REVIEW - Tempting The Dragon King (Dragon Lords #1) by Kiersten Fay

The Book

Release Date: 22 May 2020

Goodreads Link

From USA Today bestselling author Kiersten Fay comes this smoldering-hot tale of a lethally seductive dragon king and the beautiful earthling he cannot resist.

On his way to reestablish an old alliance, Tristan Okora, king of the dragon shifters, discovers a beautiful human female aboard an enemy vessel. He offers his protection until she can be safely returned to Earth. But the more time he spends with Juniper Jacobs, the faster he falls for the little mortal. Meanwhile, amidst the trouble brewing in his kingdom—a terrible rumor that threatens his crown—Tristan must make a difficult decision; accept an arranged marriage with a neighboring princess, or risk everything for the beguiling human.

TEMPTING THE DRAGON KING is the first book in this Shadow Quest spin-off series. And while this series will focus on hunky dragon shifters and witches, there are plenty of cameos from the original series.

My Review  4 STARS

**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an honest review**

I have read a few books by this author now and this one is a spin off series from the Shadow Quest series and focuses on Tristan the Dragon and what happens after the death of his father.

On his way back to see his friends and allies, he intercepts an enemy craft, only to find human Juniper onboard and almost instantly his possessive and protective instincts kick in, however he first comes off as a bit dickish.

June is scared, on a craft where she does not understand strange symbols, then boarded my large men who claim to be dragons.  Being human she does not really get what that means until she actually sees Tristan transform and gets hurt in the process.  She find lots of things hard to reconcile to begin with but seeing another human when they land does help.

The chemistry is certainly there between them and things are not as simple on Tristan's home planet as he may want, but June shows great strength, gets on with his mother and shows compassion when others do not

I am guessing that the other two brothers will also get a book and we get to see a snippet of the next book in which the human female character finds herself in trouble and hurtling into space in an alien craft by accident.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in two sittings as i just needed to read what happened next.  Really enjoying this authors work.

REVIEW - The Wedding Date Disaster by Avery Flynn

The Book

Release Date: 25 August 2020

Goodreads Link

Hadley Donavan can’t believe she has to go home to Nebraska for her sister’s wedding. She’s gonna need a wingman and a whole lot of vodka for this level of family interaction. At least her bestie agreed he’d man up and help. But then instead of her best friend, his evil twin strolls out of the airport.

If you looked up doesn’t-deserve-to-be-that-confident, way-too-hot-for-his-own-good billionaire in the dictionary, you’d find a picture of Will Holt. He’s awful. Horrible. The worst―even if his butt looks phenomenal in those jeans.

Ten times worse? Hadley’s buffer was supposed to be there to keep her away from the million and one family events. But Satan’s spawn just grins and signs them up for every. Single. Thing.

Fine. “Cutthroat” Scrabble? She’s in. She can’t wait to take this guy down a notch. But somewhere between Pictionary and the teasing glint in his eyes, their bickering starts to feel like more than just a game…

My Review  4 STARS

**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an honest review**

This is a cute in where Hadley Donavan needs a date for her sisters wedding and is expecting her best friend Web, but instead Will his identical twin brother is duped into going, Web is fed up of his brother and his best friend being at odds and hopes this trip sorts everything out.

Hadley has a big heart and has never known why Will has never liked her and when he tells he he thinks she is a gold digger and wants Web for his money she just ignores him and acts her usual self, to which Will finds intoxicating and falls hard for her.

It  is only a missunderstanding (of course) aftermath getting together and starting being a couple that has Will reading and not letting Hadley talk and set him straight.  In the end when they are back in Boston, it is Webb who acts as facilitator and best friend and brother to get the stubborn people in his life back together, though Will does his best to stuff up again.

Its a sweet romance, and PawPaw and his friends certainly seem like great secondary characters.  I'm hoping down the line that Web gets a book too and that Hadley sister gets a HEA too.

REVIEW - Broken Prince (Cinderella #2) by Aubrey Rose

The Book

Release Date: 23 December 2013

Goodreads Link

The thrilling new follow up to the new adult bestseller Me, Cinderella? by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aubrey Rose! 

Happily ever after is just what they say in books. Real life is MUCH more complicated. 

Brynn can't believe her good luck. Her Cinderella story continues as she finds herself studying math in a castle on the edge of a Hungarian forest. However, no fairy tale lasts forever, and a letter about her mother's death opens up a whole new world of nightmares... 

Eliot, finally back in Hungary, is haunted by the lie he told ten years ago to protect his family. Now he finds that he can no longer hide his dark past from Brynn, and time is running out to finish his life's work in mathematics. 

The problem that neither one of them can solve is this: 

Once broken, can two shattered lives ever be made whole again?

My Review  4 STARS

**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Fido Publishing for an honest review**

This book carries on a few weeks from the last book and also carries om with lots of maths that helps get the point across, but loses anyone who does not understand a greater level of maths themselves.

Both characters, although definitely a couple now, hide secrets from the other that eventually come to light, and for a change they both react well and in an adult way.

They story is told from dual point of view again and closes off some open doors and gives us a few new characters into the mix.

Brynn gets more shocks and her answers found although, were they the answers she was actually wanting?  Eliot too seems to finally figure himself out and, towards the end i find that his brother Otto is rather selfish with both him and Marta being a bit cut off for the working world around them.

The ending, although sad of Brynn's half is tear inducing and heart warming as Eliot is there from the moment he can.

The books are certainly with the read, but not something that i will be revisiting.

REVIEW - Me, Cinderella? (Cinderella #1) by Aubrey Rose

The Book

Release Date: 24 June 2013

Goodreads Link

One kind deed can change your life forever...

Brynn Tomlin could never afford to follow her heart. But when she sees a stranger shivering in the snow outside of the college library, an inexplicable urge leads her to buy him a hot cup of coffee. It's just a small act of kindness, a few words of conversation. Brynn should be focusing on her finals, after all, not on the man who looked up at her gratefully with piercing blue eyes. 

He could have been anyone - a janitor on break, a graduate student, a bum. But the man standing outside in the cold turns out to be Dr. Eliot Herceg, one of the most brilliant minds in mathematics and heir to a fortune. After years of reclusive isolation, he now finds his heart awakening to the kind girl whose name he does not know. 

Brynn has spent her life trying to forget her desires, and Eliot's deep wounds have taken nearly a decade to heal. After so much hurt, will either of them be able to open their hearts again?

My Review  4 STARS

*May contain spoilers*

This is a modern retelling of the Cinderella story.  The mother has died, the father has remarried, but lived with the stepmother and step sisters as has basically given up his daughter to the grandmother.  Along comes a tortured youngish man and together they see in each other something special.

Bynn is studying maths at college and lives with her elderly Hungarian grandmother, who cane to California to look after her when the father and step father became too much for Brynn and did not cherish or love the fact that she was a little different and liked maths and not pretty things.

Eliot Herceg fled Hungary ten years ago and is a brilliant Mathamatician, but has lost his way a little.  It is a chance meeting with Bryan outside a coffee shop that changes both of their lives for the better.

Both are tortured souls, Brynn's mother was killed in Hungary12 years ago and Eliot lost his wife 10 years ago.  Both still very much have their issues of trust and closeness, but with each other seem to suddenly find something that they were looking for.

When the both end up in Hungary for the year, Brynn ends up even closer to Eliot, but a close encounter has Brynn terrified and Eliot showing that her can be a protector and the pair finally cement their relationship.

This book has some good writing and often reads as if their are diary entries from Brynn looking back at the time the story is taking place with retrospective comments.  There is also a lot of math talk, which i understand is part of the story, however, not being into maths, these little bits were totally lost on me.

REVIEW - Aimee and the Heartthrob (Backstage Pass #1) by Ophelia London

The Book

Release Date: 14 April 2015

Goodreads Link

He never noticed her before, but now she's all he can see...

Miles Carlisle is every teen girl's fantasy. His rugged good looks and exotic British accent have helped catapult his boy band, Seconds to Juliet, to super-stardom. But after two disastrous and very public breakups, Miles isn't interested in dating just any girl; he wants The One. And the only girl he's interested in is not only his best friend's little sister - and off-limits - but won't even give him the time of day...

As a kid, Aimee Bingham had a huge thing for Miles...until he made fun of her for always tagging along. Now that she's outgrown both him and her pigtails, the prospect of spending two weeks on tour with the childhood crush who broke her heart isn't exactly enticing. Except now Miles seems interested. Very interested. And no matter how hard Aimee tries to resist him, her crush is definitely making a comeback. But everyone knows that falling for a heartthrob is a backstage pass to heartbreak...

For exclusive news, teasers and BOY BAND fun, like The Backstage Pass Series Facebook page! facebook.com/Backstagepassbooks 

My Review  3 STARS

**Copy Provided by Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, for an honest review**

I am trying to get through the YA books on my kindle as i seem to have aged out of most of them and this one has been one my kindle for some time. 

It is a decent read with a brothers best friend trope and Aimee has always had a thing for Miles, pretty much from the moment she first saw him when he was twelve.  Having created fan fiction and being the first major fan, when Miles win a singing contest and enters a band, her older brother tells her something that breaks her heart.

Two years later her parents are joining Doctors without boarders early and make a very reluctant Aimee join her brother on the road with Miles and his band.  Miles's mother is Aimee's mothers best friend and has agreed to look after her, even though she is busy. 

Miles does not recognise Aimee when he first sees her and it is only when Aimees brother tells him its his sister does the realisation come for Miles, he wants her and cannot stop thinking about her.

Both are already hurt in the past by others and at first set out to be friends only, but we all know how that goes when there are hormones involved. As usual it is a misunderstanding on both ends and a reluctance to talk about things that has them upset and split.  It is only on talking to others that they realise their mistakes and manage to get back together for their HEA.

REVIEW - British Bedmate (A Series of Standalone Novels #5) by Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland

The Book

Release Date: 18 September 2017

Goodreads Link

Please note: This book was previously published as Dear Bridget I Want You. Only the title and cover have been changed. All other content remains the same.

From the New York Times Bestselling authors of Stuck-Up Suit and Mister Moneybags, comes a new, sexy standalone novel.

Dear Bridget,
I’m writing this letter because it’s highly doubtful I’ll ever garner the courage to say this to your face.
So, here goes.
We’re totally wrong for each other. You’re the proper single mum with a good head on your shoulders. I’m just the carefree British doctor passing through town and temporarily living in your converted garage until I head back to England.
But here’s the thing… for some bloody reason, I can’t stop thinking about you in very inappropriate ways. 
I want you.
The only reason I’m even admitting all of this to you right now is because I don’t believe it’s one-sided. I notice your eyes when you look at me, too. And as crass as I appear when we’re joking around about sex, my attraction to you is not a joke. 
So, what’s the purpose of this note? I guess it’s a reminder that we’re adults, that sex is healthy and natural, and that you can find me just through the door past the kitchen. More specifically, it’s to let you know that I’m leaving said door cracked open from now on in case you’d fancy a British bedmate in the middle of the night sometime. 
No questions asked. 
Think about it. 
Or don’t. 
Whatever you choose.
It’s doubtful I’ll even end up sliding this letter under your door anyway. 
--Simon

***Please note that the titles in this series do not have to be read in any particular order.***

A Series of Standalone Novels book series:

1. Cocky Bastard
2. Stuck-Up Suit
3. Playboy Pilot
4. Mister Moneybags
5. British Bedmate

My Review  5 STARS

This book has been sitting on my kindle for nearly a year and i am now seriously kicking myself for having waited so long for having taken so long to get round to reading it.

Being English myself I didn't spot any errors in the way that Simon was portrayed, in fact it made the story that much better as i could identify with him a little better with the way he talked.

I often found myself laughing out loud while reading this, from the way Simon teased and talked to Bridget, to the way they reacted with each other.  I loved how Simon always stepped up to help Bridget and her son, even though he did not want to get attached.

The writing was seemlessly brilliant, the struggles real and the work at the relationship and the realisations brilliant.

I certainly hope to read more from this collaborative duo!

REVIEW - The Librarian's Vampire Assistant, Book 5 (The Librarian's Vampire Assistant #5) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

 The Book

Release Date: 31 October 2020

Goodreads Link

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes the FINAL vampire-mystery-slash-romance-slash-adventure about a librarian and her trusty vampire assistant, The Librarian’s Vampire Assistant, Book 5. (Yes, yes. Still a standalone. Yippy! You don’t have to go back and read all four books. But don’t ya kinda wanna?)

NEVER HIRE A HANDSOME VAMPIRE!

MIRIAM MURPHY loves being a librarian. It’s all she’s ever wanted—to eat, breathe, and sleep books. But when she hired Michael, a handsome college student, she had no idea he was a four-hundred-year-old vampire and that inviting him into her life would result in her becoming one too. But not before he knocked her up and broke her heart.

Now Miriam is a single mother, all alone in a new world with a new vampire body. And someone’s trying to kill her. Who? Why? She has no real enemies.

If only Michael would help. After all, he’s the vampire king now. And this is one mystery she can’t solve on her own.

NEVER FALL FOR A LIBRARIAN!

MICHAEL VANDERHORST knows he’s changed. He can no longer love or laugh or enjoy hot peppers like he used to. But being an unfeeling, ruthless vampire is what it takes to rule the deadliest bloodsuckers on the planet. It’s the only way to keep humankind safe.

Problem is, his enemies know the librarian and his daughter are special to him. They are his to protect, even if he’s incapable of feeling love.

But when danger comes knocking at Miriam’s library door, he must choose between solving the biggest mystery of his existence and the woman he swore to protect.

What’s a vampire king to do?

My Review  5 STARS

**My thanks to the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

This is the ending to the series and instead of being just from Micheal's point of view we now get Miriam's take on things too along with the take from somebody else at the end.

Micheal starts this book as it ended with him being the Kind of the Vampires and The Executioner where he has buried DEEP his feelings, including those for Miriam, however something happens to bring them both together and high jinks ensue.

Miriam's daughter is a strong character and acts older than her years, but Miriam shows constantly how everything thing she does is for her and to keep her safe.

There are many twists and turns as only Mimi Jean can pull off and a bit of a shock ending, but in just the right way to have you smiling and laughing at the same time.

This is certainly a series to read and this book is certainly the best finish to the series.