Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
I love the characters in the book.I love the story line. I love the start of a book. The end of the book was the best. I can’t wait to read more from this author. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a series! This is a must get dark romance box set about bold brothers finding love. Suspense, intrigue, action, romance and steam. The books can be read individually, however I would recommend reading from the start as they do all interlink with each other. The author has done a brilliant job in each book building each character with depth and individuality.
Happy reading!!
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting twist in the dynamic between Sera and Cassius. Sera is a high-paid, well-trained assassin. She is on the verge of a mega-deal that would set up her and her father for this life and the next. The only problem is that she is falling for her mark, Cassius.
Cassius is a businessman willing to take calculated risks. These risks have made him a very rich man. Cassius knows when his brother introduces him to Sera, there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Cassius is determined to discover her secret. When Cassius stirs feelings and emotions in Sera that she has not felt in what seems like forever, Sera struggles with completing the contract for Cassius. Will she or won’t she?
The author has a brilliantly paced story that will keep you hanging on until the last word!!
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sera is a very interesting lady. Lorenzo her dad was not a good person he was deceiving. Cassius, I like his character. This is a very well-written romance novel I like how well the characters interact with each other. Devil’s Breath which is set to hit the streets and become the next big thing being an Assassin and all has its perks but what happens when you fall for your target.
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Devil’s Breath is a great read. It’s a perfect mix of suspenseful and romance. I had a hard time putting the book down.
Sera is her family’s assassin and shes Damn good at her job. Meeting her next target on her club puts her plans in motion. She doesn’t expect to fall in love. The quote I chose for Sera is: “Anyway, we have work to do. Since you want to bring up my degree, why don’t you put your computer science degree to use before we get caught?”
Cassius is in town to help his brother out. Little does he know that he’s fronting them the money for a fake business. He meets Sera and knows something is up. He finds out what it is, but that doesn’t stop him from loving her. The quote I chose for Cassius is: “Lower your guns. You come here every night. I’m assuming it’s not for an evening rendezvous with a hot lover. My brother, Damion, and Lorenzo are smuggling Adrenochrome. There are thousands of bottles hidden behind the walls.”
Highly recommended for Romantic Suspense lovers.
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5/5 Stars
Finding Starlight: A Small Town, Romantic Suspense (The Quimby Grove Series #1) by Shannon Nikole
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. Finding Starlight is the first book in The Quimby Grove Series. Beck and Ellie are an amazing couple. Ellie doesn’t have the best backstory and it’s a little dark.
Ellawyn leaves her hometown in order to be safe from the clutches of her ex boyfriend. She finds herself in Quimby Grove and feels like she’s finally found her place. Benji finds a place in her heart and she’s devastated when she learns Benji is sick. The quote I chose for Ellawyn is: “Because right now, I’m broken, Beckett. I feel like I’ve been shattered into a million pieces, and I don’t even know where to begin to piece it all back together again. I need to help myself before I can let you back in. This is just what I need to do for me. I won’t feel safe in Quimby Grove, or in my apartment, for a while. I need to work through it first.”
Beckett comes back to Quimby Grove thinking he’s back for a short visit. He doesn’t know that his two week visit will turn into something more. When he meets Ellawyn he feels something he’s never felt before. Will things work out for the two of them? The quote I chose for Beckett is: “From the day you entered my life, you’ve made it better. The challenges we’ve faced, the heartache we’ve endured, and the laughter we’ve shared wouldn’t have been the same without you at my side. You’re everything to me, and I want nothing more than to make you mine. Ellawyn Rose Calloway, will you marry me?”
Highly recommended for Romantic Suspense lovers.
Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Get the boxset…don’t even consider getting 1 just to see if you’ll like it…you will. These books are addictive and engaging and fast-paced and seductive and so much more. I absolutely love the way India Kells creates and develops her characters and how each character is an imperfect match for the other. The amount of push and pull between the Brothers and each of their Sparrows is riveting and each book has just the right amount of spice. I positively love the way Kells weaves each of the Brothers and their Sparrows stories together to build on each story as we progress in the box set. We still get to see characters that were the focal points of other stories while not losing sight of the main characters in this story. India Kells is quickly becoming one of my favorite, go-to authors. I will definitely be reading all of her stuff!
Reviewed by @meggs1717
Vive la Resistance by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vive la Resistance by Seelie Kay is a Vampire/Were paranormal romance and is the third book in the Donovan Trait series. Now there is a huge war brewing. The Vampire Coalition wants to eliminate Half-Blood Vampires and Weres and those who have even the faintest trace of their blood. This includes Donovan Trait’s family and their two infant children. Unbeknownst to the Coalition, there are literally millions of Half-Bloods and they are prepared to fight for their freedom. And the Trait’s certainly won’t give in without putting up a fight.
I highly enjoyed all of the Donovan Trait books, but this one was by far my favorite! If you love books with vampires, weres, war with a dose of romance, you may find yourself really enjoying it as well. I certainly did. I definitely recommend reading the first two books before picking up Vive la Resistance. The previous books have a lot of information, situations and character building that entwine with the third book. Otherwise, pick it up and enjoy getting submersed into this fun world with adorable characters!
Vive la Resistance by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vive la Resistance is Book 3 in the Donovan Trait Series. The story continues with Donovan Trait, a vampire lawyer, and his chemically turned vampire turned wife Shirley Magnusen Trait, a judge. Donovan and Shirley are in hiding after being targeted by the Vampire Coalition. When Shirley became pregnant with twins the Vampire Coalition wanted the babies surrendered to them. When Donovan and Shirley refused to do so the Vampire Coalition ordered them dead.
As the Traits start to unravel centuries worth of cruelty, discrimination and lies about half-bloods and Weres by the Vampire Nation the Coalition continues their reign of terror. The worst lie of all was the Great Lie and the ensuing coverup that made all female vampires infertile and unable to have children. The Vampire Coalition has chosen all out war against all half bloods and Weres and are going to great lengths to kill anyone that might not be full blood vampire. To the Coalition it no longer matters if a human is killed in the process.
Millions of half bloods emerge from all over the world, ready to take a stand against the Vampire Nation for centuries worth of injustice and cruelty towards them by the Vampire Nation. Battles fought must be done in a way that does not draw attention to them in the human world.
Shirley and Donovan want the best life possible for their children and that involves living in a world where they are free. Rather than stand in the shadows and allow others to fight the war for them, the Traits choose to come out of hiding and make the ultimate sacrifice. They put their own lives on the line in a battle that will be impossible to win.
This book was well written and built up the suspense of the first two books. I admired the bravery of the Trait Family as they stood together as a family in the face of danger. They risked their own lives to save all half bloods and Weres from genocide called on by the Vampire Coalition. It was a risk they were willing to take to give not only their children a better life, but to create freedom and better lives for all vampires, half bloods and Weres. A must read! I highly recommend!
View all my reviews @Tara Johnson Barnes
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Ellawyn has managed to escape her abusive ex and is looking for a fresh start. She finds that in a small town called Quimby Grove where she discovers a quaint little bookstore called Starlight Books. Ellawyn immediately feels at home in Starlight Books and spends all her time there where she develops a close friendship with the bookstore’s elderly owner, Benji.
Suddenly things take a shift when Benji asks his grandson Beckett to return home for a visit. When Beckett returns home Benji drops a bombshell on him about his declining health. Not only does Beckett take the news hard but so does Ellawyn because she has grown to love Benji like family. She immediately offers to help Beckett run the bookstore knowing that Starlight Books is everything to Benji.
Beckett and Ellawyn immediately feel drawn to each other but initially try to fight the attraction. However, the more time they spend together the deeper the attraction becomes and the more they realize they have in common. Ellawyn finds herself falling hard for Beckett and slowly starts to allow her guard down. Trust does not come easy for Ellawyn after her previous relationship, but she slowly starts to confide in Beckett and feels that he won’t hurt her. As their relationship grows and flourishes danger lurks in the background when Ellawyn starts getting stalked. Has her ex discovered where she fled to?
This was a beautifully written book and I really resonated with the character of Ellawyn. Having been in abusive relationships I know how broken you feel and hard it is to trust others afterwards. The character of Beckett was amazing, and I loved how gentle, kind and understanding he was with Ellawyn. Rather than force her to confide in him he allowed her the time and space she needed. Benji was lovable and you could not help but fall in love with his character. I loved this book and will read it again! I highly recommend!
View all my reviews @TaraJohnson Barnes
Truth or Kill by A.C. Kramer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Dark Romance” is right! This book was twisted and alluring, so much so that I read it all in a few hours. I couldn’t risk putting it down and not getting the answers to the endgame. As the story unravels, I never quite knew what to expect! Little hints were sprinkled into the story, but I could never fully anticipate what was to come.
This story follows Sydney as she is thrown in with the wolves – almost literally. She was invited at the last minute to attend a retreat with 13 heirs to a large corporation. Even though she is the odd one out, she ends up getting clued into some of the mysterious inner workings of a game they are all playing. Watching Sydney evolve throughout the story – especially at the hands of Kage – was intense. Lots of steamy and suspenseful scenes to keep me hooked!
Truth or Kill by A.C. Kramer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beware there are triggers!
“Welcome to the darkness, my little black rose. Blood is your new currency. And it’s time to pay the price.”
Truth or Kill is a thrilling new adult story and the first book in this series. I enjoyed the unique plot which is a dark, with a little humour and twisted bloody game. I have read a lot of this authors books that are paranormal, magic books that I loved but love her dark and twisted tale is even better. The story is cleverly woven with intrigue and suspense.
There’s plenty of passion, secrets, vengeance, thrills, deranged games, drama, dangerous agendas, murder, mystery and so much more. This is a short read with lots of twist and turns.
Reviewed by @jennadb
Truth or Kill by A.C. Kramer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this read. Dark romance so read the triggers. But holy hell 🥵 I LOVED the spice! I loved the suspense! Kage and Sydney are great for eachother! And kage is just perfect 🤌🏽🥵 he’s got this dark side but has a soft side when it comes to his girl. my first book by A.C. Kramer and I loved it. Sydney and kage aren’t your typical fairy tale. They’re messed up and twisted and I’m HERE for it. Highly recommend!
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was a little close to home. A few years ago I would not have been able to read it because I was Ellawyn. I wasn’t able to pick up and move to a different state because of my children but I did finally get away. I also found my Beckett. He had the patience of a Saint and did everything in his power to make her feel safe, loved and important. Pops, Pops was the actual main character in this story. I’ll argue with anyone about this. This story has some twists and turns and was so good. It’s a story of finding yourself and proving that you are stronger than you think.
*¨*✶*¨`* BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE *¨*✶*¨`*
You’re cordially invited to attend this year’s spring break retreat at The Lodge.
It’s a highly exclusive experience guaranteed to redefine your future.
Assuming you survive.
Sydney
I thought it was a joke.
Some pompous high-society game meant to play with the children of the elite.
But then people started dying.
Including the one who invited me to attend.
Now I’m the one they all suspect.
Because I have blood on my hands.
Their blood.
Kage
The pretty little pawn isn’t supposed to be here.
She’s unique. Not one of them. A potential prize I may take for myself.
But only if she learns how to properly play this game.
The terms are simple: truth or kill?
Mmm, I hope she picks kill.
Because she’ll look stunning in red.
Welcome to the darkness, my little black rose.
Blood is your new currency.
And it’s time to pay the price.
Author’s Note: Truth or Kill is a standalone novel. Please review the warning inside for dark content that may be triggering to readers.
A.C. Kramer is the New Adult & Contemporary Romance Pseudonym for USA Today Bestselling Author Lexi C. Foss. New Adult Romance is her guilty pleasure, coffee is her addiction, and swimming is her escape.
Vive la Resistance by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a thrilling 5 star read. I was pulled right in from the beginning. The author does a great job with her writing and feels like you are right there with the characters. We continue with Donovan and Shirley’s story. This time they have to protect their family at all costs from the coalition…will they succeed?
If you’re looking for a great paranormal suspense this is the series for you. We get more on the edge of your seat moments. All of the characters added a great element to the story. I look forward to reading more from this series and author.
Reviewed by @mab54615
View all my reviews
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First off, I highly recommend you just jump right into this book. Do not ready any reviews….you don’t want anything given away. This book had me on the edge of my seat ’til the very end….I had no idea which way it would go.
I’m going to try to do this review justice without giving too much away. Sera is a great FMC. She works hard, knows what she wants, and is good at what she does. As a hired assassin, she usually has no problem with the follow-through…until him! Cassius is a wise and kind-hearted man. However, he feels something is amiss with his meeting of Sera…he just needs to figure out what it is. These two have amazing banter, some H-O-T scenes, and the gamut of emotions (lust, love, hate, betrayal….you get the picture). However, at the end of the day, Sera must decide if she will follow orders or her heart? And how will Cassius deal with the fact that someone close to him has betrayed him?
This book was one of the best books I have read this year! It is filled with the kind of back and forth that kept me turning the pages until the very end!! It has been a while since I have been so enthralled with a book that I did not notice the passage of time….I just sat and read from beginning to end!
Vive la Resistance by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have quickly fallen in love with this series, and it has also become one of my goes To’s. I have let all of my friends and family know about this series. I loved the first two books in the series, and this one was certainly no different. I loved the story development as well as the character development between the first two books and this one. As always, the author crafted together a wonderful engaging story, with everything I love about their writing. I was not able to put this book down until I finished it from beginning to end. The author knows how to capture a reader’s attention and transport them into the story. I love books where I can see and feel everything the characters are, feel like I’m right next to the character, and they did just that. It’s a rare skill to do and not many authors have the ability. I will definitely be reading more of their books in the future.
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m always keen to try out author’s I’ve never read before and when I read the blurb of this book, I just knew that I had to give it a chance. I’m a total sucker for a good romantic suspense novel and that’s exactly what I got with this book.
I was pulled into this story from the very beginning. The author had me hooked straight away and wasn’t willing to let me go. Thankfully, I was a very willing passenger on this great ride. The story flows along quickly and is full of action, intrigue, danger and suspense. Added to that is an almighty blast of angst as the two main characters, would be assassin Sera and her would be victim Cassius top toe around one another.
Set in the dark underworld of drugs, this is dark and raw in parts but is a fantastic read that I just didn’t want to put down.
It is most definitely with the 5 stars that I’m giving it.
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was excellent! I really enjoyed reading Ellawyn’s story. Her courage and strength of spirit were an inspiration. Seeing the relationships between the characters is always beautiful to me as well! However, my favorite part is the haven she finds in the midst of an escape from her prison. Starlight Books being her haven is something I can completely understand, seeing as books are my safe place too. I love stories that take place in small towns because the camaraderie is almost inevitable and the relationships that can be built are so enduring. If you enjoy books with a strong female lead, romance, and some suspense, this is definitely a must read!
Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This box set is a must read. I loved each of the brothers and the women they fell for. These women came into their lives at a time they needed them the most; they just didn’t know it. Each of them have a dark side but they are good men who love fiercely. The author did an exceptional job pulling me into each story and tying them all together. Each book has danger, action, romance, and so much more. As soon as you finish a book you will want to dive right into the next one. I needed to know if they were going to be able to stop their evil father. I highly recommend these books, you don’t want to miss out on this series.
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Both lead characters are very strong and determined in their journey. They have a kind of love that is real and is hard to navigate, just like any real relationship. This story has some twist and turns and makes you keep reading until you are finished.
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was hooked from the very beginning. I love small town books. It reminds me of the place I grew up. The different twists and turns the author had, made it hard to put down. All the emotions the characters felt, I felt also. The author knows how to pull at your heart strings. I highly recommend this.
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I knew by about 20% in to this book that I was going to absolutely love it and that is exactly what happened. This book started off intense and had me on the edge of my seat in just the first chapter. I was immediately intrigued and wanting to know more. I absolutely adored Ellawyn and oh my does Beckett have my heart. He may now be one of my top book boyfriends. I loved that this book was dual POV because I am a sucker for the male perspective in these kinds of books. This book was so much more than a romance book thought, it had some very intense situations, and I felt all the emotions and even cried several times. The way I wanted Benji to be my own family member ugh I love him whole heartedly. I was honestly not sure how this was going to end with the plot twist and traumatic events that unfolded but I think this was done so well. I am now going to be on the look out for more books from this author cause this was just so beautifully done I want more!
Devil’s Breath by Lang Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Holy Smokes! What a crazy yet stunning story! I mean I loved it but DANG I really was not sure which way it was going to go until I flipped that last page! This really took me on such a ride! So SO many ups and downs and twists that sometimes I was not sure who to trust/believe or even like. Both main characters and a secondary or two are very interesting in how they conduct themselves. I was drawn into their individual lives, plight and but mostly I wanted everything to turn out where the winners win and the losers lose. But since this takes me right up to the edge before it lets go…I just never know who is going to fall.
I absolutely LOVED this dark and twisty tale! The story..the suspense..the characters..all of it is perfection! I highly recommend this one to anyone who can handle a little darkness in their stories. I look forward to more from this author!
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
You know that little feeling you get when you read the first few pages and just know you’re about to read an amazing story? That’s exactly what happened when I opened this one up. The characters instantly had me hooked. And this author had my emotions all over the place. Oh how I fell in love with Ellawyn her character spoke to me so much and I seriously wish we could read books for the first time more than once but I’ll make due adding it to my read again list. It’s a well written storyline and had everything I was looking for in a romantic suspense story. I can’t wait to see where this author takes readers next. I’d give this more stars if possible, but it’s definitely earned a five star rating!
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The story was eloquently written, but the plot was a bit predictable at times. The characters were very tangible. It felt as if you could clearly visualize the characters, and picture their movements and actions. Overall, Finding Starlight is an incredibly good story, with a strong lead into what could be a powerful series.
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This checked a lot of boxes for me on what some of my favorite types of reads are.
Small town, drama, suspense, romance of course and many other things.
I want to move to this town! I have always wanted to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and just a sense of community.
Oh these characters, first their names, im a sucker for uncommon names and these took the prize for that. Their chemistry and just overall being made me relate to them so quickly and deeply.
I wont spoil anything thats not already said in the synopsis but this is a great read!
King Bastard by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a 6 out of 5 stars for me!! I didn’t want this book series to end but WOW what a perfect ending! This band of brothers has been battling their father this entire time but none as fervently as the oldest son. Until the love of his life bursts into his life! While shie is very strong & capable, she has a wonderful capacity to understand & trust him. That is IF he lets her!! I highly, highly suggest reading the previous books before this page-turner. I will definitely follow Kells for her future masterpieces!
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Finding Starlight by Shannon Nikole
5 out of 5 stars
This is a story about taking control of your own life and starting over. No matter how long or how many times it takes. It’s a story of hope and healing and finding yourself despite all that tries to hinder your path and break you.
It’s a story of finding starlight.
***
On the run from her abusive ex-boyfriend, Ellawyn Calloway finds herself seeking haven in the quaint town of Quimby Grove and the local bookshop Starlight books. She quickly befriends the warmhearted, elderly shop owner Benji and begins feeling as if she can finally breathe again. But when illness brings his Beckett back to town the last thing Ellawyn expects is her carefully constructed walls to begin to fall down.
I was instantly drawn into the cozy small-town of Quimby Grove and into the lives of Ellawyn, Benji, Beckett, and his best friend Max. From their individual stories and hardships to the trials they faced together and everything in between this was such a well-written whirlwind of a ride.
I was entirely invested in this story from beginning to end and felt myself connecting to each character and resonating with them in different ways.
It was an amazing read and the characters were only a portion of it. I felt myself enjoying the storyline, the pacing, the details, and the times I did have to pull myself away from reading I couldn’t wait to return and dive deeper into this world.
Definitely am hopeful for a next book and to see what will happen and if it will continue to follow the story of Ellawyn or if we will be introduced to a new set of loving characters either way I have found an author to add to my list and I am excited to be captivated by her future stories!!