ARC Review: Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope

Series:	Earthsinger Chronicles #1
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I really wanted to like this story, and I tried really hard, giving it much longer than I normally would when I do not enjoy a story. I gave this one to about 72% before I had to DNF.

The premise was very interesting. The focus is on two kingdoms separated by a magical barrier (the mantle), one side bearing magic users (Lagrimari) and the other side as non-magical (Elsira). The Lagrimari are persons of color and the Elsirans are pale and flame-haired. The races have been at war for a very long time, with an evil ruler in Lagrimari who steals his people's power and seeks to shatter the mantle and invade Elsira. 

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.

Audiobook Review: Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston

Series:	Honey Badgers #1
Pub. Date:	March 27, 2018
Publisher:	Kensington Tantor Audio
Narrator::	Traci Odom
Length:	433 pgs 13 hrs 14 min
Source:	Publisher

Hot and Badgered by Shelly Laurenston is the first book in a fun new paranormal romance series, the Honey Badgers, featuring three certifiable sisters and a diverse cast of paranormal characters. 

You don't find many honey badgers in the shapeshifter world of romance, so I was glad to have something a little different here. And the honey badger family in this series are nucking futs, much like their real honey badger kin. They are high strung, anxiety-ridden, vicious, obstinate, and largely unconcerned with others lives besides their own (and their close family). All of the sisters in this family are POC for those readers looking for a little diversity in their romance.

ARC Review: Dark Queen by Faith Hunter

Series:	Jane Yellowrock #12
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	Ace
Length:	432 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Sigh, I was so happy to be back with Jane and the gang that I really didn't want this book to end. Then as I was reading, with this being the end of a story arc (the Sangre Duello), I was afraid it would be the end of the series. Jane and Beast have become one of my very favorite heroine pairs in urban fantasy, and I hope they stay around for the foreseeable future.

ARC Review: Scoring with the Wrong Twin by Naima Simone

Series:	WAGS #1
Pub Date:	Jan 15, 2018
Publisher:	Entangled
Length:	236 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Scoring With the Wrong Twin is the first book in the new WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends) series by Naima Simone, and the whole series promises to be a steamy page-turner. Our current and future heroes are members of the Washington Warriors football enterprise and the best of friends. This hot bunch surely turns heads where ever they congregate, and I certainly wouldn't mind the cold and rain of Seattle if I had the chance to snag one of these warriors.

ARC Review: Destiny by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Seventeen #6
Pub Date:	Jan 12, 2018
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	401 pgs
Source:	Author

I cannot believe that its been more than 2 years since I started the Seventeen series... it seems like it was just yesterday! I am such a huge fan of this series and author, and the individual books have made it onto my Top 10 list every year since I started reading them. While the end of the series is always a little bittersweet, there is good news for all of us fans and definitely lots more to come from this amazing author.  If you have not started this series, you will need to start at the beginning with Hunted, as there is a continuing story arc and you don't want to miss anything. Starrling has a fantastic attention to detail and her research and inclusion for these books is extraordinary. In fact, if I could do it all over again, I would have taken notes and created a series bible as I was reading. There is a lot to remember! (Though she does do a good job recapping things that are necessary to the next installment.)

ARC Review: Mission: Armor by A.D. .Starrling

Series:	Division Eight #2
Pub. Date:	July 14, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	150 pages
Source:	Author

This is a quickie review for the second book in A.D. Starrling's second installment of the Division Eight novella series.  Mission: Armor is a bit of a prequel for the series as I believe it takes place prior to the first book, Mission: Black. So I don't think you would have any problem starting with this book if you are just discovering the series.

Division Eight is a team of covert operatives headed by our hero, Alex Slade. Alex is an extremely skilled operative, but he is also a tortured hero experiencing some PTSD-type dreams from his former capture and torture by a drug cartel. Alex has sought out Vivian Thorpe to be his second-in-command based on their prior history, one that saw her rescuing him from the clutches of the cartel. Vivian knew she was in trouble when she joined the team, particularly as she fell in love at first sight with Alex during that prior rescue mission. 

ARC Review: Cold Reign by Faith Hunter

Series:	Jane Yellowrock #11
Pub. Date:	May 2, 2017
Publisher:	Ace
Length:	378 pages
Source:	NetGalley

After delivering two fantastic books in her new series, Soulwood, Faith Hunter is back with a dynamic offering in the long-standing Jane Yellowrock series. I was a late-comer to this series, discovering it after I read the Soulwood books, but Jane and Beast quickly became one of my favorite heroine/duos in urban fantasy. This is a series that you must read in order as its a continuing storyline, but I also recommend that you read it in publication order in conjunction w/ the Soulwood series, as there is some character crossover.

Series Review: Blood Cross & Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter

I am a late comer to the Jane Yellowrock series, having started after I was introduced to the world in Faith's new spinoff series, Soulwood. But I am enjoying Jane and Beast so much, that I am in the middle of a binge read/listen. The big problem with binge reads for me in a series like this is that the stories start to run together and I can't remember what happened in which book - so that is why you may see a couple of these review posts where I am reviewing the books together.

Series Review: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Roshani Chokshi is a new-to-me author and one to go on my auto-buy list. I initially received an advanced review copy of Crown of Wishes, not realizing it was the second book in the series. So that is what led me to pick up The Star-Touched Queen, Chokshi's debut novel, and I was blown away. What an outstanding entree into the writing world!

ARC Review: The Unyielding by Shelly Laurenston

Series:	Call of Crows #3
Pub. Date:	March 28, 2017
Publisher:	Kensington
Length:	400 pages
Source:	NetGalley

The Crows are back for the third installment of the series, and I think this is my favorite thus far. This series is action-packed and full of Norse Gods and their minions that kind of protect humans, but not really. These crazy warriors are all about the glory of battle, and are somewhat single-minded in that focus. They are mostly violent vikings who like to fight, fly, screw and eat. The minions are split into clans based on the god they serve... the Crows serving Skuld and the Ravens serving Odin. The Norse Gods don't feature overmuch in the series, but seem to pop in and cause trouble from time to time.

ARC Review: Origins by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Seventeen #5
Pub. Date:	Feb. 21, 2017
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	313 pages
Source:	Author

The gifts bestowed by One not of this world, to the Man who had lived longer than most. 
The Empire ruled by a King who would swallow the world in his madness.
The Warrior who chose to rise against her own kind in order to defeat him. 
Discover the extraordinary beginnings of the Immortals and the unforgettable story of the Princess who would become a Legend.

I wish I could tell you what first led me to A.D. Starrling, but I honestly don't know. I think it was fate that made me pick up the first book in this series, Hunted (f/k/a Soul Meaning) because the book was totally out of my genre and I had never heard of the author... but whatever it was that made me jump into this world of immortals, I am extremely grateful. I have been hooked on the Seventeen series from that first book... the stories are action-packed, intelligently written and never fail to get my adrenaline going. With each successive installment, Ms. Starrling has amazed me with her writing talent and ability to draw me into the story.

Audiobook Review: Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

Series:	Jane Yellowrock #1
Pub. Date:	April 13, 2010
Publisher:	Self-pub
Narrator:	Khristine Hvam
Length:	14 hrs 34 min

I'm late to the game on this series and author. I was first introduced to Faith Hunter through her new Soulwood series, a spinoff of this one. I fell in love with the unique characters so hard that I knew I had to go back to the beginning and find out about Jane Yellowrock, and Faith Hunter's brand of supernatural.

I should mention that I didn't realize there were seven prequels to the series before I started listening to this audiobook. There were numerous references to past events so I thought I missed a book... which led me to investigate. Looks like I missed seven short stories. But it didn't kill enjoyment of this first full book, just made me feel like I was out of the loop sometimes.

ARC Review: Mission:Black by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Division Eight #1
Pub. Date:	Oct 18, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	130 pages
Source:	Author

I have been looking forward to this new series by A.D. Starrling for quite a while... and not just because I got to name one of the characters! You see, Ms. Starrling writes some of the best fast-paced action stories that I have read. Her heroines are kickass, and her heroes are not so bad either. So I was stoked for this first book of the Division Eight series, with its own kickass heroine, Rachel Carter.*

Audiobook Review: The Meeting by A.D. Starrling

Series:	Seventeen #0.3
Pub. Date:	Aug. 9, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Narrator:	Michael Bower
Length:	46 min
Source:	Author / Audible

A.D. Starrling is killing me with all these novellas... they are such a tease! I am jonesing for a new full-length book in the Seventeen series. And Michael Bowers is really the perfect narrator for the series so I hope to do the next full-length book in audio. He has a great deep voice that lends itself well to the serious and intelligent characters in this series, and he does a great job getting your adrenaline going during the action sequences.

Audiobook Mini-Review: First Death by A.D. Starrling

Series:  Seventeen #0.1

Pub. Date:  March 25, 2016

Publisher:  A.D. Starrling

Narrator:  Michael Bower

Length:  45 minutes

Format:  Audiobook

Source:  Author / Audible

If you follow the blog, you will know that I discovered A.D. Starrling last year and fell in love with her brainy writing style. Normally I am not a fan of short stories or reading prequels after I have started the series... but I have enjoyed Starrling's snippets and peeks into the Seventeen world.

First Death gives us a glimpse into the origins of Lucas Soul, the hero of Soul Meaning. We finally get to meet Lucas' father and mother, and see the love they shared for each other and their son. The Soul parents were star-crossed lovers, each from a different sect of the supernatural race of immortals that is featured in this series. Their relationship and son, who is viewed as an abomination, earns them a death warrant, so they have been hiding out in the Alaskan (I think?) wilderness. Where ever it is they are hiding, its cold and there is lots of snow! Anywho, this is the story of how Lucas' family was discovered and his resulting first death. 

If you are a fan of A.D. Starrling, you will enjoy this peek into Lucas' past.  If you have yet to read this wonderful author, I suggest you start with this book, then move onto Soul Meaning.  Starrling chose the perfect narrator for this book.  Michael Bower narrated at a great pace and was able to convey the action in a way that you could feel the adrenaline pumping right along with Lucas during these horrible events.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from A.D. Starrling in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen Series

My Review	My Review	My Review	My Review

ARC Review: The Undoing by Shelly Laurenston

The Undoing 
by Shelly Laurenston
Series:  Call of Crows #2
Pub. Date:  March 29, 2016
Publisher:  Kensington
Pages:  400
Format:  eARC
Source:  NetGalley


My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

A risk worth taking… 

No one would ever accuse Jace Berisha of having an easy life—considering her husband…you know…killed her. But that was then! Now she fights for mighty Viking gods with the spectacular and vicious Crows.

But things are turning very bad, very quickly because a vengeful, ancient goddess has come into the world with just one thing on her mind—ending it. And the only way they can hope to stop her is if the Crows join forces with their one-time enemies, the Protectors. A Viking Clan created to do nothing but kill every Crow they see. 

Thankfully, Protector Ski Eriksen is a peace loving kind of guy. Because the woman he is desperately trying to get close to is the beautiful and not-very-chatty Jace. Battling Nordic clans? Unkillable goddesses? Jace’s mean-spirited dog? None of these things would ever get in the way of a true Viking! 

I don't want to say that this book was much better than The Unleashing, but I will say that it was much less confusing. I enjoyed both books, but I listened to The Unleashing in audio, and there were so many POVs that it was hard to tell who was who, and who was doing what. This installment had less POVs and it was much easier to figure out who was who when I was reading instead of listening. I also felt like there was a bit more world building in this story, particularly with regard to the explanation of who each clan was and how they came to be.