Review: Twisted is the Crown

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Vengeance is Had…

With the 3rd book in the Dark Maji series, Twisted is the Crown, we see Quinn Darkova returning to her homeland of N’Skara. Although they return under the guise of seeking an alliance for House Fierte, Quinn has her own agenda.

Audiobook Review: Saint by A. Zavarelli

Series:	Boston Underworld #4
Pub. Date:	Jan 13, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Tracy Marks
Length:	8 hours 19 min
Source:	Author

I have enjoyed the boys of the Boston Underground series, particularly listening in audio as the narrator, Tracy Marks, does a good job with the Irish and Russian accents. This series is not for the faint of heart... its raw and gritty and sometimes graphic. Proceed at your own risk.

Audiobook Review: Sparrow by L.J. Shen

Pub. Date:	June 20, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Michael Pauley
Length:	9 hrs 23 min

Sparrow is a tale of an modern-day arranged marriage of the Boston underworld. It's not a heart and roses story, so pick this one up when you are in the mood for something gray and shadowy.

Troy Brennan was the devil, but sometimes, even good girls wanted a healthy dose of evil in their lives.

Audiobook Review: Ghost by A. Zavarelli

Series:	Boston Underworld #3
Pub. Date:	Sept. 28, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Tracy Marks
Length:	8 hrs 5 min
Source:	Author

Phew. This book was D-A-R-K. I knew that it was going to be dark, but it went somewhat beyond my expectations. Tracy Marks again did a good job with the narration - she does great accents and her Boston and Russian accents sounded authentic to my ears. The character affectations in this performance (particularly the heroine) did sound nearly the same as the last book, Reaper, so I would just advise not to read them back to back to avoid confusion. 

Audiobook Review: All the Rage by T.M. Frazier

Pub. Date:	August 30, 2016
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Hollie Jackson Roger Wayne
Length:	7 hrs 31 min
Source:	Publisher

I have been curious about Rage since we met her in Soulless. While All the Rage is a standalone, I encourage you to read the King series first to get the introduction to Rage through other people. She fascinated me in those earlier books.

Audiobook Review: Reaper by A. Zavarelli

Series:	Boston Underworld #2
Pub. Date:	July 22, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Tracy Marks
Length:	8 hrs 42 min
Source:	Author/Audible

It's been a while since I've read a mafia romance... and this one intrigued me because the author said the audiobook was accent-heavy. I love accents in my audiobooks, so I jumped on the chance to review. It's also my first read by A. Zavarelli, and I have to say that I am a fan. I will definitely check out the rest of this series now.

ARC Review: Into the Light by Aleatha Romig

Series:	The Light #1
Pub. Date:	June 14, 2016
Publisher:	Thomas & Mercer
Length:	354 pages
Source:	NetGalley

Oy. This book. This mindfecking book. I had to ruminate on it for a few days before writing my review. It kinda freaked me out! So let me start out by saying that this is not really a romance book. It's a dark story. A thriller with a twisty dysfunctional relationship. Aleatha is really good at writing these twisty books that make you question yourself and, for me, this one evoked similar feelings to Consequences.

Review: Counsellor by Celia Aaron

Series:  Acquisition #1

Pub. Date:  Sept. 28, 2015

Publisher:  Self-Pub

Pages:  209

Source:  Kindle Unlimited

I got drawn in by the cover of this book when I recognized the Oak Alley Plantation. I was even more stoked when I saw that it was set in New Orleans, as I don't think I have ever read a dark romance set here. Unfortunately, this story didn't work for me.

Guest Review: Trapped in His World by Stella Noir and Roxy Sinclaire

Series:  Dark Romance #1

Pub. Date:  Jan. 20, 2016

Publisher:  Stella Noir

Pages:  75

Format:  eARC

Source:  Roxy Sinclair

She may have the body of a curvaceous bomb shell but Navia Watson is sorely lacking in the self confidence department. Not only is she shy and quiet, she is also struggling to find a job.While her best friend Chloe is off for a week enjoying her honeymoon, Navia has agreed to temporarily fill her secretarial position for Chloe's boss, Jason Black, to earn extra cash while she continues her job search. She learns very quickly not to disobey the boss...

Navia is a well rounded character-likes, dislikes, family, and insecurities. My peeve was how often she flip flops on her feelings for Jason...A LOT! She has the hots for him but doesn't like how he treats her sexually. A few pages later she changes her mind and decides she can handle the roughness. It's definitely psychological to read their sexual interactions. Jason is one dimensional for me. He makes me think of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde when he's with Navia. One minute he's sweet and charming, almost like the perfect gentleman yet each time he loses control he gets darker and darker with her. He doesn't get really personal until the tail end of the story when he's grasping at straws to keep her from leaving him but is it enough to make her stay?

The general story is well written and enjoyable, the language flowed smoothly, and there are decent character interactions. Overall, I like Navia and Jason, however, I will admit the sex scenes aren't my cup of tea. 

Warning: this is a dark novella that does contain questionable consensual scenes that could trigger a reaction in someone. 

Bambi Unbridled received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviewed by Julie H. for Bambi Unbridled

Julie is a transplanted military brat that now calls the Midwest home with her own romantic hero, daughter and two furbabies. While she toils the day away in a medical office, she would really rather be reading! Julie loves historical romance, steampunk, romantic suspense, military romance (duh!), paranormal and urban fantasy.  She loves a kickass take-charge heroine, lots of action, and the all-important HEA. Julie can get down with an alpha male, but she does not discount a nerdy hero with a sexy brain.

Julie and Bambi met at the RT Convention where they found themselves standing in many lines, sharing their similar reading interests, and fangirling over attending authors.

ARC Review: Didn't I Warn You by Amber A. Bardan

My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

I was pleasantly surprised by this dark romantic read from new-to-me author, Amber Bardan. I can tell that she is one of those authors who will be able to get in my head... particularly with the inner monologue of the heroine. Her witty one liners and ridiculous thoughts mirror things running through my own head.  I will say up front that this is not a dark dark read... its more gray than dark in my opinion.  So those who don't like the super dark stuff will be happy... but I think those who *do* like the super dark stuff will not be disappointed because the story is good.

Review: End of Day by Jewel E. Ann

End of Day 
by Jewel E. Ann
Series:  Jack & Jill #1
Pub. Date:  Aug. 17, 2015
Publisher:  Self-Pub
Pages:  424
Format:  eARC
Source:  NetGalley (and Kindle Unlimited)


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life.

Four caskets. Two bodies.

Jessica and Jude Day witness their funeral and that of their parents a few yards away from mourning family and friends. Stripped of the only life they’ve ever known, the Days say goodbye to San Francisco forever.

Six months later, two thirty-year-old misfits with elite self-defense skills and penchants for alcohol, sex, and trouble arrive like an earthquake to Peaceful Woods, a retirement community in Omaha, Nebraska, that thrives on rules and gossip. Welcome home, Jackson and Jillian Knight.

Jackson celebrates his new beginning by embracing his job and wiping his cavalier past clean with a temporary oath of celibacy. But Jillian’s past is branded into her soul—the deaths, the insanity, Dr. Luke Jones, and the need to make her lovers bleed. Her chance for redemption comes in the form of a next door neighbor, one Senior Master Sergeant Monaghan. He’s sexy, dangerously alluring, and riddled with emotional issues from years of service. He’s also … So. Damn. Grumpy. 

Their mission is simple: Let go, start over, don't kill anyone, and pray that nobody wakes the dead.

**THIS BOOK CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND SEXUAL CONTENT 18+ 

I honestly cannot say whether I liked this book or not. I didn't dislike it. But I'm sitting here struggling to put into words what the book was actually about. I don't know. I'm confused. I'm conflicted. I kept waiting for the plot to climax or break or something, and it just didn't happen. I don't know why Jillian and Jackson are basically in hiding. I don't know anything. I'm assuming this all comes out eventually in the series... but I'm a little disappointed that I'm 424 pages in and I feel like I haven't scratched the surface. I would have liked to get thrown a bone somewhere in there.

Review: Soulless by T.M. Frazier

Soulless 
by T.M. Frazier
Series:  King #4
Pub. Date:  Feb. 17, 2016
Publisher:  Self-Pub
Pages:  279
Format:  eARC
Source:  TRSOR Promotions


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

The finale to Bear and Thia's epic love story.

I have come to expect one thing from T.M. Frazier, and that is to expect the unexpected. She always throws some crazy twists in that I never see coming. And Soulless was no different, there were definitely some W-T-F eyebrow-raising moments.