Category: romance

Gathering of the Four – Book Review

Gathering of the Four by A.E. Bennet is book one of the Serrulata Saga, not counting the prequel Yours and Mine that covers how a couple of characters met. Gathering of the Four follows Leora of Mae, Roland Shallowbrook, Aurora Verte, and Leopold as they struggle to deal with being outcasts in The Realm and try to survive long enough to bring justice to a cruel and powerful sovereign. While the four come from very different living situations, they must work together and cope with the secrets that tie some closer than one would expect. The book is filled with exciting turns, making it difficult to put it down.

The first thing I want to address about Gathering of the Four is that it does contain scenes of abuse and sexual situations. So if you are uncomfortable with either of these, this is probably not the sort of book for you. The scenes of abuse and implied abuse explain the situations characters are in or have lived through. As for the sexual problems, they are delightfully steamy but not exceptionally detailed. However, the apparent affection between the feelings involved makes reading them enjoyable. These situations are few and far between, but they are common enough to make a note of.

Another thing I want to discuss is world-building. When you first pick up Gathering of the Four, you might think this is another fantasy series, and it certainly does have fantasy aspects. However, as I read, I was delighted to find out that there are some problematic dystopian situations, and this book does, in fact, take place on our very own Earth. I will not go into further details on the subject in order not to ruin any twists in the book, but the world that A.E. Bennett has created is one of the most exciting I have read about in some time.

I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

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Blood of Zeus – Book Review

I found the Blood of Zeus audiobook while scrounging around on my local library’s website. This steamy romance novel by Meredith Wild and Angel Payne. I had never read either work before but I am always excited to pick up an audiobook. So I snatched up this discovery and brought it home to listen to. Now I am one of those strange people that still have a CD player just in case of audiobooks so I was able to enjoy this in a seven-disc format. Don’t worry you can also find it on Audible or just read it if you like.

Blood of Zeus is the first in a series, while I have not yet read the rest of this steamy series much of the story was rather entertaining. The involvement of mythology creatures both demonic and godly was given an interesting tie-in to this story, though I do wish this first book had more background information. Unfortunately despite enjoying the story at the moment, I doubt the series had enough substance to make me want to come back to it, at least not till I whittle down my TBR a bit further. Maybe I will come back.

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Cinder – Book Review

I have stumbled on to another surprising library find. Cinder by Marissa Meyer is a dark retelling of the classic story. Following Cinder, and abused young woman in a future where World War IV has ravaged the world that has become a single Empire whose greatest enemy is i their not so distant Lunar cousins. Cinder it turns out, is not just an abused young woman in this telling of the classic fairytale, but in fact a Cyborg, made so because of a childhood accident. This is not as cool as it sounds, as Cyborgs in New Beijing are considered less than human.

This young adult novel is a exciting tale. While I have read many a fairytale rewrite, this one kept my attention with its gritty under belly and politics of a seemingly at peace futuristic Earth. The characters and their thoughts, and paranoias plus the explanations of the various ‘magics’ that take up this world all fit nicely in to a fun science fiction novel that any fan of the genre would enjoy. Like most young adult novels, there is an aspect of romance, however while it has a center point in the story, it is far from the main characters only concern making the story feel a whole lot more related than just another fawning teenager story.

In short, if you are looking for an exciting fairy tale retelling, I strongly suggest you pick up Cinder.

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Kingdom of Acatalec – Book Review

After reading S.M. McCoy’s Divine series, I was thrilled when I got an email a few months ago from her informing me of the first book in her new series. Kingdom of Acatalec. Equally thrilled was I to read it was a science fiction romance, a change from the fantasy aspects of her previous series. As a fan of the author’s writing, I could not help but dive head first into Kingdom of Acatalec and I was certainly not disappointed.

The story of Kingdom of Acatalec follows Tyler Beryl as her best friend pulls her into a complicated drone race, hoping to make some easy money and get out of dodge. She soon finds out that the group running this race are aliens. But have no fear, dear review reader, these are not some strange little green men, oh no, these are hunky gorgeous drop dead beautiful tall men that reading about certainly makes one’s day.

S.M. McCoy takes this concept and runs with it. The characters are delightful; the story is thrilling, and the ending is just enough of a cliffhanger that I regularly check her Amazon pages to see when the next book of the Acatalec series is on the way. Pick up this book, particularly if you are a fan of exciting original romance stories.

Pick up Kingdom of Acatalec here!

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Yours and Mine – Review and Author Q&A!

Yours and Mine by A.E. Bennett is a novella that ties in to the author’s Serrulata Saga series, which I have not yet read, my introduction to being one of the blog tours I take part in. This steamy novella followed Octavia Dorchester and Gerald Verte as they stumble in to a young romance and attempt to reconcile their feelings even though their families want them to have nothing to do with one another. While you walk with the characters through their complicated relationship and enjoy their young love, you are also given bits and pieces of the authors over all world which leaves you wanting to explore further in to the Serrulata Saga as a whole. I know I am looking forward to picking up more by A.E. Bennett.

Now, as discussed above, this is a steamy romance. There is sex in this novella and some very blunt wording for male anatomy. So if you are uncomfortable with reading sex scenes or the used of rougher language, even though it only happens once, I suggest you avoid this romantic tale. However, for anyone else, I strongly suggest you pick this up, particularly if you are a fan of fantasy romances, there is both and delightful hints to what we may discover in the series.

I have another surprise for you. The lovely people at Traveling Pages Tours were able to get a few questions answer for me by the author! It was great to have this opportunity, the Q&A follows.

How do you come up with your stories?

I came up with the initial idea for The Serrulata Saga way back in 1997. I was a teen devoted to sci-fi and the Hale-Bopp comet appeared in the sky. I soaked up as much knowledge as I could about it. It comes around once every 2,000 years or so and when it was here, there were a lot of articles printed about what life had been like the last time it arrived. The gears in my head started turning and I began thinking about when the comet arrives again—in the year 4385.

In terms of Yours and Mine, I have to credit an editor who took a look at an early version of Gathering of the Four, the first book in the series. She gave me a great deal of feedback and constructive criticism, but she also made a comment about how she loved reading about Octavia and Gerald and was curious about how they got together. After that, I couldn’t not write their tale!

What genre do you like to read yourself?

I pretty much read what I write: sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. I also enjoy horror and am going to attempt to write a Serrulata Saga horror story when I’m finished with my current work in progress.

Do you ever get writer’s block and how do you cope with it?

 You know, I actually don’t. I’ve had a few times where I’ve sat down to write and known that what I was writing was garbage that would eventually get discarded, but thankfully I’ve never had the crippling sensation of sitting down to write and being unable to. I worry I’ve doomed myself by admitting this out loud, but it’s the truth!

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Yours and Mine a Serrulata Saga Novella – Book Review

Yours and Mine by A.E. Bennett is a novella that ties into the author’s Serrulata Saga series, which I have not yet read, my introduction to being one of the blog tours I take part in. This steamy novella followed Octavia Dorchester and Gerald Verte as they stumble into a young romance and attempt to reconcile their feelings even though their families want them to have nothing to do with one another. While you walk with the characters through their complicated relationship and enjoy their young love, you are also given bits and pieces of the author’s overall world which leaves you wanting to explore further into the Serrulata Saga as a whole. I know I am looking forward to picking up more by A.E. Bennett.


Now, as discussed above, this is a steamy romance. There is sex in this novella and some very blunt wording when it comes to the male anatomy. So if you are uncomfortable with reading sex scenes or the use of rougher language, even though it only happens once, I suggest you avoid this romantic tale. However, for anyone else, I strongly suggest you pick this up, particularly if you are a fan of fantasy.

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Blood Queen – Book Review

Blood Queen is the last book in the Divine Series written by S.M. McCoy. For three books, we have grown and suffered with Chrystal while she desperately attempts to navigate the world of the supernatural, and the usual sufferings of a teenage girl. Though perhaps a bit more extreme when you’re a demon, and a vampire… and a diviner. The girl has a lot on her plate! 

In Blood Queen we are reunited with a collection of well-written characters from the previous books and a few new experiences. Chrystal is reunited with loves, enemies and frenimies that end up meaning more to her than she ever would have thought. The story itself gives us a much more in-depth look at the world of the supernatural of the Divine Series, given this book takes place entirely in the deepest and darkest corners of their world. This gives us more of an idea of the world as a whole, which, while covered in the first two books, had a lot of questions left to answer about it.

Blood Queen does a fair job of completing the Divine Series, allowing Chrystal to find her destiny, even if it was not what she planned when she first went in to this dark adventure, honestly how it ended was a bit of a surprise to me as well. As with the first two books, Chrystal has a bit of sexual tension with her male associates, making the book perhaps not the best choice for a younger audience, though certainly much cleaner than many books in the same genre. 

My only real complaint was while Chrystal’s story was wrapped up nicely in this book, I wondered what happened to some of the side characters after all was said and done. As with the other books, S.M. McCoy did a fine job with following the story. This book was a bit different from the previous two as while most of the story takes place in the first person, as told by Chrystal, there are also a few chapters told in the third person that cover Lathar’s actions. And boy, does that man get in to some pickles. 

So is Blood Queen worth the read? If you enjoy paranormal fantasy of any type, and a bit of romance, never mind a hunky vampire, this is a must read! Oh, make sure you read the first two before you pick this up or you will have absolutely no idea what is going on! But the series is a great read so you should have a blast!

You can find more information here at Reedsy Discovery where I picked up the ARC copy of this book https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/blood-queen-stevie-mccoy?utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional&utm_campaign=mandrill#review

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The Four Suitors – Book Review

The Four Suitors by Sophie Jupillat Posey is a wonderful fantasy romance novel following the life of a spoiled princess who, after having her well for many years, is suddenly put in to the care of four suitors who are tasked with the duty to educate her. The one who does the best to be her husband. A strange demand, even in this fantastical world.

The Four Suitors is a solid fantasy novel, the world is well designed with some clear and solid world building elements. The universe is touched on briefly, showing that the author has put some serious thought in to even the various planets of this novel’s universe, not just the various countries needed for the novel. As world building can be a daunting task, it is always good to see it done well.

The characters in the story are also interesting. The main character in particular is shows some intense development, which everyone wants to see in a major character, though admittedly at the start of the book I found her to be such a repulsive child I also put the book down for a few hours, however, she does grow on the reader as you progress through the story.

In short, The Four Suitors is a wonderful fantasy novel with enough romance to get you that romance kick you are searching for. Pick it up, the read is very worth it!

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To Spy On a Devilish Duke – Ava MacAdams a Review

To Spy on a Devilish Duke is another delightful and steamy novel by Ava MacAdams. This one follows the journey of Emily Jones, the attendant of an English dowager duchess, who is secretly a French spy, raised in an orphanage and taught the secrets of the trade by the owner of the orphanage, who is really a French spy herself. As with all of MacAdams’ romance novels, this one is steamy, and it heats quickly, but while those aspects are well written, the story in this one is quiet good and I wanted to learn more.

The characters are well rounded, many of them are returning characters from the author’s previous works, though this is the first time the main characters of this novel have been focused on. (This is the third installment of the Bachelor’s Pact books.) As this is a romance, the story is heavily character driven and dives deeply in to the development of the characters; we learn about their pasts, their current turmoils and their hopes for the future.

Overall, this is a wonderful story and if you are a fan of a steamy romance, I suggest you pick it up.

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