Audiobook Review: The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

🏴‍☠️ The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃

Heat: 🔥🔥

Let me just say, if you're looking for historically accurate regency romance, bless your heart and move along. But if you’ve ever wanted to read a book where lady pirates live in flying mansions and casually lob grenades between tea services, then congratulations, you’re my kind of unhinged—and The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is your new favorite fever dream.

Our heroine, Cecilia, is all prim manners and deadly precision—like if Mary Poppins joined a fight club. She’s been raised by a league of proper piratical aunties who judge everything from posture to pistol technique. And she is done with everyone’s nonsense, especially when it interferes with her schedule or threatens her reading time.

Review: False Start by Steve Shipley

Series: Blake Willis Thriller #2

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃½

Flame Level: 🔥🔥

Format: eBook

Story Snapshot:

Another whisky heist. A team on shaky ground. Buried secrets rising to the surface. When an ambush leaves Blake Willis reeling, he’ll have to rebuild, recalibrate, and figure out who he can trust before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:

We’re back with Blake Willis, and if you thought things were messy in False Trust, buckle up — it only gets twistier from here. This one kicks off with a literal bang, and Blake is thrown into survival mode fast. The fallout from the last book hits hard, and you can feel it ripple through everything — the mission, the team, even Blake’s judgment.

One of my favorite things about this installment is that it doesn’t shy away from the emotional aftermath. Blake is trying to move forward, but the ghosts of betrayal are still riding shotgun. And honestly? I love a man with trust issues when there's a legit reason for it. It gives him a little extra bite.

Review: False Trust by Steve Shipley

Series: Blake Willis Thriller #1

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃

Flame Level: 🔥🔥

Format: eBook

Story Snapshot:

Rare whisky heist. Missing wife. Corporate betrayal in Australian wine country. If you like your thrillers smooth with a smoky finish, pour yourself a glass and settle in.

My Thoughts:

As a bourbon enthusiast, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of a great whisky heist. I mean, how could I not be? It gave major Pappygate vibes, and honestly, that was my favorite aspect of the entire story.

I loved that we got a little peek into the aging process of whisky, but I was definitely hoping for more nerdy detail — filtering, proofing, barrel to bottle… give me the caramel nectar science! There were also quite a few references to wine, wineries, and Australia. While I can appreciate the vibe, I was left yearning for the warm familiarity of bourbon.

Review: Soul Taken

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This installment of the Mercy Thompson series was a bit unexpected for me. This Harvester storyline was not something I envisioned, but I have to say that it fits in with the time of the year (near Halloween) quite well, complete with a pumpkin patch. It reminded me of an old school scary movie with a scythe-wielding maniac stealing souls around the Tri-Cities. (It’s a sickle!)

Review: Final Heir

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The Final Heir is the action-packed finale to the Jane Yellowrock series, and I am so sad that the saga is over. I want to go back and read it from the beginning! There were some chapters closed for Jane in this last book, some good closures and some sad. It seemed like the interaction between Jane and her mentor “in the smoke” at the beginning was super poignant, but then it didn’t feel resolved and I felt it like a gaping wound as I read.

Review: Smoke Bitten

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I got a bit behind on this series, so I’m binging the latest 3 books. It bothers my OCD that I don’t have time to go re-read the whole series (which I love) because I have forgotten some details in my absence. Like, I can remember who Wolfe (the vampy Wolfe) is or where he came from. And I like him. He’s just the right mischievous and dangerous element for the story. And, he makes me laugh.

Review: Gladiator

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I got on a bit of a space opera kick last month, so my friend thought I might like this sci-fi romance in audio to keep me occupied on my latest road trip. This one is not a space opera, but involves different aliens (animal and humanoid), kidnapping, intergalactic slavery, arena fights, and steamy chemistry!

Review: The Girl in the Mist

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I am woefully behind on my Kristen Ashley reading, and I was in a romantic suspense mood, so I decided on The Girl in the Mist for my roadtrip. In true KA fashion, she kept me engaged and entertained for the long drive.

Review: False Trust

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As a bourbon enthusiast, I was excited to see Steve was writing a story about a great whisky heist! It immediately brought to mind Pappygate and some other bourbon dramas. So there is no shame for me in saying that the whisky heist was my favorite aspect of the story. I was glad that some of the aging process was discussed, but I would have liked more detail on the filtering and proofing from barrel to bottle. There were many references to wine/wineries and Australia, neither of which are familiar to me, so I was yearning for that warm comfort that I find in the caramel nectar.

Review: Long Live the Soulless

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This is the end… of everything.

Binge complete! Long Live the Soulless it the culmination of the Dark Maji series, in which we have met mages, skeevs, raksasa, pirate queens, tree-dwelling warriors, and dark gods.

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.

Review: Blessed be the Wicked

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Political Intrigue and Pirate Queens!

The Dark Maji series continues with Blessed be the Wicked, where we follow Lord Fierte and his vassals into Tritol to seek an alliance with Imogen, the famous pirate queen of Ilvas. This installment is full of political intrigue, betrayal, and assassination attempts. Imogen and her House were not as cordial and welcoming to House Fierte, so Lazarus was forced to rely more on his vassals to gain what he sought.

Review: Fortune Favors the Cruel

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Fortune Favors the Cruel is a compelling start to the Dark Maji series. This book encompasses what I suspect to be the bulk of the world-building and overall plot trajectory. The world that has been created by Kel Carpenter is lush and darkly alluring. There are light, dark and gray maji, as well as mundane non-magical people. The landscape changes as our main characters traverse the realm, but the author brings each territory to life with just enough description to give you an idea and let your imagination fill in the rest.

Review: Eclipse the Moon

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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: Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton

Series:	Anita Blake #27
Pub. Date:	Aug. 4, 2020
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	496 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

This was quite the different kind of book for Anita and the Marshalls, one where they were trying to save a life instead of take it. I don't know if it was the rush to beat the clock or just the different situation, but the investigation didn't seem to fall into place well for me. There also wasn't the thrill of the hunt of the defeating of the big bad villain, so it just wasn't as exciting overall.

ARC Review: How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

Series:	Devil You Know #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 27, 2019
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press MacMillan Audio
Narrators:	Derek Perkins
Length:	440 pgs 13 hrs 4 min
Source:	NetGalley / Publisher

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is the first installment of the brand new Devil You Know series by Kerrigan Byrne. I could not wait to get my grabby hands on this new series, particularly with the teaser that these men are "dark, bold and brave." Kerrigan is exceptional at writing these types of heroes, and I couldn't wait to embark on a new adventure after the Victorian Rebels series.

ARC Review: The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul

Pub. Date:	Aug. 27, 2019
Publisher:	William Morrow
Length:	496 pgs
Source:	Publisher

This was my first read from Gill Paul, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. However, I was intrigued by the concept of a historical fiction concerning the Romanov family, whom I was only vaguely familiar with before embarking on this reading venture. I have always thought the Romanovs were fascinating, but it just wasn't something we studied much in school. I have not read The Secret Wife, but I definitely have added that earlier story to my TBR after finishing The Lost Daughter. 

Audiobook Review: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau

Series:	Beast Charmer #1
Pub. Date:	June 25, 2019
Publisher:	Sourcebooks Casa Recorded Books
Narrators:	Brian Pallino Jennifer O'Donnell
Length:	438 pgs 12 hrs 43 min
Source:	NetGalley / RBDigitial

Kingdom of Exiles is a creative debut from one Sourcebook's newest authors, Maxym M. Martineau. I got to meet Maxym at Book Lovers Con this year, and she was lovely. I am stoked she has decided to write in my favorite genre - fantasy romance - as it seems the books in this genre are fewer and far between these days. I can definitely say that this author has been added to my auto-buy list, and can't wait to see where she takes this series in the future.

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.