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Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! (Donovan Trait Book 2) by Seelie Kay – Review by Katie Turner

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Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! (Donovan Trait Book 2)Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! is the second book to the Donovan Trait series, by Seelie Kay. Wedding bells are ringing for my friends Donovan Trait and newly turned vampire, Shirley Magnusen! But when Seelie comes down with feeling under the weather, they make a new discovery… she is pregnant! While they are both quite excited about the news, the Vampire Coalition does not mirror their happiness. The Trait’s find themselves escaping to an island for vampires, and is ran by vampire nuns.

I just love the twists in this book. And while I giggled at some of the concepts initially, such as ‘vampire nuns’.. it all WORKS. Seelie makes everything flow together well. Her writing is fantastic and it grips you tight and pulls you into the world she weaves upon the pages. I do recommend reading the first installment before picking this book up. It will be so worth it. I cannot wait to dive into book 3!

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No Pistol Tastes the Same (PTSD Disaster Book 1) by Jacob Paul Patchen – Review by Katie Turner

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No Pistol Tastes the SameNo Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen is a story about JP Grimm, a U.S. Marine Sergeant who goes to war and comes back plagued with nightmares of what he witnessed and what he wished he’d done differently. All he can think about is getting home to his family, but once he does and some time passes, he starts showing signs of PTSD that rapidly progress and he does not know how to process it or let anyone help him. Although his beautiful wife, Lisa, is supportive and hurts for him as she watches him spiral, she becomes terrified of what he might accidentally do and has to make difficult choices to keep their 7 year old son safe while her husband unravels into the depths of his terrors.

This book reminded me how easily we take for granted that we have brave men and women, most who are strangers to us, who are willing to sacrifice literally everything to fight for our entire country’s freedoms. I know firsthand it is not that easy for them to come home and slip back into normal routine with society, if they ever even can. This author captured these truths so well in a way that was equally heartbreaking and beautiful. The writing and details were absolutely phenomenal and thought-provoking. I love the direction this story took towards the last several chapters, and look forward to reading the next book after reading the sample provided. I absolutely recommend to anyone who wants to experience what many of our servicemen and servicewomen endure, away from home and when they return. To anyone who does live with PTSD but is considering reading this story, take it slow as PTSD is a main theme here and is quite detailed. Still, a great read!

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Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series (A Dark Sparrow Novel) by India Kells – Review by Katie Turner

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Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book SeriesDark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Reading the Dark Sparrow books 1-6 was my first encounter with India Kells’ writing, and all I can say is WOW! This book series centers around half-blood brothers who all lead very different lives, but have all been sired and abandoned by the same dangerous criminal, Jamieson Finch. Each book spotlights a brother and one of the Dark Sparrows who is recruited in by Purgatory to aid in the mission of bringing Finch down. The Dark Sparrows are women who owe their lives to Purgatory for one reason or another, and have agreed to help them if the need ever arose.

I applaud Kells on her ability to make every story unique. Each brother and female lead is vastly different in personality and lifestyle, crafting completely different storylines. I enjoyed that many of the characters I grew to love in each book before continued to make an appearance so that it didn’t feel as if they were gone and their story was over. The books are written in a way that you could read any one of them as a standalone, but I highly suggest reading them all in order as each story does have parts that link the previous books together. If you like handfuls of romance, action and suspense, this just might be the perfect world to curl up with and get lost in.

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Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater – Review by Katie Turner

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IllegalIllegal by K.J. Gillenwater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Illegal by K.J. Gillenwater takes its readers on a wild adventure in Mexico. This story portrays a view of the life of a young woman, Selena Hernandez, whose life is turned upside. She is ripped from her world in Arizona after finding out that she and her mother were both in the United States illegally. Her mother is thrown in jail and Selena is told to return to Mexico and reapply for a visa to become a legal citizen. After meeting him on the street, she is reacquainted with a young man named Wyatt, who ends up being a customer service representative at the embassy when she goes to apply for her visa. From there, the story begins to unfold. As Wyatt is pulled into this mess surrounding a pretty girl, unknown truths surface and they become more intertwined more than either of them planned to be.

This had it all for me. Suspense, romance and action fueled this story from beginning to end. I thought the main characters, Wyatt and Selena, were perfect and well-fleshed out. They both came from two different backgrounds, both had deeply rooted issues with trust that cause them to question each other’s intentions. But they have to find a way to work together because all they have is each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to read more stories by this author!

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The True Garza (Red Cage Book 3) by S. Ann Cole – Review by Katie Turner

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The True Garza (Red Cage, #3)The True Garza by S. Ann Cole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am weak for a steamy romance and The True Garza certainly packed a punch. I loved Lonny (London), and her straightforward I-do-things-my-way attitude. She doesn’t feel intimidated or inferior to any man and she is very successful at her job as a private investigator, even if she struggles at following orders. However, she will do practically anything for True Garza, who was once her week-long fling in Denver and now, a year later, is her boss when she takes a job at Red Cage in L.A. As things continually become more complicated and emotionally charged between them, their deeply imprinted flaws and events from hurtful pasts make it hard for them to be able to fully intertwine.

While there were times this story had me cringing and my eyes rolling, I loved this book and I honestly couldn’t put it down once I started. The story can be read as a standalone, but I will be going back and reading the first two books!

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The True Purpose of Vines (The Winemakers Book 1) by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Katie Turner

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The True Purpose of Vines: An intoxicating historical romance about wine and love. (The Winemakers Book 1)The True Purpose of Vines: An intoxicating historical romance about wine and love. by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The True Purpose of Vines is the first book to the Winemakers series by Giovanna Siniscalchi. As I read the first chapter, I was not too sure where the book was going to take me. But as I continued on, I realized it was going to take me to a far more beautiful place than I imagined. In 1870 Portugal, during a timeframe when it was not considered normal for a woman to work so hard and be the household provider, there lived a headstrong widow, mother and passionate winemaker named Julia Costa-Ferreira. Julia has taken over her late husband’s business and does not need help or directions from any man. But here comes the handsome Griffon Maxwell, a pretentious Englishman who agrees to travel to Portugal initially to chase a debt with hopes of striking a deal. He didn’t realize he’d be chasing after the debtor’s heart as well. But can her independent ways and his conservative mindset find a way?

I loved the slow buildup of romance between these two characters, the descriptions, the setting. The author clearly took her time to do a lot of in-depth research to be able to take her readers to a historical period with elaborate, accurate detail. This was a beautiful story, and I look forward to the next one. I’d also like to mention how vibrant and gorgeous the cover is. A perfect representation for this tale. If you love a good historical romance and wine, this is the perfect story to find yourself lost in.

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Katie Turner

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Flame and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #1)Flame and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book centers around a mortal named Chloe, the town’s apothecary. She is on a quest to heal many of townspeople of an illness that is quickly spreading, and it is proving to be more difficult of a task than she imagined. As this is unfolding, a fae she knew from her time spent in Faerie has returned to the mortal realm. He demands her help to save Faerie from mortals who are trying to destroy it. Chloe is determined she is not leaving her realm, but eventually she realizes that sometimes things do not go as planned.

I absolutely loved this book! With the author’s writing style and detailed descriptions of the characters and their surroundings, I had no trouble visualizing the story clearly as I read along. It was so well written and everything unfolded at a perfect pace for me. While I do wish I had read the books in the previous series to be able to better piece together certain aspects, it by no means diminished the fact that the story held so much intriguing depth to it. I will definitely be picking up the previous series written of the Faerie realm, and I cannot wait to read the next book as well. Beautiful work, Kay L. Moody!

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending Book 1) by Nicole Bailey – Review by Katie Turner

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending, #1)A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nicole Bailey wove together a beautifully crafted new telling of the Greek myth story of Apollo as a demigod who is trying everything he can to avoid ascending into the god he is fated to become, and Prince Hyacinth who is trying to manage a kingdom during his father’s time away.

This book was so much more than just a romance story. There is also emphasis on friendships, trust, compassion and rectitude. All of the main characters, and the world they live in, are crafted together with such detailed descriptions that it allows you to visualize the story clearly in your mind as you read along. My heartstrings were tugged at many times while reading this novel. I loved “watching” all the different friendships grow among the characters. I also enjoyed getting to view things from each of the main characters perspectives, and I found them all to be very likable and interesting. I absolutely loved this book. It exceeded all my expectations. I am impatiently awaiting more!

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Everwood Plantation by Stacy-Deanne – Review by Katie Turner

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Everwood County Plantation: BWWM Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire RomanceEverwood County Plantation: BWWM Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance by Stacy-Deanne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Everwood County Plantation: BWWM Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance was the first I’ve read by Stacy-Deanne. This short romance story was a quick afternoon read for me and I could not put it down. The chemistry buildup between the two main characters, billionaire Colton and florist Zenni, was hot and intense. They both feel attracted to one another instantly, but they are rivals on the matter of tearing down the Everwood plantation. Zenni feels that this plantation is all she has left of her family and wants to preserve its history. Colton wants to use his money to tear down the plantation and remove the physical reminder of the pain and suffering of the people who were enslaved there. Because of this, Zenni and Colton struggle to allow their love to prevail and blossom over this disagreement. Can they put their own feelings of the plantation’s future aside and see what is in front of them? Read and find out!

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Beelzebub: The Gift of Gluttony (A Sinful Seven Novel) by JC Brown & Lena Lane – Review by Katie Turner

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Beelzebub The Gift of Gluttony (Sinful Seven, #2)Beelzebub The Gift of Gluttony by J.C. Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to say, I enjoyed Beelzebub The Gift of Gluttony far more than I anticipated I would. Once I started this book, I was all in and could not put it down. I loved the characters and the instant heat between Clara and Zee. I thought for sure I knew how the book would end, but then came unexpected twists that proved my predictions all wrong. I look forward to reading more from this author!

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Vox Astra: The Black Box (Vox Astra Series Book 1) by James Chambers – Review by Katie Turner

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Vox Astra: The Black BoxVox Astra: The Black Box by James Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vox Astra: The Black Box is a compilation of several science fiction short stories and are the first I’ve read by James Chambers. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to glimpse into these separate worlds, each settled somewhere among the vastness of space. Every story hosted a unique and intriguing plot, as well as spectacular detail that allowed me to paint the scene vividly in my mind as I read along. The only thing I would change would be that they all became their own novels, because the uniqueness of these stories really pulled me in. Science fiction is one of my favorite genres and the author did not disappoint me whatsoever with these page turners. I will be keeping an eye out for this author in the future. Phenomenal writing. Highly recommend!

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Juliet’s Journey to Love (Great Smoky Mountain Getaways Book 1) by Elsie Davis – Review by Katie Turner

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Juliet's Journey to Love (Great Smoky Mountain Getaways, #4)Juliet’s Journey to Love by Elsie Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very thought-provoking read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the anticipation I felt as the story of Juliet and Jake unfolded. While there were some aspects of Juliet’s character that frustrated me, I know it was a necessary part of the story to demonstrate the progress she was making in her own personal growth.

I chose this book, knowing it was not the type of book I would typically read. And I do not have a single regret. It helped me to reflect on how many of us always want to fix things, especially people we care about. We want our loved ones to be happy, so we try to pressure them into doing the things we do, or did, to find our own joy. But not everyones journey to happiness is identical. And not everyone needs to be fixed. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story!

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Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Katie Turner

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Weep, Woman, WeepWeep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Weep, Woman, Weep is the first book I have read by Maria DeBlassie. This was a very quick read for me, as I was able to read this in one sitting. I would not have minded it being much longer, but it was so well written in my opinion, that it did not require the book to be long and drawn out. I adored the main character and narrator, Mercy, and her willpower to persevere despite La Llorona trying to deprive her of all happiness. Mercy never gave up trying to carve a fulfilling and happy life for herself, the one she dreamt of and shared alongside her best friend, Sherry. Although Sherry was no longer in her life, Mercy held on to this dream and it fueled her ambition throughout this story. This short novel was not terrifying; however, it had a very enjoyable spooky feel to it.

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