Audiobook Review: Lady of Light and Shadows by C.L. Wilson

Series:	Tairen Soul #2
Pub. Date:	Nov. 1, 2011
Publisher:	Audio Realms
Narrator:	Amy Cardy
Length:	12 hrs 45 min
Source:	Audible Romance

Lady of Light and Shadows is the second book in one of my favorite series - Tairen Soul by C.L. Wilson. I have been wanting to re-read this series for quite a while, and I'm so glad I've been able to start fitting it in by audio. This was one of the series that got me started on fantasy romance, and I so wish there were more of these types of books being written right now. I just love the genre... but I'm very picky! Luckily, C.L. Wilson is a master at her craft and draws us in with both engaging characters and fabulous world building.

ARC Review: When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath

Series:	Sins for All Seasons #2
Pub. Date:	Aug. 21, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	400 pgs
Source:	Publisher

When a Duke Loves a Woman is the second installment of the Sins for All Seasons series, which focuses on a band of bastard offspring who were left on the doorstep of Ettie Trewlove in the slums of Whitechapel. These members of the commoner class are being paired off one-by-one with a member of the nobility as we navigate the social issues between the class separation.

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: Vox by Christina Dalcher

Pub. Date:	Aug. 21, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	336 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Wow, well. This book is a big ol' DNF for me. And let me preface that by saying that I am not really religious. I'm not quite agnostic. I believe in a higher power, and I will attend church the 1-2x per year that I go home to visit my parents on holidays. But I'm not a habitual attender at organized religion, and I don't care what anyone else's religion is. I kinda find them all interesting after taking a theology class in college that delved into all kinds of historical religions and religious practices. To each their own is my belief, and no one religion should speak against another unless of course evil acts are being carried put in the guise of religion. Then it would be appropriate to speak against the group carrying out those acts, not the religion as a whole.

Audiobook Review: Spectacle by Rachel Vincent

Series:	Menagerie #2
Pub. Date:	May 30, 2017
Publisher:	Recorded Books
Narrator:	Gabra Zackman
Length:	9 hrs 25 min
Source:	RBDigital

Spectacle is the second installment of Rachel Vincent's dark fantasy series, Menagerie. This series has been a unique breath of fresh air, and totally different from what I was expecting at the outset of first book. This is a dark fantasy series, with some horror elements thrown in, so don't go into this series expecting a warm fuzzy read. It's gritty and shows the worst of human nature at times. But it's sure to draw you in and hold your interest whether you are reading in print, or listening by audio. These books will need to be read in order to follow the continuing story line, and this review may contain spoilers from the first book.

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: Exile of the Seas by Jeffe Kennedy

Series:	Chronicles of Dasnaria #2
Pub. Date:	Sept. 4, 2018
Publisher:	Rebel Base Books
Length:	206 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Exile of the Seas is the second installment of the Chronicles of Dasnaria series, featuring our lost princess, Jenna, the Imperial Princess of Dasnaria, and runaway wife of Rodolf, the vile and sadistic lord with eyes to the throne. The first book, Prisoner of the Crown, was a good, but heartwrenching read. But Jeffe really hit it out of the park with this second installment, I was totally captivated by Jenna's journey. So much so, that I found myself stretching this read out because I didn't want it to end!

Audiobook Review: Queen Takes Queen by Joely Sue Burkhart

Series:	Their Vampire Queen #3
Pub. Date:	June 26, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Cassandra Myles
Length:	9 hrs 11 min
Source:	Publisher

Queen Takes Queen is the third book in the reverse harem series, Their Vampire Queen. The series is getting progressively better, with the addition of new characters in each installment as our vampire queen grows in power with her harem.

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

Series:	Division Eight #3
Pub. Date:	Aug. 28, 2018
Publisher:	Self-Pub
Length:	111 pgs
Source:	Author

Mission: Anaconda is the third book in A.D. Starrling's fast-paced romantic military suspense series, Division Eight. The series follows the covert operatives of Division Eight, a high level and secret military organization that is sent on tough and sensitive assignments around the world.

ARC Review: Memoirs of a Dragon Hunter by Katie MacAlister

Series:	Dragon Hunter #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 28, 2018
Publisher:	Forever
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Let me start out by saying that I am a big fan of Katie MacAlister - I absolutely loved her Dragon Septs series/world. So this book is a bit of an anomaly for me in that I could not bring myself to like it, no matter how hard I tried. And try I did, I would not let myself DNF this one. But not every book works for me, and this one was a miss in several areas.

ARC Review: Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

Series:	Kate Daniels #10
Pub. Date:	Aug. 28, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	336 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Magic Triumphs is the final installment of one of my very favorite series, Kate Daniels, by Ilona Andrews, a most excellent husband-wife writing duo. This book was so bittersweet for me. We have been working toward this conclusion for years, but the closer we got, the more reluctant I was for the series to end. Kate and Curran are two of my favorite urban fantasy characters, and this is one of the series that I have re-read time and time again. I'm sure I will be re-reading these again in the future, and I think there are rumors of a spinoff series, but I'm still a little sad to say goodbye to this dynamic duo in their current iteration.

Audiobook Review: Divorced, Desperate and Dangerous by Christie Craig

Series:	Divorced and Desperate #3.5
Pub. Date:	May 1, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Wendy Tremont King
Length:	3 hrs 37 min
Source:	Publisher

Divorced, Desperate and Dangerous is a novella in the Divorced and Desperate series, which started off with a posse of women who were, as the title suggests, divorced and desperate. With failed marriages and man trouble in their lives, the women were on the hunt and somewhat sex obsessed, but commitment phobic. I have only read the first book, Divorced, Desperate and Delicious, but I don't think you necessarily need to read this series in order.

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: Bad Reputation by Stefanie London

Series:	Bad Bachelors #2
Pub. Date:	Aug. 7, 2018
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Length:	379 pgs
Source:	Publisher

Bad Reputation is the second book in the Bad Bachelors series, which revolves around a dating review app a la the former DontDateHimGirl.com. I recommend reading these books in order so you have the backstory on the app, its creator, and the circle of female friends serving as our heroines. Note: This review may contains spoilers for the first book, Bad Bachelor, so proceed at your own risk.

Audiobook Review: Faery Born by Donna Joy Usher

Series:	War Faery #1
Pub. Date:	June 12, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Rachael Beresford
Length:	7 hrs 39 min
Source:	Publisher

Faery Born was a somewhat surprising read. I didn't realize it was young adult when I started it, and while I do read some young adult, it's not something that I pick up often. This story did seem somewhat juvenile, but I think that was partially because the narrator sounded so young. So I wasn't sure that I was going to finish the story at first, but something about it kept my attention and kept me listening until the end. So I think the story was good, I just had to get over the age and maturity level of the characters.

ARC Review: Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill

Series:	Heirs of Chicagoland #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 14, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	352 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Wild Hunger is the first book in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, is a spinoff of Chicagoland Vampires. I admit that I have been eagerly anticipating this book as I was totally sad that the original Chicagoland was ending. It's so hard to believe that the entire series had taken place in approximately a year... and now here we are about 20 years in the future.

ARC Review: Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi

Series:	Star Touched Queen #2.5
Pub. Date:	Aug. 7, 2018
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press
Length:	304 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Roshani Chokshi has a beautiful flowery writing style. Her writing seems rich and decadent to me, and I enjoyed the first two books of this series very much.

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: Queen Takes King by Joely Sue Burkhart

Series:	Their Vampire Queen #2
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Tristan James Cassandra Myles
Length:	8 hrs 22 min
Source:	Publisher

Their Vampire Queen has been my first foray into the recently trending reverse harem genre. I wasn't sure how I felt after the first book, Queen Takes Knights, but the story is starting to shape up and I was more interested in this installment.

Audiobook Review: Menagerie by Rachel Vincent

Series:	Menagerie #1
Pub. Date:	Sept. 29, 2015
Publisher:	Recorded Books
Narrator:	Gabra Zackman
Length:	10 hrs 57 min
Source:	RBDigital

Well, this book certainly was not what I was expecting! In truth, I avoided the blurb before reading it. I am a fan of Rachel Vincent so I knew it would be good without investigating what the story was about... and I was right. Though unexpected, I was captivated by the story from beginning to end. This dark fantasy was a blend of mythology and horror set in the backdrop of a cruel and unusual carnival like you've never seen before.

ARC Review: Serpentine by Laurell K. Hamilton

Series:	Anita Blake #26
Pub. Date:	Aug 7, 2018
Publisher:	Berkley
Length:	512 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

It's hard to believe that Serpentine is the 26th book in the Anita Blake series. I wish the Merry Gentry series had so many books out! I'm glad they are both still going as, whenever one comes out, it's like spending some time with old friends (who are ass-kicking monster killers).

ARC Review: Bellewether by Susanna Kearsley

Pub. Date:	Aug 7, 2018
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Length:	512 pgs
Source:	Publisher

Bellewether is typical of what I have come to think of as Susanna Kearsley's forte - delivering a story within a story. Bellewether is a divided story told partially in the present and partially in the past, and involves a historical memory about super interesting characters with a potentially tragic story. This book blended the past and present nicely, and totally immersed me in the colonial era with the Wilde family during the French and Indian War.

Audiobook Review: Getting Wilde by Jenn Stark

Series:	Immortal Vegas #1
Pub. Date:	June 19, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Stephanie Bentley
Length:	7 hrs 37 min
Source:	Publisher

I have been looking for a new urban fantasy series to read, and this one caught my interest right away. The genre has been dwindling over the last few years, and there just aren't as many of these stories being written.

Audiobook Review: Chosen by the Vampire Kings by Charlene Hartnady

Series:	The Chosen #1
Pub. Date:	May 22, 2018
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Narrator:	Tatiana Sokolov
Length:	12 hrs 19 min
Source:	Publisher

This is my first read by Charlene Hartnady, even though this book has been on my TBR for a bit. I'm not a fan of serials, so I was happy to see that it was released as one book in both print and audio. It's been a while since I've read a new vampire book, and I was pleasantly surprised by this one.