Series Saturday Review: Mayhem by Gemma Brocato

Series:	Goddesses of Delphi #2
Pub. Date:	Nov. 8, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	196 pages
Source:	Kindle Unlimited

So I was scrolling my Facebook feed one day a week or so ago, and I came across this article: Ancient mosaics unearthed in Zeugma, Turkey. How cool is that? And it fits right in with Gemma Brocato's new series, the Goddesses of Delphi. (I know the article is a couple years old, but it was new to me.) So it made me even more excited for this series because you don't see many stories of the Muses in mythological fiction. 

You may remember from the first book, Tyranny, this series is about The 9 Muses, who are Zeus' daughters with Gaia, and they inspire mankind in all kinds of areas like sacred song, written word, the Heavens, history, etc. Pierus was a jealous lower God, who also had 9 daughters known as the Pierides. Pierus and his daughters were always trying to subvert Zeus and, as a result, Zeus turned the Pierides into magpies. It is this story that Gemma has taken and given a unique modern twist. The Muses now have mortal life spans, to be reborn again throughout eternity with all their prior memories in tact. Olympus is being run by Zeus as if it were an international corporation, and all of this is taking place in modern day Delphi. 

Series Saturday Review: Dark Duke by Sabrina York

Series:	Noble Passions #2
Pub. Date:	June 29, 2016
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	161 pages
Source:	Kindle Unlimited

I would love it if these books were full-length novels. I am enjoying all of the characters... dark nobility and saucy heroines are my favorite historical character types. So I would love it if these stories had more character development and back story. It's hard to jam those aspects and building sexual tension into a novella-length story, you kinda got get to it fast and dirty like... and that is just what Sabrina York does here.

Thrifty Thursday and Review: Altered by Amy Stearman

Altered
by Amy Stearman
Series:  Altered #1
Pub. Date:  Dec. 11, 2014
Publisher:  Self-Pub
Pages:  244
Format:  eARC
Source:  Author / Kindle Unlimited
 

My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

Unassuming law student Sadie Pratt leads a quiet life immersing herself in her books; outside of school, her only real form of excitement is researching the local flour mill and her link to its terrible history. That all changes one fateful night when her employer requests she meet with a mysterious client who will change her life in an unthinkable way. 

Vincent Strickland has toured the country attempting to regain his holdings after serving a punishing sentence for his violent past. He is out for revenge when his path unexpectedly crosses Sadie's, who he believes is his former lover reborn. He will stop at nothing to possess her. 

Fallen deity Thayer Aubade has dedicated his life to The Creed, a secret sect charged with protecting the innocent from monsters like Strickland. When his team is dispatched to rescue Strickland’s latest victim, the scene he discovers feels all too familiar and he vows he won't play by the rules this time. 

Desire, possession, and treachery lead Sadie down a crooked path to redemption. She must rely on her intellect and inner strength for her survival... and for that of the man she loves.

This was a delightful paranormal debut from Amy Stearman. Ms. Stearman asked me to review her work, and I am glad I took a chance on this new author. I look forward to additional installments of the Altered series in the future.

Even though Sadie is quite a bit younger than me, I felt that instant connection to her with her dedication to law school, working at the law firm with a bit of a demanding boss, and heart of a researcher. And while Sadie accepted with news of the supernatural with ridiculous ease, she earn lots of brownie points with me because she was not a whiny pathetic heroine and she did not fight against Thayer at every turn. Speaking of Thayer, I absolutely loved him! He was a bit of a damaged teddy bear - if your teddy bear was smoking hot. I loved that Sadie was able to help him heal, and it was nice seeing this huge man being really sweet with his woman. There were also some great secondary characters, particularly Noble, who will feature nicely in future books.

If you are looking for a quick read with a multitude of supernatural types, don't be afraid to pick this one up. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

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Review: The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy

The Mark of the Tala 
by Jeffe Kennedy
Series:  Twelve Kingdoms #1
Pub. Date:  May 27, 2014
Publisher:  Kensington
Pages:  353
Format:  eBook
Source:  Kindle Unlimited
   

My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

Queen Of The Unknown

The tales tell of three sisters, daughters of the high king. The eldest, a valiant warrior-woman, heir to the kingdom. The youngest, the sweet beauty with her Prince Charming. No one says much about the middle princess, Andromeda. Andi, the other one.

Andi doesn't mind being invisible. She enjoys the company of her horse more than court, and she has a way of blending into the shadows. Until the day she meets a strange man riding, who keeps company with wolves and ravens, who rules a land of shapeshifters and demons. A country she'd thought was no more than legend--until he claims her as its queen.

In a moment everything changes: Her father, the wise king, becomes a warlord, suspicious and strategic. Whispers call her dead mother a traitor and a witch. Andi doesn't know if her own instincts can be trusted, as visions appear to her and her body begins to rebel.

For Andi, the time to learn her true nature has come. . .

I haven't found many books in the fantasy genre that are for adults and have some romance in them, so I am always happy when I come across a good one like Mark of the Tala. Jeffe Kennedy is a new-to-me author, but I became a fan with the start of this series in the realm of the Twelve Kingdoms and Annfwn.

There once was a king, some called him a peace keeper and some called him a warmonger. He rose from the ashes of defeat with an unknown queen by his side, who bore the king three daughters, each more beautiful than the last. The is the story of the middle daughter, Andromeda (Andi), who tries to be invisible because she knows people feel uncomfortable around her. To escape the dirty looks bestowed upon her by king and citizen alike, Andi goes off riding with only her horse Fiona for company. Until one day she encounters a mysterious dark prince, Rayfe, and it triggers a war across the Twelve Kingdoms.

This story had some really good world building. It is more of a high fantasy, so the setting is not on an earthly plane. While the descriptions of the Twelve Kingdoms were somewhat mundane, the complete opposite was true for the magical realm of Annfwn.

Andi and Rayfe were both appealing characters. Andi felt like an outsider, longing for something she didn't know, and Rayfe seemed to have all the answers. She is inexplicably drawn to him, which torments her because she also feels she has a duty to her king, family and people. Rayfe must have Andi to save his people, but he decides he wants her for more than that. This was not a sweet romance, but a passionate one. Their bodies seemed to understand immediately what their minds were taking the time to discover.

King Uorsin solidifies as the bad guy pretty early on. He has grandiose delusions and does not care to hurt his own flesh and blood if they refuse to fall in line with his plan. It becomes apparent that he will betray his allies and contracts alike as he pleases. This seems to be in direct contrast to the sacrifices Salena, the girls' mother, made for her kingdom and people of the Tala.

The Tala were an interesting people, and I enjoyed reading about their customs and magical abilities. They are all depending on Andi as their savior - no pressure, right? And Andi must discover who she is, what she is capable of, and become accustomed to the shift from invisibility to center stage.

I'm not sure about how I will feel about the series switching main characters for each book. I feel like we have just gotten to know Andi and Rayfe, so there is room for their story to continue. However I will keep reading before I form an opinion. 

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Twelve Kingdoms Trilogy

My Review	Review Coming June 19th	Review Coming June 24th

Review: Highlander Betrayed by Lauren Wittig

Highlander Betrayed 
by Laurin Wittig
Series: Guardians of the Targe, #1
Pub Date:  Aug. 6, 2013
Publisher:  Montlake Romance
Pages:  252
Format: eBook / Audiobook
Source:  Kindle Unlimited
  

My Rating:  
Sultry Scale:

Hidden deep in the rugged Scottish Highlands lies the Highland Targe, an ancient relic guarded for centuries by clan MacAlpin. It is said the Targe can shield the heart of the Highlands from invaders and now, as part of his plan to crush the Scottish rebellion, the English king wants the Targe for himself...

Rowan MacGregor, orphaned niece to the chief of the MacAlpins and the rock her family depends upon, is worried. With the dwindling health of her aunt, the Guardian of the Targe, the protections that have kept the clan safe and prosperous are fading, and the new Guardian, one of her cousins, has yet to be chosen. Rowan wants nothing more than to see the clan protected again, but when it seems that will never happen, she despairs—even when a handsome and charming stranger comes to her aid. 

Nicholas fitz Hugh is not what he seems. Half-English, half-Scottish, he turned his back on his Scottish heritage early in his life, giving his loyalty to England instead. Now he is a talented and cunning spy charged with finding and stealing the Highland Targe for his king. 

But when Nicholas finds himself falling for the bonny Rowan and wanting to protect the family she holds so dear, he is forced to choose between his king’s will and his own: Will he betray his king and his mission? Or will he turn his back on the woman he has come to love?

This was an enjoyable historical romance set in the Highlands during the reign of Edward Longshanks, Hammer of the Scots. I got this book off Kindle Unlimited, and it offered free audible narration with the download. I haven't tried any of the audible narration on Kindle Unlimited yet, so I thought I would give it a try. I started off reading the book, then switched to the narration when I had to do some mindless computer work. Unfortunately, I did not care for the narrator. He was not engaging enough to keep my interest and cost me some enjoyment of the book, so I ended up turning off the narration and going back to reading. Though I think that the time when I was listening disconnected me from the story and I couldn't quite get that connection back.

The romance between Rowan and Nicholas was slow-building without a lot of steam - a couple kisses and one light intimate scene at the culmination, but that's about it. The story included more action, drama, and a touch of the supernatural than it did romance, but it was also light on the historical details. I think I would have liked either more romance, or more details - I'm not sure which. I find the medieval period fascinating, so I think additional historical details would have brought the story alive. There was not any "highland brogue" in the writing (which I know some people hate, but I happen to like). I really wish I didn't have that disconnect during the audible portion. [sigh]

There is a slight cliffhanger at the end of this book because the story arc is going over all 3 books of the trilogy. So we will definitely being seeing more Rowan and Nicholas in future books, even though there will be different main characters and love interests. I am looking forward to seeing how this Highland clan bands together to defend itself against old Edward Longshanks. I have a feeling the supernatural element will be expanding to encompass the three women as well, but we'll see. Happy reading!

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Guardians of the Targe Series

My Review	My Review	Review Coming May 29