Genre: Paranormal Romance

#BookReview The Lure of Their Graves by Laura R. Samotin @randomhouseca #LauraRSamotin #TheLureOfTheirGraves #TheCursedCrownDuology #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads

#BookReview The Lure of Their Graves by Laura R. Samotin @randomhouseca #LauraRSamotin #TheLureOfTheirGraves #TheCursedCrownDuology #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads Title: The Lure of Their Graves

Author: Laura R. Samotin

Series: The Cursed Crown #2

Published by: Random House Canada on Jun. 3, 2025

Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQIA, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 448

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Random House Canada

Book Rating: 8/10

In the heart-wrenching sequel to The Sins on Their Bones, The Lure of Their Graves forces Dimitri and Vasily to confront old ghosts and a new threat: political enemies-turned-suitors, all coveting Dimitri’s throne.

Dimitri Abramovich may have won back the throne of Novo-Svitsevo, but even after defeating his former husband, the usurper Alexey Balakin, he seems no closer to securing lasting peace for his people. Enemies are closing in on all sides, and pressure is mounting for Dimitri to play the one card he has left in a bid for stability—offering his hand in marriage for a second time.

But Dimitri is still healing from the tragedies of the war, his return to the throne, and Alexey’s years of torment. Vasily Sokolov is the only person with whom he feels safe, and giving up the comfort of their budding relationship feels unfathomable, even if it’s the only way to sever the alliances being formed among the countries surrounding Novo-Svitsevo. So as Dimitri and Vasily reckon with political treachery, the lasting consequences of Dimitri’s resurrection, and the sinister legacy of Alexey’s use of the Holy Science, they must also work to understand what it means to love each other even as they prepare to let each other go—which might prove the most difficult of all.


Review:

Intense, imaginative, and thrilling!

The Lure of Their Graves is an angsty, gripping tale that takes us back to Novo-Svitsevo and into the life of Dimitri Abramovich who, after believing his vicious ex-husband is finally dead, struggles to come to grips with the loss of a man he loved but also despised, the expectations of his country versus the desires of his heart, and the resurrection of a man driven by evil and consumed with power and control.

The prose is brisk and tight. The characters are multilayered, fearless, and dependable. And the plot is a sinister, passionate tale full of twists, turns, anxiety, loyalty, duty, heartbreak, grief, guilt, danger, family, trauma, demonic violence, and enduring love.

Overall, The Lure of Their Graves is a suspenseful, heart-wrenching, satisfying conclusion to The Cursed Crown duology by Samotin that gave the characters I couldn’t help but root for the heartwarming, happy-ever-after ending I really hoped they get. 

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

        

 

 

Thank you to Random House Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Laura R. Samotin

LAURA R. SAMOTIN and her spouse live with two enormously large felines. When she’s not pursuing her academic research on military tactics, power politics, and leadership, she relishes her role as a full-time cat servant.

#BookReview A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena @delreybooks @randomhouseca #ADanceOfLies #BrittneyArena #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads

#BookReview A Dance of Lies by Brittany Arena @delreybooks @randomhouseca #ADanceOfLies #BrittneyArena #RandomHouseCanada #PenguinReads Title: A Dance of Lies

Author: Brittney Arena

Published by: Del Rey on Jun. 10, 2025

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 448

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Random House Canada

Book Rating: 8.5/10

A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom

My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.

I am a shadow.

Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.

As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.

As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.


Review:

Sensual, gripping, and action-packed!

A Dance of Lies is a suspenseful, thrilling tale that takes you into the life of Vasalie Moran. A dancer turned prisoner who, after making a deal with the devil, will have to deceive, lie, and try to protect her heart, all while coming face to face with the man who haunts her dreams in order to survive.

The prose is seductive and intense. The characters are complex, fiery, and stubborn. And the plot is a creative, riveting tale of twists, turns, passion, angst, wrath, loyalty, heartbreak, duty, betrayal, sizzling tension, violence, forbidden romance, and supernatural abilities.

Overall, A Dance of Lies is a unique, fierce, epic debut by Arena that is bursting with determination, grit, heat, adventure, bloody battles, sexual chemistry, and fantastical elements. It kept me invested, engaged, and on the edge of my seat from the very first page and has an ending that has left me hoping there’ll definitely be more.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

        

 

 

Thank you to Random House Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Brittney Arena

BRITTNEY ARENA is a passionate storyteller, crafting emotional and immersive fantasy for all kinds of readers. With a background in both brand and visual design, she has always found solace in art. However, after a challenging health journey, she turned to writing, and what began as a coping mechanism evolved into a journey of exploration, allowing her to traverse new worlds from wherever she might be. When she’s not penning tales, Arena spends her time binging K-dramas, playing with her camera, and waging war against ungodly amounts of pet hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two pups, and she is always ready for the next adventure, whether it be on the page or in real life. A Dance of Lies is her debut novel.

Photo by Jeff Singleton.

#BookReview For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn @SimonSchusterCA #ForWhomTheBelleTolls #HellsBelles #JayseaLynn #SimonSchusterCA

#BookReview For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn @SimonSchusterCA #ForWhomTheBelleTolls #HellsBelles #JayseaLynn #SimonSchusterCA Title: For Whom the Belle Tolls

Author: Jaysea Lynn

Series: Hell's Belles #1

Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada on May 6, 2025

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 640

Format: Paperback

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

Book Rating: 9/10

They told her to go to Hell.
She’ll go on her own terms.

Lily is less than thrilled about her arrival to the Afterlife, but what awaits her is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined. Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.

As Lily explores everything the Afterlife has to offer, she finds herself drawn to a place most people would rather avoid at all Hell.

What she discovers there subverts everything she’s ever learned, and Lily realizes the demons working at the gate to guide souls need help—badly. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves out a place for herself among the demons, confronting, sassing, and aiding the spectrum of humanity to redefine justice and redemption.

A chance meeting with Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice, sparks an immediate and deeply healing friendship. However, the undeniable heat between them simmers, and it’s only a matter of time before it combusts.

Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve ever known and everything that could be… unless they fight like Hell to stop it.


Review:

Humorous, sexy, and exceptionally creative!

For Whom the Belle Tolls is a unique, passionate tale that sweeps you away to the afterlife and into the life of Lily as she tackles with gusto an early death, a new role as a customer service agent for souls in hell, an ever-increasing attraction to an irresistible demon, and her affection for a little girl who is in desperate need of stability and love.

The prose is descriptive and light. The characters are kind, loyal, and fierce. And the plot is a captivating tale full of life, death, loyalty, duty, heartbreak, danger, family, friendship, love, sizzling tension, war, and supernatural phenomena.

Overall, For Whom the Belle Tolls is an engrossing, steamy, highly entertaining tale by Lynn that is the perfect choice for anyone who loves a dab of romance, a little spice, and a whole slew of paranormal, unconventional fun.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

 

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Jaysea Lynn

Jaysea Lynn was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. After graduating from college, she purchased and lived aboard a thirty-five-foot sailboat for eight years, during which she found success with Hell’s Belles, her comedy/drama skit series on TikTok (@Sea.Ya.Later), and gained the confidence to share her lifelong passion of writing. She can often be found with her nose in a book, going for walks, embarking on random adventures, or trying to make the perfect cup of coffee (with mixed success).

Photography by Happy Hour

#BookReview Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #UnderLochAndKey #LanaFerguson #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads

#BookReview Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson @BerkleyRomance @PenguinRandomCA #UnderLochAndKey #LanaFerguson #Berkley #BerkleyPartner #PenguinReads Title: Under Loch and Key

Author: Lana Ferguson

Published by: Berkley on Dec. 3, 2024

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 416

Format: Paperback

Source: Berkley Publishing

Book Rating: 8/10

A woman discovers that not all monsters are her enemy—the opposite, in fact—in this new paranormal romance by Lana Ferguson, author of The Fake Mate.

Keyanna “Key” MacKay is used to secrets. Raised by a single father who never divulged his past, it’s only after his death that she finds herself thrust into the world he’d always refused to speak of. With just a childhood bedtime story about a monster that saved her father’s life and the name of her estranged grandmother to go off of, Key has no idea what she’ll find in Scotland. But repeating her father’s mistakes and being rescued by a gorgeous, angry Scotsman—who thinks she’s an idiot—is definitely the last thing she expects.

Lachlan Greer has his own secrets to keep, especially from the bonnie lass he pulls to safety from the slippery shore—a lass with captivating eyes and the last name he’s been taught not to trust. He’s looking for answers as well, and Key’s presence on the grounds they both now occupy presents a real problem. It’s even more troublesome when he gets a front row seat to the lukewarm welcome Key receives from her family; the strange powers she begins to develop; and the fierce determination she brings to every obstacle in her path. Things he shouldn’t care about, and someone he definitely doesn’t find wildly attractive.

When their secrets collide, it becomes clear that Lachlan could hold the answers Keyanna is after—and that she might also be the key to uncovering his. Up against time, mystery, and a centuries old curse, they’ll quickly discover that magic might not only be in fairy tales, and that love can be a real loch-mess.


Review:

Quirky, amusing, and sweet!

Under Loch and Key is a cute, sentimental romance that takes you into the life of Keyanna MacKay, a grieving young woman who finds herself accidentally becoming part of an ancient curse involving a water-loving monster when she heads to her father’s hometown in Scotland to spread his ashes and finally meet the family she never knew she had.

The writing is light and playful. The characters are fierce, feisty, and dependable. And the plot is an engaging tale full of danger, temptation, mystique, chemistry, history, attraction, traditions, witty banter, humorous mishaps, and the supernatural.

Overall, Under Loch and Key is a humorous, charming, unique tale by Ferguson that is a good choice for anyone who loves a little adventure, a dab of romance, and a whole slew of paranormal, unconventional fun.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to Berkley Romance for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Lana Ferguson

Lana Ferguson is a sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio book cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing, you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.

#BookReview Beautiful Villain by Rebecca F. Kenney @RebeccaFKenney1 @SourcebooksCasa #RebeccaFKenney #BeautifulVillain #GildedMonstersSeries #SourcebooksCasa

#BookReview Beautiful Villain by Rebecca F. Kenney @RebeccaFKenney1 @SourcebooksCasa #RebeccaFKenney #BeautifulVillain #GildedMonstersSeries #SourcebooksCasa Title: Beautiful Villain

Author: Rebecca F. Kenney

Series: Gilded Monsters #1

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca on Jul. 16, 2024

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 394

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Book Rating: 8/10

Seven years ago, I lost him for good. Now he’s back, but is he still the Jay Gatsby I used to know…or is he something more? Something…darker.

Daisy Finnegan is looking forward to the endless golden freedom of summer. She doesn’t want to think about life after college, or the newly awakened power of her voice, which has a way of making people do frightening things. But when her cousin goes missing at an exclusive house party, Daisy confronts the mysterious host…only to discover the wealthy recluse is Jay Gatsby, her childhood sweetheart―now sinfully hot and impossible to deny.

It isn’t long before Daisy becomes entangled in a web of dizzying wealth and lies and obsession darker than she could have dreamed―culminating in a shocking act of violence that shatters the summer haze and threatens to drown them all.

But it isn’t until Gatsby is shot through the heart―and survives―that Daisy discovers the truth of how Gatsby clawed his way up in the world by selling the secret of immortality to the highest bidder. Now with her friends’ lives at stake, her own untested power still volatile, and an unimaginable threat closing in, Daisy will have to face an impossible choice: side with the man who claimed her body and soul…or with the monsters who would see him lost to her forever.

An addictive and truly original spicy New Adult retelling of The Great Gatsby with a magical twist.


Review:

Passionate, consuming, and edgy!

Beautiful Villain is an alluring, sinful, highly entertaining paranormal romance that takes you on a journey into the life of Daisy Finnegan, a young woman who, after concerns over the whereabouts of her cousin at a party, stumbles into the one boy who always had a little of her heart and whom she never thought she’d see again, now a man with extreme wealth, power, and deep dark secrets.

The writing is sensual and fluid. The characters are influential, impulsive, and intense. And the plot is a fast-paced, delightfully salacious tale of desire, temptation, mystique, attraction, chemistry, danger, deception, sizzling romance, and the supernatural.

Overall, Beautiful Villain is an intriguing, seductive, sultry tale by Kenney with just the right amount of mystery, sex, unique characters, and bad-boy vibes to keep you engaged from start to finish. It’s the perfect standalone to kick off this Gilded Monsters series, and I can’t wait to read what this group of otherworldly beings manages to get tied up in next.

 

This novel is available now!

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

 

       

 

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Rebecca F. Kenney

Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

#BookReview The Rebel King by Gina L. Maxwell @Gina_L_Maxwell @entangledpub @angelamelamud #TheRebelKing #GinaLMaxwell #DeviantKingsSeries

#BookReview The Rebel King by Gina L. Maxwell @Gina_L_Maxwell @entangledpub @angelamelamud #TheRebelKing #GinaLMaxwell #DeviantKingsSeries Title: The Rebel King

Author: Gina L. Maxwell

Series: Deviant Kings #2

Published by: Entangled Publishing on Jul. 25, 2023

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 352

Format: Paperback

Source: Angela Melamud, Entangled Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

All work and no wicked play makes Tiernan a very unsatisfied king…

Of all the Verran brothers, Tiernan is the least suited to wear the Night Court crown. The Rebel Prince is happy with no responsibilities or accountability―just the freedom to pursue his own dark, lush pleasures in Sin City. Including his secret hunger for a certain smart-mouthed, fiery redhead.

Only, the possibility of having Fiona is stripped away when Tiernan is thrust into the one role he never king . As king of the Dark Fae, wanting―let alone pursuing―anything with a lower-caste fae like Fiona would shift from fun…to forbidden.

Now war is emerging from the shadows of Vegas, and Tiernan is caught between who he’s meant to be and who he wants . And somewhere in this maelstrom of lust, love, and rebellion is the key to the Dark Fae’s survival…even if the cost is more than he can imagine.


Review:

Charged, action-packed, and steamy!

The Rebel King is a dramatic, spicy tale that takes you on a journey into the life of Tiernan Verran, the future ruler of the Dark Fae who, after hunting down the people responsible for the recent spate of fae murders, will have to finally accept his new responsibilities and be officially crowned king while also giving up the one woman, Fiona Jewel, who makes his blood boil and stirs him like no other.

The writing is sultry and smooth. The characters are consumed, witty, and intense. And the plot is a tight, tantalizing tale full of desire, temptation, chemistry, mystique, danger, deception, violence, secrets, and sizzling romance.

Overall, The Rebel King is a magical, seductive, suspenseful addition to the Deviant Kings series by Maxwell that has all the elements I’ve come to know and love in her novels, including a fierce heroine, an attentive alpha male, and a fast-paced, seductive storyline.

 

This novel is available now!

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

 

       

 

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Angela Melamud for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Gina L. Maxwell

Gina L. Maxwell is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. As a lifelong romance novel addict, she began writing as another way of enjoying the Happily Ever After stories she's always loved. Her debut novel in 2012, SEDUCING CINDERELLA, hit the bestseller lists within the first month of its release and continues to be a favorite with readers a full decade later. When she’s not reading, writing, or spending way too much money on planners and office supplies, she enjoys hanging out with her son and daughter who’ve left the nest, snuggling with her fur babies, and dreaming of her someday-move to someplace tropical.

Photo courtesy of Entangled Publishing Website.

#BookReview Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth @entangledpub @angelamelamud #ImperfectAngel #ChristiBarth

#BookReview Imperfect Angel by Christi Barth @entangledpub @angelamelamud #ImperfectAngel #ChristiBarth Title: Imperfect Angel

Author: Christi Barth

Published by: Entangled Publishing on Oct. 27, 2022

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Source: Angela Melamud, Entangled Publishing

Book Rating: 7/10

Three days ago, all Maisy Norgate had was a stack of bills, about a gazillion jobs, and her sunny-as-hell outlook. Now, thanks to an uncle she never knew about, she’s inherited an ornate skeleton key with absolutely no idea what it’s for—or why she has it. Which is exactly when a ridiculously handsome guy claiming to be an angel shows up at her door and all hell breaks loose…

Nephilim Rhys Boyce cannot believe that Maisy is the new Keeper of the Key. Why would anyone bequeath this warm, bubbly redhead the key to Hell? And to make matters worse, she’s given the key to the first person who asked for it. A demon. Yep, Maisy is determined to make his job—not to mention some seriously inconvenient temptation—as hard as possible.

First a half angel with a very human chip on his shoulder must find a way to convince Maisy that angels and demons do exist. Then Rhys will have to break the really bad news…that she might have accidentally ended the world.


Review:

Quirky, comical, and sweet!

Imperfect Angel is a cute, steamy, action-packed romance that takes you into the life of Maisy Norgate, a spirited young woman who finds herself inadvertently in need of help from the sexy Nephilim Rhys Boyce, a half angel half human being, when she becomes the new “Keeper of the Key” to the gates of one of Hell’s worst prisons, and all sorts of demons, angels, and magical creatures come calling.

The writing is light and playful. The characters are impulsive, feisty, and amusing. And the plot is an adventure-filled tale full of danger, temptation, mystique, chemistry, attraction, witty banter, humorous mishaps, and supernatural characters.

Overall, Imperfect Angel is a humorous, charming, unique tale by Barth that is the perfect choice for anyone who loves a little spice, a dab of romance, and a whole slew of paranormal, unconventional fun.

 

This novel is available now!

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

 

       

 

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Angela Melamud for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Christi Barth

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes award-winning contemporary romance, including the Naked Men and Aisle Bound series. Christi can always be found whipping up gourmet meals (for fun, honest!) or with her nose in a book. She lives in Maryland with the best husband in the world.

#BookReview A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet @AuthorABouchet @SourcebooksCasa #AmandaBouchet #ACurseofQueens #kingmakerseries #kingmakerchronicles #SourcebooksCasa #Sourcebooksfiction

#BookReview A Curse of Queens by Amanda Bouchet @AuthorABouchet @SourcebooksCasa #AmandaBouchet #ACurseofQueens #kingmakerseries #kingmakerchronicles #SourcebooksCasa #Sourcebooksfiction Title: A Curse of Queens

Author: Amanda Bouchet

Series: The Kingmaker Chronicles #4

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca on Oct. 4, 2022

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 496

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Book Rating: 9/10

Discover an all-new adventure in USA Today Bestselling author Amanda Bouchet’s thrilling, white-hot fantasy series, The Kingmaker Chronicles!

The queen has been cursed, and no one knows who’s behind the plot to threaten the realm’s fragile peace. Desperate to help, Jocasta hatches a plan to find Circe’s Garden, a fabled island where she hopes to discover an antidote. But she can’t do it alone. She needs the strong arm and unflinching bravery of the warrior she’s loved since childhood—her brother’s right-hand-man and captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta.

Together they can do the impossible. Yet with treachery brewing on Mount Olympus, one thing is clear: Thalyria and its new royals are still pawns in an epic game of power—one that might end in a War of Gods.


Review:

Complex, adventurous, and enthralling!

A Curse of Queens is an action-packed, seductive tale that takes us into the life of Jocasta, King Griffin’s younger sister and small-town healer who, after discovering the possible solution to the curse that binds her sister-in-law Queen Catalia and threatens overall peace in the kingdom, embarks on a treacherous journey to Circe’s Garden with the help of the one man who doesn’t seem to realize just how much he owns her heart, the talented and reliable captain of the guard, Flynn of Sinta in the hopes of finally discovering the magical antidote that could save them all.

The prose is brisk and tight. The characters are multilayered, fearless, and dependable. And the plot is a thrilling tale full of twists, turns, duty, danger, destruction, heartbreak, family, friendship, violence, tormented pasts, and unconditional love.

Overall, A Curse of Queens is a creative, passionate, epic fantastical novel by Bouchet that is brimming with dangerous quests, soul-searching dilemmas, sizzling romance, and complex, intriguing characters that once again kept me immersed and entertained from the very first page and is the perfect addition to the Kingmaker Chronicles series that I’m pretty sure I will never get enough of.

 

This book is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links. 

           

 

 

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Amanda Bouchet

Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.

Her first novel, A Promise of Fire, won several Romance Writers of America chapter contests, including the Orange Rose Contest and the paranormal category of the prestigious Golden Pen.

Amanda is a French master's graduate and former English teacher. She lives in Paris, France with her two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.

Photo by Richard Beban.

#BookReview The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell @Gina_L_Maxwell @entangledpub @angelamelamud #TheDarkKing #GinaLMaxwell #DeviantKingsSeries

#BookReview The Dark King by Gina L. Maxwell @Gina_L_Maxwell @entangledpub @angelamelamud #TheDarkKing #GinaLMaxwell #DeviantKingsSeries Title: The Dark King

Author: Gina L. Maxwell

Series: Deviant Kings #1

Published by: Entangled Publishing on Sep. 27, 2022

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 352

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: Angela Melamud, Entangled Publishing

Book Rating: 8.5/10

For Bryn Meara, a free trip to the exclusive and ultra-luxe Nightfall hotel and casino in Vegas should’ve been the perfect way to escape the debris of her crumbling career. But waking up from a martini-and-lust-fueled night to find herself married to Caiden Verran, the reclusive billionaire who owns the hotel and most of the city, isn’t the jackpot one would think. It seems her dark and sexy new husband is actual royalty—the fae king of the Night Court—and there’s an entire world beneath the veil of Vegas.

Whether light or shadow, the fae are a far cry from fairy tales, and now they’ve made Bryn a pawn in their dark games for power. And Caiden is the most dangerous of all—an intoxicating cocktail of sin and raw, insatiable hunger. She should run. But every night of passion pulls Bryn deeper into his strange and sinister world, until she’s no longer certain she wants to leave…even if she could.


Review:

Dark, edgy, and sinful!

The Dark King is a seductive, consuming, highly entertaining paranormal romance that takes you on a journey into the life of Bryn Meara, an intelligent young woman who, after losing her job and accepting a free trip to Vegas, inadvertently finds herself swept off her feet by the handsome, successful Caiden Verran who is not only the king of sin city with a proclivity for BDSM but also, unknown to most, the true fae king of the Night Court.

The writing is sensual and fluid. The characters are consumed, impulsive, and intense. And the plot is a fast-paced, delightfully salacious tale of desire, temptation, mystique, attraction, chemistry, danger, deception, sizzling romance, and the supernatural.

Overall, The Dark King is an intriguing, alluring, sultry tale by Maxwell that has just the right amount of mystery, sex, unique characters, and bad boy vibes to keep you engaged from start to finish. As most of you know, I never used to read a lot of paranormal romance, but recently I seem to be reading more and more and loving it, and The Dark King is no exception. It’s the perfect standalone to kick off this Deviant Kings series, and I can’t wait to read what this extraordinary team of otherworldly beings manage to get up to next in The Rebel King, publishing next summer.

 

This novel is available now!

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

 

       

 

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Angela Melamud for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Gina L. Maxwell

Gina L. Maxwell is a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 International bestselling author living in the upper Midwest, despite her scathing hatred of snow and cold weather. As a lifelong romance novel addict, she began writing as another way of enjoying the Happily Ever After stories she's always loved. Her debut novel in 2012, SEDUCING CINDERELLA, hit the bestseller lists within the first month of its release and continues to be a favorite with readers a full decade later. When she’s not reading, writing, or spending way too much money on planners and office supplies, she enjoys hanging out with her son and daughter who’ve left the nest, snuggling with her fur babies, and dreaming of her someday-move to someplace tropical.

Photo courtesy of Entangled Publishing Website.

#BookReview The Date From Hell by Gwenda Bond @smpromance @StMartinsPress #TheDateFromHell #NotYourAverageHotGuy #GwendaBond #smpromance #smpinfluencers

#BookReview The Date From Hell by Gwenda Bond @smpromance @StMartinsPress #TheDateFromHell #NotYourAverageHotGuy #GwendaBond #smpromance #smpinfluencers Title: The Date From Hell

Author: Gwenda Bond

Series: Not Your Average Hot Guy #2

Published by: St. Martin's Griffin on Apr. 5, 2022

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance

Pages: 336

Format: ARC, Paperback

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 8/10

In The Date from Hell, the sequel to Not Your Average Hot Guy, New York Times bestselling author Gwenda Bond brings the journey of Callie, Luke, and their friends to a wonderful close. This is another laugh out loud, action-packed romantic adventure you won’t want to miss.

After saving the world and stopping the apocalypse, Callie and Luke are looking forward to a quiet, romantic weekend together. When you’re human and dating the Prince of Hell, quiet moments are hard to come by. But their romantic weekend in Hell takes a turn when Lucifer tasks Callie and Luke with chasing a wayward soul around the world. If they can prove it’s possible to redeem a soul, Lucifer will allow the two of them to make some changes in Hell.

But this wayward soul, Sean, doesn’t have any interest in being redeemed. Instead, now that he’s back on Earth, he’s decided to take a leaf out of Callie and Luke’s book and wants to find the Holy Grail. Now Callie, Luke, and their friends—and enemies—must race Sean around the globe on a Grail quest and bring peace between Heaven and Hell before they can finally (maybe) get around to that date.


Review:

Zany, warm, and entertaining!

The Date From Hell is a fun-filled, spirited tale that takes us back into the life of Luke and Callie as they try to head out on a date that unfortunately gets a little sidetracked when they make a deal with the devil, they agree to prove that damaged souls deserve a second chance, and they somehow end up on a hunt for the holy grail.

The writing is witty and smooth. The characters are spunky, spontaneous, and clever. And the plot is a playful tale full of family, friendship, desire, adventure, intrigue, humorous hijinks, hilarious mishaps, special abilities, and love.

Overall, The Date From Hell is a comical, light, action-packed tale by Bond that I enjoyed even more than the first novel in the series, Not Your Average Hot Guy, and is the perfect way to wrap up this duology which guarantees hell will never be quite the same.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

        

 

Thank you to SMP Romance – St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Gwenda Bond

Gwenda Bond is the New York Times bestselling author of many novels, including the Lois Lane and Cirque American trilogies. She wrote the first official Stranger Things novel, Suspicious Minds. She also created Dead Air, a serialized mystery and scripted podcast written with Carrie Ryan and Rachel Caine. Not Your Average Hot Guy is her first romantic comedy for adults.

Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Publishers Weekly, Locus Magazine, Salon, the Los Angeles Times, and many other publications. She has an MFA in writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in a hundred-year-old house in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and their unruly pets. She believes she may have escaped from a 1940s screwball comedy. She writes a monthlyish letter you can sign up for at her website, and you can also follow her on Twitter.