Book Review: A Heart of Blood and Ashes by Milla Vane

A Heart of Blood and Ashes (A Gathering of Dragons #1)

by Milla Vane

Release Date: February 4, 2020

Source: Publisher

Goodreads

A generation past, the western realms were embroiled in endless war. Then the Destroyer came. From the blood and ashes he left behind, a tenuous alliance rose between the barbarian riders of Parsathe and the walled kingdoms of the south. That alliance is all that stands against the return of an ancient evil—until the barbarian king and queen are slain in an act of bloody betrayal.

Though forbidden by the alliance council to kill the corrupt king responsible for his parents’ murders, Maddek vows to avenge them, even if it costs him the Parsathean crown. But when he learns it was the king’s daughter who lured his parents to their deaths, the barbarian warrior is determined to make her pay.

Yet the woman Maddek captures is not what he expected. Though the last in a line of legendary warrior-queens, Yvenne is small and weak, and the sharpest weapons she wields are her mind and her tongue. Even more surprising is the marriage she proposes to unite them in their goals and to claim their thrones—because her desire for vengeance against her father burns even hotter than his own…

As soon as I saw this book was releasing in 2020, it went on my most anticipated releases of the year. A barbarian fantasy romance? I NEED IT NOW. 

When this book started, it was definitely a slower start as we got introduced to this fantasy world. I don't think I was really invested in the tory until Maddek and Yvenne actually met and the chemistry between them instantly started sizzling between them. I absolutely loved the enemies to lovers in this one and how Maddek and Yvenne tried so hard to act like they didn't like each other or weren't attracted to one another. The more they started to like each other, the more I wanted them to just be together already for real. 

There are a lot of politics in this book and it did take me a bit to wrap my head around them. Honestly, I really only cared about the romance and how Yvenne was going to get revenge on her brothers and father. I do think it didn't need to be over 500 pages for this book, but I did like the slow burn of the romance and how hard Maddek tried to fight any feelings he started to feel for Yvenne. If you're a fan of fantasy romance, you definitely have to pick this book up! 

Book Review: Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne

Marriage on Madison Avenue (Central Park Pact #3)

by Lauren Layne

Release Date: January 28, 2020

Source: Publisher 

Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne, comes the final installment of the Central Park Pact series, a heartfelt and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that’s perfect for fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.

Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they’ve been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on, and he knows that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother—announcing he’s already engaged…to Audrey.

But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?

While I haven't read the first two books in this series, I was so excited when Gallery books sent a copy of this book my way. A few of my friends on Instagram love this series and I couldn't wait to read this friends to lovers romance!

When I first started this book, I loved how Clarke and Audrey were truly best friends who wanted the best for one another. They had never looked at each other in a romantic way and decided to put each other first and pretend to be engaged. Only when they had to pretend to be in love did feelings emerge, and I loved seeing them both deal with those newfound feelings. Both Clarke and Audrey thought they knew what they wanted out of life, but they slowly realized that those priorities can change with the right person. 

While the main couple was fantastic, I also loved all of the friends of both Audrey and Clarke. Now I'm definitely dying to pick up the first two books to see those couples fall in love. They added some fun insights to Audrey and Clarke's relationship and were very protective over their friends. 

If you can't tell, this was a super fun and quick read that I couldn't put down. It's also fade to black when it comes to the intimate scenes between our main couple, so if you just want an adorable, sweet friends to lovers romance, you have to pick this up.

Book Review: Whiteout by Adriana Anders

Whiteout (Survival Instincts #1)

by Adriana Anders

Release Date: January 28, 2019

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads

Angel Smith is ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her final day, the research station is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives…only to realize that in a place this remote, there's nowhere left to run.

Isolated in the middle of a long, frozen winter with a madman at their heels, they must fight to survive in the most inhospitable—and beautiful—place on earth. But the outside world depends on what Ford and Angel know and, as their pursuers close in and their new partnership burns bright and hot, they will stop at nothing to make it out of the cold alive. 

Growing up, I was fascinated with Mount Everest and fictional survival stories taking place there. After I read The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan and loved the parts when the main character was in Antarctica, Kennedy Ryan recommended this book! I immediately went to netgalley to request a copy and couldn't wait to start this romantic suspense. 

When this book started, it took me a few chapters to really get into the story and actually want to start reading. I was a little confused by what was going on, but as soon as the bad guys made themselves known, boy was I invested in these characters and their ability to survive. I loved how Ford and Angel had this attraction to one another that Ford refused to act on. Now, they have to trek across Antarctica together to survive and those scenes were CRAZY. Antarctica is beautiful and terrifying, so I had no idea how those two were going to walk over two hundred miles together and make it out alive.

If you're a fan of a romantic suspense novel with a slow burn romance, you're going to love this so much. It reminded me of an 80s survival/action movie and I could not stop reading. Ford is a cold, brooding man and I loved how he slowly decided to let Angel in. Definitely pick this book up if you want a good survival story in the freezing cold while the characters slowly fall for each other.

Release Day Blitz: Whatever It Takes by Krista and Becca Ritchie

 

WHATEVER IT TAKES (Bad Reputation Duet #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie 

Release Date: January 21st     

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47161456-whatever-it-takes     

 

  AVAILABLE NOW!! 

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  I HAVE A BAD REPUTATION. Call me what you want: Bad Boy Next Door. Trouble. That Kid Who Can’t Do Anything Right. When Willow moves into my neighborhood, nothing should have happened. She’s geeky. Shy. A true wallflower. Willow is a good girl. Too good for me. And how the hell was I supposed to know that she’s related to Loren Hale—yeah, that douchebag celebrity that lives on my street. The same guy I've been pranking by spray painting vulgar words on his mailbox and worse. Much worse. Don't ask me why I do the things I do. Don't ask me why it had to be her. I'm cursed. Simple as that. But here's the thing about people who are cursed—they break everything they touch. And yet. . .I still want to touch her. Whatever It Takes is the first book in the Bad Reputation Duet and can be read and enjoyed without reading any of Krista & Becca's other novels. 

  

  PREORDER WHEREVER YOU ARE, Book 2 

Amazon: http://bit.ly/WYAAmazon 

Apple Books: http://bit.ly/WYAAppleBooks 

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  About the Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie are New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. Now in their twenties, they write about other twenty-somethings navigating through life, college, and romance. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.   

  Connect w/Krista & Becca: 

Website: http://kbritchie.com 

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Book Review: Credence by Penelope Douglas

Credence

by Penelope Douglas

Release Date: January 14, 2020

Source: PR Company

Goodreads

Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere.

And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?

Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.

And as a part of them.

She also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.

One of them has her.

The other one wants her.

But he…

He’s going to keep her.

*Credence is a new adult standalone novel suitable for readers 18+.

Ummm where do I start? First, thank you so much to Penelope and Social Butterfly PR for the review copy. It was an amazing surprise and I am so thankful I get to support one of my favorite authors!

And though Penelope is one of my absolute favorite authors, I have to be brutally honest. This book is NOT going to be for everyone. And almost wasn't for me. Almost. But I honestly think it was Penelope's writing and storytelling that kept me hooked and not wanting to put this book down.

Going in, I knew this girl was moving into the mountains with three men. A dad and two sons (both over 20). We have no idea who her love interest is going to be. I was not expecting Penelope Douglas to push the envelope with this one, but boy did she. I loved the chemistry she built between Tiernan and all three of the men she was living with. I truly believed there was an attraction with every man and was fanning myself on more than one occasion when things steamed up between Tiernan and one of the guys. That being said, I do think Jake and Noah were developed much more than Kaleb's character was. I found nothing appealing about Kaleb, especially because he was characterized as this barbaric animal for so long throughout the book. We don't even meet him until about 20% in and then don't get any real growth from him until at least 70%. I felt much more connected to the two other guys, so when we followed Kaleb some more, I lost that sense of connection.

This book definitely took me out of my comfort zone, but I seriously did love it. Like I said, if any other author wrote it, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. But since Penelope knows how to build some angst, tension, and INSANE heat between her characters, I could not put this book down. 

Release Blitz: Credence by Penelope Douglas

Credence, a New Adult romance by New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas is LIVE!

Tiernan de Haas doesn’t care about anything anymore. The only child of a film producer and his starlet wife, she’s grown up with wealth and privilege but not love or guidance. Shipped off to boarding schools from an early age, it was still impossible to escape the loneliness and carve out a life of her own. The shadow of her parents’ fame followed her everywhere.

And when they suddenly pass away, she knows she should be devastated. But has anything really changed? She’s always been alone, hasn’t she?

Jake Van der Berg, her father’s stepbrother and her only living relative, assumes guardianship of Tiernan who is still two months shy of eighteen. Sent to live with him and his two sons, Noah and Kaleb, in the mountains of Colorado, Tiernan soon learns that these men now have a say in what she chooses to care and not care about anymore. As the three of them take her under their wing, teach her to work and survive in the remote woods far away from the rest of the world, she slowly finds her place among them.

And as a part of them.

And she also realizes that lines blur and rules become easy to break when no one else is watching.

One of them has her.

The other one wants her.

But he…

He’s going to keep her.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/36RYZBx

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/CredencePenD

Paperback: https://amzn.to/35ObgW5

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/30dcCbI

About Penelope: Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the stand-alones, Misconduct, Punk 57, and Birthday Girl. Please look for Kill Switch (Devil’s Night #3), available now.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

Connect with Penelope:

Be alerted of her next release: http://amzn.to/1hNTuZV

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Email: penelopedouglasauthor@hotmail.com

And all of her stories have Pinterest boards if you’d like to enjoy some visuals: https://www.pinterest.com/penelopedouglas/

Blog Tour: Release by Aly Martinez

 

Release, an all-new “mesmerizing” and “captivating” standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez, is available now!

Growing up, Ramsey Stewart branded my soul in ways time could never heal.

At twelve, he asked me to be his girlfriend.

At thirteen, he gave me my first kiss.

By sixteen, we’d fallen in love, planned a future together, and had our eyes set on the horizon.

Love never fails, right?

But for Ramsey, it did.

Love failed him.

I failed him.

The entire world failed him.

At seventeen, Ramsey was convicted of killing the boy who assaulted me.

Move on,he wrote in his first and only letter from prison.

Start a new life, he urged.

I don’t love you anymore, he lied.

There was no such thing as giving up on Ramsey. Love may have been our curse, but he was mine—then, now, and forever.

So here I am, twelve long years later, waiting for a man I don't even know to emerge from between the chain link gates.

Going into this one, I decided to not even read the synopsis and go in blind. When it started, I enjoyed how the author decided to show us how the two characters met and how their friendship bloomed over their childhood. All you knew in the beginning was that the guy was in prison and had cut off communication from the main character. We get to see Ramsey and Thea learn to really trust each other when they're young, become best friends, and then become lovers. The relationship in this was very strong and this book was as much about their development as it was about their second chance in the future. 

I was surprised that their past took up about half of the book. Normally, when a couple shares a past that's important, the author usually gives us about 20% of the book on the past. Instead, we didn't get to see Thea and Ramsey trying to understand their relationship when he's released from jail until halfway through the book. That being said, I wish we got more of them in this stage of their relationship. I felt like we watched them in agony over how to be together again and, once they were, it was just over. If we got more of them trying navigate the world actually being together, I would have loved this even more. 

I will say, there were definitely some surprises thrown into this book that I was not at all expecting. I was very invested in Thea and Ramsey's relationship and would recommend this if you want an emotional second chance romance!

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

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About Aly

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four young children. Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and olives. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person. She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

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