Review: Finally Mine (Benevolence Series Book 2) by Lucy Score

Finally Mine by Lucy Score
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two Damaged Souls

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

This can be read as a standalone novel, however, it runs parallel to the first book in the series and the characters and storylines interact. Much of this story is told in the first book from a completely different point of view. You don’t need to read the first book to enjoy this one, but it will give you a deeper understanding of the characters and events in this book. There is no cliffhanger.

Gloria has been living a nightmare for 10 years with an abusive and violent boyfriend, Glenn. She has been isolated from family and friends and is not allowed a job or access to money. She feels like her own personality has disappeared and she is just a shadow. When she finally gets the courage to leave him, she does it in public not realising that Glenn doesn’t care about witnesses, especially when drunk. When Harper helps her survive the encounter, it’s the start of a true friendship. Starting again with only a high school diploma at age 27, having never held a job is hard, but she has the support of quite a few townspeople.

Aldo is gorgeous, fit and charming. He flirts with every woman he meets, no matter the age. He’s also ready to settle down, but the one woman he wants and has wanted for 10 years is Gloria. When Gloria finally escapes her ex, Aldo sees his chance, even though he’s about to go to Afghanistan for a 6-month tour of duty with the army reserves. The timing isn’t great but he’s not going to miss his chance as he did as a teenager. He makes his intentions known to Gloria and then leaves her to make her own way and learn her own wants and needs without anyone telling her what they are.

This story is so honest about the feelings of being abused and how you get stuck in the cycle, unable to see your way out. It’s revealing and enlightening for anyone who thankfully hasn’t had the same experience. Gloria experiences quite a lot of shame from taking so long to leave and hates being pitied. I love the way she grasps the opportunities she has been given with both hands and clings on for dear life, trying to shape her own future in the way she wants.

Gloria grows steadily throughout this book, leaning on her friends and learning to be honest about her feelings after years of having that honesty beaten out of her. She does the work to grow and deal with the aftermath of her trauma and gets counselling. She pushes through her conditioned fear and learns to say no to things she doesn’t want to accept no matter how scared she is to do it. Her friendships are a key part of this book and I love how she and Harper bond, in particular.

Aldo goes through his own trauma after spending most of his life able to work towards anything he wants, pushing through physical limits to condition his body and mind. He’s a successful businessman and has a lovely home and fantastic friends. Everything is rosy, apart from not having Gloria and even that seems to finally be coming together. Then he is injured overseas and his body lets him down for the first time. His worldview crumbles and he doesn’t know how to handle it.

The contrast between Aldo and Gloria’s attitude towards trauma is clear and the way they both have to work through different things in order to be happy makes for an interesting read.

These are two exceptionally well-written characters and they were both believable. I enjoyed their interactions and the way the town is involved with everything. Gloria and Aldo have to work separately on their issues and together on how those issues interact. Negotiating their way through their new relationship is tricky and reading about it is fascinating.

This is a great book and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series because I really like this town and the characters in it.

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Review: A Depth of Understanding (April Series Book 5) by Mackey Chandler

A Depth of Understanding by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

War on Earth

This is the fifth book in a continuing series that ends at a natural break but the narrative continues in future books. There is also a series that is set in the future and shares some characters, Family Law. The current reading order is given in this post.

After being attacked by the USNA again, and losing citizens to the action, Home decides they need to move further away from Earth. Thankfully Barak suggested the move some time ago so Jeff had already worked out how to do it and was able to activate the plan on short notice for safety reasons. After their move Home demanded that no armed vessels would be allowed past L1 and would be met with force. Central also supported the statement.

USNA seemed to accept that statement and things were quiet for a very short time when a motion was raised in the UN and China decided to test things leading once more to armed conflict.

As well as all the warfare and political shenanigans in this book we see personal relationships flourish. April, Jeff and Heather seem to have come to an agreement about their personal relationship, but don’t seem to be excluding others. It’s a relaxed attitude to romance that seems to be based on the polyamorous model of relationships. Things on this subject are quite coy and nothing is really explicitly stated but broadly hinted at. It seems a very adult attitude for young people who are probably going to live for centuries. Their intelligence probably has a great deal to do with it as they are able to work their way through the ramification of their actions quite quickly.

Home continues to attract interesting people and I look forward to seeing how things shake out with some of the characters that may initially look suspect, but may prove to be redeemable. I’m also enjoying how the next batch of young people are starting to spread their wings in relation to their own businesses. Jeff, April and Heather are starting to look like elder statesmen despite being under 20!

This has definitely become my comfort reading of late. It’s not too emotionally or mentally challenging, but the characters and plot are interesting enough to engage my mind without overwhelming it. It hits my current personal sweet spot for my reading needs. It happens rarely so I’m grateful when it happens. Now on to the next book!

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Review: A Different Perspective (April Series Book 4) by Mackey Chandler

A Different Perspective by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Right Sort of People

This is the fourth book in a continuing series and you need to read the previous books in order to understand this one. The story ends at a natural break but the narrative continues in the next books. This series also connects up in the future with another series, Family Law. The current reading order for the two series is listed in this post.

After returning from their previous adventures Home feels a little precarious. Everyone seems to be against them and getting the support they need is difficult. This book is mainly about getting the right kind of support and building up their ranks of inhabitants with the skills that they need to make Home safe. It seems in recent times Home has become the go-to place for the disenfranchised to escape to.

There is quite a lot of focus on the new people and them settling in. I like how they show the way they see Home from the outside and in doing so have Home’s ways explained to us as well as them. This has rapidly become an ensemble series with so many different characters that are important to the plot and the ‘feel’ of Home. Expanding onto the moon by Heather has also increased the number of people we meet in this book and enhances the sphere of influence of the three main characters, April, Jeff and Heather.

I really enjoyed this book and it has got me excited to see where the plot goes next. I’m sorry if my reviews are getting repetitive, but I just can’t seem to take a break from this universe!

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Review: Hands Down by Mariana Zapata

Hands Down by Mariana Zapata
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I heard this book on Audible and hearing a book rather than reading it can make a difference to the experience of a novel. Bear that in mind with this review.

Mariana Zapata is the queen of the slow burn romance. She also writes incredibly good sports romances in a way that doesn’t glamourise the lives of elite athletes but reveals the sheer hard work that it takes to perform at the highest levels, including the support networks required when you live life travelling to games (in this case) and live contract to contract, praying you don’t get an injury.

We first met Zac ‘Big Texas’ Travis in The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. Though this is a standalone book, there are references to various characters from other books written by this author. The main characters from The Wall of Winnipeg and Me make a guest appearance in this book.

I’ve always loved this character and giving him his own book made me very happy. Zac has a heart of gold. He is funny, gentle and kind, unerringly polite and charming though sometimes a little prone to being overwhelmed when things go wrong. It takes him time to dig himself out of the doldrums and other people’s opinions sometimes matter a little bit too much. At age 34 he is no longer the young newcomer we met in The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, he’s a seasoned QB, though he’s had little success with the teams he’s played for. He’s currently in Houston where he’s training in the offseason, living at Trevor, his manager’s house with another of Trevor’s football player clients, CJ. Unsure of where he will be playing next season, life is unsettled and he’s trying to distract himself with a party when a blast from his past walks in.

Bianca ‘Little Texas’ Brannen, knew Zac The Snack Pack when he was a scrawny kid. It was her that named him Big Texas after he took to calling her Little Texas. They met when she was just 3 years old. Zac, though 7 years older was always kind to Bianca. He was best friends with her favourite cousin, who is more like her brother and her grandmother used to watch out for Zac when his mother was working. Up until she was 17, she was close to Zac, visiting him at college with her cousin and going to see his matches. Despite the age difference, they were good friends. Then when she was 17 Zac dropped out of her life. He carried on his friendship with her cousin but he stopped answering her calls and texts. Her heart was broken that the man she adored with all her heart was done with her.

When Zac’s grandfather becomes ill, and no one can reach him, her cousin asks Bianca to go to where he is staying to tell him what is going on, because she lives in Houston too. Hating the idea of having to face the man she crushed hard on as a teenager, she knows that she has to tell him about his grandfather. When they come face to face, 10 years after their last meeting, Zac doesn’t even recognise Bianca, but when he knows who it is he is delighted until she tells him why she’s there. But once Zac has Bianca back in his life he doesn’t seem to want to let her disappear back out of it and Bianca can’t understand it.

I liked Bianca, she has trust issues (cheating ex-boyfriend), abandonment issues (absentee parents) and self-esteem issues (see previous). However, she is determined and ambitious. She is funny, loyal, honest and loving. Her family are tremendously important to her and she is really close to her cousin and sister. Despite losing touch with Zac, she still follows him on social media and the news because she only wants what is best for him, even if he really hurt her.

In some way, most people can appreciate what it’s like to have a crush on someone older when you are a teenager, especially if they are around a lot and are friendly. Most people also know what it’s like to be hurt when rejected by your first love as a teenager. It’s devasting at the time, but you get over it. This story is at some level almost familiar and believable. Lots of people in the days of social media get back in touch with people from their past and resume friendships/relationships that ended years ago. We all know someone who has done that or have even done it ourselves. Having someone from the past who shared so much from his childhood is what Zac needs at a difficult time in his life. He knows that Bianca cared about him before he was successful and rich. He can trust her motives, whereas it’s hard to do the same with other people. This basic trust and history allows them to quickly drop back into a friendship that they both need.

I really enjoyed the slow journey these two people take towards falling in love. Each step along the path to the HEA is believable. The banter between friends and family is funny and the stories of their shared childhood are amusing as such stories normally are. Both Zac and Bianca are very loveable characters and seeing them get together is rewarding and satisfying, because the good guys should always get their HEA in a romance. Despite some mistakes, these two characters are really good guys. They deserve their happiness.

The narrators are good. Callie Dalton has narrated all (I think) of Mariana Zapata’s audiobooks. Chris Brinkley reads the parts that Zac speaks and Callie reads the rest of the book. I like this technique and the most recent books from this author are done the same. It gives conversations between the MMC and MFC much more clarity. The back and forth of dialogue doesn’t become confused like it can if it’s all done with one narrator. Both narrators bring warmth and humour to the book.

Mariana Zapata may not write ‘great works of fiction’ but she does write warm, interesting and funny books that present intriguing and believable characters that take us on a journey towards a HEA. This book is a great example of her work.

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Review: The Middle of Nowhere (April Series Book 3) by Mackey Chandler

The Middle of Nowhere by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Linking Book

This is the third book in a continuing series. The previous two books need to be read in order to understand this book. The story ends at a natural break in the narrative but definitely continues. There is another series, Family Law, which is set in the future but also has these characters in. I would read this series first for clarity and to avoid any spoilers, though these are minimal. The reading order across the two series is listed here.

April is back from Earth and taking time to process the result of her brother’s actions. A lot has happened to her in a short space of time and she’s trying to keep up but the assassination attempts aren’t helping.

There are several people on Earth who are beginning to feel the heat of staying on the ‘SlumBall’ and thinking of how they can extricate themselves from gravity and get up to a safer place on Home, especially after Jeff butts heads with another world power.

Heather is working on her ‘little real estate project’ on the moon which becomes a bit more tricky every day. Being on the same piece of rock as some of Earth’s representatives makes her property more easily accessible than Home.

There are lots of people followed in this book as lots of threads of different stories are pulled together. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, in a long series there are often books that don’t reach out and grab you, but they are important to the series as a whole. They give you lots of information that is going to be important to the series as a whole but don’t really make you feel like anything is resolved. You don’t have an opportunity to get into any particular strand because so much is going on and it feels ‘bitty’. This book is one of those. It really needs to be appreciated in context, so I’m not going to dwell on it any more than that. I just want to read the next book so that the context can start clarifying itself!

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Review: Pretend You're Mine (Benevolence Series Book 1) by Lucy Score

Pretend You're Mine by Lucy Score
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Small Town Love

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

This book is written as a standalone story within a connected series. Though the book is complete in itself, there are other books in the series that surround the same group of people. There is no cliffhanger.

Harper is having a bad day. She’s left her home, which currently holds her cheating boyfriend and an 18-year-old delivery driver who are occupying her bed. She ran out the door with only her car keys and got in her car to drive to her friend’s house. Only she has no map, phone or GPS. Pulling into a bar parking lot she witnesses a man attacking a woman and without stopping to think jumps to her aid. Now battered and bruised with no purse, keys or phone and rather low on gas she discovers she drove in the wrong direction when leaving home and is now 4 hours drive away, from where she wants to be. Taking pity on her, the bartender manipulates her brother into taking her home and putting her up for the night.

Luke owns a very busy construction firm and is a Captain in the Army Reserves. In a month’s time he’ll be shipping back to Afghanistan. The last thing he wants is to look after a woman who seems incapable of looking after herself, but he is weak in the face of his sister. That Harper is a knock out doesn’t hurt either. However, he is going to be strong and keep her at arm’s length, despite lying to his parents that Harper is his girlfriend so they stop pestering him about the lack of love life he has.

This story is about two strangers thrust together by chance and who start sharing a home on a temporary basis. Luke is very closed off and private. He never shares anything with anybody, whereas Harper is determined to enjoy life no matter what. She’s also a little spontaneous, which means she sometimes forgets her coat. Harper has no family and has spent most of her adult life travelling around since leaving foster care. Luke lives in the same town he grew up in and knows everyone. He has a loud and pushy family that he loves. They are very different characters, but they are drawn together.

I liked that book wasn’t as predictable as most small town romances. It wasn’t just about Luke and Harper but also about Harper making a place for herself within the community. She never had a family before and this town made itself into one for her. For a big chunk of the book Harper is on her own and in a strange way that’s one of my favourite parts of the story, as she discovers her own worth separate from her relationship with Luke.

Both of them have secrets and when they are revealed is when things get a little shaky. I like how real their reactions feel in this book. The emotions are believable and I love how the friendships help as much as the romance does. I really liked all the characters in this ensemble cast that surrounds Harper and Luke. They are all three dimensional and well thought out. There were lots of touching moments that warmed my heart in this book and it made me want to read the next in the series, which is about a relationship between two of the supporting characters in this book.

This is an enjoyable and heartwarming book that entertained me tremendously.

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Review: Down to Earth (April Series Book 2) by Mackey Chandler

Down to Earth by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

April’s Holiday

This is the second book in a continuing series. Without the first book, you would not understand this book. The narrative ends at a natural break but there is definitely lots more story to tell. There is a related series, ‘Family Law’ that contains the characters from this series much later on and reading that series first didn’t contain too many spoilers for reading this series second. The suggested reading order for both series is listed here.

April is nearly 15 and is definitely coming into her own. She is more confident both physically and mentally. She’s more sure of her abilities and her position in the world. Her friends anchor her and provide her with emotional support and she connects with her grandfather the best out of all her family members. In this book we see more problems with her brother and his drive to be successful at all costs, which isn’t as important to April as it is to Bob.

In the months since USNA surrendered to Home, the station has developed and changed, with new residents and businesses. However when it becomes evident that USNA is preventing people from leaving and coming to Home it is decided that they need reminding that they surrendered and agreed to terms. To prove a point April is sent to Earth ‘on holiday’ to show that someone from Home is allowed to travel freely in the USNA with all her weapons etc. It seems that the USNA doesn’t want to remember she’s entitled to be there.

We met a few new characters in this book, all of which were interesting. Papa-San a retired Japanese spy is fantastic and a complete character. He also provides a lot of really useful support to April on Earth. It’s also fun seeing April out of her usual environment to somewhere she’s a bit of a fish out of water, especially as she is on her own, even if she does have overhead support (thankfully).

This book also left me with an overwhelming urge to visit Hawaii and the Pacific. The descriptions were great and for this Autumned Out Brit, the idea of sunbathing on the deck of a yacht is very appealing!

I think it’s official now, that this series has truly sucked me in. I can’t stop reading. I can’t quantify what is so appealing about it, I just know I enjoy it tremendously and can’t wait to download the next book in the series.

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Series List: Artemis University by Erin R Flynn

This continuing series is not yet complete, so I will try to add the new titles to this post along with any links to future reviews.

Series List

Book 1 - Upended Life

Book 2 - Drowning Studies

Book 3 - Surviving Plagues

Book 4 - Weakened Mountains

Book 5 - Thwarting Cheaters (Review Not Yet Written)

Book 6 - Compounding Traumas

Book 7 - Dodging Calamaties

Book 8 - Reaching Answers

Book 9 - Managing Expectations

Book 10 - Erupting Shadows

Book 11 - Multiplying Storms

Book 12 - Unregulated Upheaval

Book 13 - Absorbing Inevitability 

Review: Absorbing Inevitability (Artemis University Series Book 13) by Erin R Flynn

Absorbing Inevitability by Erin R. Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No One Is Listening

This is the 13th book in a continuing series, which means you won’t understand the story unless you’ve read the preceding books first. The book ends at a natural break in the narrative but it’s still one heck of a cliffhanger!

Tamsin is now 21 years old and for the last two years, she has spent practically every day working towards doing things for other people. As she’s freed more fairies life hasn’t got easier, in some ways, it’s more pressure. In other ways, things have got more simple because she doesn’t have to hide who she is, and has support for taking care of some of the problematic supernaturals.

The ordinary fairies are supportive, on the whole, but they are not who she is around all the time. She’s around The Elite, The Ancients and The Guardians and they are not listening to her when she says that she needs an element of freedom. They aren’t listening when she asks for help, no matter how hard she cries.

This is a difficult book to read because Tamsin is basically being triggered and traumatised all the way through the book. She’s emotional and struggling and she is only getting the support she needs from a few limited places. It’s more support than she has had before, but she’s having to deal with more than she ever thought possible. She’s overwhelmed and can’t see things changing.

It also seems like she can’t catch a break with her mates. She never has all the people who claim to love her in a good place with her. They nearly always hurt her and it seems like she’s the one who always has to forgive.

I really enjoyed this book but I felt like I’d been put through the wringer afterwards. No wonder Tamsin needs a break because I certainly do! I just wish the book hadn’t ended on such a cliffhanger. It’s going to drive me nuts having to wait for the next book in the series.

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Review: The Long Voyage of the Little Fleet (Family Law Series Book 2) by Mackey Chandler

The Long Voyage of the Little Fleet by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Wonders and New Friends

This is the second book in a continuing series and the first book needs to be read before this book can be appreciated. The story ends at a natural break, however it is not finished at the end of this book and you’ll want to know what happens next, but at least that book is already available. The complete reading order for this series and the connected series 'April' is given here.

Lee wanted to go on a voyage deep into the unknown and thankfully Gordon and enough other people want to join that endeavour. After buying two of the ships Gordon ‘claimed’ in the last war, from the Derf, their now three-strong fleet are going with others who want to benefit from their discoveries. This is a commercial enterprise but both the Fargoers and Red Tree Clan from Derf are sending people who can speak in an official capacity for their governments. Whilst the mission may be principally trading, there will be an opportunity for politics too.

Within a few months, they have managed to score some vastly rich mining areas that will make everyone on the expedition rich beyond belief. Then they meet their first intelligent life and things become a little more tricky.

I am enjoying this series tremendously. Though this book feels less personally and immediately perilous for Lee and Gordon there is a little low-level hum of anxiety about their safety. I love the imagination the author has about what they encounter on their journey, both the places and the species they come up against, along with foreign cultures that they have to understand in order to communicate and trade with.

Lee seems to be growing more mature in this book as she is less naive and a little older at 14 years old. She is becoming more aware of her standing as a woman of great wealth and knowing that with great wealth comes the opportunity to change things in a positive way for others if she can just work out how to do it. She continues to be curious, friendly and open, though she’s considering whether being sneaky ever has merit in certain situations.

Gordon has achieved a great level of respect amongst the members of his ‘Little Fleet’ as it has become known. His accomplishments in the war with USNA have become legendary incredibly fast. Because of his ability to sneak attack and manipulate situations, he is held in a position of respect, along with a healthy dose of fear. He has grown into his position of commander and he reminds me of his father William who we only briefly got to know in the last book.

I love how we get to know lots of new characters in this book. There are those on the journey with them, but also those we meet along the way. I really enjoy how different species find things in common despite their differences, both physical and cultural.

As this series is nowhere near done, I’m really looking forward to reading the next book.

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Review: The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a bit of a departure for me, as I rarely read autobiographies. I'd much rather read fiction, but Dave Grohl is one of my favourite musicians personality-wise. He's very charming, charismatic and entertaining. He's also been around the rock scene for my entire adult life and I knew he'd have some great stories to tell. This is why I decided to read this book. I actually decided to listen to the book rather than read it because the author reads his own words and I love his speaking voice. I'm so glad I made that choice because you could almost imagine sitting in a bar with Dave Grohl and listening to him tell you stories about his life. It was intimate, engaging and funny and a lot of that was because Dave Grohl was telling you his own stories rather than reading them on a flat page.

If you want a book that ‘tells all’ about life with Nirvana or tales of excess and debauchery, this book isn’t it. This book isn’t really even a narrative. It darts about all over the place, chopping and changing times and locations in order to tell stories. The title of this book really says it all, this is a book written by a consummate storyteller. Dave Grohl ties together disparate occurrences in a way that conveys some of the main themes of his life. It is equal parts hilariously funny, movingly tender and interesting beyond words. What it isn’t is tremendously exposing.

This book does not reveal painful truths about the dark side of the rock industry except in broad terms. It talks about the times early on in Dave’s career when he was travelling around Europe in a van with Scream, living in squats or crashing on the floor of a random stranger’s home. It talks about when Dave was starving and living on three corn dogs a day from the service station near the flat he shared with Kurt Cobain but it doesn’t talk much about the drugs and sex that normally go with rock and roll. He only touches very gently on Kurt’s heroin addiction.

I get the feeling that Dave wrote with the awareness that this book would be read by the next generation of his and his friends’ families. Above all else, he is an adoring father and I can’t imagine him ever wanting to hurt his or his friend’s children. The way he tells these stories reflects what I believe to be his inherent kindness as there is no blame or anger in any of the tales he tells. There is little dark about these tales except to serve as a contrast to the joy he experiences on a daily basis getting to do the thing he loves. There is a lot of joy and exuberance in this book as Dave recounts tales of meeting his idols or when he encounters musical soul mates that he bonds with.

This book reflects who Dave seems to be, joyous, excitable and warm. Dave appears to have never met a stranger as he learns with excitement about everyone he meets, whether they are nerdy music geeks or movie stars. One of my favourite moments is the story about having Paul McCartney to his house and the revelation that he needed to hide all his Beatles memorabilia because he just didn’t realise how much of it he had until faced with the prospect of displaying the level of his Beatles obsession to an actual Beatle.

This book is warm, funny and entertaining and I enjoyed it tremendously in short bursts so I could savour the stories in each chapter. I love the way Dave reads his own words, but then I’ve always thought he reads well, especially after listening to him recount ‘The Night Before Christmas’ on Radio 1 years ago. This book wouldn’t be as entertaining and warm without Dave reading it. His intelligence, passion for life and quest for the new and interesting shines through in every word.

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Review: April (April Series Book 1) by Mackey Chandler

April by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Collapse of North America

This is the first book in a continuing series. The narrative ends at a natural break, but there are future books that continue the story. There is a connected series, Family Law (I actually read this first, though it’s set in a distant future) that contains the same characters in a more supportive role. Though I read the series in the wrong order, I didn’t feel like I’d missed out or spoilt the plot of this book too much, but if I had to do it again, I would start with this book.  The full reading order is detailed in this post.

This book is set around 60 years in our future. There is are several space stations in orbit around Earth along with a base on the moon. On one of those stations live an interesting group of teenagers.

April is 13 years old but still looks pre-pubescent due to life extension therapies. She has other gene mods too, such as an ability to process large amounts of food, enhanced reflexes and strength and increased stamina. She’s also very bright. That intelligence often gets tweaked by unusual occurrences that lead to her general need to know what’s going on. Other people sometimes think that means she’s nosy when in actual fact, she often just wants to help.

One of April’s best friends is Heather who is also incredibly intelligent. Heather often does little ‘technical’ jobs for April by making or enhancing gadgets, or writing programs. All of these things help with her businesses and also the nosiness thing. Heather has an associate and friend, Jeff. Jeff is a genius and a prodigy. He also has a supportive father who encourages his inventive son. Jeff has managed to invent something extraordinary that is going to change the world. Between the three of them, they decide to work together, because the United States of North America believes that they are entitled to everything it wants, including their home.

I really enjoyed reading this book and meeting the teenage version of the characters I met in the Family Law series. There are quite a few echoes between the start of this series and the start of that one, the most important being they are about gifted young people who act like adults in extraordinary circumstances. All three of these teenagers are equally interesting though most of the book is focused on April and her transformation into a warrior.

All three young people come from different families but they all have parents that are open-minded to a certain degree and allow them a much greater level of freedom than most teenagers would be allowed. They also live on a space station, which colours their view of life somewhat.

I really enjoyed the political aspects of this book. There were quite interesting discussions on how a political system could and should work and how they look when they stop working for the people they supposedly represent.

Now I’ve got sucked into this timeline I want to see what happens to these young people next because life isn’t all peaches and cream at the end of this book. I’m glad there are LOTS of books in this series, because this was very entertaining.

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Review: The Beat of My Heart (The Westbrooks: Broken Hearts Series Book 2) by Avery Maxwell

The Beat of My Heart by Avery Maxwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Complicated Love Story

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

This is the second book in a continuing series revolving around a group of friends/family. The story overlaps significantly with the previous book in this series, in fact, this book starts over a year before the first book in the series and only gets into its own timeline after approximately 65% of the book. You really need to read the first book to understand this book and the story continues with different main characters in the next book.

Julia is incredibly intelligent and earned three degrees by the age of 21. She’s very well paid and a leader in her industry. She’s also socially awkward and has an inability to keep her internal monologue actually inside her own head. Her ex conned her by stealing $100k in cash and taking out another $400k in loans in her name that she has been unable to get out from under. As a result, she is very gun-shy when it comes to men, so when she goes to a conference she decides she needs to have a one night stand, as she misses sex, but doesn't want to be involved in a relationship.

Trevor lost his mother nearly 10 years ago. After her death, he found out she had been killed as a result of his father’s involvement with the Boston Mafia. He hates his father with a passion and has had nothing to do with him since the death of his mother. His father keeps turning up though and trying to get him to work for the mob. However, Trevor is incredibly talented at writing software, that has recently been sold to the military and they are using that software to uncover all the secrets of that mob by making himself and the software (that’s got tracking embedded) accessible. He does this at the same conference that Julia is attending.

Julia wants an anonymous one night stand and Trevor daren’t bring anyone into his dangerous life. They agree to spend the week together without knowing who each other is. Eventually, they both regret that decision and when they both decide to let the other in, they are stymied by Julia’s best friend Lanie being attacked and Julia is headed away from the conference with just the clothes on her back.

It was strange at first, reading this book, because so much of the first section of the book happened in the past as told from the perspective of the first book. However, most of the content of the book is very new and doesn’t feel at all repetitive. It’s actually really nice getting to know these two characters who were supporting their friends in the first book. They become much more relatable and comprehendible through the course of this book.

This story is a sad tale of mistiming and fear of taking a leap into the unknown. It’s also really funny and sweet. Julia is hilarious and her external monologues are very enlightening as well as funny. Trevor is a good man trapped in a nightmare for far too long and Julia lights up his existence as soon as they meet. He finds her enchanting and she makes him look at life differently.

This is such a good series with all the tales all woven together of the various friends and families. It makes me want to read the next book to understand all the missing information from this and the previous book about the next main characters.

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Series List: April & Family Law by Mackey Chandler

This is the listing for the April Series and the Family Law Series by Mackey Chandler. Both series are set in the same universe but have separate timelines, though some of the same characters are in both sets of books. Listed below is the reading order given on the author's website. The website isn't very current, so not all the books are listed, so I've just continued with the reading order based on the order in which they are published at the end of the list given.

Reading Order for April / Family Law Series

April - April Series Book 1
Down to Earth - April Series Book 2
The Middle of Nowhere - April Series Book 3
A Different Perspective - April Series Book 4
A Depth of Understanding - April Series Book 5

And What Goes Around - April Series Book 6
They said it would be Easy - April Series Book 7
It’s Always Something - April Series Book 8
A Sudden Departure - April Series Book 9
Been There Done That - April Series Book 10
Family Law - Family Law Series Book 1
The Long Voyage of the Little Fleet - Family Law Series Book 2

Secrets in the Stars - Family Law Series Book 3
A Hop, Skip and a Jump - Family Law Series Book 4
Friends In The Stars - Family Law Series Book 5
All In Good Time - April Series Book 11
Who Can Own The Stars - April Series Book 12
Another Word For Magic - Family Law Series Book 6

Review: Family Law (Family Law Series Book 1) by Mackey Chandler

Family Law by Mackey Chandler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Two Races Meet

This is the first book in a continuing series, however, the book comes to a natural break and works as a standalone story. There are a few hints about future storylines to lure you into reading the next in the series. After reading this series I realised that there is a connected series that was written before this series, starting with April. I would recommend starting with that book and following that series until Book 10, after which, you should read this book. The full series list and reading order is given in this post.

In the future, there are multiple races that humanity interacts with. Some people are easier with this fact than others. Gordon is a Derf and an equal partner in an exploration expedition, alongside a human husband and wife team. They travel with their 12-year-old daughter, Lee, and Gordon has known her since her birth and has been a big part of her rearing.

The team have struck the biggest score of their lives and found a habitable living world, with plant life and mammals. It can sustain human and other animal life from Earth. This is the biggest claim to have been made in a very long time as finding a living world is unbelievably rare. However, before the final survey can be completed Lee’s parents die in an incident. According to her parent’s wishes, Gordon chooses to raise Lee as his own. Lee cannot imagine going with anyone else as she was born and raised on their exploration vessel. Gordon is her family, despite being 750kg of furry, clawed and fanged alien. To them, this is the most logical thing in the universe, but to others, having a human child being raised by another species is an abomination.

This is a wonderfully captivating book. The universe building is fantastically well realised. The social structures of the different races and even the different societies within each race area are well developed and really drive the story. As well as the different sociological explorations, the geographic and scientific descriptions are vibrant and logical and clearly thought out.

I love Lee’s character. She is very bright, curious and naive about interacting with a larger group of people, no matter their race. She is only used to being around completely trustworthy people, her family. Gordon’s explanations of what people and society are like help round out how we perceive the universe in which this story is set. As well as being naive, Lee knows how to defend herself, speaks three languages and knows how to change filters on a spaceship. She has a strangely diverse and also very specific education. She is logical and forms opinions based on information and facts as well as direct observation. She’s an engaging and interesting protagonist, despite her age.

Gordon is also a wonderful character. He’s essentially a six-limbed grizzly bear who speaks multiple languages and can slaughter his enemies with single strokes of his axe. He sees Lee as his daughter and doesn’t hesitate to take responsibility for her. He willingly ensures she learns from everywhere and all her encounters are made educational. He is intelligent and interested in people and their communities. He is kind and funny and sweet and will do anything to protect Lee. He’s also talented at applying his knowledge to diverse skill sets.

The plot of this book races along so quickly, you barely stop to breathe when you turn each page. Diving around the universe between different races and perspectives makes you desperate to know what happens next to each group of people. The story is gripping as well as intellectually stimulating. The subject matter could have been dry, as some military space operas can be, but the characters are so warm and personable you become emotionally involved as well as mentally.

This wonderful book is the first book in a series and I can’t wait to see what happens to this group of people next, as they are never boring!

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Review: Preacher (Time Served MC Series Book 4) by Cee Bowerman

Preacher: Time Served MC, Book 4 by Cee Bowerman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet, Funny, Romantic and Violent

This is the fourth book in a continuing series that alternates with a series by Ciara St James, Ares Infidels MC. Both series follow the same story arc and timeline. Reading the previous books makes this book understandable and more enjoyable.

Blue is an ex-con, who comes from a family of ex or current cons. Santa is her twin brother and he is part of the Time Served MC. Blue has become part of the MC through him and her friendship with the women who are involved with other members of the MC. She has a grown son and a terrible track record of relationships.

Preacher went to jail at 16 for a crime he didn’t commit and when he was inside got attacked and had his sentence extended for manslaughter. In the end, he served 25 years instead of 4. Preacher is very involved in the online world and has vast numbers of theories on the way the world works. He even has a successful podcast about his theories. He was taken in by Pop when he got out of prison and he has been part of the Time Served MC for 5 years. He fell in love with Blue years ago. Preacher is actually pretty old fashioned and believes in finding a woman, falling in love with her and then having sex, before growing old together. Blue doesn’t believe in marriage or even love.

When Preacher moves into Blue’s granny cottage, whilst his house is being repaired, she is asked to go undercover to help the MC find out who is hurting their town. They end up spending a lot of time together and really talking to each other and their relationship gradually evolves.

This is actually a really sweet love story. Preacher is really romantic if a little clueless. Blue is a hilarious psycho (it runs in the family) and violence is normal to her. She’s a loud-mouthed, sarcastic, and frankly, quite a scary woman, who is only scared of having her heart broken. Preacher is the only man who has ever tempted her to try a forever kind of love. It’s a really slow-paced journey to their relationship and I really enjoyed every step of it. Their banter is hilarious and some of the things Preachers says to Blue are incredibly lovely and romantic. He’s intelligent, sweet and still capable of great violence. They are really a match made in heaven.

Aside from the grand love story part of this book, quite a lot happens with the series story arc. Blue going undercover reveals a lot of information about the bad things going on in town. It’s stressful, hard and scary going into a dangerous bar every night, but the information she gets is useful. It also puts her in immense danger.

This book has a great balance between being a romance and being suspenseful. It’s a great read and I enjoyed it immensely. I always look forward to a Cee Bowerman read and this one was no disappointment.

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Review: Cross My Heart (The Westbrooks: Broken Hearts Series Book 1) by Avery Maxwell

Cross My Heart by Avery Maxwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More Than It’s Tag-Line

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

Lanie has had a pretty bad run of luck throughout her life, with the exception of her best friend Julia and her amazing parents. Lanie’s own mother was abusive and neglectful and hated her so much she wouldn’t let her be taken in by Julia’s parents who Lanie called Mimi and PawPaw. Lanie has spent the last 18 months holed up with Julia and her infant son, recovering from a vicious and life-threatening attack by one of her social work clients. Over the last year, she doesn’t seem to have improved mentally and both she and Julia decide that it might be time to get away for a while, so she decides to move away to North Carolina for a year to hopefully reset herself.

Dex has three children, Tate the oldest boy and twin infant daughters. Dex’s wife left him and their kids before his twins were born and she handed them over after their birth and signed over parental rights to all the kids. A successful businessman, Dex has no family to help and after losing three nannies since his ex left him, he is desperate for help. Lanie arrives for an interview with Dex and like a modern-day Mary Poppins whirls into action, taming the out of hand household in a few moments. Lanie and Dex both need her to take the job, despite their very instant attraction to each other, so they get the contracts drawn up and Lanie agrees to stay 12 months.

I downloaded this book expecting the usual grumpy boss/attractive younger nanny trope and got something much different. I got a book that was filled with damaged people (and children) who were surrounded by people who loved them. This book was all about healing hearts and the way Dex courted Lanie was really beautiful. He went all out to prove his feelings towards her and he worked tremendously hard to win her trust.

The relationship between Tate and Lanie was beautiful. In helping Tate deal with his issues with his mother, Lanie was able to tackle some of her feelings towards her own mother. Watching their relationship as it gradually evolves over the course of several months was so sweet it made my heart hurt.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the slow progress on the relationships. Though Dex was drawn to Lanie very early on, he spent some time working out what he wanted before he went all-in on trying to win her love. Then he spent months proving how he felt.

All the way through this book their friends were supportive, funny and meddlesome. All of the supporting characters were larger than life and entertaining to read about. I believe these friends will get their own books and after reading all about them through this book, I can’t wait to get to those books. All the characters are interesting and most have a depth to them. Some of the characters have less developed personalities and histories, but I think they will be rounded out in future books.

This was a moving and sweet story, with a bit of passion and humour thrown in. It was entertaining and well written. This is the first time I’ve read this author, but it won’t be the last.

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Series List: Tenillo Guardians - Time Served MC by Cee Bowerman and Ares Infidels MC by Ciara St James

Tenillo Guardians is a series comprised of two strands of a story that run alternately between each strand. Each part of the story is written by a different author about a different MC. The two MCs work together over the same timeline to protect the town of Tenillo, TX.

You can read each strand separately but you may miss out on the overarching storyline that joins the two series together.

Reading Order:

Boss (Time Served MC Series Book 1) by Cee Bowerman

Sin's Enticement (Ares Infidels MC Series Book 1) by Ciara St James

Hook (Time Served MC Series Book 2) by Cee Bowerman

Executioner's Enthrallment (Ares Infidels MC Series Book 2) by Ciara St James

Chef (Time Served MC Series Book 3) by Cee Bowerman

Pitbull's Enslavement (Ares Infidels MC Series Book 3) by Ciara St James

Preacher (Time Served MC Series Book 4) by Cee Bowerman

Omen's Entrapment (Ares Infidels MC Series Book 4) by Ciara St James - Not Yet Reviewed

Review: Pitbull's Enslavement (Ares infidels MC Series Book 3) by Ciara St James

Pitbull's Enslavement : Ares infidels MC #3 by Ciara St James
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Predictable MC Drama

This is the third book in a continuing series that alternates with the series by Cee Bowerman, which starts with Boss: Time Served MC Book 1. The alternating series follow the same timeline, so you need to have read the previous books to understand this one.

Pitbull is a former Marine communications specialist who got out of the Navy a few years ago at age 29. He joined the Ares Infidels MC when a former colleague told him about it. It's an MC whose members are all ex-service personnel who want to be part of a law-abiding (for the main part) organisation. He now runs the bar for the MC. One night he catches a young woman selling drugs in his bar and takes them off her to flush away and he also takes the money she made to donate to the food kitchen. A few nights later she is brought into hospital beaten, choked and stabbed.

Luciana is forced to sell drugs by her brother who became her guardian when she was 17 after the death of her parents. If she refused, he planned to pimp her out. After Pitbull catches her in his bar, her brother loses his temper so badly he thinks he has killed her. In order to protect the 21-year-old woman, Pitbull insists on taking her back to the compound. He feels guilty but he is also head over heels immediately.

The plot was pretty predictable and the writing was quite stilted. I found it hard to connect with the story because the writing didn’t flow well enough. It was also hard to connect with the story because it was so predictable. I can cope with poor writing if the story is well constructed, or a predictable story if the writing is amazing, both weaknesses together really leave me cold.

I think I also found the insta-love thing a bit annoying too. I have to be in a specific mood to enjoy that type of story, and I don’t think I was in the right frame of mind to enjoy that today.
I think I’ve come to the end of the line with this half of the connected series. I’m just going to have to catch up with the ongoing plot with each Cee Bowerman book that comes out.

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Review: Broken Lyric (Meltdown Series Book 2) by RB Hilliard

Broken Lyric by R.B. Hilliard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dangerously Obsessive

I'd probably give this book 3.5 ⭐ if I could.

This is the second book in a connected series. This book can stand alone but you get to meet the characters and learn their history in the first book, so reading it will increase your enjoyment. There isn’t a cliffhanger, but there is a hook for the next book.

Nash is the lead guitarist for Meltdown a successful rock band. They’ve had a pretty rough couple of years but things are starting to settle down. They have a new keyboardist after the death of the old one and they now own their record label. The band decides to have a shakedown mini-tour for 3 months and though he has to go, Nash is reluctant because his beloved mother has cancer. The only thing helping him go on tour is knowing his mother has a live-in nurse to look after her.

Rowan Burn, Nash’s mother’s nurse, used to be called Gillian. Gillian had to change her name in order to hide from a very dangerous man who was obsessed with her. Her father was the one who set her up with that man. She decided to change her name at the same time as running away. Since then she hasn’t stayed in one place for very long or formed significant attachments. However, Nash’s mother, Maeve, has wormed herself into her heart, along with her son.

Though the initial set-up for this book seems obvious, the plot is actually quite complex. The suspense plot is intriguing, however, all the emotions feel a little muted because of the emphasis on the plot rather than the characters and what they are feeling. Bad things happen in this book but the characters don’t seem to dwell on how those things make them feel, it’s all about what’s happening and what’s going to happen next. It makes it harder to connect with the characters than I would have thought because on the surface the characters are very likeable and engaging.

This is a diverting book and quite entertaining, and I may read the next in the series at some point, but there are other books in my vast TBR list that will come first.

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Review: The Magic of Destiny (Emerald Lakes Series Book 4) by Britt Andrews

The Magic of Destiny by Britt Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emotional Rollercoaster

This is the fourth book in a continuing series. You need to read the previous books to understand this one. This book also ends on a significant cliffhanger, however the last book in the series is now out, so you won’t have to wait to get the resolution to all the situations.

TRIGGER WARNING: The final chapter of this book has a trigger warning at the start. I understand why the author has placed the warning at this point rather than at the start of the book as she doesn’t want to cause spoilers, so I won’t list them here. I suggest if you have read this far into the series and have triggers, if you download the book, check the trigger warning before you get too far into the story. Apart from this explicitly given warning, I would also suggest if you have problems relating to emotional abuse coming from a parent that this book may be problematic.

In this book, Saige has all her men back, with the exception of one, Sloane, who has gone to retrieve his father’s ashes. Still unsettled with the fire at Miranda’s and the kidnapping of Annie, Saige is worried about her missing man. It seems The Stars, or destiny, has it out for Saige as nothing ever seems to go right, it’s always out of her control, and yet she’s meant to do so much for others.

This book has a lot of emotional upheaval in it. With disappearances, the possibility of new and the return of old family members, there are a lot of reasons to be emotional.

In amongst the trauma, the team take every opportunity to bond and work their way through the complex web of relationships. Not all the romance in the group is between Saige and her men, some of it is also between the men themselves. There are a lot of hot and steamy scenes in this book too, which will get you hot under the collar.

This book feels very plot and romance focused. Whilst we still keep learning about the characters, the rate at which their secrets are revealed has definitely slowed.

I’m so glad the last book in the series is already out, the cliffhanger is awful. I need to read that book STAT!

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Review: Trace of Darkness (Diana Duvail Series Book 1) by RB Hilliard

Trace of Darkness: A Diana Duvail Novel by RB Hilliard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Entertaining Urban Fantasy Romance

This is the first book in a new series. The book finishes without a cliffhanger but more books to come are implied in the way that it ends.

Diana Duvall is a cop in Charleston. She comes from a wealthy family and has a huge trust fund. She was a disappointment to her parents with her ability to see the supernatural and her habit of talking about it before being old enough to understand that no one else could see it. She’s good at her job, but she keeps the supernatural stuff to herself.

When she is outed at work for being supernatural she was moved to the paranormal unit. Despite still being a trainee in the unit she is requested for an assignment by Zacharias, the head of the Southern Vampire Organization and thrust into a situation she is woefully unqualified to deal with.

I really enjoyed this book. There were moments when I wanted to shout at Diana for being an idiot and normally that would make me hate a character, but Diana also acknowledged when she was being an idiot and tried to do better. It softened me towards her. I liked that she was sarcastic and feisty, intelligent and determined. She was very definitely flawed, but she was aware of it.

We are introduced to her new colleagues but they aren’t deeply examined and they only have a peripheral impact on Diana, with the exception being her boss, who is determined to push Diana into learning how to use her mental abilities in order to protect herself better.

Zacharias is important to Diana and the plot, and she doesn’t understand how he has wriggled his way past her defences. He’s incredibly powerful and charismatic, handsome and lethal. He’s also possessive and protective of Diana. However, he’s not particularly great at communication and Diana is scared to let go with him.

The world-building was interesting and we were carefully introduced to the world of vampires and peripherally to the shifters. We hear about the fae, but don’t meet any. We also got to see Diana becoming a sort of bridge between the regular police and the paranormal police, able to reach information others could not because of her connections and tying things together to help solve the case. I feel that the author was setting the stage for future books with the way she introduced the other races, especially because she is unclear what kind of supernatural Diana actually is.

The plot is complex and there are lots of different players. It’s filled with violence and passion, secrets and lies. It’s terribly dangerous for Diana and death stalks her throughout the book. The plot kept me guessing and I enjoyed that tremendously.

This was a great introduction to a new female character and the world in which she lives. I look forward to reading more about her and her life in the future.

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Review: Glimmer of Hope (The Other Realm Series Book 2) by Heather G Harris

Glimmer of Hope by Heather G. Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Drugs and Murder

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

This is the second book in the series and you probably have to read the first book to enjoy this one. The book ends at a natural break in the story but has a substantial hook, that verges on a cliffhanger, for the next book.

After Jinx finished her last case she hoped to hear from Stone, but 8 weeks later there hasn’t been a word. She’s living in The Wirral now, to be close to the heart of the UK’s Other Realm in Liverpool. What she wasn’t expecting was a job back in her old home of Buckinghamshire. A dryad she met on the day she was introduced to the Other Realm wants her to investigate the murder of her husband, which has been written off as a mugging gone wrong.

During the course of the case, she meets up with Emory, the Dragon Prime of the UK, who she also met on her last case. He hires her to look into the death of one of his dragons, however, he fully intends to investigate with her, probably because he wants to flirt with her.

As this is the second book in the series there is less world-building, but there are still a lot of blanks filled in, especially as she spends most of this book with a dragon who gives her a different perspective on the Other Realm. There is less focus on The Connection, which is the ruling body of the Other Realm because dragons are not part of that body.

This book has a nice juicy murder mystery aspect to it. There are several layers to the case that intersect and Jinx finds that her contacts from the first book are helpful in finding her way through this case. We also get to see more of Jinx’s powers in action as she becomes more familiar with them and what the Glimmer Blade is capable of.

There is a touch of romance in this book, but once again it isn’t the main focus. It’s just an extra layer of fun on top of the plot. I have to say I enjoyed the possibility of a relationship between Jinx and Emory more than with Jinx and Stone. It will be interesting to see how that situation goes, but I assume once again any relationship stuff will be the sprinkles on top rather than the main part of the dish, as with this book and the previous one.

I am annoyed I have to wait for the next book, but apparently, it’s coming soon and the ending of this book isn’t too crazy-making!

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Review: Wanted Girl (Neighpalm Industries Collective Series Book 4) by Lexie Winston

Wanted Girl by Lexie Winston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dangerous Times

I'd probably give this book 4.5⭐ if I could.

This is the fourth book in the series and follows directly from the end of book three. You need to read the previous books to understand this book. Though this book ends at a natural break in the story, there is a significant hook to draw you on to the next book in the series.

Harlow, Kai and Jaxon are in Hawaii enjoying their short break, whilst the men work on their various businesses. Their wonderful experiences are tainted by the attacks on Harlow. Back home, Harlow’s safety becomes everyone’s priority. Making the best of things Harlow spends her time working on her complex and rewarding relationships with the Summers men. She also finds herself becoming more involved in understanding her family’s businesses. She also starts to build a relationship with Jacinta as they finally begin to accept each other.

This is such an enjoyable series and the complex plot keeps you guessing all the time. I still have no idea about who is causing Harlow problems and why. I thought I knew, but I determined I had NO clue by the end of this book. I love it when a book or series can keep me diverted and intrigued like that. Though this is a reverse harem book and the romance and passion form a significant part of the plot, the mystery/suspense aspect gives the relationships a rich tapestry on which to rest. It keeps things moving and affects all the relationships by applying different amounts of pressure on the various characters. It’s also not a one-dimensional plot as there are different strands to the mysteries surrounding this charismatic and unusual family, which are probably not all related to each other.

I really enjoyed finding out more about the main characters in this book. Each book reveals more about their individual pasts and how they have shaped their personalities and how they interact with Harlow and each other. For instance, in this book, we find out a lot more about Jacinta and start to see the real person behind her insecurities and irrational rage towards Harlow. We start to see why the brothers are so protective of their sister.

One thing, in particular, I like about this series is that Jacinta’s behaviour is not accepted and she faces consequences for actions. She also seeks help from her therapist and the professional aid guides her through the damage her psyche sustained as a child. This author shows redemption through hard work and I like it when that happens.

One of the other things I liked about this book was Harlow becoming more open towards friendships as well as her relationship. Before coming to California she was a loner with only her foster family providing love and support. She’d never been in a proper relationship before meeting the Summers, and the love of her family and the involvement with her ‘harem’ has helped her become more open to having other people in her life and she starts to trust in her friendships. She also takes a long hard look at her relationship with her foster sister/best friend Max.

This is a complex and intriguing, passionate, sexy and fun book, and the series as a whole is no less so. The characters are complicated and fascinating and each book peels the layers back further so we understand the motives of each person better. I can’t wait to see what happens next to this entertaining family.

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Review: Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards Series Book 1) by Jennifer Estep

Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A superb start to a new fantasy series

I have been a fan of Jennifer Estep’s work for some time now and I have been looking forward to this book since it was first publicised. I am so happy that I was not disappointed in any way. This book takes all of the very best things from the previous series and none of the slightly niggly things.

The world-building, as always, is superb and I love how the magic is softly woven into the everyday existence without great fanfare during the introduction to the main character Everleigh, or Evie as she prefers to be known. Evie is a minor royal with supposedly little magic, whose parents were assassinated when she was 12. After being shunted around the kingdom she ended up at the main court, with her cousin the Queen. With no money, power, position or magic she was treated little better than a servant, who had to work for her living by apprenticing to the Royal Jeweller and attending all the annoying functions that no one else in the royal family could be bothered with. She is educated, but not particularly talented with a sword. She becomes very good at surviving the cutthroat politics of the court.

At age 27, she thought she was close to reaching her dream of going back to her parent's estate and opening up the house again, after saving nearly every penny she had ever earned from jewellery commissions when she attends a function. The events of this function change her life in ways she never thought possible.

We see Evie as she makes new friends and learns new skills, as she tries to survive betrayal and loss.

Evie is a fantastic character, she is smart and determined, she can be cold, calculating and ruthless, but she has a heart. She cares for people even when she berates herself that she is allowing herself to become too vulnerable. She battles and struggles with her weaknesses, working hard to overcome them. I liked the other characters in the book as they had depth and you know that future books in the series will flesh them out further.

I initially read this as an ebook in 2018 and decided to revisit it as an audiobook and I can honestly say that the narration enhanced my enjoyment. The narrator for this book really helped bring the story to life. I will definitely be listening to the rest of the series.

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Review: Glimmer of The Other (The Other Realm Series Book 1) by Heather G Harris

Glimmer of The Other by Heather G. Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

British Urban Fantasy At It’s Best

I’d probably give this book 4.5 ⭐️ if I could.

This is the first book in a continuing series. The book finishes at a natural break in the story, but there is a definite hook to make you want to read the next in the series.

Jessica ‘Jinx’ Sharp is a private detective. She went into business for herself when she was 18 after the still-unsolved murder of her parents. One of her strengths that helps her with her chosen career, other than the ability to pick locks, is her skill at telling truth from lies.

When Jinx is hired to solve a missing person case she ends up being lumbered with another detective, Stone, who was brought on by the missing woman’s family friend. Stone may be attractive but Jinx is a loner by nature and preference. She has one friend, a neighbour with who she is friendly with and a Great Dane called Gatto. No one else has entered her circle of trust since the death of her parents.

When Stone reveals to Jinx that she’s only sort of human as she’s a member of the Other Realm and is a truth-teller, she winds up being exposed to a whole new world. She meets dragons, elves, vampyres and trolls and learns about magic. She also learns that the missing woman has touched the Other Realm, something somebody from the Common Realm should never do. She definitely needs Stone to help navigate this new world to help save her client’s daughter.

I love that this is a British urban fantasy novel. You don’t see many of those and this one is very good indeed. The world-building is imaginative and fun and seems to be well thought out. The plot is interesting and complex, keeping you guessing from start to finish and I really felt sucked in to the story.

I really liked Jinx. I thought she was a believable and admirable woman, who had a good head on her shoulders, something I really like in an MFC. She was intelligent, practical and unflappable. She drew on her experience and her newly discovered abilities to investigate in an unfamiliar world in a way that was believable, even if she did grasp hold of magical concepts quite quickly.

I loved that Jinx’s Great Dane was actually a hell hound and he had his own abilities that aided Jinx. I also like that there is an explanation for his very rare bonding with Jinx and it’s not a complete fluke.

Stone was an interesting MMC. He’s a feared Inspector and a warrior wizard. He’s protective of Jinx and helps her a great deal in coming to terms with the new world she’s exposed to. There is flirtation and the temptation to become romantically involved but it’s put aside for the case. This is not paranormal romantic fiction, it’s a straight-up urban fantasy. We are also introduced to several other characters that are important in the Other Realm and I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t pop up in future books.

The plot is complex and intriguing and I read the book in one go because I really wanted to know what happened next. I was kept guessing throughout the story, which I always enjoy. My one complaint is that it had time travel in the story and I HATE that. It confuses me and I spend ages trying to work out if it’s rational or not and I miss out on the pure pleasure of just being swept along by the plot. I also generally feel it’s a somewhat lazy solution to problems within a plot. I don’t think that’s the case here as it seems to be woven through the whole structure of the storyline and isn’t just a ‘fix it’.

I really am looking forward to seeing if the next book is as good as this one. I very much hope so!

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