Sookh Kaur: Facing Off

In Sookh Kaur’s next hockey romance books, she explores whether opposites do attract:

This is the second book that I have read by Kaur and this book got better the farther that I read but at the beginning I was not too sure about it. I did not like the time gap at the beginning. There was very little explanation as to why Adrian was so obsessed with Sonya other than she turns him down time and time again. Once they are interacting on a more permanent and personal basis you start to see more of a connection, even though Sonya denies it time and time again. 

Adrian is the best gold retriever of a man out there, with all his positivity and willing to go the extra mile for anyone. All the times that Sonya rejected him and his heart broke a little bit you just want to make him feel better. Even when you learn where all of Adrian's positivity is coming from come, he does not lose his golden retriever status. Sonya is a hard character to connect with especially at the beginning as she comes off how she wants the world to see her, tough, not giving a F and she doesn't need anyone. All she needs is ballet and perfection. You start to see who Sonya really is farther in the story and you learn it along side Adrian, even though this book is dual POV.

The trauma and mental health rep in this book was really well done and on two different spectrums. I loved the healing from trauma in this one, and even though Adrian and Sonya they have taken two entirely different paths to protect themselves from this trauma there are still some similarities between them that they can help the other with. Plus the introduction of the Yips is not something I have read in sports romance before.

I did enjoy the first book in the series more than this one. I felt that there was more of a connection throughout the book with Kavi and Dimitri (and I was glad to have the brooding guy back in this cook) and even though i was not one for fake dating, it just worked. Personally, I hope Quinn gets the next book. that is one that I need to read.

This was a good read, but not great. I think that Kaur has something here with the hockey team and the secondary characters we are getting to know in the series. I look forward to reading another in this series, and like I said I really hope it is Quinn's story.

Enjoy!!!!

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Jonathan Kellerman: When the Bough Breaks

In the first in a series, a child psychologist who may hold the key to solving everything:

Rerited (in his 30s) Child Psychologist Alex Delaware was enjoying his retirement, when he receives a knock on his door from Det. Milo Sturgis who needs Alex's help. Alex retired early and he grapples with the decision to help him, but if there is a child involved Alex knows he cannot say no. Melody Quinn, is a girl that has not had a great life and seems to be over medicated if you ask Alex, but now she is a possible witness to a murder and Alex needs to help find what is buried in her mind to solve the case. But there are those who want to keep what Melody saw buried and will stop at nothing to achieve that and other sinister secrets that have been hidden for over 40 years. Alex finds himself danger but there is no way he would turn his back on a little girl who needs his help.

This is the first book that I have read by Kellerman and it is an older one as it was published in 1985, but might as well start a series at the beginning. The question for this book is really does it stand the test of time which can be hard for crime books as technology changes. For the most part I will say that it does. Alex Delaware does investigative work and that is what I want in a crime book. I want him to follow his gut, the evidence that he is able to uncover. I don't need all the fancy gadgets to do this or get things done on brain power. Now there are things that didn't age as well but it was mainly technology based, like only having a land line and answering machine but those are minor things and don't take away from the story as a whole. Just reminds us how overly connected we are now.

I liked Alex as a main character. He is living his life in retirement but even though he seems to be enjoying it at the beginning you can tell that he is missing something in his life. I think that is why he agrees to help Milo pretty quickly without much convincing. It felt like was coming out of his shell in the book and becoming a different person, or the person he should be with the investigative side of thing. Things get a bit dark for him at times in the book especially nearing the end, but I think he makes the right choices

This book was ahead of its time when Kellerman decided that his main secondary character  is black gay detective. I don’t think this was heard of at this time in mainstream fiction and I applaud Kellerman for taking this route. I also like Milo as a character, he is dedicated to his job but also who he is as a person and he does not apologize for it.

I was able to figure out what was going on fairly early into the book but I enjoyed seeing how Kellerman put everything together. So maybe not as twisted as a crime book as I have read now a days with the advancement of technology but there is enough there to keep me interested and wanting read on in the series.

If you are looking for a crime series that is older and lots of books to keep you busy, then I suggest you check this one out.

Enjoy!!!

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Laurie Forest: The Black Witch

In the first in a series, Laurie Forest takes readers on a young woman's discovery of what is truly important in life:

Elloren is the spitting image of her grandmother, the famed Black Witch who was the hero of the Realm War. Too bad Elloren does not have half the magic that her grandmother had, in fact she has no magic at all. Elloren has lived with her brother and Uncle in a small town the majority of her life after her parents were killed and although Elloren does not have any magic, she has dreams of pursuing apothecary. When she is granted the opportunity to do so at a prestigious university. What Elloren does not realize that the world is a very different place that she thought, and her connection to the Black Witch is no a good one, especially at the university. Darkness looms all around Elloren and she has to decide which side is going to be on.

This the first book that I read by Forest and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. Forest takes on a lot in this first book, not only introducing us to the world and characters but the political strife that is occurring in this book. There are arranged marriages (wand fasting) at a young age, there is racism, sexism and homophobia all wound into this story. For any book this would be a lot but Forest tackled it in a way that it never felt like too much or overwhelming. Now are these ideas new in a fiction or even a fantasy stories, No, but I appreciate the way that Forest handles these topics and how it is wound up in the political aspects of this book as well as Elloren trying to discover who she is and what she believes in.

Elloren is an interesting character from her green skin, to her lack of power to her really just discovering the wide world around her. She id pretty naive for her age but this is due to the fact that she was sheltered her whole life. Was there sign in her small town of the racism/homophobia/sexism, yes but not to the extreme one would experience in a city. This book is written more in a YA or New Adult way and I do find that Elloren comes across younger than she is and in some of the decision that she makes, especially at the beginning of the book. I enjoyed Elloren's personal journey in this book and the decisions that she decides to make. I look forward to seeing her grow more, challenge things around her more and grow into herself.

While Elloren is the main character in this book, there are quite a few side characters that I want to know more about and I think I would like a secondary POV from a few of them. I mean not a lot of chapters but just a different perspective from Elloren's as she is learning a lot of new things first hand, it would be nice to have the perspective of one of the other races who have been living through it.

I think we can all guess who The Black Witch is going to be, I feel like it is very much implied by not only the title but what occurs at the beginning of the book, but i am interested in seeing where Forest will take the whole Black Witch aspect.

This was a great start to a series. I enjoyed the world that Forest has created (the political and corruption aspects especially), the characters, plot and magic system. I look forward to continuing on in the series.

Enjoy!!!!

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Jay Kristoff: Empire of the Damned

In the second book in the Empire of the Vampire Series, Gabriel de Leon has saved the Holy Grail, but keeping it is another story:

The last Silversaint has saved the Holy Grail from death, but keeping her by her side is another story. When they are ambushed, Gabirel does everything in his power to keep her but he fails. He does not know where she is or what has become of her, but he will do everything he can to find her and get her back even if that means forming alliances with those he never thought he would. Gabriel will face many deadly perils as though he is hunting he is also being hunted.

This book was amazing. It was dark, gritty, brutal and bloody just like a vampire book should be. Kristoff does not hold back in this book and man did he break my heart several times in the book, but the book and story and plot were better for it. I loved reading this book and turning the pages to see where Kristoff would take the series. And boy does Kristoff take it places that I did not think that he would go. This book is just as good as the first book, maybe even better as I felt even more invested in Gabriel as a Character.

I love Gabriel as a main character. Yes he is flawed character, but he doesn't pretend to be anything other than who he is. He tells it like it is and if you don't want to hear that, too bad he'll tell you anything. I feel like Gabriel is someone that you want in your corner, and mores the pity if you are not.

I was not expecting there to be a second storyteller in this book and the book is better for it. I enjoyed getting to know more about Liathe and her drive to protect the Grail, as well as what happened to her after she was turned.

The artwork again in this book was exceptional. I had to tell myself not to look ahead at the artwork as it would give some things away. I personally love the addition of the artwork and I think more books should do this. Really add to the overall reading experience.

Speaking of reading experience I did the physical read and audiobook read of the book, as I did not want to have to put it down. Once again, Damian Lynch did a great job of brining Gabriel to life and the addition of Shakira Shite was amazing. I loved what she brought to the character of Liathe, danger but grace at the same time.

OMG, this is probably going to be one of my favourite trilogies out there, if the third book is even close to as the first two books in this series. I cannot wait to read the third book in this series. I just need to wait for it to be released in paperback so it matches my other two. Highly recommend if you want a darker vampire read.

Enjoy!!!!

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Raven Kennedy: Gild

In the first in a series, Raven Kennedy has her own take on a Midas with his Golden Touch.

Gold is the most important element in the world of Orea. Having the ability to turn anything to Gold, makes King Midas one of the most powerful individuals in the world. In Midas castle, everything is gold, including his favoured Auren, she is his Gold Touch. Auren has everything she could want since being chosen by Midas from the streets, she has a place to live, even if it is a cage, she feels safe. She loves Midas and enjoys being on her pedestal. But then Wart is coming to the Kingdom and a deal is struck that Auren never thought would happen. It has her questioning everything, and challenging her love.

This is the first book that I have read by Kennedy and i heard this was a darker romance side of things. I will say this did not read like a Dark Romance, it did not have those elements I would associate with Dark Romance. So i guess on that note, I thought that it would be darker. Does this mean I did not enjoy the book, No, but I did feel like i was waiting for it to get darker at times. 

For the length of the book it feels like not a lot actually happens in this book, but I was pretty invested in Auren. I will also say this book is not very spicy at all, very tame, so the books in the series may get spicier (I can't speak to that yet) but there is not much spice in this book,

At the age of 15 Auren meets Midas as she is living on the street and he saves her from that life, so there is no question of her loving him and trusting him. However, the older that she gets and the more that she sees him with other women she begins to questions many things in her life, but she never questions her love for him. The more you read about Auren and the past her and Midas has, you can really tell that he was grooming her to be his Favoured.  I love watching Auren grow in this book, she starts in a pretty low place and an alcoholic and throughout the book you can see the woman she wants to become and by the end of the book I wanted to know more.

I absolutely love the twist in this book and one I did not really see coming and how it plays out is fantastic. And made me want to pick up the next book right away.

All I can say is Mitas is an asshole, and not in a Good morally grey way, just an asshole that is it. The way that he treats Auren horribly I don’t care what their history is, he is just a horrible man.

Even though I thought that this book would be darker, I am fully invested in Auren as a character and I'm heading out to get the next book. This one should for sure be on your list if you are looking for a fantasy read that is more character driven.

Enjoy!!!!

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Natalie D. Richards: Seven Dirty Secrets

Natalie D. Richards show how far people will go to keep a secret but uncover one as well:

It is Chloe's 18th Birthday and she receives a mysterious message to take part in a scavenger hunt. Thinking that one of her friends had planned it for her, but on one confesses, Chloe stills starts on the hunt. What starts out as seemingly random locations, Chloe starts to realize that there is something that link them all, they are places that she went to with her abusive ex-boyfriend Declan. But Declan is dead, he drowned last year on her birthday and someone knows something from that night, something that Chloe has been desperate to keep hidden and the only way to ensure they do it to finish the scavenger hunt.

I realized while reading this book that the tone, subject matter and overall plot of the book was much more for a YA audience. I don't think this would have hindered me picking up the book, it just would have changed my expectations. I have read some great thriller/mystery books in the YA category but there are things that are slightly different than when reading an adult book and i mainly find the difference in the darkness levels and the overall tone/feel of the book.

Where was the thriller aspect of the book, the suspense does not happen until the last 10-15% of the book. The stake in the book for the majority of the book just weren't there. The whole scavenger hunt aspect just felt off the entire time as it really did lack the suspense that I mentioned before.

I feel bad for Chloe multiple times in this book, what she suffered and no one in her life really noticing what was going on with her. Plus everything has changed in her life from the night that Declan died, she changed and her friends and family changed around her as well.

I personally wanted more from this book, I think someone who reads YA or is of YA aged would enjoy this book more than I did.

Cheers!!!

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Brooke Fast: To Cage a Wild Bird

In her debut novel, Brooke Fast show the lengths a woman will go to, to save her brother:

Raven Thorne is the city of Dividium's most notorious bounty hunter. She's known for finding the worst of the worst and turning them over to a prison known as Endlock. When a person enters Endlock it is a death sentence, as the rich can pay to hunt the prisoners there. Raven never thought much about Endlock since her parents were sent there when she was young, but when he brother ends up there, Raven is going to have to do something truly extreme to get him out.

I was excited after reading the premise of this book as I was craving a dystopian read. This book had me hooked from the beginning. I was reading while on the treadmill and did not realize how much time had passed, it kept me that entertained. I did not want to put this book down. Fast knew how to draw the reader right in and make the reader care about characters. This become especially true once Raven hears that her brother has been taken to Endlock.

I don't think you can find fault with Raven, other than she is too trusting and put others above herself time and time again. You know from the very beginning that Raven will do anything to protect her brother and this extends to those that she deems weaker.

The idea of  prison charging those of the upper class a chance to hunt the prisoners to death is not a new concept in books or movies, but I liked how Fast did it. It was interesting to learn why other prisoners were there and how anyone could really find themself in Endlock one way or another. The hunting grounds were unique and the thought process of how to make sure that there was always a profit to be made by not televising the events and changing up the hunting grounds was well thought out. As this is a hunt to the death for many prisoners, the book is darker at times, but nothing too dark.

First this is not an enemies to lovers book, if you see someone saying that they are lying to you. Overall the romance felt a forced at times. I enjoyed the initial interaction and then felt it really fell off after that and entered in to cringe or cheesy territory. It almost felt like Fast thought that she had to keep it going and keep it fast and furious for readers, where I personally would have preferred her to draw it out more. The romance aspect is not the main aspect in the book, so it did not really take away from my enjoyment of the book.

Well I did not see that ending coming and I am 100% here for it (it is a cliffhanger, this is not a stand alone book). I think Fast as created a fast paced read, that will have readers on the edge of their seat not wanting to put it down. I personally cannot wait to see where Fast takes the story.

Enjoy!!!!

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Ilona Andrews: Sweep in Peace

In the next book in Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper series, Dina may have more guests than she can handle, when they all want to kill each other:

Dina's Inn, needs guests to survive and thrive. She has not had a new guest in her Inn in six months, so she is desperate when an Arbitrator shows up on her door and requests use of her Inn for an intergalactic peace summit between three warring species. Dina knows that there are more dangers in accepting the peace summit than there are to saying No, but she also knows that she needs guests in order for the Inn to survive. Dina has her work cut out for her with not only trying to entertain her guests but also make sure that they do not kill each other, her or expose her inn to the Earth population. And if she can pull this all off her, Inn may receive a ratings upgrade, but there is always something more playing in the background and it may just have deadly consequences. 

After reading the first book in this series and loving it and mad that I slept on it for so long, I was really happy to be back in this world with Dina and her house.  I just love the creativity that Andrews has taken with this book, with different societies and cultures and how they clash with each other and when on Earth Dina has to do everything in her power to make sure that no one on Earth knows that they are there and they don't kill each other in the process.

The imagination that Andrews has with this book (and series so far) is fresh, even though these books were written years ago, with combining urban fantasy and sci-fi together and I am here for it. I don't think there are enough books in the combination of genres, especially now, with the height of everything being sold as a romantasy. I want more urban fantasy and I am glad that this series is there of me to enjoy.

Dina is quite the character and i love that her connection to the house is explored more in this book and the give and take that is required on both sides. There are times where Dina comes across as a bit flat, but not everyone needs to be peppy or bitchy, I personally think it makes her more real, that she does not fall into these categories. This is not to say that Dina does not have some badass moments, she is just not one to flaunt that she is the most powerful one in the room.

I enjoyed that Caldenia had a larger role in this book, and really came alive as a secondary character and really became someone that Dina could rely on.

Well I am totally hooked with this series and I look forward to seeing where Andrews take it as well as what new elements they will introduce next. Fans of Urban Fantasy should check out this series.

Enjoy!!!

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Oyinkan Braithwaite: My Sister, the Serial Killer

Oyinkan Braithwaite shows the length one sister would go to protect another:

Korede’s night is interrupted by a frantic phone call from her younger sister Ayoola that her boyfriend had tried to hurt her and Ayoola ended up killing him. But this is not the first time that Korede has had to clean up after Ayoola, in fact it is the third time. Korede has been told she needs to protect her sister and even though she should go to the police, family comes first. When Ayoola sets her sights on someone who Korede has been in love with forever but has been afraid to make a move. Korede has to decide who she willing to sacrifice the man she loves or her sister.

If you are looking for a quick read and interesting read then My Sister the Serial Killer is one to pick up. I found myself wanting to turn the pages faster to see what Ayoola was going to do next. Which once you read the book you see that as fitting as although Ayoola is not the main character, she has main character energy throughout the book.

I am one for short chapters, but there were times that I felt that chapters too short at times, and there was more information or more happening in that moment as when we get to the next chapter, it was a new point in time or new event. 

I cannot fault Korede for her love of her family and the protectiveness that she feels over her sister. Korede has accepted her lot in life, even though she wishes at many points that many things in her life were different. What if she had been born pretty, I wish that Korede would have chosen herself just once in the book, just once, but she has been told ever since her sister was born she had to protect her. Even at work she doesn't seem to choose herself.

I wanted the ending to be more, either way, more positive or negative but I just wanted Braithwaite to take it to more extreme.

I enjoy this book, and it is a quick read if you are looking to hit your reading goal this year.

Enjoy!!!!

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J. D. Barker: The Fifth to Die

In the next in the 4MK series and the Cat and Mouse game is at an all time High but Who is Who?

Sam Porter is steal reeling from letting Bishop get away but he knows that it will only be a matter of time before he catches up to him. He knows that Bishop is invested in him as well, so there is no tearing them apart. But now Porter has a new case, another girl found, but this one under the ice and wearing the clothes of a newly missing girl. Everyone is saying this is 4MK but Porter is not sure, it lack's Bishop's style. As Porter tries to focus on the new case, 4MK continues to call to him, his need to investigate it is something that he cannot control and this need will put not only Porter in danger, but so many more as well.

Wow, how does Barker follow up an amazing book of The Fourth Monkey, by writing another twisty murder mystery thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. This book is almost as good as the first and while we the reader may know who the bad guy is for quite a bit of the story (something I am not a fan of), the web that Barker weaves in this book is just amazing. From present to the past, you never know where Barker is going to take you as a reader and what little breadcrumbs of information he is going to leave you with to put it all together. I learned from the first book in this series not to trust anything or anyone but yet some how Barker was still able to surprise me along the way.

I enjoyed that Barker did not make this book all about 4MK. Like the book is about 4MK but at the same time not about him as well. There will always be other cases for the police to work and though Bishop is someone they want to catch with no new leads, they have to let the FBI do their job in that. Speaking of FBI I liked the addition of Poole in this book, it allowed the team to focus on the new case of the girls, but still allow the reader to know about the search for 4MK, especially since Porter got a lot less chapter time in this book. And man the choices Porter makes in this book are crazy and I cant wait to see how it plays out in book 3.

I liked that we got more chapters from Nash and Clair in this book. Both of them are solid detectives and have different ways of working thought the information and evidence in front of them. I like that not all of the detectives think the same.

I don't know how you could read this book and not NEED to pick up the third with the ending here, talk about a cliff hanger. This book is in a way a typical second book in a trilogy not all questions will be answered, there will even be new questions, not everything is wrapped up in a nice bow and I love that we get more Bishop, more Porter and his team in a third book.

If you are looking for a mystery, thriller series that will have you turning the pages and desperate for the next book, then this is the series to pick up. Cant wait to read the next one. 

Enjoy!!!

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K.A. Linde: The Wren in the Holly Library

In the first of a series, K. A. Linde, she shows what happens when the Monsters emerge:

Thirteen years ago, the monsters emerged and magic seemed to enter the world and changed everything. Kierse's world went into darkness and almost everything she had to live for was destroyed. Kierse has had to take to stealing to survive and she has become known for being able to get anything. When her latest jobs ends with her being forced into a monster's lair, she could be jeopardizing everything not just for herself but the treaty between humans and monsters. But Graves, the monster, recognizes that there is more the Kierse that even she knows and now she's locked into a dangerous bargain that there may be no escape from.

I'm a sucker for a heist book, and that was one of the main reasons that I was drawn to read this book. This book was good. I wasn't sure for probably the first third of this book. I found it slow and I wasn't sure where Linde was going to take it. I did find that the farther I got into the book it did grow on me and I think this was due to the fact that I began to get more invested into the characters. I wanted to know how far they would push not only themselves but each other for what they wanted to achieve.

I enjoyed that this book focused more on Celtic lore and folklore for the basis of the magic in this book. This is one that I have not read about before, however, after all the hints that Graves gives to Kierse I found the twist pretty predictable part of the way through the book. I also liked how this Lore played into the mafia/mob aspect that the book has.

As i write this I am trying to remember what the characters were like and all i remember is he is a moody MMC and she is a feisty FMC with a horrible past (though I wish the book was darker than it was) and while I liked her in the book and her loyalty to her friends, there was nothing really that stood out about either of the characters. 

I think one of the things i disliked about this book is that I think that Linde could have done more. More to separate herself from the other, and now oversaturated market of Romantsy. There are some typical themes that we see in these books and this one it no exception, especially the whole she has magic she doesn't know about, but he's the one to discover it for her and now she is the only one with this ability that can achieve this goal. It has been done time and time again and while I appreciate the magic that Linde gave Wren I just didn't like how it played out. 

This book was a good read that was able to keep me entertained. Is it one of my favourite fantasy reads this year, No, but I do plan on picking up the second book in the series to see where Linde takes it.

Enjoy!!!

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Katherine Center: The Love Haters

Katherine Center is back, with two people who are not looking for love, in fact they hate it:

Katie is a video photographer and she has been given a job that is supposed to not only save her job but secure it. Now the job does come with some risks, she is shooting the promo for the Coast Guard and will need to fly in a helicopter over water, and here is the biggie, Katie cannot swim. But she cannot tell her boss that she cannot swim or else she will lose her job. Once Katie arrives at Key West, she meets the man she will be interviewing, Hutch, and he is perfect, but he is not too happy to see her, he was expecting someone else, his brother. Now Katie not only has to navigate swimming lessons but the more she gets to know Hutch the more she wants to be entangled with him but there is one problem Katie has sworn off love (her last relationship made her hate herself) and Hutch is a known Love Hater.

I always seem to find one of Center's books right at the right time for me and that means her books just  hit right. This was true with with book, I felt invested in the two main characters right from the beginning and loved the banter and awkward situations that they find themselves in over and over again,. The first time with Katie needing Hutch to take splinters out of her ass, i laughed so hard and felt her embarrassment as well. i find that Katherine's writing is not only charming but witty at the same time and just an all around fun read, especially when i need a pick me up.

I find that in the books that past few books that Center has been writing, she has taken on some medical or metal health aspect to her characters and I am for that. You can tell that Katie struggles with what she looks like and her image and while this is a main aspect of the story, I did feel like there were times where Center underplayed what Katie was struggling with. I think that if Hutch wasn't portrayed as perfect all the time, maybe this would have give Katie more to open up to him. I felt like it was a very brief moment in the book and it should be more. I would also like to have Center write a book that is Dual POV or even just a few chapters from the man's POV, I think this would be a new interesting take for her books.

George Bailey is a stand out character in this book. All books need a George Bailey in them.

I loved all the information about the Coast Guard. I feel like you can tell that center did her research about certain aspects, that I found that I gained some knowledge as well from reading this book. That would be one tough job.

I like that Center does not feel the need to add spice in her books to help sell the story. Do I mind if there is Spice in books, nope, but I don't want it to feel forced in any way, which it does in some books.

This was another fun read by Center and it makes me smile just even thinking about this book and some of the events that happen. I cant wait to see what Center comes out with next.

Enjoy!!!!

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Tee Harlowe: Potions & Prejudice

In the first in a series, Tee Harlowe brings a bit of magic into this retelling:

Elspeth Moonflower and her family have been on the run for years. They cannot stay in one place too long less people discover that her and her sisters do not have any magic, an aspect that can get them banned from their world. When their wagon breaks down one night, they are forced to to stay in the village of Thistlegrove until their wagon can be fixed. Elspeth does not trust people and does not want to linger in the town longer than needed, but they also need to make funds in order to pay to get the wagon fixed. On a chance meeting with a Warlock, Draven, Elspeth reaffirms that she will never based upon how he was treating a fellow witch. But Drave and his friend, are important figures in Thistlegrove and for the sake of her family she will try to play nice with him, but the lines between love and hate are ever thin.

This is the first book that I have read by Harlowe and it is a cute read  that is very much a palate cleanser for me, after reading the darker side of things. This book is very character driven and I wish there was more to the plot than just trying to stay on the move for Elspeth and her family. The world building is interesting, they are in a world separate that sounds medieval (one of my favourites for fantasy books) but they are aware of the human world that sounds modern as there are talk about celebrity and stardom so I do wonder how they are able to keep they two separate.

I liked Elspeth as a main character and her willingness to do whatever she can to keep her family safe is admirable however, you can tell she takes this a bit too far at times. I also enjoyed the banted between Elspeth and Draven, how after only a few moments they are at each other throats. Actually the Banter is probably my favourite part of the book, as well as Draven's little sister giving him a heart attack every other page. I think that Harlowe did really great job at building their relationship through out the book.

I found that it got spicy out of no where and I do not think that Spice was really needed in the story as we watched Elspeth and Draven relationship develop. I mean i wont complain about spice being in a story but i want it to come about naturally and not feel forced into a scene just to have it. And this is what it felt like in this book that Harlowe thought that the book needed Spice, when really it didn't. The story would have been the same with out it.

This is one to pick up if you are looking for a quick cozy fantasy read where the stakes are not too high. I'll check out another book by Harlow when I need something in that genre.

Enjoy!!!

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