“ Lost Heir”

             by Karina Espinsoa

                        Review by Katy Grant

 

The wait is over "Lost Heir" the continuation of Leila and Ronan's story that began with "Blood Weaver" is now available.

Learning the full wording of the prophecy that would bring the Fox Demon, Leila has come to understand why Ronan hadn’t told her the whole truth. He was searching for a means to answer the prophecy while yet saving her. Entering Valoria after being gone so many years she was first comforting by the welcome of her people, however, upon entering the Grand Hall the feeling of confinement was stifling; she knew there would be challenges ahead. Her father’s welcome was warm, so different from the look on her mother’s cold face. At once she knew there would be problems. Caelan’s anger was clearly felt, he had resented her spending any time with Ronan on the journey.  The march now over, Ronan was freed on the orders of her father, trying to prevent trouble between the Grasslands and Valoria. Ronan is free but closely watched during his time at Court.

Court politics are like ground fog swirling around their feet, whispers of war hanging in the wind, the Queen’s displeasure could be tasted in the air and Caelan’s rage was hanging in the shadows ready to pounce. Leila has been changed by the things she has seen as well as by her interactions over the years with people at all levels. A change that will not bode well for the plans some have for the Lost Princess.

 

Housed in the Northern Castle while Leila is in the Eastern Castle, Ronan still manages to find his way to her suite in order to assure her of his love and protection even against his father. While in the face of her mother’s angry disapproval, the two manage to spend time together talking, making plans and exploring their love which has grown beyond mere words and has culminated into the physical realm. Ronan and Leila are not the only ones that are searching for answers to questions that arise there are murmurs of a lost heir, talk of war on the horizon, whispers of rebellion and a push for a political for a marriage. Marcellus surprisingly stands up to his mother in favor of his sister and has his father agreeing that he will never force his children to marry against their wishes. When Caelan discovers Leila and Ronan in a compromising position, his plotting becomes even more assiduous as he whispers his lies into most willing ears. Ronan needs to leave Valoria before Caelan’s lies get him imprisoned once again.  Help comes from an unexpected source as Marcellus finally starts to realize that something is very wrong with his old friend Caelan, that he is a danger to both his sister and Ronan. Plans for Ronan’s escape will now include Leila since she won’t leave his side. They quickly flee for their lives. While running towards what they believe is safety, they find unexpected allies, and learn dark secrets that come to light.

But will they find the help they need or is death awaiting them. Together Ronan and Leila are stronger but with so many secrets yet to come to light and villains still hiding behind friendship the ending is still uncertain as we await the final chapter yet to come.

Court schemes and politics across all three realms, have need of Lyanna for her position and powers. What they don’t realize is the past ten years has allowed Leila to gain some control over her powers, to delve into even darker powers and she won’t hesitate to use them. No one will ever control her life again. Her choices, decisions, for good or bad will be her’s alone.

There are whispers of a Lost Heir, but who is this person? Why is Lyanna's mother so eager to see her tied in marriage to Caelan? What is really behind Caelan’s insistence that Lyanna will be his?

There is treachery, jealousy, insatiable ambition, danger, characters from “Blood Weaver ‘’ will show up to help carry the tale further, spicy romance and distorted beliefs that could bring death.  I couldn't finish it fast enough and will now go back to read "Blood Weaver" and "Lost Heir" while wanting to learn of the fate of those who have drawn me into their world.

 The Sinner's Bargain 

       by Airika Phoenix

                                              reviewed by Katy Grant

Release date June 4, 2024

Their lives had been full of pain; they need each other to crawl free of the past.  

 Thoran lives in a veritable mansion with the splendor of a castle that has long been neglected covered in dust, chipping away at its beauty.  Just as the anger inside him, his nightmares, are chipping away at him. His need to control what he cannot has led him down a dark path to become a ruthlessly successful businessman, on the grey side of the law. Dealing with those who feed on humanity, the twisted. The one thing he values is the small patch of silver roses his mother so lovingly tended before her death. And soon he will lose it all, if he cannot procure a wife. He has tried five times and five times the curse of the house has brought them violent death. Until her.

 

Naya was the bargaining chip with which her parents intended to use in order to gain the money to pay their debts and continue to live the lifestyle they valued beyond their daughter. A son was to be valued a daughter to be sold to the highest bidder. All her life Naya was controlled by fear and punishment, never allowed freedom outside of her room and even there her mother held sway. Paraded in front of those who came to her parent’s house for business purposes but enjoyed the look and touch of a young beautiful girl. Until he came, Brixton was the worst. A bargain made for her at fourteen, her body, her life bought and sold. Without the help of her brother the man would have taken her then. For six years more she escaped his revolting touch, mostly. On the eve of her wedding, she was to be sent to him, but her brother had other ideas. He had an escape plan. Sadly, it went wrong, and she ended up in the garden of the beast, from which no one ever left.

 

Running from the man who was intended to set on the road to a new life, Naya ran into the garden of silver roses but was quickly found by her tormentor. Just as quickly Thoran and Cyrus found them both by the bed of roses and called a halt to their struggles. Naya feared her escape was short lived when Thoran pulled her into his arms heading for the house.  No one ever entered the garden and lived to tell of it. Except there was something that drew Thoran to her innocence. Perhaps they could save each other. The tormentor was another situation, he would die but not before he suffered for daring to touch this woman that the beast thought of as his.

 

This dark fairy tale had the feel of the past, deadly curses and a forced marriage, but was in truth set in the present encroached with mafia style domination and business dealings. Thoran was a beast always in control devoid of sympathy for those outside of a few.  Naya was a beautiful young woman whose only protection against her greedy perverted parents was her brother. The draw that each felt towards the other was a crack in the wall Thoran he had built around himself. He’d lived with the curse of death the house promised all his life, he’d been betrayed by a friend and buried five young women who had hoped to be his wife. It had left him without a heart or compassion but somehow this slight beautiful young woman had made him want to keep her with him, to protect her to touch her.

 

After the first few pages, I wanted to skip a chapter or two to see if I would be able to continue. Somehow the story took hold of me and wouldn’t let go, wouldn’t let me try to bypass the picture it painted in my mind, I held my breath and continued. In the end, I realized this was the perfect beginning to capture my attention, to let the story tell itself in its own way. It let me walk through the pages, to be a voyeur who could look and feel but not touch. The darker elements a reader will encounter are psychological child l abuse, sexual harassment of a child, loss of beloved parents, forced marriage, mafia type enforcement, and death. There is light under it all trusted friends and family, love and protection, characters who change for the better, friendships made and a spicy romance that will outlive the ages. In my opinion this story needed both to make it one I will never forget, share with others and return to read again.  Check this one out, read a few pages but don’t let the first few chapters put you off, it is a grand story.

 

"Heart of Night"  by Angelina J Steffort

           review by Katy Grant  

“Heart of Night” …. made my blood run cold.

At the end of “Wings of Ink” the curse is broken but Myron is left without Ayna the woman who reached his heart and brought freedom to the Crows.

   A prison, no matter how gilded is a prison, still. A guard who smiles to your face then gives orders to have you tortured is an evil jailer, still.  Ephegos’ had hidden behind friendship, swore he only wanted revenge for the death of his sister when he kidnapped Ayna. He lied. Underneath that smile was greed for power, fueled by evil. Pain was his dearest companion, as long as it was someone else’s agony. He would see to it that Ayna suffered every day. For though she believed Myron to be dead, he knew the truth, Myron lived and would suffer the agony of separation from his mate; the pain of knowing that she was in the hands of a traitor willing to kill to get what he so long coveted. In her painful belief of Myron’s death, Ayna wouldn’t let Ephegos win, she would somehow get free. In spite of the physical pain that Ephegos had his persecutor inflect upon her and the emotional agony of losing Myron that was tearing her up inside. She couldn’t allow his death to be meaningless. She would prove worthy of her mate. She had lost so many to death in her short life, her father, Ludelle, her first lover and the crew of the Wild Ray, she thought of as family. Executed by order of the King of Travas, carried out by the General of the prison in Travas. Without her magic, that Ephegos had somehow stolen from her, there was no escaping from him without outside assistance. She had to hang on, to plan, to endure.

   So, when it came even though it came from an unexpected source it was to be accepted with trepidation. One who was bound by a promise tied with magic, the other in the form of a young female servant who could slip around unnoticed. Ayna was loath to trust either since one was inflecting physical torturous pain while the other fed her the poison that kept her magic from reaching her. However, hope, even the slightest bit, was something to hold on to. 

   As usual without knocking, Ephegos enters the room when she sees he has brought another. Though he shaved his head and mustache she would recognize him anywhere, The General. They were working together. The executioner of those she loved, the jailer who’d had her thrown in a dungeon for months before giving her to what she had hoped was to be her death, as the bride of the Crow King. So, there was more than simple revenge that Ephegos reached for.  As the weeks passed, Ayna would learn more about his plan to rise in power, but what his “allies” didn’t know was that Ephegos wasn’t going to stop until he ruled over all the land, and the people, supernatural and human.

   Finally, she had a reason to hope, she must find a way to escape. Forced to dress in finery and sit at the table and eat with her captor, across the table was the reason she had continued to fight death, Myron. Just knowing he was alive meant he loved her as she loved him. He’d risked everything to come for her. They would escape or they would die together.  Ephegos, took great pleasure is seeing them so close, unable to touch, to communicate except with their eyes. He wanted Myron to know that his beloved wife was to be sold to the King of Tavras, a monster in human form.  The man who had given the orders to have her father and the crew of the Wild Ray executed before her eyes. Somehow, she must escape, free Myron and those with him from the dungeons before Ephegos could sell her off.

   Reading this tale made my blood run cold. My heart was breaking for Myron and Ayna, the loss of so many Crow Fae. My skin crawled whenever Ephegos walked on the pages. And I could see the blood rolling off the page as the words described Ayna’s torture. The thing that kept me reading was in part the same as Ayna the belief, the hope that Myron would come, and they would be together again. That Ephegos couldn’t, wouldn’t win. That somehow in the end the Puppeteer and his minions who had manipulated the Fire Fae, the Crows, the humans in battle and hatred towards each other would fall out in the end. But there was more to this. Why did the King want Ayna, a pirate, a traitor to the crown, the wife of the Crow King?  

   There may have been less physical presence of Myron in this tale, but he isn’t any less felt. The story drew me back to images of the of the dark ages, with its political strife, torture as a means of control, feudal Kings and rivalry. Where Kings and their ilk ruled by fear, intimidation, and the brutal force of the lackeys they paid to do their dirty work. I never thought I was a blood thirsty kind of person but by the end of this book I was back in the stands at the Colosseum screaming for the gladiators to spill the blood of their opponent. At the heart of this second book is the love, determination and loyalty that Myron and Ayna earned from others who would risk their very lives to help free them. So yes, it is dark, a bit savage, with a brief moment of romantic spice, characters that got caught up trusting the wrong person, but the strength of the love and belief in the need to right so many past wrongs make this a story I am so glad I didn’t miss. Myron, Ayna and their cohorts fought valiantly but still left us standing on a precipice at the end of this book. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I recommend this book. However, to truly understand the whole story start at the beginning with “The Fall of The Wild Ray,” then pick up with “Wings of Ink” before diving head long into “The Heart of Night,” while we sit on the edge waiting for “The Claws of Death”…..

 Wolf Touched 

             by Jen L. Grey

review by Katy Grant

On the run with no safe place in sight. With all that had transpired, Raffe and Skylar decided Olivia would continue to travel with them until they were given more answers. After reaching the pack’s home ground, Raffe and the others are informed that under King Jovian’s orders they may stay but Skylar and Olivia weren’t welcome. However, the elders were in for a surprise. Raffe denies father, breaking from the pack. While in turn Keith, Adam and Josie leave the pack and accept Raffe as their new alpha, in the face of their father’s displeasure and anger. Skylar struggles to get her wolf to conform. However, alongside her strength, Skylar had wisdom, aware that others would follow Raffe much quicker. In the end she managed to pull her wolf in line. He in turn quietly admits to her strength while whispering he would have given in to her. Time is short, danger is hunting them; they need to move now.

The cabin they rented was hours away from the pack’s grounds, so hopes were high those chasing them wouldn’t speedily find them. Nonetheless, within hours the cabin is set on fire. Battling the burning building, attacked by their former pack members and witches, during the fight Raffe is dealt a fatal wound. Sirens sounding too close, means humans are too close by. Once again, they must retreat and disappear. Raffe would die if they couldn’t find a doctor and a cure for the reason he couldn’t stop bleeding. Olivia once again offers the sanctity of her home. She promises it is a place shielded and Dru, her husband, is a doctor. Raffe is close to death by the time they finally reach their destination. Only to be confronted by several angry witches. It appears the coven is in hiding and have been keeping watch over Olivia and her family for years. It will take the help of Dru and knowledge only the witches can offer to save Raffe. It’s here they will learn of Skylar’s history and more about the first arcane born along with the rest of the story about what really took place all those centuries ago.

Danger comes for them wherever they go. The information the witches offer them shows the evil intent behind Octavia, her coven and the secret society, how they had twisted and distorted the history of the first arcane-born for their own gain. Knowing of Skylar’s abilities and lack of knowledge about her magic gave them a means to try to control her. Once again time was no a friend. So even learning of the traitor in the wolf pack who had helped to spread fear and distrust among other supernaturals, couldn’t stop the battle when the Eastern Wolves and witches came for them; believing Skylar, Raffe and those who side with them, would gain the power to destroy and finally control them. So much is hidden behind doors, masked in half-truths, fueled by greed and revenge. But how do you get those fighting to protect their own people and way of life to stop and listen?

 This final episode of the trilogy that began with ‘Wolf Mate.” It hit the ground running and never slowed down. The layers in this had me peeling the story away a bit at a time, not quite sure what I would find under the next layer, but I loved it. I lamented that some characters perished, gleefully enjoyed the death of others, got wrapped up in the players I had grown to care about, sucked up the suspense, cringed in times of danger, delighted in the spicy romance as it unfolded for several couples and felt part of the gang that rallied around Raffe and Sky. If you enjoy paranormal romance with magic filling the air, danger around every curve, cloaked enemies in the midst, death on the wind, and a heathy dose of angst, I highly recommend this trilogy. While I anxiously await the next series of tales that Jen L. Grey will come up with. And luckily the wait is to be short lived.

 The Alpha's Protective Mate 

         by Jaymin Snow

       Release Date:  May 13, 2024                              

Review by Katy Grant   

The Before:

   With her beloved at her side, life is slowly drifting away. They’d gone against the laws of their species, quelled a war, spent a lifetime together, and raised children they outlived. Only their daughter Lillith would be left behind. As his beloved takes her last breath, his wolf doesn’t mourn. It quietly follows the beautiful red head with green eyes into their next adventure as his eyes slowly close. Their love would follow, reaching out for the future.

 

Present Day:

   I tried to avoid the wolf shifters who came into the café where I work. It had taken me years to pull myself up, finish school and save money to become a veterinarian. I have Mano, my cat and a few friends, but trusting anyone with my secrets could cost me my life and possibly theirs.  My father had thrown me out into the night to die, when I was fourteen for being a weak vampire. Now living/hiding in shifter territory, it is almost as dangerous for me as if my family discovered I was still alive. My family history could easily get me killed if they realized that my father is Beruth Sanguinite, Head of the Nelo Clan of vampires. Cruel beyond measure her brother and father had sold drugs to the shifters until her brother had been caught and killed.  

 

Robert Montgomery was the Alpha of the wolf shifters, rich powerful and deadly. For the last two years he had been coming into the café where I worked, I tried to avoid him as much as possible. Today for some reason he has chosen to take notice of me, and I am terrified. After my shift at the café, I headed to the animal shelter where I volunteer. That night as I step outside to lower the shutters, I see a man, hurt bleeding. If I leave him, he will die. As I stepped out to help him, I realized I knew him; it’s Robert Montgomery.  And then, Hell steps up in the form of two vicious vampires’ intent on killing both the alpha and me.

 

Although Charlotte had accepted her need to blend into the background, masking her true self meant never finding love, have children of her own or get too close to others, always fearing discovery. Robert would always wear the horrible scars on one side of his face given to him by his half siblings, but he was now Alpha, made laws that the wolf shifters followed. However, his life was a lonely one, seeing only disgust in the eyes of the women who covet his wealth and power as his mate. Charlotte and Robert are not only drawn to each other but drawn into the plots of others trying to tear down the strong hold the wolf shifters have on the surrounding areas.

 

There is so much going on here but at the heart of it is the love Charlotte and Robert found for each other despite the odds and the people against them, where  their past and their future comes together. The story is a maze, they will navigate together to put a stop to an evil genius and the men that would serve him and work to blend the paranormal and human world in peace. But be warned, the romance can be spicy at times, there is murder, drugs, missing shifters, including children, and vicious power-hungry villains. Where there is life there can sometimes be sacrifice that is heartbreaking. 

 

From the very beginning of the story, I was swept up in this telling as I tried to navigate the maze, I felt like I walked each step with the characters, shared Charlotte’s pain, mistrust, her need to give and receive love she was so long without. Robert’s tale may be a little less laid out, but the reader is given enough to fill in the blanks on their own. When I finished this book, I wanted to turn around and read it at a more leisurely pace for anything I might have missed but to travel the path Robert and Charlotte walked to the end. I never saw the end coming when the dust of battle finally cleared, to offer the HEA for some of my favorite characters. I recommend this story to those who enjoy paranormal romance with heat, danger, a bit of mystery and spicy romance.

                                                   Of Claws & Chaos by M. Sinclair

                 
                                                                                          reviewed by Katy Grant

The eighth and final tale of courageous young princesses that gave up their magic and life to return what was taken from their dying land.

 Evera had never expected that a night out, with her friend Stella, at The Portal would have ended in a struggle with two totally strange men and then dropped through a portal to a land she had never seen. Okay this was strange. The two men were no where in sight, and what a strange sight. I saw a river below the cliff edge I was standing on. It looked like a town below with people celebrating, but like no modern town she had ever seen.

 This might be my only hope for answers and a way home. I didn’t have any idea of what I would find when I reached there. But something here was triggering long ago memories. I was on the run again this time from the terror within me. The King and Queen of Vargr were demanding I be brought to them and somehow, I knew it wouldn’t end well for me. No one had to tell me twice to run. But the Kingdom of Nightfall didn’t sound much better, and I would have to travel through the mountains to reach it, alone and at night.

 The Kingdom of Nightfall was beautiful to look at and Axel the man I had thought of as a King was the ruler of Nightfall. He knows me. He loved me long ago. He had waited fifty years for my return. I had been one of eight princesses who had given their lives to restore magic to the land. Axel had been my personal guard but had left my parents’ Kingdom entering the land of Nightfall. It had taken him more than thirty years to bring life and prosperity to the land that had once been a desolate barren place. How?  

He tells me I am his true mate, but I don’t remember. He says I have great magic within me, but I can’t pull it forward. He says I am a wolf shifter and used to run by his side in my wolf form but can’t hear her call.  I know this my parents and half-brother, Reyon, the rulers of Eventide, are cruel, vicious and want me for the magic I can’t find within me. If they capture me, I will be killed when they have no further use of me.

 The final story of the eight princesses, answers why the land of Nightfall has been barren, as well as offering the romance behind Evera and Axel’s love. As a love paranormal love story, I sincerely enjoyed reading it. Evera struggles the most with trying to understand her past, present and accepting the future Axel presents to her. Although there is talk of war and the viciousness of Evera’s parents, it isn’t until the later part of the book that most of the interaction happens. Then, the tale runs with blood, spills out their hatred, shows their greed, exacts their cruelty, while the people of Nightfall seek their vengeance. For my part, I had wished that this part of the story had been spread out a bit more throughout the story. This tale did wrap up the series for me, and I really appreciated the different writing styles of each book. It spread out the saga from a lot of different angles.  Evera and Axel’s love tale at the heart of the story touched me when I thought of all the years Axel fought to hold that love and make a better place for Evera when she returned.  Evera’s years on Earth were heartbreaking but strengthened her character while adding to her character after her two lives were finally able to come to light for her.

 I highly recommend the book. Though it is a standalone read, I believe readers may find more enjoyment by reading the complete series starting from the beginning. The romance is spicey hot, the background building is lush, I just wish there was a little more history given. The action and the danger towards the end was a surprise and had me on the edge of my seat with the twists that came up. I really loved that M. Sinclair gave us an updated epilogue at the end.

 

                                   

"The Lost Girl"  by Casey L. Bond

                                         May 3, 2024

                                                                                                      Review by Katy Grant

 Who is Peter Pan…really? There are two sides to every tale and Casey L. Bond has just offered us

another look at this boy, only now he is a man. Neverland is no longer the happy place of Peter and his lost boys, a villainous Hook on the horizon, beautiful mermaids, and others. Readers may never see it in the same light again.

 Ava has lived with her sister Belle since she was found as a child, alone, no memory of who she was or where she belonged. Grown now, it has been her turn to take care of Belle. The shadows Belle had kept closely guarded for years have broken free and are taking her over. Belle loses herself as she watches from the roof top for the second star to appear in the sky where there is none. Until there is.

 As a lifeguard it has been Ava’s job to save people who flounder in the water, but tonight Belle has demanded to be taken to the beach, she pulls Ava with her into the water. Ava is afraid. Belle’s eyes have become dark, she has become overshadowed. Suddenly she grabs Ava holding her so tightly, she fears her ribs will break. The shadows within Belle become black wings and she lifts Ava high up into the sky as they fly off into the night towards the bright star that shouldn’t be there. Now, Ava dares not let go.

 Dropped on a sandy beach, Ava lands on her ankle and rolls. When she finally tries to stand, she realizes something is seriously wrong with her ankle, she aches all over and Belle has taken off beyond the palm trees. Ava takes her first painful steps into Neverland.

 Rescued from Wraith, one of the lost boys, by Hook, Ava has no idea who to believe or trust. She needs to find Belle, but that isn’t likely as she finds herself pulled onto Hook’s ship of pirates. If she needed confirmation that Hook is a villain, she finds it in the mermaid, alive but slowly dying, captured and nailed to the front of his ship. He shares the tale of the change in the merfolk from beautiful and kind to viscous and beastly.  Hook bargains with Ava for information. She soon hears a totally different story about Peter Pan and Neverland, as she realizes Tinkerbell is the sister who so lovingly raised her. And who now holds the answers and means to stop or assist Peter Pan with his desires and return her home.

 At the heart of this tale is Pan’s need to escape Neverland, no matter the cost to others, the havoc and pain he has caused needs to be stopped and rectified. Hook along with his men and other creatures have been drawn in and suffered because of Pan’s actions. He is willing to help Ava, but they must find Belle; she is the key to stopping Pan and hopefully returning what they have lost. The more Ava learns about Hook the closer she is drawn to him. He isn’t the total villain she may have once believed.

Magic be here, along with dark secrets, curses, hatred, villainy, and death but it is also underscored with hope. There is much drama, adventure, and heated romance as well. As we rush to the last page there is a surprising twist that will have you watching for the second star, in the sky, that will guide readers to the next tale in this wonderfully creative, heartbreakingly romantic fantastical adult tale. There is so much to relish, to lament, to explore in this new version of Neverland and those who dwell there. What you read in these pages will have you questioning what you thought you knew for some time to come. I highly recommend this tale and its spicy romantic look at a hero who isn’t quite a hero but not quite a villain either and a boy that is more lost than I ever thought.