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No Rest for the Wicked (Life is Hell Series) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

No Rest for the Wicked (Life is Hell #1)No Rest for the Wicked by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Delilah is a demon who lives in the city and owns a bar. She also is a killer but a killer with morals. She hunts bad people. Even demons need a break sometime. To get away from it all, Delilah goes to the small town of Juniper lake and rents a cabin. She longs for a mundane vacation.

Unfortunately, life has other plans. After a couple nights of feeling the tug of a summoning spell, Delilah decides to find out who keeps trying to summon her and unexpectedly gets bound to a trio of witches. Her vacation quickly gets turned to work when she is given a list of tasks to do. It also doesn’t help that Delilah seems to be drawn to the towns sheriff, Malakahi. No way could their relationship work… right?

Delilah has to try to break the bonds if she wants to go back to her vacation time but it may be harder than it looks. Especially when Malakahi seems to be everywhere.

I loved the premise of a demon wanting to settle down, it gives them a bit of humanity. Delilah may be a demon but she still seemed like a caring and sassy sweetheart. I really enjoyed her character.

Naomi Valkyrie is such an amazing writer. I literally have added most of their books to my to be read list. They have such a unique and vivid way of writing. It’s never a dull moment no matter which of their books you read. Can’t wait to read the second book of this series!

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Basil (Silver Springs Pets Series) by K. Rose – Review by Santana Hicks

Basil (Silver Springs Pets, #7)Basil by K. Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At the very beginning of this book, Basil wakes up in the hospital not knowing where she is. She claims she feels weird and then the doctor starts panicking, mentioning that her eyes are bleeding. Basil knows she has to get out of there. She super-speeds to her lab (she is a biomedical engineer) to find out what is happening to her. All signs point to vampirism. The catch, she’s a vegan. She creates a serum that mimics blood so she would not have to feed off of anything living.

While Basil is researching her new found life, she comes across a dark web for supernaturals and finds a town called Silver Springs that seem to favour supernatural beings. Basil thinks it’s a great place to start a new life from and finds a place with a store front.

As Basil and her new friend/employee prepare for the grand opening, Basil meets some of the handsome supernatural men she will soon be seeing much more of. She went from having no one to having a family. When vampire hunters track her down, she has to maneuver everything while keeping them safe. She will have to trust those around her and open her heart to love.

I loved how the author wrote this book. It is written in first person and Basil is a blast. She’s sassy, quirky, smart, and relatively calm in tense situations. It comes across well in the writing. Basil was able to take a bad thing that happened to her and turn it into a blessing. I feel like Basil and I could be friends in real life.

This book is technically book 9 of the ‘Silver Springs Pets series’ but can be read as a stand alone. This is my first time reading a book written by K. Rose but after this one, won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this book and feel like I will enjoy more from this author!

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It Comes From Within (House Valdis Series) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

It Comes From Within (House Valdis #2)It Comes From Within by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After Xenobia and her crew took out Javier and Kade in the first book of this series, she acquired the house that was led by Kade. She thought that things would finally settle down after all the small details were sorted and the members loyal to Kade weeded out. Little did she know that this was just the beginning of something bigger and badder coming their way.

A secret blood den ran by someone calling themselves the White Queen has emerged and is creating new vampires in the process. It’s up to Xen to shut it down if she wants peace within her house. She is also still trying to get a hang of the bond she formed with Matt and Onyx, maintain a relationship with Chi, train the girls who have different powers thanks to Xens blood, while having forgotten memories emerge. One more thing and Xenobia may just fall apart. She has to tap into her mental strength to be able to take all this on, luckily she is not alone this time.

I have said it before and I will say it again… I love love LOVE this author. They have such a weird and unique perspective that reflects in all of their writing. Nothing like reading about a badass female main character who can take on the world and never give up. Not to mention all of the different supernatural beings and elements added in!

I also really like how the author is taking the relationship between Xenobia and the men really slow. It shows the character arc of slowly gaining trust after being abused in the past. It also shows patience and loyalty on the men’s side of things. I am a huge fan of this whole polyamorous thing they have going on.

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Outcast (Her Royal Harem: Ember) by Catherine Banks – Review by Santana Hicks

Outcast (Her Royal Harem: Ember Book 1)Outcast by Catherine Banks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ember has a relatively peaceful life. She lives in the woods by herself in a cabin treating wounded animals, shifters and hybrids. Lately more and more hybrids are being dumped at her door for healing. The city that is close to her cabin hates hybrids so she assumes it’s the townspeople hurting the hybrids.

Recently there have been a few male hybrids that have needed her and Ember gets a taste of what it would be like if she wasn’t alone. She’s used to healing and then saying goodbye when they decide to go back to whatever life they had before they got hurt. These guys seem to want to stick around and Ember does not mind it one bit. Actually, she wants them to stay and be with her.

All her life Ember thought she was just a mere mage but recently she finds out that there is more to her than she thought. Her whole life seems to have been a lie. There’s also someone cursing animals and people to try to take Ember out and only her blood seems to be the cure.

The Hybrid Prince shows up to help Ember and instantly they are drawn to each other. Ember is more and more confused. How can she be interested in 4 men all at once? How will it work out? Who is trying to kill her? Who and what is Ember? So many questions that Ember will have to fight to find the answers too.

I really enjoyed Ember’s character growth. She came from an unloving home believing she deserved to be unloved, never to be mated. It takes her awhile to trust people fully but when she does, she would do anything for them. Ember’s parents kept a lot of secrets and finding out some of them really messed with how Ember identified herself so she had to work hard to find herself all over again. She is strong, caring, genuine and not to mention, a badass.

This book wasn’t as steamy as I thought it was going to be, which is okay with me. It is a reverse harem but they all seem to genuinely care about each other without it being about intimacy all the time that in itself is refreshing. The author wrote a wonderful plot and side stories along the way filled with action and twists and turns to keep you engaged at all times. They also did a great job of making each character their own. Each with their own shifter animal, personality, strengths and weaknesses which made it easier to connect with each one.

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The Scottish Play (Polyam Fam Series) by Phoebe Alexander – Review by Santana Hicks

The Scottish Play (PolyAm Fam Book 1)The Scottish Play by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Molly has to stage a play she wrote for her final project for grad school. She wrote a play where the main character is a rugged Scottish man. When all of the people who auditioned didn’t suit the part, Poe, Molly’s girlfriend, suggested Lachlan since he was a handsome Scotsman working in the school. Poe convinces Lachlan to go hear Molly out. He agrees to help her out with the play but has little experience in acting. Lachlan is instantly interested in Molly’s look. She’s bright, colourful, and curvy. When he finds out she has a girlfriend, he is disappointed and tries to be good.

Molly is a bi woman in a polyamorous relationship. Although she has not been with a man since highschool, she can’t help but feel attracted to Lachlan. At first, Molly tries her hardest to maintain a director-actor relationship, but the tension is strong between them plus her polycule keep cheering her on to go for it.

After she gives into her feelings, sparks fly. The couple work well together. Although Molly had some trepidations about being with a man again, he exceeded her expectations in more ways than one.

I loved Molly as a character. She is sweet and her childhood/teenhood actually resembles mine a lot which made me feel connected to her as a person. I have always been on the curvy side while my best friends were skinny. I was bypassed by some boys because of this. I also cannot be myself with a lot of my family members. I found myself rooting for Molly.

To be honest, I didn’t really like Poe that much. It seemed like she wanted a polyamorous relationship that mostly benefited her. When Molly started opening up about her time spent with others, it was like Poe was constantly trying to one up her or something. Then again, it could just be their dynamic. To each its own.

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Divinely Dramatic (Divine Vintage Series) by Sandra L. Young – Review by Santana Hicks

Divinely Dramatic (Divine Vintage Series, #2)Divinely Dramatic by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book of the ‘Divine Vintage series’ but can be read as a stand alone. The first book was mainly about Tess while this one is about Marcy.

Marcy took on a job for her friend to costume a period-era play. Upon arrival, she is met with reluctance from the director, Mike. Marcy has a talent for reading auras and his aura was always red with annoyance around her. On top of that, the first time she enters the area where she will be working, she sees what can only be described as a ghostly aura. She enlists help from Tess, who has the gift of visions from clothing and they set off to try and discover who passed away and how.

The lead role of the play is suddenly open and it’s up to Marcy to fill that role. Being the artist she is, no way can she pass up this opportunity. So now she has three tasks at hand, plus there seems to be some electricity between Mike and Marcy even though they are opposites. Even though he technically has a girlfriend, it doesn’t stop the confusing feelings coming from both ends.

Will Marcy be able to complete her original job, steal the show, help the ghost, AND get the man?

I enjoyed the first book of this series which was actually the debut novel but I found the speech a little stiff in some areas. This book was written much better speech wise. Again the author was able to make vintage fashion exciting and mysterious with a splash or romance. The main characters have unique abilities which makes it much more intriguing to read.

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The Rise of House Valdis (House Valdis Series) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

The Rise of House Valdis (House Valdis #1)The Rise of House Valdis by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been seven years since Xenobias best friend, Urd, was murdered right in front of her. In a rage, Xenobia ended up killing everyone involved. She has tried to move on not wanting to be a killer but when she sees women being mistreated, she can’t control her rage. Xenobia is not human. She is an alien from another world. Her true form being blue hair with black hair and black eyes. She also has powers. She can tap into people’s emotions.

When Xenobia witnesses a young woman being abused by two men, Xen loses control and pours guilt into them causing them to end each other’s lives. The woman being in rough shape and unconscious, Xen decides to bring her back home to heal her.

A police officer, named Matthew, shows up with questions for Xenobia. He knows she isn’t what she appears to be and she knows more about the case than she lets on. Xenobia has taken it upon herself to be a healer and mentor to all kinds of different women but only her closest friend knows what she truly is. It may be time that Xenobia shows her true self to save these women once and for all but at what risk?

I loved the prequel that was a novella of Xenobia’s Origin. You do not need to read it to follow along with this book but if you want to know more about Urd and Xenobia’s life, I recommend reading it! Meanwhile, this book was even better. Naomi Valkyrie is an amazing writer. They know how to hook you right from the beginning and keep you hooked throughout the book. This author is quickly raising themselves up to one of my top 3 authors I love!

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Perfect Office Pact (Perfect Romance Series) by Maria Jane – Review by Santana Hicks

Perfect Office PactPerfect Office Pact by Maria Jane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mira thinks she is on the track of having everything she ever wanted. A long term boyfriend whom she thinks she loves and wants a future with, and she landed a job in one of the best Realty companies out there. The only issue is her boss.

Mira’s boss is a pompous jerk according to her. He was her professor when she took Real Estate classes and he seemed to get annoyed by every little thing she did so why would he hire her? She doesn’t want to question it but when it seems as if he still dislikes her, she starts questioning his motives. It seems as if Mira can’t get out of her own head and starts self sabotaging her relationship, she questions her boyfriends commitment to her. She blames the fact that she never knew her father as being the culprit of why she feels unlovable.

Declan appears as a narcissist but in reality he is just reserved with strong defenses around him. What Mira saw as hints of annoyance was actually hints of annoyance to his feelings about her. He shouldn’t like Mira that way since she is basically the opposite of him but he can’t help it. He crosses a line out of genuine care but Mira doesn’t see it that way and blackmails him to take her under his wing in the Realty world or else she will tell everyone what he did. Things are very strained and tense between the two. Declan needs to tell her how he feels but will she feel the same?

Honestly, I hated Mira’s character. She is judgemental and childish. Throughout the book she was all over the place. She would say one thing and then change her mind. Her thoughts were so repetitive that I started getting annoyed with her character quite early in the book. Mira mentions 3 guys at the beginning of the book that at first I had no idea who the love interest was actually going to be.

I was interested in Declan, he remained a mystery for the most part. You only receive glimpses of the real Declan as time goes on, but underneath he seems like a sweet guy who just had his broken so hes slow to open up.

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Curse of the Forbidden Island by C.A. King – Review by Santana Hicks

Curse of Forbidden IslandCurse of Forbidden Island by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Selene is running out of job prospects and is on her way to being homeless and broke. She finds what appears to be an ad for her dream job. A well paying job that is only a couple hours a day/three times a week, free food and housing and on a tropical island?! It has to be too good to be true.

Once Selene arrives, she finds out the Island is owned by six gorgeous men but there are rumours that the island is cursed. Selene is determined to keep this job. She tries her hardest to follow the rules. Even the weird one of all residents on the island have to wear masks, from dusk to dawn, if they are to leave their room.

Selene soon finds out that the nights are full of mystery and passion and she is all for it. But it still isn’t enough for her. She wants to learn more about the supposed curse and about the men who own the island.

C.A. King is one of my favourite authors. Their books are usually short but packed full of detail leaving you with a fast paced adventure or romance depending on the book that leaves you satisfied but also wanting more. I highly recommend anything this author writes and this book is no exception. There’s mystery, intrigue, romance and steam all bundled up with an HEA.

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House Valdis Origins: Xenobia (House Valdis Series) by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

House Valdis Origins: Xenobia (House Valdis, #0.5)House Valdis Origins: Xenobia by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Xenobia is a slave. She lives in a home of women who are sold off to the highest bidder. She knows not to get close to anyone since it’s only a matter of time before one of them goes missing. That is until her new roommate worms her way into Xen’s heart. Urd gets through Xen’s defences and an unbreakable friendship is created.

Xen’s friendship with Urd was going to be her downfall but she didn’t know just how bad it was going to get. Once the masters found out that if they torture Urd it also affects Xenobia, they started abusing Urd on the daily. Xenobia spent her evenings trying to find a way for the two of them to escape this hell. The question is, will they make it?

I love Naomi Valkyrie, their writing is so unique and every story is chalk full of excitement, action, angst and with a paranormal element. I honestly have not read something from this author I disliked. This was the prequel to ‘The Rise of House Valdis’ which I will be sure to read in the very near future!

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Kingdom of the Oceans (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Santana Hicks

Kingdom of the OceansKingdom of the Oceans by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the sixth and final book of the series. This is not a stand alone as there is a lot of build up to this point plus it is a continuation of the previous book.

Adam and Matt are still trying to make their way to Atlantis to find out what happened to their father. They had to do this with little to no help from the others as they were threatened not to help the brothers out. Winterbourne is hot on their trails and even follows them into Atlantis.

The brothers have to band together with the Atlanteans to defeat a common enemy while also finding out what actually happened to their father.

I really enjoyed this conclusion of the series, it was fast paced and full of information. Greek mythology mixed with modern times made it much more exciting to read about. Martin Ferguson did an amazing job with this series!

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Murder She Meowed (Bookshop Kitties Mysteries, Book 2) by Ruth J. Hartman – Review by Santana Hicks

Murder She Meowed (Bookshop Kitties Mysteries Book 2)Murder She Meowed by Ruth J. Hartman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read another Kitty series by this author so I was excited when I saw the ‘Bookshop Kitties Mysteries’ series. I love the way the author writes the interactions with the cats. It is so wholesome.

Christy’s aunt was getting married. At the wedding, there was an unexpected guest. Since Christy is relatively new to town, she didn’t recognize the man that everyone was upset about appearing. All she knew was that his name was Tad. Later that night Christy and her best friend, Janie, and Christy’s love interest, Micah all go to Janie’s shop to help her bring her stuff back from the venue. Low and behold they find Tad dead on the floor of Janie’s shop.

Everyone is a suspect and it is the talk of the town. Tad had a lot of enemies. No one in town had something nice to say about him. This is also the second time Christy has been the person to find a dead body in this small town causing her to be the talk of the town herself. Christy is on the case with her kitties Milton and Pearl. Her best friend is the main suspect since Tad was her ex-husband. Christy wants to prove her friend’s innocence.

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Relic Hunters: Betrayal of the Gods (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Santana Hicks

Betrayal of the Gods (Relic Hunters Book 5)Betrayal of the Gods by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After the Museum is taken over by the United Nations Security and Adam’s best friends mom, Elizabeth, who is also rumored to be a part of Winterbourne, Adam is told for the second time to investigate the Alpha team’s room.

Adam’s curiosity peaked. Once he broke into the room he was greeted with a bunch of old equipment and photos. In one of the photos is Charles, Elizabeth and their father! Turns out he was a hunter too and went down in a storm years ago. Adam and Matt right then and there quit. They no longer trust Charles and with the museum being under new management, it only makes sense to cut ties now.

Their mother and Charles give the boys the last things that their father had left for them. A letter and a journal. With that the boys decide to find out the truth about what happened to their father. Without the help from the museum, they need to do all of this secretly. After some investigating, it seems their father was looking for Atlantis.

There are flashbacks to a time when Atlantis still stood with mention of a few of the Greek Gods.

Again, Martin Ferguson shows how much research they put into their writing. The book started off with a twist, capturing my intrigue instantly. I love Greek Mythology and this was right up my alley. Will the Hunter Brothers really find Atlantis?

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Relic Hunters: Blood of the Dragon (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Santana Hicks

Blood of the Dragon (Relic Hunters, #4)Blood of the Dragon by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vlad the Impaler or Vladislav Dracula as he was called back in the day, was known as a brutal ruler and said to be a vampire. But vampires aren’t real, right?

Adam and his crew are back at it again, this time to Romania to check out Poenari Castle, also known as Castle Dracula. A professor who is friends with Charles found papers that were said to be owned by a scholar who disappeared after investigating the castle in 1967. The British Museum crew are told to go with the professor to protect her while she looks for hidden secrets. A goblet with a dragon on it is found and that’s when all hell breaks loose. They are being hunted by Winterbourne, the military and now vampires!? One by one they are turned except for Adam and it is once again up to him to save his team. Can he do it all alone?

Meanwhile we get a glimpse into Vlad’s past and how he became the ruthless man he is known to be.

This is the 4th installment of the ‘Relic Hunters’ series and so far, it’s my favourite. I love stories of vampires and shifters and anything fantasy so I was excited to have that as the main theme this time around. Martin Ferguson has a way with words and will make you invested in all the characters right from the get go. Time to read book 5!

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Relic Hunters: War of the Damned (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Santana Hicks

War of the Damned (Relic Hunters, #3)War of the Damned by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book of the ‘Relic Hunters’ series and continues shortly after book 2. All of the books have separate themes but the character plot and growth are connected so this is not to be read as a stand alone.

The British Museum is asked to come investigate a U Boat from WWII found that was never commissioned. There was no paperwork for it. Once the group enters the boat, they find a symbol they do not recognize and a few they do. A crazed woman shows up and pillages the boat, then she blows it up. Adam and the crew only have a couple pictures to go on to find out what this boat was used for. Not only that but who is this woman and what did they find?

Things are not making sense and it is up to the crew to find out why? They find a remaining survivor from that time but the veteran just makes things more confusing. Throw in a bout of undead to make things worse for the crew. This is the first time the brothers are actually working together in the field after Matt’s injury and it’s a doozy.

The author always writes point of views in both the present and the past. The past portion of the book this time around is about a Private Cooper who was too young to be in this war but lied about his age to join. He is connected to the background of the U Boat. He goes through hell and back and wants nothing more than to make it home to his love, Maggie.

I personally am not a fan of modern history but I really enjoy this author’s writing. They are very knowledgeable of a broad area of history and the author writes the present day filled with action from the first page to the last. So far my favourite character is Emma. She is sassy but has a soft side. From the first time Adam met her, he has had a thing for her. As time goes on, she seems to be warming up to him. I am rooting for them to get together.

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Relic Hunters: Curse of the Sands (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Santana Hicks

Curse of the Sands (Relic Hunters, #2)Curse of the Sands by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After Matt was found and hurt in the previous book, he was told he needed to take time to recover before he was allowed to go back in the field. While this is happening, they offer Adam a temporary position within the team just until Matt is back on his feet. That means Adam is back and causing havoc everywhere he goes yet again. Only this time, it’s in Egypt.

After a bunch of sandstorms hit Egypt, a giant pyramid is uncovered. Never discovered or entered by anyone in this day and age. After losing the lives of those they sent inside, Egypt realizes that they may need outside help and sends for the best of the best and the British Museum is one of the teams who answered the call. With traps, poison, scorpions and maybe even a banshee, it is near impossible to get inside to explore. This does not stop Adam and the crew, they will find a way in and discover the lost secrets no matter what.

Again, the author wrote the book with 2 different timelines, the present and this time about ancient Egypt. I have always been a fan of mythology so I was excited to learn that the past was written about Isis, Set, Anubis and other gods and goddesses from that time. I don’t know that much about the Egyptian Myths so I was excited to get to learn about them. On to the next book of the series!

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Kingdom of 7 Sovereigns – Wolf (Kingdom of 7 Sovereigns Series) by R. C. Reigh – Review by Santana Hicks

Kingdom of 7 Sovereigns: WolfKingdom of 7 Sovereigns: Wolf by R.C. Reigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bastian Academy is a school for the 7 different sovereigns which consist of different species. Wolves, humans, fae, and more! This book mostly focuses on a human princess, Amelia, and a wolf prince, Dane.

When the duo were just mere children, they were betrothed due to a treaty between the two kingdoms. Amelia wants out of her arranged marriage especially since her heart belongs to another but once Dane meets her, he decides then and there that she is his whether she likes it or not.

Amelia will stop at nothing to try to end her engagement, including potential treason. Dane wants to be the best fighter on campus but having Amelia around is proving to be a distraction for him.

This being the first time that the 7 kingdoms are together, not all goes peacefully and Amelia and Dane have to put their differences aside to save not only themselves but others as well.

The book is written from multiple point of views giving you a glimpse into the budding romance of the main characters but also some outside plot. I really liked Dane’s character and was rooting for these enemies to become lovers from day one.

After this intriguing introduction to the series, I will most likely look into the rest of the series!

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Relic Hunters: Eagle of the Empire (Relic Hunters Series) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Santana Hicks

Eagle of the Empire (Relic Hunters, #1)Eagle of the Empire by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Adam Hunter is a sixteen year old boy who lives a boring life, always getting into trouble to make his life more exciting. That is until he gets news that his older brother, Matt, is missing. Turns out Matt was living a double life. Adam thought his brother worked a boring desk job. That was far from the truth. He actually was a relic hunter working for a British Museum. Adam may be the only one who can find his brother through encrypted clues left behind in Matt’s journal he kept.

Matt was looking for the lost Eagle of the ninth legion. Something that was thought of as just a myth. Adam leaves behind everything he knows and makes his way to Rome to try to find the Eagle and his brother. He isn’t the only one on the hunt for the Eagle though and the people also relic hunting are very dangerous. With the help from Matt’s team at the museum, Adam realizes he must not fail. Lives are at stake.

The author wrote this book in two different timelines, the present and back sometime around 70 AD. I personally am not a huge fan of roman history but I liked how the author wrote from the perspective of someone from that time, plus the present day was full of mystery and action that kept me engaged.
I also enjoyed Adam’s character growth. He lived in the shadow of his older brother and felt unworthy but since Matt’s saving was up to Adam, he had time to live up to his potential and grow up in a way. I am excited to see what the Hunter brothers are up to next.

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Master Botosoni (Masters of the Consulate Book 9) by Sylvia Black – Review by Santana Hicks

Master Botosoni (Masters of the Consulate #9)Master Botosoni by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catina is a Romanian psychic stuck in the strict old ways of her people. At only 21 years old she is considered old to not be married by now. Her abusive parents and brothers are trying to sell her. She wants to escape and marry for love but is stricken by her loyalty to family.

Master Botosoni decides to hire Catina’s service to help find more information on the rogue vampires. After having a vision, she collapses and Botosoni decides that she has seen something pertinent to their mission and brings her to his estate.

Instantly there is chemistry between the two, but Catina is pure. She knows her family would see her as a disgrace just by being in the vampire master’s home, let alone have a relationship of any kind with him. She plans on helping the Masters find the rogues and then go home. As time goes on, the tension gets stronger and she has to make a decision. Stay with the family who has abused her for years or abandon all she knows and stay with Botosoni.

Meanwhile Botosoni wants Catina to be his but has trust issues with women in general. Can they put their hang ups aside and become mates like destiny wants?

I have been invested in this series since almost the very beginning and for good reason. Each story is a different Vampire finding his mate and each couple is different than the previous. After 9 books in the series, the author is still going strong. The subplot is always full of mystery and action while the main plot is always romantic and sometimes steamy.

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The Human Mating Site, Box Set 1 (The Human Mating Site Series) by B.L. Wilde – Review by Santana Hicks

The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella's 1-4The Human Mating Site Box Set 1 : A Steamy, Dating Humour Novella’s 1-4 by B.L. Wilde
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bella is on a journey to find herself and to do that she has to start loving herself again. She decides to go on a quest to liberate herself with the help of Mr. Right(Now) and I am happy to be a part of her journey. These books are steamy, witty, and sassy. I love Bella as a main character and I hope she eventually finds Mr. Right. As of right now, I am rooting for Liam but that may change as more characters enter the scene.

Mr. Wimp – Bella and Joel have been married for twelve years. A marriage of comfort. Although the marriage was lacking in a few departments, Bella was in it for the long run. Joel had other ideas. He decided the spark was gone and went looking for it elsewhere. At first Bella was devastated, 12 years wasted. As time goes on, Bella realizes she lost herself somewhere along the way. She changed who she was to appease the man she was with. Bella decides to find herself again. She starts hanging out with friends more, eating healthier and even practices flirting. Soon she will be ready to enter the dating scene once again.

Mr. Smooth – Bella is ready to get back out there after the end of her 12 year relationship. The bartender, Liam, is there to be her first conquest. He is not the relationship type so this is perfect for what she wants right now, to get laid. Liam being the player he is has the experience to make Bella come out of her shell. Her ex-husband did a number on her. Bella’s self confidence is down and she doesn’t believe she is pretty enough to be comfortable in the bedroom. Liam is there to change that. As her sex coach, he will prepare her for the dating world as it is today. A lot of one night stands and players in the online world.

Mr. Player – After Bella’s brief sexual encounter with Liam, she is feeling sexy and ready for her next boy toy. She meets Jack on a dating website. He is gorgeous and they seem to have a lot in common. Bella is excited to have met someone she likes so fast and on her first match! All of her friends seem to be against her jumping into this guys bed so fast, even Liam tries to sway her from her decision. They go on a date and seem to hit it off, too bad he’s no good in the bedroom department.

Mr. Kinky – After a bad encounter with Jack, Bella decides to take a break from the dating sites for a bit. Her and her friends go away on a girls weekend where she meets Jenson. He messages her and she instantly thinks she is being catfished. No way can a guy that gorgeous be real and be interested in her, she thinks. When the girls go to the local pub and guess who the owner is? That’s right! It’s Jenson! He invites Bella for drinks after the bar closes and she finds out that he is into BDSM. Having never tried it, Bella is intrigued. Can she trust Jenson fully to become his sub?

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Shifter Shorts by TK Lawyer – Review by Santana Hicks

Shifter ShortsShifter Shorts by T.K. Lawyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shifter Shorts is a collection of love stories about different types of shifters. The stories are all fast paced and most have a happy ending. I liked the majority of the stories.

There was only one I did not enjoy which was “Release the Hellhound”. That one was too dark for my liking and did not have a happy ending. If you are triggered by SA, steer clear of this one.

My favourite story was “Gargoyle Mine”. The main character was a sweetheart always living in the shadow of her “hot” friend and found it hard to believe that love found her. That resonated with me since I always felt that way in highschool with my best friend.

I really enjoyed these stories, each one was different. Different personalities and characters, making it exciting all over again with each new story.

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The Cannibal Caper (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Santana Hicks

The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill MysteryThe Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sparky is back and this time she is looking for a cannibal on the loose. She has come a long way from the first book in the series. She has a home in the “creepy house” living with Tootsie and Gilbert and she is even going back to school. A cannibal has emerged in Bunker Hills and Tootsie is the main suspect. Sparky wants to clear her name but this time she has no help to solve the mystery. Tootsie likes the publicity she is getting being the prime suspect, Gilbert is busy doing his butler duties, and Bobby is out of town. Sparky is suspicious of everyone.

Sparky meets a 12 year old boy who works at a pet shop and is intrigued by him. She wants to be able to trust him but anyone could be the cannibal. On top of that, Sparky is also trying to find missing jewellery. Will she be able to do it all? Alone?

Even though I wasn’t really fond of the first book in the series, this one was a lot better. I was less irritated with Sparky as the main character. In the first book, I found her rude and annoying but she has come a long way from the feral girl you meet in the first book. I was able to get into the storyline a lot easier with this one.

I also really enjoyed the new characters introduced this time around. The author once again portrayed a comical murder mystery with more zany characters to add to the already colourful mix.

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The Cold Kid Case (Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Series) by Rosalind Barden – Review by Santana Hicks

The Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill MysteryThe Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sparky is an 11 year old child who was in the wrong place at the wrong time causing her already difficult life harder. She is an orphan living on the streets in the 1930s when she discovered a little girl dead on a park bench. The press and Mayor portrayed Sparky as the murderer. Already hard to come by food and shelter, Sparky now had to avoid the cops. She decides to crash in the “creepy house” thinking no one would look for her there and ends up meeting the homeowner, an actress by the name of Tootsie. Instantly they bonded and Tootsie invited Sparky to hide out in her home.

Sparky is determined to clear her name with the help of her new friends and help from some old ones, she sets off to find the real murderer.

Honestly I disliked Sparky as a character immensely. She was full of contradictions and rude. I know life on the street made her feral but I could not understand her actions a lot of the times. She says she can’t trust anyone and then goes to the same people she mentioned she couldn’t trust. She was constantly disobeying and doing everything alone when she had people who liked and cared for her. I also didn’t like her personality in general.

The author did a good job of making a murder mystery comical and I loved most of the characters, especially Gilbert. Gilbert was the sweetest. Not liking the main character made it hard for me to like the book in general but looking outside of my dislike, the book was well written with a lot of colourful personality.

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Song of Earth and Claws (Faelands Series) by Lena Abram – Review by Santana Hicks

Song of Earth and ClawsSong of Earth and Claws by Lena Abram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lannahi once thought she was in love with a man, that is until she finds out that he was using her to take revenge on those who had wronged his father. Then he cursed her so that she could never tell anyone of his plans or escape him in the future. The Fae win kingdoms by challenging the current ruler. Lannahi decides the only way to escape her ex is by challenging the Queen of a winter kingdom mostly inhabited by landshapers. She wins but the former queen tells her that she will never be accepted. Lannahi fears that she was right. She can’t trust anyone within her new Kingdom. They are either loyal to the former queen or to the land.

Lannahi needs to watch her back no matter where she goes. Without allies she could easily lose her throne just as fast as she took it. Will she be able to retain her throne or die trying?

I enjoyed this book. The author took the time to let us get to know Lannahi as a person before she came into power. The author voiced Lannahi’s thought process to show where she was coming from with all of her decisions and to show that she is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need a prince or king to make her name known. She will stop at nothing to live free.

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The Befallen (The Unsung and The Wolf Duology) by Cambria Williams – Review by Santana Hicks

The BefallenThe Befallen by Cambria Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sloane was finally trusted by her family to go to the neighbouring town on her own to sell things at the market. Since she was crippled, all she ever wanted was to be considered “normal”. She loved not being on anyone else’s timeline and ended up staying the night. The next morning when Sloane returned home, everyone in her town was dead. The befallen had struck down the town in the night. Sloane immediately felt guilty for surviving. Deciding to move on in hopes of finding a life in a new town, she meets a group of knights whose sole job is finding the unsung hero of the prophecy, Sloane decides to help since she knows more about the moon goddesses and the prophecy itself.

Tolvar is a banished knight who is part of the group previously mentioned. He would rather get drunk somewhere and relax. He doesn’t think Sloane will be of any help but when she proves it by providing useful information, Tolvar gives in and lets her join the group.

I really enjoyed this book. I like how the author wrote one of the main characters as a handicapped person who doesn’t let that stop her. Sloane is strong and resilient. Tolvar is grumpy and closed off but somehow the couple makes it work for them. They work well together as an unlikely pair and I am excited to see what they do next.

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The Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

The Alien & the Crime BossThe Alien & the Crime Boss by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kasper is a crime boss set on taking down and then merging the two crime families as one with him as leader. He goes to stay at a cabin for a bit to hide out until things cool down. When a strange man who is purple with chartreuse eyes shows up, Kasper has no idea if he was sent by the families or if he is the alien he claims to be. Aliens aren’t real are they? Clearly this man was sent to be a distraction. Kasper ties him up and decides to keep a close eye on him until he can decide if he is sent to kill him or not.

Leilphun was about to be sent into the arena’s as punishment on his home planet and decides to escape to Earth only to find himself bound by an attractive human named Kasper. Somehow Kasper accidentally betrothed himself to Leilphun and Leilphun decides that he will protect this human. When Kasper’s enemies come to eliminate him, Leilphun is quick to defend Kasper.

Kasper decides that Leilphun is not a threat and decides to go with the flow when it comes to the betrothal. He can’t have any distractions when it comes to his ultimate goal. Too bad he all of a sudden has an alien fiance.

I have said this before and I will say it again. I love Naomi Valkyrie! Their writing is so unique that I love everything they have written. The author always provides a unique plot with unheard of character romance that you can’t help but fall in love with everything written. The book is a very quick read but is packed full of action. I highly recommend it!

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Grave Digger Academy IV (Grave Digger Academy Series) by C.A. King – Review by Santana Hicks

Grave Digger Academy IVGrave Digger Academy IV by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just like all the previous books in the series, this book picks up right after the previous. This is not to be read as a stand alone. The whole series is amazing so far though so read them all!

Makayla is running out of people to trust. Some of her friends are missing and the ones who are around seem to hate her. She has been told multiple times to watch who she trusts so she decided to trust no one. It’s easier this way. The crones are trying their hardest to control Makayla. Everything she worked hard at last year is banned, from a long list of library books to even helpers. Even new professors and a head mistress. Makayla wants answers and she will stop at nothing to finally get them. It seems every time she thinks she’s taking a step towards her goal, more questions are formed than answers.

This book was a lot more fast paced than the previous books and had an unexpected twist of who Makayla could and could not trust. This book seemed to be building up to something big for the next installment of the series and I cannot wait to see where Makayla goes next. I honestly love this author, their writing is unique and keeps you hooked from the start to finish with anything I have read from them. I highly recommend this author to anyone who likes to read things that are outside the box.

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Grave Digger Academy III (Grave Digger Academy Series) by C.A. King

Grave Digger Academy IIIGrave Digger Academy III by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

New book, new year. Makayla is back for her third year at the Grave Digger Academy and it is worse than ever. Attendance is down, professors and students are scared and transferred out but Makayla is forced to stay. The crones do not trust her and want to keep her under their thumb. The school is in lockdown with a whole new set of rules, no one is to leave the premises. Not only that, but the crones think Makayla is too inexperienced to harness her legendary helpers and is forced to find a more ‘normal’ one.

This book is a lot slower paced than the previous two in the series. It was kind of like a montage of Makayla learning more about her potential and working on herself to get stronger. I liked how the author actually wrote about the struggle and the work Makayla put in. A lot of times, the main character is just all of a sudden super powerful and at full potential which makes for an unrealistic arc. I really enjoy this author’s writing. I am excited for the next installment of the series!

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Mission Target (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 7) by Mark Nolan – Review by Santana Hicks

Mission Target (Jake Wolfe, # 7)Mission Target by Mark Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 7th book in the Jake Wolfe series. I read the first book ‘Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie’ before I read this one and I was somewhat lost. In order to really know everyone, I would suggest reading all the books in order. I kind of thought that it could be stand alone which, I mean technically it could. The author writes in vivid detail so even though I clearly missed a lot throughout books 2-6, I was able to catch on after a bit of reading. The author’s writing came a long way from book 1 of the series. This book seemed to flow more easily and had a lot less filler. Plus the characters are written in more detail. I honestly did not like the way the author wrote female characters in the first book of the series but in this book, the females are written differently. Although they all seem to be eye candy, they have more personality traits written which makes a redemption of the author in my books.

Jake is a sought out Mr. Fix-it when it comes to taking out threats on the country. Him and his very smart dog, Cody, work together to do what has to be done to make the streets safe. This time there is a drug threat, wiping out a chunk of the population. Horse Tranquilizer mixed with fentanyl causing deadly overdoses all over. Jake is trying to stop the supplier from smuggling it into the States but the problem is finding out who the king pin is. Once again, himself and Cody are at the top of someones kill list.

On top of that, he finds a dead body of a woman who looks eerily similar to his girlfriend, Sarah. She starts receiving threats and Jake takes it upon himself to try to protect her while carrying out his very long to-do list. Everyone is in danger and it’s up to Jake to rescue them all, including himself.

With a lot of action, unpredictable twists and turns, and an adorable intelligent dog, you will not be able to put this book down.

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Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 1) by Mark Nolan – Review by Santana Hicks

Dead Lawyers Don't Lie (Jake Wolfe, #1)Dead Lawyers Don’t Lie by Mark Nolan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Jake Wolfe is a photojournalist. When on a job to get some incriminating photos of a well known lawyer, Jake ends up witnessing and photographing the lawyers murder. Now he has a target on his back. Luckily as a war veteran, Jake has some training for situations such as this which will help him to survive. This starts a game of cat and mouse between Jake and the murderer.

The murderer is an assassin for hire named ‘The Artist’. He is good at his job and now some guy may take him down just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Going after Jake is personal and he will stop at nothing to take him down. At the same time, continuing his original job of killing wealthy lawyers. Jake can only evade the inevitable so many times right?

This book was alright as an introductory book to Jake’s character as this series will be about him but in my opinion, I felt like the book was too repetitive and predictable. I hated most of the characters, especially the women. I honestly felt like the author dislikes women and it showed in their writing. I especially hated the dog killing cop. She should not be a police officer for so many reasons. There were lots of plot twists and action but it was hard to fully immerse myself into the story. I am hoping that as the series progresses, it will flow more easily.

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