Bunny's Reviews: Arianne the Mistress Review Spotlight

Check out the exciting next installment in The Legends of Everclearing series by Wendy L. Anderson, Arianne the Mistress!

Arianne the Mistress is the second book in Wendy L. Anderson's The Legends of Everclearing series. Each book in this series focuses on a different character and can be read as a stand-alone novel. For those who have read the first book, there will be a familiar character who makes an appearance, but no need to fear. There isn't any need to have read the first book to fully understand what is going on with these characters.

Arianne the Mistress details Arianne's life. She was first a lowly prostitute at a brothel until the man she married took an "interest" in her. While he wed her and informed her that she needed not continue sleeping with men for her life, things were never perfect. Arianne has a particular name for her husband, so you just know that no love is lost between them.

Arianne has had one particular client for a year now. She wants to know more about this mysterious man, but he has specific rules. When Arianne decides to break those rules, he makes the decision to leave and never return. However, he informs her that he has left her with a parting gift. Arianne is determined to leave behind the life she hates so much and to pursue Lord Torrent. The road ahead of her will be long and hard, but if she can make it to the end...will it all be worth it?

Arianne the Mistress is an engaging novel set in the Everclearing world. Well, not necessarily Everclearing itself as us mere humans are not allowed to visit there. The journey ahead is one that is going to be long and hard. For Arianne, due to her past "occupation", it seems to be even harder. All men see when they look at her is someone to be had. They remind her of this often. It's enough to really make you want to smack them. LOL!

I admire Arianne's fortitude and resolve throughout this book. She has no qualms about doing what she must to protect herself and those with her. She's not always successful, but that just adds to the drama of the story. One thing that you will notice in this book is that Arianne relies on one particular potion to help her get out of several problems. Have an issue? This one will definitely fix that. LOL!

The overall storyline is good, but there are some flaws within it. The author is quick to point in certain moments that particular characters won't be seen again. I feel that this pre-empts the storyline. In that particular moment, it's not necessary to point out this particular aspect. It could have waited to be revealed later on in order to drum up the tension in the story. By pointing this out too quickly it gives readers less to look forward to in hopes that maybe it will happen.

With these characters you get a HEA ending, and for more than just Arianne. Wonder who else gets a HEA moment? Well, you'll just have to read this book and find out now won't you? I enjoyed this book though and I do appreciate that there are substantial movements in time. I'm choosing to rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the author, Wendy L. Anderson, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Arianne the Mistress (The Legends of Everclearing #2)

Publication: September 14th, 2022

Genre: Fantasy/ Epic Fantasy

Arianne will stop at nothing to escape life as a prostitute, even committing murder.

She’s not just the mistress running a brothel, but a temptress and an alchemist. Arianne creates an addictive elixir that can bring pleasure or death.

Lord Torrent, her regular client, has secrets of his own, and once forced to reveal what is best left unknown, he has to leave her. Arianne quickly learns not everything is revealed and the truth is not always as it seems.

Running from the life she hates; Arianne avoids prosecution for her crimes and travels far across the sea to find forgiveness for breaking his trust and spurning his love. There were rules she broke, battles she lost, and triumph in surrender.

Blind hope drives Arianne to find out the truth as she faces the uncertainty of love while he faces a never-ending war. How far will she go to assuage a broken heart? As far as the legendary land of Everclearing?

Arianne the Mistress, book two in the Legends of Everclearing fantasy romance series. If you like heart-stuttering adventure, intriguing characters, and a fantasy world full of wonder and mystery then you will love this next journey in the Legends of Everclearing.

Find out if trust can be regained, love revived, and redemption won.

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Excerpt

Tonight, she was going to break the rules! Maybe not all the rules, but surely some of them. Well…maybe all of them. Some or all, it was a risk she was willing to take.

During the years Arianne had lived at the Maiden’s Bower brothel, she never had a client like him before. When he appeared the first time, he made his demands and made his rules. Why he always chose her and not one of the other girls to perform this service was a mystery. From the very first, he commanded that she follow certain rules of engagement. Yes, her life was just like a war. There were rules, battles, and surrender.

Her husband was the proprietor of the Maiden’s Bower. Arianne had been a young girl when they married. Marriage only meant that she no longer had to earn food and shelter on her back. Except for this one client who had requirements that, until now, she had willingly obeyed.

The story of her life was not a new one. When she was very young, her unwed mother sold her to the brothel’s owner, and she never knew her father. Arianne did not differ much from the other girls who lived and worked as prostitutes at the Maiden’s Bower. When she came of age she was put to work as one of them. One lesson she learned from a very young age was to trust no one!

Her husband was a louse whom Arianne only referred to as, ‘the Bastard’ and not by his given name which she deliberately forgot. He took a fancy to her. The Bastard taught her to read and write and developed an appreciation for her head for numbers and her skill with potions. Eventually, he forced her into marriage, though he was at least twenty years older than her. At the time, Arianne realized that there were advantages to the union. One of them was that she could help run the brothel and stop earning her living satisfying the customers.

Then, just when her desperation to escape was the strongest, Lord Torrent appeared. Tonight, Arianne was expecting him once again.

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Killian the Assassin (The Legends of Everclearing #1)

Publication Date: March 30, 2022

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Assassin, thief, arrogant rogue…

Pagan drumming in Killian’s veins would never let his sword fail or his heart stop thirsting for blood. It felt as if the old gods gathered around him, waiting for blood to spill.

Killian the Assassin has been hired to guard the daughter of a wealthy Lord. Blackmailed into going on a perilous journey over treacherous seas, and among violent mountains, he faces danger and demons. Fighting the bloodlust that always follows him, Killian discovers a lonely, innocent girl who did not betray but has been betrayed. She deserves love and protection, but is he the one to give her what she needs?

Tainted by the need for salvation, driven by sword lust, darkness follows them as together they become the first in the Legends of Everclearing.

Killian the Assassin! He’ll double-cross you, bed your wife, and steal your gold, all with a smile.

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About the Author

Wendy L. Anderson is a Colorado native and mother of two boys. She has an English Degree from Regis University and writes books, short stories and poetry. Wendy is a devout reader of the classics, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. She has decided it is time to write down the fantasies from her own mind. Writing about everything from fantastical worlds to the stuff of her dreams she takes her stories along interesting paths while portraying characters and worlds she sees in her mind’s eye. Her goal is to deviate from common themes, write in original directions and transport her reader to the worlds of her creation.

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