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Shadows Fall (Shadowstalker Series Book 3) by Natalie Johanson – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Shadow's Fall (Shadowstalker Series Book 3)Shadow’s Fall by Natalie Johanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rose Trewin is a Shadowstalker, a person with magic who can walk within and speak to the shadows, as well as those who dwell within them, she has a past which haunts her and a future which is full of responsibility she doesn’t know if she can handle, all she wanted to do was find the ruins she knew existed within the forest, but what she found instead was a clan of people like her, the Shademaker Clan. This clan of people have remained hidden from the outside world since the hunting of those who wielded magic, but now they have been found and are looking to the first Shadowstalker in years to become their Chief and although she is reluctant, Rose is determined to try and work with the Council, even if she doesn’t exactly trust them. King Micah Ellsworth has been trying to subdue an uprising in the southern part of his Kingdom, a group of chieftains who were led astray by a powerful mage, claiming to be a god, but now he has disappeared and the King is looking for answers, he wants to know where the mage Gerik is, but he knows that he has to shed blood to find this out.

When he has the information he is looking for, he agrees to return and try to negotiate something that will work for both parties, but until then, he has to return to his home and ensure that things are running smoothly, however, he also knows that he has to visit Rose on the way, he feels that their blossoming bond needs it and he realises that so does he, but he also needs to update Rose on the whereabouts of Gerik. As soon as they are near, Rose and Micah can sense their bond relaxing and so they welcome the others return, even if it is short lived, they both have news they need to share with the other and have time just to be in one another’s company again, as well as speaking to the Council. While Rose was waiting to Micah to arrive, strange things have been happening to the clan and the shadows hold the answers, but they are not the ones she hoped for and neither is the news that Micah brings about Gerik escaping because she knows that can only spell danger to herself and those she has just found, her family and the people who are now depending on her.

When the sojourn is over and King Micah returns home, it isn’t as welcoming as he expected, things have been happening while he was away in the south and not good things either, it seems that the idea of uprisings has started here as well, but this time it is a religious group who are stirring up trouble and the people are listening. The group are using the famine and other occurrences in the Kingdom as evidence that something is coming and this is making the King’s people uneasy, not to mention that they hate anyone with even an ounce of magic within them, the prejudices of old are returning and it is causing a divide, even the fact that King Micah is still unmarried is being used to this groups advantage, so he has to request Rose’s help to find Gerik while he tries to hold his kingdom together, but will this return to her past destroy the tenuous bonds she has built with those around her and will this cause her to lose what she feels is most precious to her? This is a fantasy adventure with magic, rebellion and shadows all around as one woman tries to save herself and those she loves without being consumed by darkness and losing herself in the process as you follow along her journey through a harsh environment until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Wild For Me (The Balefire Series Book 3) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Wild For Me (Balefire, #3)Wild For Me by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Balefire are a smoking hot rock band full of gorgeous men who set many hearts a flutter all over the world when they play, but they always return to their home town when the tours are over, but sometimes they also end up playing to their home crowd, just like the one night when Dakota catches the eye of a couple of sexy women in the front row who all seem to want his attention, however, one of them catches it the most. A woman with green eyes and auburn hair who is wearing a tight leather skirt and throws a pair of lacy, black panties on the stage which Dakota hangs on his guitar and makes it known that he is open for some fun after the show and this is exactly what happens, a night of amazing sex, followed by the woman upping and leaving as soon as dawn breaks leaving only her first name and a whole heap of good memories behind.

Annabelle is a smart young woman with her whole life ahead of her, as well as the hots for the local rock band, so she cannot believe her luck when she gets to spend the night in a hotel room with the hotter than hell guitarist, but she knows that it would only be a one night stand, she isn’t naïve and knows that it is what they are known for, so she leaves it at that and keep hold of the memories of the passionate night they shared together. A couple of years later and it her best friends wedding, and not only marrying the man of her dreams, but that he is in the same band as the hot guitarist, what she doesn’t expect is that said musician remembers her and the night they shared and apparently in just as much detail as she does.

As the wedding plays out, neither Annabelle or Dakota can keep their eyes, hands or lips off of each other, but they promise to behave and so only a phone number is exchanged, but after polishing off way too many shots too early in the night, Annabelle and the other bridesmaids are escorted back to their hotel, but nobody knows that until after the fact, especially Dakota, he thinks she bailed on him, but he keeps chickening out from testing to see if he has the right number for her and it is eating him up inside. Meanwhile, a couple of weeks pass and Annabelle hasn’t heard from Dakota, so she just carries on regardless until a phone call comes out of the blue from Balefire’s manager offering her an internship, it turns out that her best friend put in a good word for her and when they looked into her background decided she was a good fit for the job, so Annabelle agrees to go down to the studio and discuss it, this leads to her accepting the position and all that it may entail, including working both in the studio and going on tour with the band and she is determined to give it her all to prove that she can do it, especially after her performance at the wedding.

When Dakota and Annabelle cross paths at work, the sparks still fly, but will the two allow themselves to embrace the connection between them, or will they keep it professional and let another chance slip them by? This is a romance with a musical twist where a smart woman and a slightly less smart man engage in a battle of wits and sass while dealing with their pasts in this spicy romance which will keep you hooked until the last note is played.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Mr Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Mr. Barsins' Toy EmporiumMr. Barsins’ Toy Emporium by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mr Barsin is an unusual man, he owns a toy emporium which to all intents and purposes looks like every other toy shop, but he wears a tuxedo, which is unusual, but he also doesn’t call his toy shop a toy shop and it seems to have popped out of nowhere, so when the youngsters who go to see what this new shop is all about, they are very surprised, especially when they see the murals painted on the outside and the multi-seasonal greenhouse within

Jack is a young boy who’s birthday is just around the corner, so when his parents and grandma take him on a special birthday cruise, he is super excited, especially when he sees a mermaid playing in the bay and waving to him, but he can’t wave back because his parents have hold of his hands Later on at his grandma’s house, they are about to tuck into their usual topsy turvy birthday tea when they see an advert for a new toy store and immediately go to get Jack a present. As soon a Jack and his family enter the store, they see aisles of toys, but Jack spots something else in the corner of his eye, so he goes running to investigate and his family follow him, even though they have no idea what he has seen and this is where he spots the mermaids and cannot wait to see if his mermaid is there.

Audrey is a young woman on a mission, she has learned to play alone and let her imagination run free, so when she explores the forbidden areas where she lives, she finds treasures and these lead her to start training to slay dragons. She has read all the old tales of brave knights, evil dragons and the heroic rewards they gain from slaying them, so when she sees the advert for a new toy shop, she is determined to find a dragon to slay inside. However, it seems that the path to the dragons lair isn’t as easy as she thinks and she comes upon other travellers getting in her way, or so she thinks until her dream comes true and she finds her dragon.

Lilly is a young girl who has had to move away from everywhere and everyone she knows with her father, but there are two special sylphs whom she is especially sad to have left behind, so when her father tells her he might have found someone who can help her to get them back, she is over the moon. When they duo visit Mr Barsins’ she is determined to find her friends and she has some magical help, but something is wrong and it seems that even though she wants to find her friends, Mr Barsin is determined that she doesn’t and that does not sit well with her and she has to find another way to find them.

Nick is a spoiled young boy whose naughty ways are frustrating his mum, but she can’t do much about it when he blames someone else, a bad gnome apart from play along and hope that it will help Nick learn to be good, however, this backfires when she agrees to buy a toy for the bad gnome and so goes to Mr Barsins’. The trip has somewhat of an unexpected outcome when Nick mother finds that instead of a new toy, he has found himself an even naughtier gnome and he refuses to leave without him.

These four youngsters went in to this toy emporium with one goal, but left with another in this magical tale where nothing is quite as it seems and mysteries lie in every forest and flower within this emporium of wonders, but are the gifts they leave with what they were wanting, or have these children put themselves into danger by seeking this place out? This is an engaging and fun twist on a magical toy shop which all ages can enjoy, even though some things may need explaining to younger audiences, it is a great way to learn.

 

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Moon That Fell From Heaven by N. L. Holmes – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Moon That Fell from HeavenThe Moon That Fell from Heaven by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ehli-nikkalu is a daughter of the Hittite Emperor, not just any daughter, his eldest and has been married off to one of his vassals in a political alliance, she has never been truly loved by her family and she is not much more successful at being loved by her husband, he has in fact very rarely visited her chambers and any friendship, or tenderness between them has been replaced by bitterness and anger and all because she hasn’t produced an heir and is considered barren. This wedge has not just driven itself between the King and Queen, it has been driven through the entire court and has left her all but bereft from the workings of the Kingdom and its subjects and she is not happy about it, but there is nothing she can do when her husbands family only tolerate her presence and she cannot truly trust anyone around her. One day her husband visits her chambers, but it is only to make a request of her not to make a fool of herself or his court when visitors come, however, when he leaves her, he also leaves something behind and so she requests her scribe to attend to her and read what has been left, it happens to be an incriminating letter showing treasonous activities against the Emperor.

Astonished by her luck finding this, she immediately dictates a letter to her father and requests that her scribe delivers it to her most trusted courier immediately, however, when she wakes in the morning, she finds that both of them have been murdered and she believes that all is lost, that is until their daughter arrives returning the letters and the Queen sees another chance for redemption, so after giving her condolences, she finds out that this young woman was a witness and she immediately decides to take her and her siblings under her protection until the culprits are caught. This is where the Queen decides that she needs to take this adopted family she is growing fond of to somewhere safer and nearer to their blood relatives, so while she is planning this, as scribe comes to call and express his condolences and help if she needs it, so when she requests a new scribe, he knows just the one and it happens to be another family member of her newly adopted one, he seldom speaks and has a gruff attitude, he is also ex-military, a proficient scribe and loyal to her.

When the Queen is finally able to make her journey to take her wards to their relatives under the guise of paying a visit to some of her estates, she is waylaid by the plans of others and she ends up in the middle of a war between distant relatives and a plan to overthrow her husband, as well as the information which she holds closely to her chest with nobody to rely on but her adopted family and the self doubt they all possess, but can she get the information she holds to her father in time to stop the coup, or will she fall victim before she can truly experience that love she has been craving all her life? This is an epic tale of lies, truths, trust and intrigue as you are led on a journey through a historic time where nobody shows their true colours and danger lurks around every turn.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Queen’s Dog (Empire At Twilight Book 3) by N. L. Holmes – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Queen's Dog (Empire at Twilight #3)The Queen’s Dog by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is the year 1203BCE on the northern coast of Syria, in the vassal state of Ugarit where the life of a royal is one of luxury, but also statecraft, they have to show their loyalty to their Great King and his family, where arranged marriages are expected and wives must be faithful to their husbands, no matter how they are treated, or pushed to the side, all that matters is that they can produce an heir who can live long enough to learn and take over the throne, but the wives also have to be clever, cunning and wise so that they can be the regent in their husbands place when they are on diplomatic trips. Another common occurrence is that slavery was widespread and the more servants you had, the more highly ranked you would be, but there was also a lower class of slave, the eunuch, they were considered lesser and not to be trusted, however, one eunuch slave made his way up the ranks with hard work and diligence to become the Chamberlain of the Queen, he isn’t the most popular slave, but he is soft hearted and lonely, so when the Queen shows him some affection, he is ecstatic, believing that she loves him as he does her, but that is not to be, despite his most intense wishes for it.

This infraction of the kingdoms laws could cost him more than just his job and he is terrified that someone will find out what he has done, so when he is summoned, he is terrified that he has been found out, however, this is not the case, he is charged to spy on the Queen and note her comings and goings to see whether she is being the faithful wife she should be, he reluctantly agrees, but remains anxious as to whether someone saw the affection he was shown. Meanwhile, there are suspicions everywhere he goes and he has no idea what to do until he realises his mistake and decides to betray his love and report on her illicit and disloyal activities, however, his conscience will not let him rest, especially when the Queen is forced to divorce the King, but that is not the end of the scandal, she is then sentenced to death.

What will her slave do now that she is gone and will he ever be able to forgive himself for his part in it all and decides to come clean, but what will the repercussions of his actions and decisions be? This is another historical fantasy where intrigue lies around every corner and lies and deceit colour the air, creating a dangerous web which will catch you up in its snare until the end appears.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Wild Lavender: A Fated Love Fantasy Romance (Heart & Hand Series Book 1) by Nicole E. Kelleher – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Wild Lavender (Heart & Hand, #1)Wild Lavender by Nicole E. Kelleher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lady Aubrianne is a young lady who is no stranger to duty, but her upbringing was full of love and honour, so when she is married to a wealthy Lord, she is hoping for the same thing, however, he seems to be quite upright and polite in all of their interactions and when they are wed, however, on their travels to his home, there is no passion, unlike her only taste from when she was younger. Larkin is a young man who is the second son of a wealthy family and so has the freedom to do whatever he wishes, including playing games with the ladies within his families court, however, one encounter changes things for him and although he never saw the woman again and didn’t have chance to even giver his name, it is something he has never forgotten.

As soon as Lady Aubrianne enters her husbands keep, she has a feeling that something isn’t quite right, it is too quiet and there is nobody to welcome her, but she still does not let that bother her when she is shown to her room and asked to prepare for her husband to visit her once she has freshened up, but her experience is not one of a love filled marriage, it is not what she prepared herself for and nothing like her imaginations, but she has some support from her lady in waiting, even if it starts off as distant. As the time passes and a routine is established, Lady Aubrianne begins to befriend the servants, especially while her husband is away, which he frequently is and this is where she finds out what struck her when she arrived and she is determined to help those around her, so she uses her unconventional upbringing to her advantage, especially when her talents as a healer are needed and this continues, albeit in a more secretive manner when his lordship is around.

Larkin is up to his old tricks and competing with his best friend at the same time, but his mystery lady is always at the back of his mind, however, when he is given the chance to investigate a certain Lord Roger due to some suspicions of treason and misuse of his prosperity, the last thing he expects is to see his mystery women living with him as his wife, but not as surprised as Lady Aubrianne is to see him. As Larkin’s investigations continue, Lady Aubrianne is doing her own investigating as to what her husband has been doing on his trips, mainly so she can stop him before she is drawn even deeper into his plans, so when she is confronted by Larkin about her complicity, she agrees to help him, but only if he helps her in return. As the two become closer, can they work out what Lord Roger is doing and who is also complicit in his machinations, or will they find themselves in deep trouble and dangerous waters? This is an action packed fantasy adventure which spans countries and kingdoms to bring justice to those doing wrong with a romantic undertone which will leave you wanting more as you read along to its conclusion.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics – A Crash Course on Nuclear Weapons and Humankind’s Most Dangerous Game by Paul McCarthy – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics - A Crash Course on Nuclear Weapons and Humankind's Most Dangerous GameThe Hand of God: From Oppenheimer to Hypersonics – A Crash Course on Nuclear Weapons and Humankind’s Most Dangerous Game by Paul McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The development of nuclear warfare has been ongoing for over a century now and it doesn’t show any sign of stopping, so when that reality hits, it is best to at least have a heads up on what exactly it entails. This is where this book comes in, it has a breakdown of parts ranging from the scientific history, the weapons themselves, as well as the differences between the approaches of different countries as this development occured, but be warned, it is not for the faint of heart or easily perturbed due to the subject matter within.

In part one, is the outline of the who, what, where and how of the steps taken to identify and understand nuclear weapons and exactly what happens inside them.

Part two speaks about the reactions of the different countries and their races to become the top of the nuclear weapons food chain, including the threat level each country has to the others.

Part three talks about the weapons in more detail, how they work and who has control over them, as well as when and how they are deployed.

Part four discusses the affects of the aftermath of these weapons and what the resulting radiation can do to the human body and the natural world.

Finally, part five discussed the future of this technology and what this means for the future generations as well as discussing some of the moral and ethical implications of what this might mean.

This is a work of non-fiction which is easy to understand, interesting to anyone, no matter what their level of prior knowledge is, as well as being straight forward, to the point and a great introduction to the subject with plenty of further reading cited at the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel
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Vixen (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost Montana Chapter) by D. M. Earl – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Vixen: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Vixen: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vixen is a fierce woman with a past which was filled with abuse, addiction, pain and suffering, but she managed to escape it, albeit she is still haunted by nightmares of her time being trafficked and used as a piece of property in a prostitution ring and she was fooled by the ringleader into thinking that he loved her and wanted to be with her, but it was all a lie until he could get what he wanted. While she was living in this hell, she made a friend, or as close to a friend you could in this torturous place, but she managed to keep in contact, sporadically though because she still had a long way to go before she could help those around her, but just as she is finally getting on her feet, this friend comes a calling and asks for her help to escape as well.

As things heat up and the other members of the MC are told what truly happened to her, she is devastated and is absolutely dreading having to return to that place and face her past, but thankfully she doesn’t have to, but in order for her friend to escape, the ladies have to call in help from the one person who she doesn’t want to see, the one person she trusted and he broke her heart, Ironside. When Ironside receives a call from the MC he helped in the past, he is shocked, but also his memories of the one he left behind return in full force, he has never forgotten her and he regrets leaving her like he did, but his job came first, so when this out of the blue call comes in, he expects that he is going to get his ass handed to him, but regardless, he will go and help again, even if it kills him.

As soon as Ironside arrives at the ranch, he is shocked at what he sees, the place is nothing like he expected and he definitely didn’t expect to see as many familiar faces as he does, but as soon as the introductions are made, they get down to business to rescue Vixen’s friends, but unfortunately, when one truth comes out, it is nearly enough to break apart any plans they may have made, emotions are high and words flung about, but hearts are also broken in the process, will there be enough bonds left for a rescue and removal of some human garbage, or will the past come storming in between all of these bonds and shatter them to pieces? This is another whirlwind of truths, lies, action and emotion as past and present collide to bring either hope or disaster, but to find which one wins out, you will have to read to the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Taz: (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost Montana Chapter) by D. M. Earl – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Taz: (Devil's Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter)Taz: by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Taz is a young woman who is great with numbers and organisation, she will go above and beyond to make sure that everything financially, runs smoothly and that is a lot of responsibility, but this is all hidden under a tough exterior of leather, spikes and rainbow hair, not to mention, she is part of an all female MC. However, she has a softer side when it comes to her son, he is young, but he has had some bad experiences in his short life, so when Taz’s ex comes back into the picture and hurts him, he has just poked the bear and this mama bear will do anything to protect her young, as will all of the MC sisters behind her. Taz has worked too hard escaping her past to be beaten by it again and she is nowhere near as beaten and broken as when she was with him, but he has no idea how she has changed, so when he starts messing with her and the others she lives with, she is determined to stop letting her past haunt her and embrace the wildness which is inside her

The troops are called in and the Intruders MC heed the call, as well as some handy ex military personnel who will also do whatever they can to help, especially Travis, their Enforcer, he has a soft spot for Taz and her son, but she is reluctant to get into another relationship and end up heartbroken again, but her son is happy around him and when her past comes calling, he answers with a fierce determination to protect them and this is where Taz realises that Enforcer might just be in this for the long haul, unlike in her devastating past. Meanwhile things escalate with her ex and the people supporting him and as the danger increases and all their protective instincts kick in, her ex has no idea what he has let himself in for.

This is yet another rip roaring and action packed MC romance where the suspense will keep you on edge throughout as one problem after another needs solving and sanity, relationships and bonds are tested to breaking point, but will they break, or will a silver lining shine out from within the storm and can this unlikely group of mismatched souls work together to solve yet another dangerous problem?

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Shadow (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost Montana Chapter) by D. M. Earl- Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Shadow (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book Two)Shadow by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shadow is the Enforcer for the Devil’s Handmaidens MC and she is as badass as they come, but as a child, Zoey went through more suffering, abuse and pain than any child should and that is what brought her to where she is now, thanks to Maggie and her family taking her in and showing her what safety and family should look like, but all those experiences also made her into the icy hearted woman she is today. Panther is a Navajo Indian with look as dark as sin and muscles to boot, he is also a horse rancher and from the minute he saw Shadow, he knew he needed to know more about her, including why she was getting a full skull tattooed onto her face and looking like it was nothing, but fate would lead them apart for a while, but when they reconnect it is more business than pleasure.

To the outside, she has no fear and instead puts the fear of God into anyone who gets on her bad side, including the members of the MC which she founded with the Prez, the sisters who she now protects and their families with fierce passion, but when she sees Panther again, she is not ready for the emotions which would come along with it. It turns out that he has a similar mission to them and when the opportunity arises for her to help save some innocents from experiencing what she did, she is all in, however, what she doesn’t expects is how close to her past the mission really is, that is until it comes back around and the danger lurks around every corner.

As they work more closely together, Shadow cannot help but be drawn to Panther and his mysterious past which has created his present, it both calms, enrages, frustrates and illicit emotions she tried to bury to keep herself safe, but he is persistent and passionate, but more understanding that she believes she deserves and when things go south trying to help these innocent youths, she knows that she cannot hide any longer, but will she be able to take that leap of faith and find something good in the evil surrounding them, or will she be drawn into a darkness which she won’t be able to escape from? This is another great MC romance with one hell of a bite where lines blur and past, present and future collide to bring a journey which will leave your heart racing and stopping all at once as this actin packed, emotional rollercoaster plays out in front of you.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Tink (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost Montana) by D. M. Earl – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Tink (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book One)Tink by D.M. Earl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maggie, or “Tink” as she is known is the President of the Devil’s Handmaidens MC and she takes pride in her position, but it isn’t easy trying to run an all female MC as well as legitimate businesses so that she can follow her passion and help those in need on the side, but she is not alone in her endeavours, she has the rest of the members and prospects at her side, as well as her parents and all the members of her fathers MC as well. Ellington is an ex Navy SEAL with a lot of baggage in his past, but he takes the opportunity to start afresh in the middle of nowhere in Montana where he helps a friend to set up a ranch, but what he doesn’t realise is that a feisty woman is about to enter his life and it will throw him off his game.

Maggie and Ellington have run into each other a few times and after a not so subtle push from her best friend, she gives him her phone number and they decide to see where it takes them and it soon becomes a little hot and heavy between them, but with all her responsibilities, Maggie is a little reluctant to let him in, but soon she doesn’t have a choice when she welcomes the latest group she is helping to her ranch settle in. One day, the firecracker that is Maggie rides into his life asking for some help, as security has been breached and trouble has come calling, so Ellington lets the others know and speeds to her and help, but what he finds when he gets there makes him realise just what Maggie does and he will do anything to help.

Maggie is shocked at what she finds and now has to deal with even more being piled on her plate and this time it is personal, ghosts from her past are coming back to haunt her and her family and she doesn’t know what to do, so she calls in for some help from her family and sisters in the MC and they all agree, even if they don’t know the whole story, but she knows she has to get it all out and the truth in some ways sets her free and in others brings everyone else into danger with her. What she doesn’t expect is Ellington being with her every step of the way and helping her sort out the mess from her past, but can he keep her sanity from unravelling and away from harm, or will he lose out on the one thing which is helping him with his demons as well? This is a fabulous MC romance full of spicy action, profanity and action, as well as badass women and how the bonds which go deeper than blood come together in this whirlwind of a suspenseful race against time.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The truth about myths by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Truth About Myths (The Winemakers)The Truth About Myths by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Princess Isabel is the sister of the King of Portugal, they have been close throughout their lives while facing whatever came their families way, but the way they coped with all of that was complete opposites on the spectrum. The King became a lad about town, with a group of friends who were the scourge of the men folk on their area of the world, while Isabel went the way of modesty, fidelity and duty and tried to promote these values in her ladies in waiting as well. One day, she is summoned to see her brother where he tells her that he has received an invitation for Isabel to visit a relative in Spain for the summer and as much as she loved her cousin, she does not relish the idea of the company she keeps, so she politely declines, that is until her brother insists that it is more a diplomatic mission than a holiday and this is where duty wins out and Isabel reluctantly agrees.

Meanwhile, one of the Kings group of friends, Henrique, the Viscount of Panafiel, a scientist is about to embark on a journey to England to take a position at one of their top universities, but at the last minute, he is called upon to escort the Princess to Spain and watch over her and albeit he really does not want to go, he is won over by being the only one the King entrusts with the role, so he also reluctantly agrees. When the two meet at the carriages they are to travel in, the two realise that they have been misled by their nearest and dearest as to whom they will be accompanying and this just makes the journey even more unpredictable and in some ways uncomfortable for them both.

As the journey to Spain goes on, the two find themselves drawn to each other and opening up in ways they thought impossible and even though their personalities clash, they enjoy tormenting the other with sharp tongues and sharper wit, but as soon as they reach their hosts, thinks begin to heat up and each finds new experiences and challenges in the other. This however, was not to last when Prince Alfonso of Spain enters the picture and comes in between the two opinionated young aristocrats and this is where things become messy as it appears that the Princesses ideals and sense of duty are used in such a manner that anything which was blooming between her and her escort are threatened and Henrique will do anything to save his Princess and his country, but will he lose everything he is trying to save in the process? This is a historical fiction set in the Mediterranean where emotions run high and politics reign, in this royal romance where appearances can be deceiving and sifting the truth and the lies is almost impossible as you wonder who will triumph in the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Oscar and Emmy Lose A Friend: A Story About Pet Loss And Saying Goodbye To A Furry Friend by Terri Sabol – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A story about pet loss and saying goodbye to a furry friend. Ages 5-11 and kindergarten through grade 5.Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A story about pet loss and saying goodbye to a furry friend. Ages 5-11 and kindergarten through grade 5. by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oscar and Emmy are two feline siblings and since they made friends with a local stray car, Shadow, they have built a new routine around her visits when they play peekaboo through the window and meow at each other through the door at feeding time, but over time, they realise that something is wrong with Shadow.

At this point, they made sure their humans knew something was wrong and they decided to take her to the vet and see what is wrong, unfortunately, Shadow is very ill, and they have to have a talk about what to do and what is best for Shadow, but how will Oscar and Emmy feel about it and what will they all decide to do?

This is a very touching story which talks about a difficult and extremely sad topic in such a way that it encourages conversation, understanding and ways to cope when this happens in real life and one, I would highly recommend.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Rocketship Made Of Stars: Naming Of Constellations (I Am An Alien #2) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Rocketship Made of Stars: Naming Constellations (I am an Alien)Rocketship Made of Stars: Naming Constellations by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Shirl is a young girl who has made friends with an alien called Eee-ah who lives quite far away and she has decided to visit Earth and Shirl, but she still needed to give some directions. When Eee-ah arrived Shirl was very excited and asks to stay in her flying saucer with her, Eee-ah agreed but only if Shirl agreed to take her to school the next day.

The next day, Shirl arrives with Eee-ah and her friends are also excited and ask lots of questions, but before there were any answers, the school bell rang. This is where Eee-ah answered questions about where she lived, so she answered by drawing dots and joined them into images and this is where everyone learned about constellations!

This is a charming and informative story which talks about the differences between how we each see the world and how just because people aren’t all the same, does not mean that it is a bad thing, a must read for all little and large ones alike.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Amaleigha Makes A New Friend by Janice Pratt – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Amaleigha Makes a New FriendAmaleigha Makes a New Friend by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amaleigha is a young girl in 3rd grade and one day her teacher, Mr Bowles, announces that they are going to be getting a pen pal and writing to students of a school in Ukraine and everyone is excited about this opportunity, so they cannot wait to see who is going to be their pen pal. Amaleigha is paired with a girl called Vova, she is given a card with some details about Vova and she writes her first letter asking some questions and showing her interest about learning about Vova’s life and soon the class’s letters are ready and sent off.

As the class are waiting for their letters, they start to learn more about Ukraine and its traditions, culture and life in general and this helps them to write their letters, that is until one day when their letters spoke about something other than excitement to learn more about each other, the possibility of a war with Russia.

What does this mean for Amaleigha and Vova’s friendship through letters and how will this war impact them both? This is a book which talks about current events in a way that is fun, but also serious at the same time and is a wonderful way to show how to handle the emotions that go along with them, it is brilliant for all ages and well worth a read.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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When We Fell Again: An angsty, second chance rockstar romance by Julie Archer- Reviewed by Stephanie Dulac

When We Fell Again: An angsty, second chance rockstar romanceWhen We Fell Again: An angsty, second chance rockstar romance by Julie Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When we fell again is a second chance romance, this is the first book that I have read by this author and let me tell you it’s a wonderful read. I loved everything about this book. The Cover is beautiful, and the plot is even better. Drugs, Drama, Ex’s i loved it all. Jordan and Alexis (lex) are great to follow the character build up was great. Lex is in a hard spot love him again will Jordan hurt her Does she take that chance again?
I would highly recommend this read if you are into second chance romances, rockstar romance once i started reading i didn’t stop. I look forward to reading more books by this Author and i would even enjoy reading more about Lex and Jordan. Thank you for a wonderful read and Happy Reading!!
@stephaniedulac25

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Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3)Rogue Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tamaska and Kodiak are back and are still recovering from the latest vampire attack where the pack was reduced and that grief still floods the space as they deal with their losses and bury their dead. Another thing which is flooding the space is blood, both vampire and wolf shifter, it is everywhere and that isn’t priority number one, Kodiak being sworn in as alpha is, but he is challenged and that leads to him having to fight one of his own, it is something he hates, but knows it is also something he needs to do.

After the fight and no further issues, security is upgraded so the pack can stay safe while all of them pull together so that clean up goes more quickly in case of unexpected visitors. Tamaska insists on helping out, but when she asks to go and get something to help the process along, Kodiak is reluctant, they know the vampires are still out there and that they want Tamaska for her blood, but she eventually convinces him and heads out, but her next decision is one that will endanger everyone, she decides to go back home and pick up some belonging and that is where danger calls in, someone is waiting there for her.

Meanwhile, one of the other pack members is researching Tamaska’s ancestry, the jewel they are all fighting over, as well as how to turn a human, what risks there are and whether it can be done at all, this has been demanded of Kodiak because Tamaska wants to be a shifter and a full member of the pack, especially when Kodiak chooses her as his mate over the other pack members. Although Tamaska is trying her best, it seems that she just isn’t doing anything right and being kept in the dark about everything isn’t helping her, but when another attack happens, the worst imaginable scenario happens, the vampires capture Kodiak and want to trade Tamaska for him, neither can think of being without the other, but they also both know how stubborn the other is, but why is Tamaska so important and how will she be able to convince the rest of the pack what she needs to do?

Can the pack figure out the answers to all these questions while still trying to stay together as a pack, or will Kodiak’ choices splinter the pack more thoroughly than any vampire attack could and will Tamaska be able to become a full member? This is another action packed book in this series where danger lies around every corner and secrets, trust and acceptance are woven into a web so tangled, you will have to read until the end to find out where it starts and ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Secrets of Arkaim (The Reeds Of West Hills Book 2) by B E Padgett – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Secrets of Arkaim (The Reeds of West Hills #2)The Secrets of Arkaim by B.E. Padgett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jon and Frank are back and it is their first summer at home since finding out that they were gifted and they have missed their family a lot, but they are also excited to be going to a convention as well, the best thing is that their families can go too. So as they get ready to introduce their family to the friends who are there, they are also excited to experience what it will be like with other gifted people around them, it is also nerve wracking, especially for Frank.

When they arrive there, they all settle in and are shown round by their friend Mira, before having dinner and some well earned rest before the real excitement begins. Unfortunately, there isn’t a gift specific group for Jon organised, not that he is surprised, but he is annoyed, so when one of the guest speakers speaks to him without fear, he is happy and agrees to stay in touch, meanwhile Frank has caught the eye of one of the other speakers and I’m interested in what they have to show him. After it is all over, the boys return to school and this is where the fun really begins, they are back where they feel comfortable and also find out that there are to be something called the Zodiac Games, a skill based competition where the houses are all pitted against each other until one wins. This excites all the students and gives them an opportunity to showcase their skills, so when the first challenge is announce, training begins, but the judges decide to throw a spanner in the works and change the rules at the last minute and the students are not happy, but it does mean that Jon and Frank are in with a chance of competing.

While this competition heats up, Jon is continuing his gifts class and it is there he discusses the dreams he is having of a shadow which speaks to him and shows him glimpses of situations he is unsure of and it is causing another load of sleep disturbances to his brother and roommates, but he doesn’t feel like he can talk to his brother about it and Frank is having worries of his own when one of his classmates becomes sick. As the weeks pass and the Zodiac Games competition heats up, other students start to become sick, but there is an undeniable pattern which causes concern, especially when the twins seem to be in the middle of it all again and Frank is terrified that he is going to be next. Can Jon and Frank use their skills to work out what is causing the sickness and who the shadow figure in Jon’s dreams are before something else happens and someone else gets hurt, or will it be too late and the danger surrounding them all become too much to overcome and what will happen with the Zodiac Games, something the whole school is enjoying, will they have a chance to complete them before things become too dangerous? This is a fantasy adventure where adversity is all around and secrets, lies and challenges will throw the balance off, causing magical mayhem throughout in this middle grade story which will entrance all ages and reading abilities.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Magic Carousel (The Brass Ring Book 1) by K. L. Small – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Magic Carousel (The Brass Ring #1)The Magic Carousel by K.L. Small
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Russel is a young boy in fifth grade and over the last year, a lot has happened to him, but the main thing was having to move his room into the basement so that his ageing grandpa could move in with them, this has led Russel to have new responsibilities which include taking his grandpa to the local park to ride on the carousel. He is also failing at school because of this upheaval, as well as being bullied by another of the boys in his class, there is name calling and pushing and Russel doesn’t know how to deal with it, so he just hopes that he isn’t seen with his grandpa because that could become something else he is teased for and finally, his dad drinks, a lot and he always shouts at Russel when he drinks, so this has also been affecting his schoolwork and he is worried that his dream to become a firefighter is slipping away.

One day, when his mum asks him to take his grandpa to the park again, his grandpa is riding on one of the outside horses and things seem to be going Russel’s way for once, the bullies haven’t seen him and his grandpa isn’t being too embarrassing, but just as he is hoping they can leave, his fears come to pass and the bullies turn up and when they leave, his grandpa asks him to join him for a ride. Russel is really reluctant because he is already embarrassed and annoyed, especially when his grandpa wants him to hold his hand as well, but eventually Russel agrees and settles onto the horse that his grandpa points to, but when he does, it does not go as he expects.

When he rides, he is magically transported to another place and time, but surely it can’t be real, they were just on the carousel and this is not it, so what has happened and why has this rude turned into an adventure of a lifetime? This is a brilliant book which takes something familiar and puts a new magical spin on it, with plenty of adventures, danger and magic, this is a wonderful little adventure where important lessons are learned and fun is had while doing it, it is also a book you will not want to put down.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Lilly Tames Her Worries by Carole Heaney – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Lilly Tames Her WorriesLilly Tames Her Worries by Carole Heaney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lilly is a young girls who has a best friend called Hun Bun, it is her childhood toy and has been everywhere and done everything with Lilly and Hun Bun helps her when she gets worried and the heebie jeebies start, but one day she is in such a rush to go to school that she forgets Hun Bun.

She realises that she can’t go home and get him, but she worries that she won’t be able to get rid of her heebie jeebies and the feelings that make her heart pound and her pals sweat, but tries her best on the bus ride to keep calm, but when she is in the classroom she asks to leave because she doesn’t feel well and so she goes to see the school nurse who it turns out has a lot to teach her.

Will Lilly be able to learn how to control her heebie jeebies without Hun Bun, or will they win? This is a book all about learning to control your own heebie jeebies, or worries without your favourite security item and is done in a very charming and informative way which is easy to learn for all ages.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Oscar and Emmy Gain a Friend: A Story About Trap-Neuter-Return by Terri Sabol – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Oscar and Emmy Gain a Friend: A Story About Trap-Neuter-ReturnOscar and Emmy Gain a Friend: A Story About Trap-Neuter-Return by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oscar and Emmy are two children with two pet cats who they love, but one day another cat appears outside their back door, at first they shoo it away, but it keeps coming back, so they are told by their mother to try feeding it and this is when the cat started interacting with theirs through the window.

When their mother calls the vet for advice, they are told about the Trap-Neuter-Return programme and they decide to help these cats by getting them into the programme.

This is a story which teaches a valuable lesson about caring for animals and how important this is, not just for pets, but for those without a home as well.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Marked Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Marked Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 2)Marked Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tamaska has just had the fright of her life, the man who she feels a connection with has lied to he and worse is what he lied to her about, being a wolf, so with the shock of her worst nightmares coming through, Tamaska turns and runs away, it is too much to process, as well as reeling from the vampire attack, she doesn’t know what to do, or where to turn, so she decides that the one thing she can do is go after the jewel which started this madness off, the Blood Opal, so she heads alone, shocked and angry back to where she saw it last. Kodiak has broken one of the main rules of his pack, not to reveal themselves to humans, but he just did and it backfired, Tamaska has rejected him in the most absolute way, because of fear, but he is determined to keep her safe, but first he has to report what has happened to his pack and fulfil his duty to them, but he is torn in two and doesn’t know what to do about it, so as his minds swirls with his thoughts, he returns to his home to face whatever his alpha has to say.

The Blood Opal is on everyone’s minds and is the key to the mystery of why the vampires want it and so Tamaska heads into the vampires night club, but it is not as inviting as it was the last time she visited, in fact it looks abandoned, but Tamaska has a feeling it isn’t, but as the memories of her last encounter there surface, she pushes them to one side and carries on with her search. Meanwhile, Kodiak is facing his pack and trying to work out how he can have both his pack and Tamaska, but they are not making it easy for him and the internal struggles between him and his pack are straining, as is his connection to Tamaska, but he cannot allow the insanity to rule, he has to do his best for both and once he has met with his team and alpha, he heads back out and follows Tamaska’s trail, while hoping it doesn’t head where he thinks it will.

As Tamaska explores, she realises just what is at stake and is horrified by her discoveries, but just as she thinks she has seen the worst of it all, she finds that it is far from it, fortunately, as she is about to be surrounded by attacking vampires, Kodiak appears as if by magic and comes to the rescue again, but as the danger increases and they have to take measures to keep her safe. This doesn’t last and just as Tamaska and Kodiak begin to trust each other things come to a head and the choice between pack and a mate has to be made, but what will Kodak decide and will he even have time to be able to make that decision while keeping up with his duty to his pack and keeping Tamaska safe? This is a whirlwind of suspense as two factions battle for superiority and action is never far away in this rollercoaster of danger and emotions which will pull you along to see how it ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Liz’s Road Trip by Bernadette Marie- reviewed by Stephanie Dulac

Liz's Road TripLiz’s Road Trip by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Liz’s road trip is the first book that I have read by this author and i was not disappointed. If you enjoy a nice Contemporary romance read this book is just for you. I really enjoyed Reading about Liz and her traveling journey. The build up with Liz and Mark was perfect. This was a faced paced read for me once i started reading the book sucks you in. I really hope that this Author makes another book and turns this into a series. I loved reading About Liz’s grandmother. Thank you For writing this wonderful read and i look forward to reading more books by you.
@stephaniedulac25

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Sleeping with the Enemy (Astoria Royals Book 3) By Deborah Garland Review by Heidi Woodring

Sleeping with the Enemy by Deborah Garland is the third book in the Astoria Royals Series. I have not read the others and found that I could read this as a standalone. This Mafia romance has it all from the drama, violence, stream, Emotion, forced marriage, and mafia politics. Priscilla and Riordan are the two main characters In this story, and have a small history, Priscilla when she was younger tried to kiss Riordan and she rejected her out of the fear of her father, and now they are face to face again. She MUST marry him or she will blow her cover! These two have steam, passion, and emotion within them that you will NOT want to put the book down.
Deborah Garland is a new author for me and let me tell ya, I want to read more and more. The book grabbed me and didn’t want to let go. Her writing style and they way she has created this amazing world of Astoria Royals, is simply amazing. I wanted to stay lost in the world of Priscilla and Riordan!!!!

Master Campania: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate) by Sylvia Black – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Master Campania: Dark Vampire Romance (Masters of the Consulate Book 7)Master Campania: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master Campania is the Master who looks after and rules in the south of Italy and he know everything and everyone who resides there, be them friend, enemy, or hum and neutral, he trusts the other vampires who work for him and he knows that if any of them betray him, they would not live to see another night, so when he is tasked with finding a group of witches who have teamed up with the traitorous vampires and rogue shifters, he jumps at the chance. Willow is a young witch who is desperate for her freedom, she and her friends have left the magical academy where they were studying their craft in order to experience what life is like outside of the strict rules and endless lessons which were filled with hatred for the vampire race, so the small group leave the academy and strike out on their own where they end up in a town run by vampires.

Master Campania starts his hunt as soon as he can and is driven through the towns and villages in his area so that he can find a witch and get the information which Overmaster Descallia has requested and he soon comes across a group who just happen to be in one of the nightclubs he owns, so he goes in to find out exactly what he wants to. Willow has been enjoying the peace she has found while her friends are out, but soon she has to get ready for a girls night out, so she gets ready and pops over to where they are due to have dinner and drinks, but just as they are all starting to enjoy themselves, in strides a vampire like he owns the place and she desperately tries not to lock eyes with him over the heads of the clientele between them, this however, doesn’t work that well and so she sends her friends away as he joins her at their table.

There is immediately an animosity between the two, but all Master Campania wants is information and he makes that abundantly clear from the beginning, but Willow is very reluctant to give him the information he wants, but she also cannot deny the attraction she feels for him either and it is extremely frustrating, so putting her sassiest attitude on, she gives him something purely so he will leave. Meanwhile Master Campania is trying to figure out this little enchantress and whether she is telling the truth, so when he threatens that he will find her again if her information is wrong, he knows by her reaction that that idea terrifies her, but he also can’t deny that she is a sassy, as well as very sexy enchantress and he doesn’t quite know how to react to this at all.

Willow and her friends decide to call it an early night, especially after she informs them of the contents of her previous conversation, so in a panic they decide that to cut and run is in their best interest, but as they are doing this, Master Campania is acting on her information, however, as soon as he realises that it is a false lead he keeps true to his threat and finds her again, but this time he doesn’t play nice and ensure her further cooperation. As soon as she is in a word, tamed, she is again asked for the information, but this time, she has to go along as well, but when the vampires find the witches, they will not go quietly and neither will the shifters accompanying them, so another bloody battle in the centuries long war commences and Master Campania cannot help but protect the little witch and even more so when she sees that something is happening to Master Descallia and aids him to protect him, but things don’t go smoothly and Willow ends up learning more about the secrets of his world than she should.

When sparks fly between the two, neither can resist the temptation of the other and Master Campania has to make a decision about Willow, keep her with him or lose her forever, but with it being against both their kinds rules, will they be able to work out the answer before danger comes creeping around, or will it be taken out of their hands before anything can be acted upon? This is a dark paranormal romance full of passion, magic, darkness and light which will pull you along on a dangerous rip tide of action and adventure with some steamy scenes included for good measure.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Love Bites More by T.L. Clark – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Love Bites MoreLove Bites More by T.L. Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pryderi, Elan and Arwyn have known each other their whole lives, they have grown up together and become Watchers together and keep their clan safe together, they also made an oath in their youth which at the time seemed the right thing to do, but as they have grown up, their feelings towards each other are no longer the same. Pryderi has found his soul mate and after coming back from his honeymoon, the three find that things aren’t the same between them, but they try and put that right by having a guys night in, complete with the illicit food, drink and music they have to keep hidden away, thanks to the clan not appreciating it.

Although they are both happy for Pryderi, Elan and Arwyn are struggling with their feelings for each other, they feel things which they shouldn’t and know it, but still they can’t bring themselves to do anything about it and risk hurting the other or their friendship, it is what they value above all else, but that is becoming harder to maintain and it is causing both of them to become antsy and withdrawn, this leads their friends to worry about them.

Meanwhile, Pryderi’s mate has travelled to another clan and has brought someone back with her, a new male from a widely different life and when he is introduced to theirs, it is a bit of a culture shock to say the least, not to mention that he has been used to hiding himself away in more ways than one. Elan is chosen to show him the ropes and slowly help him integrate into clan life, but neither can deny that they are attracted to the other and Arwyn is feeling a little left out, so he decides to spend some time with the exotic new male and again, the two cannot deny their attraction to each other and this complicates things.

Will Elan, Arwyn and this new spicy male finally bring down the barriers and allow them to experience the things they long for the most, or will those barriers break down and destroy the lives they have built for themselves forever? This is a fantasy romance with foul language and spicy content throughout which will leave you breathless as the thoughts and feelings whirling around these Elinefae and their way of life and leave you wanting to find out what happens next.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Flowers of Evil (Hani’s Daughter Mysteries Book 1) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Flowers of Evil (Hani's Daughter Mysteries Book 1)Flowers of Evil by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Neferet and Bener-ib are two young ladies with a very unusual occupation, they are medical professionals and is Egypt, this is practically unheard of, they have trained for half their lives so that they could open up their own practice, the only issue is that people are very wary of them and tend to steer clear. This infuriates Neferet, but Bener-ib just becomes disheartened, neither of them however, are going to give up on their dream, so Neferet takes matters into her own hands and looks for the reason why they are not receiving any patients.

Neferet is stubborn and once she has her mind set on something, nothing will sway her from the path she has decided to take and this path is no other, she has decided to pay a visit to the other medical professional in the area and see if they can’t come to some kind of arrangement. It soon becomes clear that this will be an impossibility as soon as she speaks to them, the terms of endearment used and the manner of which she is spoken to raises her hackles and she soon decides that it isn’t worth any more of her time, so she heads back to the practice.

This was not to be a peaceful morning because there is a frantic banging on the gate and frenzied shouts for aid, do they spring into action and see the patient, however, they ultimately realise that they will not be able to save him and offer their condolences to his wife when he does pass. As the story of the injuries unfolds, it becomes clear that this was a murder and of a high class person at that, it turns out that they were the head florist at the temple of the Aten and therefore, not someone with many enemies, this is something the two ladies ponder as the clean up the building ready for lunch.

This lunch turns out to be a family gathering of the most joyful sort, but they have an ulterior motive, they want to speak to Neferet’s father about the murder and see if they can get any pointers as how to go about solving it, but they are warned away from for good reason, especially when the danger starts to follow them. Will the two medical professionals be able to solve the crime with the help of their family, or will they be stopped before they can? This is a historical mystery where danger lies in the shadows and discoveries are made which could make or break fates and lives as this tangled web is sorted through.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Fortune’s Favorite (Soulbound Journeys) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Fortune's Favorite (Soulbound Journeys #2)Fortune’s Favorite by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time has passed on the seas for Ian Troy and Jarryd Kane after a harrowing experience on their first port of call, it has been a leisurely break just being able to sail and hunt on truly deserted islands and they finally feel rested again, however, Jarryd has heard tales of their next port, a harbour city called Maldarehm where everything is colourful and alive, at least on the surface anyhow, but Ian can feel the stares of the inhabitants of this bustling city and he hasn’t even left the boat yet, Jarryd meanwhile is talking about what he has heard of the place and is more than ready to go exploring. Ian decides to go the long way round and give his horse a break from being on the sea and go along the lesser used path and encourages Jarryd to go and see the sights of the city, but warns him to be careful and not to let his guard down.

As usual, things don’t quite go to plan when Ian ends up somewhere he shouldn’t and meet people who he can’t believe exist, or their attitudes to life, but at least they are his kind, however, they are not what they seem and Ian gets frustrated and annoyed with them, but they seem intent on him and why he is there, but when they grow tired of him, they send him on his way. While all this is happening, Jarryd has made his way to the centrepiece of this town, the local tavern and gambling den which has been recommended to him, however, not all is as it seems and when Jarryd is persuaded to join in the games, he instantly regrets his decision, especially when he realises the stakes.

As Jarryd and Ian follow their individual paths and discover exactly what lies at the heart of Maldarehm and those living there, they end up at the same destination with the same intentions, but will they be able to win when the odds stacked against them are so high, or will they lose everything and surrender the things which are most dear to them again? This is another rip roaring whirlwind of a ride where there are more twists and turns than a maze and more magic and mayhem throughout, which will suck you in and keep you hooked until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Wandering Isles: A Crown of Stones Novella (Soulbound Journeys Book 1) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Wandering Isles (The Crown of Stones)The Wandering Isles by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ian Troy and Jarryd Kane have left the land of Mirra-kelan, a land finally at peace after centuries of war and disputes and Ian in his usual brave, but rash way has had a bog and in it and in the process taken on a burden for all of his race and after this deed, he is wanting a fresh start and so he and Jarryd head out to see to retrace the steps of Ian’s Shinree ancestors, the first port of call are the Wandering Isles, a place renowned for strong spirits, but although they have a direction to head in, they have no idea where the Isles are, or if they will find them, what they will find there. So after months at sea, something unexpected happens and both Ian and Jarryd find themselves separated and unable to find each other, on what appears to be a series of deserted and very rocky islands, there also appears to be no life there either, instead it is abandoned.

As the two friends try to navigate this seemingly endless expanse of land, they encounter and unknowingly enter a trade with those who do reside there, it appears that these islands were not as abandoned as first believed and so they pair enter into trials the like they have never seen or experienced before and Jarryd becomes lost in them, however, Ian is extremely wary and suspicious of the beings he encounters and what their end goal is. While completing these trials, Ian comes up against his past, present and possible futures as magic, memories and sinister motives come together to bring endless tortures and scenarios together in a creatively devastating way.

As these trials are worked through and the different torments pass, Ian comes to the realisation that the only way off of these islands is to play this despicable game and find Jarryd in the process, but will these beings allow him to do that, or will he lose this game and everything he is playing for? This is a feast of magic, mayhem and mind games where it is a race against time to see who can win when and what the cost will be, because magic always has a price, but you will have to read until the end to find out what this one is.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Ring Of Eagna (The Cross of Ciaran) by Andrea Matthews – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Ring of Eagna (The Cross of Ciaran #4)The Ring of Eagna by Andrea Matthews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ciarán and Aodhán are back and spending some well earned quality times with their families, but soon Ciarán is off on another adventure and it is back to Ireland to visit the rest of his family and celebrate another union between two dear friends, so he tempers his fear and gets back on an aeroplane with his children helping him out along the way. When they arrive it is to insurmountable joy to be back on land and back with familiar faces on home turf, but his brother Aodhán has something exciting he wants to talk to Ciarán about and it cannot wait until they get to where they are staying.

Aodhán has found a book which he suspects was written in the tenth century, but the tales contained within speak of something from their time of the fifth century and the priesthood they left behind, but whether it is true or not, now that is another question. Ciarán decides to have a look at the book and as soon as he sees it, he realises that his brother is right and it is about the ancient artefacts of their order and a way to retrieve them, but he is reluctant to get more involved because he doesn’t want to face the wrath of his wife, or Aodhán’s either. In the end, Ciarán agrees to help his brother out and agrees to try and find the keys mentioned, but it just so happens that they already have two of them, the rings they were given as young initiates, so all they need now is a third and they know where they might find them, but it means revisiting the recent past.

Unfortunately, someone has beaten them to it and this discovery leads to the realisation that they are not alone in their search, but who is behind it and why is a mystery, there are too many suspects and too little information to go on, however, when someone breaks in, they decide to put their rings away for safekeeping. Can the brothers find the third ring before the other parties create more havoc and turn this treasure hunt into a deadly race, or will they falter at the first hurdle and give their adversaries exactly what they want? This is a fast paced rollercoaster of an adventure where the ancient past and dangerous presents collide to create a treasure hunt across the Irish hills and lakes in the ruins of an ancient religion which you will puzzle over and solve with the main characters up until the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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