A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Definitely enjoyed this one. I love Greek mythology and this didn’t disappoint. It’s not your same old story. It was an easy read and it got me hooked. I need to read the next book now! The author did a good job of keeping it interesting throughout the story. Absolutely recommend if you enjoy mythology at all.
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A re-telling of the story about Apollo the Greek God and his lover Hyacinth. Greek God, or oh my God? This book was ok, but not really a steamy read. I so wish it had more in the romance department. It didn’t wow me, but it wasn’t all bad. You should give it a chance and see for yourself if you like it or not.
The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a really good story. Definitely had me guessing and I didn’t expect the ending! I was a little put off by the fact that it talks a lot about covid, but it’s set during that time. The author does a very good job of world building and character development. It was very hard to put down!
The True Purpose of Vines by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
The True Purpose of Vines (The Winemakers #1) by Giovanna Siniscalchi
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. The True Purpose of Vines is a great read. If you like historical romance you’ll love this book. This is the first book in The Winemakers Series.
Griffin is there to buy the vineyard. He doesn’t expect a headstrong woman to deny him. Can they work together and make something come between them? The quote I chose for Griffin is: “A few weeks. I’m going to the high Douro. My late uncle’s Quinta is leaking more money than a drainpipe, and I will set it to rights.”
Julia is a headstrong woman. She doesn’t want to sell and she isn’t going to go down easily. Meeting Griffin throws a wrench in her plans. The quote I chose for Julia is: “Vesuvio wine is different. To compare it with the other Quintas is unfair, if not insulting. Some of our neighbors add elderberries to improve color. Some don’t even prune their grapevines. It’s all quantity for them.”
Highly recommended for Historical Romance lovers.
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
You definitely have to have a general understanding of Greek Mythology and the God’s before you read this novel (otherwise I do not know that I would have understood it as well as I did). I feel like the author did a great job incorporating the characters and really getting into their personality in a relatively short book and I applaud the author for that. The detail was immaculate from the characters to the plot and the world building.
The reason I gave this four stars instead of five was because I struggled to dive into this book like I have with other Greek Mythology books in the past. Otherwise this novel would have definitely been a five star read for me. I also loved that it was a different take on Apollo; before he ascends. I do give the author creativity points for thinking outside of the box with this different point of view. I would recommend this novel to any romance and/or Mythology reader.
Review by @aware
The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Margaret, a poor girl from the South has big dreams of becoming someone besides a replica of her mother laden down with children and being nothing but a wife and mother. She wants to experience life away from becoming what is expected of her and breaking the pattern. Can she, do it? What would you do in order to leave your parent’s house and become your own person? What sacrifices would you make for your family and children?
Such a wonderful character in Margaret. What a strong individual that endured so much and sacrificed just as much in order to succeed! The characters in this story are well written and easy to identify with. It was so easy to see me standing in the place of Margaret and living through the tough times that she did. The story was easy to read and just as fun. I was taken through a gambit of emotions and at the end felt very fulfilled with the choices and decisions made by the characters. I even felt a bit sorry for the father in the book. Great read. Pick up a copy and enjoy a break from your life by living through Margaret’s.
Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shanghaied and depleted of vital lifeforce and dumped into a room with others like you who are awaiting the day of their wedding to men who paid for a wife, Greer is fuming but determined to make something out of her life besides living someone else’s script. The boat ride that she barely survived but remembers the dark shadow that came to her often. Is it love or is it lust? Is he real or just a figment of her dream state?
What a great read! The book had my attention from page one, and I could not put it down. The characters were so well developed and easily relatable to whether you agreed with their choices or not. The story just kept moving right along and now I am anxious for the next book in the series. What will happen to Greer and The Casket Girls next? I cannot wait to find out but first read this book!
The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I did not know what I was getting into when I choose this book. All I saw in the description is a world event that turned everything into chaos. Unlike other books where it’s about zombies or natural disasters destroying the world. It’s about the current time when COVID happened. At first, I felt indifferent because it is still going on and after a while, it becomes old news. Though this book brought a twist to the present which interested me and keep me reading.
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow.. I do love when an author takes on the task of writing a “fractured Fairytale” or any new twist on a “known tale”. This is an amazing take on Apollo and the Greek Pantheon.
This is a re-telling that humanizes the Gods and paints them a bit differently than I’ve seen before. Apollo is the future Sun God, one he ascends, and we get to see him in a mortal form. He has serious parent issues, as you can imagine any child of Zeus would, and he’s jaded about life. We also meet his mortal sister Temi, who is a total Bad@$$!
Due to what Zeus perceives as Apollo’s many failings, he forces him to make a choice, ascend immediately or spend a year being mentored by the Prince Hyacinth. Since Apollo isn’t ready to give up his humanity yet he goes to stay with the Prince, and Temi goes with since she isn’t letting her brother give up or go alone.
We meet Prince Hyacinth in depth and his beautiful sister Princess Epiphany. Both of which aren’t what you expect. You also briefly meet their other brother. Our characters are a brilliant balance of strength and vulnerability. They jump off the pages and crawl into your heart.
With a beautifully written cast and world that feels like you can reach out and touch it, this story positively gleams with creativity. The imagery evoked is breathtaking and I can’t wait to read the next book.
The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This fantasy romance had a fairytale feel to it, which held me captivated from start to finish. I liked the added folklore elements to the storyline, and I felt immersed in the world the author has created, due to the descriptive narrative. The suspense really built as the story went on, and the journey to find the mythical, wish-granting creature, which is shrouded in myth continued. I liked the main characters, Elodie and Sebastian, and really felt for them, especially Elodie and her wish to have a child and become a mother. Elodie’s desperation for a baby really came across in the story, and I felt as though I was there with her and Sebastian when they embarked on their dangerous quest to find the ‘Wish-Eater’. This was a heartwarming and at times heartbreaking story which dealt with a sensitive issue, in Elodie’s wish for a baby. An engaging read, which I recommend.
This Night Has Ended by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was so good. It was a fitting end for the series. Rowena’s journey had so many different paths it could have taken but I really like the path the author chose. I love the fact that at the end the reader finds that Rowena and Vincenzo do get a happy ending, although not in the way the reader might have anticipated. This author developed a dynamic world and story, I look forward to reading more from her.
This Night Has Ended by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow what an ending! I have really enjoyed this series and I am a bit sad to see it end but what an end. I like how the author was able to keep the action up and keep the reader’s attention. I really love vampire books and this was just what the doctor ordered. I really like how this book flowed from the previous and kept up the drama and story going. I just could not put this book down.
I love how the characters enhance one another and the chemistry keeps up from book 1 to book 5. I really like how it is character driven and how the ending really is an ending not really any loose ends or what ifs. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
View all my reviews
The Wolf’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When epidemiologist Joanie Fisher’s life is thrown into a rather terrifying knot of confusion, the last thing she expects is to come into an inheritance from her recently deceased grandfather. What’s even more unexpected is the streak of missing children that, oddly enough, is happening in the same town in which her grandfather just mysteriously died in. To make matters even worse, it seems what’s happening in the town may just be tied to research she had been doing before her lab burned down. When too many coincidences begin making more sense, Joanie must come to terms with a surprising truth… I enjoyed the more medical-based perspective on lycanthropy that showed in this book and found the premise of this series intriguing.
The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The title really says it all!: “A totally gripping thriller full of twists” and boy was it!! First of all- I loved the characters, they were so fleshed out, with Josie being my favorite. The story really was twisty and kept throwing me through a loop. I’m a big fan of mysteries, especially ones that I can’t figure out before the end, and this one did that for me! Being able to read Josie’s journal and seeing her inner thoughts through that medium made me feel more immersed and interested in the storyline. I HAD to finish this in one reading! I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read more by this author! One of my favorite reads this month for sure- if you love mysteries give this one a chance!!! (Also- having this take place during COVID just adds another element where you really feel involved- or at least I did!)
Snap Me Up by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Snap Me Up (Full Throttle Cyborgs Book 1) by Landra
Wow! To say I loved this book is quite the under statement! What a great start to this new series. This is a Sci-Fi/Romance that I found to be a bit intense at times. The author does an amazing job of bringing the characters to life and keeping your attention. I pretty devoured this book. This is a story about Snapper and Gina. She’s just trying to figure out what it means to be human all while working in a garage with Snapper. He’s the kind of person who likes everyone or it was until he met her.. These find themselves working together on a motor after it’s failed. These two have some serious chemistry between them. But he can be a jerk. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. I can’t wait to read more from this Author.
The Wish-Eater by Claire Luana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this fantasy romance story. The author does a great job of mixing romance with fantasy. I really related to the part of the story of Elodie’s struggle to become a mother after going through this myself. The author handled this situation in a delicate moving way and Elodie’s story really connected with me.
Everyone wants things in their life that they can’t have. All Elodie wants is to become a mother, her marriage is an unlovable one and she feels a baby will help reconnect her and her husband but every year the baby doesn’t appear.
Sebastian also has a wish he wants and thats the love of Elodie. Obviously due to her circumstances that wish can’t be fulfilled.
However, when Elodie hears a story about a mythical creature called a Wish Eater Sebastian decides to join her on the quest to find it so that her wish to be a mother can come true.
As the pair go on their adventure of a creature that may not even exist they realise that the love they were trying to find could have been in front of them all along.
The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lets just say this is a romance, cruising through rough waters. We never know what to expect in our day to day life. Vandana will experience something she never would have happened between her and her husband. With life crashing down on her. Vandana is offered a job of a lifetime. One that could change her journey as well as land a HEA. Morgan is a well known Yacht designer and knows what he wants and what he does not need. He has asked Vandana to go with him to Monaco and Genoa to help promote his yachts. That is all I am going to say about these two strong characters. This new to me author has really set the bar high with this romance. The story is fast paced and will keep you reading to the end. I loved this story and the adventure it unfolded. While this story is a romance, you will find it to be steamy as well as suspenseful. I Loved It!
Review@cinful
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
TRIGGERS!!
5/5 Stars
A Veil of Gods and Kings: Apollo Ascending #1 by Nicole Bailey
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. A Veil of Gods and Kings is an amazing read. If you don’t like M/M Romance then this isn’t for you. This is the first book in the Apollo Ascending Series.
Apollo is a God who enjoys sex. It doesn’t matter if it’s with a male or female. When his father finds out he wants to prove a point with Apollo. Can Apollo find true love or will he be what his father wants? The quote I chose for Apollo is: “How generous of Zeus that he has the law that anyone can choose fruit that has fallen?”
Hyacinth has fallen for a God. He wants all of Apollo and isn’t sure how to get it. Can he survive the changes coming? The quote I chose for Hyacinth is: “I love you, just as you are, too. All of you. Let me see.”
Highly recommended for Mythology M/M Romance lovers.
The Traitor, An Underground Bad Boys Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Phenomenal story line, captivating characters & explosive sex….doesn’t get any better than this!!
Bad boy Spencer Knox, escaped a violent past that he isn’t proud of & decided to setup shop in a small, Colorado town where everyone knows everyone. Each morning, Knox would see this beautiful girl, walking by the lake outside his secluded cabin, despite the freezing temperatures. Didn’t take Knox long to learn that his mysterious beauty was Josie Baird, a sweet, haunted, young girl who according to his busybody secretary Georgia, is in the middle of an ugly divorce. Josie is exhausted & destitute—working three jobs and living in a run down shack close to Knox by the lake, void of electricity or running water, using every penny she earns to pay her no good husband off so that he will sign the divorce papers and finally allow Josie to be free! When a family celebration takes Knox’s secretary out of town for a few weeks, Georgia decides to take matters into her own hands and offers Josie her position until she is able to return. The attraction between Knox & Josie is immediate and intense, however neither is in a position for an entanglement….BUT the sexual chemistry is just too much to ignore and before long they are enjoying and abusing each other’s bodies. Knox’s old pal Gage, from his previous life, shows up in town and is seeking a job. Knox hires Gage on at the shop, as well as takes him in as a house guest. When Knox realizes that Josie is living in a condemned shack, he also insists that she too come & stay at his place. Sparks sizzle between the three of them until they all give into their most wicked desires. It’s all promiscuous fun, until feelings develop and jealousy rages.
With a few twists and turns along the way, the relationship between Knox, Josie, & Gage sets the pages on fire. I was completely glued to my sit, unable to flip the pages fast enough, anxious to learn of the outcome. So captivated I was able to finish reading in just a few hours! I thought book one in the series was terrific. Hard to believe that author India Kells was able to surpass the excellence of the first book, but she did! Can not wait to dive into book 3 of the series, certain that Ms. Kells will be saving the best for last!
The Cruiser by Rowan Rossler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
The Cruiser: A Millionaire Romance (The Hustlers Trilogy #1) by Rowan Rossler
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. The Cruiser is an amazing read. It’s the first book in The Hustlers Trilogy Series. The author is amazing.
Vandana is married, well she was until she found out that her husband was cheating on her. Now she’s picking up the pieces and is doing her PR job. Can a millionaire help her out? The quote I chose for Vandana is: “Because you’re brilliant in ways I’m not. Because together, we’re better. Go. And don’t you dare call me next week. I’ll handle Mr. de Rohan -Chabot all on my own.”
Morgan has millions and can’t find love. He doesn’t want someone who is after his money. He wants someone that can make their own, but still rely on him. The quote I chose for Morgan is: “Yes, I’d like your opinion. I’m thinking there might be more she can offer than PR. She’s an excellent people person. Curious about design. Perhaps she can assist in growing that division.”
Highly recommended for Contemporary Romance lovers.
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my first book by this author and I loved it. this is a multi pov retelling of Apollo and it was done excellently.
it’s difficult to not give away spoilers with this book but this is enemies to lovers, women finding their way in a male dominated society and multiple characters finding their way under immense pressure and expectations.
Apollo is half mortal and has been avoiding ascension at every turn living with his mortal spunky sister. His father finally gives him an ultimatum Ascend now or spend a year with an obnoxious entitled prince learning how to behave correctly.
This was a very interesting retelling of Greek Mythology and you will fall in love with each character for a different reason. can’t wait to read more of this series!
The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
This is the first read by the author. The Last Cabin Girl is an amazing read. It is a definite must read.
Josie is a divorcee and a single mother. Now she’s just got to figure out how to do it. When dead bodies start turning up she finds that her ex was into something dangerous. The quote I chose for Josie is: “Shut up, Eddie. If you think you’re going to kill me with that thing, I’ll at least leave you some scars to remember me by.”
Highly recommended for Crime lovers.
Snap Me Up by Landra Graf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Snap Me Up (Full Throttle Cyborgs #1) by Landra Graf
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Snap Me Up is a great read. It’s the first book in the Full Throttle Cyborgs Series. A must read if you like sci-fi.
Snapper works in a garage and races on the side. He doesn’t like Gina when she first shows up. Then they start spending time together. Can their love last even though she’s not human? The quote I chose for Snapper is: “S**t. Slow down then. Those weren’t there when you did reconnaissance the other day.”
Gina is an AI. She’s looking for something and hopes to find the answer at Full Throttle. Only problem is Snapper doesn’t trust her. Can she gain his trust? The quote I chose for Gina is: “I would be happy to, though you should know that if you added an extra row of plugs, it would be able to distribute the load more evenly.”
Highly recommended for Sci-fi Romance lovers.
Manipulator’s War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Manipulators War by Elise Carlson is book one in the ruarnon trilogy.
this book is the first book I have read with a non-binary main character. I really appreciated the LGBTQIA+ representation within this book. I felt that the author dealt with the representation in a realistic and compassionate way.
This is a realistic fantasy world with a slow start as we build up the background, politics and are introduced to this new world running alongside ours. This was captivating, immersive and thrilling. I loved the echoes to other great fantasy reads and I am fascinated as to where this series will lead to and I will definitely be continuing on within this series.
The Last Cabin Girl: A totally gripping thriller full of twists by Tom Swyers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book I have read by Tom Swyers and it will not be the last.
Josie finally escapes her abusive husband with her two children. She feels she could be safe in her parents old cabin. Then the covid 19 pandemic begins and dead bodies start showing up.
I am a massive fan of thrillers and read a lot of them so it takes something special to impress me. This book was full of drama, twists, turns, surprises and kept me interested until the end.
This Night Has Ended by Alexander Charalambides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This Night Has Ended by Alexander Chardambides is book 5 in the Vampire State. In my opinion the best way to read this series is in the numerical order of release so you get the most enjoyment out of the series. The series in my opinion is YA and aimed at 14-18 year olds.
“As Rowena’s dread transformation continues, the empire is plunged into chaos. Can Rowena retain her humanity even when her body betrays her.”
Rowena is a strong character and you cannot help but admire her strength and tenacity. the characters and worldbuilding throughout the whole series has been breathtaking. I really enjoyed this alternative look at vampires and how it shakes up the stereotypes. I would highly recommend this series for fantasy and dystopian lovers.
A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending Book 1) by Nicole Bailey
A Veil of Gods and Kings is the first book in the Apollo Ascending Series. This is a Mythical Romance that once you start reading you won’t want to put it down until you’ve finished. I honestly wasn’t real sure what to expect going in but man its worth the read. This is a fairly new author to me and I’m definitely going to check out what other books they have written. The authors style of writing and attention to detail blows me away. This is a retelling of the story of Apollo and Hyacinth. This story will have you turning the pages to see what will happen next. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what happens next. Im already eagerly waiting for the next book in this series.
Snap Me Up by Landra Graf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars
Snap Me Up is the first exciting instalment in the new series ‘Full Throttle Cyborgs’ by Landra Graf. After reading her Bad Boys Of Space series it was a given that I would be diving into this book as soon as it hit my Kindle. But, hello, she really had me at Cyborg lol. I already knew I was going to love it, even before I had read a word, and she didn’t let me down. This story turned out to be quite a sci-fi adventure- with cyborgs, an AI come to ’life’, action, suspense, chemistry, self-discovery, mystery, drama, and so much more. It definitely gave off a futuristic ‘Fast and Furious’ vibe, for me. Fast cars and hot mechanics mixed with a space adventure with cyborgs and synthetic lifeforms- what’s not to love?
Can’t wait for the rest of the series now….
Happy Reading!
Thank you, Landra Graf!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Reigning Hearts: The Complete Series by K.G. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a great collection of stories. Each one draws you in quickly, and keeps you wanting more. None of these books felt sluggish to me, they progress gradually and keep you invested. I will definitely read more from this author. She has a way with words that plays with ones emotions and makes you feel like you are right there living the characters life, or watching as an onlooker as their stories progress.
The Curse of a Faeblood by M.K. Lorber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Curse of a Faeblood tells the story of Ember, who just lost her mother and then gets caught stealing a loaf of bread. This book was a fun ride with excellent world-building and character development. I’m not usually a fan of high fantasy but this was definitely a solid read. It had adventure, heartache, and spice. What else can you ask for? Although a bit on the long side this is a world worth falling into with characters who you’ll love and a romance that is simply *chef’s kiss*.
