Westin's Prince: Shadow Elite Book 4, Jocelynn Drake

I liked this book, I did.  Overall the best bits were West finding his peace, the team finding the jumping off point to the next phase, and the involvement of all the team and the interconnected members.

There was quite a lot of sweetness.  Not all of it was out of place, most was fantastic, but it was oftentimes so idealized when it came to describing the country, its people, its politics, and its effect on those who come in contact with it.  It was the kind of cheesiness that I skim rather than crave.  A country where its name literally means "happy", a people who embody their country's name, the ultimately self-sacrificing royal family...it was all a little too much at times.

And then there was the predictable villain(s) where when we got to the moment(s) of confrontation we were  thrust into those moments with seemingly no lead-in and then everything became like a flash in the pan only to be there and gone again.  Definitely unbelievable.

But that being said, the point of the story wasn't the outlandishly idealized perfect country with its royalty that truly cared about their people or were too kind and sweet for the real real world, it wasn't that bad guys get their due, and it wasn't only about finding a nice way to wrap up the series.  It was a way to bring the whole team a sense of peace, a sense of possiblity, and a sense of home where they can truly fulfill the happiness that each group found up to this point.  And West's personal journey was the one that got them all there.  I loved the ending of the series.

*$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Clean Up on Aisle Mine: A Spy Like Me Book 1, Patricia Logan

So many sweet feels!  The story was slow to start with a couple chapters filled with descriptions of scenery and quite a few things that didn't enhance the setting or push the story forward, but once it gained traction both Jude and Damon captured my attention and held it.  Both men needed someone to see to their tender soft parts and the good men they were inside and fortunately they were in the perfect situation to give one another time to do just that.  There's a bit of mystery that surprised us near the end giving a hint of what we'll find out as the series continues and since we're following Jude and Damon on their adventures I'm so very in for more.

I'll admit that I was wary at the outset that I'd have a tough time getting through all. The. Words.  The pace picked up quickly once Damon made contact with Jude though and I was continually impressed by Damon's sincerity and understanding as well as Jude's thoughtful capitulation and maturity when reality and possible consequences were laid out clearly for him.  They worked so well together in so many ways that when physical intimacy became part of their story it was so organic and right for both of them.  They'd built a foundation of trust, respect, and affection which allowed Jude to be confident that Damon was his choice as well as in other life choices and for Damon to open up and share his grief and his heart with Jude.

With very little angst other than Damon coming to terms with his past and the slightly confusing mystery that causes more than a few problems, this was an enjoyable read with two men that I don't want to leave just yet.  I'm eager for more from them and hope their story continues in the same lighthearted and intriguing way.  Aside from the title that doesn't really seem to fit the story, I'm all in for the series.

*$4.99 on Amazon

Former CIA operative, Damon Thorne, is a fixer. He cleans up messes other people make of their lives to forget the wreckage his own has become. Whether it means retrieving a drug addict whose family is being blackmailed or rescuing a furball who’s the subject of a custody dispute, Damon just gets things done.

When the job means kidnapping the wild son of a prominent Senator in an election year, it should come with hazard pay.

From the day Jude Chenoweth was born into wealth and position, his father has groomed him to follow in his footsteps. Jude has other plans. Openly gay and infamous, all he wants to do is live his life, create his art, and never settle down.

Life has a way of kicking butts, even the sexy ones. Thrown together in a situation neither wanted, Damon and Jude must now decide how to move forward. Jude knows something is wrong when he gazes into Damon’s haunted brown eyes and Damon recognizes there’s much more to Jude than the caricature he shows the world.

This might be the beginning of a journey… or an incredibly stupid mistake. Perhaps working together will help them process their own demons. Whatever happens, neither of them believes Damon’s assignments will always come with a heaping helping of bad guys.

Not always… right?

About Patricia...

International bestselling author Patricia Logan, resides in Los Angeles, California. The author of several #1 bestselling erotic romances in English, Italian, French, and Spanish lives in a small house with a large family. When she’s not writing her next thriller romance, she’s watching her grandchildren grow up way too soon, and raising kids who make her proud every day. One of her favorite tasks is coaxing nose kisses from cats who insist on flopping on her keyboard while she tries to type. She counts herself lucky to be surrounded by people who love her and give her stories to tell every day.

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Flame: Dark Kings Book 17, Donna Grant

When I say wow I truly mean that in all the big, positive and negative, stunned wow you could possibly mean.  The sheer number of secrets and surprises was staggering.  The changes in Rhi were also astounding, though those weren't quite surprising since we've had book after book detailing her struggles.  But when everything is combined, bombs are dropped, betrayal rocks the boat, and a confrontation with a monologuing villain, all the changes could mean something bad or something great is on the horizon and I'm not exactly sure how everything will play out in the last book.

Getting the Dragon King's history in the way Noreen got it was utterly unique and the perspective both in the telling and in the knowledge gained was incredible and far more potent than any other retelling thus far.  There were emotions felt, passed on, and experienced in a way that was unattainable before now because of the gift only Noreen possessed.  So when Moreanne's plan through Noreen was revealed it meant an incredible amount of pain and a betrayal we all saw coming yet hoped wouldn't actually happen.  Thank goodness for friends and allies they could count on to help them sort through that mess.  There was a question of what was added to Moreanne's spell that was unanswered and hopefully that will get resolved when Inferno comes out.

I will say that the monologuing villain was a bit too much, a bit too heavy-handed.  While it did answer some questions as well as bring up even more, it was a slightly predictable scene that could have been finessed into something a bit less cliche.  The one unpredictable bit was who showed up to perform the rescue.  That was something I didn't see coming.

There are so many times that the "cliffhanger" bits at the end of each story hint at more trouble or the next step, but the lead-in to Inferno was incredibly painful and huge.  We've known from the first who would be the pair and I have both doubts and hopes for how their story will play out.  For now though, one tumultuous relationship is enough and I'm glad for a tiny breather until we get the big battle, the redemption, the healing, the groveling, the passion, and the conclusion we've all been waiting for.

*$7.99 on Amazon

If she believed in destiny, she would believe they were meant for each other.
But that fire was put out long ago. . .

Living among the Dragon Kings, Cain has spent lifetimes learning to distrust both mortals and Fae. He is a warrior born—and every instinct demands that he fight to keep his own kind safe. But when a fringe member of the Dark Fae contacts the Kings with an urgent warning, Cain is torn for the first time. How can he trust this beautiful creature when resisting his primal attraction to her is battle enough?

Noreen is horrified by what her kind and the malevolent Others are planning for the Dragon Kings. Dark Fae or not, there are lines she will not cross—even if it means risking her life. But she never imagined that she would risk her heart until she meets Cain. She wants him with a soul-deep desire that frightens her…and endangers them both. Is saying goodbye to everything Noreen has ever known worth a love that will span time and realms?

Rosavia Royals, Starling; Welch; Dawn; Rowan; Davies

*$4.99 each on Amazon

One royal ball + Five unexpected dates = A lifetime of love

This certainly wasn't what I was expecting, especially because I truly enjoy this author's other works.  You could probably fill the actual dialogue from the entire story onto merely a handful of pages and the rest was an incredible amount of stream-of-consciousness type of inner monologue that went on forever and ever.  The actual relationship bits were cute and I liked that Leo had his enlightening moments that were filled with actual feeling rather than just lusty thoughts and that Edvin finally found someone to love him for himself and to care for him as he lives to care for others.  I can't say I was drawn to either man from the beginning, but I had a lot of hope that things would get better.  Overall the world was interesting, the ending was wonderful, and there were some really good feels, but it just wasn't up to par with what this author can actually create.  Up for Heir, Stella Starling - 3 stars. 

I enjoyed the way Cassander and Matty worked things out because while I detest the secrets that cause misunderstandings and hurt, it's how they work things out that make the difference.  Cassander is under a lot of pressure and most of it is his own making despite the selfishness of his brothers and a fling with Matty what wholly unexpected, but exactly what he needed.  His tenderness and care for and of Matty was endearing as was the way he sincerely apologized for the hurt his secrets caused.  Matty was a bit more simplistic for me, like he was almost too good and also a bit immature.  He wasn't a badly written character at all, he was exactly what Cassander needed, he was just a bit stereotypical in his goodness and forgiveness.  Overall though it was a sweet story that fit well with the series.  Reign or Shine, HJ Welch - 3.5 stars.

The overall story was very sweet, especially once they finally opened their mouths and vocalized their feelings and their misunderstandings of the years past.  Although that's also when the puns became a little too ridiculous for me and took the humor down a notch.  With a bit of conniving meddling from certain royals and a whole lot of nastiness from Rosavia's favorite reporter, their journey back together was a little more rocky than they expected, but when they found the courage to be honest with not only one another, but with the royals that had their best interests at heart, everything slotted together as it was always meant to be.  I do wish there hadn't been so much of the waffling back and forth and the extremely repetitive thoughts of "he must know, how can he not know?  I suppose it's best to not say anything and just show him."  I mean, if it didn't work in the past, why would it work now?  Communication, people, would have solved a whole lot of issues.  But then the story would be shorter...though I can't say that would be a bad thing, in my opinion.  Throne Together, Zoe Dawn - 3.5 stars.

Even though Ben came off like the layabout prince with a severe lack of decorum or respect, he was so much more than that and I genuinely liked him in this story.  He was the brother nearly everyone forgot about and until Felix, he was likely going to remain in the shadows avoiding his loneliness.  Felix was his match, but I didn't like him at all until maybe the last third of the book because he was whiny, easily offended, defensive, and hurtful all because he felt insecure.  Ben gave heartfelt and sincere apologies as well as feeling confessions and there's only one memorable one from Felix.  Well, maybe two, but that's because Ben stole the show with the epilogue and Felix's response was appropriately commensurate to Ben's offer.  My favorite part was following along with Ben on his escape as well as finally seeing Felix become the man he was supposed to be under the loving support Ben willingly gave him.  In His Court, Max Rowan - 3.5 stars.

The beginning and lead-in was really very good with just enough anticipation to make you want more and the pleasure of seeing Wren find himself in the gardens when the original edict brought him so low.  The prospect of if and when along with growth was just what I'd hoped for with this story.  While some of those more steamy bits took a back seat to the ulterior motives of a footman with a grudge and concerned family, their relationship went through the requisite testing necessary to prove just how permanent both Wren and Thom needed it to be.  Wren truly grew into himself and his role and I was most charmed by how he literally blossomed under both the guidance from Thom and the determination in his horticultural endeavors.  This was my favorite of the series.  Barely Regal, E. Davies - 4 stars.

Dark Alpha's Redemption: Reapers Book 8, Donna Grant

This is the first book that focuses on the new set of Reapers that we learned about in Dark Alpha's Hunger, book six in the overall series. It's there that we first learn about Bradach and why we should be interested in him in the first place. It's only a glimpse, but it does tell us he's loyal, determined, and fierce when necessary. I'll be honest though, the newer Reapers are interesting, but I can't say they drew me in as the first group did...at least not yet.

On his own, Bradach took a lot longer for me to warm up to. Not because he was flawed or bad, just because he was kind of subdued, a whole lot judgy and grudge-holding, and sparse on the details about him and his past that would give us some kind of connection with him. Maeve on the other hand, was fierce, strong-willed, intelligent, vulnerable, caring, complex, and just a strong-as female. Definitely worthy of being a female lead to love from the get-go. She was complex in a way that gave her depth and not ineffective half-assed complications.

One nitpick for me was Bradach's skills. The reason he was chosen for this particular mission was his incredible attention to detail in the broad scope of the bigger picture and his ability to have a level head. They were used only once when that was the push for getting him to agree to the assignment in the first place. It just wasn't enough to prove it was a skill instead of a gut feeling in one instance. The same with his level head. I know Maeve and his attraction to her pretty much knocked him ass over tea kettle, but there were rarely, if any, moments of cool heads and minute detail observations.

The relationship itself was pretty good because both characters held something within them that was just what the other needed. There were moments that Maeve got all hurt when she jumped to conclusions and Bradach denied things for far too long for my liking, but once they were on the same page I was a believer. Their passion was banked but present throughout the story. It was also sufficiently intense in the one brief moment they had a chance to give in.

As for the plot, it hinged on the problem that is the Queen of the Light. She is a problem for everyone in their world and finding out exactly why, what she's up to, and who she's consorting with was the focus. She's ultimately a problem for the Dragon Kings, but because she's a fae she also falls under Death's purview. I loved seeing things ramp up with the confrontation with Usaeil and who all the players will be and why, but unless you've read the other connected series or the other books in this series, it would be difficult to see just why she's such an issue.

If you're reading the Dark Kings series, this story will be an incredible gem for seeing Usaeil in all her "glory", so it may serve as a bit of a spoiler for those who haven't started that series prior to reading this story. This is kind of a standalone, but best if read in order of the Reapers series as it's only a "bonus" for the other connected Dark Kings series.

So while I wasn't immediately drawn in by the newer set of Reapers, I'm invested now and really want to see how each of them find their mates, what dangers they'll face and why, and how the overall story ties them all together.

*$3.99 on Amazon

There is no escaping a Reaper. I am an elite assassin, part of a brotherhood that only answers to Death. And when Death says your time is up, I’m coming for you…

My duty to Death drives me forward. I've never once strayed from my path – not even when the future seemed uncertain. However, Maeve's intelligence, cunning and determination challenges me in ways I never imagined. Finding out what she knows is the key to learning how to conquer our enemy. The Dark Fae breathes new life into me unlike anything I've ever known. For Maeve, I will risk trusting the Dark. For her...I will battle darkness itself.