Category Archives: Dark Romance

Dark Romance, Fantasy, Horror, Mermaids, Paranormal, Suspense, Witches

#Review – A Ship of Bones and Teeth by Karina Halle

Leave a comment


A standalone adult dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid from the New York Times Bestselling Author of River of Shadows and Blood Orange.

Princess Maren is a woman with a secret.

Ten years ago she sold her soul to the sea witch Edonia, giving up a life underwater in exchange for the love of Prince Aerik on land. But after a decade of abuse and misery inflicted by the cruel prince, Maren wants nothing more than to leave him and her royal role behind and find Edonia to reverse the spell.

An opportunity for escape presents itself when the prince and princess are traveling overseas and are taken hostage by a band of notorious pirates, led by the fearsome Captain Ramsay “Bones” Battista. Maren has heard the sordid stories about the infamous pirate–not only is his ship supposedly haunted and crewed by the damned, but that no prisoners ever survive.

Fortunately for Maren, she learns that the captain also has a score to settle with the sea witch. With any luck, Maren may be able to get her old life back, even if it’s being held in the captain’s wicked hands.

But Ramsay gets more than he bargained for when he learns who–and what–Maren is, and that her appetite for revenge, freedom, and bloodlust rivals his.

Meanwhile Maren finds herself falling for the pirate’s dark nature, even as she discovers that Ramsay has a secret more deadly than her own.

When it comes to the high seas, not all monsters lurk beneath the surface.

Content Warning: Though this is a fantasy, it is also a dark romance with potential triggers. A full list can be found inside the book or on the pinned cover reveal post on IG (authorhalle)

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Kelly

Wickedly devilish! Being caught between the devil you know and the devil you don’t, can be a terrifying place. Especially when you exist in a space between worlds with nowhere to belong to.

I needed this story! It is a standalone adult dark fantasy pirate romance re-telling of The Little Mermaid, but I have to say that A Ship of Bones and Teeth is SO. MUCH. BETTER! I mean, Syrens and Pirates? Sign me up!

Be prepared when you open this book because it will consume you. For days, all I could think about were Maren and Bones. What was going to happen next? How would they overcome? Will they really turn on each other? Who else will die? And let’s not forget… OMG, how hawt was that?

Maren and Bones are completely different people, but once together, they are intensely drawn together. It’s one of those intense feelings that actually scares you. However, these two really helped each other throughout the story without really realizing it. This has a bit of everything from friendships, sex, kinks, feuds, betrayal, beauty, death, abuse…you name it, it has it! It will even make you smile and laugh!

There are a tremendous number of twists and turns in this retelling, unlike any other I have read. There is nothing that I can say that will prepare you for the consuming obsessive monster you will become until you reach the end of the story. An absolute must read!

Remember: “There are no mistakes. Just choices that took us on a different path.”

Author Logo

Karina Halle is a screenwriter, a former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, & USA Today bestselling author of River of Shadows, The Royals Next Door, and Black Sunshine, as well as 70 other wild and romantic reads, ranging from light & sexy rom coms to horror/paranormal romance and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever genre you’re into, she’s probably written a romance for it. When she’s not traveling, she and her husband split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles. She seems a bit boring in her bio but I assure you she’s a big ol’ goof in real life. For more information, visit www.authorkarinahalle.com.

Dark Romance, Fantasy, M/F/M, Part of a Serial, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriestarter Made in Malice ( Corrupt Credence 1) by Albany Walker

Leave a comment

She thinks we’re devils. I know we are. Feared and revered, we’ve earned our place to shepherd the sheep. Harbor the secrets until she comes along and threatens our foundation. We could ruin her or use her. Either way, she’s ours, whether she knows it or not, even if it’s forbidden. Nova Devlin I thought I knew who I was, where I came from, but my life is turned upside down when a stranger knocks on my door with promises that seem too good to be true. I should have run like hell and never looked back, but it’s too late now. I’m enrolled at Cadieux College where secrets and deception line the walls and the founding family’s rule without question. They all think I’ll be easy to use, to control, but I’m nobody’s puppet. Made in Malice is the first book in the Corrupt Credence series. A dark college romance with mature content for adult readers.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123522253-made-in-malice

Amazon https://amzn.to/43LtZ3w

Review by Twinsie Dee

Nova was working her ass off living on her on since both of her parents died. she was all alone no other family until one day a lawyer showed up on her doorstep and let her know that she actually had grandparents and they were not dead like she thought. her whole life was flopped upside down and she was told to pack up what she has and next thing she knew she was on a plane and in a car heading to a plane she never knew existed. with a bodyguard and a quarter in a mansion to wonder how much her parents actually told her was the truth about her family. with one of the bigger families’ males tempting her with his high standards, she’s getting fed up with being the new girl. will Nova be able to just make it through this year at school without getting into much trouble or will she find herself getting tangled with the wrong crowd in more ways than one.

 

Albany lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her high school sweetheart. She spends most of her time juggling her four children’s extracurricular activities, with her nose stuck in a book. When not reading you can find her writing her very own book boyfriends. Albany’s passion is writing romance with real characters that are far from perfect, but always seem to find their own happily ever afters.
Dark, Dark Dark and more Dark, Dark Romance, Duet

#BookPromo – Haunting Adeline (Cat and Mouse Duet, #1) by H.D. Carlton

Leave a comment

AN AMAZON TOP 10 BESTSELLER!

The Manipulator

I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don’t affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He’s always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.


The Shadow

I didn’t mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can’t stay away.
I’m mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses…
I’ll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I’ll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.

While not required, it is highly suggested to read the novella, Satan’s Affair, first.

Author’s Note: This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author’s website.

Audio Book, Dark, Dark Dark and more Dark, Dark Romance, Duet, Horror, Novella, Reverse Harem, Trigger Warnings

#Dark #ParkOfASeries #TriggerWarnings #Audio #Horror – Satan’s Affair, Cat and Mouse Duet #0.5 by H.D. Carlton

Leave a comment

Every Halloween, Satan’s Affair will come to you. We travel the country, offering terrifying haunted houses, thrilling rides and the tastiest food.

And with every passing town, I cleanse this world, one execution at a time.

I hide within the walls, casting my judgement for those that reek of evil, singing lullabies to their rotting souls. Once you’ve been chosen, there’s no escaping my henchmen—they cater to my every desire.

You can run and you can hide, but it only excites me.

Come. Take a walk through my dollhouse, where your screams will blend and your cute little pleas will go unanswered.

But I can’t promise it’ll be over quickly…

Trigger Warning: This is a dark read that contains graphic violence, sex, and triggering situations.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

I was super excited for this novella.  I know you are supposed to read it first but for me, I read it after the original duet.  For me, it makes more sense.

This book was a great look at Sibby.  We learn about her family and why she is the way she is. We also see her meeting the characters from the main duet.

I do think this could have been part of the Sibby duet but maybe she wasn’t sure  about a Sibby book series??  Anyway, it was a good read if you love Sibby like I loved her.

H. D. Carlton is an International and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not bathing in the tears of her readers, she’s watching paranormal shows and wishing she was a mermaid. Her favorite characters are of the morally gray variety and believes that everyone should check their sanity at the door before diving into her stories.

Cliffhanger, Dark Romance, Part of a Series, Psychological Thriller, Review, stalker, Thriller

#review #thriller Slashers and Secrets (Hellcrest Heights 1) by A.R. Breck

Leave a comment

From dark romance author who brought the Blackridge Prep Series.

Secrets are meant to be buried, until they aren’t.
And Lakyn Ashford has the biggest secret of all.
She thought she could get away with it.
She should’ve known better.
I’d never allow her to escape so easily.
There is nothing more enjoyable than witnessing her crumble as I taunt her, trick her, and toy with her sanity.
Watching her fall apart is a game I’m destined to win.
I take my time with her, picking her apart, piece by piece, until she’s at my mercy.
The smile behind my mask grows as she fears the slasher in Hellcrest Heights.
She pretends to be afraid of me, but at night, she falls to her knees as she bends to my will.
And I have only just begun.
I know Lakyn Ashford’s biggest secret.
It’s me.

Slashers & Secrets is a full-length novel and book one in a duet. This book contains mature language, themes, and content that may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62328091-slashers-secrets

Amazon https://amzn.to/3nFCMUl

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

holy poop balls, this book had me on my toes and guessing till the very end well until the to be continued. Lakyn and her friends are always in the spotlight with how all of their parents are in politics, so in hinds’ sight they have to have the perfect life but behind the curtains they all have their secrets and when the boys have a very protective nature over the girls no one is allowed to touch them. Well Lakyn didn’t care and was wanting to hook up with a local bad boy and well that didn’t sit well with her guys. After finding out somethings her fling was now no longer breathing. when they didn’t cover it up very well Lakyn’s parents shipped her off for a year, and didn’t tell anyone where she was. once back in Hellcrest crazy things have happen more murders a crazy masked slasher and he isn’t slowing down. will Lakyn and her friends figure out who is killing people while keeping their secrets in the past or will they all be exposed.

USA Today Bestselling Author A.R. Breck lives in Minnesota with her two children and two dogs. Socially introverted and slightly sarcastic, she enjoys watching horror movies and reading romance novels. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys road tripping with her family around the country. She writes primarily dark and edgy romance books with a touch of suspense.

Audio Book, Dark, Dark Romance

#Audio #dark – Does it Hurt by H.D. Carlton, narration by Troy Duran and Michelle Sparks

Leave a comment

Does It Hurt?


Who am I?

I’ve forgotten the answer to that question long ago. Ever since I ran from that house, so desperate to escape, I left with only the clothes on my back and socks on my feet. After that day, I’ve only ever walked in stolen shoes.

Could I be a girl who is searching for the meaning of life in faceless men? They were all so forgettable. Until he came along. He took me under a waterfall and made me forget my name, and in return, I took his instead.

Enzo Vitale.

An enigmatic man that will only ever love the deep sea. Or rather the predators that inhabit it. Turns out, he’s not so different than the monsters he feeds. He lured me onto his boat like a fish in the ocean, seeking vengeance for my crime. Had I realized his intentions, and that a massive storm would leave us shipwrecked, I would’ve ran.

Now, I’m a girl who’s seeking refuge in a decrepit lighthouse with a man who loathes me almost as much as he craves me. He wants to hurt me, but the old caretaker of the abandoned island may have intentions far more sinister.

It’s no longer a question of who I am, but rather, will I survive?

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

 I received this audio book from the authors PR firm for an honest review.

Man there is so much to say before I get into the review for this book.  I read the Adeline duet like everyone and liked it a ton. So when this book initially was released I didn’t grab it because I was afraid it wouldn’t live up to the hype in my head after Adeline.  I let it go for a bit and was getting ready to grab the book when her PR firm offered a review audio copy.  Audio is my JAM and I said yes!!  Troy and Michelle were amazing voices for the story and kept me fully invested.  I loved loved loved the audio so much with them telling the story.

Now when I jumped into the story I could SEE a similar vibe between Enzo/Sawyer and Adeline/Zade and I was ALLLL in.  However, the story changed directions and so did the characters.  Now I see a lot of Enzo hate because he isn’t Zade and I don’t think that is fair.  Enzo isn’t a great guy but yes he isn’t Zade.  But Enzo is a great anti hero initially.  He does some not nice things to Sawyer on the boat when he finds his “Little Thief”.  When the 2 are stranded on the island with creepy Sylvester the story changed its vibe again from an Adeline vide to a mystery/paranormal.  There were a lot of things going on but through it all, Sylvester was CREEPY!!  LOL 

I did enjoy the story and the twist of everything that was happening at the light house. I did enjoy the story of the survival and how Sawyer could change her life drastically.  I loved Enzo hating and then fully loving Sawyer.  I loved him pushing her and pushing her until she too was in love with him.  I absolutely loved the story for what it was…which is Sawyer and Enzo’s story.

What I didn’t care for …the sex filler.  Ya’ll I love me some sexy times but there were times I felt like oh hey lets just fill this chapter with sex and then move on.  I mean I skimmed a few sexy times because it didn’t move the story forward.  It was just filler.

So if you loved Adeline go into this with a different head space.  It isn’t as dark, there are dark themes, but understand Enzo and Sawyer are 2 different characters. Their story is nothing like Zade and Adeline.

 

About H. D. Carlton H. D. Carlton is an International and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Ohio with her partner, two dogs, and cat. When she’s not bathing in the tears of her readers, she’s watching paranormal shows and wishing she was a mermaid.

 



2nd Chance, Aliens, Arranged Marriage, Dark, Dark Dark and more Dark, Dark Romance, Intergalactic Dating Agency, MC, Paranormal, Shifters, sibling best friend, Trigger Warnings, Veterans

#TriggerWarnings #DARK #Stalker #NonDub #Trafficking #Duet #Paranormal #Shifters #Series #Veterans #2ndChance #PTSD #Stalker #MC #Siblings #Aliens #arrangedmarriages – Twinsie Angie Top reads from July 2022-December 2022 – Authors are AJ Renee, Tarina Deaton, Sophie Stern, Anne Malcom, H.D. Carlton, SJ Chaynie

1 Comment

My top reads can be found from January 2022-June 2022 HERE

Tarina Deaton, AJ Renee,  Sophie Stern, and Anne Malcom are the attending authors

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These are my top reads in no particular order

  1. Cat and Mouse Duet, Haunting Adeline and Hunting Adeling by H.D. Carlton

**Please read the trigger warning before reading!!**  This book is NOT for anyone underage 18.  This is full of mature themes.

Trigger Warning: Book 1 ends on a cliffhanger. This duet is a dark romance that contains graphic violence, dub/non con, and deals with subject matters such as child trafficking and human sacrifice. If you have ANY triggers at all, this may not be the story for you. 

Haunting Adeline Hunting Adeline

Book 1  – Haunting Adeline

The Manipulator
I can manipulate the emotions of anyone who lets me.
I will make you hurt, make you cry, make you laugh and sigh.
But my words don’t affect him. Especially not when I plead for him to leave.
He’s always there, watching and waiting.
And I can never look away.
Not when I want him to come closer.

The Shadow
I didn’t mean to fall in love.
But now that I have, I can’t stay away.
I’m mesmerized by her smile, by her eyes, and the way she moves.
The way she undresses…
I’ll keep watching and waiting. Until I can make her mine.
And once she is, I’ll never let her go.
Not even when she begs me to.

While not required, it is highly suggested to read the novella, Satan’s Affair, first.
Author’s Note: This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author’s website.

Book 2  – Hunting Adeline 

The final installment to the Cat and Mouse Duet…

The Diamond
Death walks alongside me,
But the reaper is no match for me.
I’m trapped in a world full of monsters dressed as men, and those who aren’t as they seem.
They won’t keep me forever.
I no longer recognize the person I’ve become,
And I’m fighting to find my way back to the beast who hunts me in the night.
They call me a diamond,
But they’ve only created an angel of death.

The Hunter
I was born a predator,
With ruthlessness ingrained in my bones.
When what’s mine is stolen from me in the night,
Like a diamond hidden within a fortress,
I find that I can no longer contain the beast.
Blood will paint the ground as I tear apart this world to find her.
And bring her back to where she belongs.
No one will escape my wrath,
Especially not those who have betrayed me.

Warning: This is the second and final installment to the Duet. You must read Haunting Adeline first.

Book 1 Review HERE

Book 2 Review HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

2. Stitched up Heart , Combat Hearts Book 1 by Tarina Deaton

Stitched Up Heart (The whole series is AMAZING actually!!!)

As an Air Force medic, Bree Marks saw the worst the War on Terror had to dish out. Now a physical therapist, she uses her experience to help other veterans heal from their physical wounds; while she battles her own emotional damage.

Blaming himself for his best friend’s suicide, former Army Ranger Jase Larken, retreated from life. To honor his best friend’s memory and assuage his guilt, he started an outdoor adventure company to help veterans with PTSD.

Bree had better things to do than catch her cheating fiance in bed with another woman. Jase is something better – for a night at least. For the first time in years, Jase wanted more. When he finds her again, he doesn’t give her another chance to run.

Jase’s protectiveness grates on Bree’s independent nature. She’s dealt with her fair share of alpha-male, door kickers and doesn’t need one telling her what to do now. But as a new danger emerges, Bree and Jase must face their pasts, before someone’s obsession with Bree destroys any chance they have of a future.

Can be read as a stand alone. No cliffhangers within the story.

My review HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3. Fierce, Alumbra Pack Book 3

Fierce

An independent gamma, a logical werewolf, and someone who threatens to tear them apart.

After a few failed attempts to connect romantically with humans, Adira accepts her single life and continues to thrive as the Alumbra Pack’s gamma. When her wolf claims the man across the room as theirs, however, she panics and runs.

While retrieving his sister from the pack who’d saved her, the last thing Luke expected was setting his eyes on his true mate. Unable to return to his pack without Adira, he sets out to woo the fascinating and formidable woman.

Choosing which pack to settle down with should be the biggest trial ahead of them. But when someone sets out to tear them a part, the ever logical and calm Luke learns there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the woman he loves.

Can he ask her to stay with a target on her back, or will he choose to leave his now-whole family behind?

My Review HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

4. Sanction : Knights of Paradise MC, book 2 by SJ Chaynie

You have to read book 1 as this is how book 1 ends.

Sanction : Knights of Paradise MC by [S.J. CHAYNIE]

There is nothing I won’t do for my family. The family that took me in, gave me a home, a job, and a brotherhood that I didn’t know I needed. But something was taken from me. Something I have spent years telling myself I didn’t deserve. I’ve spent years breaking her heart, one piece at a time. My loyalty has been to her brother, and her father’s memory. Two men who I could never betray. But things change. She’s in trouble, and even though no one has ever known, she’s always been mine. And now, I’m coming for her.

This is an adult novel intended for mature readers.
Book 2 of the Knights of Paradise MC Series. Does end on a cliffhanger, part of a continuing series.

My Review HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5. Grimalkin Needs Brides Series by Sophie Stern

Ekpen: Grimalkin Needs Brid... Torao: Grimalkin Needs Brid... Leo: Grimalkin Needs Brides #3 Ekpen, Torao, and Leo

Epken – 

A planet with more cats than people…
Grimalkin needs brides.

Earth is a dystopian nightmare that’s going to be destroyed very, very soon. Nobody knows exactly when or how, but the threat of destruction looms in the background of everyone’s mind.

Holly is ready to escape from her planet, but there’s a problem: only rich people actually get to leave Earth, and she’s barely got five bucks to her name.

Enter the Grimalkin Bridal Exchange.

The deal is simple: she goes to an alien planet, marries some random dude, and gets to live out her days in luxury and happiness.

Only, the guy she’s paired up with doesn’t want to get married.

And he doesn’t want to get married to her.

In fact, he actually kind of…hates her.

Torao – 

Three months ago, Amena spent one wild night with a man from Grimalkin. He was everything she’d ever wanted or hoped for, but she knows that she’ll never see him again.

She can’t.

When Amena signs up for the Grimalkin Bridal Exchange at the Intergalactic Dating Agency, she expects to be taken to a planet with more cats than people, but she doesn’t expect to see him. It’s Torao. It’s the man she slept with in a field of wildflowers.

But how can this be?

Torao isn’t ready to get married, but he doesn’t have a choice.

Short. Curvy. Soft.

The woman from Earth who practically runs into his arms is everything he never knew he wanted.

But she shouldn’t be here on his planet. She definitely shouldn’t be in his bed keeping him warm. This human has a secret, and he plans to find out what it is.

Leo – 

Leo has been dreaming of getting married his entire life and having someone he can love in spite of everything that’s gone wrong. He was never supposed to be a doctor.His plan had been to become a warrior or a fighter, but when he lost his tail in a freak accident, he knew he needed to choose a career path where he could hide. Being a doctor means he gets to focus on everyone else – no one looks twice at him.

Tamara has been worried about her friends ever since they left Earth. Holly and Amena were both supposed to contact her, but they didn’t. Now it’s up to Tamara to make her way to Grimalkin and find out what’s happened to her best friends. She lost her leg years ago, so she knows she’s not going to be eligible for the bridal exchange, but there are other ways of getting to Grimalkin.

When Tamara is caught stowing away on a bridal transport to Grimalkin, she’s given an impossible choice.

Then she sees Leo, and she realizes that all bets are off.

She wants him.

Like, really wants him.

But is Leo ready to love a human like Tamara?

And is she willing to open her heart to the one person who could crush it?

Ekpen Review HERE

Torao Review HERE

Leo Review HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6. Making the Cut, Sons of Templar book 1 by Anne Malcom

Making the Cut (Sons of Templar MC #1)

Gwen Alexandra does not need a man in her life. Especially not a man who looks like Chris Hemsworth and Joe Manganiello’s love child. One wearing leather, riding a Harley, and covered in tattoos.

Gwen can bet every pair of her Manolos that Cade Fletcher is trouble. From the moment she meets him, the attraction sizzles between them. Gwen has a problem when it comes to attractive men in motorcycle clubs. The last one she got involved with almost killed her.

After healing physically, Gwen decides to get a new start in a small town, half a country away from the man who nearly cost her her life. She isn’t in town five minutes when she runs into Cade, a man that is too sexy and dangerous for his own good.

She tries to keep away from him, to ignore the attraction between them. But the biker has other ideas, soon she is in way over her head. Her heart, and her life are in danger once again.

My Review HERE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want tickets to Writers on the River #2023?

They are available starting November 4th at Writersontheriver.com

$45 VIP SOLD OUT – 12-1 VIP hour, 1-4 General Admission time. You get a filled VIP bag and admission to the after party is included.

$25 Early Access SOLD OUT – 12-1 VIP house, 1-4 General Admission time. You also get a filled VIP bag but NO admission to the after party.

$10 General Admission – 1-4 General Admission time. You can purchase a bag but it is not filled with VIP swag. There is no admission to the after party included.

$35 After party – 7-11 After Party with food and cash bar. Dj with a photobooth is also included in the fun.

Dark Romance, MC, Part of a Series

#WOTR23 #MC #Audio #KU – Making the Cut, Sons of Templar book 1 by Anne Malcom, Narration by Emma Wilder

Leave a comment

Making the Cut: Sons of Templar MC Series, Book 1

Gwen Alexandra does not need a man in her life. Especially not a man who looks like Chris Hemsworth and Joe Manganiello’s love child. One wearing leather, riding a Harley, and covered in tattoos.

Gwen can bet every pair of her Manolos that Cade Fletcher is trouble. From the moment she meets him, the attraction sizzles between them. Gwen has a problem when it comes to attractive men in motorcycle clubs. The last one she got involved with almost killed her.

After healing physically, Gwen decides to get a new start in a small town, half a country away from the man who nearly cost her her life. She isn’t in town five minutes when she runs into Cade, a man that is too sexy and dangerous for his own good.

She tries to keep away from him, to ignore the attraction between them. But the biker has other ideas, soon she is in way over her head. Her heart, and her life are in danger once again.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audio book.

I was super excited to start a new to me author and a new MC series.  I love love love me a good MC series.  The way this book and series started did not disappoint me at all.

I want to start by saying the narration *chef’s kiss* Emma was amazing!!  I absolutely am blow away by all the voiced she maintained through the book, and I understand the series as well.  Narration can make or break a book and Emma made it for me.

This book starts out and our girl Gwen is in a BAD situation to say the least.  She is essentially about to be assaulted and killed by the man she loved. SO to say she has a bad picker might be an understatement.  We meet Gwen, her brother who is hot as helllll named Ian, Amy her bestie , and her posse while she is recuperating.  Gwen decides she needs to GTF outta New York.  She and her bestie move to a small town in California.  From jump upon arrival in California we meet Cade. He is everything we readers want in an alpha male : Possessive, kind, bad ass, and smoking hot.

The relationship between Gwen and Cade is all over the place at times.  Given her past we can understand but when they (and by they I mean She) gives in to it….FIREWORKS!!!  They have a lot of drama to deal with like some of the club members not being fans of her, the not so super great ex, sweet butts causing drama, and miscommunication between the two.

What I loved about this book was the fact we get to see so many different sides of each character.  The book is in Gwen’s POV but we get a couple POV of Cade at the right time.

Brock and Amy got me soooo exited for their book.  I started and am LOVING it!!  Amy is the best best friend you could ever want.  But the guy who has my heart …yup its Bull.  I need to read his book. I need to see that broken man mended by the love of someone special!!

Anne Malcom has been an avid reader since before she can remember, her mother responsible for her book addiction. It started with magical journeys into the world of Hogwarts and Middle Earth, then as she grew up her reading tastes grew with her. Her obsession with books and romance novels in particular gave Anne the opportunity to find another passion, writing. Finding writing about alpha males and happily ever afters more fun than reading about them, Anne is not about to stop any time soon.

Dark, Dark Romance, Paranormal, Reverse Harem

#WOTR22 #reread #Paranormal #RH #Dark #TriggerWarnings #Shifters – Ashes: Book One in the River Ash Pack by Mary Martel

Leave a comment

Ashes: Book One in the River Ash Pack by [Mary Martel]

Cordelia has never known anything but the safety of her fathers guarded compound where she’s lived her entire life. A life that, as the alphas daughter, has always been a privileged one, albeit an incredibly sheltered one.
Until one night, life as she knows it, is flipped entirely upside down when she’s promised to another alpha in order to buy safety for her father’s pack. This doesn’t exactly sit well for Cordelia seeing as she has different plans for her life, even if she doesn’t know what those plans are just yet. Out of fear of what she doesn’t want her life to become, she does the unthinkable and tells her father the one thing he’ll never tolerate from anyone in his pack, especially not his daughter. She tells him no.
As a result, Cordelia learns just what kind of depraved man and alpha her father is and is left a broken, bleeding mess because of it.
After finding kindness and compassion from two strange men who show up at the compound and help her when she is no longer capable of helping herself, Cordelia does the only thing she thinks she can do in order to survive and not be stuck in a world of abuse and misery.
She runs.
Unfortunately for Cordelia, she doesn’t make it very far before she finds herself in trouble again and at the mercy of another male with alpha tendencies. This alpha also comes with a brother by blood and one by choice.
The problem is, Cordelia’s not so sure she could ever find a place in a pack again after everything she’s survived. She won’t have long to figure it out though because, no matter the cost, her father is determined to find her and bring her home.

Warning – Due to certain sensitive sexual subject matter and abusive situations, this book may contain triggers for some people.
It’s also a Reverse Harem book.

Goodreads

Review by Twinsie Angie

I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Jesus lemme get my head straight after reading this book. If there are a few things you need to know about Mary and her stories here they are…..Her men love FIERCE, Her Women are NOT WEAK, The chemistry is crazy in all the right places, and there will be blood…LOL …but I am serious!!
Now if you read the trigger warning I will say it’s not AS ROUGH of a scene as I was expecting or have read in the past but friends, its hard. Its hard because how can someone who should love and protect you, do that to you!! Its also quickly done and done well so we feel for Cordelia, but mainly so we can understand the shape that Cal and Luca find her in…it was bad…….
Cal, Luca and Darius……they are all so special to Cordelia for their own reasons, but this book is owned by Darius. Dude, he was so scary and then so sweet but so fierce. I mean I don’t think I knew how menacing he was until we see him with his old pack….dang he was hawt!!!
Cal and Luca long for their time for Cordelia but understand and show true patience to be with their girl because make no bones about it, SHE. IS. THEIR. GIRL!
Seeing the story of the impending war due to everything that plays out in the book is making me on edge because the 4 of them need to be on the same page to stick together and to make sure no one feels left out of this unusual mating!!

Mary Martel was born in West Michigan and spent the majority of her life there. She currently resides in North Dakota with her husband, and her two beautiful daughters. She’s an avid reader, and when not writing she can be found with her nose stuck in a book.

You can sign up for her newsletter here: https://amazon.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=92ebc52e0076d77643d6891b2&id=c70becb1cd

Age Gap, Anti-Hero, Audio Book, Dark, Dark Romance, Dragons, Fake Relationship, MC, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Reverse Harem, Romantic Comedy, Shifters, sibling best friend, Witches

#RomanticComedy #ReverseHarem #Witches #Shifters #Paranormal #Dragons #FakeRelationship #dark #Wolves #MC #AgeGap #SiblingBestFriend -Twinsie Angie Top 5….errrr Top 6 from January 2022 to June 2022 – Accidental P*rnstar by Cindy Tanner, Til Death Do Us Part by Mary Martel, Rebel by AJ Renee, The Dragon’s Fake Fiancée by Sophie Stern, Outcast by RL Caulder, and Concede by SJ Chaynie

1 Comment

General Admission tickets are still available for Writers on the River at www.writersontheriver.com

Full list of attending authors can be found on the webpage as well.

Hope to see you there July 16th!!

Now enjoy my top picks from January to June!!  Lemme know if you grab any in the comments!

Angie

All of the authors on this list are attending authors except for SJ Chaynie…maybe some day 🙂

Accidental P*rnstar by [Cindy Tanner]

AMAZON BuyLink

My college career was going great…

Until it wasn’t.

I lost my job, scholarship, and apartment in a trifecta of crap luck.

The last thing I want to do is run back home to my parents with my tail tucked. As luck would have it, my old roommate, Mason Davis, has a compelling—if slightly unorthodox solution—to my financial dilemma.

His suggestion?

A live stream feed of me enjoying a little steamy fun with HIM. The smoking hot guy I’ve fantasized about countless times before.

Surely, a tenacious bookworm like me can figure out how to let go of her inhibitions for one night.

After all, going viral is a good thing… right?

ANGIE Review –

I received this book from the author for free for an honest review.

Lawd ya’ll when Cindy showed me the title for this book I was cracking up. I couldn’t wait to read it. When she asked if I wanted an ARC…legit I jumped. I am so glad I did. This book has so many amazing lines and scenes. I was giggling on my chair on the deck. I legit gave the “Why are you looking at me” stare to my husband when he was all “Lets do something.” UHM NO Jules and Mason are making a PORN! LOL
SO Jules and Mason lived together with a snot and Mason moved out long before Jules. She was all kinds of a mess because on top of losing her housing she needs a job. She is at the club whichis never does and is drinking. She makes a fool of herself a couple times and thankfully Noah is there for them. LOL Jules and Mason reconnect and he offers her a room in his condo. Ya know the one he has also ready paid for. Well the comedy of what happens just needs to be read but needless to say Jules is not about t move in when…again …she has zero place to go.
Jules moves in and then Mason tells her is secret…ya know he does ALLFANS>>>GASP!! I know right!! SO after a quick chat he says he would love to scene with her for a cool $5K. When a girl is down a girl needs to do some drastic measures.
SO Mason and Jules start to blur the line between roommates/dating couple/work mates. They have some misunderstanding, jealousy, miscommunication, and of course a dash of “You trying to steal my girl”!!
The story was perfect. It was a great read and for sure I want a book on Mel and Noah.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Till Death Do Us Part (An Ariel Kimber Novel Book 7) by [Mary Martel ]

AMAZON buy link

Ariel Kimber and her coven are under imminent threat from the Council. They are monsters, without fangs or horns, who hide behind their mantle of power, and they will do anything to get what they want.

The problem is, they want Ariel. They want her so badly that every other person around her is in danger just by being near her.

The Council forgot one very important fact though—Ariel Kimber is no victim. She’s a survivor, and the Council is stupid to think they can simply take her and destroy everything and everyone she loves.

She will do whatever it takes to keep her coven safe, even if she has to go through hell to do it. They are all more than willing to fight alongside her because she’s finally agreed to spend the rest of her life tied to them in every way possible.

They have a lot to fight for.

The goal is to make it to the other side without losing anyone along the way because they want their happily ever after.

And they want to be able to say till death do us part.

But life for Ariel Kimber is never that easy.

And it never will be.

ANGIE’s Review –

I received this book from the author for free for an honest review by that sexy bitch Mary Martel.

Between texting Mary to yell at her and texting her to sob to her…this book was everything fans of the series want to read. There is so much that happens in this book to move the story forward and answer questions but start so many new ones.
I am so afraid to spoiler this book that I am going to keep my review kinda vague in parts. I want you to be just as devasted and excited as I was. Lemme just say prepare for Chapters 14-17 because they are so heavy. My stomach was in KNOT…KNOTS…..tears….heartbreak….guys…so much happens in this part of the book.
Now don’t go thinking the rest of the book isn’t important because LAWD it is. There are so many parts of the book I need to discuss like Rain, Romero, and Isobel. I mean Jesus these 3. The crazy triangle!!!
Can I saw Q and Ariel arguing are pretty epic and as always hilarious for you the reader. Q is my favorite of the coven guys and of course he is an epic fuck up with his girl and understanding when she needs girly stuff. But I love Damien and Jules more this novel. Jules for standing up to Rain and Damien for understanding Ariel and her girl ways. Tyson is the best friend we need and love. Dash…sigh,,,he is just sensitive Dash. The twins made my heart so happy in this book. They open up and really show us how much they love being loved by Ariel. They understand her fears and do everything to let her know she is perfect for them.
The Council…guys…so much shit happens this book and shit will reverberate after shit that happens this book. I am so nervous and excited for what will happen after this book. GAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vague reviews so as to not post spoilers!!!!!! Its so tough!!! But I need you to be just as devastated and broken as I was!
There was a new character introduced…..friends……your heart….it will be destroyed and yet it will make everything right with the coven. Does that make sense? It will trust me. I loved and hated this character. Loved them because of who they are but hated their back story. If they are involved in the Council it cant be a good one right????
As always I am a needy reader and want so much more. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Rebel (Alumbra Pack Book 1) by [AJ Renee, Angie Wade]

AMAZON buy link

He’d long given upon finding his mate, but when he does, is she too broken to trust their bond?
Meeting boys after curfew should have been innocent fun, but it turned Rosalia’s life upside down. Escaping the werewolf compound wasn’t an option, so she did her best to survive the twisted hell she’d been dragged to. Her dreams of having a real chance at life had been smothered by guilt and the realization she was too broken, even if she ever did see her loved ones again.
Peter had nearly given up on finding his true mate, but a mission to rescue a pack member’s sister leads him to Rosalia. If he’d known why she’d been impossible to locate, he would have left the pack in his beta’s care and moved mountains to save her sooner.
He must find the strength to rein in his wolf’s need to claim her and give her the necessary space to heal. Her body, heart, and wolf are at odds, with merely a thin string keeping her tattered spirit from coming apart. Can Rosalia learn to trust Peter, or are the jagged, invisible scars too deep?

Angie’s Review –

I purchased this book.
I LOVED PETER!! I mean I have loved him since meeting him in the Broderick series. You do not have to read the Broderick series to read this book OR the following books in the series BUT I highly suggest it so you understand the relationships.
Peter…he is the best alpha. He loves his pack and those he deems pack like the witches in the Broderick coven. He is fierce in protecting those he loves. He is happy with his life, but he yearns for his mate. He is happy for Brandy and her siblings but…yeah why can’t he find HERE!!! Our calm cool alpha is outta his mind lately and he is not sure WHY. He can’t focus and is just hot tempered which is not Peter. When the pack and the coven go to save some women, he is beyond mad to see his mate there…in the room of abused and battered women AND a sister to Claudia.
Rosalie is the brave one of the group. She has done lots of things that many would find disgusting to survive abuse and horrors. When she realizes they are being rescued and its by her sister, she is overjoyed and then…..she sees him. The large wolf is her mate. She is scared given she has seen how alpha tend to treat women.
Rosie and Peter have a lot to overcome but Peter becomes more the man we know and love. He is doing everything to make sure she knows she is safe and wanted no matter what she as been through. He is doing everything to put her at ease to him and his caring. The waters these two navigate was pretty wicked at times but Peter never faulters. GUYS I loved him even more!!! GAH!! PETER!!!
I am so excited for this series and absolutely love that the Brodericks are just as front and center in this series as Peter’s pack was in their story. But I really wanna know whats up with Xander but Lea and Joel!! EEEEP!!!!
I cannot wait!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dragon's Fake Fiancée (Shifters of Rawr County Book 6) by [Sophie Stern]

AMAZON buy link –

Cosmo has been living in Rawr County for the last 10 years because he hates himself and wants to be miserable. Dragon Isle was no good for him. Everyone there was too happy and joyful. A dragon like him deserves to be unhappy.

When his family tries to set him up with a childhood friend to date, he blurts out a lie: he’s engaged.

It’s not true.

But when they surprise him with an unexpected visit, he grabs his nearest employee, Athena, and introduces her as his fiancée.

What could possibly go wrong?

Angie’s Review –

I was given this book by the author for an honest review.

Ok here goes. So Sophie is about the most adorable person I have ever met. I have read several of her alter ego books but have been looking to sink my teeth into on of these books but life man…not enough time in the day, right? SO, she offered this ARC and I jumped. Its in a “series” but all the books can be read in any order. I didn’t have any issues reading the 3 or 4th book in the series. Every side character was briefly introduced and then off we went.
Cosmo and Athena…. holy hawt burn. Holy pants melting off…. holy office spankings. Oh yeah you read that right…. OFFICE. SPANKING!
Ok ok so the Office Spanking was to get you hooked now lets really get down to the story, shall we??
Cosmo is a grumpy…..errrr……brooding dragon. His friends are all mating up and he is in love with his secretary who is in love with Benjamin. UGH Gross Benny. Anyway, he looks forward to seeing her every single day. Since she is his paralegal, it does happen all the time.
Althena is head over heels in love with her boss. Ya know, the dragon. She does everything can can to be close to him like going back to school to be a paralegal. She is so afraid of looking like the pathetic girl she is, and maybe in hopes of making him jealous, she makes but a boyfriend.
One phone call and visit from Cosmo’s family changes EVERYTHING for them. Cosmos mom and dad want him to come home to meet another chick to possible settle him down on Dragon Isle to have some dragon babies. Cosmo is not down with this idea, so he throws Athena under the bus and she goes along with it.
I mean they live together for a week and pretend to be getting married. They know so much about the other how can it go wrong?? LAWD the feelings that come rolling off each of them not knowing how the other really feels. The chemistry was so thick but the slow burn…….I almost combusted!!!
This story was sooooo good. I sat and devoured it in a couple hours. Now I need to grab the other books in the series and I am so looking forward to Jennifer, The Red Panda’s book with Lewis!!!

~~~~~~~~~~`

Outcast (The Pack Prophecy Book 1) by [R.L. Caulder]

AMAZON buy link

“The arrival of the Prophetess will bring both hope and destruction for the wolves of the world.

She alone will be able to save them–or damn them.”

The dark prophecy that has been passed down since the first pack of shifters is coming to fruition– and I am at the center of it.

An orphaned human taken in by a pack of wolves. The fate of their existence in my hands.

I’ve been treated as the dirt beneath the pack’s paws for years.

Will they be able to accept my new role when my powers surface? Will I be able to forgive them enough to help them?

The bright spot amongst all the turmoil…finding my three fated. Until one of them rejects our bond.

The one thing I know for sure…death is coming for us all, soon, and the person responsible for it? Their betrayal is going to alter the shifter world forever.

I’ll conquer my powers, protect the packs, and live happily ever after with my men, right?

Wrong.

No one is prepared for the vile truths of my visions to come to light.

***

Author Note: This book has a 18+ warning and is intended for mature audiences. It is book one in The Pack Prophecy series which will end in a cliffhanger.

Angie’s Review –

I purchased this book and audio,

The narration of the story *Chef’s Kiss* was absolutely perfect. Heather and Jeffrey brought the characters to life 110%. I will be honest in that I LOVE Jeffrey’s audio and when I see his name, I am super excited.

I grabbed this book because R. L. Caulder will be attending a book signing I am going too. She has so many books to pick BUT this one had audio. It was the winner. I gotta admit chance is why I grabbed the book, but I am so addicted to Kira and her men.
I loved the fact this book was kinda a shifter’s version of Cinderella…I mean she is a gross human the Alpha and his wife, Maya, took in. But once the Alpha’s mate was killed by daimoma, he blames her and is keeping her in misery to punish her.
Kira had only known happiness the few years she was with Jameson and his mother, Maya. Once Maya was killed she was only bullied and teases horrible by all the wolves in the pack Jameson and Sophia were the worst ones to her. There was only one bright spot in her day. Milo always would protect her. He has made it clear he has feelings for her, but she knows once the full moon hits when he turns 21 just like the rest of the pack, he will find his mate and forget her. She guards her heart and hopes one day she can find happiness too.
The closer the pack comes to the next full moon, Kira notices Seth, Jameson’s bestie, looking at her like a pork chop. She is angry that NOW he admits he has feelings. Sorry Seth not happening. Kira does as she is always expected to do when the full moon hits and everyone changes….even KIRA!!!??? Milo, Seth, AND Jameson all run to her because they feel the pull to their “Fated Mate”. The wolves all see who for her she is but the men have issue except Milo. Seth soon realizes he needs to listen to his wolf but Jameson…well he is a dick. Mega dick who is so blinded with hatred for Kira.
Kira soon learns she is has the powers to save the shifters but a cliffy happens when she soon discovers what is happening and who is leading the daimoma.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!

~~~~~~~~~~`

Concede: Knights of Paradise MC by [S.J. Chaynie ]

This book releases TOMORROW July 1st!!

AMAZON Buy Link 

I’ve spent the last four years in a Catholic boarding school. A very different world from the one I have found myself being forced into. There is a dangerous game being played, and I haven no choice but to be under his protection. He’s the king, and expects me to bow just like all the others. The more he demands, the more I resist. He’s not just too old for me, or just the president of a motorcycle club. He’s my brother’s best friend, and if he wants me as his queen, he better prove he’s worthy enough for me to put on the crown.

This is an adult novel intended for mature readers.
Book 1 of the Knights of Paradise MC Series. Does end on a cliffhanger, part of a continuing series.

Angie’s Review –

I was given this book by the author for an honest review.

First up, I saw a booktok trailer and was like “HEEEEY GIRL” to the authors.  I essentially asked nicely…cough cough begged…..for an ARC of this book.  MC is my JAM and it sounded like something I would love.  It hits all my favs…Best friend’s sibling/age gap/MC.  I was super thrilled when she said YES.  I got the book and downloaded thinking I would get a chapter or two in before I put it down to do housework.  PFT Housework be damned.  Maverick and Tanner had my FULL attention, but I was side eyeing Dom and Dani.  Don’t worry I got questions you two!!

Now I know people are haters for cliffhangers, but I love them.  I really do.  So, I will warn you this is a cliffy but it’s a good one.  Does that make sense?  Prolly not for you cliffy haters.  But for real, I loved it and where it dropped at is a good ending/beginning for the next story.

Ok so Maverick/Zeke and Tanner/Vix.  This book runs you through the gamete.  Tanner starts to story as a wide-eyed boarding school virgin with no idea who her brother is and especially what a MC Club is.  When the story cliffies, we see a strong woman who know what she wants and who she wants.  My favorite scene of the book is when she has had it with Maverick’s shit.  For Real!!  Our girl is over it and she tells him what is up.  It is up to him to make the changes because she is DONZO.  But my next favorite scene is when they are bed shopping for his room…Maverick is a dirty dirty boy!!!  He plays soooo dirty to get what he wants, and that is Tanner!

Maverick is the MC president, and he loves the lifestyle.  He doesn’t think he should settle down and honestly doesn’t really have any intensions.  However, Tanner makes him want more and importantly makes him FEEL more.  The feelings she causes in him are powerful and super confusing to the manwhore.

Now Dom is Tanners brother who is all “Hand off” buuuuut dude uhm you don’t seem to be keeping your hands off Mavericks little sister, Dani.  Pot Meet Kettle!!  I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.  I think Mr. Dom is getting the much-needed eye opener he needs to claim what his heart desires most!