Kiss of Dragons by Aja James

Book 9 of the Dragon Tails series
Rating -
Release - July 6, 2024
Genre - Paranormal Romance / fated mates / second chance
POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 321 pages



I had so many arguments with myself over this story and I don't even know how I feel in the end. I think I'll go with hopeful. I'm hoping for a real future for this couple.

Okay, so let me start here... I have MAD respect for this author. How she keeps everything straight and constantly has me on edge, I'll never know, I'm sure. I'm forever wondering if I've figured everything out and then learning something new with every single book. I'm just in love with the way this story has evolved over two series.

Ben has always been an enigma. He was one of the original beasts and lived his current incarnation surrounded by them. Seen as the leader of dragons, he knew his destiny was already written, but he was always left wishing for more. Where was his mate? Who would it be?

Seven was a goddess. She was a fickle being who didn't understand human emotion and lacked empathy. While it may have worked well for her for eons, she has to come to discover that it didn't do her any favours. Ben used to belong to her, when he was a Beast. She created him after all. In this lifetime, she can't command him. She will have to earn his heart the old fashioned way.

It took me forever and a day to get on Seven's side. I've loved Ben for so many books and truly believed that he deserved the best of the best. Seriously, only the best would do and I didn't think Seven fit the bill. She took forever to learn her lesson, but when she did, I started to root for her. I could finally see where the author was taking this romance and I was most definitely on board.

The action started to pick up towards the end and when I thought there were no more surprises, the author gave me another one. I can't wait to see how it all plays out in the next book.


Best-selling 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!

Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.

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

Hey everyone and welcome to another Throwback Thursday! Every other week I'll be sharing my book recommendations within a specific romantic trope or theme.

Today I'm sharing the first five Brother's/Sister's Best Friend books I loved and reviewed on the blog. There's something special about this trope, maybe because of how seamless the relationships can be. It's almost organic in how they're in each other's sphere and it takes one great moment to light the spark between them. When they're done well, they're automatic winners for me.

If you happen to know of a book in this theme that you think I'd love, please let me know.

Hollywood Prince by Kim Karr

This story had a love triangle vibe, which I typically avoid, but I really enjoyed the way the author laid everything out. This story is steamy with easy to like characters. It was just another example of why Kim Karr made it to me must-read list.

Tempt by K.I. Lynn

Tempt is short and sweet and smutty. I've loved this author's writing for years and she didn't disappoint with this little novella. A great palate cleanse for those who enjoy books with heat.

Hungry as a Wolf by Alma Black

I always meant to get back to this author's books because I vividly remember enjoying this paranormal series. This story had a forbidden quality to it along with a suspenseful element. It definitely entertained me right to the end.

The Room Mate by Kendall Ryan

The entire Roommates series is pretty much a win for me and this one still stood out. It could be because there was plenty to piss me off and I came out smiling in the end.

The Boss by J.L. Perry

It's light and easy with plenty of chemistry and some sexy times. The author delves into the emotions of the characters and we're along for the ride.

Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.

Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)

The Two Week Arrangement by Kendall Ryan

Dear Sexy AF Intern,

I know you don't particularly care that I'm the CEO of this company, and you're just an intern. I also know you're not impressed by my power or my wealth, and that's fine.

You think you've got me all figured out from working alongside me for two weeks, but you don't know me. Not really.

You don't know that I'm a single dad to twin toddlers, or that those two little girls matter more to me than this entire hotel chain.

I'm not interested in starting something deep and meaningful, but what I am interested in is the way your body reacts to mine when we're in the same room. You probably assume the concentration on my face is work-related, when in reality, I'm figuring out which I want more--to nail you against the wall, or to bend you over my desk.

While you're too disciplined to act on it, I'm not. And the night you stepped into my limo, all bets were off.

Chasing Fate by J.R. Thorn

Every Thousand Years the Cycle of Death Returns

A young psychic named Renee inherits her grandmother’s terrifying powers and summons two hot (and very naked) angels to help her save the world. Paired up with her ex-boyfriend turned vampire, she’s in for a hell of a ride.

Every thousand years the cycle of death comes to claim the three major realms: Earth, heaven, and hell. It’s her turn to chase fate and stop the cycle from devouring her world, bringing heaven and hell down with it.

When the echoes of calamity begin to take form and destroy her beloved Fortune Street, she’ll have to race against the clock to stop her new vision from coming to fruition. Earth in ashes and heaven and hell collapsed in a ball of flames.

Edwin and Devon aren’t the kind of angels she’d expected to conjure with her new gifts for such a monumental task. With Devon’s constant flirting, Edwin’s sexy brooding, and Jeffery’s distracting fangs, she’ll have to hope they’re more useful than they are distracting in the game of chasing fate.

Kill or Be Killed by Bry Ann

Scarlett:
Love doesn’t make sense to me.
Like, what, your heart pitter-patters a few times and your brain loses all sense of reason.
It just joins in on the torture.
No thank you.
I'm hot. I f*ck. That’s ALL I do.
I'm not bitter. No one dumped me.
I’ll give you a hint what screwed me up so bad…
DEATH.
And that’s exactly what he is… death with muscles and enough physical scars to match my emotional ones.

Tobias:
I was tortured for years on end.
Beaten within an inch of my life more times than I can count.
I became a monster. A beast who craved to hurt people like I was hurt…
Until I meet sex on heels and all I want to do is hurt her. F*ck her. Use her.
Until I don’t.
...and that’s the part that scares me.

Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

Book 3 of the Artefacts of Ouranos series
Rating - 1/2
Release - June 4, 2024
Genre - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Multiple 1st person
Heat - descriptive
Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 556 pages
Previous books in the series - Trial of the Sun Queen and Rule of the Aurora King




Seriously Nisha?! You're gonna do me like that???!!!

The entire entourage is hiding in plain sight and I was anxious for them. Who would find them first — Nadir's dad or the equally awful Sun King? While I waited to find out, I learned so much more about the history of the realms, the diabolical schemes of those in power, and what must happen to make things right. I think I know, but I need more details to be sure. Book four needs to appear in my hands pronto.

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed getting other perspectives for this story. I could finally root for these characters, understanding their motives and emotions. All I wanted was for Lor to finally see Nadir and when she finally did, when she finally accepted that her anger wasn't truly with him, when she recognized everything they could be together, I was delirious with hope and happiness. All I want is to see this couple triumph over it all, knowing they are end game.

This was my favourite book of the series so far, even though it practically killed me in the end. While I'm tired of the heroines of fantasy books being the 'greatest person of all time', I do believe Lor and her siblings deserve all of the blessings that seem to be in store for them. They've suffered more than anyone should have to, especially when their suffering was due to their ancestor's transgressions. But it seems that there is so much more to the story and I'm loving how complicated everything is getting.

Kudos to the author for keeping all of these facts straight, tempting me with juicy morsels, leaving me begging for more. I'm sitting here absolutely devastated and excited for the next book.



Nisha J. Tuli is the bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen—the first in the Artefacts of Ouranos series—which became a BookTok hit thanks to her amazing fans. The originally self-published series was acquired by Forever Publishing and Orbit UK in 2023, and will soon be published in 15 other languages around the world.

She's also the author of Heart of Night and Fire, a South Asian-inspired fantasy romance and the first in a four-book series. Look for her rom-com debut in 2025 with NSFW (Not Suitable for Work), a workplace rivals to lovers rom-com publishing with Forever.

Nisha lives in Canada, where she spends most of her time reading and writing while enjoying travel, food, and camping with her partner, two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed, Mora.

Visit https://nishajtuli.com for more information.

Hello and happy Monday! I'm back with a series of books I read back in the day, enjoyed, and wanted to share. Have you read these books? Hopefully my review inspires someone to give this series a try.

Book One

When Sarah "Red" Ryder loses her job as an art critic for a Boston newspaper, she's brokenhearted. Worse than that? She's broke. Her boyfriend recently left her, so she's stuck paying her hefty apartment rent alone. After two months unemployed, there's no money left. With no immediate family to turn to, Red reaches out to her estranged grandmother, a reclusive writer living on an island off the coast of Charleston. Several days later, Red receives $30,000 and an invitation to visit.

James Wolfe is not Red's grandmother - but he's the only person waiting for her at the boat dock. Red has something he needs. He won't take "no" for an answer, and he doesn't mind screwing her over to get it. He lost his conscience six years ago, when he went off the grid. Since then, life is about him - and the renowned oil paintings he does under the mysterious pseudonym "W."

Until the moment he sees her. Then Red is all he wants. And Wolfe will have her - any way he can.

I gave it 3 stars.
From what I've seen, I'm guessing this is a spin on Little Red Riding Hood? I'm not sure I really got that other than the characters names. I haven't quite connected to Red or Wolfe yet. Red annoyed me so it will take a bit to endear her to me. While she was busy selling her worldly possessions, I kept wondering why she doesn't move?! When I read that she had granite countertops, I was baffled. Surely the cheapest places in Boston don't have granite countertops! Wth was wrong with this picture?! So yeah, I had no sympathy for the character. However, I'm interested in finding out more about Wolfe so I'm going to keep reading.

Book Two

Return to Rabbit Island for the erotic second installment of Red & Wolfe, the sensual story of exiled playboy James Wolfe and writer Sarah "Red" Ryder.

This is an erotic fairy tale inspired by Little Red Riding Hood.

I gave it 4 stars.
Damn that Wolfe is one sexy as f**k dominant. I didn't expect that and I like the surprise.

In this book, Red finally acknowledges how alone she is now that she has no family left. She also starts realizing, with Wolfe's help, that she's a natural submissive, at least for him.

I'm really interested to find out how she figures out who he is (she calls him Race Hollister but we know he's James Wolfe).

Book Three

Return to Rabbit Island with Red & the illusive Rafe for the hottest serial installment so far.

I'd bring at least two pairs of extra panties if I were you.

I gave it 4 stars.
What I found funny about this installment was that even though it was less than 40 pages, so much was happening that it felt longer. I'm still very intrigued by the mysterious James Wolfe. There seems to be so many interesting points to his story, such as his relationship then marriage to Cookie, her subsequent death, his trial for her murder, his relationship with his father and brother, his cousin Bob, and his relationship with Red's grandmother Gertrude. Because of how short each part is, I'm guessing I won't see further development on these areas, which sucks because I would definitely read that. I think of Red as a side character, simply because she's not a strong enough character to carry the plot on her own. She offers very little IMO. I hope to get some answers and maybe the start of a relationship between these two because they're hot together (although that's mainly because of Wolfe).

Book Four

Return to Rabbit Island for the heart-pounding conclusion to Red and Wolfe's story.

Don't forget your extra panties - but this time, you might also want to bring your gun.

I gave it 4 stars.
This is a new author for me and I found her writing unique, different and refreshing. This book for instance had so much packed into so little. Sex, betrayal, sex, guns, sex, knives, sex, secrets revealed, sex. Wow there was a lot of sex lol. But I'm not complaining about that. Nosiree. However, I am complaining about the use of the term 'f**k doll'. I absolutely did not like it. I could have truly done without it. But I liked everything else about Wolfe so it didn't completely turn me off from him. I enjoyed this series and I'm sure I will enjoy other books from this author.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.



In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.

The House of Night, too, is surrounded by enemies. Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.

When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.

But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power – and the devastating love that could be her downfall.



After sooo many people recommended this series to me, I finally took the plunge... and I enjoyed it!

Everyone and their mama knows that I'm picky about heroines and Oraya had plenty for me to pick apart. But for every moment she irked me, she made me so proud of her too. She was the human daughter of the vampire king and her whole life was lived in terror. Constantly looking over her shoulder, trusting no one, and always on the brink of having to defend herself. When she joins the Kejari, she goes in with one goal — win at all costs. It was the start of a horrifying adventure and a journey toward her true path. She annoyed me to no end, but I was excited to see her triumph.

Raihn was hard to like in the beginning but this male quickly grew on me. He did a lot of the unexpected and I didn't doubt for one minute how much he truly valued Oraya. I loved whenever they got the chance to fight together. It was them against the world... until it wasn't. Raihn did some things that were hard to forgive and boy did Oraya make him work for it.

When I got to the end I found myself wishing for more. Raihn and Oraya had fought for most of this story and I wanted to spend more time with them as a couple. I can only hope to see more of them in the books to come.

My personal notes on the book:
* am I the only one tired of the whole "the heroine is the most beautiful, strongest, powerful person on Earth and the hero worships at her feet" trope? What is wrong with them being on equal footing?
* the amount of times Oraya said she won the Kejari when she only won because Raihn gave her the win.
* will all of the side characters get a story? Oops, just checked and saw that The Songbird & the Heart of Stone is about Mische.


PER THE AUTHOR:

I’ve been freaking out teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance. My books include the Crowns of Nyaxia series, the War of Lost Hearts series, and hopefully many more to come!

I live with my husband, one very well behaved rabbit, one very poorly behaved rabbit, and one perpetually skeptical cat in the extremely underrated state of Rhode Island.

You can find me around the internet on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Visit carissabroadbentbooks.com for more information.

The Hellfire Riders: Saxon & Jenny by Kati Wilde

Books 1-3 - The Hellfire Riders
Rating -
Release - December 1, 2014
Genre - MC Romance / instalove
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 406 pages



When Saxon and Jenny first met, he was defending her from an attack. He spent years in prison because he saved her and he didn't regret one moment of it. While he served his time, Jenny was free to live her life, pining for the man who stepped in when no one else did.

Years later, the danger is back and only Saxon can give Jenny the protection she needs. And finally, the stars aligned because they both reveal their true affection for one another and it was really sweet. I loved how this big, tough biker was such a softy for the woman he loved. I really liked how the author imbued this hero with the qualities of a very honorable man and the heroine with the perfect features to complement her other half.

This story was a bit scary, but full of heart, heat and hope. I love when Amazon gives me a recommendation that is just right for me. I'm new to this author, but after reading this story, I'll definitely be back for more.


Kati Wilde is a tight-lipped, loose-hipped woman of indeterminate age and low breeding. Born into a very large family, she now has a very small family (no laws were broken in this transition), and she writes romantic fiction to assuage her darker urge to write Transformers erotica.

Visit katiwilde.com for more information.