Posts

The Labyrinthine Journey (Servant of the Gods Book 2) by Luciana Cavallaro – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Labyrinthine Journey (Servant of the Gods, #2)The Labyrinthine Journey by Luciana Cavallaro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Evan is a man out of time, or at least, out of his time, his father, the god Zeus has taken him from his home in the twenty first century and everything he knows and thrown him back in time into ancient Greece where he learns who he is and why he has to go on the mission which Zeus has commanded him to undertake. Now he has begun to acclimate to his new surroundings, he and his travelling companions set out to see an Oracle, who has the answer to where the relics he has been tasked to find are located, but as he has found out on the journey so far, nothing is plain sailing and everything takes much longer than planned.

As they leave for the next stage of their journey, the obstacles between them and their destination become apparent and they are not all of a natural nature, some are mythical and some are human, but they all litter the path with peril and they appear out of nowhere just when the group start to feel safe again. However, as Evan learns more about this time and their mission, as well as the Gods they are trying to save, he realises that not all of the threats are strange, some of them come from his blood relations themselves, but as they progress through the dangers and obstacles in their path, will they be able to overcome them?

Will Evan and his companions be able to find the Oracle and learn their next destination before the danger becomes life threatening? This is a historical fiction where the Gods demand help from their children, so that they can carry on their existence and with plenty of twists and turns throughout, this epic fantasy will keep you guessing all the way to the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Daredevil: A Friends to Lovers Romance by Nadia Han – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Daredevil (WaterFyre Rising, #2)The Daredevil by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Royce Viktorsson is a part time volcanologist and full time explorer, he lives his life on the edge, but always with a calculated risk and it has paid off time and time again, leading to him growing his empire and putting the lessons learned into practice, but it has taken over his life in a way that leaves no room for romance, or strong emotions, he is a wild as he can be despite the hidden hole in his heart. Michelle Yates is a travel blogger and uses her experiences and thoughts on life to inspire others through the written word and so when an opportunity presents itself for her to escape the recent past and explore somewhere new and learn about some innovative projects, she signs up straight away, but what she doesn’t expect is immediately becoming caught in a thunderstorm and running into a friend when he comes to her rescue.

The last person Royce was expecting to see was Michelle and especially not caught in a rainstorm with one of his employees thanks to a run of bad luck, but when this bad luck keeps reoccurring, he thinks that he can see a pattern developing and he is not happy about it in the slightest. Michelle cannot understand why she keeps running into barriers, both mental and physical on this trip, but she is not letting them consume her mind, however, Royce is another matter entirely and she is struggling to keep the monster inside her head from warping it into something ugly when she us surrounded by beauty.

As the days pass and both Royce and Michelle use it as a way to plumb the waters of whether their is something more than friendship between them and when someone from their joint pasts turns up, it is a perfect opportunity to find out. As their clear and undeniable attraction builds, more and more danger creeps into the picture as well, but will they be able to find out who is behind their run of bad luck before their time runs out? Will the two be able to reclaim themselves as their presents run into their pasts, or will their romance be ripped apart before it can really, truly begin? This romantic suspense is a tangled web of secrets, lies, truths and revelations as danger surrounds the main characters in a vortex of monsters and darkness which they have to beat to find their future.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Mastermind : A Brother’s Best Friend Romance (WaterFyre Rising Book 1) by Nadia Han – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Mastermind (WaterFyre Rising, #1)The Mastermind by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Remington Starke is a man with a vision, he gets whatever he wants, be it in his business, or private life and he looks at life through a very black and white lens. He is not a fan of emotions and has tried his best over the years to avoid relationships and anything which could jeopardise the empire which he has built, but his latest acquisition is something else entirely. Audri Wu is a woman with a creative mind and this stands her in good stead with both her job and her hobby, she is always full of sunshine and makes those around her happy as well, but she has always had a soft spot for a certain friend of her brothers, but has kept it to herself, knowing that they are something she can never have.

Audri and Remington know each other as friends, but when he appears in her work environment as well, she has no idea what to do and neither does he, but his magnetism attracts Audri no matter how had she tries to deny it, but has no idea if he feels the same way. Remington has always had a spark of attraction to Audri, but felt she was off limits being his best friends sister, but the more he gets to know her, the more he feels the attraction is right.

Not everyone sees it that way and soon, his dark past re-emerges into the light and starts to threaten those around him, meanwhile Audri is having troubles of her own which are dredging up her past and causing the stress to build, but can the two friends overcome their barriers and their pasts to spark a fire which could burn everything down? This is a romantic suspense with twists and turns as secrets and truths are revealed and the past becomes entangled with the present, but will the future be full of darkness or light? The only way to find out is to read the first instalment in this series and immerse yourself into the fire within.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Husbands by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The HusbandsThe Husbands by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dorian and Augustine are two men who are happily married to two beautiful women, they have the lives they want and everything they could need, that is until the day that an assassin brings them together in an extremely unexpected way. They meet in unusual circumstances, but soon find that their relationship is blooming and they begin to care for each other, however, when things look like they could cross some lines and break apart their current lives and those of the ones they love, they decide to stay away from each other and hope that the distance will help them to heal their broken hearts.

This plan seems to be working fine and for the next few years, things move along in both their lives, Dorian with his self employment where he controls how much or little work he does and Augustine his graphic design business, as well as each of them supporting their wives in their endeavours. Unbeknownst to the men, their wives meet each other by chance and become fast friends and declare that they would like the husbands to meet and become friends too.

So, one night, one of the wives invite the other to a party they are throwing and when they introduce their respective husbands to each other, the men are completely blindsided and everything that had been left behind comes crashing back in full force. What will become of this pairing and how can they keep things friendly without acting on the temptations they are faced with every time they meet up? This is a tangled web of unrequited and forbidden love, with secrets, lies and half truths scattered throughout, as denial and temptation rear up to create a bubbling sea of uncertainty.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Raine Down: An Urban Fantasy Adventure (The Shadow Guardians Book 1) by C.B. Samet – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Raine Down: An Urban Fantasy Adventure (The Shadow Guardians)Raine Down: An Urban Fantasy Adventure by CB Samet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Raine Thoren is a Shadow Guardian, she is a member of a secret council who protect non-magical side of humanity from things that they don’t even know about and since Ragnarok happened and the necessity of the inhabitants left living to mingle with humans, causing a dilution of their bloodlines, but ensured their survival, this has been a necessity. Raine is good at her job, so when she comes up against her latest foe, she thinks she has everything planned out, but that is until an FBI agent throws a spanner into the works and lands himself right in the middle of it. Will Decker is an FBI agent through and through, he strictly follows the rules, both personally and professionally and he is also very good at his job, but he is tracking a serial killer and he has finally found him, however, things don’t go to plan.

As Will announces himself to the world, the killer turns on him, but he is quicker and stronger than anyone he had ever chased and when he realises this, this is when a woman leaps in front of him and saves his life, but is injured in the process and the killer gets away, but he helps this woman instead of chasing him. Raine is hurting badly from the attack, but decides to accept Will’s help, at least until she healed enough to go back to where she is staying and as they both report back to their superiors, they understand that they will have to work together to track and stop this killer.

As Raine opens up to Will about the killer and his supernatural powers and the supernatural community as a whole, he struggles to accept it, but he perseveres and as the investigation continues, he comes to realise that this fantasy is becoming his reality and it is a lot to take in, but Raine helps him and they work well together, but can they open up to each other and stop this killer, or will the victims be out of luck? This is a fantasy adventure, where a race against time is on to stop a serial killer in his path and with plenty of action throughout, you will be hooked in and eager to know how the story ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Malayeka (A Heartstrings Book) by Brooke May – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Malayeka (Heartstrings Book 3)Malayeka by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Malayeka is a Cupid, or at least, she is part of a team who aid Cupid in bringing humans together in true love bonds, but it is not as simple as it sounds, however, Malayeka does love her job and when she receives her next assignment, she is looking forward to getting started, even though it is not the first time she has been to the place she is being sent.

Two centuries before, Malayeka had been assigned a couple, but it did not go as smoothly as planned and it created a rivalry more thorough than certain ones mentioned in a certain play, so now she is back, she wants to get the lay of the land, in a manner of speaking. Unfortunately, the first thing she sees are two grandpa’s in boats on a pond threatening each other with shotguns, the next thing she sees is the town the two families live in and the literal divide it has created, with the Thompson’s on one side and the Reid’s on the other. The atmosphere is tense as she walks down the middle of the street while being hailed into shops by both sides, but there is only one she is looking for and that is a bakery, this is where she meets Billie, the owner, the first of her pair.

As Malayeka is introducing herself, the bakery suddenly is full of chaos with two men stood outside laughing, this is where Malayeka meets Leo, the other half of her assignment and this is where she realises the extent to what she will have to overcome to bring the two together. With her favourite sweet treat of a cookie in hand, Malayeka starts to make a plan to bring the two and their families together, but will the past repeat itself, or will the future be as sweet as the cookies she loves to eat? This is a sweet romance in every way, which is full of rivalries, loyalties and strong personalities in this tale of fate, romance and feuds.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Sacrifice (Dragonpets Book 1) by R.L.S. Hoff – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Sacrifice (Dragonpets #1)The Sacrifice by R.L.S. Hoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When you wake up to find yourself dressed in some flimsy fine dress, which is definitely not your usual clothing choice, soaked through by freezing rain and chained to the side of a mountain, the first thing which should cross your mind is why am I here, or at least you should be worried about this, but I’m not and that is really strange. I find that I couldn’t care less why I am there or even what I was doing any time before this, what could have been going through the mind of a farmers daughter to bring her to this place, in this weather and only wearing what I am, never mind about the chains themselves.

As I am asking myself these questions and wracking my brain over them, warm steam starts to come out of the cave opposite me and albeit it I am more than thankful for the heat, while wishing my mind would hurry up and catch up with itself and become scared, especially when the dragon appears. Dragons are scary and I should rightly be terrified, but still I am not, something is desperately wrong with me, dragons are known for breathing fire, raining down destruction and tormenting their victims before eating them, so I really should figure out what is going on and why I am there before I become the next sacrificed lamb, so to speak.

Will I become a snack for this dragon in front of me, or will I even care if I do? This is a fantasy tale of dragons, magic and one very spirited young woman where nothing is as it seems and danger is everywhere she looks, but will her sacrifice be in vain? This story will keep you reading as it hooks you into a tale which enchants and enthrals.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mira and Carl are siblings, but they are not friends, they are enemies! Whatever one of them wants to do, the other doesn’t, the only thing they agree on is that they both want to sit behind their dad whenever they are in the car.

One day their Dad takes them to the beach and this is something at last that they agree on, but the activities they want to do while there differ greatly, Carl wants to build a sandcastle, however, Mira wants to destroy it, is this something that can bring these super enemies together?

This is a cute story with lovely illustrations, which talks about friendship and how being different is not always a bad thing.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Shadow Patterns of Melt – Book One by J. R. P. Fogg – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadow Patterns of Melt - Book OneShadow Patterns of Melt – Book One by J.R.P. Fogg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bishr and Nialla are specialists in space travel, they have been through all the training and now have been in charge of their own ship the Metronome for years transporting cargo and people across the universe for a fee, they make a brilliant team with Bishr being a comms genius and Nialla, a whiz with physics, sometimes she is even known as a savant, she is just that good. They love the freedom which comes from traversing wormholes and jumps between the 400 habitable planets, as well as the 30 which are in the “gration” process and they want to continue to live, laugh and love in their own time.

As they are flying towards their next destination, everything seems to be going to plan until Bishr ill and Nialla has to both look after the other and the ship, this is not easy as there are only the two of them, but somehow they manage. As he recovers, Bishr goes through the correspondence and highlights one message in particular about a Stratum Three planet which is going to be listed as open for gration, he finds the images of the clouds scudding over the surface of the planet relaxing and so saves the skim for later, however, as they are discussing it, the jump they are planning goes wrong.

Nialla and Bishr encounter some issues and between the calcs, the dishes and their superluminal flight, they have to make some decisions which will not just affect them, the shadows which these decisions cast over the rest of the known universe will also come into play, but what will happen and can their love, work, laugh and love mantra keep them safe, or will their unplanned discovery, the history of their parents legacies and the future of mankind in space rip them apart? This is a dystopian sci-fi of universal proportions as split second decisions mean the difference between life, death and everything in between, in this race to calculate, formulate and experiment with unknowns runs its course, in this new and immersive reality.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Amaleigha and the Big Idea by Jan Pratt – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Amaleigha and the Big IdeaAmaleigha and the Big Idea by Janice Pratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amaleigha is a five year old girl with big ideas, she lives with her parents and brother, but she isn’t like most children, Amaleigha spends most of her time outdoors exploring her favourite places in her backyard forest.

One day while she is running around and enjoying herself, she has a big idea and it is the best one she has had yet, but can she get her family on board to help her realise it?

This is a heart-warming tale about love and how imagination can lead to ideas and ideas to reality, in this inspirational and fun book for all ages.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

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

/0 Comments/in /by

Master CatteneoMaster Catteneo by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master Catteneo is a Vampire master and has been put in charge of an extremely important hunt, the hunt for Overmaster Descallia’s mate, she has been taken and the trail runs cold in his area of the world, so he goes to see someone who can help find her from this end, however, the help he receives is not from the person he expects. Alessia is a young woman who is very protective of her family and so because of this, she inserts herself into the world of the vampires to give the help they seek to find a missing woman and even though she is scared, she feels that this is the right thing to do and that nobody, especially a handsome vampire will stop her from doing it.

This is a race against time as the Overmaster becomes more frantic and enraged by the minute, so when a beautiful and sassy psychic is sent to help him, Master Catteneo is frustrated when the visions don’t give him what he needs to succeed in his mission, instead, he is left more bewildered than ever, all the while trying to keep his mind away from her temptations.

As time moves on a nothing is happening, the mood in the team is thick with anger, frustration and Alessia’s past comes to the fore when she seeks help from another party, much to the disappointment and annoyance of the vampire lord as it is one of the groups with whom the vampires have a very tenuous balance. However, the attraction Alessia and Master Catteneo feel cannot be denied and when things take a turn for the worse, bargains have to be made and allegiances have to be tested in order for the search to be successful, including this new found bond, but can they survive the challenges and traps set for them, or will this bond be ripped apart before its strength can be fully tested?

This is another paranormal romance with danger at ever turn where nothing is as it seems and the tangled web of intrigue keeps you immersed in this dark world of the supernatural where loyalties are tested, reputations are gained and lost, as well as secrets, truths and lies becoming both more and less clear as you follow along in this race against time to save fated mates and uncover the tracks leading to them.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Pardon Me, PleasePardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Albert is a turkey and lives on a turkey farm, he knows that he will probably be eaten at thanksgiving like all of the other turkeys there, but he doesn’t want to be, which turkey would?

So when a family start to look at him, he knows what is coming, so he does everything he can to change their minds. While he is thinking of what to do, he sees on a tv in the shop, that the President has pardoned his thanksgiving turkey, can he get this family to do the same for him and let him live in Turkey Pardon Park for the rest of his days?

This is a story which has an interesting premise and is done in a way that is fun and educational all at the same time, a good book for young and old alike.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Final Bite by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Final BiteThe Final Bite by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every ten years, the gods and goddesses choose one soul who has been unjustly killed a second chance at life, but as with all gods and goddesses, there are a few rules which have to be followed and for Quinnlan Trinity, his time has come. So he is given three days to find a mate, or it is back to purgatory for eternity, so he is given three days worth of clothes, minus underwear and dropped into an almost abandoned motel in the middle of nowhere, a very daunting task.

As the first day passes without success, Quinnlan heads out the next evening and finds someone who looks out of place, but when he starts to follow them, he senses some wolf shifters are following them too, so he keeps his distance to find out what is going on. It is only when he finds that person beaten bloody and near death in another abandoned place, that he has a decision to make, he could save this persons life, but that would mean choosing them as his mate and risking it all, or leave them to die? This paranormal story is full of decisions, revelations and mystery as one man risks it all on an uncertain future in this tale which keeps you on the ends of your seat and wanting to know what happens next.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Dwarves’ Dilemma: A Science Folktale (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Dwarves' Dilemma, TheDwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In a kingdom where fairness is cherished, live a queen and her daughter Snow White who have help from a magic mirror to solve the dilemmas of the kingdoms inhabitants by showing the “Sparkle of Fairness” in their eyes. All is going well until a group of dwarves come in with a dilemma where neither party has the “Sparkle of Fairness”, so Snow asks if she can investigate and find out the fairest answer, but it is not the one which anyone was expecting, so in this case, who is the fairest of them all?

This is a lovely book with a brilliant way of showing how to deal with moral dilemmas in the fairest way and explains what fairness means to different people in an engaging way which is educational as well as entertaining in the best possible way.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Dream-ShifterDream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gwendolyn is a young girl of twelve years old who lives with her parents and spends time with her best friend, but unbeknownst to the outside world, Gwendolyn is a dream shifter and this means that every night when she goes to sleep, she changes into whatever animal form she is dreaming in. Normally this doesn’t cause a problem, as long as she wakes up slowly and naturally, she will become a human again, however, if she is woken up suddenly, she can become stuck as that animal.

One night, Gwendolyn is dreaming of being an elk and is woken suddenly by a fire alarm blaring into the night, but as an elk, she can’t escape until her parents come and open her door, but there is a problem, it is elk hunting season and she is an elk, albeit an elk who can think and speak like a human girl! As a couple of days pass by, Gwendolyn tries to return to her human self, mainly because she has plans of going to journalism camp, but they will only accept humans, this makes her desperate to turn back, but the book she needs isn’t at home, but her parents have managed to find out who has it, a magician who lives nearby.

When Gwendolyn and her parent approach the magician for help, he agrees, as long as she stays with him and earns her keep doing magic shows, but with all the distractions around her, will Gwendolyn be able to find a way to turn back into a human, or will she be stuck as an elk forever? This is a charming story which is full of magic and mayhem, as life lessons are learned and expectations are created, all while avoiding external dangers which keep you reading until you find out what happens to Gwendolyn in the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children's Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities (Jake the Growling Dog)Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities by Samantha Shannon

Lucas is a black cat who lives with his family in a cosy home with his sister, but his family suspect that Lucas is no ordinary cat, they think that he is a spy cat! He leaves at dusk with a goodbye meow and doesn’t come back home until morning breaks and he can snuggle down in his bed, so one night, the family decide to put a camera on his collar and find out just what he gets up to.

When Lucas come home the next day, his family are expecting him and his woodland friends to go on some wild adventures, solving neighbourhood mysteries, but what exactly will they find on Lucas’s spy cam? This is a wonderful children’s story which will spark the imagination of anyone who reads it, with an engaging story and fabulous illustrations, as well as fun surprises for the whole family inside, it is a great read which I one I would go back to again.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Dia’s Lure (A Solstice Quartet Book) by Catherine Peace – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Dia's LureDia’s Lure by Catherine Peace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dia Ngata is a young woman in hiding, she spends her life in disguise and has been hunted because of who she is for most of her life, she is a swan shifter and ever since her tribe was slaughtered overnight, she has been running from hunters and from her past. Carver Kano is a dingo shifter who has had a challenging past and a life full of regrets, but he is trying desperately to make up for them with the choices he is making now, his biggest regret is his hand in the destruction of Dia’s tribe all those years ago.

Despite all of this, Dia spends her time helping others survive against the odds, just like her, so when disaster strikes and Dia is forced to run until she can run on more and passes out in the middle of an unknown forest, however, when she wakes up, she is no longer there, instead, she is in a bed with a soft voice asking her how she is feeling. This puts Dia on edge immediately, she is not used to being looked after and is suspicious of it all, especially when she is told she cannot leave, this send her into a panic and she does everything she can to escape, albeit unsuccessfully.

While all this is happening, Kano is working on a new story as a journalist specialising in warzones and he is after his biggest prize yet, in the past he has used this job to take down the worst of the worst out there and for the most part he is successful, but on the road to his next destination, Kano comes a scene of destruction and immediately goes to help, but he is distracted when he smells Dia and he immediately goes after her, however, he finds more than he bargains for when he is captured and put in a cage.

As Dia accepts her captivity, she sees another captive and realises that it is her old flame Kano, she doesn’t know how to react and honestly, neither does he, but as they find out more about this colony’s history, they become a part of the bat shifters camp life and they find it somewhere they want to help, especially Milos, who wriggles into their hearts. One say they are confronted by danger yet again when someone from Kano’s past turns up and threatens the bats they have become close to, but can Dia, Kano and Milos work together to save the colony from this latest danger and keep themselves safe throughout this difficult task? This is a fantasy adventure where nothing is as it seems and secrets and lies seem to be a way of life which will keep you reading on until you find out what happens in the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Bycatch by Alexander Blevens – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

BycatchBycatch by Alexander Blevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rex Thompson has had an interesting life, he has made many a mistake and ultimately made the wrong choices both personally and professionally, but the one he regrets the most is while he was a young man serving his country in the Vietnam War, where he committed a felony before he finished his last tour, he has never spoken about it since, especially since moving to Biloxi Bay and becoming a shrimp fisherman. Anh Truong is the daughter of a Vietnamese immigrant living in the small town of Biloxi Bay with her parents, they have a well off family thanks to the hard work of her parents growing their shrimping business from scratch when they arrived into the country.

Rex has tried to do the best he can for his family, but between working and sinking into his vices, he struggles to stay close to his sons, that is until they come to visit one summer and stayed, but it has not been smooth sailing for these three, as Rex struggled against his vices again and his sons ending up paying for it when they had to look after themselves from a young age, however, without a good role model, they have grown into a couple of ne’er do wells, filled with resentment. One day they are left to their own devices and caught in a strong belief that a particular fisherman had done them wrong, they decide to scuttle his boat, what they do not know is that he was not able to escape and drowned.

As Anh and her family try to come to terms with their loss, she finds a journal her father had kept hidden, it is not east reading for her as it is filled with his experiences during the Vietnam War and the depth of the feelings associated with it. Meanwhile, Rex finds out about the drowned fisherman and realises that it was the man who caught him committing his felony and whom he has avoided while living in the same town, he also works out that it was his two sons who committed the crime, so as the repercussions of his life choices become clear, he has another choice to make, but will it be the right one this time? This is a tale of greed, guilt, lies and forgiveness as the pasts of two men entangle with the present, amid cultural clashes in a small town on the Mississipi Gulf Ciast and as you untangle this web of intrigue, you will be pulled into a history lesson, as well as a lesson in choices and consequences which keeps you hooked throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Elemental Fire (The Hidden Realms Book 1) by E.G. Manetti – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Elemental Fire (The Hidden Realms #1)Elemental Fire by E.G. Manetti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sin Marston is a young human woman with unusual talents, she can see through an individuals glamour and this is one of the things the Hidden use to keep their identities hidden from humans, this talent of Sin’s is especially helpful in the security industry and that is why Sin is known as one of the best in the business, her latest case is the theft of artefacts from an exhibition which is moving around the USA and she is determined to find the culprit here in Boston. Radzik Cray is a fire elemental who has travelled the realms of the Hidden, as well as Terra where the humans live, he is a powerful and high ranking Hidden with a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders as a Warden of the Elder Council, one of which is controlling what passes through the veil, a transitory passage between Terra and the Hidden realms and this is not as easy as it sounds.

Ever since the veil treaty came into force in 2010, magical visitors had to gain permission to travel between the realms, but there are some who don’t get that and that is where the Human Protection Society come into play, they enforce the rules around Terrran and non Terran interactions and the repercussions of breaking these rules. This is where Sin comes in as she can use her talents and expertise in security and business to aid in the understanding and sometimes enforcement of these visitors so that they can have a positive experience, but also to warn them of what could happen if this is not the case.

As usual, Sin is successful in foiling the heist and captures the Hidden and takes them to the authorities, however, when she meets Radzik and finds out why the heists were happening, it puts a new spin on what she thought she knew and this includes him, there is a definite attraction between the two and her curiosity gets the better of her, so she learns even more about the Hidden world and the fire elemental who heats her blood up as well. As they grow closer, Radzik realises that his job is not as in control as he thought and that he is finding that things are getting past his attention which shouldn’t be, but why is it happening and how does Sin tie into it all? This is a fantasy adventure full of magic, beings from other realms and a bit of romance to keep it interesting as danger lies around every corner and thing are not as they seem, in this story which will keep you looking for all the hidden excitement throughout.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Divided Lives by K. R. Mullins – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Divided LivesDivided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is 1912 and Lottie Flannigan is a young woman with a divided life in New York, in one half, she is a conservative lawyer who works in Midtown as a clerk for Justice Goff, who is also very conservative in his manner and expects that of his clerks too, however, her other side is a bohemian lifestyle in Greenwich Village, a mixing pot of cultures, lifestyles and it is somewhere where tradition is flouted and individualism is expected.

Lottie is happily living both sides of her life and keeps them well separated, that is until one day her office takes on the very publicised and controversial trial of Police Officer Charles Becker. The trial is one of conspiracy and also one where it could either make, or break a career and that is not just for the officer on trial, it also applies to this involved professionally as well.

This is also where her private and public lives begin to meld when some aspects of her private life are used by an unknown individual to blackmail her into making a choice between keeping her private life just that, private, or not by making demands of her, but they have picked on the wrong person and Lottie goes digging to find out who is behind it and why, all while working long hours on the trial. This is a story of scandal, mystery, crime and love and what the consequences of living a divided life can be in this story which will captivate you from the start and keep you that way all the way to the end.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Borrowed TimeBorrowed Time by Lane Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Throughout scientific studies throughout the ages, the idea of time travel has always inspired conversation, theoretical analysis and discussions around the how, why and who, how would it work, why would you want to move through time and who would be the first to make theory into reality.

Up until now, all these conversations have been theoretical in nature, that is until two scientists stumble upon the answers to the how, between the two minds, they manage to convert an old movie prop from “The Time Machine”, a film made in 1960, which inspired them and create something new.

So now they have the who and how, they just need a why, where and when, but what will happen once they have it all figured out, will it all end in disaster, or is this the future in the making? This is a fantasy novel where science fiction becomes science fact and the adventures which go along with it, as you are sucked into an adventure which nothing could prepare you for.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance (Paris in Springtime Book 7) by T.B. Bond – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance (Paris in Springtime Book 7)Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance by T.B. Bond
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wednesday Family is a witch, she is sassy, stubborn and best friends with a panda shifter called Ryker, they have been inseparable since the day they first met and spend pretty much the entirety of their time together.

Unfortunately for Wednesday, they also have some benefits attached to their friendship and this is where the main problem lies, Wednesday is addicted to those certain benefits.

She finds him adorkable, sweet and caring, but the thing she is most addicted to is his body and what he can do with it and now he has ruined her because nobody else compares and believe me, she has tried.

The only problem is that he has a mate out there somewhere just waiting for him to find her so they can make cute panda babies and she can be the awesome auntie, so she has to quit Ryker cold turkey so that he can find her, but can she do it and be the best friend without the benies? This is a cute, but spicy paranormal romance which will keep you hooked on the antics, both inside the bedroom and out of it as you speed through because you cannot wait to see how it ends.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Boss’s Vendetta: Dark Mafia Romance (Sicilian Gods Book 1) by Via Mari – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Boss's Vendetta (Sicilian Gods Book 1)Boss’s Vendetta by Via Mari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is only for those over the age of 18 due to its adult themes.

Salvatore Larussio is a man who leads a double life, by day he spends time with the high rollers at his families casino, spending time with the big wigs, the high up and the social climbers, but begins closed doors, he is a ruthless heir to a mafia throne. Adrianna is a doctor with a past she would rather forget, but now she is working at the Larussio resort and is in charge of the urgent care there, but as well as the usual emergencies she has to deal with, add into that the responsibility of sewing the family up as well, she has a lot on her plate.

The two first butt heads over the treatment of a family member and when she doesn’t back down when faced with the devil himself, he is more shocked than anything, but when a family gathering which is supposed to be a happy one turns into a bloodbath, things take a turn for the unexpected for Adrianna. In the midst of triaging the casualties, a decision is made to whisk her away with them so that she can continue their care, but just what that means is something Adrianna is completely opposed to, but seemingly has no choice in the matter.

As they are being kept in close confines, things that Salvatore finds intriguing about this ice queen from the emergency room are the things he finds attract him to her the most, but when Adrianna is confronted with the realisation that she is attracted to those same things, she decides to tell Salvatore the truth of why she is there. Will the secrets she has been hiding make or break the tenuous bond she has is building with the family, or will it be her undoing? This is a Mafia suspense with plenty of action throughout, as this darkly romantic story pulls you into the the underworld and keeps you there, while you follow along this spicy story of retaliation and retribution.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Queen’s Destiny: Blood Prophecy One by Barb Jones – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Queen's Destiny (The Blood Prophecy, #1)Queen’s Destiny by Barb Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amber is a young woman, a certified genius in fact, who has just obtained her masters and has had job offers flooding, as well as other offers from other places where they want her to intern, but there is one job in Seattle which calls to her more than the others and this is the one which sent a skull along with some other interesting artefacts. Chloe is also a young woman who has a passion for ancient artefacts and has a certain skill for accurately cataloguing them and is rewarded for the prowess she has shown in the area, not many know that she is also a prodigy, but of a vastly different kind and that is what helps her so much with her job.

When Amber arrives in Seattle, she is met at the airport by Chloe and they hit it off immediately, it helps that Chloe knows the area well and is happy to help Amber settle in to her new city and new job, so once Amber is ready to head out to see her new workplace, they head to the Seattle Museum of Natural History where she gets the tour and a look at what she will be curating. One thing about Amber is that she has never slept well and has had strange dreams all of her life, but recently they have become more disturbing and one this is one thing which Chloe can help with, so when Amber opens up about them, Chloe decides to open up as well, about the other part of her life she keeps well hidden.

One night, Amber and Chloe decide to live it up a bit as two single ladies out on the town and have a few drinks with the locals, this is where they meet two strangers, two men who are not what they appear and who seem to be unnaturally handsome and with aura’s so steeped in charm, nobody can resist them, but what the two ladies don’t know is that they will know them very well soon, as well as the three thousand year old prophecy which they being with them. Little do they know that these two strangers, as well as Amber and Chloe, are about to have their lives changed forever and be drawn into a battle which has been raging for at least a millennium, but can they survive long enough to see whether this blood prophecy comes true? This is a supernatural fantasy romance which will keep you on your toes throughout, as the twists, turns, truth and lies spin a tale of magic, mayhem and blood

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Fallen Star: The Divine Devils Book 2: Mystery Suspense Crime Thriller by R. Weir – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Fallen Star: The Divine Devils Book 2: Mystery Suspense Crime ThrillerFallen Star: The Divine Devils Book 2: Mystery Suspense Crime Thriller by R Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hunter Divine is a member of the Devine Devils, a group of specialists who help to clean up after indiscretions or events which other people would deem to dangerous to even think of, but they are very good at what they do, sometimes with a dalliance or two on the way to keep things interesting, or maybe that is just Hunter. Megan Getz is a Hollywood starlet whose parents were famous on the silver screen and ever since becoming a child star, so has Megan, now it is in her own right as a star in a sitcom, as well as other projects as well, but what isn’t known is that in her private life, she enjoys a few dalliances of her own and this is why she has turned to the Divine Devils for help.

She made an indiscreet mistake in a casino in Reno with a man she saw for one night and one night only, but little did she know that she was going to be taken advantage of and extorted every month since it happened, she is now at her wits end and doesn’t know where else to turn since anyone else deemed it too dangerous to investigate. Armed with the knowledge to start off with Hunter and his team head to Reno to dig around and unearth the extorter, as well as stop them from doing anything of the like in the future, but nothing is as easy as it seems as the team go undercover as high rollers, their staff and a security guard to dig on the inside as well.

While they star their undercover antics, they play their roles well, but after the first few days nothing occurs worth mentioning, so they split off for a while leaving two team members to keep their cover and the others to ask more questions of Megan to see if there is anything they missed the first time round. It turns out there was and this leads to a promising place to really dig in deep and one team member in particular in in the perfect place, but when he uncovers more than just extortion and minor scams, the team are in for a possibly lethal ride as they try to both take down a prostitution and murder ring with ties to the local crime syndicate, as well as extricate their fallen star in the process, but can they do it with their mind, body and souls intact? This is another exciting and suspenseful, thriller which will keep you guessing throughout and on the edge of your seat as the action packed investigation plays out.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Second View (The View from Here Trilogy Book) by Leon Stevens – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Second View (Book 2 of The View trilogy)The Second View by Leon Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thomas and April return in this second instalment in the View From Here and this new adventure all starts with a text from April saying “I think I found it.” She is of course talking about the door, the door to the other world, ever since the last one was closed, they have been wondering what would happen to them now, they are very much still friends, but they have never forgotten the experiences they had beyond the other door.

Thomas goes straight to April’s house as soon as he gets the text and she cannot wait to tell him what she has found, so when she practically throws some papers with graphs and charts at him, along with some excellent coffee, she explains what she has found and why she thinks that it is a new doorway, as well as where it is and as they are both excited and the idea they could see their friend Flick again sets them into planning mode, so they book a trip, organise their supplies and head out.

The journey to the designated area is easy and uneventful, but as they enter the doorway, in yet another cave, they do not know what to expect when they get through to the other side, but they know whatever they find, that it will be another adventure, but what they do see is definitely not what they thought it would be, so a reformulation of the plan is in order.

Their motto of “expect the unexpected” is well and truly the order of the day, but what will they find this time round and will they be able to find their friend again? This is another dystopian adventure across a familiar, yet strange world where nothing is what it seems and knowledge is always on the horizon as you get sucked into exploring alongside the characters and being amazed at what is found along the way.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Shadow and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns) by Kay L. Moody – Reviewed by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Shadow and Crystal Thorns (Fae and Crystal Thorns, #2)Shadow and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Chloe is back and continuing her journey to find a cure for the scurpus affecting both the Fae realm and the mortal realm, but danger is always around the corner and right at this moment, it is a mortal who is the cause, she is brandishing her weapons with murder in here eyes as she faces Chloe and Quintus. Chloe however, has a plan to diffuse the situation and she is hoping that it works, but she also knows that it could also go terribly wrong, this time though, it seems that luck is on their side and the danger passes for now. Chloe and Quintus have a lot of work ahead of them as they work together to think of a way to stop the mortals who have invaded the Fae realm but first they have to find out where they are camping so they can formulate a plan depending on the numbers of mortals they find.

As they move quietly around, the Kingdom of Crystal Thorns, they find a way to gain entry to the camp and try to listen in to the conversations to piece together what their plan is and therefore formulate a plan of their own to stop them, that is if Chloe can keep them safe. As usual the plans do not go well and they barely escape, but they do happen to hear enough from the mortal leaders to take back with them, but their other goal is not accomplished, they are however, still alive and that rush of adrenaline sends Chloe into Quintus’s arms. As they spend more time together they struggle to keep their feelings for each other under wraps and in control, especially when they have to stay in close proximity to the other most of the time, however, not everyone is happy about this.

As more details of why the mortals want the land the Fae live on, the reasoning makes sense to Chloe, but it doesn’t to Quintus and this causes a rift between the two, but while Chloe can understand the reasoning, the methods are barbaric to her, but who is in the right, the mortals or the Fae and can Chloe choose which side she is on and cure the affliction before time runs out? This is an action packed adventure where choices have to be made and loyalties have to be tested, as the race continues to be run in this rollercoaster of both emotions and actions.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

Curse of the Elf Lord (Kingdom of the Elf Lords) by Heidi Vanlandingham – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

Curse of the Elf Lord (Kingdom of the Elf Lords Book 2)Curse of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Émilien Elasalor is an elf lord who has been living a cursed life thanks to an individual from his past who has tortured and changed his life forever because of it, this curse was for him to live the rest of his life in the form of a wolf and he has been trying, unsuccessfully to find a cure for the longest time. Hel is the Queen of the Dead and her kingdom of Helheimr is a land of ice and cold, it is one of the kingdoms of the dead and is where her life has been for the longest time, with her helper she rules the dead and both keeps them in line and looks after them as best she can, even to her own detriment.

After helping another elf lord, Émilien returns home, however, when he is in the midst of conversation, he realises something is wrong and leaves to investigate on his patrol, but things start to go wrong and when he doesn’t return, people become worried. Meanwhile, Hel is having issues of her own when the dead souls start to disappear from her kingdom, but it is not just happening there, it is happening in all of the kingdoms of the dead and this does not bode well for anyone.

One of Émilien’s other goals is to find out about the disappearance of his brother and sister-in-law who disappeared some time ago, but all he is finding is dead ends, but he knows he will stop at nothing to find out what has happened to them, but this has to be placed on hold when his help is requested to work together with his ex-wife Hel to figure out what is happening to the dead and who is behind it. The only problem is with their past causing a rift between them, from when he and their daughter had to leave Helheimr for their own safety, albeit they still harbour deep feelings for the other, they cannot move past this and don’t believe they even can, so when the life of their daughter is threatened by the same cause of the missing dead, can they put their differences aside to save her, as well as the rest of the Nine Worlds? This is an epic fantasy where time is of the essence as two powerful individuals have to work together to stop the calamity which is racing towards them in this captivating tale.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Virus Of Beauty : Book One by C. B. Lyall – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Virus of BeautyThe Virus of Beauty by C.B. Lyall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wilf Gilvary is a young man living in Hong Kong and is obsessed by soccer, but his family, not so much, they would much rather he focuses on his magic, but that is the last thing he wants. It is something he argues with his father about a lot and the more his father pushes him, the more he pushes back, one day in particular they have a huge argument while Wilf is looking for something, especially since while he is sneaking around looking for it, the Mages Crystal which has been in his family for generations shatters.

Later on that morning, while he is at soccer practice, his father mysteriously dies and leaves his magical heritage to Wilf, he now has a decision to make, meanwhile in the magical world there is a political battle raging between the witches and wizards and this has led to a mysterious virus attacking the population. This virus is causing both witches and wizards alike to change, it is also causing them to lose their magic as the virus progresses, the main symptom is a change in appearance, instead of the ugliness this community prizes, the victims are becoming beautiful as well.

As Wilf speaks to one of the witches about his fathers journal, he realises that it holds the key to curing this virus, but it turns out that his father has spelled it so that the only way it can be read is for Wilf to develop his magical skills. This becomes even more stressful for Wilf when the one friend he has made since moving to the magical community is infected by the virus and he knows the only way to help is to embrace his magic and carry out his fathers wishes, but can he do it in time? This is a magical adventure filled with political intrigue, as well as emotional ups and downs as a young man comes to term with his future and the changes he needs to make. It is a gripping tale which will keep you reading as you become invested in the story and the characters within it.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews

The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

/0 Comments/in /by

The Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale SeriesThe Gauntlet: The Soppranaturale Series by Ashley Pagano
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Link works at The Soppranaturale to the unknowing eye, it is an up market hotel with all the glamour and pizazz the high rollers in society would want, plus a good old Irish bar in the basement and Link has been working there so long now that he is practically the owners right hand man. Ommily is a young woman who is on holiday with her fiancée and because she is obsessed with all things supernatural, she insists that they stay on one that is reportedly haunted.

The moment that Ommily walks in the door, all eyes are on her, men and women alike and she doesn’t seem to even have an idea, but Link is just as distracted as everyone else when he starts to check a man in at the front desk, but as soon as Ommily and Link set eyes on each other, there is a reaction that neither of them can deny. Thankfully, Links boss is there to give a hand and take over from him, at least until the two lovebirds move away to go to their room, this is where it is confirmed that that reaction was nothing normal, Link has just found the only other Faerie in the world and she is already taken.

This leads to Link drowning his sorrows and Ommily to wander into the bar just as he stops a fight breaking out, this leads to a question and answer session where Ommily finds out the truth she has always wanted to know, that werewolves, vampires and shapeshifters really exist and that she can be a part of their world, but unfortunately, her fiancée cannot. This leads to her finding out that together her and Link can be the strongest pair in the world with their opposite control of the uses of the four elements, but in order to be able to use these abilities to protect those around them, they first have to face The Gauntlet, but can they work together and make the hard decisions needed without killing each other first? This is a fantasy where life is not just black and white, humans and supernaturals, there is a balance which needs to be maintained and protecting that balance is the hardest thing to do and this is why this story will keep you engaged throughout as the fight for survival takes place.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

View all my reviews