Book Review: Secrets of Blood by Jennifer Arnston

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Anna, a Scavenger Girl auctioned to the highest bidder at the Seller’s Stage as a surrogate, is purchased by one of the most influential families in Ashlund. Despite her efforts to appease them, tension grows when she cannot give them what they want most. As a slave whose life is in the hands of those with status, an arrangement is made – an agreement so unspeakable the consequence of discovery is worse than death for everyone involved…but it might just work.

Freedom is found through servitude in a place girls like her rarely found: the arms of a loving man. But when betrayal and suspicion overshadow hope and desire, secrets kept too long take a murderous turn to protect them. One night of desperation and tragedy seals their fate, forcing confessions to save the most innocent among them.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

 

It’s easy to visual Jennifer Arnston’s dystopian world in her novels. I’ve only read (and enjoyed) Scavenger Girl, book 1 in the Scavenger Girl series. Although Secrets of Blood isn’t part of the series, it’s a spin off and part of the same world. Continue reading

Review: Shadow Play by Jill Ramsower

 

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They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger—if that’s the case, I better be badass by the time this is over.

After two years at a dead-end job, Rebecca Peterson finally walks away from everything she knows to follow her dreams in Ireland. Instead of dreams, the dreary streets of Belfast rekindle her terrifying nightmares, and this time they aren’t confined to her imagination. Twisted and vicious, Faeries are being unleashed on Earth to prey upon
humans, who are unaware of the vile creatures walking among them. Becca must stay alive long enough to learn why she can see what others can’t, and even more importantly, discover how to keep the Fae from destroying life on Earth.

Delving into the underbelly of the city, Becca discovers that she is not entirely alone in her abilities; however, centuries of secrecy makes gathering information a challenge. When Becca crosses paths with two mysterious strangers, her life is only complicated further. The gorgeous but brooding Lochlan demands complete honesty but refuses to provide any answers of his own. On the other hand, Ronan is enigmatic and charming, and with his sights set on making Becca his, he offers more help than most. But Becca quickly learns that trusting others is difficult when you have secrets of your own. Sometimes, the enemy is within….

(Blurb from the author)

I always enjoy when the main character of a book moves out of her comfort zone, or moves somewhere new. I thought it was a nice touch that Becca’s best friend went with her to help her settle in. And I really did enjoy this story. But I did have a real problem connecting to the characters unfortunately. I just didn’t feel anything for them, and that’s something that can make or break a book for me. However, I did start to feel more connected to them towards the end. Continue reading

Review: Ever My Love by Lynn Kurland

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In search of a fresh start, Emma Baxter has traveled to Scotland to try to forget her rocky love life. Luckily, the gorgeous Highlander who owns the house up the path from her rental cottage might be exactly the kind of distraction she needs. But there’s more to his intriguing qualities than she can explain—and she certainly isn’t buying into the local legends of Highland magic.

Nathaniel MacLeod is a man adrift, all thanks to the unwanted gift that forces him to continually jump between centuries. He never knows if he’ll wind up in the present day or the fourteenth century, but when Emma follows him back through time, he suddenly has more to worry about than keeping his separate lives straight…

Someone has started to notice Nathaniel’s travels and now, no time period is safe, for him or for Emma.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

Continue reading

Review: The Sabbath

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Image from Goodreads

Would you rather suffer for eternity, or die peacefully?

What if you had no choice?

The morning after witnessing a spectacular meteorite shower, Cory Shembo and his girlfriend Lana didn’t expect to wake up immortal.

News bulletins claim the meteorites have released a chemical compound called ATHENS which has caused mutations in the human race. The twisted outcome has left people unable to die but with an increased sensitivity to pain.

Now with the majority of food supplies contaminated, and the rich controlling what little is left, the desperate young couple are force to go on merciless food raids just to stave off the pain.

During which they accidentally discover a secret government device and find themselves caught up in a diabolical plot to control the future of humanity.

Realizing that there is more to ATHENS than what they were led to believe; Cory and Lana set out on a crusade to uncover the truth. Their journey will lead them into the darkest depths of humanity. If they can follow the trail, they may be able to find some answers.

But will the cost of knowing the truth be too much?

(Blurb from Amazon)

Cory and Lana wake up immortal after experiencing something like a meteor shower in the sky. This part was really cool, so I’ll shush about the rest of it to avoid spoilers. The book soon jumps forward, and then the rest of the story is in post apocalyptic time. Continue reading

Review: Ruthless (Mob Boss #1)

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Image from Goodreads

Two years out of college, Angelica Bondesan spends her time working as a barista, keeping in touch with her prodigal brother, and trying to figure out how to bridge the gap with her father, a wealthy real estate developer.

But all of that changes the night she’s kidnapped. Thrown into a windowless room, Angelica is positive there’s been some kind of mistake — until she meets Nico Vitale.

Gorgeous and frightening, Nico became the boss of New York City’s Vitale crime family after the execution style murder of his parents two years earlier. Since then he’s turned the old-school mob into a sleek, modern army of ruthless men who understand that physical violence — while always an option — isn’t the only way to get what you want.

Now Angel is forced to face the truth;

Her father is not the man she believed him to be.

Nico Vitale is dangerous, possibly lethal.

She is falling in love with Nico Vitale.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

 

In this New Adult Contemporary Romance by Michelle St. James, Angelica Bondesan is just minding her own business when she suddenly gets kidnapped. She figures it’s because her father is wealthy and the kidnappers want a ransom. But as the days go on, she decides to go on a hunger strike causing the man behind the kidnapping, Nico Vitale, to get personally involved.

Continue reading