time reading this author’s works. Other than the brief TWILIGHT references, it did not disappoint. I admit that the title is what drew me to this book. I am a proud dachshund mother, so I love reading any story with this dog breed.

THE DACHSHUND WEARS PRADA is a cute and uplifting tale of two souls letting go of their past wounds to find love and acceptance. I hope Scout gets a happily-ever-after. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Review for Sherrilyn (Kenyon) McQueen's SHADOW FALLEN

 

Review courtesy of Romance Junkies

Rating: 4.5

Valteri the Godless has spent most of his life rejected and despised because of his mismatched eyes. He is a formidable knight for William the Conqueror. Valteri finds himself saddled with unwanted lands and a title instead of the promised monetary reward. His men return from a scouting recon with a mysterious, yet captivating, woman with amnesia. Something about Ariel calls to Valteri; however, he insists on keeping his distance from her. Can Ariel help Valteri overcome his inner demons? Or will outside forces steal her away from him?

Ariel is an Arel – an immortal being born from the powers of light to escort souls to their designated afterlife. She finds herself trapped in a human body with no recollection of her former self. Ariel also discovers that she is under a witch’s curse, doomed to watch the one she loves die miserably. She feels drawn to the broody Norman who took her in, but Ariel fights her attraction to spare him from the curse’s effects. However, other forces conspire against them. Can Ariel and Valteri thwart the curse? At what cost? And will Ariel regain her memories?

Valteri managed to tug on every one of my heartstrings. I have always had a weak spot for a wounded/tortured hero, and he is no exception. He is an exceptional man who has survived a childhood filled with pain, humiliation, and cruelty. Valteri never allowed his dark past to turn him evil or vicious. Instead, Valteri maintained his humanity, and I admire that about him. What I adore the most about Valteri is his protectiveness towards certain things and people. He may not have experienced love or kindness, but he refuses to hurt or abuse anyone weaker than him.

Ariel is everything I like in a heroine. She is a strong and capable woman who is not easily influenced by others. I love Ariel’s ability to see the true Valteri buried beneath years of neglect and hurt. She hates what people did to him in the past. What I admire the most about Ariel is her determination to convince Valteri to truly live. She refuses to allow anyone to hurt him verbally or physically. Plus, Ariel knows that Valteri is the most deserving person to survive and prosper.

SHADOW FALLEN is book five in Sherrilyn (Kenyon) McQueen’s paranormal romance series, DREAM-HUNTERS, an off shoot from her award-winning DARK-HUNTER series. It took me a while to understand how this story fit into that world. I should have refreshed myself, since it has been a couple years since I read a DARK-HUNTER book. For newbies, I highly suggest reading the prior books in both series to understand the characters and the supernatural aspect.

SHADOW FALLEN is Sherrilyn (Kenyon) McQueen’s way of announcing her return to the book world. I am so glad that this author has reclaimed her literary spark. She has overcome some personal issues that interfered in her writing and creative process. I cannot wait for the next installment!

Review of LAUGHING UNDER THE CLOUDS volume 6

 Rating: 4.5

The Orochi has successfully taken over his vessel… And the Fuma boldly side with him.

The Kumo brothers, and their allies, must find a way to destroy the Orochi for good. First, they need to separate the Orochi from its vessel. What part will the Kumo brothers play in this? Will Soramaru deal the finishing blow?

What can I say about this manga? The story and the characters kept me riveted. It wrenched all kind of emotions from me: I nibbled my nails in worry. I laughed. I cried.

The story is on the short side, but that’s okay. I loved seeing how the younger Kuma brothers grew within the volumes, especially Soramaru. He underwent the most growth.

This volume is the epic conclusion to the story.

I cannot wait to buy this manga for my personal collection.

REVIEW: Donna Grant's DRAGON UNBOUND

Rating: 3.5
 

Tamlyn is a Banshee raised on Zora. She risks her life rescuing children with magic from being sacrificed. Tamlyn encounters Cullen on her last rescue mission. She reluctantly agrees to allow him to help in her rescue endeavors. However, the priests and soldiers of Stonemore has set a trap for them. Will Tamlyn be forced to forsake the children? Can she and Cullen outwit the priests and soldiers?

Cullen is the Dragon King of the Garnets. He and other unmated Dragon Kings travel to Zora to help Brandr and Eurwen find the elusive enemy threatening them. Cullen comes to the aid of a woman and a child fleeing from soldiers. He wants to help Tamlyn, but he also needs to keep his promise to Constantine and Brandr. Can Cullen keep from instigating a war between the humans and dragons? Or will the enemy make that impossible?

I admire Tamlyn’s bravado and persistence in helping children like her (with magic). She refuses to let any remain in the priests’ evil presence. It hurts her when she fails. I like how Tamlyn is not afraid to call Cullen out on things. She knows trust goes both ways, so she does not want Cullen to keep things from her or to lie to her.

I love how Cullen refuses to ignore children’s plight. It sickened him to hear the injustices done to children with magic. Cullen is even willing to break his promise to Con and Brandr to help them.

DRAGON UNBOUND is book three in Donna Grant’s paranormal romance series, DRAGON KINGS, a spinoff from her DARK KINGS series. I recommend reading the prior series to understand the Dragon Kings and everything they have faced to this point. I love the fact that the entire story takes place on Zora - an alternate world similar to Earth. It did feel like there was no clear resolution. I wonder if the author plans to continue the problem with Stonemore in the next installment. I did have a few other minor nitpicks, but they are more geared towards my preferences.

Review of Fujimom's LOVESICK ELLIE

 

Eriko Ichimura is a socially awkward girl, who is always overlooked by her classmates. She only has one hobby: tweeting about her fantasies under an alias. However, Akira Ohmi, the most popular boy in school, discovers Ichimura’s secret. Yet, she also learns about his secret.

I could not help but to relate with Ichimura. I too often feel invisible to the people around me. She shows how that affect can have on a person, especially a teenager. I like how Ichimura discovers Ohmi’s secret, and yet, she senses why he behaves like that. She understands her shortcomings and accepts them.

LOVESICK ELLIE has this WOLF GIRL AND BLACK PRINCE vibe. I adored that manga. Ohmi reminds me of WGaBP’s Kyouya Sata, especially how both boys have two sides to their personality. They pretend to be pleasant and approachable on the outside, only to hide their cynic, true selves beneath.

I will definitely be adding this manga to my personal collections. And I cannot wait for any future volumes.