Category Archives: Review

Cliffhanger, Dragons, Mystery, Part of a Series, Review, Suspense

#review #partofaseries Onyx Storm (Empyrean 3) by Rebecca Yarros

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After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty.

Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything.

They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth.

But a storm is coming…and not everyone can survive its wrath.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209439446-onyx-storm

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Onyx-Storm-Empyrean-Book-3-ebook/dp/B0CW1FKFB9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8GAQZELOHYKL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q8nsibD3r8o5FUc6dMBNpZ9tReoKp-6KceIfv1_zlWbCW8PpbwoX73_JEgYOWF11pp_M8f2vHScFilNZuGGP9PLxAtKAiRzfOv3IQucs9XV1FGg-6BKEd0C0czMeLNau3kc5gao460nyESfZ1lCfXI88Bnp2ojlJNEoOD5ZqD6i_093lLsR6Wo5t6VUkQBXuhECyT2sJUpANZxwGJ2D4v72jUDBI6YGcDHvLladMVUw._JFjuQHJs6MmvmxLnd84N-aP26MOGQAdKFyrrr7kHfY&dib_tag=se&keywords=onyx+storm+rebecca+yarros&qid=1743081708&sprefix=onyx+storm+%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest opinion

Back at Basigath its still crazy, trying to get things back in order after the crazy wyvern and venin attack. Violet isn’t giving up without a fight, with her siblings, friends, and boyfriend by her side she’s determined to find a cure to turn Xaden back from being a venin and also find her dragon’s family the 7th kind. is she the key to unlocking all this new at Basigath or is it the end. so many tears, heartbreaks and another cliffhanger to leave you wondering where the rest of the story is. this was a great climax of the series, and it was difficult to put all the words together for the review.

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Part of a Series, Review, short story, Standalone

#review #partofaseries #shortstory Wine in Waiheke (The Traveling Calvert Sisters 7) by Tori Ross

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Clara Calvert is in an unfortunate situation. Dumped while on a plane and crying in the Auckland airport, Clara lucks into a new friend in Ember from Scotland who talks her into not catching the first plane back to the US. When Ember gets Clara a temporary job at a winery on Waiheke Island doing some “fun footwork to entertain the tasters,” Clara meets a man from Liverpool with a love for everything winemaking.

Colin Maloney soon has Clara pushing her boundaries with boulder fishing, white water rafting, and falling for the man she never expected to meet.

Wine on Waiheke is book 7 of The Traveling Calvert Sisters but can be read as a standalone!

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60708987-wine-on-waiheke

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DPLG6ZX9?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_6&storeType=ebooks&qid=1740504023&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

Unlike the rest of her sisters that went on vacation and met the loves of their lives Claira went to a man she hooked up with one night only to be dumped on the flight to him. But things started looking up when a stranger was nice to her and wanted to help turn her vacation around so with the guy in the past, Claira and new friend Ember are off on an adventure of a lifetime with wine and new friends. Claira is about to learn that you can’t let a guy ruin a perfect trip, but you might find another to help get you to move on.

Tori Ross is an international bestselling, Amazon bestselling, and Apple Top 100 author. Her book, The Cuffing Season Contract, won the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy, and she’s written several shorts, novellas, full-length books, and serials. She lives with her family and two rescue dogs in the Midwest.

Athletes, Part of a Series, Review, short story, Standalone, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries #YA Dear Wyatt (Love Notes Season 2) by Danielle Keil

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Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

For Wyatt Anderson, it seems like an April Fool’s Day prank.

She quickly realizes it’s not, but the way her secret admirer sends his clues might just be.

Wyatt is one of the smartest girls in school, but the ciphers she’s given to decode really test her abilities.

On top of that, the answers she uncovers make no sense. Until she realizes how to connect all the clues together…

The other problem? She finds herself around one of her tutoring clients more often than usual… and with that proximity comes some feelings she wasn’t expecting.

It all comes down to the last letter and the last clue. Can she solve the toughest one yet or will she throw in the towel for another guy?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230836450-dear-wyatt

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Wyatt-Love-Notes-Season-ebook/dp/B0DKMJ22FG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=AEG4GL1V80EE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.d37oRl5emRxKFLvRqalW34JPi7sxJvPtjgpSs_IxZ9ZJfPLlf_z1FtuMOJxUZf73PapjzWZzuRBVZnymmvQswvOOzOZk8hE2wAAxkPQa8IpVJk5NPkzj1XSDhhQ4MgTCFkzTfpCgxlC8C5J4WZh5p5ehqDs8UAIP_kDh7p52LR5tyIFUqcKvVndhMoFwkklouvSg5d1g0_JWB_Q2-ma6gJZkVJXRnCyE5vqrnYIp1-0.mXeIyQ1aNp1t-0OfIdWCmHsYWrY3NrIJpArgUEdorhQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=danielle+keil&qid=1744046638&sprefix=danielle+keil%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-3

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

One of Ryder Highs bright, smart and bubbly tutors is about to get her turn in the spotlight Wyatt Anderson got her famous teal envelope and was now this month’s “IT” girl. Which at first was difficult because she’s already on the shorter side and didn’t know what the crowd was gathered around, but the closer she got to her locker she quickly figured it out. Wyatt may have gotten her envelope on April Fools, but this was no prank, now she had clues to solve, classmates to tutor and keeping up with her life and own schoolwork. Follow Wyatt as she decodes this month’s clues and tries to figure out who the guy is while her heart starts to fall for someone who might not be behind the letters. This might be my favorite book yet (shh don’t tell Max) I loved Wyatt, her guy and their friends.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

Part of a Series, Review, short story, Standalone

#review #partofaseries #shortstory Turkey in Tennessee (The Traveling Calvert Sisters 5) by Tori Ross

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Peyton Calvert has never really fit in with normal society. Content to work at Chili Shack and stay close to home with her tight-knit family, she’s always been happy slacking her way through life or spending her time at her local hippie commune.

When a coworker, Avery, asks Peyton to go home with her for Thanksgiving to help deal with her difficult and cold family, Peyton accepts. But dealing with Avery’s brother, Prescott Rausch the Third, is harder than Peyton imagined.

As a physical attraction grows, can the fun and relaxed Peyton teach the uptight Prescott her ways? Or will she be schooled by the Princeton-educated stock trader?

This novella is book 5 in The Traveling Calvert Sisters series but can be read as a standalone. Read the series in any order!

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197491686-turkey-in-tennessee

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CG7JGM96?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_4&storeType=ebooks&qid=1740504023&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Our dear sweet Peyton never a care in the world always high has been invited to thanksgiving with her best friend whose family basically disowned her for her wanting to go elsewhere for college and didn’t want to go alone. Peyton wasn’t sure what she was getting into but wanted to be there for her friend, after a terrible death defining plane ride, which caused Peyton to pee her pants, they were finally there and waking up her besties brother to borrow some underwear and sweats because the airline lost their bags. but one thing Peyton didn’t expect was her besties brother to look as hot as he did for everything, she heard about him. Can Peyton survive the weekend without smoking weed and will he get back home without getting the Calvert vacation lovebug bite one will never know. well unless you read the book. this was another funny story where high class meets white trash but the classy kind.

Tori Ross is an international bestselling, Amazon bestselling, and Apple Top 100 author. Her book, The Cuffing Season Contract, won the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy, and she’s written several shorts, novellas, full-length books, and serials. She lives with her family and two rescue dogs in the Midwest.

Part of a Series, Review, short story, Standalone

#review #partofaseries #shortstory Out of Luck in the Outback (The Traveling Calvert Sisters 4) by Tori Ross

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Ava Calvert thinks she’s found her dream gig as a budget travel writer until her boss tells her that her stories are bland and that she needs real travel experience if she wants to keep her job. When he offers her the trip of a lifetime to Australia to work on a story about traveling on a budget, Ava jumps at the chance for real experience.

While at a bed and breakfast in Sydney, Ava catches Maddox Brewster stealing her oatmeal packet. When he sees that Ava’s frustrated with trying to enjoy Sydney on a budget, Maddox asks Ava to come to the center of the country for a weekend to show her that they can enjoy Australia without breaking the bank.

But there’s more to Maddox than meets the eye.

This book is the fourth book in the Traveling Calvert Sisters series but can be read as a standalone.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123192820-out-of-luck-in-the-outback

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BXLWT7ZZ?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_3&storeType=ebooks&qid=1740504023&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Ava Calvert works in Chicago at a travel budget magazine but never really traveled because life isn’t cheap. And her boss can totally tell that within her articles and wants her to work on it just doing research isn’t enough he wanted her to experience travel, so he sends her on a mission, to the land down under and wants her to just go with no plans only so much money per day for meals and just to have fun. Culture shock is real for Ava, but she meets another American and her just might be able to help her and make her trip better than she ever expected.

Tori Ross is an international bestselling, Amazon bestselling, and Apple Top 100 author. Her book, The Cuffing Season Contract, won the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy, and she’s written several shorts, novellas, full-length books, and serials. She lives with her family and two rescue dogs in the Midwest.

Comedy, Part of a Series, Review, short story

#review #partofaseries #shortstory Christmas on the Cruise Ship (the Traveling Calvert Sisters 3)

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Samantha Calvert is tired of her hospitality job at a chain hotel. When a man visits her hotel and tells her he owns a cruise ship company in need of a temporary cruise director, she jumps at the chance to spend the holiday at sea. But running a cruise ship isn’t so easy with a twisted ankle and a flasher running amok.

Cooper Rax isn’t used to being bossed around by a strong woman that gives as well as she takes. He’s arrogant, patronizing, and doesn’t take direction well. Even worse, he’s infuriatingly handsome, and Samantha can’t help but feel there’s more to him than meets the eye.

When the ship gets stranded in Jamaica, Cooper and Samantha have to work together to keep the guests happy…and it will be a true Christmas miracle if they can get along.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60037742-christmas-on-the-cruise-ship

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09QLH33SF?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks&qid=1740504023&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

Samantha Calvert over worked, barely takes a long vacation was asked by a hotel guest asked if she would want to work on his cruise ship and with all her vacation time built up, she figured why not. Packed and ready to hit the open ocean, on her way another employee ran into her causing her to twist her ankle, ice from the hot bartender who caught her eye but drove Samantha absolutely insane. Will she be able to put up with him for the week while doing a good job or will he work his way into her heart and pants and can that happen while trying to catch a flasher onboard showing off his silver bells. another hilarious adventure with a Calvert sister.

Tori Ross is an international bestselling, Amazon bestselling, and Apple Top 100 author. Her book, The Cuffing Season Contract, won the National Indie Excellence Award for romantic comedy, and she’s written several shorts, novellas, full-length books, and serials. She lives with her family and two rescue dogs in the Midwest.

Enemies to Lovers, Review, Romantic Suspense, slow burn, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR25 #Review – Lost (Project Xol #2) by Audrey Kaye/Amabel Daniels

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Foiled from gathering the data Rosa had sent her to retrieve, Cassidy worries what to do next. The scientific files are lost in the sewers of NYC, but new directions arrive. Now, Cassidy is asked to collect intel that’s in Texas, locked in the archives of the man Rosa was once married to. Wounded by the lies from the only person who’d ever been her family, Cassidy carries on. Despite her confusion of her past and those she can trust, Luke has more than proven he’s reliable. There’s no doubt in Luke’s mind that he’s sticking with Cassidy for the answers to Project Xol. Besides his need to protect her, he struggles to ignore why he’s so determined to remain with her when trouble is nipping at their heels. Danger follows them once again, both from Rosa’s home to Luke’s past in prison. Getting to Texas is one matter, but obtaining the files they need is another, especially when their enemies won’t hesitate to kill. Lost is the second book of the Project Xol series, which continues in Find.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I am completely invested in this series! I read Lost in record time. I cannot put this down!

Reader Note: The first book and this book end in serious cliffhangers. I am expecting this throughout the series. However, the entire series is out so you can binge read! 😊

Cassidy and Luke cannot catch a break. Trouble, that belongs to neither one of them, is seriously stalking them. And on top of it all, the chemistry between these two is super intense. Such a SLOOOOOOOW burn. I feel so bad for them because just when you think they are going to get a teeny tiny little break and maybe be able to release some of the tension, then BAM! One more crazy twist and they are on the run again!

I really got intrigued because we started to learn a bit more about Luke and his past. Cassidy has quite the twist thrown at her about her past as well. As more secrets are uncovered, we start to see how Luke’s and Cassidy’s past, unbeknownst to them, are actually intertwined. Now, the how and why need to be uncovered…. if they can get the files they are after.

I literally had to pull myself away from the book to write this review. I need to run now so that I can start ‘Find’ and figure out how they are getting out of their current mess. I’m loving Project Xol!

Amabel Daniels

Amabel Daniels lives in Northwest Ohio with her patient husband, three adventurous daughters, and a collection of too many cats and dogs. Although she holds a Master’s degree in Ecology, her true love is finding a good book. When she isn’t spending time outdoors, she’s busy brewing up her next novel, usually as she lets her mind run off with the addictive words of “what if…”

Enemies to Lovers, Mafia, Military, Review, Standalone, Suspense, Thriller

#Review #Mafia #Military- American Novela by Marcus Amaro

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When Filipino-American U.S. Marine Angelo Marquez receives orders to work in Spain from an old friend, the assumption of a laid-back workcation in Europe disappears when his eyes catch the attention of fiery fashion editor Elena Sanchez Vicario. Quickly, the line between military discipline and succumbing to the urgings of his heart becomes blurred when remnants of Angelo’s past are discovered, and his mid-summer romance quickly turns into a fight for survival in the streets of Seville.

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Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

I picked this book up on a whim while looking for something different to read. The cover grabbed attention, the blurb piqued my curiosity, and the writing kept my attention right to the very last page.

What is the essence of war? After reading this book, to me, it can mean so many different things.

Angelo is a Marine that has been in some crazy scary situations in warzones. The writing for these situations, even though I am not well versed in this lingo or situations, felt very real causing my heart to race and the hairs on my arms to rise as if I were right in the middle of the action. Angelo’s character is so easy to like that you will feel like “one of the guys”, even though you are only the reader.

Elena, what do I say about her. I have to say that I wanted to hate her. Especially at the beginning with their first encounter. I honestly wanted to strangle her and sort of got irritated because I thought I had the plot all figured out. She was this ice princess that Angelo was going to thaw out. Well, my friends, I had it all wrong!!! Give Elena a chance because she will change your mind!

Now, we have a budding romance forming, while demons from the past come forward, all while working with multiple agencies. It sort of ends up having a Jason Bourne vibe without the amnesia (and I love me some Jason Bourne!). Seriously, this book has a lot of a lot! The story hits on so many points with suspense, thriller, action, romance, hidden identities, kidnapping, military….I mean the list goes on and on and on. I highly recommend this book!

This is the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to reading many more!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

 

Marcus Amaro’s life is a dynamic story of resilience and adaptability. After a 21-year career in the US military, he discovered a hidden creative spirit and took on various roles that showcased his adventurous fire. From becoming a hibachi chef to a U.S. Marine to racing sports cars, designing clothes, and writing. Amaro has explored different paths with childlike curiosity and unending enthusiasm. Now living in San Diego, he enjoys taking on challenges and learning new things, even if he has no idea where they might lead. For him, the joy is in the journey, and he embraces each experience, hoping to surpass his own expectations as the ultimate reward. 

 



Enemies to Lovers, Mystery, Part of a Series, Review, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR25 #Review – Seek (Project Xol #1) by Amabel Daniels/Audrey Kaye

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Cassidy is determined to find her mother at any cost…

It’s been months since Cassidy Shaw has heard from her mother, Rosa, a world-renown scientist. When she does, it’s in the form of an urgent edict to retrieve a key. Arriving at Rosa’s apartment in Cincinnati, Cassidy encounters strangers. One man who seems determined to silence her. The other, could he be her savior?

Luke Dixon enters the fray, believing his neighbor is being attacked. Never one to ignore someone in distress, he’s then shocked to realize he’s the one needing rescue. Bound together through violence, Cassidy and Luke must come to trust each other as they embark on a search, armed only with the key and Rosa’s cryptic directions. It’s a journey with unexpected answers and decades-old research. A search with more questions…and a lethal enemy who returns when least expected.

Seek is the first book in the thrilling Project Xol series. If you like gripping novels about seeking justice, entangled lead characters, and twisting outcomes, then you’ll love this romantic suspense series from top-selling author Audrey Kaye!

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

Notting Hill to Mission Impossible overnight! Holy OMG!

Reader Beware: This story ends with a major cliffhanger. I recommend being ready to dive right into the next book.

I could NOT put this book down! There was never a dull moment from the very beginning right to the very end. I started it, turned the page, it was over, I was purchasing the next in the series. Seriously, it was that good!

Cassidy is adopted. She and her mother are not super close. As both women are very independent, when Cassidy receives a letter in the mail from her mother stating, “I need your help,” it scares her deep. This letter puts so many things into motion. She is almost strangled to death and Luke saves her! Oh, and Luke. What can I say about Luke. I am still trying to figure out what he did in his past life, but he is as chivalrous as they come. However, he is definitely atoning for something. These two have a chemistry that is super intense.

These two end up needing one another more than each of them care to like at the beginning but cannot stay away from each other. The constant facing of fears can be exhausting for these two but the spiking of their heartrates and anxiety is also met with the mellowing crash of realizing survival is possible.

Seek is action packed with a lot of suspense and danger. But things are just starting to heat up!

 

Profile avatar for Audrey Kaye

Born and raised in Northwest Ohio, Audrey Kaye writes romantic suspense featuring strong, stubborn women and the men who can’t help but fall in love with them. Audrey lives with her husband, three daughters, and many pets, and has previously published under the name of Amabel Daniels. Her first novel, Better Than the Best, was written in 2015, and it’s been a wild ride of imagining the improbable ever since!

 



Apocalyptic, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Sci Fi, Suspense, Vampire, Writers on the River Attending Author

#WOTR25 #Review – Reign of Blood (The Vampires of Vegas Book 1) by Alexia Purdy

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“Never tease anything that wants to eat you. My name is April Tate and my blood is the new gold. Vampires and hybrids have overrun my world, once vibrant with life, but now a graveyard of death shrouded in shadows. I fight to survive; I fight for my mother and brother. The journey is full of turns that I am quite unprepared for. And I’m just hoping to make it to the next Vegas sunrise…”In a post-apocalyptic world, a viral epidemic has wiped out most of the earth’s population, leaving behind few humans but untold numbers of mutated vampires. April is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in the remains of Las Vegas one year after the outbreak. She has become a ferocious vampire killer and after her family is abducted, she goes searching for them. What she finds is a new breed of vampire, unlike any she has seen before. Unsure of whom she can trust, she discovers that her view of the world is not as black and white as she once thought, and she’s willing to bend the rules to rescue her family. But in trying to save them, she may only succeed in bringing her fragile world crashing down around her.

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Review by Twinsie Kelly

Ok, so, I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic, dystopian, end of the world, zombies, vampires, etc. Now this series, it mixes post-apocalyptic and vamps….I just had to read it!

When the world around you has become a graveyard and everything has been taken away from you, what do you have to live for? April is trying to live. She is a 17-year-old who has to grow up really fast and lives for her mother and brother. When they are abducted, she just has to find them.

It has been a year since a virus outbreak that didn’t cause zombies but there was an outbreak of feral vampires. I have to be honest and eyerolled a bit here because I was hoping for something a bit more original instead of a virus. However, I continued. While April is out searching for her family and during one of her rage killings of feral vampires, she is introduced to a hybrid vampire. Ultimately, an entire hive of hybrid vampires. Turns out that that she has something that this hive needs, but she also needs this hive to help her find her family. A little tit for tat. Nothing wrong with that, right? While this part of the story is unfolding, we end up getting some cliché’ vampire vibes (forever mating, being able to walk in sunlight, etc.) and I had to hide another slight eyeroll. I had a bit of problem that a year has gone by and April and her family never ran into the hybrids in Las Vegas while foraging.

While some of these things bothered me during the story, the writing was done very well. Even though some of it wasn’t as original as I had hoped, there is a lot of great writing and story telling that keeps you turning the pages. The characters are well developed and April is extremely easy to identify with. Her internal struggle is very real. If placed in a similar position, I don’t know if many people could mentally handle the situation. There is quite the plot twist that is keeping me hanging on and I do need to continue to find out what happens. I am also invested in her love interest *wags eyebrows*!

Alexia Purdy profile image

Alexia is a USA Today Bestselling author who currently lives in Las Vegas and loves spending every free moment writing or hanging out with her four rambunctious kids. Writing is the ultimate getaway for her since she’s always lost in her head. She is best known for her award-winning Reign of Blood series, and A Dark Faerie Tale Series.

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