Review: Eclipse the Moon

Buy on Amazon

This is the second book in Jessie Mihalik’s Starlight Shadows space opera series, featuring a band for former military from opposite sides of the war trying to save the universe by a future war between their people.

ARC Review: Sapphire Flames by Ilona Andrews

Series:	Hidden Legacy #4
Pub. Date:	Aug 27, 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	352 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

Sapphire Flames is the first full novel in the Hidden Legacy series transition from the story of Nevada Baylor, to that of her younger sister, Catalina Baylor. I do recommend that you read the novella, Diamond Fire, first. The novella serves as a nice bridge between the two series arcs, and we get to see Catalina before she becomes the Head of House Baylor, while she is still growing into her confidence and power.

ARC Review: Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews

Series:	Hidden Legacy #3.5
Pub. Date:	Nov. 6, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	160 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

This is a major blogger shame review - I totally forgot I had a copy of this ARC. How could I miss Nevada and Rogan's wedding?!?! Gack! Anywho, Diamond Fire is a novella in the Hidden Legacy series that serves as a bridge to transition from the story of Nevada to that of her younger sister, Catalina. Because this is a novella, this is going to be a mini review so I don't give away any spoilers.

ARC Review: The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Series:	Girl Meets Duke #3
Pub. Date:	Aug 13 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	368 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

I'm a bit behind on my Tessa Dare books, so I haven't read the first installment of Girl Meets Duke. A problem which I intend to rectify as soon as possible. I really liked Chase and Alexandra from The Governess Game, but I think that Ash and Emma are going to have quite interesting stories of their own in The Duchess Deal.

ARC Review: Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Series:	Ravenels #5
Pub. Date:	Feb 19, 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

Oh man, I think we may be out of Ravenels... or close to anyway. I really love this family. They have all been so interesting and likable... but I have particularly liked the Ravenel men. Reformed rakes, the lot of them. And there is just something appealing about a former bad boy that catches my attention.

ARC Review: Polaris Rising by Jessie Milhalik

Series:	Consortium Rebellion #1
Pub. Date:	Feb. 5, 2019
Publisher:	Harper Voyager
Length:	448 pgs
Source:	Publisher

Polaris Rising is the first installment of the Consortium Rebellion series, and debut novel for Jessie Mihalik. This author is definitely starting off with a bang, and did a great job of mixing action with romance to keep the plot moving in this space opera sci-fi novel.

ARC Review: Stray Moon by Kelly Meding

Series:	Strays #2
Pub. Date:	Feb. 5, 2019
Publisher:	Harper Voyager Impulse
Length:	336 pgs
Source:	Publisher

Note:  This is a review of the second book in the Strays series, which features a continuing story arc. Therefore, this review may contain spoilers for the first book, Stray Magic.

ARC Review: The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Series:	Highland Brides #7
Pub. Date:	Jan 29, 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

The Highland Brides is one of my favorite historical romance series, and I always get excited when a new one is coming out. The Buchanan brood is so fun and boisterous, with sassy and relatable women that find themselves in dangerous situations more often than not. The Wrong Highlander is no exception, and follows the same light-hearted suspense format of the previous books.

ARC Review: Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost

Series:	Night Rebel #1
Pub. Date:	Oct. 30, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

This review is super late, and you may have noticed that I haven't posted in a while... but my work life has been absolutely nuts for the last couple months and I haven't been able to read much at all. I miss it! So I apologize to Jeaniene and Avon for my tardiness. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Avon.

It's unfortunate that it took me so long to be able to read this first installment of the Night Rebel series, as I am absolutely gaga for our fun-loving, yet vulnerable hero, Ian. I knew, after the conclusion of the Night Prince series, that Ian's story was going to be spectacular. So I do suggest you read that series (along with Night Huntress) first, so you have the full backstory of what's going on. If you haven't read those series, be advised that this review may contain spoilers for those previous series.

Audiobook Review: Borne to be Wilde by Eloisa James

Series:	Wildes of Lindow Castle #3
Pub. Date:	July 31, 2018
Publisher:	HarperAudio
Narrator:	Susan Duerden
Length:	9 hrs 53 min
Source:	Library

I have been enjoying the Wildes of Lindlow Castle, so I'm a bit surprised that this release slipped past my notice. Luckily, I snagged an audio copy from the library so I could squeeze it in because I was absolutely salivating over that cover!

ARC Review: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

Series:	Girl Meets Duke #2
Pub. Date:	Aug. 28, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	373 pgs
Source:	Publisher

The Governess Game is the second book in the Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare. While it's the second in the series, I think it worked fine as a standalone, as I haven't yet read the first book. I think there is a little character crossover, and the characters are quite intriguing, so I will definitely be going back to read the first book, perhaps in audio.

ARC Review: To Love a Duchess by Karen Ranney

Series:	All for Love #1
Pub. Date:	July 31, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

To Love a Duchess is the first book in Karen Ranney's new series, All for Love. This first book is a flipped power dynamic, where our hero is a member of the commoner class, and our heroine is a grieving duchess. The story took a bit to draw me in, but I ended up liking it quite a bit by the end.

ARC Review: All the Way by Kristen Proby

Series:	Romancing Manhattan #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 21, 2018
Publisher:	William Morrow
Length:	288 pgs
Source:	Publisher

All the Way is the first book in Kristen Proby's new series, Romancing Manhattan. I'm still relatively new to Kristen Proby, and was happy to start this new series at the outset, as I never seem to find time to go back and read back titles.

ARC Review: Disorderly Conduct by Tessa Bailey

Series:	The Academy #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 29, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	354 pgs
Source:	Publisher

I hear people rave about Tessa Bailey all the time, and her steamy dirty-talking heroes. This is my actual first time reading her, and though this story was not for me, I did like her writing style and will be reading her again in the future. I will probably even continue with this series as I think I will like the other lead characters to come.

ARC Review: The Good Luck Sister by Jill Shalvis

Series:	Wildstone #1.5
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	144 pgs
Source:	Publisher

This is a second chance romance with a great little dog, and a novella following Lost and Found Sisters in the Wildstone series. I have not read the first book, but I felt like this one did okay as a standalone novella. 

ARC Review: The First Time at Firelight Falls by Julie Anne Long

Series:	Hellcat Canyon #1
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	366 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

This was my first time reading Julie Anne Long, and I will be reading more of her in the future. I was at first skeptical as to whether I would like this book. I didn't think I would relate to the characters - a single mom and school principal... but I loved them! I really like Long's writing style. The romance was sweet and a little steamy, and she made our heroine's kid cute and entertaining.

Audiobook Review: Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins

Series:	Old West #1
Pub. Date:	January 26, 2016
Publisher:	HarperAudio
Narrator:	Kim Staunton
Length:	9 hrs 27 min
Source:	Hoopla

Forbidden is my first read from the highly-acclaimed Beverly Jenkins, and it certainly will not be my last. I am not typically a fan of western romances, but I was drawn into this story and found myself enjoying it quite a bit. Jenkins certainly has a lovely writing style, which was complemented by this narrator, Kim Staunton, who had a very soothing voice. The cadence and pacing Staunton employed was perfect for the old west feel of this story.

ARC Review: Too Wilde to Wed by Eloisa James

Series:	Wildes of Lindow Castle #2
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

Too Wilde to Wed is the second installment of Eloisa James' Wildes of Lindow Castle series, featuring the very large and entertaining Wilde family. I have read the earlier book, Wilde in Love, but I think you can get by reading this one as a standalone if absolutely necessary (though you will miss some of the backstory). 

Our hero in this story is Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde (a/k/a North), heir to the dukedom. After being jilted by his fiance and coming to an incorrect assumption, North enlisted in the royal army and went off to fight the Revolutionary War in the Colonies. In the first book, North had turned himself into a ridiculous dandy wearing saffron pantaloons and coats embroidered with cherries, all to gain the attention of a woman. But North has returned from the war and different, and less pretentious man. I really liked him as a hero. He was patient and understanding, and had a touch of vulnerability in dealing with his time in the war. He treated our heroine exceedingly well, but he wasn't the "nice guy that finishes last." North could steam up the sheets and steamroll his way when the situation really warranted it.

ARC Review: How to Forget a Duke by Vivienne Lorret

Series:	Misadventures in Matchmaking #1
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Publisher

How to Forget a Duke is the first installment of Vivienne Lorret's new series, Misadventure in Matchmaking. The series focuses around three sisters and their indulgent uncle, who allows the girls to run the Bourne Matrimonial Agency. Just take a gander at that beautiful cover - it totally sucked me right in and had me wanting to read this story.

Our hero of this first installment is Crispin Montague, fifth Duke of Rydstrom. First of all - that is a GREAT name. I just loved it. Unfortunately, Crispin is broke and in need of an heiress whose funds he may use to repair the ducal estate, Whitcrest. Though he is not interested in a love match - he needs an uninterested wife who will not want to live with him at Whitcrest and discover his secrets. I liked Crispin. He was no-nonsense, responsible, and honorable. He was also engaging in some self-condemnation for his guilt over his parent's death and his sisters future prospects. I would have liked to know more about him, though most of the story was focused on the heroine.

ARC Review: All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella's Stepmother by Danielle Teller

Pub. Date:	May 22, 2018
Publisher:	William Morrow
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella's Stepmother is Danielle Teller's fiction debut*, and she certainly starts off with a unique premise and interesting tale. Teller is a former doctor with some impressive institutions on her curriculum vitae, and I am a sucker for a brainiac fiction author. So this was a book that I was highly anticipating once William Morrow brought it to my attention.

As you can tell from the title, this is the story of Agnes, the well-known evil stepmother to beloved princess and cinder girl, Cinderella. But All the Ever Afters provides an alternate view, and I enjoyed the reimagining of the story through Agnes' eyes. This is not a romance, nor is it a story I would recommend for children. It tackles some serious subject matter, adult situations, and I think will be appreciated by more mature fantasy and fairytale fans.