The Beautiful Series Book 3: The Righteous by Renee Ahdieh

The Beautiful Book 3

Following the explosive events of The Damned, Odette faces a vampire's final death. The Court of the Lions have done everything they can to save her but have failed. A healer from the Sylvan Vale could help her, but only Arjun Desai, as a half fey, can cross the boundary between realms. The Sylvan Vale is a world Arjun despises, and in return, it despises him. But knowing it could save Odette, he returns to the Vale with all haste, leaving the mirrored tare between the two worlds open and unwittingly setting the stage for both love and war.

It's mere days until Pippa Montrose is to wed Phoebus Devereux and become a member of his well-heeled family, offering salvation to her own. But Celine is missing. Pippa has no idea where her best friend has gone, but she's certain it's in the company of vampire Sébastien Saint Germain and that Arjun can lead her to them. Pippa enjoins the help of Eloise, the daughter of a powerful sorceress, to discover the gateway Arjun uses to travel between worlds. Pippa, tired of hesitating in life, marches right through in search of her friend. But what she discovers on the other side is a dangerous, duplicitous world full of mischief and magic she doesn't understand, and most unexpectedly, she finds love.

In this latest installment of The New York Times bestselling series that began with The Beautiful, Pippa journeys to the treacherous and beguiling world of the fey in search of answers only to fall in love.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57603668-the-righteous

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Once again I failed to reread the series before starting the next book, but bits and pieces did start to come back as I was reading this latest installment in the series so that was good! The story does start out a bit slow but once you hit a certain part the story is fast and the ending has plenty of twists and turns and a super surprising last page to say the least! The world just got bigger and now I'm super excited to see what comes next. So this story for the most part follows Pippa and Arjun. There are a few other points of views here and their but mainly it is their story. It starts with Arjun being told he needs to find a healer to heal his dear friend. For him it means going back to the place of his mother and where he is not welcomed. Plus he owes a debt to the enemy of his mother's court. Pippa is worried for Celine. And once Pippa claims you as her own, she will fight for you. So in a foolish move she follows Arjun and ends up in Sylvan Vale days before she is set to marry another. Things only get complicated from there for both Pippa and Arjun. We learn a great deal of Pippa and Arjun's pasts. Like Pippa marrying in order to provide for her two younger siblings she had to leave behind. Arjun's life has being known as a half-breed among these fey. I really enjoyed the story. Like I said, it was a bit slow at first but then it turns into a story you can't put down. And I love this author so much so I was glad to be pulled back into her world. And with that ending. Well I need a lot more information! Can't wait for the next one!

Stonefire Dragons Book 14: Trusting the Dragon by Jessie Donovan

Stonefire Dragons Book 14

Finally divorced and free of her bastard ex-husband, Sarah MacKintosh Carter looks forward to living with the Scottish dragon clan and attempting a normal life. However, a letter arrives and says she has thirty days to mate a dragon-shifter, or she has to return to a human city. If she leaves, she knows her former in-laws will be determined to take custody of her sons. So the countdown begins on finding a dragonman to mate her. There’s just one rule: no falling in love so she can protect her heart.

Hudson Wells hasn’t stopped thinking about the female he met by chance two years ago—she’s the only one he’s wanted in his life and his bed since the loss of his late mate. When the chance comes to claim Sarah as his own, Hudson puts his name forth to be her mate. Now he just needs to convince her to pick him. Despite the fact she’s divorced, Hudson soon discovers that Sarah was neglected, so he makes it his job to prove how desirable she really is. 

As Hudson does his best to persuade Sarah of how they’re combustible together in bed and a good team as parents out of it, her past comes back to haunt her. Not only does it threaten one of her sons, but it could also end up destroying the future she now yearns for with Hudson. Will she find a way to seize a happy ending for once? Or will Sarah end up losing everything she cares about?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57584342-trusting-the-dragon

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I love going back to Stonefire! How can anyone not? And this story packed so much in it! Our dragonman is Hudson. Hudson lost his mate a few years back and has been on his own taking care of his son, Elliot. And for those who have been with the series this long, you'll remember his mate, Charlie. She was a Protector who died early on in the series. Now Hudson gets a second chance at having a mate. Sarah we have met recently. She is the sister of Lachlan who married a dragonwoman at Lochguard. Sarah has not had an easy life. She has finally escaped an abusive marriage and is hoping to have a safe place to live with her two young sons. But after a year at Lochguard, her ex in-laws are threatening to take her sons from her. Her only hope is to marry a dragonman and become a permanent resident at Lochguard or Stonefire. In an attempt to help her, the clan leaders suggest some dragonshifters who may be a good match for her. Even it is as simple as a marriage of convenience. What she doesn't expect is to be paired to Hudson. A man she has met two years before by chance. And Hudson certainly remembers her. She was the first female to draw his attention after losing his mate. Though back then their encounter was brief and Sarah was married. But he hasn't forgotten her. And perhaps this is their chance to discover if there is truly something between them. Loved this story! We had two great characters who have had it pretty rough but together learn to believe in fresh starts and second chances. Not to mention the action when it comes to those who are stilling hunting dragons. This is a great addition to the series and with more characters introduced, I'm excited to who's story we are getting next! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Shadow City Silver Wolf Book 2: Rising Darkness by Jen L. Grey

Shadow City Silver Wolf Book 2

Fight or flight only works when you know who you're up against.

There's no running from an enemy who is constantly several steps ahead. The best you can do is stand and face them.

Finding my mate should have been a time to rejoice, not the catalyst for disaster. The closer we become, the more danger we find ourselves in.

Shocking revelations and buried secrets surface, only reinforcing the truth that Griffin and I are in big trouble.

One thing is clear, we can’t win if we don’t even know who we’re up against. I’m not quite sure if we’ll be able to make it out alive.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59606830-rising-darkness

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My Review: 4/5 Stars 

The fight only gets more intense for Sterlyn, her mate, Griffin, and their friends. Picking up where the last book left off, Sterlyn is able to escape her kidnapper but isn't able to gain any answers to exactly who is after her. The more she sees the more questions she has. And some answers may lie in her past. She'll go back home to where her parents and packed were slaughtered. But what she finds there is more than she could have imagined. And to get ahead of those who are after her they'll have to come up with a pretty risky plan. One thing you can count on in Jen's book is that our heroines are kick ass women who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves while teaching their mates they are strong and equal to any alpha. Plus the plot twists and cliffhangers that constantly leave with you more questions than answers. One more book left in this series and I'm looking forward to seeing how this story wraps up!

The Sizzle Paradox by Lily Menon

Lyric Bishop and Kian Montgomery, both graduate students, are best friends and roommates. When Lyric needs help cracking the Sizzle Paradox for her doctoral thesis on sexual chemistry--it seems the more attractive she finds a guy, the less "sizzle" there is when they actually have sex; but why? Kian, who never has trouble in the bedroom, offers to tutor her on dating tactics. Lyric, being a self-proclaimed awkward potato, accepts the help she desperately needs.

But once the two progress with their "tutoring sessions," they find that the solution to the Sizzle Paradox might actually be having sex with each other. Which is a problem, because they're best friends and absolutely, irrefutably nothing else... Right?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58724897-the-sizzle-paradox

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Lyric and Kian have been best friends for a long time. In all their years together they never crossed the line between friends and more. Now as graduate students they are focusing on finishing up their theses and getting ready for the real world. Kian may graduate this year but Lyric has another year to go, which is good for her because she is currently stuck on her project. Lyric's thesis is about cracking "The Sizzle Paradox. A way to find the perfect balance in a partner that has most positive emotional and physical readings. But when it comes to finding her own "sizzle" she just can't seem to get it right. Everyone always asks Lyric and Kian why they aren't together. But neither can stand the idea of ruining their friendship. But when Kian decides to help Lyric on her dating tactics, things take an unexpected turn. One thing leads to another and the end result: a kiss neither can stop thinking about. A definite friends to lover trope, you can't help but love these two oblivious characters. Despite their resistance to the idea of them being more than friends, it is clear from the very beginning they are perfect for one another. Watching them get there is a whole new level. Both these characters are fun and hilarious, geniuses yet not when it comes to knowing what the other is feeling. A fun story that I devoured in one sitting. Great story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Savage Rivals by Becca Steele

Asher Henderson.

Captain of the Highnam Academy football team, and the bane of my existence.

As Alstone High’s team captain, I’ve been pitted against him from the beginning, but our conflict isn’t only reserved for the pitch.

Everyone knows we’re enemies. From our first encounter, our rivalry has been escalating, spiralling out of control.

Until one night when everything between us changed.

He pushed me too far, and we crossed a line that should never have been crossed.

Now, I can’t get him out of my head.

Can we ever be more than rivals, or are there too many obstacles in our way?

One thing I know for sure.

Things between us will never be the same again.

Savage Rivals is a standalone M/M new adult high school romance with enemies to lovers and gay awakening themes. This book contains mature situations and content.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58960303-savage-rivals

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My Review: 5/5 Stars 

Asher and Levi have been rivals since the beginning. A misunderstanding on the field between their two high school teams led to a rivalry like no other. Both captains of the high school football (soccer) teams they lead the charge against one another in a series of pranks off the field and a little too rough of a game on the field. But what happens when they take this fight a little too far? Or better yet, realize that perhaps all this pent up hate against one another isn't really hate at all. A heat of the moment and a kiss that changes everything. What happens when two enemies suddenly become the opposite? I guess there really is a thin line between love and hate. Now they can't seem to stay away form one another but how do they deal with their respective teams? The rivalry still exists but can they finally call a truce that everyone will listen to? Loved this story! It is a true enemies to lovers trope with a side of finding a new side to your sexuality you may not have been exactly aware of before. The tension and banter between Levi and Asher are great and when the tables turn on them and they realize that they have feelings for one, even better. I enjoyed their story and so many of these characters! 

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

Isolde x Adrian Book 1

Their Union Is His Revenge.

Isolde de Lara considers her wedding day her death day. To end a years-long war, she is to marry vampire king, Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, and kill him. 

But her assassination attempt is thwarted and Adrian threatens that if Isolde tries kill him again, he will raise her as the undead. Faced with the possibility of becoming the thing she hates most, Isolde seeks other ways to defy him and survive the brutal vampire court. 

Except it isn’t the court she fears most—it’s Adrain. Despite their undeniable chemistry, she wonders why the king——fierce, savage, merciless—chose her as consort. 

The answer will shatter her world. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56651967-king-of-battle-and-blood

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Isolde has only ever wanted to protect her people and one day rule them as Queen. Specifically on her own. She doesn't believe in needing a man by her side to rule. What she doesn't expect is for her greatest enemy, the enemy that has been slowing conquering their world kingdom by kingdom, to knock on their doors and ask for her hand. What makes her so special? Why does King Adrian, a vampire, the Blood King, want from her? But she will do whatever it takes to protect her people. Even if it means marrying her enemy. Her people, her father, they expect her to kill him. And at first she does. However, there is a slight problem. Her attraction to him is one she never could have predicted. It's uncontrollable and she can't help but wonder why. Why does she want this monster? As she works through her feelings of feeling like a traitor to her people and yet falling for her enemy, she will begin to learn some truths. What exactly is going on in their world. How perhaps it isn't just the vampires who are the corrupted ones. Great story! The romance was exactly as you would expect from Scarlett and the mythologies of this world she built are super interesting. Not to mention the characters. All of them unique and interesting in their own way. I couldn't put the story down! I'm looking forward to the next book!