Fate Rising by Lindsay Grace

 

Synopsis:

He'd do anything to keep her safe... except give her up.

Aislinn is not what she seems.

When an ancient seer breaks her human glamour, it awakens a power she can't control. Kieran is determined to help her, but the strong bond connection they share renders her magic fatal.

If Aislinn cannot learn to tame her wild magic, she will lose more than just her fated mate.

She will forfeit her soul.

In a court torn asunder by an imposter king, impossible magic, and love unfulfilled, Kieran must choose between a crown he never wanted... or the beloved lass he would sacrifice everything for.

My Review: 5 Stars!

**WARNING** Do NOT start this book if you have plans to get things done. I'm here to tell you that it just isn't going to happen. Who needs food in their bellies and/or clean clothes when you have Fate Rising calling your name?! 

I don't even know where to begin with my review. This is one of those books that you are going to need to experience for yourself. What I can tell you is that you will feel irrationally angry and want to throw your kindle out the window. Trust me. Mine almost went right through my window with a half scream, half growl of frustration.

But don't worry. You'll be thanking me when Aislinn and Kieran have you melting into a big ol' pile of ooey gooey deliciousness. Talk about sizzling chemistry! YOWZERS! The romance in this book was on fire... literally... 😉 And it was just what this girl needed! *dreamy sigh*

I absolutely adored this book! I was on the edge of my seat the majority of the time and I could not read fast enough! Talk about action-packed from beginning to end. I loved every single minute of it! I am LOVING this series! It's phenomenal! I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the next book! 

Ms. Grace has officially added herself to my favorites and auto-buy lists. Any author who can get me to devour two of their books in such a short period of time, definitely deserves to be on them. This will be one of those times that I'll need to remind myself that writing takes time and that authors have lives that don't revolve around me and my need for their next book. But y'all. I need the next book like yesterday! 

And we can't forget my casting. I'm still loving these two! What do you think?

Fate Calling by Lindsay Grace

Synopsis:

A cursed fae prince. A feisty human lass. A fate they never expected...

All Aislinn Morgan wants is to live a peaceful life with her sister in the beautiful highlands of Scotland. When a hike on the Isle of Skye goes horribly awry and the sisters are taken to the mythical land of the fae, Aislinn will do anything to protect the only family she has left.

Even bargain with a beastly fae prince.

But the brooding, dangerous, and powerful Kieran O'Bairr is no ordinary fae. He has spent the last one hundred years in a self-imposed exile for a crime that haunts his every waking moment. The stubborn Aislinn Morgan is a complication he doesn't want, but his longing for the golden-haired lass is undeniable, her kissable lips a temptation he can't resist.

Aislinn is his fated mate.

And one desperate, stolen kiss will be his undoing.

My Review: 5 Stars!

Y'all. There are no words to describe how I'm feeling right now. Like none. I don't even know where to begin with my review. 

To say that I loved this book would be an understatement. From the moment I started it, the world around me ceased to exist and I lost all track of time. The word responsibilities was removed from my vocabulary and I could not devour this book fast enough. Talk about fast-paced, action-packed and swoony! It was incredible!

Aislinn (pronounced Ashlynn) and Kieran were phenomenal! I found myself rooting for them from the moment they met. There journey was definitely not sunshine and roses. After going through so much heartache and pain, both of them swore they would never fall in love. But a little thing called Fate had something else in store for them. 

I loved watching Aislinn and Kieran's relationship develop. Unlike a lot of urban fantasy books, theirs was not an insta-love. It took time and they struggled with feeling the way they did towards each other. There was a lot they had to deal with and I loved that they went at their own pace. Their love story is definitely one of my favorites. 

For me, a great book includes some pretty amazing side characters and this one was full of them. I think I loved Eamonn and Catriona the most though. They loved their siblings unconditionally and were fiercely loyal and protective. I can't wait to get to know them better in the next book. It's already downloaded and patiently waiting for me to devour it.  

Y'all. I was shocked when I discovered that this was Ms. Grace's debut novel. Had it not been for me looking her up on Amazon, I never would have guessed this was her first book. I love finding authors who are born with this kind of talent. She's definitely one I'll be keeping my eye on. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

As for my casting, it took a little while or me to find them but I am seriously in love with these two! What do you think?!

A Madness Most Discreet by Nichole Van

Synopsis:

Tennyson D'Angelo . . .

Darkness lives within each of us. Shadows. We are each capable of great goodness and unbelievable evil. It is the duality of being human.

I want to live in the light. I don't enjoy the shadows. But I'm not sure I've been given a choice in the matter.The shadows own me. They dance at my edges and tangle in my light. They torment my days and make my nights an anguished hell.

I simply want to be free. One way . . . or another.

They call him the Prophet.

Tennyson D'Angelo, the man who can foretell the future. A modern-day oracle. And Olivia Hawking desperately needs his help. She tracks him down in Italy, begging for his assistance. She has a life-or-death problem that only a bonafide psychic can solve. But Tennyson is slowly fracturing from within, the weight of the D'Angelo curse destroying him.

Olivia and Tennyson join forces, each searching for answers. But their understanding of the D'Angelo curse keeps changing, and Time is not on their side. Even as they fall in love, Tennyson and Olivia realize they are in a race against the clock. Will they find answers in time to save themselves?

My Review: 5 Stars

They call him The Prophet... the man who can foretell the future. No one knows his name... or if they do... they aren't saying much about him. But Olivia Hawking is desperate and will do anything she can to find him. He's her only hope for a future. 

Tennyson D'Angelo is fracturing from within. The madness from his family curse is slowly taking over his mind. He wants to be free and live in the light. But, in order for that to happen, they have got to find a way to seal up the scars and stop the daemon from attacking. If not, the curse will continue to plague the D'Angelo men for years to come. 

When Tennyson comes face to face with the woman he has been seeing in his visions, he just can't believe it. Olivia. His woman. His soul. He has been slowly falling in love with her but they can never be. He refuses to hurt her and that's just what will happen if he lets her in. 

But when he discovers that Olivia is tied to the curse, he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe and give her a future. Even if he's not in it. 

Wow! Just wow! Guys! I can't even right now! I am completely blown away with everything that happened in this book! I'm not even going to attempt explaining because I refuse to give anything away! There were twists and turns that I did NOT see coming! My advice? Don't try to figure it out... just go with the flow peeps! And the feels! The FEELS! The feels are BEYOND real! I cannot even begin to describe all the emotions I had running through my body! You name it and I felt it! Olivia and Tennyson are absolutely perfect for each other! I ADORE these two! I had a feeling they were going to be my favorite in this series and I was right! *dreamy sigh* 

I absolutely LOVE this series! It will be one that I read over and over again! It's seriously SO good! If you haven't read it yet, then I highly recommend you check it out! And if you want my opinion on what order you should read these books in, I would say in the order it was released... Gladly Beyond, Love's Shadow, Lightning Struck, Lovers and Madmen and A Madness Most Discreet. I don't think I would have fully appreciated the heart achingly beautiful love story of Judith and Cesare had I read it in any other order. 

Ms. Van is an amazing storyteller! I have loved all of her books I have read so far! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

And this casting! *dreamy sigh* I am in love with these two! What do you think?

Content: mild language

Lovers and Madmen by Nichole Van

Synopsis:

Florence, Italy. Summer, 1982.

Judith Campbell prides herself on her level head. She's a scientist with a ten-year plan, a well-managed bank account, and clear understanding of what she wants out of life. Currently, that means a summer of fun touring Europe with her friends. She intends to see some amazing scenery, flirt with a cute guy or two, and return home ready to settle down for good.

Falling madly in love with an Italian playboy is definitely not on her life goals to-do list. But then her eyes meet those of Cesare D'Angelo across a crowded piazza.

Cesare is everything Judith never knew she wanted. Handsome and charismatic, he challenges her assumptions and forces her rethink her logical approach to everything. Case in point--Judith finds herself falling for him, hard and fast. Definitely not her most carefully thought-out decision.

But Cesare keeps devastating secrets that will challenge Judith's very understanding of reality. And soon Judith finds herself facing the most difficult decision of all--Would you still chose to love someone even if your time together would be brief? Would you accept a relationship, knowing that only heartbreak and grief awaited you in the end?

My Review: 5 Stars

From the moment Cesare first saw Judith in a vision, he knew he would only ever love her. He knew everything about her. He yearned for her and knew that in the end, he would only ever bring her misery. But would his love for her outshine the misery? Would the love and happiness be worth it, if only for a short time? Would she choose him if she knew how things would end? These thoughts plagued Cesare constantly. He might have been content with the "what if's" had it not been for that one look across the piazza. But once they laid eyes on each other, the damage had been done. He just had to introduce himself to her. But would he ever be able to move on with just the memory of her touch, her scent, her voice? 

While travelling though Europe with her two best friends, Judith finds herself drawn to a mysterious Italian man. As a scientist she can't explain the connection she feels to Cesare but there is definitely something there. Who was this man who challenged her? Who encouraged her to be her true self? Who matched wits with her and pushed her outside of her comfort zone? And when did she start letting her heart rule her head? 

The more time Judith and Cesare spend together, the harder it becomes to see life without the other in it. But when Cesare's secret threatens to tear them apart, Judith has to choose. Will she be able to go back home to the states and let Cesare be just one beautiful memory in her life? Or will she choose to live her life with Cesare and have all his kisses and all his memories?

*dreamy sigh* 

All I can say is wow! Just wow! You guys! I absolutely LOVED Judith and Cesare's love story! It is heart achingly beautiful and oh so perfect! I found myself sucked in from the very beginning and had a hard time putting this book down! This series has been added to my favorites list! I love it!

Ms. Van is an extremely talented writer and I am so glad a fellow bookworm introduced me to her. She quickly became a favorite of mine. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! 

And of course there is no way I could forget my casting! This one was a little tough for me but I love these two! What do you think?

Lightning Struck by Nichole Van

Synopsis:

Chiara doesn’t like Jack. Jack doesn’t like Chiara.
The story should end there.
Except . . . maybe Chiara finds herself daydreaming far too often about Jack. And maybe Jack finds Chiara aggravating in an adorable sorta way.
Maybe Jack and Chiara find themselves falling in love.
The problem, of course, remains.
Jack is a ghost.
And Chiara is not.

Jack Knight-Snow has had a bad year for losing things. So far he has lost a ship full of ancient treasure, his family, his friends, his title, his lands and money, his fiancé, the century into which he was born . . . oh, and his physical body. Worse, feisty Chiara D’Angelo might just finish the job and make him lose his mind.

For her part, Chiara simply wants to help Jack get his body back and move on with his life. She doesn’t want to like his snarky humor or his gorgeous eyes or the way he accepts her exactly as she is. She’s a hot mess when it comes to romantic relationships. Case in point . . . she’s developing feelings for a ghost.

But tackling the problem of Jack’s ghostliness is not straightforward. Soon, Jack and Chiara find themselves embroiled in a mystery which creates more questions about the D’Angelo brothers’ gifts of Second Sight. Set against the backdrop of Tuscany, Italy, Jack and Chiara race to uncover answers about the past before becoming history themselves.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Chiara has been a problem solver and a fixer from an early age. She can't stand to see people in need and not help them. So it's only natural for her to want to help Jack get his body back so he can move on with his life. But the more time she spends with him, the more she wants to throttle him. How can one man be so frustratingly irritating, yet so handsome?! 

To say Jack has had a bad year would be an understatement. He has lost everything he has ever owned and loved. Now he's just a ghost.. a clinging memory of what once was. His only bright spot has been Chiara. Yes, the woman drives him absolutely crazy and she's a hot mess. But she's cute crazy and an adorable hot mess. 

As Chiara and Jack work together to figure out how to fix Jack's ghostliness, they unknowingly unearth more of the mystery behind the D'Angelos curse. But the more they uncover, the more questions arise. With danger lurking in both the human world and the shadow world, secrets, and prophecies of the past and the future, will Chiara and Jack be able to figure everything out before it's too late? And what does fate have in store for them? Are they doomed in love or will they finally get the HEA that they deserve?

Wow! All I can say is WOW! I will admit that this was a slow start for me. I wasn't invested in it from the beginning like I was the other books. But all the sudden, about halfway through, things started to click and I could NOT put this book down! My emotions were all over the place and I couldn't read it fast enough! There were twists and turns that I did not see coming! Just when I thought I *might* have figured something out... BAM! Plot twist! I have two words for you... mind blown! I LOVE it when that happens! 

Have I mentioned before that I am loving this series?! I have devoured it! I cannot wait to read Tennyson's book! And I am definitely keeping Ms. Van on my radar! It's always fun discovering a new author!

As for my casting... I think these two make the perfect Chiara and Jack! What do you think?!

Content: Mild swearing throughout.

Love's Shadow by Nichole Van

Synopsis:

Branwell D’Angelo . . .

Six years ago, I fell in love with Lucy—my brother’s girlfriend. Stupid of me, I know, but sometimes the heart doesn’t listen to reason.
Six years, I’ve lived on the sidelines. Seeing him love her, be with her, bask in her sunshine . . .
I watched her break his heart and then cleaned up the shattered pieces of him she left behind.
She’s the one woman I can’t have but still the only one my soul wants.
Now she’s back in our lives and needs the unique help only us D’Angelos can give.
He’s not emotionally strong enough to face her. So he’s sending me instead . . .

When tragedy strikes Lucy Snow on a visit to Italy, she can’t bring herself to call any of the D’Angelo brothers for help. There are consequences for falling in love with your ex-boyfriend’s brother. But Lucy desperately needs Branwell’s paranormal skills and his gift of Sight. And if seeing him will negate at least three years of therapy? Well, it’s a price she is willing to pay.

Thrown together in a desperate bid to save an innocent life, Branwell and Lucy struggle against their shared past, only to realize that something even more dangerous is reaching through the weight of time to stalk their every move . . .

My Review: 5 Stars

Six years. It has been six years since Lucy and Branwell met and fell in love. But theirs is not a happy story. Their story is filled with heartache and pain. You see, their love can never be. There is someone who stands in their way. Tennyson, Branwell's brother and Lucy's ex-boyfriend. Their love is forbidden. No one, including each other, can ever know how deep their feelings run. Branwell is fiercely loyal to Tennyson and Lucy would never dream of coming in between the two brothers. 

Locking their feelings up tight, they do what they have to in order to move on and live life the best they can... alone. 

But when tragedy strikes and Lucy's niece, Grace, comes up missing, Lucy has no other option but to turn to the D'Angelo's for help. One D'Angelo in particular... Branwell. From the moment she sees him again, she realizes that her feelings for him have only grown stronger. How will she ever be able to walk away from him again? One thing's for sure... she's going to need lots of therapy to get past this blip in the road. But she will do anything and everything she can to bring Grace home alive.

Branwell knew seeing Lucy again would be hard. His love for her is stronger than ever. One look at her and he knows he can never deny her anything. So he will help her find Grace. And when she is home, safe and sound, he will do what he has been doing for the last six years. He will lock his feelings up tighter than ever and go back to just existing without her. 

Thrown into a world of unknown, Lucy and Branwell work together to uncover the mystery behind Grace's disappearance. But the closer they get to figuring everything out, the stranger things become. They find themselves fighting against other worldly beings who are out for blood and Branwell seems to be the target. 

With danger lurking at the surface, Lucy and Branwell find it harder and harder to keep their feelings for each other hidden. So when disaster strikes again, Lucy breaks and can't keep her feelings for Branwell quiet any longer. One day. They just wants one day to feel normal, to not hide their feelings, to shower each other with all the love in the world. But once they both get a taste of what could be, will one day be enough?

But that one day is shattered in a blink of an eye. With Grace still missing, Tennyson's mental state hanging in the balance, and attacks of the paranormal kind, there is no way they can figure out where they stand. 

Will they find Grace before it's too late? Will they be able to uncover the mystery and be able to stop the attacks? And when all is said and done, will Lucy and Branwell be able to find their HEA? 

*dreamy sigh*

Oh. My. Gosh! The feels! The feels are most definitely real! My emotions were all over the place while reading this book! I laughed, I yelled, I got teary eyed, I growled in frustration, I let out little dreamy sighs and fell in love right along with Branwell and Lucy. I can't even begin to describe the amazingness of this book! One of my favorite parts of this book are the sour "punny" bears! *giggles* Oh! I can't forget about that epilogue! Love... love... LOVE! And talk about swoony! *dreamy sigh* I had the hardest time putting this book down! I have discovered a love/hate relationship with real life. Haha. 

In case you are wondering, Ms. Van has become an instant favorite! I am absolutely loving this series! I can't wait to read the next book! And I am DYING for Tennyson's book! Eeeeeeeek! I hope I don't have to wait too long! Haha. 

And my casting... *le sigh* I. Am. In. Love! What do you think?!

Content: Mild swearing.

Gladly Beyond by Nichole Van

Synopsis:

An ancient curse, fractured at the birth of three brothers.
Two strangers helplessly drawn to each other.
A love story two hundred years in the making.

Claire Raythorn arrives in Florence, Italy, shattered, alone, and anxious to rebuild her life—preferably one without men. But she soon finds herself hunted and haunted— literally—when a mysterious stalker dressed like Mr. Darcy from BBC central casting appears in her photos. And only her photos. Who is this man? And what does his ghostly presence mean?

Dante D’Angelo simply wants to safeguard his brothers, despite the family curse that hounds his vision. But then Claire Raythorn walks into his life, untouched somehow by his curse. Soon, everything Dante thought he knew about himself starts to unravel, dragging Claire down with him.

Set against the lush backdrop of Florence, Italy—both past and present—Claire and Dante fight for a future together. But, first, they must uncover their shared past . . .

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Alone and broken, Claire finds herself in Florence, Italy determined to rebuild her life and career. She wouldn't be in this situation if it hadn't been for her cheating boyfriend. Thanks to him posting the video of her reaction when she discovered him cheating, she is now known as "Batty Ray Psycho". Everyone sees her as the bad guy instead of the victim. Never again will she let a man into her life. She can and will do this on her own. 

On the day of her interview with the Colonel, a wealthy man with a vast art collection, she discovers that she is being followed. A man dressed as a Mr. Darcy look alike is showing up in all of her selfies. She doesn't need this. Not today. It's bad enough that she already has a cyber stalker and that her interview turned out to be an audition between her, her cheating ex-boyfriend and Dante D'Angelo. Can't one thing go right for her?! Too much is riding on her getting this job. She just needs to put her head down and focus on the job. There can be no distractions and definitely no men. No matter how attractive and intriguing Dante D'Angelo is. She needs to stay strong and stay far away. 

An ancient curse has plagued Dante's family for many years. But this time around, it's different. This time there are triplets. One to see the past, one to hear the past and one to see the future. Dante has so much on his plate where is family is concerned, he doesn't have time for anything else. But then he meets Claire. She is completely blank to him. He sees nothing of her past. How can that be? Is his ability on the fritz? Who knows. But there is something about Claire that draws him in. He can't explain it but he has to get to know her better. He wants to be by her side always. To protect her, help her, laugh with her, enjoy life with her. He'll definitely have his work cut out for him. 

While Claire and Dante work to find the origin of a painting, they discover that their lives are more entwined than they ever imagined. The more they get to know each other, the more their feelings grow. However, with Claire's past, she has a hard time trusting Dante and letting him in. But with everything going on with her cyber stalker, the Colonel acting creepy and weird, her ex-boyfriend popping up out of no where, a man following her and Dante, she has to put her trust somewhere. She is tired of living in fear. It is time to take back her life and actually live it. Will they be able to figure everything out before it's too late? One thing is for sure, curse or no curse, neither Claire nor Dante will go down without a fight. 

*dreamy sigh*

WOW! I forgot how much I enjoyed this book. Just like the first time, once I started it, I could not put it down. I was sucked into the world of Claire and Dante and loved every minute of it. This book kept me on my toes and had me guessing till the very end. There were so many twists and turns that I did not see coming. I'm looking forward to rereading the other books in this series. 

If you haven't read anything by Ms. Van, then I would highly recommend you give her books a try. I have absolutely loved every book of hers I have read. I'm looking forward to see what she has in store for us next! 

Ok... I'm not going to lie. This casting was SO hard! I can't tell you how many pictures I looked at of this guy. Haha. So... without further adieu... my casting!

Content: Mild swearing.

Fated by K. M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

I thought I hated not fitting in. Turns out I hate having a target on my back even more.

Someone wants me taken out. To accomplish that, they leaked the secret of my magic to all the Packs in the Midwest. Now, almost every Alpha in the region has traveled to my hometown in hopes of convincing me to join their Pack.

And some of them don’t seem to think I should have a choice.

Greyson won’t stand for that—something he makes deadly clear to the other Alphas. What they don’t know is that I’m his long missing mate. But wolves and hunters are enemies, and my hunter magic blocks me from accepting the bond…even though I’m starting to wish I could.

Our incomplete mate bond is a constant drain on Greyson. Its existence puts him in danger—something he stubbornly ignores.

But as risky as our bond is, I have to stay focused on the biggest threat at the moment.

Whoever shared the secret of my powers wants to destroy our Pack. And we’re about to find out how far they’ll go to make that happen.

My Review: 3 Stars

Confession. I am probably going to be in the minority for this one but y'all. I struggled with getting through this book. I really, really wanted to love this book but I just ended up liking it. 

I hate to say it, but Pip went right back to being the annoying, frustrating heroine that she was through the majority the first book. However, just like in the first book, towards the end of this one, she started to redeem herself. But it felt like too little, too late for me. I had a hard time getting behind her when she was playing the "woe is me" character. It was depressing and wasn't a good look for her. 

And just like in the first book, Greyson is the only thing that kept me reading until the very end. There may or may not have been a few times that I was begging him to break the bond with Pip and move on. But alas. The heart wants what the heart wants. All I can say is the man is a freaking saint.

Other than Pip, there were a few reasons I struggled with this book. The first being, I called who the "bad guy" was before I even finished reading book 2. That whole storyline was a bit weak and kinda came out of nowhere. The second reason I struggled is because of all the repetitiveness throughout the entire series. I got so frustrated reading the same thing over and over and over again. It kinda felt like I was being beat over the head with the various aspects of the story. And finally the romance, or lack there of. Since this was the final book in the series, I was really hoping the romance would be there for the majority of the book. But nope. I feel gypped again. 

Like I said, I really wanted to love this book and love this series, but it just fell flat for me. And I know it's just my personal preferences. There's a reason Ms. Shea is so popular and successful. I would recommend her to all my bookish friends who love G rated romances. 

I am still loving these two for Pip and Greyson... *dreamy sigh*

Magic Unleashed by K.M. Shea

Synopsis:

Ever had ex-housemates you can’t get rid of?

When Killian and the rest of the Drake vampires kicked me out of their mansion without any explanation, I felt beyond betrayed…

I was livid!

But I refused to waste my energy thinking about them. Thanks to all the free training I got while living with vampires, I had the skills I needed to finally free my family. I even got my house back! Best yet, I can pass on the magic techniques and fighting skills I’ve learned to all the wizards in our group.

As long as I ignore the rotating vampires standing watch on the corner across the street, life is normal again…until the fae risk injuring hundreds of supernaturals just to stage a surprise attack on Killian.

There’s no way I’m going to let the fae get away with this. I may be furious with Killian, but I hate bullies even more.

But, big surprise, my good deed won’t go unpunished. I knew I’d face a fallout for saving the most feared and lethal vampire in the Midwest—I just never imaged the lengths Killian would go through to protect me and win me back…

Magic Unleashed is the final book in the Hall of Blood and Mercy trilogy, which features vampires, wizards, fae, and werewolves. It's packed with humor, adventure, and a sweet, slow burn romance between a vertically challenged wizard and the deadliest vampire in town.

My Review: 4 Stars

It's no secret that I've been devouring this series. It has kept my attention from beginning to end, which is saying something since I don't do trilogies. I couldn't wait to dive into the final installment.

Hazel and Killian were amazing. I really enjoyed getting to know them even better and watching their relationship develop. With Hazel being a wizard and Killian being a vampire, these two shouldn't work. But they do and they're actually pretty perfect together.

Another fast-paced, action-packed book. A great ending to a fun series. I'm not going to lie, I figured out what was going to happen pretty early on in the book. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.   

While I really, really wanted to love this book, but I just ended up liking it. The series definitely gave me the break from reality I love but it was lacking when it came to the romance. Yes, there were some swoony moments and a few kisses throughout the series but for me? There just wasn't enough. I kinda feel a little gypped. Lol.

This is the second series of Ms. Shea's that I have read and I have another one on my TBR list. I'm looking forward to reading more books by her. 

As for my casting... I still really love these two! What do you think?

Magic Redeemed by K.M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

I thought life would be easier after I unsealed my magic.
Spoiler: it’s not.

I want to free my family from my traitorous cousin, but with all the allies he’s got guarding his back, even my new powers won’t be enough to beat him. My best bet is to use my parents’ signet ring to prove my claim of leadership.

There’s just one problem…

I can’t find it!

Things aren’t looking so good for my vampire housemates, either. As Killian Drake’s conflicts with the fae get worse, it's clear that war will break out soon if something doesn’t change.

Plus, Killian has gotten really weird about smelling me and invading my personal space. Every time he comes near my heart almost pops out of my chest, but I’m sure that’s just terror caused by being so close to the most feared vampire in the region.

At least that’s what I keep telling myself.

So, I’m a wizard searching for a ring while trying to survive living with a bunch of vampires and their deadly and suddenly touchy-feely leader. Yeah, life is definitely not easier.

My Review: 4.5 Stars

Y'all. What. The. Crap. Just. Happened?! Like for reals! What just happened?! I don't even know where to start with my review because I do not want to give anything away! 

Hazel is still freaking fantastic! I love a heroine who is not afraid to hold her own. Her sass and snark are in full swing in this one and I loved every minute of it! She's quickly becoming one of my favorite heroines. 

As for Killian. *le sigh* You remember me saying that I don't want to give anything away? Well. I can't really tell you what I think of Killian right now. All I can say is... that man. 

This is another fast-paced and action-packed book that I had an extremely hard time putting down. I may or may not have missed church while reading this book. Oops!

Ms. Shea did another phenomenal job sucking me in from the very beginning and not letting me go until the very end. Although, she still hasn't let me go because I really don't want to be writing this review right now. I just have to dive right back in to see how the series end! 

So before I go... I gotta throw in my casting. I still love these two! What do you think?!

Magic Forged by K.M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

I'm one scrappy wizard. As someone with barely a flicker of magic, I've spent my life being mocked and surviving fights with bullies. But when my parents die in an accident, and I find myself responsible for our whole wizard house and family, I know my usual tactics aren't going to cut it.

The situation veers from bad to catastrophic when my backstabbing cousin stages a coup and takes my family hostage. I barely manage to flee, but the only supernatural willing to help me is Killian Drake - the most feared vampire in the region, and a far more deadly villain than the jerk threatening my family.

Is Killian sexy and charismatic? Heck yeah.

He's also so powerful that my flight or fight instincts kick in every time our eyes meet. And he's definitely using me as his personal magic detector in his feud against the local fae.

But Killian is also the first person to believe I might have more than just a scrap of magic. And if I can convince him to train me, I might get strong enough to free my family and get my house back.

I'm not sure what happens when a scrappy wizard is taught how to fight by a hall of deadly vampires, but I'm about to find out.

My Review: 4 Stars

Confession. My readers soul has been so deprived of urban fantasy books that it's not ready to stop reading them! Although I am definitely missing the romance in these books! Lol.

From the moment I picked up this book, I had a hard time putting it down. I was quickly transported to Drake Hall where I was immersed into the mystery that was dogging the heels of the Drake Family.

Y'all. Hazel is fantastic! I love that she was full of sass and snark and could definitely hold her own against Killian. She's definitely an underdog and has been thrown some cheap shots her entire life, but that doesn't stop her from being a straight up good person who will always do what she feels is right. 

Killian isn't quite sure what to think of Hazel but she definitely intrigues him. She brings out a side in him that no one has seen in a long time, if ever. I will admit that I had a hard time connecting to Killian at first, but the more Hazel wormed her way into his life, the more I started to like him. These two definitely make a unique pair, but they work. 

It's been an extremely crazy and stressful week so immersing myself into the phenomenal world K.M. Shea has created is just what the doctor ordered. She definitely has me hooked. I can't wait to dive into book 2 in this series.

And of course we can't forget my casting, what do you think?

United by K.M. Shea

Synopsis:

A wolf is attacking the humans of Timber Ridge and changing them into werewolves—against their will.

The change process is extremely dangerous and involves bloodshed. It isn’t something that happens by accident, which can only mean one thing.

Someone is doing this on purpose.

I’m going to find the rampaging sicko responsible for this outbreak, even if it means I have to master my new magic to stop them.

Thankfully, Greyson—the Pack Alpha and the most powerful wolf in the Midwest—is always down for a hunt. The only problem is that I’m starting to find him attractive—which is the worst thing I could do. He’s got an incomplete mate bond, and since I’m a hunter, I could never be a wolf’s mate.

That’s okay. I’m used to being alone. I'm a werewolf hunter, not part of the Pack. But that’s an awfully dangerous place to be when there is a rogue wolf on the loose.

My Review: 4 Stars

Y'all. I wish this would've been my first introduction to Pip. In the first book, I barely tolerated her and the only thing that kept me reading was Greyson. My opinion of her did a complete 180° in this book.

Pip was awesome. I loved seeing her find her place and realizing who she is to the Pack. Granted, there were times she was a bit annoying and acted like a teenager instead of a 24 year old, but I definitely see me being Team Pip by the end of this series.

Once again, Greyson was fantastic! He's definitely one of my favorite Alphas. I loved all his interactions with Pip. You can see these two making the best team for the Pack once they finally get their acts together. I really enjoyed watching their relationship grow more in this book.

While there still wasn't as much romance as I like in the books I read, it had a little more than the first. I'm really, really hoping the romance amps up in book three! After all this waiting we deserve lots and lots of swoony kisses dang it! 😂

PSA for all those who do not like cliffhangers. Do NOT read this series until the final book is released. You'll find yourself extremely frustrated that you can't just grab the next book and dive right in. Trust me on this one. I wish I would've waited. 😝

I've only read a few books by K.M. Shea, but I plan on reading more by her. Some of my bookish friends have convinced to read the other two series set in this world. While both are slow burn, and I really dislike that kind of romance, I'm still looking forward to giving them a try.

And of course the casting is the same. I still love these two!  

Hunted by K.M. Shea

 

Synopsis:

Ever feel like you don’t belong?

Try being a hunter living with werewolves. I’m the definition of “doesn’t fit in”. I’m not Pack, but I’m not the enemy, either.

I struggle to survive among werewolves who are stronger and faster than me, and are competitive enough to break a bone or two for the sake of “fun.”

Greyson, their alpha, is the worst of them all.

Blatantly relentless and twice as deadly, Greyson rules the Pack and expands its territory even though it’s already the largest in the region. I just wish he’d stop interfering with my life. He’s got enough trouble of his own with his incomplete mate bond, but he’s made it his hobby to tease and test me at every opportunity.

Doesn’t my life sound fun?

When wolves from surrounding packs start mindlessly attacking the innocent humans in our city, Timber Ridge, everything changes.

Werewolves don’t turn feral without reason. Which means someone is making this happen, and they’re targeting our Pack.

I don’t like where this is going, but how am I supposed to stop a feral wolf outbreak when I’m just one hunter? Can Greyson and I set aside our differences to see the Pack through this?

My Review: 3.5 Stars

Confession. I absolutely love werewolf books! Like LOVE them! Sadly it's so hard to find good clean ones and that frustrates me. So much so, that I may or may not have asked authors in the past if they would ever consider writing one because I need werewolf books! 😂

I have a bookish friend who loves them just as much as I do! So when she reached out telling that I had to read a certain werewolf book, it was a no brainer! I had to read it!

Pip is a Hunter who was orphaned at the age of 12. When none of the other Hunter families would take her in, she was adopted into the Northern Lakes Pack. As she grew older, she didn't feel like she belonged. Not that the Pack wasn't welcoming, because they were. She just couldn't find her place.

It's no secret that Pip doesn't like Greyson. She's a bit bitter when he was brought in to replace the original Alpha who welcomed her into their Pack. While she doesn't go out of her way to be rude and disrespectful to Greyson, she has no qualms in needling him whenever she can. It was kinda funny at times. 

I’m not going to lie, I struggled getting into the book. I had the hardest time connecting to Pip. While she did grow on me, I wasn't her biggest fan. Greyson, on the other hand, I loved from the beginning. It was clear he didn't feel the same way about her that she did about him. He was always there whenever she, or any of the Pack, needed him. He was the best!

PSA for all of those who are all about the romance. I honestly wouldn't consider this a romance. Some readers may disagree with me but there was like zero romance. I may or may not be a bit bitter that we didn't get any kissing. Y'all know how much I love me some swoony kisses! I don't have any hope that there will be kisses in book 2 but I'm still going to read it anyway. Lol.

As for my casting, I'm loving these two! What do you think?