Tag: book reviews

This Chick Read: Shattered Bonds (Jane Yellowrock #13) by Faith Hunter

Jane returns to the Asheville area to recoup after the blood duel between Leo Pelissier MOC of New Orleands and the European vampires. Recovering after the loss of some friends, as well as healing her wounds Jane is lying low when evil finds her. Not at full strength, Jane has to find a way to defeat this ancient enemy to keep her friends and family safe.

In Shattered Bonds we see a Jane Yellowrock that we haven’t seen before. Weak and wounded both mentally and physically Jane isn’t at all prepared to fight the brother of the big bad who had been chained in Leo’s basement for all of those years. This vampire is all powerful and it takes digging deep for Jane to find her fighting form so she can take him on.

Each story in this series we have seen Jane’s power grow so it was really interesting to see her fight the weakness buried inside her body. Shattered Bonds told the story of Jane’s internal struggles as well as giving us those action sequences we have grown to love while reading these novels. I’ll admit this book was harder to read. I don’t like seeing one of my favorite characters weak but after reflecting on it I realized that her sickness made her human. Something that she was starting to lack in the previous novels. She can’t always be powerful and strong, but in fighting through adversity she gains a different kind of strength. Shattered Bonds took Jane back to her Indian roots spiritually, in a way we hadn’t see previously. I still prefer the kick butt heroine, but I can see why the author took Jane on this journey.

I often wonder how long Faith Hunter can keep up the fast, action-packed pace. Selfishly, I hope it’s for a good long while.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Shattered Bonds (Jane Yellowrock Book 13)

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This Chick Read: Wilder (The Wild Ones #3) by C.M. Owens

When Piper and Reese inherit a cabin in Tomahawk from the grandmother they never knew they decide to take a break from their exhausting family and hide out in Tomahawk and check out this place that their grandmother loved. Reese heads into town and meets Hale Vincent who having no fear and no clue asks her out and is determined to find a friend for her sister if his brother Killian doesn’t want her. In the meantime Piper is at the cabin when she see’s a fawn break through the ice in the lake and she’s determined to save it. Tying a noose around it’s neck she pulls the fawn out but falls through the ice herself. When she wakes up she’s in a cabin with a family talking about who’s going to get naked with her to warm her up. Needles to say, our her Kai Wilder is the lucky winner. Hearing them talk about things like impregnating her Piper is eager to get warm and get out of there. Later when she finds out she’s been set up on a date with this same guy? She’s not eager to get acquainted. Needless to say their first date is different. A dead deer (not the same one that fell in the pond), skinning, and eating that same deer for dinner is a LOT different than what she’s used to and while Reese seems to be going with the flow Piper is not.

I have to admit this was a tough one to give a brief synopsis because it really does not tell the hilarity of that first meeting and the first date. Tomahawk, Washington and these two boys did not disappoint, although Piper and Reese took me a bit to get warmed up to. Haha, get it?

As a reminder, Tomahawk, Washington is run by the Wild Ones, four families that are over the top, well, just over the top. In the two previous novels we got to know the Vincents and the Malones and in this novel we get to finally know Kai Wilder, who seemed to be one of the wilder ones. Although in this novel, he was actually pretty quiet and sweet. He was also pretty clueless.

Piper and her sister Reese come from a wealthy family who’s father will be running for office. Making their living posting on social media, something that is completely alien to the nature loving easy going Kai. I thought their interactions with each other were funny and cute but didn’t seem to really be going anywhere, which was also frustrating. Luckily by the end of the book the author turned it around and gave us a more well rounded character in Piper who we could root to be with our easy going charming Kai.

This book was funny like the first two and I really enjoyed seeing all of the other crazy characters again in Tomahawk but I think because it took me so long to warm up to Piper it was my least favorite of the three so far. Unfortunately this author seems to have taken a hiatus from this series because she set us up for Reese and Hale’s romance as well as Killian and Nela’s (Hale’s brother) but it’s been three years since Wilder has come out and it’s crickets on this series. I will still hold out hope because it’s a rarity to find three books in the same series that make me laugh out loud. Ms. Owens if you read this blog, please, please write another Wild Ones novel. These characters are worth exploring more! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Copyright 2021 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chick Read: Dark Queen (Jane Yellowrock #12) by Faith Hunter

When the Master of the City of New Orleans has been issued a blood challenge by the the Emperor of the European vampires Jane has her work cut out for her as enforcer. If Leo loses, the city of New Orleans and all areas under Leo’s rule will belong to the Emperor. Something that Jane doesn’t want to see happen. Preparing for the duel requires all of her focus and it becomes immediately apparent that she can only trust those who are her closest allies. Everyone else has an agenda and skin in the game.

Every time I finish one of the Jane Yellowrock books I think ‘this is the best one yet’ and that was certainly the case with Dark Queen. This novel had everything that appeals to a huge urban fantasy fan who has made it to book 12 still invested in all of these characters and their futures. The past couple of books and all of the mentions of this blood challenge did not prepare me for all that it encompasses. It is like a hunger games where all of the weaker characters are taken out early with the stronger characters outwitting and outlasting their competitors. As the enforcer to Leo’s MOC, Jane is challenged to a LOT of duels, but as the Dark Queen and the master of her own house, she has scion’s who take on those challenges for her. Characters I’ve come to like and love may or may not lose their lives. My heart was totally invested in the outcomes, as was the heart of our queen, Jane. This novel held a powerful emotional punch that I just wasn’t prepared to feel and boy, it rocked my world.

A new character arrives on scene claiming a familial relationship with Jane that opens her character to new emotions helping her character evolve even further. Ayatas’ claim brings on a lot of flashbacks to her earlier life with her tribe and she has to face those feelings again of killing a man at age 5. This sub-plot was one that I had eagerly anticipated having read the Soulwood series alongside and sometimes in advance of the matching time line in Jane’s own books. I knew the truth of their relationship before I read it on these pages but it still held a heck of a punch!

This series has been so great and like I said above my enjoyment has escalated with each book, but none of the past books compare with how this story knocked me flat. It was such a powerful, action-packed, emotionally driven novel. So, so good. If I could give a book a 10 rating this one get’s the prize. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase!* Dark Queen (Jane Yellowrock Book 12)

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Every century an Everwitch is born who has power over the weather of each season. Clara was born an Everwitch but after her powers killed her parents and her best friend she is afraid to use her powers to her full potential afraid she will lose the people she loves the most. When Sang arrives on campus to help her train his calm Spring powers help give her enough control to try to help repair the climate but as she gains feelings for him she again fears she will bring him harm. Will Clara’s struggles between gaining control of her powers an her feelings for Sang collide?

I have read fantasy novels with witches who control weather but this is the first world where a witches personality is tied to the Season of their powers. As an Everwitch Clara’s personality changes with each season the most difficult transition being from Summer to Autumn. This difference, along with the climate change story really held my interest. I felt for this young girl who wanted to help the world but also just wanted to be “normal” and not accidentally kill her friends.

What I liked the most about this novel was how each season had it’s own magical elements and the descriptions of their magic and emotions during those seasons matching the heat of summer or the coldness of winter made these characters even more interesting. The romantic trials of a bunch of teens who grew giddy during their season could have easily been comical but Rachel Griffin gave them a serious threat to fight which balanced the plot nicely.

I really enjoyed this novel and can only hope for more from this author. I could easily see a series about Clara’s evolution and discovery about her talent and her love for Sang. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Nature of Witches

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan

Primrose is the youngest of four daughters. She has finally reached the age of sixteen, the age when she would have her “coming out”, she is told by her mother that it would be delayed until her older sister is betrothed. Her older sister is in her third season and doesn’t look motivated to find a match. Upset at this surprise announcement Prim decides to sneak out with her best friend to Vauxhall Gardens the veritable den of sin. When she gets separated from her friend a handsome young man comes to her rescue. As they search through the gardens looking for Olympia, they enjoy the sights and each other.

What a fun novel! It was a light, enjoyable story and Primrose with her sass and intelligence was an easy heroine to like. I can’t imagine being a young woman during this time in history. You have no rights, you are either at the will of your parents or of your husband. So this one night of rebellion might be all Primrose will have of freedom, unless she finds the right man who will be her partner in crime, which in this case she did. Primrose was the right combination of naiveté and intelligence and this illicit adventure rang true despite it being essentially a teen romance. This time it was a sixteen year old girl who snared the Duke. Not as awful as it sounds as he was only 19 himself.

I have a fondness for historical romances and Sixteen Scandals fit the bill. What made this book different for me was that it was a YA historical romance, so it was rated PG-13 but also that the author provided diversity in its characters. Prim’s best friend Olympia had ‘light brown skin’ and beautiful dark, curly hair but she was also (slight spoiler) gay, as was one of Prim’s sisters. I liked this small difference from other historical novels and hope these changes continue in this genre. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase!* Sixteen Scandals

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: Legacy by Nora Roberts

Adrian Rizzo has been famous since she was a teen. Following in her famous mother’s footsteps by launching her own fitness brand when she was sixteen. Years later that business is booming. She is living in the town her mother grew up in and in the home her grandparents built. Although her life appears perfect on the surface there is a threat lying just beneath the surface. Every February she has gotten a threatening poem in the mail, something that comes with the territory of being famous, but after nearly being killed by her father when she was a child Adrian takes all precautions. Will this threat become a reality?

Nora Roberts always delivers on her romantic suspense novels and Legacy did not alter the path of success. She provided the reader with a good story, likable characters, and an interesting mystery. So why was I left feeling like it could have been so much better?

Legacy was easy to read and I enjoyed the story. In my opinion the relationships between Adrian and her mom and then again Adrian and Raylan lacked emotional depth. The first on purpose, Adrian and Lina were not supposed to be close. After the altercation with her father Lina dumped Adrian off with her grandparents and the contrasting warmth they displayed showed just how much their daughter lacked that maternal warmth. How I felt about the sub-plot and subsequent love story with Raylan might be my own peccadillo. I really liked him with his first wife and their love was so deep. Despite my liking Adrian, it was hard for me to see him fall for her when his circumstances had changed. As a side note his kids and dog were so lovable and funny and really rounded out Raylan’s story.

Sometimes when you figure out the whodunnit half way through a novel, and the sub plots are good but not great, you are just reading to reach the final page and not really to feel every emotion your main character will feel. That is was happened with me in this novel. I liked it, but I’ve read so many better books by this author that I was disappointed at the same time. These mixed feelings are why I only gave this book a 3.5 rating. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase!* Legacy: A Novel

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a few cents.

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This Chick Read: Dream Spinner (Dream Team #3) by Kristen Ashley

Hattie and Axl are next up in the Dream Team series where Lottie, a star at Smithy’s revue, pairs up her friends with the men from her Commando boyfriends business. Axl knows immediately that Hattie is the woman for him, the tension between them is intense. Unfortunately, Hattie has a lot of emotional baggage and doesn’t want to let Axl close. When she finds herself with a stalker he takes away her decision and moves her in with him for her protection. All of those walls she’s built up are stormed and Hattie finds herself falling in love.

The Dream Team series harkens back to the very popular earlier series called Dream Man where the head of Axl’s “commando’s”, Hawk has his own love story. The author returns to developing her characters and creating a woman in jeopardy story which bring our two main characters together. This is a plot device that has worked really well for Kristen Ashley in the past and one which I’ve enjoyed so far in the Dream Team series.

Hattie isn’t the only one who was some heavy baggage to work through in this novel. Axl also has his own daddy issues. I liked that this alpha male wanted to fix everything for Hattie, but she was given some rough edges to smooth over or at least be supportive about when Axl’s problems reared it’s ugly head. In today’s world it just wouldn’t have gone over well if Hattie didn’t become a strong partner for Axl. Todays readers want to read about women who will go the limit for their man.

I thought Dream Spinner was a solid KA novel. Was it my favorite in the series? No? I say that with a question mark because it wasn’t bad at all I just preferred Evie’s story from the second novel a little bit more. I did really enjoy Hattie’s dance background and though her performances sounded pretty cool and interesting. I also liked how her personal story was resolved with a happy ending. If you haven’t read the previous two novels I really don’t think you need to. Despite it being a group of girlfriends who all work together you aren’t missing anything by not reading the earlier novels. Feel free to pick this one up and enjoy. Heck, if you like it, you know you have two to immediately pick up and read!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest.

Click this link to purchase!* Dream Spinner (Dream Team Book 3)

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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This Chick Read: The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren

Jess is a single mother working multiple jobs as a data and statistics wizard. She works hard to make ends meet and is too focused on being Juno’s mom to bother letting someone new in her life. After all, what’s the point, they all leave anyway. When she hears about GeneticAlly which focuses on people’s genes in order to make the perfect match she totally gets it. However, she never has any intention of spitting into a cup to find her soulmate. Dr. River Peña is one of the genius’s behind GeneticAlly and when he and Jess end up being a 98% Diamond match he can’t help but see it through. After all, he believes in the science. As they get to know each other, they click on every level so it has to be true, doesn’t it?

I loved the concept behind The Soulmate Equation. I met my husband 21 years ago through an online dating service so I had total buy in. That was about all that was similar to my own experience as this fantasy dating app is a long way from answering a series of questions on the dating service I used. It was time for Jess to catch a break and have something go her way, her life up to that point had been full of struggle. For her match to be the hot guy that she has seen in her coffee shop for the past two years seemed to be kismet. That the dating concept used genetics to create the “perfect” match was perfect for a character who was a statistic whiz and made perfect sense that it was the scientist who invented the concept, and as I got to know our main couple I couldn’t help but feel they were meant to be.

I loved both of these characters. Jess’s struggles to give her daughter the childhood she didn’t have, and as we got to know River we learned that he wasn’t always the handsome scientist he was today. He was actually quite the geek who excelled academically at a very young age. They both had their struggles and their connection was off the charts. It’s rare that I read a romance novel that gives me goose bumps anymore and this novel definitely did.

As with the other Christina Lauren novels I’ve read the dialog is fun and the romance sizzling. This was an easy book to read and get lost in. If you’re looking for that story that will take you away from your troubles The Soulmate Equation is the perfect match. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest!

Click this link to purchase!* The Soulmate Equation

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*Amazon Associate- if you purchase this novel through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

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It’s Monday, what are you reading? (5/17/21)

It’s been a super busy work week so I haven’t really spent any time physically reading but I have listened to an audiobook. When I’m tired sometimes it’s easier to listen to an old favorite series than it is to engage my mind with something new. This re-read reminded me of how great this series is and I am eager to read the next novel.

JUST FINISHED

Magic Strikes is book #3 in the Kate Daniels series. One of my favorite female protagonists in fantasy fiction. This novel was very high action and introduces the reader to Hugh D’Ambre who becomes her arch nemesis in future novels.

JUST STARTED

I have been lucky to receive an ARC of this novel. It’s funny because lately I have been doing some reading from Nora Roberts catalog of books, especially her romantic suspense. It seems I missed quite a few through the years. I’m glad I’ll be reading this one as it comes out instead of years later! It looks really good!

I am looking forward to digging in and relaxing with a good book tomorrow. What book are you reading? Are you having a good time reading it? I’d love to hear about it!

Happy Monday!

Deb

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This Chick Read: Going Wild (The Wild Ones #2) by C. M. Owens

Moving to Tomahawk, Washington was not a part of Liam’s life plan. As the owner of multiple galleries and various other businesses he has made tons of money and was coasting through life. When Kylie Malone joins his skydiving group she ends up saving his life and also changing the direction of it. Spending weeks together as she nurses him back to health he completely falls for her, but he forgot one thing. He forgot to tell her he had a girlfriend. Kylie left him and left town for Tomahawk, and one year later Liam follows. He though Kylie was a sweet girl and she kept trying to warn him, but it wasn’t until he moved to her hometown and saw how crazy that corner of the world was he only knew one thing. Despite the craziness she was the one for him.

I bought this book immediately after reading the first book The Wild Ones. I wrote that review and raved above it in July 2018. It was the funniest book in the world, so why did I let this book sit in my Kindle for almost three years??? I had two weeks between Arc’s and could read anything I wanted so I’ve been going through my Kindle and cleaning books out but reading the first couple of chapters. If by the second chapter I wasn’t hooked I was deleting them. By Chapter two of Going Wild I was laughing so hard I was crying and I ended up reading it straight through. Oh my gosh I have not laughed out loud like this in a long time. What made it so great? Well, it’s really hard to describe, but I’ll try to give a couple of hints.

Tomahawk- There are four families of Wild Ones in Tomahawk and Kylie is a Malone which is one of those crazy families. They are loving in a pretty physical way. I don’t mean they are getting it on all the time, they are fighting, blowing things up, and playing pranks on each other. Their level of fun is to the extreme. When Liam moves to Tomahawk, he doesn’t know any better and moves to the wrong side of the lake from Kylie. He moves in next door to the Vincent’s, who were featured in the first book. When he moves there he is one of the only non-bearded men in town (long story but read the first book) and the ladies are trying to butter him up with casseroles and baked goods but he is waiting for Kylie to make an appearance and doesn’t have eyes for any other woman. Ahhh.

Kylie- She is the only female in the Malone pack. Surrounded by her 5 male cousins and father once she see’s Liam she not only has to run off all the females in town who are trying to woo him away with their culinary skills she has to protect him from her family. Although, really she doesn’t.

Liam- at first I thought “this was our hero” because he was kind of icky. However, when he got to Tomahawk that ick turned into determination and you have to admire a guy who knows what he wants, changes his whole life for her, and goes after her.

Going Wild has too many wild situations and hijinks to even try to get you all to understand or comprehend, but if your in the mood, and I definitely was, this book will light you up it is so funny. It is slapstick humor so if that isn’t your thing, please move on. If you want to take a chance and have Kindle Unlimited it is part of your subscription and you can give it a try. Because I needed a good laugh and got one from Going Wild this is a five star read from me. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase. Going Wild (The Wild Ones Book 2)

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