Free Books & Book Deals - 9/24/2021

September 24, 2021


Happy Weekend! Once again, I'm bringing you the book deals I've found on Amazon. Let me know if you found anything to binge this weekend because while I'm off to one-click some of these sales, I need to know I'm not alone. Happy hunting!!

Please Note: All books are listed for $2 or less (prices valid at time of post). I apologize in advance if the sale is over by the time you found yourself here.

A. Zavarelli

  • 99 cents - Crow (Boston Underworld #1)

Adriana Locke


Amelia Hutchins


Amy Daws


Aurora Rose Reynolds


Bella Jewel


Brittainy Cherry


CD Reiss


Christine Feehan


Elle Kennedy


Helena Hunting


Ilona Andrews


Ilsa Madden-Mills


J.B. Salsbury


J.R. Ward

  • $1.99 - The Jackal (Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp #1)

Jay McLean


Jennifer L. Armentrout


Jessica Gadziala

  • 99 cents - Malcolm (Henchmen MC - Next Gen #2)

Karina Halle


Kelly Elliott


Kendall Ryan


Kresley Cole

  • $1.99 - Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12)

L.A. Casey


L.J. Shen


Larissa Ione


Lylah James


Mariana Zapata


Meghan Quinn


Mimi Jean Pamfiloff


Penelope Douglas


R. Scarlett


Rebecca Zanetti

  • $1.49 - Vampire (a Dark Protectors/Rebels novella)
  • $1.99 - Wicked Edge (Realm Enforcers #2)
  • $1.99 - Shadowed (Dark Protectors #6)
  • $1.99 - Marked (Dark Protectors #7)
  • $1.99 - Talen (a Dark Protectors novella)
  • $1.99 - Twisted (a Dark Protectors novel)
  • $1.99 - Tempted (a Dark Protectors novel)
  • $1.99 - Tamed (a Dark Protectors novel)

Renee Rose


S.T. Abby


Sarina Bowen

  • 99 cents - Epic (a HIM novella)

Susan Stoker


Suzanne Wright


T.L. Smith

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Review // Immortal's Honor by Rebecca Zanetti

September 23, 2021

Immortal's Honor by Rebecca Zanetti

There was something about him she couldn't nail down, something that had never happened to her. His allure was magnetic, and the hunger to solve the puzzle he represented shocked her in its intensity.

──────　♔　──────


Immortal's Honor by Rebecca Zanetti

Immortal's Honor by Rebecca Zanetti


Standalone - Dark Protectors #14
Release - December 7, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance / fated mates
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the publisher
Page Count - 328
Publisher - Lyrical Press

First comes danger . . .

When Vampire-Demon Sam Kyllwood discovers he’s the keeper of some mysterious circle, he laughs it off. When he finds out that his younger brother is supposed to fight to the death in said circle, he snaps right to furious. And that’s before he starts uncontrollably making things explode —it turns out it’s never too late to develop deadly new immortal abilities. But even those explosions are nothing compared to what happens when he tries to handle a very suspicious, brilliant and beyond sexy human female whose piercing eyes ignite a heat that rages deliciously outside even his unbreakable control…

Then comes desire . . .

Honor McDovall is one of the best interrogators Homeland Security has ever had. But no matter how well she appears to fit in, her mystical gifts are slowly driving her mad. She doesn't understand them, she doesn't want them, but for now, she'll use them to detect and defeat danger until she completely loses her mind. Unfortunately, her job brings her face to face with the deadliest man she's ever met—and she senses Sam is even more gifted than she is. Yet once they kiss, she realizes he's also more dangerous than the enemies suddenly coming from every direction. Good thing they both like to play with fire . . .

Purchase Links


Immortal's Honor by Rebecca Zanetti

My Two Cents

Was this book supposed to be as hilarious as I found it to be?

Immortal's Honor was Sam Kyllwood's story. Yeah, yeah. Honor was there too, but it was Sam who definitely stole the show.

As The Keeper, a title Sam absolutely hated, he and the Seven, the three keys and the lock were responsible for stopping the unstoppable. It seems that Ulric has only gotten more powerful, able to summon people to his prison world and do some pretty serious psychological (and eventually physical) damage.

And remember... not everyone wants to stop Ulric. The Kurjans believe he has served his time. You know, because killing 100 innocent women is an act you can find redemption for. The Cyst seem to be following their wayward general, Jaydon, who had his own plan — replicating the same ritual Ulric did so he could be just as untouchable. All of the 'bad guys' had their own agenda and it appeared that they all wanted to kill Sam.

Then there was Honor. This lady made me laugh so freaking much! From the moment she met Sam, she gave him a hard time. I think she was the first heroine that I've seen in this series who maimed her fated mate and basically left him for dead. How could I not find the humor in that? As an enhanced female, her power was at once powerful and mysterious. I'm still not sure exactly what she can do, but I know that what I've seen so far is amazing. That scene where she amplified the other enchanced women's powers... with her mind... such a unique touch!

It was pretty clear that the chemistry between these characters couldn't be denied, despite how hard they tried. I loved how everyone and their mama were pushing these two together. Shoot, I just loved seeing everyone up in the place. I enjoyed seeing how the shifter community had completely embraced Sam and Garrett, how devoted Bear and Nessa are to each other, how Flynn was such a great brother, how the truth has finally been shared with Sam's family... This book gave me everything!

There was plenty to love about this story and here at the end, I can't wait until the next book in this series. It's Garrett's turn!!

My Notes

When will Hope stop being so reckless and naive? This thing she has with Drake is driving me nuts, especially because we know that he isn't the good guy she makes him out to be. Dude just tried to kill her favorite uncle. WTH?! And her swinging between Pax and Drake is annoying. Oh and Pax's whole The Defenders plot has me both curious and infuriated. I'm super excited to see these kids really get their chance to shine and tell their story.

Quick Peek

"I appreciate your attempts to get to know me, so let me give you this. This challenge from you, this stubborn fight inside you, does nothing but turn me on." He waited until his words sank in and her eyes widened before continuing. "Your being pliant and obedient bores me. So you have a choice to make. Do you want to bore me or arouse me?"

She blinked. "How about I rip off your head and shove my socks down your headless corpse?"

Amusement grabbed him so quickly he couldn't help a quick bark of laughter. "Aroused it is, then." He slamed the door and crossed around the car to retake his seat. Oh, he couldn't keep her, but she was making that reality look bleak. Maybe someday when he took care of his problems, he could look her up.


About the Author

Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense, dark paranormals, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Upcoming series are: The Blood Brothers, The Realm Enforcers and The Scorpius Syndrome.

Visit https://rebeccazanetti.com/ for more information!
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Review // Coldhearted Bastard by Jenika Snow

September 21, 2021

Coldhearted Bastard by Jenika Snow

I didn't have to know him, didn't have to speak with him to recognize the type of male he was.
Dangerous.
Deadly.
Someone I had no business being curious about.

──────　♔　──────


Coldhearted Bastard by Jenika Snow

Coldhearted Bastard by Jenika Snow


Standalone - Underworld Kings series
Release - October 5, 2021
Genre - Dark Romance / mafia romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / virgin heroine
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Page Count - 179
Publisher - Indie

He didn’t have a heart... but he wanted hers.

All I knew about life was anger and violence. Pain and suffering. Kill or be killed.

I was a “fixer” for the Ruin—a syndicate for the Bratva, Cosa Nostra, Cartel, and any other organized crime faction that dealt in the darker, crueler aspects of humanity.

I was a free agent who was called upon to do things weaker men didn’t have the stomach for.

And when you surround yourself with death for long enough, soon, you didn’t remember what it felt like to be alive.

And then I saw her. She was a fragile little thing who tried to be strong. But I could tell she’d seen too much horror in the world, too much of the ugly within people. I should have stayed away. I’d only bring her farther down into the darkness.

But for the first time in my life, I felt a stirring in my chest, this protectiveness and possessiveness toward another living person. And it was painful. It made me feel alive.

Lina tried to hide how broken she was, but I was an old friend of being ruined. She held secrets I’d find out. Because for the first time in my miserable life, I wanted something for myself. I felt something more than apathy and indifference.

I wanted to possess the innocence she clung to. I wanted to break it open and consume it for myself.

I could look into her too trusting blue eyes and knew I’d maim for her. I’d kill for her. And that became our truth when her past finally came back for her when my present tried to destroy her.

They thought they could take the one thing—the only thing—I’d ever wanted for myself. They were wrong.

When I looked at her, I felt some of the monster that made me who I retreated back to my black soul. He’d never leave... but he’d share the space.

For her.

Purchase Links


Coldhearted Bastard by Jenika Snow

My Two Cents

Arlo knew nothing but cold, lethal purpose. And then he met Galina, someone he could make a real connection with, someone he would do anything to protect. He made this story for me and I lived for every moment of his truth.

Galina was also easy to like. She was a girl who had some hard knocks in life — seriously, her own father served her up to settle his debts — so she always knew she could only rely on and trust in herself. When Arlo offered to be her perfect anti-hero, she didn't quite know how to act.

I didn't need another father. And although mine was worthless and the world wouldn't miss him if he was gone, I also didn't need anybody to look after me. I could do that myself. No one could take care of me better than me.


Her tendency to lie and hide and be ungrateful got on my nerves, but Arlo man... he made everything better. Who doesn't love a guy who's willing to mow down any and everyone who wants to hurt his girl? I coudn't get enough of this guy!

Coldhearted Bastard gave me hot and sexy with plenty of action to spice things up.

About the Author

Jenika Snow is a USA Today bestselling author who has been publishing smutty romance since 2009. She’s a firm believer that there’s the perfect book boyfriend out there for everyone! When not working on her next story, she can be found reading (preferably when the weather is gloomy and rainy), paying way too much attention to her cats, or watching re-runs of Roseanne.

Visit https://jenikasnow.com/ for more information!
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Review // Saving Silver by Xavier Neal

September 18, 2021

Saving Silver by Xavier Neal

I woke up with an unshakeable feeling like today was the day that my life was going to drastically change. - Zilveren

──────　♔　──────


Saving Silver by Xavier Neal

Saving Silver by Xavier Neal


Standalone
Release - September 23, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance / instalove / fated mates / interracial
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Page Count - 295
Publisher - Indie

I swear, one minute I'm dozing off during the night shift - don't judge me - and the next I'm being told I'm Fate Mated to an ancient dragon.

An ancient dragon I couldn't help but save when he woke me up out of the aforementioned slumber - again, don't judge me.

Now this same ancient dragon - that I'm apparently destined to be with - is doing everything he can to win me over, because it's up to me whether or not he'll live the rest of his life in absolute agony or absolute bliss.

Oh, and let's not forget the fact we're being chased by elves, working with a grumpy Griffin, and have to rescue some poor kidnapped dragon before an evil corporation kills it.

Ugh.

Any chance this is all some crazy dream that I can't wake up from?

No?

Well, can't blame this human for asking.

Purchase Links

Amazon CA * Amazon US
(FREE to read with Kindle Unlimited)

My Two Cents

I found Saving Silver to be sweet, sexy and hilarious! From the moment Z and Adae met, I was caught up in the cuteness and hotness of their connection.

I enjoyed the concepts the author introduced — Sleepers and Awakers. Sleepers (humans) were blind to the complete world around them. Z, his brothers, and all other creatures that were believed to be mythical were all around us... we just couldn't see them. I loved Dae's reactions to everything she was introduced to, from her disbelief and confusion, to her curiousity and loyalty and love. What great characters!

Dae doesn't just see my beast side or my Awaker one.

She sees all of me.

Approves of all of me.

Loves all of me.

Just like a Fated Mate should.


There's a huge subplot that I'm sure will feature in some way in the book(s) to come and I can't wait to learn more. There were so many amazing side characters that I have to know! Like Zilveren's brothers, who seem to view finding a mate to be a death sentence. There's also the favorite cousins, especially Little B, who seems to have found his mate already. Even their faithful Gene deserves some shine.

This story has everything to make it an easy read...

🐉 humor

🐉 hot chemistry

🐉 sweet and no angst romance

🐉 the wonders of the supernatural, with suspense and bits of action

🐉 fantastic characters


As introductions go, this story has made a fan out of me and I will be staying tuned to see where this series will go.

About the Author

Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub genre to sub genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.

In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).

She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack” and their two fur babies.

Visit https://www.xavierneal.com/ for more information!
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Review // Dirty Gambit by Airicka Phoenix

September 16, 2021

Dirty Gambit by Airicka Phoenix

He was the kind of guy any girl would have been delighted to find, but Lena knew he wasn't meant for her.

──────　♔　──────


Dirty Gambit by Airicka Phoenix

Dirty Gambit by Airicka Phoenix


Standalone
Release - October 8, 2021
Genre - Dark Romance / enemies-to-lovers
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 3.5 out of 5 / slow burnish / a few scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Page Count - 294
Publisher - Indie

For a girl with no family, no job and a rap sheet as long as her arm, eighteen-year-old Angelina Ramos never stood a chance at happiness. So, when her blood is found at the scene of a robbery that ends with three dead, Lena does the only thing a foster kid knows how to do — she runs. But she’s not going alone.

Jaxon Westwick has never met anyone as fierce, beautiful, or haunted as Lena . . . or as crazy. No one else has ever seduced him into handcuffs just to kidnap him, hold him hostage, and drag him clear across the country.

But Lena’s on a mission to find peace and nothing is going to stop her, not the cops, not the mob boss out for her blood, and definitely not her gorgeous hostage, no matter how he tempted her. After all, how could someone like her ever belong in a world as untainted as his?

Purchase Links

Amazon CA * Amazon US
(Free to read with Kindle Unlimited)


My Two Cents

I knew right from the start that I was going to enjoy this book. It's not very often that I come across a story where the hero is at someone else's mercy. However, make no mistake... Jaxon was no pushover. The dynamic between these two was intense to say the least.

Dirty Gambit gave me drama, comedy, thrills, and tons of sex appeal! The love/hate relationship that was brewing between Jaxon and Lena was at once toxic and irresistible. He's being held hostage, she's being held hostage, and a madman is out to get them all. Through it all, Jaxon had to learn why he was in the predicament he was in, find a way to get through to Lena, figure out how he could be of help, and fight his growing affection for his captor.

This story was fresh and explosive and I had a blast reading it. I wasn't Lena's biggest fan, which I think was the point, but I loved her fire. Feminine and bold and rough around the edges... this woman gave as good as she got.

About the Author

International Bestselling Author Airicka Phoenix has written over twenty-five novels, seven of which have hit the #1 spot on Amazon & Barnes & Noble.

Her first novel, Touching Smoke opened the doors into the publishing world. Its prequel went on to win Best Novella 2014 by Young Adult & Teen Readers. Her paranormal thriller, Betraying Innocence won Best Horror Book 2013 by The Writing World, and Best Horror Novel 2014 by IABB Awards. Her Sons of Judgment series, and Crime Lord series went on to sit at #1 for two consecutive weeks, including being nominated for the 2016 Summer Indie Book Awards in Contemporary by Metamorph Publishing.

Raised a little bit country and a little bit city, she blends both into her writing. She finds inspiration through music, photography, long walks, and her family. In her downtime, she loves binge watching horror movies, reading, and lives off chocolate, coffee, and souls. She’s currently having a deep and passionate love affair with Pinterest and can’t walk out of a store without buying a new notebook.

For more information visit https://airickaphoenix.com/
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Review // Inmate of the Month by Lani Lynn Vale

September 14, 2021

Inmate of the Month by Lani Lynn Vale

I had almost an instinctive knowledge that Laric would never, ever hurt me.
He would always put me first.
He would always treat me as if I was number one.

──────　♔　──────


Inmate of the Month by Lani Lynn Vale

Inmate of the Month by Lani Lynn Vale


Standalone - Souls Chapel Revenants MC #7
Release - September 21, 2021
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Page Count - 200
Publisher - Indie

A porn video changed his life.

One second, he has an ex with an ax to grind, and the next, he’s internet famous—and definitely not in a good way. In an, it’ll ruin your career, kind of way.

Only, Laric didn’t know that he was internet famous.

Not until a black-haired beauty walks into his life, and stumbles over every word that she says because all she can picture is him doing the unthinkable for the world to see.

Sadly, that’s not the only thing wrong in his life. His world is messed up, and he likes it that way.

There’s no room for a woman that wants to fix him.

Because fixing requires intimacy, and intimacy isn’t something that Laric does. Not after the life that he’s lived, and the things he’s done to survive. Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that he’s a felon, and he has no regrets about how he got that title.

The last thing he needs in his life is a woman that has her head in the clouds and thinks this world is made of butterflies and confetti.

However, Catori isn’t who she seems.

The day she meets tall, dark, and handsome, he saves her life. And then never leaves—though not for his lack of trying.
Not that she’s complaining about the way they’re thrown together, time after time. She’s more than willing to have a man like Laric around. Mostly because she’s already seen the good in him that he refuses to admit that’s there.

He may be a biker that does questionable things, but in her heart, she knows that he does those bad things for good reasons. And she’s not about to throw away the chance at happiness just because he thinks he knows what’s best for her.
Plot twist: she knows what’s best for her. And that’s him.

Purchase Links

Amazon CA * Amazon US


My Two Cents

I've been looking forward to Laric's story ever since I met him in book one. After finding out he was Lynn's son, I needed to know what was next for them. Was there anything to forgive? Would they forge a path forward as father and son? Would I finally learn why he didn't know about Lynn, yet Lynn knew about him? And knowing Lynn, just how far was his reach into his son's life?

Inmate of the Month gave me answers and a whole lot more. There was so much love here!

☑ a broken hero, who had a tragic past and believed he wasn't worthy
☑ a sweet heroine, who may be just the person to heal all of the hero's wounds
☑ a suspenseful plot that proved to be more hilarious than scary
☑ friends and family that made this a 'happy reunion' kind of read
☑ two characters that seemed to mesh right from the start!

Instalove is great when it works and LLV definitely made it work. Laric and Catori were amazing together. I loved their shared humor, their chemistry, and how deep their feelings ran for each other. This story was easy to love, from its characters to its plot to the sweet and funny happily ever after.

──────　♔　──────


I did have a couple of issues with this book, which kept it from getting all the stars. (1) There's a part where Laric's mom's age was revealed (two years ago she was 41, making her 43)... how old was she when she gave birth to Laric? He's supposed to be thirty-something. And (2) The ex drama, especially with Thor, bled through the whole book, but then fell flat. What was that? He shot Catori, bribed some gangbangers to shoot up a hospital, basically terrorized everyone, went into hiding, then popped up only to be taken down so easily. Oh and (3) I thought Lynn's last name was

Laric & Catori's family tree

Laric's family:


Catori's family:


Check out the other books of this series:





Quick Peek

"I feel like I'll be learning all about that big mouth soon." I paused, wincing slightly. "I didn't mean that at all how it sounded."

Adam started to laugh. "Oh, God. Y'all will be perfect with each other. By the time we've found Thor, you're either going to kill her or marry her."

I highly doubted that I'd marry her. Though I found her highly attractive, I'd sworn off women for the most part.

Women required you to be home every night — and I wasn't.

Women, particularly someone you wanted to spend the rest of your life with, likely required children — which I knew didn't need to have a dad like me.

Not to mention I just straight up didn't know how to deal with pleasing a wife or girlfriend. I mean, I knew sexually I could more than make her happy. But women, significant others, required love. Sacrifice. Devotion. Understanding. I just didn't know how to provide those.

A, I wasn't sure that love was even real. I'd never seen it and highly doubted that it was an 'actual' thing.

B, sacrificing would be okay. I could do that. But I couldn't keep doing that. I'd be willing to bend, not break.

As for devotion and understanding, I'd been taught over and over again that those two things were a f-ckin' myth.


About the Author

Lani Lynn Vale is married to the love of her life that she met in high school. She fell in love with him because he was wearing baseball pants. Ten years later they have three perfectly crazy children and a cat named Demon who likes to wake her up at ungodly times in the night. They live in the greatest state in the world, Texas. She writes contemporary and romantic suspense, and has a love for all things romance. You can find Lani in front of her computer writing away in her fictional characters world...that is until her husband and kids demand sustenance in the form of food and drink.

Visit https://lanilynnvale.com/ for more information!
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Review // No Escape From War by Cynthia Eden

September 12, 2021

No Escape From War by Cynthia Eden

There is nothing I would not do for you.
In order to keep you safe, I would like, cheat, and kill.
Know it.

──────　♔　──────


No Escape From War by Cynthia Eden

No Escape From War by Cynthia Eden


Standalone - Trouble for Hire #1
Release - May 25, 2021
Genre - Romantic Suspense / second chance
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook provided by the publisher through Inkslinger PR
Page Count - 217
Publisher - Hocus Pocus Publishing, Inc.

Revenge. Oh, it was going to be sweet.

Warren “War” Channing finally has the chance to nail his beautiful, lying ex. And, no, he doesn’t mean “nail” in the down and dirty sexual way…War means he has the opportunity to send the lovely and infuriating Rose Shadow to jail. Turned out, the woman who had shattered his heart beneath her high heeled shoes was wanted for murder. She was on the run, and he was just the man to hunt her down and toss her into the nearest cell…War could hardly wait.

He was the last man she expected to need.

The breakup had been ugly. Painful. It had ripped out her heart and left her in a sad, crying heap as she ate her ice cream, but Rose had moved the hell on, and she had sworn to never, ever need War again. Except, well, now she did need him and his sneaky skills because Rose was in trouble up to her eyes. The kind of trouble that could wreck a woman’s life.

He’ll make her pay.

Rose has cracked the story of a lifetime. She’s uncovered a brutal serial killer who has been hiding in the shadows—only now, she is his next target. The cops think she’s involved in the string of murders because maybe her DNA had been at a crime scene and maybe she’d been spotted by witnesses at another location, but Rose is a reporter—she’d been at the scenes because she was tracking down the real killer. Now, though, because War has caught her, Rose is out of time and options. War is former special ops. He’s the best PI in town. And he’s the man who gave her more pleasure than should be legal…Too bad that he’s also the man who hates her the most.

Forty-eight hours…then jail.

They make a grudging deal—she’ll pay him anything he wants if he just gives her forty-eight hours before he turns her over to the cops. During that forty-eight hours, he will help her track the real killer. When the clock runs down, she’ll be out of his life for good. Except…a whole lot can change for two people in forty-eight hours. Hate can turn into desire. Need can rage out of control. And a love that you thought was long dead? It just might flash to life again.

Provided, of course, that the murderer hunting Rose doesn’t manage to kill her before she and War can catch him. Forty-eight hours. The countdown starts now…

Author’s note: The Trouble For Hire romance series features hot, former military heroes…and these guys truly are the best kind of trouble. All of the books are stand-alones with guaranteed happy endings. Danger, romance, action, suspense, humor…oh, it’s definitely time to find some trouble…

Purchase Links

Amazon CA * Amazon US


My Two Cents

Romance, suspense and a ton of laughs... No Escape From War gave me just what I needed.

☑ a brooding, handsome, and more than capable ex-SEAL, Alpha hero
☑ a sassy, beautiful, and fierce heroine
☑ a stalker-murderer who has our heroes in his crosshairs
☑ a sexy, second chance at love

Seriously, what more could one ask for?

Despite the fact that I guessed the identity of the killer early on, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey. I loved how the author gave both characters easily relatable flaws. War found it hard to trust and the smallest things could (and did) set him off. Rose had walls and when War had hurt her, she found it hard to bring them down for him again. He was a bit of a brute and she wanted to tame him. It was an interesting dynamic that fed this story.

And although I've already met Odin, I loved getting to see him introduced in this book. And there it was. Pure Odin. The guy who would have your back in an instant even if he was pissed as hell at you. A friend straight to the core, through blood and pain and battles. You're gonna love Odin too!

Cynthia Eden has been a must-buy author for me for a long time and I rely on her for a juicy plot, demanding characters, fantastic chemistry, and must-read romance. With No Escape From War, she delivered.

About the Author

Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.

Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

Visit http://www.cynthiaeden.com/ for more information!
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Review // Dark Purity by Aja James

September 10, 2021

Dark Purity by Aja James

Sorin knew that he was forever lost to this male.
This man who was his Bane, yet also not.
This man who was equal light and darkness.
Joy and pain.
An infinite myriad of experiences and emotions.
He enthralled Sorin, body, heart and soul.

──────　♔　──────


Dark Purity by Aja James

Dark Purity by Aja James


Pure/Dark Ones #17
Release - May 15, 2021
Genre - Paranormal Romance / second chance / MM romance
Primarily Dual POV - 3rd person (with other brief POVs)
Heat Level - 5 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Page Count - 396
Publisher - Indie

An unlikely hero…

He was once known as the Creature. An indefinable “it.” His life had never been his own, used and abused by despicable beings. Worst of all, he never knew himself.

Despite his tortured past, despite the darkness inside him, he has chosen a brighter path. He has a name—Erebu. His first stand was to defy the Master who created him to save his son. But instead of destroying the greatest enemy of all, he himself was destroyed…

An unlikely love…

From distant lands, across fathomless seas, someone heard the Creature’s cries. He gave Ere a second chance, a miraculous rebirth that came at a steep cost, remaking Ere with his own breath, body, blood and soul.

This mysterious savior has a past of his own to face, and a future to define and embrace. Will Ere be able to find him in time? Will they forge their path together or pursue separate destinies?

An end and a beginning…

No matter their decision, one thing is certain: they must work together to unite all Kinds if they have a hope of defeating their ultimate nemesis.

The end is near…

And so is a brand new beginning.

Purchase Links

Amazon CA * Amazon US
(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)


My Two Cents

I tried to read this book very slowly, but found it so hard to pace myself because it was DELICIOUS!! Let it be said... I loved Ere and Sorin together!

Not that I'm surprised.

To love Ere is to love anyone he happens to love. The list isn't large, but those he cares for are the best of the best and Sorin definitely deserved his place.

I fell in love with Sorin right from the start. How could I not? Oh. My. Gosh! I can't get over how Ere 'waxed poetic' about each part of his physical form, such as...

But gods! That was the hottest forearm he’d ever seen in all his life! It was forearm porn as far as he was concerned. Maybe he should write to PornHub when he got home and request that they add this kink to their suite of offerings. Must be an untapped market out there if looking at a stranger’s half-naked limb could get an avowed asexual like him to perk up with reluctant, disorienting interest. It would be a public service.

and...

High, sharp, perfect cheekbones. Were there any cheekbones ever created on a man that was ever this perfect? The answer was a resounding: hell no! There never had been and never would be cheekbones this ridiculously perfect. If he was the size of an ant, he’d cliff-dive off those cheekbones and hope to be caught upon those beautiful, full lips. If they weren’t as soft as they looked and he broke upon impact, it would be a glorious, worthwhile sacrifice. Maybe he’d get lost in the beard instead. Maybe he’d root around in the thick, forest-like maze and never come out.

I was enamored by the connection these two males shared, even if Ere couldn't remember why they shared it. I couldn't get over the way his body reacted. Or the way his thoughts were obsessed with Sorin, making him feel things he's never felt before. Or the way his insatiable need for the man made him crave to be close to him. Well, I guess it went both ways.

Seriously, when I was only 16% in, I was a true goner for these males. I still can't get over how succinctly Sorin summed up everything awesome that made up Ere.

His “bane” never changed. It didn’t matter how many incarnations he’d had since Sorin first knew him. He could be incredibly thoughtful, sensitive, playful and mischievous. He could be the worst prankster there ever existed, causing no end of trouble for Sorin, but he was never purely “bad.” He’d been a child, wild and free, innocent to the ways of the world. So fearless and bright and beautiful he took Sorin’s breath away. He still did. But now, there was darkness too. Bottomless depths of it.

And how could I possibly not love how fiercely each male loved the other. Whether it was Sorin wanting to heal everything that was broken in Ere, or Ere wanting to give joy to overcome the sorrow he felt from Sorin's soul, these males gave their all to each other.

He wanted to hunt down the monsters who had hurt his bane. Tear them limb from limb and smelt them to ashes with the fury of his flames. He wanted to fix Ere’s brokenness from the inside out. Help him reclaim his true self.

and...

“Solemnity.” Before the word was fully out of his mouth, Sorin’s own covered his, swallowing the last syllable. It wasn’t a tentative kiss. There was nothing tentative about the male, Ere quickly realized. He wanted; he took. Ere suspected he only ever asked for permission with him. And that made all the difference in the world.

and...

Sorin’s kiss began as a desperate assault, his bold tongue driving into Ere’s mouth. Plundering. Staking. Taking. Ere desperately sucked on him in return, wanting to keep him inside, savoring every taste, wanting to bite him and devour him, his need was so great. And then, the male suddenly pulled his head back. Perhaps, like Ere, he simply needed to gulp in oxygen. But at the moment, Ere didn’t think he cared if he died of suffocation if this was how he went. His first real kiss! And he was fucking awesome at it! Sorin’s body didn’t lie. Couldn’t lie. He was hard enough to pound coal into diamond.

Aside from these two, there were other things that were explored with this story, such as The Dandelions. These people were the result of experiments and I was hoping to get more of them before The End. For example, Clara and her adopted daughter Annie were 'experiments'. So was Ariel. The Tech Master. Who else was there and how would they have featured in some way? What powers would they each develop?

I think my biggest shock, apart from the fact that Benji's heritage wasn't explored (I really wish my questions from the last book were answered), was the fact that Lilith/Wan'er/Fox Spirt was one of the original Twin Goddesses. What?! This evil chick was the Dark Goddess? I loved how the author created her back story, including her punishment to experience humanity as a lesser being. She obviously learned nothing, and her end was well deserved, and the author did an incredible job building and building and building to the ultimate climax of this story.

I found so much of this story simply beautiful and I adored how devoted these characters were to each other. I'm in love with the way this author captures romance and blends it so well with mythology and suspense. I'm at once thrilled and broken after experiencing this series. Thrilled that I got the chance to read it and broken because this particular journey is over. I don't want to say goodbye!!

Check out the previous books:








Quick Peek

Before he even arrived at the table, the words he’d formulated in his head to say were already spilling out of his mouth.

“Welcome to Drink of Me. May I take your—”

The words stuck in his throat and died a hasty death when the stranger turned away from the window to face him, spearing his feet into the floor with invisible stakes with those unforgettable gold eyes.

“You,” Ere breathed.

The man called “Soren” merely stared at him, silent and brooding.

Well, Ere didn’t know if he was in fact brooding, but he had a “Heathcliff” look about him, all stormy and dark, filled with oceans-worth of emotions and unspoken turmoil.

Ere wanted to smack himself.

The purple prose in his mind was annoying as hell! But he just couldn’t seem to stop the melodramatic twists and turns of his fucked-up imagination.

“What are you doing here?”

He didn’t actually expect an answer, since the man hadn’t spoken a single word since their encounter yesterday. So he was knocked literally off his feet when the stranger said:

“Hungry.”

That voice!

For the love of Loki’s hairy balls, that voice!

It was fathoms deep, resonant, but smoky and husky at the same time, raspy and rough. Tinged with an erotic accent when he spoke.

(Yes, he meant erotic and exotic. Accents could be erotic, Ere was absolutely certain, because this guy’s voice conjured all kinds of carnal cravings and sinful deeds).


About the Author

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Visit https://aja-james.blog/ for more information!
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