Bunny's Reviews: Found Family

Showing posts with label Found Family. Show all posts

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Dream Walker Review Spotlight

Welcome to the book tour for Brittany Gossin's Dream Walker! Read on for more details!

Dream Walker is a young adult/coming of age romantic fantasy novel that will grip you from the beginning, but then allow you to settle in for a mostly engaging storyline. Get ready to meet Ella as she works to discover who she is and protect those she comes to care for, but only after tragedy strikes.

Dream Walker by Brittany Gossin is one of those books that lassos you from the beginning, hits you with some jaw-dropping moments and then shifts forward to the world we are all familiar with.

Dream Walker begins with a world at war. Nightmares are running rampant and destroying everything in their path. Their power has grown to the point that keeping them at bay is becoming harder and harder. A difficult decision for the Queen is at hand, and it is one that she must yield to...or else all will be lost.

The story transitions at this point to the Earth realm that we are familiar with. Ella is a high school student. She’s awakened from a terrible nightmare of her own. The scene that plays out will grip you and have you wondering...is this real? What happens if this thing that hunts her harms her in the dream? Will it transfer to the real world when she wakes? If she does at all?

Cue loads of tension and drama, right? Those are the best kinds of books the ones that keep you on the edge of your seat and page-turning to find out what happens next.

Of course, author Gossin allows the story to settle in for awhile after some chaotic scenes that play out. Ella suffers a horrific tragedy that forces her on the run, but with a little help she escapes death, but one question remains and it will continue to go unanswered for a time.

As Ella embarks on unlocking her magic she is going to have quite the road ahead of her. Accessing her magic won’t be easy and she’s already been given a clue that something will keep her from it. Of course, she doesn’t pay much attention to this mention because she feels overwhelmed in the moment.

While there are surprises along the way, the pacing of the story slows down quite a lot. We’re going to get moments of turmoil and chaos as Ella and others like her are thrown into the deep end to prepare themselves for the fight coming, but there is also a sense of underlying drama. There is someone looking to exploit them and this one safe place. Who is this mysterious person? And who is their inside helper? Like Ella doesn’t have enough on her plate to deal with. Things just keep piling up.

Wondering where the romance angle comes in? Well, it sparks pretty quickly. He’s older (by a few years), but wait! What’s this? Is there a second potential interest? Why yes! We think there is! Who will be the one who gets the girl?! Well, you’ll just have to read to find out. Though it is weird for Ella to talk about/think that Ethan has shared “so much” with her in private. He’s shared a thing or two here and there, but this girl needs to slow her roll. She’s acting like he’s been sharing his life story with her until someone else shows up. Not the case at all and it makes her sound...a touch delusional.

Ella is an interesting character, and she’s growing little by little, but I need girlfriend to get her head in the game and stay focused. She’s got a big fight ahead of her, and it’s coming from more than one front.

Dream Walkers has a lot of good things in it, and it’s an engaging story for sure. I loved the horror elements especially and the dynamic cast of fantasy characters. Readers who enjoy a good romantic fantasy novel will not want to miss out on the beginning of this new series.

Dream Walker (Realm of Dreams #1)

Publication Date: July 2, 2024

Genre Romantic Fantasy

Found family
Secrets and betrayal
Closed-door spice
Magic, fae, elves
Dragons and demons
Slow burn

In the aftermath of a harrowing nightmare, seventeen-year-old Ella Windsor must face a chilling reality as the wounds from her dreams appear on her body. To add to her terror, she witnesses the intrusion of a nightmarish creature come to life, lurking on her high school campus.

Faced with no choice but to escape the nightmares and search for why she’s the only one who can see them, Ella ventures into the mysterious Astral Realm. Alongside Ethan Wessex, a stunningly gorgeous Lieutenant of the Queen’s Astral Guard with his own air of mystery, Ella discovers a realm on the brink of war.

Azvameth, the King of Nightmares, harboring secrets of his own, seeks dominion not just over the Astral Realm but every waking world. With the assistance of other dream walkers, including the devastatingly handsome Cole, a Fae Prince, and Rhea, a feisty Elven female, each armed with latent magic, Ella may prove to be the missing piece in destroying Azvameth and saving her precious Mortal and Astral Realms.

In this epic romantasy, Ella grapples with love and betrayal, torn between the mysterious Ethan and the potential true love of Cole, all while embarking on a journey of self-discovery and found family. The nightmares have awakened, but so has she.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON & THE AUTHOR’S WEBSITE

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Lightfall Review Spotlight

‘Tis said, if the Dragon Prince falls, so falls the kingdom.
Lucky for the kingdom, I—a nobody thief—am here to catch him.
But now he won’t let me go, and I may be the next feast of The Dreadmarked Dragon.

We're celebrating the release of Lightfall by Elsa Jade! Make sure you treat yourself to this one!

Lightfall is the first book in Elsa Jade's The Dreadmarked Dragon series, and let's just say this...this book is not fast-paced, but it has a gripping storyline that is going to keep you coming back for more.

What does a street urchin have to lose when she finds herself with just a second's worth of an opportunity to escape her pursuers and join up with one of The Chosen? Well, let's just say...it's probably going to be better than whatever punishment they are looking to meet out on her for stealing. Feinan was abandoned as a child, and forced to grow up the streets. But things are changing. A Devouring has been called for, and one of The Chosen briefly makes an attempt at escape. You can guess that things don't go as planned.

Feinan though takes the opportunity presented to her with the arrival of the Dragon Prince to join this particular Chosen One in the hopes that this opportunity will bring her something, anything better than her specific plight.

Feinan is an interesting character whom the author focuses on throughout the story. She's got nothing to lose and it shows. Of course, the friends that she inevitably makes along the way try to keep her in line, but...good luck with that. She submits when she wants to and when she doesn't? Well, she doesn't. But one thing is for sure, once you have Feinan on your side...you've got yourself a good friend.

The storyline's pace is a bit slow, but it's engaging. So, no real complaints here in that respect. You get spurts and sparks of drama and when it comes...it is intense and hard-hitting. You're going to be glued to the pages to discover how that particular scene is going to play out.

Love it or hate, you get some "holier than thou" characters up in here, too. We particularly love to hate them. LOL! They could easily choose to sacrifice themselves to the dragon for the sake of all, but God forbid that happen, right? Because as one character so eloquently says..."there is a lot that many will give up, but power isn't one of them." Truer words were never spoken. Let me tell ya.

This book has a lot going for it, and it will leave you eager for what comes next. So, don't miss out on this book and grab it today!

5 out of 5 stars

Lightfall (The Dreadmarked Dragon Duology #1)

Publication Date: May 13, 2024

Genre: Romantasy/ Adventure

Epic romantasy adventure
Snarky heroine makes bad choices
Doomed prince
Found family
We all have wounds
You are my only light

He is the Dragon Prince, cursed and bound by sacrificed auras to a savage demon dragon. Wielding the barely tamed monster like a weapon, the prince fights the hellish horde to preserve the light of all the Living Lands.

Me… I’m nothing. Or not quite nothing. I’m a good thief, with clever fingers and a wayward tongue—which only gets me in trouble when the glowering Dragon Prince rescues me. He wasn’t rescuing just me, of course. There’s a fine lady and a brave soldier and a shy little shepherd boy, and also a holier-than-me cleric and a king.

Now, because of a mistake that was not really mine, I’m trapped in a dangerous adventure. Demonic verges are splitting across the kingdom, releasing ghastly spawn from the Lost Lands. Even worse, the enchanted chains on the dragon are fraying, and the lifetime of scars that wound the Dragon Prince are bleeding where only I can see.

We must find our way through ancient tomes and fabled talismans and terrible battles before the kingdom crumbles. But I might be falling too—falling for the dreadmarked prince. He did save me, after all, so I might just save him in return.

Enter the exciting world of the Living Lands in LIGHTFALL, book one of The Dreadmarked Dragon duology, an epic romantic fantasy, where noble intrigue and demonic war are equally fatal, where one touch in the dark may lead to desire or damnation—and love might be most lethal of all. For fans of slow-burn romantasy who thought The Lord of the Rings needed a few more kisses.

GET IT HERE

Tour Organizer: @rrbooktours

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Illuminance Release Blitz Spotlight

Illuminance is now available and to celebrate the occasion, if you submit proof of purchase before March 24th, the author will gift you an unreleased art print! As if owning the book isn't enough!

*Visit the link in Kara Douglas' bio to submit proof of purchase

Illuminance (The Unraveled Fate Series Book 2)

Publication Date: March 21, 2024 (Today

Genre: NA Fantasy

✨Sassy Wyvern
✨Prophecies & High Stakes
✨Magic Training
✨Who did this to you
✨Slow burn
✨Found Family

A brewing war, and a prophecy to doom them all.

Lu’s life as she knows it is over. Her wishes of freedom have finally come to fruition, but at what cost? Her worst nightmares have become reality as monsters, fae, and dark magic corrupt the only home she’s ever known.

Old, broken memories come to light, and the war from long ago seems doomed to repeat itself, with Lu stuck in the middle. Torn between her prince and the man she once called her enemy, she’s left with questions she can’t answer. The scales threaten to tip when the Goddess of Vengeance puts Lu’s hard-won freedom more at risk than ever.

When an ancient prophecy offers a chance at peace, she must learn to control her magic before it’s too late. With all eyes on her, Lu will have to prove herself to her kingdom—or lose everything, and everyone, she loves.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

Blitz organized by @rrbooktours

Monday, March 18, 2024

Marked Review Spotlight

Marked is the first book in the Keepers of Midgate series. This dark fantasy novella may be short, but it beautifully sets the stage for young Davy’s story as he faces hardship after hardship. It’s not all bleak though, there are moments of love and light. However, it would seem that he is destined for great things as he is forced to endure so much heartbreak and let down by people who should have stepped up to care for him regardless.

First impressions when you see the cover of Marked? “Wow, that’s one vicious-looking dragon!” Right? There’s probably more than meets the eye of a young boy who appears to be leaning back in “terror” of an “angry” looking dragon. For sure though, the dragon’s fierce expression and eye-catching colors is sure to pique your interest in what the author has in store for readers who pick this book up. It definitely looks like the dragon is angry at being disturbed, with a dead or dying sheep at it’s feet. But sometimes it pays to look closer, right? Not everything is what it appears to be.

Marked paints a vivid picture of young Davy’s life. Living with his parents, tending their herd of sheep, and making an honest living. The local town gossip informs young Davy of a baby born with a mark. It sounds like nothing really, but there is more than meets the eye. A particular mark means that you are “cursed.” Davy thinks nothing of it. Why should he? But it would seem that bad luck is heading their way.

Is it because he used certain words too loosely? Did his flippant mention of dragons and other monsters doom his family to the fates that they fall to? You’d be tempted to think so. But is there something else going on that we just don’t know about?

This story really draws you in the deeper you go. You’re going to find yourself smiling during the happy times, feeling heartbreak at the losses Davy is forced to endure, and even anger at the callous treatment he is forced to endure. At certain points, you’re just going to want to reach through the pages to hug him and show him that love shouldn’t “depend.”

This book promises dragons, as you can see on the cover, so...where are they? Well, they’re mentioned several times in the story. But make sure you pay attention when a dragon makes an up close and personal appearance in the early chapters of the story. Don’t worry though, that won’t be the only appearance! There will be another later on, and it’s going to be a scene you’re not going to want to miss.

The way that this novella wraps up is going to truly bring a smile to your face. Essentially it’s like the story is being brought full circle while also setting the stage for what the rest of the series. We for sure are excited to find out what happens next with young Davy. Where one door closes, another opens. You just have to be willing to hang in there like Davy.

Looking for a good fantasy novel? We can’t recommend this novella enough. Be sure to keep an eye out for the next in the series! It’s sure to be a page-turner that will keep you coming back for more if it’s anything like this detailed novella.

Friday, March 1, 2024

In the Shadows Review Spotlight

This week, we're celebrating the long-anticipated release of In the Shadows by L.B. August! You are going to want to add this one to your TBR!

In the Shadows is the first book in L.B. August's the Amari series. Love a good enemies-to-lovers romance novel? Are you a fan of The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, One Dark Window, and A Court of Thorns and Roses? Then look no further because this book? Yeah, it's going to be your next read!

In the Shadows starts off with a prologue that will draw you into the story. It's a children's story that is called the Threads of Amari. But is it more than it seems? Is this "children's story" a prophecy in disguise that hints at something more in the future to come? The clues are there dear reader. What do you think and what will you find hidden deep within these pages?

When the book shifts gears it moves forward to "10 years ago". Keep your footing, okay? You're in the past at this point in the book. We're with young(er) Theo during this time. You'll feel a smile creep across your face at the antics of youthful teasing between siblings. But things quickly shift in tone in less than a matter of a couple of pages.

The shifting changes in this story come fast and fierce as it goes from playful banter between friends to full throttled danger bearing down on them threatening everything. That's just in the first chapter and in the first few pages! If that is what this book has just from the beginning, you can bet that the rest is going to be a wild ride of drama and chaos that is going to have you glued to the pages!

But of course, this is just the beginning. In the Shadows is absolutely packed with drama, heartbreak, more drama, political intrigue that will leave you with your jaw on the floor, and romance that promises to burn up the pages.

While we have not yet had the privilege of reading any of these books - The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, One Dark Window, and A Court of Thorns and Roses, you can bet that we devoured this book, In the Shadows, like we were starving. LOL! So, we'll probably need to put those others on our lists (if they already aren't of course. LOL)

We get alternating viewpoints throughout this book between Theo and Lily. Each POV is told from the first person perspective so you get to feel like you are that particular character. The shifts between characters isn't every chapter, but it works to keep you coming back for more.

Readers...do you hate cliffhangers? Well, let's be real, if you've read those books listed above you're more than okay with a cliffhanger...even if it makes you rage as it leaves you howling for more. LOL! Well, this book, as we're sure you've gotten the hint... is no exception. Cliffhanger? Check! LOL! Going to leave you howling for more? Double check. When is the next book coming? No. Idea. Aaaarggghhh!!! LOL! It's okay though! We'll just have to read this one in the meantime. Right? Right!

In the Shadows is a fantastic story and we can't wait to find out what happens next.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, L.B. August, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!

In the Shadows (The Amari Series #1)

Expected Publication Date: February 27, 2024

Genre: Romantic Fantasy/ Enemies-to-Lovers

🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Forbidden Love
🔥Found Family
🔥Political Intrigue
🔥Elemental Magic
🔥Secret Identity
🔥Soul Mates
🔥Slow Burn

Damned by gods and threaded by fates, two mortals must embrace the darkness to find their true destinies.

Lilith Clarke is supposed to be dead: murdered by the vicious King Oren, her blood staining a field of daisies. But death would have been merciful.

After years of having no name, she is finally given a title: Queen of Umbra. But it will cost her everything. Lily is now bound to King Asher, the most powerful and brutal shadow divinus in all of Omnia. Forced to rule in secret, she slowly loses herself to the darkness. She fears it will swallow her whole.

Until he arrives, tugging an ancient thread deep within her soul.
Theodore Kincaid seeks justice in Umbra but falls captive to his sworn enemy, the ruthless King Asher. Trapped in the kingdom that killed his beloved, his fate seems sealed until a chance encounter with the secret Queen of Umbra offers him an opportunity he can’t resist.
Theo and the Queen each believe that they are in full control, but neither is prepared for what the fates have in store.

Amidst a realm on the brink of chaos, two souls collide in a heart-wrenching tale of unveiling secrets, conquering the darkness, and igniting a love that could save or destroy.

In The Shadows is the first book in a new series filled with forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, magical powers, fated mates, and political intrigue. It’s perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, One Dark Window, and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

In The Shadows features mature content and themes that is not suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, please visit L.B.’s Instagram.

GET IT ON AMAZON

About the Author

Born and raised in Ohio, where she still resides with her spouse, young child, and sweet senior dog, L.B. August’s most significant memories are Cedar Point and failing Hooked on Phonics (true story). Thrill seeking and difficulty reading followed L.B. into adulthood until, in 2022, she discovered a genre that tapped into the excitement of escapism and world building while capturing her attention and turning her into a voracious reader of fantasy. As she devoured book after book, L.B. found herself desperately wanting to read more empowered female characters within the genre, so she set off to write her own. Encouraged by her best friend, she wrote her debut novel, In The Shadows. Now she can be found hyper-fixating on new projects, downing copious amounts of black coffee, and pretending to be a corporate professional, all while crafting intricate, rich stories with captivating characters that she hopes will pass on her newfound passion for reading.

L.B. August

Tour organized by @rrbooktours

Monday, February 12, 2024

Sands of Ruin Review Spotlight

Readers, are you on the search for something new? A new book that whisks you away to a dystopian world looking for a brighter future? A second chance at a better life? A story with faulty characters whom you can relate to? A story that will grab you and leave you eager for book two? Then look no further. Author R.M. Muller has got you covered. Step into the pages of Sands of Ruin...and be prepared to swept away into a desert world...eager for change.

Sands of Ruin is the first book in R.M. Muller’s Sands of Ruin series. Young Harmen isn’t so young. Not really. He is facing his last year of the Selection, and he’s hoping to avoid being chosen. The soldiers...the “Guardians” they come and choose select young men to take away to fill their ranks...or so the story goes. But they never come back once they are chosen. He’s lived his entire life in a desert landscape. Following the rules, living his life with his family and dreaming of something...more.

He sees the suffering of the people around him. All of them struggling to simply survive under the harsh heat of the desert days and the brutal cold of the following nights. He wants more than the life his parents have lived. To escape the Selection, to dodge the Blending and to live his own life. But is that even possible?

When Harmen makes a dangerous decision after the loss of his friend, he brings down the ire of the Guardians upon not just himself, but his family as well. With this...tragedy will strike again, but it will be closer to home. All decisions have consequences and his are going to come back to haunt him in a real way.

He’s not alone though. In the shadows lurks another...a girl who has captured his attention. He sees her only once but her startling blue eyes captivate him and she’s all he thinks about. Will this girl reappear and how much will she affect his life? Turns out...their paths are meant to cross, and they will be the driving force for the other.

Sands of Ruin can be categorized as a young adult novel, that gives hints that it will later shift towards “new adult” with the continuation of the series. Harmen is 17 years old, and one of the main characters of this story. Author Muller is going to give readers dual POV with this story shifting from Harmen to Imani at random moments throughout this book. However, the lion’s share of the story will be focused on Harmen. He is the crucial character that author Muller wants readers to focus on.

Your heart is going to break for Harmen as he is made to go through so much throughout this story. Sands of Ruin becomes more than just a story of Harmen looking to find his family, but it becomes a quest to change the world. To bring about what once was. To fix what someone else’s pain and “rash” decision has changed the world into.

You see, the world wasn’t always a desert landscape as far as the eye can see. No, it used to be so much more. But due to someone else’s stupid decision, their evil choices, loss was created and thereby drove another to make a decision that has created nothing but more loss since. It will beg the question – Why? Why continue down this path when you see the unnecessary suffering of so many? The answer seems pretty simple doesn’t it? Greed. Love of power and the desire to cling to it no matter the cost.

Harmen, while he tries to be careful, he tends to find himself in the cross hairs of trouble more often than not. Every time he goes off by himself you’re pretty much guaranteed that something bad is about to happen. It’s literally like clockwork. Yep, cue groans of exasperation especially when you know that he’s a “wanted” man. LOL!

Well, the good news is that it at least makes for entertaining reading. You’ll constantly be on the edge of your seat wondering – “Is this going to be it?” “Is this going to be the moment, the scene where he’s messed up one too many times and is now in deep trouble?” You’re going to be crossing your fingers that it’s not, because then it will mean someone else has to put their neck on the line for him. Just resist the urge to give him a shake. Okay? LOL!

The good news? Other than Imani, here are a lot of characters in this story looking out for Harmen. So, even when he does get himself into deep trouble, there is usually someone there to lend him a helping hand. Ready for some secrets? Be sure to keep an eye out for them, because they are scattered everywhere throughout this story. Author Muller will drop hints here and there for readers, but it’s up to you to pick up on them.

There are sparks of romance throughout this story as well. Hoping for more? For readers hoping for more, you’ll be left disappointed on that front. At least for now. Who knows what future books will hold? However, readers who enjoy the build-up and establishment of a relationship are going to be appreciative of how the romance angle is only given so much attention throughout the story. It’s there, but it’s just subtle.

Hate cliffhangers? HA! Well, you’re going to have to brave through this one. Even we were howling “Oh come ON!!!” when we reached the end of this book. It’s a double whammy of a cliffhanger ending. You get some answers concerning particular characters, but the two main characters? You’re going to be left twisting in the wind as to what happens to them...for now.

Sands of Ruin is a novel that you’re not going to want to miss out on reading. So make sure that you go and grab a copy and dive on in!

Pros:

- Engaging storyline

- Interesting characters

- Dual POV

- Twists and secrets

- Light romance

Cons:

- None of merit

4.5 out of 5 Stars

Thank you to the author, R.M. Muller, for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

The Darkness All Around Us Review Spotlight

Resident Evil meets Zombie Land in this action-packed adventure by Megan Boley! Coming early this spring!

The author would also like to invite people to join her ARC team. All members will receive character art prints with their ARC! See author’s bio for link!

Looking for that new book that is going to have you coming back for more? Well, congratulations! You've just discovered that next book! Author Megan Boley has geared one up for you and that is especially true for fans of Resident Evil (waves hand) and Zombie Land! Okay, we've not seen Zombie Land...well, not all of it anyways, but when you say "Resident Evil" and MORE zombies? Yeah, we're on board. LOL!

The Darkness All Around Us starts off the story with our first FMC, Stella. Stella is holed up, safe...for now, but she's dealing with some issues in her current predicament. Death. No, she's not dying, but she has an "unwelcome friend" with her. Or does she? The truth of it won't come out until a surprise appearance by another character, but it definitely builds the suspense, and your eagerness to delve deeper into this book. So, it works! LOL!

The story will then shift to another FMC, Penny. Each of these characters is dealing with their own troubles in this world torn apart by chaos, destruction, and death. The interesting thing about Penny? She's looking for our girl, Stella. The big question? Why. The good news? We don't have to wait long for that answer! But prepare to have the fires of "the need to know more" to be lit! Because once they are...you're going to DE-VOUR this book! Let the fires rage!!

This book is a page-turner. It has a gripping storyline, packed with a nice cast of characters, tons of drama, and twists that you just won't see coming. Be forewarned for those expecting a "quick" read...this book is CHONKY!! We absolutely loved it! You're simply going to want to push the world aside, say "Leave me in peace to devour this book" and go. LOL! So, be prepared for that. Of course, you could just wait until the weekend, because then you'll have every reason to shut off the phone, leave the t.v. off, and pretend the world outside doesn't exist.

What's more though is that this is just the beginning!! Yes! That's right! Just the beginning! There's more to come and we're here for it all! We can't wait to find out what comes next, because this book was so good!

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Megan Boley, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!

The Darkness All Around Us

Expected Publication Date: March 26, 2024

Genre: Adult Dystopian Thriller

✨️Resident Evil meets Zombieland – high stakes with moments of humor and levity️
✨️A broody general & a mysterious stranger on a motorcycle
✨️2 slow burn romance subplots feat. the gentlemen mentioned above☝️
✨️Loads of action, adventure, and twists
✨️Badas$ women literally everywhere
✨️Found family

It’s 2085 in a post-disaster America where a nefarious pharmaceutical company controls all aspects of life. A scientist on the run is ripped from her safe haven and has no choice but to surrender to the trust of a man who might as well wear a “danger” sign on his forehead.

But when she discovers she holds the key to the country’s salvation, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to destroy the company before it unleashes a nightmare army of feral creatures—even if it means teaming up with her worst enemies and dragging her darkest demons into the light.

And time is running out. The company’s plans are close to fruition…

Pre-order Here

People who pre-order will receive character art prints with their copy of the book

Order Here: https://forms.gle/WvTVxuwtSS2UoFkP8

About the Author

Megan Boley is a science fiction and urban fantasy author. She loves writing stories with badass women, grumpy men, and a healthy dose of plot twists. If she’s not plotting the triumph (or demise) of her next set of characters, you’ll find her at jiu jitsu or reading on the beach.

Megan Boley

Book tour organized by: @rrbooktours1

Monday, February 5, 2024

Of Elves and Embers Review Spotlight

Of Elves and Embers, a Forgotten Kingdom standalone novel, is packed with tension, drama, building romance, and found family. This engaging novel is sure to have you coming back for the rest of the books in this collection with a prophecy that sweeps wider than we know. For now, Of Elves and Embers…

Of Elves and Embers by Elle Madison and Robin D. Mahle is a beautifully written novel about a young woman given another chance at life. Another chance to fulfill a promise made, a promise that she very well has yet to remember. Ember’s life has been rather mundane, but she’s never felt like she really belonged. When she wins a contest, she feels an overwhelming compulsion to take the trip offered. It’s not something that she would normally do, but she does it anyway. Especially when another close to her wins a similar contest and insists that they go.

Where is this going to lead? Well, it’s going to lead to unexpected events, for Ember, and a second chance at a love that she was made the choice to walk away from...for their sake. While she may have no memories as of yet, they’ll be coming back to her. Too bad her memories can’t prepare her for the danger that awaits her return to a realm that she currently doesn’t remember.

Of Elves and Embers, especially for fans of Elle Madison and Robin D. Mahle, is a fantasy romance novel that you’re not going to want to miss out on. Readers who enjoy sassy characters will absolutely love Ember. We’re not 100% fans of sassy characters, especially when they are just being obstinately stubborn to be exactly that, but Ember is still interesting.

The authors engage readers with the handsome king, the ferocious Cerberus, a variety of other mythical creatures, and how Ember handles her new environment. It’s quite the adjustment for her as she goes from living a less-than-enjoyable” life on Earth to now living in a completely different realm. On Earth, she didn’t have much to hold her there, but here in Aelvaria, history sleeps in her distant memories.

A former life. The secrets are locked away in those memories. Reliving them with Ember is both informative and quite delicious. You get insights into Ember’s former life as Phaedra’s life before her “untimely” passing. The revelations authors hint at, and even tease at things that have yet to be revealed.

With each turn of the page, the story comes together more and more. Readers will be drawn in little by little and pulled into Ember’s and Hadeon’s orbit. You’ll gradually understand why exactly it is that he’s so thorny, and to an extent, why he holds Ember at arm’s length. There is hurt on both sides, and it all is revealed when it is meant to be.

The authors promise romance and even so more open-door sex scenes. Readers who are looking for those steamy scenes, calm down. There will be none found here. The scenes are glossed over, allowing readers to use their imaginations when it comes to the exact details. This will be disappointing for readers who love those detailed steamy scenes. However, these authors have chosen to give readers this in lieu of their usual fade-to-black or fade-to-gray style.

Seeing as this book is a standalone novel, there will be a HEA. Or will there be!?! LOL! We’re just teasing. Of course there will be, so that’s definitely something to look forward to. Expect quite a bit of drama and maybe even a heart-stopping moment or two before you get there though. So, just brace yourself. LOL!

The authors give readers not only a dynamic cast of characters, but you get some hints of more along the way as well. Hints of what exactly? Why...is that another romance we sense that may or may not have been brooding along the edges? Whatever is going on between a certain soldier and another character is definitely something worth investigating!

Ember is an interesting character, regardless of the fact that she’s probably not our exact favorite. She brings such dynamic energy to the story. Maybe a little less “sass” would have benefited her, especially in situations where it was just absolutely unnecessary. Hadeon has his similar moments, but his attitude, for us, comes more from a space of pain than true “arrogance” like Ember is painted in believing of him.

Readers who enjoy these two authors and their works will absolutely want to grab up this book. However, you won’t want to stop there. After reading this book the desire to read the other books “connected” in this collection of novels will be on you strong. So, make sure that you grab them all up when you can!

4.5 out of 5 stars

A huge thank you to authors, Elle Madison and Robin D. Mahle, for the opportunity to read and review this book. We look forward to what comes next!

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

This Wicked Bond Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for Amanda Aggie’s thrilling third book in the Realm of Monsters series, This Wicked Bond!

This Wicked Bond is a book that you're not going to miss. Amanda Aggie is back, and she's bringing steamy romance, page-turning drama, and that HEA ending that you're going to be looking for. Because if any character has ever deserved it...it's Calamity.

This Wicked Bond begins with a nice little visit to the dungeons. Thinking we're going to find a rogue prisoner? A relative of the monarchy who has displeased the king and is down there rotting away while one of the royal children visits them? Well...you'd be wrong. We're going down there to meet Calamity.

Calamity has been a prisoner of these dungeons since she was a small child. Why? Well, because she has something that the king desperately craves. Only she can give it to him, but he's unable to attain it. So, he does the unthinkable. She suffers at his hand often, but she is still resilient and strong despite all that she has been through.

One thing that is also true about her is that she refuses to allow him to keep her down. She continues to plot and hope for the day that she'll be able to escape, but time is running out. An opportunity will come, but with it...comes a heavy price.

This Wicked Bond is an engaging novel that is going to grab you from the beginning and keep you page-turning to find out what happens next. Calamity is a strong female MC and you're going to love her. She's not submissive by any stretch. You'd think that she'd be a bit mild due to being kept in the dungeon, but she is feisty! We weren't sure that we'd like a lot of fire in her, but it suits her.

What we really appreciate is that she's a clever character. She takes chances at times when she really shouldn't, which will likely have you sighing in exasperation, but it works. LOL! It's understandable, because when you've gone through so much at the hands of "mad man" everything else is easier to deal with.

This Wicked Bond is a delicious addition to the Realm of Monsters series. It's a stand-alone novel, so you don't need to have read the previous books in this series. Of course, you can read them if you want to just enjoy them all, but they're not interconnected.

You get a HEA, and the bad guy getting his due. It's a gripping tale packed with drama, romance, fated mates (which we love), some steamy scenes, and a play on Robin Hood. What more could you ask for? Another book you say? Well, we're sure that there will be more and we'll be here for it all!

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Amanda Aggie, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!

This Wicked Bond (Realm of Monsters #3)

Publication Date: December 28, 2023

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance

🐉 Dragon Shifters
🐉 Enemies-to-Lovers
🐉 Robin Hood Inspired
🐉 Found Family
🐉 Morally Grey Hero
🐉 Fated Mates
🐉 Magical Bonds
🐉 Spicy Dream Manipulation
🐉 Crew of Thieves
🐉 Who Hurt You?
🐉 Banter for Days

A captive princess.
A rogue dragon shifter.
A bond that could save or doom them all.

Unlike my sisters, I was never arranged to marry a monster. I was imprisoned from birth.

I have a unique gift and my father– the King of Solaria–fears it. Yet, he’s far too curious about how my magic works to let me go.

Everything changes the day I’m pulled from my cell. It’s never happened before. The only explanation is that I’ve outlived my usefulness. Except, it’s not a chopping block awaiting my head. It’s a handsome rogue in a green cloak.

The man’s a thief who owes the dungeon warden a life debt. To repay it, he’s been tasked with smuggling me out of the kingdom.

I know nothing about him. Not his name. Not even his species. Yet, his alter ego has made it clear that this isn’t just an assignment. I’m his, and though he’ll see me safely out of Solaria, he has no intention of letting me out of his sight.

The monster might want me, but I can assure you the man housing him does not. My father murdered his twin sister and devastated his kingdom.

All it would take is for him to go back on his word, and I might become the means of how he gets his revenge.

This Wicked Bond is an enemies-to-lovers tale featuring a morally gray, shifter hero with a slew of red flags. The world is dark, but it’s also full of adventure and magic. This story is a spellbinding fusion of Robin Hood, dragons, and monsters, and takes place within Amanda Aggie’s Seven Realms World.

Available on Amazon

About the Author

Best known for her #1 Amazon bestselling series, Dark Halos, Amanda Aggie writes steamy dark fantasy romance. She’s a wife, a mother to two beautiful tiny humans, and has a stellar caffeine addiction. More importantly, she writes choking-hazard fantasy romance that will have you laughing out loud, swooning, and biting your nails all in one sitting.

Almost all of her books take place in the seven realms of Hell, which she’s often described as, “If Hell and Wonderland got together and had a baby.” You’ll find creatures of all kinds—fae, demons, dragons, witches, and more—along with morally gray villains, and steam. So, grab you some pearls to clutch before you enter the seven realms, and get lost in the chaos.

Amanda Aggie