All posts by Jo-Anna W

Kindle Unlimited, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Vampire, Witches

#Review – Don’t Hex and Drive: Opposites Attract Vampire Romance (Stay a Spell Book 2) by Juliette Cross

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Notoriously bad at peopling, Isadora Savoie spends most of her time in the greenhouse or at the local animal shelter, using her Conduit powers of growth and healing. Content to remain in the background of the Savoie sister shenanigans, she’s reluctantly roped into the mystery of missing neighborhood girls.

Now, she’s partnered with a flashy, flirty vampire to find them before it’s too late. Devraj Kumar has seen and done it all. Three hundred years roaming the earth as a Stygorn—a legendary vampire warrior who operates in the shadows—has its perks. But ennui has set in. That is, until he has a run-in—literally—with an intriguing witch while on a new assignment in New Orleans.

Fascinated by her resistance to his charms, Devraj can’t help but push her buttons in an effort to get to know the shy witch. Fortunately for him, she’s been recruited by the Lord of Vampires to assist Devraj on the case. Between a Bollywood marathon, supernatural dating app, secret package, and sexy driving instruction, Isadora is in over her head. And Devraj? After just one taste, he’s playing for keeps.

This series is so much fun and I only just finished book 2. I can’t wait for the others and I’m dying to read about Jules and Reuben. There’s some unfinished business there and I really really need them to get down to it and just give me all the steamy scenes.

Back to this book. Devraj is so dreamy and Isadora agrees. She’s smitten but he falls way harder and faster first. She hesitates because all she sees when she looks at him, is a movie star and a vampire who travels for work. But he’s so much more than that and she doesn’t realize that he wants to settle down. With her.

This book is sweet, funny and oh so steamy. It has some suspenseful moments thanx to some douche bag vampires and missing girls.

I really liked this one and can’t wait to read book 3. I believe Juliette has started writing the second generation already, so I really need to read faster and catch up.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4csQH7u

Enemies to Lovers, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, new adult, Part of a Series

#Review – Fallen Gods (Fallen Gods 1) by Rachel Van Dyken

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AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

They said the Gods were myth. That the Giants were only stories told around dying fires. They lied.

The Gods aren’t dead—they’re only sleeping, locked in mortal bodies, scattered across the world, waiting for the right spark to wake them. And my father is the most ruthless of them all.

He raised me to obey. To bleed. To be his blade when the time came. Now he’s sending me to Endir University, a place filled with ancient bloodlines and deadly secrets, to steal back Mjolnir, the hammer of legend. If I fail, everyone I love dies.

I’m always impressed by authors who can create these types of worlds. My sister is the same way and I’m always bugging her to write a book. So kudos to you authors! This is also my first Rachel Van Dyken book that I’ve read even though I’ve “known” her for years.

As for this book. I really enjoyed it. I’m not a huge enemies to lovers reader. No reason really. It’s just not a trope I search for when picking up a book. But I enjoyed it in this one.

I loved the mythology parts and I’m always fascinated by those topics.

We meet Rey who is assigned a mission by her dear old dad and she has a week to do it. What could go wrong right?

Then we meet Aric, who’s a sleeping giant and is grumpy and miserable and I was digging it.

This book had quite a few twists and turns that I couldn’t predict.

I can’t wait for book two and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

One click – https://amzn.to/4qBkG0I

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, short story

#Promo – Dolly Did It:A Horror Story (Short Horror Fiction Book 1) by William Cook

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When dreams become nightmares and the past refuses to die . . .

Members of Cynthia’s family are dying one by one and she doesn’t know how to stop it from happening. Cynthia records the macabre events in her journal as they occur and tries to come to terms with the fact that her old dolly, Samantha, has begun to haunt her dreams.

Cynthia is on the cusp of becoming a young woman as her thirteenth birthday looms, but her past refuses to let her go as she battles her nightmares that foreshadow the death of her family members. Her old dolly, that her mother stored in the attic, has come out of the shadows and now inhabits Cynthia’s frightening and prophetic dream-world. But are her nightmares merely products of her imagination, or are they something more than that? Something more real, more frightening, and more dangerous than any dream could ever be?

From the author of Blood Related and Dreams of Thanatos

*Bonus Features: includes an additional short story – ‘The Reader’ from Dreams of Thanatos

Warning: contains adult content + themes of supernatural and psychological horror.

“William Cook tells a gruesome story with a sense of authenticity, that makes you question with considerable unease if it really is fiction after all.” – Graham Masterton, author of The Manitou and Descendant

“This man is simply scary. There is both a clinical thoroughness and a heartfelt emotional thoroughness to his writing. He manages to shock as well as empathize, to scare as well as acclimatize, yet beneath it all is a well read intelligence that demands to be engaged. I loved Blood Related. Ordinarily I hate serial killer stories, but William Cook won me over. He is a unique and innovative talent.” – Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Dog Days

About King Billy Publications

King Billy Publications exclusively publish the dark literary fiction and psychological horror stories of William Cook. We love publishing stories, both for kindle and print, that appeal to adult readers of Horror, Supernatural, Thriller, Occult and most types of Dark Fiction. KBP strive to bring you fresh, new kindle stories throughout the year. Our high standards of editing, formatting, lay-out and quality content, ensure that Cook’s frightening tales of serial killers, ghosts, haunted entities, vampires, villains, monsters, demons and other Gothic grotesquery, are presented to you in such a way that you’ll want to read more. KBP are also the publishers of Fresh Fear: An Anthology of Macabre Horror featuring stories by Ramsey Campbell, JF Gonzales, Jack Dann, Charlee Jacob, Robert Dunbar, Adam Millard, Christine Morgan and BillieSue Mosiman to name a few.

One click – https://amzn.to/4qh3c9M

Standalone, Thriller

#Review #AudioBook – Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong

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A standalone horror novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Laney Kilpatrick has been renting her vacation home to strangers. The invasion of privacy gives her panic attacks, but it’s the only way she can keep her beloved Hemlock Island, the only thing she owns after a pandemic-fueled divorce. But broken belongings and campfires that nearly burn down the house have escalated to bloody bones, hex circles, and now, terrified renters who’ve fled after finding blood and nail marks all over the guest room closet, as though someone tried to claw their way out…and failed.

When Laney shows up to investigate with her teenaged niece in tow, she discovers that her ex, Kit, has also been informed and is there with Jayla, his sister and her former best friend. Then Sadie, another old high school friend, charters over with her brother, who’s now a cop.

I’m a huge fan of Kelley’s supernatural universe. She’s one of the first authors that I devoured all of their books in a matter of weeks. When I came across this book, I didn’t read the description. Just saw that it’s by Kelley and that it’s a thriller, so I thought I’d give it a try.

First, the narrator for this, did a really good job. She portrayed the emotions from each character and even though she did the voices for everyone (including the guys), it wasn’t corny at all.

We meet Laney who heads back to Hemlock Island after finding out some of the renters had some issues. She discovers some witchcraft type objects and things take a turn for the worse from there.

I was invested through the whole book and then got to one of the later chapters and had to stop my run because I needed to pay attention. The twist took me off guard and I loved every second of it.

I honestly had no idea what was happening. I tried predicting and I’m so glad that I wasn’t able to.

I definitely want to read more of Kelley’s thrillers.

One-click – https://amzn.to/49OrSBn

Horror, Kindle Unlimited, short story

#Promo – The Things in the Woods: A Tiny Terrible Tale by Sarah Jules

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As with all urban legends, the story of Everclear House evolved depending on who was telling it.

Two things always remained consistent:
1. There were Things in the woods.
2. The Things in the woods fed on the almost dead.

“Masterfully chilling with a gut-wrenching kick. Sarah Jules knows how to take your fears and use them against you.” – Elizabeth J. Brown, author of The Laughing Policeman.

“Sarah Jules has already established herself as one of the top authors for all things creepy! Yet another fantastic story from the Tiny Terrible Tales series, this time involving a nursing home, something nasty outside in the woods, and a dark past. How the author manages to fit so much dread and horror into such a short story is truly amazing!” – Justin Boote, author of Soul Searchers.

The Things in the Woods is the second standalone, one-sitting horror short from Sarah Jules.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4tb1vgt

Horror, short story

Promo – Creepy Little Bastards: A Tiny Terrible Tale by Sarah Jules

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“Creepy little bastards indeed! You’ll never want to follow a trend again.” – Leigh Kenny, author of Cursed, and Hush, My Darling.

“In Creepy Little Bastards, Jules asks us to consider where overnight crazes really come from, and where they might end. A fast and engaging horror short that warns of the dangers that can come when the world NEEDS the next “in” thing. Did you ever stop to ask yourself why? After reading this cautionary tale, you’ll never follow the crowd again…” – MJ Mars, author of The Suffering, and The Fovea Experiments.

Creepy Little Bastards promises to sink its claws into you.

You can’t remember when they first appeared.
Nobody can.
But now they’re here.
Solid. Real. Everywhere.
They’re creepy little bastards. Don’t you think?

‘Creepy Little Bastards’ is the first installment in the Tiny Terrible Tales short horror stories collection by Sarah Jules.

This was a fun little read! As someone who doesn’t understand the obsession with delulu’s, I really enjoyed this one.

One clicked here

Erotica

#Review – Handle Me: A MM Sentient Hockey Stick Romance by Unfortunate Reads

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Jace Masterson is a God.

Skilled with his hands and sporting a deliciously dirty mouth, he’s one of the most sought-after men in Toronto. And he’s mine.

If I could smile, I would. I love it here. I love Jace. But most of all? I love how Jace handles me.

Handle Me is a sentient object romance intended for audiences over 18 years old. This contains intimate relations between a human man and a sentient hockey stick. It passes the Harkness test, but it’s still weird. Read at your own risk!

Well can’t say I ever think I would read a book about a sentient hockey stick but here we are.

Jace is a hockey player and loves the stick his sponsor gifted him. He really really loves this stick. IYKYK

The stick also loves Jace. Like a lot.

After Jace sees a picture of a puck bunny doing her thing with a stick, it sparks an idea in him and the rest is…well as they say, history.

This little story was weird in the best of ways.

One click here – https://amzn.to/4qsvvme

Holiday Book/Novella, Horror, Kindle Unlimited, Novella

#Promo – She Waits: A Tiny Terrible Tale by Sarah Jules

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SHE WAITS is a cosmic, creepy, sleep-with-the-lights-on horror short story.

The New Year’s Eve tradition of ‘first footing’ is supposed to bring luck and prosperity.
For Tamsin, it brings only terror.

Looking for some holiday themed horror?
Want to plummet into a sea of existential dread?
Haven’t quite met your reading goal?
SHE WAITS is the story for you!

TINY TERRIBLE TALES is a series of standalone, one-sitting horror shorts from indie horror author Sarah Jules.
SHE WAITS is the third release.*

These bite-sized horror stories will sink their teeth into you and refuse to let go.

With regular new releases, there’s always something terrible waiting around the corner.

*They can be read in any order and are not interlinked.

PRAISE FOR TINY TERRIBLE TALES:

“Masterfully chilling with a gut-wrenching kick. Sarah Jules knows how to take your fears and use them against you.” – Elizabeth J. Brown, author of The Laughing Policeman.

“Sarah Jules has already established herself as one of the top authors for all things creepy! Yet another fantastic story from the Tiny Terrible Tales series… How the author manages to fit so much dread and horror into such a short story is truly amazing!” – Justin Boote, author of Soul Searchers.

“For such a short story, this was richly plotted and full of enough backstory to make it feel incredibly well-rounded and realised. It was also full of some sumptuous and scary writing... had my skin crawling.” – Dave Musson, author of One More Around the Sun, and owner of the ‘Dave Reads King’ YouTube channel.

“Did somebody say NEW HORROR SHORT by the inimitable Sarah Jules?!” – Leigh Kenny, author of Hush, My Darling.

“A gripping little short horror story, I really enjoy Sarah’s writing it has a way of being gripping, vivid and enjoyable while feeling accessible… A fun chilling little read and I will forever recommend Sarah’s writing.” – Wyatt Creed Reads.

This was short and dark but a lot of fun! I was left with wanting to read more.

Tamsin hates the holidays, especially New Years Eve. Her family celebrates the new year with traditions while Tamsin tries not to see her. The other version of her.

This little tale is creepy but I enjoyed it a lot. If you’re looking for bite sized reads, definitely check out this author and this little series.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/3NnHfYR

Dark, Dark Romance, Kindle Unlimited, Novella, Part of a Series, why choose

#Review – Curvy Thirteen: A Why Choose, Dark Romance Novella (The Curvy Thirteen Playlist Book 1) by Nicci Harris

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He calls me pup,
and wants me to play fetch.

I’m Vallie, but BookTok knows me as @CurvyandBooked.

Dark Romance is my jam, peanut butter, and marmalade.

Mafia. Bully. Why Choose. You name it, and I want to sit in my beanbag with my battery-operated boyfriend and read it.

Look, if I don’t need a chöochie ice bath after a romance, was it even a love story?

If someone didn’t bleed for looking at her, was the hero really that into her?

But it’s just fiction.

Until it’s not.

So, when I find a masked man in my living room skimming my favourite romance novel, all my dark desires become very real nightmares.

And he is not alone. He has a mentally deranged brother who wants to play house with me.

Soon, I’m torn between right and wrong, good and bad, and who needs saving from whom…
.
DISCLAIMER: Nicci never thought she would want to use a pen name until she wrote this absolute insanity. From this book, she has created her Nicci Harris, Black Label, brand. This is pure filth, with minimal plot, and features unhinged male main characters with mummy issues. Caution: the leading characters engage in questionable consent, and the narrative includes. It ends on a hfn/cliff

First, please check out the trigger warnings on Nicci’s sight. Not every sexual act in this book is consensual and there are topics that may be triggering for you. Your mental health matters first and foremost.

So I gave myself a reading challenge this year: Read a novella each week. Plus read all the other books I want to read but if I can at least read a novella, it’ll get some books read and it’s a good way to check out new to me authors as well.

I was in the mood for dark romance because I don’t actually read them a lot even though I write them and love them. I came across this series and am so glad I gave it a chance.

Vallie is a social media influencer and let her fantasies be known to the public. Well…that kind of backfired on her.

Her masked intruder was no longer a fantasy and became very very real but he has a request and she doesn’t really have a choice either but to go along with it.

I have to say that Tyler’s situation breaks my heart. I have a soft spot for the broken MMCs and I just want to give him a hug. I hope we find out more about his past.

Also, I can’t wait to meet Dexter. The older brother to Tyler and Donnie. Should be fun.

I really don’t think Vallie knows what she’s in for and I have a feeling that Dexter is far worse than Donnie.

I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/49i6a8z

Contemp. Romance, Holiday Book/Novella, Kindle Unlimited, Novella, Romantic Comedy

#Review- The One Night by Meghan Quinn

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From USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn comes a romantic comedy novella about the magic and misadventures of a one-night stand.

Recently divorced Cooper Chance knows he’s officially in a rut when his parents take him barhopping in the hope of resuscitating his love life. At first, he’s skeptical. How could a gritty dive bar possibly solve his problems? But then he runs into Nora McHale.

Nora isn’t at the bar looking for love. She’s there to unwind after yet another exhausting day at her bakery. And even if she were hoping to meet someone, it sure wouldn’t be Cooper—her best friend’s ex-husband.

According to the unwritten rules of romance, Cooper and Nora are completely off limits to each other. But after a fun, flirty night at the bar, they can’t ignore the wild attraction between them.

Is this the beginning of something real, or will their passionate night together be their one and only?

I haven’t read a contemporary romance book in years and any romance I have read lately, has been romantasy. We can thank Fourth Wing for that. I’ve given myself a challenge this year: To read 1 novella a week for the whole year. I’m so glad I started off with this one because it was so entertaining.

Cooper’s parents are adorable and had me laughing. They were simply the cutest. They’re trying to find a nice lady for him but he never expects to run into Nora. His ex’s best friend. But you can’t stop fate and what it has in store for you no matter how hard you try.

Cooper and Nora are a perfect match. They’re banter is so fun! I definitely wanted more from them. You can read more about these characters in later books.

If you want a quick holiday read that’s funny and sexy, then check this one out. It was definitely the palate cleanser I needed after all the horror books I’ve consumed in the last year. Also, this book had me actually laughing out loud. I can’t even tell you when the last time that happened was.

Can be read in KU – https://amzn.to/4q1xIVz