Heart of Darkness by Gabi Moore

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:214
Series:Bad Boys After Dark #1
Genre: NA
Rating: 2 stars

Synopsis:

WARNING: This book contains dark and disturbing themes, strong language and over the top sexiness that may be uncomfortable for some reader!

Ex-Military Zack Hunter has done things.

Bad things.

But he’s determined to serve out his full sentence at Blantyre Correctional Facility, do the time and clear his conscience.

Nobody has ever Cared about Zack’s dark past before-until now that is.

Madeleine Bright is a timid veterinary surgeon with a soft-spot for sick animals and an ex-boyfriend from hell. When she signs up for a prison dating site out of curiosity, she has no idea just how much her life is about to change.

Maddy and Zack’s connection is instant and electric, and they soon find themselves taking on another into exciting, shadowy places neither of them have ever explored before.

But when Zack’s past threatens to catch up with them, he has to make a difficult decision: can he open his heart to Maddy completely, no matter how dark that heart is?

Next book: Never Look Back

Review:

Well this book takes up about only 9% of the book. There is a whole different book at the end which I decided not to read. There are a few other books that I am wanting to read so I will just move on to one of those.

Now moving on to the story. I will have this review in two parts. Non spoiler and spoiler.

Non-spoiler:

While the writing wasn’t bad it wasn’t the best I have ever read either. The plot line was hardly there. The boyfriend from hell and having this a buddy read is the only reason I kept going. That as well the fact this was barely over 200 pages.

Maddy was annoying character. I didn’t like nor did I understand why she would join a prisoner dating website. I ended up with more questions than answers from this book.

Zack was lack luster for me. He didn’t get my attention and I thought he seem weird. (look in spoilers if you dare for better explanation)

Spoiler:

Okay so this Maddy seems very dense. She joins a prisoner dating site after being single for approximately two months. We learn that her ex boyfriend from hell is an abusive asshole. When she starts talking to Zack on the site for I think it said a month she was already starting to send him sexy pictures and getting more involved than what seems. She also doesn’t even tend to ask why he is in jail while talking to him on the site.

She said she doesn’t care. Bitch what if he raped and murdered an entire family? Think woman. When we do find out what he did to get in jail she ends up getting a little distant then seeks advice from her exboyfriend. Yeah Maddy was a horrible character.

I hate to say things like this because these characters are meaning to someone but for me they just didn’t add up.

Now Zack… the prologue wasn’t that bad. He was really rough but when we get to the sex scene when he stops holding back from Maddy he goes from rough to abusive sex. The chapter afterwards describes the many marks Maddy gets from Zack. And she is perfectly okay with it.

I’m not. This was like watching one unhealthy relationship movie into another unhealthy relationship. So not my cup of tea.

This book had potential but it just fell short.

The Emperor of Evening Stars by Laura Thalassa

My Edition: Kindle Unlimited
Series: The Bargainer #2.5
Genre: Fae, Fantasy, NA
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:

In the beginning, there was darkness.
Before he met Callie, before he became the Bargainer, there was Desmond Flynn, the bastard son of a scribe. A boy born to a weak mother, cursed with little magic, and destined to marry a slave.

But fate had something else in mind.

Till darkness dies.
From the barren caves of Arestys to the palace of Somnia to the streets of earth, this is how Desmond Flynn, a fairy who began with nothing, became the Emperor of Evening Stars.

Review:

This novella makes me fall in love with Desmond more. We get the background of how his mom died and how he killed his father. Not to mention everything in between.

I don’t have much to say because it will spoil the novella but it is a must read. It answers everything that you question in the book 1 and 2. The ending also sets up for book 3.

Highly recommended.

Bedlam Butchers MC by Ruby Dixon

Since these novellas are short I am reviewing them all in one.

Off Limits

My edition:Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 132
Rating: 3 stars
Review:

We get introduced to the Bedlam Butchers through Lucky. Lucky is the little sister to Gemini who is the president of the Bedlam Butchers. A rival club is out to get Lucky but Solo won’t let that happen. The Bedlam Butchers are known for doing everything in pairs. Solo’s partner died fighting the war in Iraq. He hasn’t chosen a partner just yet which has earned him the name Solo. Lucky earned her name due to her being unlucky. Their really names are Penny and Eric.

Unlike a few other Dixon books I’ve read, this one doesn’t have a dual P.O.V. It’s all from the girl. I didn’t get this one a lot. Mostly due to the main guy’s name being Eric and that is my dad’s name so major turn off. Other than that the plot was okay and the sex scenes were good.

Packing Double

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:144
Rating: 3 stars
Review:

For those who know me, know I like to read about menage. As stated above the Bedlam Butchers do everything in pairs. Gemini, Domino, and Kitty were in the first book. This is their story and how they got to where they are. Kitty works at Chrome. That up and coming Friday night is a pantie raid at Chrome. Gemini and Domino find Kitty there and decide that they want to keep her.

This was so hot. I loved it. Gemini and Domino are a great pair. Kitty was kind of not my favorite but not a horrible character. On to the next book.

Double Trouble

My edition:Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 164
Rating:3 stars
Review:

Shy’s brother is Taco. He’s a Bedlam Butcher. Shy is extremely afraid of him. When she hears of the pantie raid, she decides she needs to find someone big and scary for protection. When she walks into Chrome looking for someone, she sees Beast. Beast is also a Bedlam Butcher. His one ride partner is Muscle. At first Muscle said no but Beast with the help of Shy brought him around. Taco doesn’t like that Shy has the protection. He makes that very clear. Beast and Muscle make it very clear they are not giving up Shy without a fight.

I liked this one. Mostly due to Beast. He hits my list of attractive guys. One to the next one.

Double Down

My edition:Kinlde Unlimited
Pages:77
Rating:2
Review:

I didn’t care much for this one. But I do love the character development Shy goes through.

Double or Nothing

My edition:Kindle Unlimited
Pages:71
Rating:3
Review:

This is the last installment of Shy, Muscle and Beast. It was good. I liked it. The characters really have come a way. I wish there was more to this group but it ended perfectly.

 

A Strange Hymn by Laura Thalassa

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:384
Series: The Bargainer #2
Genre: Fantasy, NA
Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis:

Siren and soulmate to the King of Night, Callypso Lillis survived the clutches of Karnon, the mad king, and his twisted prison. But the nightmare isn’t over. Callie wears the physical reminders of her time as a captive, and mounting evidence suggests the Thief of Souls is still out there.

When a fae celebration thrusts Callie and her mate, Desmond Flynn, into the Kingdom of Flora, they take their investigation with them. But under the bright lights and striking blooms of the realm, they find there are more immediate issues to deal with.No place is more uniquely savage than the great fae halls, and no amount of bargains can save Callie from royal intrigues.

Fairies play dangerous games. Some want love, some want vengeance, some want flesh, and some want things too unspeakable to utter. One thing is for sure: no one is who they appear to be. Not even Des, who only grows more enigmatic with every passing secret.

But the Kingdom of Flora has its own secrets, from bleeding trees to branded slaves and missing guards. Something is stirring in the land of all that grows, and if Callie isn’t careful it will claim everything and everyone she loves-and her along with it.

Previous book: Rhapsodic
Novella inbetween: The Emperor of Evening Stars
Next book: Dark Harmony

Review:

HOLY MOLEY!!

This one was better than the first book. I love the banter between Des and Callie. But that ending. I need to know.

Callie is now in the Otherworld. She is still trying to get used to her new features bestowed upon her by Karnon. Trying to figure out why the women still sleep and haven’t woken up, Callie and Des have to go to the Flora kingdom. Who is ruled by Mara who is an bitch! I could not stand that woman. Even in the end.

Temper was awesome in this one. Most of the time I was laughing at what she said. She and Callie are total badasses. I can’t wait till the next book. I have some many questions that need answering. I wish I knew when it’s coming out.

Well I still have Des novella to read.

November 2017 Currently

November, the final month of fall. Here in South Central Kansas it is just cold and windy. Perfect days to stay inside drink hot chocolate and read.

So in this I will be talking about:

1.Challenges
2.Thanksgiving Holiday
3.Books I’m Reading
4. What’s Next

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Challenges

I am slowly but surely working on my challenge for December. I have decided to do a scavenger hunt.

I will be posting the hunt up five days before December. Right around the 28th. Other than that I do plan to do some challenges next year but not as many as this year and the year before.

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Thanksgiving Holiday

My family celebrates Thanksgiving. I will be doing two or three this year. Next week I won’t be posting as much as I want to but I will have a few. I plan to get as much reading done in the four day weekend.

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Books I am currently reading

Right now I am reading the second book in the Bargainer’s series. I just got finished with rereading the first book.

I will also be starting two more series. One is a reread, the Hashtag series. The other I will be starting new is the Born Sinners series. I am hoping to start those next week.

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What’s Next?

Next month will be my challenge. I will be reading the rest of the Hashtag series and Born Sinners. I will be making a post of the top ten best reads of 2017.

I will be going to Colorado the last week of December to be with my dad and brother for Christmas. I will spend that reading or inquiring new books for 2018.

 

I don’t have much planned for next month as of right now. I’m a little behind but am hoping to rectify that in the up coming week.

 

Top 10: Aspects In Books That Grind My Gears

We all have a list a mile long on what works for us and what doesn’t work for us in books. What got me thinking about what I DON’T like in books is an email from another about yet another billionaire book. So I decided that this week’s top 10 is going to be aspects or tropes that a writer has in their book that grind my gears.

10. Billionaire

As you may have guessed I don’t like the billionaire trope. Every now and then it’s okay but it seems more and more smut books have the billionaire aspect.

I hate that they write about this. Oh and apparently along with the billionaire aspect is another trope I don’t like which moves on to…

9. Hero is distant do to abuse or broken hearted

The hero has to be in control of every situation due to having been abuse or had his heart broke. Also due to this the hero has commitment issues and dabbles in the world of BDSM. I’m pretty sure not all billionaires are like this.

8. Mental or Physical or Emotional disablity/illness

While on subject of abuse how about a disability or illness for plotline. I’m probably in a boat alone or with someone who hates this trope. The one that is mostly over used is the rape trope along with depression/anxiety trope.

7. Magic Peanie

Most the time this is associated with #8. Girl was raped and doesn’t trust any man. Few years later she meets the “one” and his magic peanie cures her paranoia, depression, trust issues, ect.

6. Mother and/or Father hate MC

I am so tired of this one. A mother and/or father puts their feelings before MC’s. I’m not saying this isn’t realistic. I’m just saying I would like to read more books where the parents want their children happy. Especially the mothers. Because I’m starting to think authors have mommy dearest issues.

5. Huge peanies

Apparently all men are hung like horses according to descriptions. (If any of you know of a book that a man is actually average size please leave it in the comments) I mean some of these men sound like just the head alone could do some major damage.

4. Slut shaming/ mean girl bashing

Oh I hate when an author has a MC hate the “it” girls because they are mean but doesn’t show that they are mean. I also hate slut shaming. So what a girl has been with several men. So what? Let her be. Men aren’t the only ones who can have commitment issues or just don’t want to settle down.

3. Intsa love

Don’t worry I will put this trope on here. Good ol’ insta love. The only time I am okay with this is when it’s fantasy and there’s soulmates. Only time I am perfectly okay with insta love. Oh and in short smut books. The ones that are like 60-100 pages. Other than that if a book is 200 pages and longer I want to see the build of that love.

2. Hero is a total player

Ugh! This one is a big one. The hero is a total man whore till he meets HER. I like when heroes aren’t in every girl’s bed before he gets with the heroine.

1. Heroine not confident or is viewed meaek

I love strong confident heroines. Even ones who are secretly confident in themselves. I hate when a girl is viewed as always needing the hero or her best friend to stand her battles for her. It irritates me to no end.

What are tropes you hate?

Top 5 Book Habits of Mine!

What’s up y’all?

Hope you had an awesome weekend. I sure had a busy one. It started Friday night a Dinner Fund Raiser for the school’s Trap Shoot Team. Since the school does NOT pay for this team they have to raise funds for their shells and targets along with membership to the local gun club. After that it was Wy’s first weekend of bird hunting this season. I had the house to myself along with Trixie. Oakley our German Shorthair went hunting with good ol’ dad. I spent the day cleaning up the house in order to get ready for Thanksgiving.

Every time I had a break I would sit down and read. A couple days before Wy pointed out that I have some interesting habits when I read. While on this quiet Saturday I started noticing that his is right

I’m sure every reader has certain habits like mine or different ones that they share with other readers. Here are my top five.

5. Listening to music

I have several different playlists for specific genres or if an author posts songs they listened to while writing I will download those and listen to them. I have to have some kind of music while I read.

This habit started around my first year of college. I’m a type of person that can’t take silence unless I really need it.

4. Facial Expressions

I tend to make the same facial expressions as the characters. I can’t seem to help it. I have done this for the longest time.

3. Can’t sit still

I am constantly changing my seating position. Especially when it is a good part. I seem to be on the edge. My leg or forefinger tend to bounce to the beat of whatever song is playing at the time.

2. I talk out loud

When something happens I tend to talk out loud. Like a plot twist I will say shut the front door or something along those lines. If something gross happens I will make noises to that. If a book is really good I will laugh out loud.

1. Mood of the character

While reading I tend to be in the same mood as the character. Thankfully Wy loves me and doesn’t hate me for the times I snap at him when it is no fault of his but I am in a terrible mood because something bad is happening to my character.

Oh Marge gets it.

I probably have several more habits but I haven’t quite figured them out because, well, I’m reading.

Are one of these your habits or do you do something different?

The Valiant by Lesley Livingston

My edition: Owned Hard Cover
Pages: 372
Series: The Valiant #1
Genre: Historical Fiction, YA
Rating: 5 stars
Buddy Read: Kayla, Graceling Accountant

Synopsis:

Princess. Captive. Gladiator.

Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king, the sister of legendary warrior Sorcha, and the sworn enemy of Julius Caeser.

When Fallon was a child, Caesar’s armies invaded her homeland, and her beloved sister was killed in battle.

Now, on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is eager to follow in her sister’s footsteps and earn her place in the fearsome Cantii war band. She never gets the chance.

Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators-owned by none other than Julius Caesar. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon’s family might be her only hope of survival.

Now Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries and deadly fights- in and out of the arena. And perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her forbidden yet irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman Soldier.

Next in series: The Defiant (coming soon)

Review:

Wow!! I am speechless again. I didn’t think I would have another 5 star book this soon but I do.

The story is awesome. Totally badass heroine who at first I was on the fence about but she came through. I love the attention to details the author wrote about. The world building is amazing. It was as if I was really there. Plus she kept history straight. Which I really love.

I want to talk about this but I can’t fathom words to write. The next book needs to be out like now.

I love gladiator stories and I haven’t read many of them, but this is the first one to have a female character. It worked. So glad I picked this book. Not only was the heroine a strong lead but so was the supporting characters. Had several strong willed women. Loved that. Loved seeing women warriors.

Do go check out Kayla’s review who I buddy read this with. Her review is much better than mine. I posted her blog up in the details. While doing that go check this book out. Probably will will my November best read this year.

Second book The Defiant will be out in 2018.