I was all in on Theon, Duke of Lindow. We were going to make each other very f*cking happy for the rest of our days, and no one was going to get in the way of that.
Find more information HERE
Find more information HERE
Avaritia by Colette Rhodes
Rating -
Book 4 of the Shades of Sin series
Release - March 30, 2024
Genre - paranormal romance / captive
POV - dual 1st person
Heat - explicit
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 270 pages
If there’s one thing Verity will consistently do, it’s spontaneously make terrible decisions. Sometimes they work out well—so far, smuggling her rescue cat into the shadow realm has been a great success—but more often than not, she ends up with a bigger mess to clean up than she started with.
If there’s one thing Theon will consistently do, it’s plot his brother’s demise after losing his spot in the line of succession to King Allerick. It has yet to work out well for him, but there’s a first time for everything, right?
Especially now that Theon has got himself an ex-Hunter of his own to feed from, and he’s stronger than ever.
But Verity isn’t going to let Theon get away with his treasonous ways, not when he has so much to offer the shadow realm. For the first time, someone believes that Theon has the capacity to do good in the world.
If only he believed her.
If there’s one thing Theon will consistently do, it’s plot his brother’s demise after losing his spot in the line of succession to King Allerick. It has yet to work out well for him, but there’s a first time for everything, right?
Especially now that Theon has got himself an ex-Hunter of his own to feed from, and he’s stronger than ever.
But Verity isn’t going to let Theon get away with his treasonous ways, not when he has so much to offer the shadow realm. For the first time, someone believes that Theon has the capacity to do good in the world.
If only he believed her.
If I were to get on TikTok right now (finally) to promote a book, it would be this one. I freaking loved it!!
I didn't much like Verity going into this book and I didn't like her in the beginning of it. But then something happened... the way she interacted with Theon made me see another side to her. Actually, several sides and I realized that I was oblivious to the nuance of her character and then I fell in love. Was she still a silly, vapid, superficial woman? Yes, yes she was. But she also had so much depth to her, especially when it came to bringing out the best in Theon and allowing him to bring out the best in her.
I found I had a ton of sympathy for Theon and I wished that he had a better relationship with his brothers. Hopefully with the way things unfolded in this story, their relationship will become stronger than ever. Honestly, the way Verity constantly came to his defense made me smile so big. A male who never had a defender suddenly had the staunchest of supporters.
Go Team!
Seriously, this story ended up being one of my favorites of the series and now I'm even more excited to read the next one.
Colette Rhodes is a huge fan of paranormal romance and reverse harem books. They're what she loves to read and what she loves to write. #WhyChoose, right?Colette studied both History and Ancient History at university and loves including both historical facts and ancient mythology in her work.
When she's not writing, you'll find her spending time with her husband and daughter in beautiful New Zealand.
Visit https://coletterhodes.com for more information
These reviews will be short and sweet, but if you're someone who enjoys mushy scifi romance, these stories are for you.
This collection gave me a sample of some of this author's series and a glimpse of how much I'd enjoy them.
I did skip one of the books, Mated to the Cyborgs, because I knew right away that it wasn't for me.
Enjoy!
Assigned a Mate
dual pov, explicit heat, arranged marriage
When a potential threat against her life forces Eva Daily to seek shelter on another world, she has only one option available to her. She must offer herself to the Interstellar Bride Program. After a deeply humiliating assessment of her suitability, Eva will be assigned a mate and transported to his world to become his bride.
Upon arriving on the desert planet Trion, Eva soon learns that things are quite different than she is used to on Earth. Her assigned mate, the powerful, handsome High Councilor Tark, makes it clear that she will be expected to submit to him completely, and she quickly discovers that disobedience will earn her a painful, embarrassing spanking on her bare bottom.
An intimate examination from her new mate leaves Eva blushing crimson, but to her surprise Tark’s mastery of her body arouses her beyond anything she could have ever imagined. Soon enough she finds herself naked, bound, and unable to resist the urge to beg for more as his skillful lovemaking brings her to one shattering climax after another.
It doesn’t take long, however, for Eva to realize that there is much more to Tark than just a dominant brute who will not hesitate to take his misbehaving wife over his knee and redden her bare bottom thoroughly. But just as her passion for him begins to blossom into love, events back on Earth threaten to tear her away from him forever. Can Eva find a way to remain at Tark’s side and in his bed, or will she be left with nothing but memories of the man who has claimed both her body and her heart?
Rating -
While this was heavy on the smut and not so much the romance, I enjoyed it. It's a short and dirty read, perfect filler when you're done with a plot heavy book. I liked both Eva and Tark and would have loved to spend more time with them. That's a good sign.
While this was heavy on the smut and not so much the romance, I enjoyed it. It's a short and dirty read, perfect filler when you're done with a plot heavy book. I liked both Eva and Tark and would have loved to spend more time with them. That's a good sign.
His Virgin Mate
dual pov, explicit heat, instant connection, arranged marriage
Twenty-one and single, Alexis Lopez hopes her lackluster response to men is a problem she's eager to solve by volunteering for the Interstellar Brides Program. One look at the large, dominant alien who claims she belongs to him sets her body on fire. When he tells her, in explicit detail, how he'll claim her in every way, she is eager to give her mate everything, body and soul.
Von of Everis is a ruthless and high ranking Hunter who's spent years fighting in the Hive wars. But his bed, and his life, are empty until Alexis arrives. One look at his innocent little bride and he knows she belongs to him.
Simple, right? Nope. The match is challenged by one of the most feared warriors on the planet and stolen kisses and mind-numbing pleasure won't save Von from a deadly duel. But Von is a Hunter, a warrior, a protector, and someone is trying to take what belongs to him. Only him. He will do whatever it takes to protect, save and claim his virgin mate.
Rating -
I liked that Alexis held all the power when it came to deciding how far she would take things with Von. If she wasn't really feeling him or found someone more enticing, she could simply walk away. So cool. Lucky for Von, he was everything she could possibly want in a man and the shared dreams and experiences only served to cement their bond. There was just enough juicy bits (aside from the sex) to keep this story interesting.
I liked that Alexis held all the power when it came to deciding how far she would take things with Von. If she wasn't really feeling him or found someone more enticing, she could simply walk away. So cool. Lucky for Von, he was everything she could possibly want in a man and the shared dreams and experiences only served to cement their bond. There was just enough juicy bits (aside from the sex) to keep this story interesting.
Maid for the Beast
dual pov, explicit heat, fated mates
An Atlan Warlord in Mating Fever with two choices: Be the latest bachelor beast on an Earth reality television show to find his perfect mate or face certain death in an Atlan prison. Braun's not sure which is worse... until a female enters his hotel suite with towels and cleaning supplies.
She isn't part of the television show.
She isn't available.
She isn't interested in mating with an alien.
She isn't his.
Try telling that to his beast, because one look at the maid and Braun knows he will do anything... anything, to claim her.
Rating - 1/2
Okay, if you read this book and don't immediately fall into instant like with Braun... I don't even know what to tell you. This alien was amazing and Angela got really lucky. Hot and entertaining, if all of Goodwin's books are like this, I'll be reading her entire list.
1/2Okay, if you read this book and don't immediately fall into instant like with Braun... I don't even know what to tell you. This alien was amazing and Angela got really lucky. Hot and entertaining, if all of Goodwin's books are like this, I'll be reading her entire list.
The First Starfighter
dual pov, descriptive heat, instalove
It was just a game. The newest, hottest video game release of the year. Choose a role. Build the perfect hero who joins you on missions to save the Vega star system from the evil Queen Raya and her merciless Dark Fleet.
Play for hours? Check.
Obsess over the in-game romance between your avatar and the sexiest alien you've ever seen? Check.
Win? Beat the heck out of the game? Check and check.
Open your door at 3:00 in the morning to find that smoking hot alien you thought you made up in your head standing there? Um... okay.
Wake up on the other side of the galaxy with that same alien insisting you're his... and that you haven't been playing a video game, but completed the training program to become the first Starfighter from Earth?
Holy sh$t.
Rating -
This story stretched my imagination too far and I've got a pretty great imagination.
Jamie plays a video game with some online friends. She created her online companion, they go on missions together, and she beats the game. Then her online companion shows up at her place because he's actually a real person (alien) and the game she was playing was actually a training simulation. She's this alien world's best hope of beating back their ruthless enemy.
Are we being for real?
She's supposed to be able to fly and fight based on a game. And she excels at it.
BFFR.
This story stretched my imagination too far and I've got a pretty great imagination.
Jamie plays a video game with some online friends. She created her online companion, they go on missions together, and she beats the game. Then her online companion shows up at her place because he's actually a real person (alien) and the game she was playing was actually a training simulation. She's this alien world's best hope of beating back their ruthless enemy.
Are we being for real?
She's supposed to be able to fly and fight based on a game. And she excels at it.
BFFR.
Content Advisory
This book contains off the page but referenced miscarriage, threat of sexual assault, reference to child abuse, dementia, murder, explosions, house fire, along with common tropes found in the Romantic Thriller/Romantic Suspense genre, including violence, sex, and strong language. If you are sensitive or easily triggered, please take that into consideration and read responsibly.
Find more information HERE
Cold Spite by Toni Anderson
Rating -
Book 5 of Cold Justice: Most Wanted
Release - October 14, 2024
Genre - Romantic Thriller / second chance
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - vaguely descriptive
Source - eARC provided by the author (THANKS GIVEMEBOOKS)
Length - 446 pages
When FBI Agent Delilah Quinn survives an attempt on her life, she pretends to be dead in order to outwit her attacker. There is only one person she can turn to for help—a man she never wanted to see again…a man who abandoned her five years ago and left her heartbroken. A man definitely on the killer’s hit list.
FBI Hostage Rescue Operator Cas Demarco lives with the burning regret of choosing to join HRT and leaving Delilah behind. News of her death devastates him. Then she calls him out of the blue and he can’t help but seize this one last chance to make things right.
With both Delilah and Cas targeted for death, a task force is set up to catch their would-be killer, who they believe is a disgraced former Navy SEAL they helped convict of drug trafficking. Out of prison and on a ruthless quest for retribution, the former SEAL is eliminating everyone who wronged him—without leaving a shred of evidence behind.
Can Delilah and Cas prove who’s responsible for the attempts on their lives and have a second chance at a future together? Or will the rogue ex-SEAL double-down on his promise to destroy them both?
FBI Hostage Rescue Operator Cas Demarco lives with the burning regret of choosing to join HRT and leaving Delilah behind. News of her death devastates him. Then she calls him out of the blue and he can’t help but seize this one last chance to make things right.
With both Delilah and Cas targeted for death, a task force is set up to catch their would-be killer, who they believe is a disgraced former Navy SEAL they helped convict of drug trafficking. Out of prison and on a ruthless quest for retribution, the former SEAL is eliminating everyone who wronged him—without leaving a shred of evidence behind.
Can Delilah and Cas prove who’s responsible for the attempts on their lives and have a second chance at a future together? Or will the rogue ex-SEAL double-down on his promise to destroy them both?
Five years ago, Cas and Delilah worked an op together and fell in love. The future was theirs until Cas sabotaged everything.
Both were left devastated.
Both were unable to move on.
Fast forward to the present, they're both in danger and there's no one else they'd rather have at their side. Cas has regretted the pain he caused Lilah and she's not sure she can ever forgive him. But a little mayhem and a lot of murder have a way of bringing stubborn people together and I loved how the author gave me that.
These characters had to confront a ton of pain, but they eventually got through it and seemed to be better for it.
There were times that I had to remind myself this wasn't just a love story, despite the many scary events that occurred to and around this couple. They took center stage and the author nailed their second chance together for me.
Toni Anderson writes gritty, sexy, FBI Romantic Thrillers, and is a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, Readers' Choice, Aspen Gold, Book Buyers' Best, Golden Quill, National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) Contest, and National Excellence in Romance Fiction awards. She's been a finalist in both the Vivian Contest and the RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America. More than two million copies of her books have been downloaded.
Best known for her "COLD" books perhaps it's not surprising to discover Toni lives in one of the most extreme climates on earth--Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Marine Biologist, she still misses the ocean, but is lucky enough to travel for research purposes. In January 2016, she visited FBI Headquarters in Washington DC, including a tour of the Strategic Information and Operations Center. She hopes not to get arrested for her Google searches.
Hello and Happy Wednesday. I hope your week is off to a great start!
I'm sharing four books I read and quite enjoyed and maybe you'll find something here to read too!
Tristitia by Colette Rhodes
Paranormal Romance; one night stand; dual 1st person pov; explicit heat; 128 pages
A monster x monster novella set in the Shades of Sin universe.
It is best read as 3.5 in the series, after Gula.
Suitable for readers age 18+
Rating -
How sweet was Calix?
From previous books, I knew him as the surly, somewhat unapproachable chef at the palace. I knew something was brewing between him and Levana, but I had no idea how it was going to happen and if we were going to see it happen or if they'd just appear as a couple in a future story.
So thank you, Colette Rhodes, for giving us this tale.
Levana was the queen's guard, but she knew her time at the palace was temporary. Her father had expectations and she had lived her life trying to meet them.
What happens when she falls in love and the life she wants isn't the life her father has planned?
Loved this book!
How sweet was Calix?
From previous books, I knew him as the surly, somewhat unapproachable chef at the palace. I knew something was brewing between him and Levana, but I had no idea how it was going to happen and if we were going to see it happen or if they'd just appear as a couple in a future story.
So thank you, Colette Rhodes, for giving us this tale.
Levana was the queen's guard, but she knew her time at the palace was temporary. Her father had expectations and she had lived her life trying to meet them.
What happens when she falls in love and the life she wants isn't the life her father has planned?
Loved this book!
A Soul to Touch by Opal Reyne
Paranormal Monster Romance; forbidden; dual 3rd person pov; filthy heat; 501 pages
All Mayumi ever wanted was to hunt Demons.
After being discharged from the Demonslayer guild, Mayumi chose to isolate herself within the forest. The best place to hunt and kill Demons. But, one night, she’s surprised when a different monster is lured by her baits.
Just before she unleashes an arrow that’s aimed to kill, Mayumi pauses. She realises she’s seen that skulled, feline face before and that it had once saved her life.
All Faunus ever wanted was her.
After the Demon King cracked his skull, Faunus returns to watch over the only human he has ever cared for. He knows what his future holds, she would never become his bride, but he wants to spend what remains of his life protecting her.
He never expected that she would ever befriend him, or that she would openly desire him. She’s as fiery as her burning passion, and he’s desperate to let her consume him.
But his time in this world grows short, and Faunus doesn’t know how he can be with Mayumi when he knows nothing will save him.
Rating -
I would give anything to be closer to you, Mayumi. - Faunus
This had to be the most angsty story of the series. At least it was for me because there were a couple of times I swear I was on the verge of tears.
Faunus was by far the most emotional Duskwalker of the bunch. His well of humanity seemed to be depthless, especially when it came to Mayumi. His heart beat for her. His very essence held onto this side of the veil simply to protect and be near her.
And wasn't it awesome how easily she welcomed him to her side?
"I've never lost someone who made me feel so whole. How am I supposed to find my place in a world I know for certain you're not in?... How am I to find someone who felt like they were the other half of me when I know it was you... in all your big, fluffy glory? I hate you so much for doing this to me... And I love you so damn much that it feels like my heart is burning." - Mayumi
There was plenty of absolutely naughty scenes to be had, but it was the growth of their relationship that I concentrated on. It was easy to see how much they cared for each other, even though they were more the "show and not tell" kind of people. And they showed... a lot.
I loved getting to see some familiar faces and also a new one. It gave me a bit more knowledge of demons and elves and hints at more. I'm hoping to find out everything and have every questioned answered by the end of this series.
I would give anything to be closer to you, Mayumi. - Faunus
This had to be the most angsty story of the series. At least it was for me because there were a couple of times I swear I was on the verge of tears.
Faunus was by far the most emotional Duskwalker of the bunch. His well of humanity seemed to be depthless, especially when it came to Mayumi. His heart beat for her. His very essence held onto this side of the veil simply to protect and be near her.
And wasn't it awesome how easily she welcomed him to her side?
"I've never lost someone who made me feel so whole. How am I supposed to find my place in a world I know for certain you're not in?... How am I to find someone who felt like they were the other half of me when I know it was you... in all your big, fluffy glory? I hate you so much for doing this to me... And I love you so damn much that it feels like my heart is burning." - Mayumi
There was plenty of absolutely naughty scenes to be had, but it was the growth of their relationship that I concentrated on. It was easy to see how much they cared for each other, even though they were more the "show and not tell" kind of people. And they showed... a lot.
I loved getting to see some familiar faces and also a new one. It gave me a bit more knowledge of demons and elves and hints at more. I'm hoping to find out everything and have every questioned answered by the end of this series.
Grim and Bear It by Juliette Cross
Paranormal Romance; fated mates; dual 1st person pov; explicit heat; 368 pages
Clara Savoie is so confused. She is absolutely positive that Henry Blackwater is practically in love with her. But for some strange reason, he won’t even ask her on a single date. Time to take matters into her own hands.
When Clara shows up on his doorstep with an unusual invitation, tempting cupcakes, and naughty innuendo, Henry has no choice but to say yes. Now he’s the newest member of the High Tea Romance Book Club. While Clara learns the haunting secrets of her broody grim, Henry shows her what commitment from a necromancer truly means.
But when his father is arrested for murder, Henry is dragged back into the nightmare he’s been avoiding all his life. When he steps back into his father’s world, he isn’t just endangering himself but also the bright, beautiful woman he can no longer live without. But he just might have to.
Rating -
The last book of the Stay a Spell series might just be my absolute favorite!
Clara and Henry have been dancing around each other for ages. We all knew that they were into each other, they knew they liked the other, but they never acted on their feelings. That is until Clara can't take it anymore and decides to make the first move.
She brings him closer by sharing their love of romance books, but that is just her first step. She's got a course of seduction set up that Henry has no clue he's been enrolled in. These characters were so oohey gooey and sweet and sexy and I loved them to pieces. Clara with her innate goodness and belief in the greatness of others. Henry with his damage and yet hopeful outlook on life. Their future together was all but guaranteed and I loved witnessing it.
Once again, there were some suspenseful bits and they just about broke my heart, but they also gave Henry a chance to shine, to finally embrace his power, and to heal after his trauma (read the book to learn more). I'm so happy with the endings everyone got and I only wish I could stay longer with these characters I've fallen in love with. I can only imagine the mischief the Savoie sisters and their mates could get up to.
The last book of the Stay a Spell series might just be my absolute favorite!
Clara and Henry have been dancing around each other for ages. We all knew that they were into each other, they knew they liked the other, but they never acted on their feelings. That is until Clara can't take it anymore and decides to make the first move.
As I watched her now, I wondered, not for the first time, if she was in fact my hope and my guide. Because wherever she went, I helplessly followed.
She brings him closer by sharing their love of romance books, but that is just her first step. She's got a course of seduction set up that Henry has no clue he's been enrolled in. These characters were so oohey gooey and sweet and sexy and I loved them to pieces. Clara with her innate goodness and belief in the greatness of others. Henry with his damage and yet hopeful outlook on life. Their future together was all but guaranteed and I loved witnessing it.
Clara. My beautiful Clara. The gold that was mending all of my imperfect, broken pieces.
Once again, there were some suspenseful bits and they just about broke my heart, but they also gave Henry a chance to shine, to finally embrace his power, and to heal after his trauma (read the book to learn more). I'm so happy with the endings everyone got and I only wish I could stay longer with these characters I've fallen in love with. I can only imagine the mischief the Savoie sisters and their mates could get up to.
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