Twyla Rae's bookshelf: read en-US Fri, 11 Apr 2025 14:47:39 -0700 60 Twyla Rae's bookshelf: read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Dustwalker 122770229 A robot searching for purpose. A woman who brings him to life. Can they learn to love in a broken world?

With his core programming lost to time, Ronin has wandered the Dust for nearly two centuries. Out in that unforgiving wasteland, his armored undercasing, advanced optics, and amped-up processors give him an advantage over other scavengers. He’s resigned himself to this unending trek until one night—until one human—makes him question everything.

Lara Brooks and her sister have spent their lives struggling to survive under the tyrannical rule of Cheyenne’s robotic master, Warlord. But when her sister goes missing, Lara has no one to turn to, no one willing to help her. She’s utterly alone. Her only hope comes from a bot she catches spying on her.

Ronin agrees to protect Lara and find her sister. All she must do in return is dance for him.

The transaction should be simple. Lara’s danced for bots before. Yet the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for her to see him as nothing but a collection of circuits and machinery.

And Ronin soon finds it difficult to deny what shouldn’t be possible�

She makes him feel.

But if Ronin defies Cheyenne’s rules to pursue his growing desires, he risks exposing Lara to a danger far greater than any found in the unforgiving wasteland—Warlord’s wrath.

---------------------------------------------------

Warning: This book contains foul language, explicit sexual content, and violence and is intended for mature readers only.]]> 476 Tiffany Roberts Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.05 2017 Dustwalker
author: Tiffany Roberts
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Meet Me at World's End (Bunker, #2)]]> 50624521
Charlotte’s powerful grandfather has saved her a cryosleep berth at the Bunker Reservation Project, a hastily formed effort to save humanity from extinction.

When the program begins to unravel, Charlotte will have to fight for her place in the future. But the only person who can help her is a hot-headed construction worker with a grudge against her family—and the clock is counting down to disaster.]]> 309 Jordan Rivet Twyla Rae 5 4.32 2020 Meet Me at World's End (Bunker, #2)
author: Jordan Rivet
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wake Me After the Apocalypse (Bunker, #1)]]> 41042431 From the author of The Seabound Chronicles, Steel and Fire, and Empire of Talents comes a story of resilience and optimism at the end of the world.]]> 316 Jordan Rivet Twyla Rae 5 4.11 2018 Wake Me After the Apocalypse (Bunker, #1)
author: Jordan Rivet
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]> Population (Population #1) 55878819 I'm Abel. I've got a list of rules, a mean right hook and a will to stay alive.

It's been eleven years since the aliens invaded, tore apart our world and created what we surviving humans so lovingly call Population. It's a blood-soaked hellscape and my sister's lost in it and I'll do anything to get her back and keep her safe...

...including, looting the corpse of the dead alien I come across, like the good little scavenger that I am. Unfortunately, his death is rather, erm, temporary. He hunts me down, but instead of ripping out my throat, he offers me a choice. One I can't turn down.

He offers to help me get my sister back. The only catch? Accepting means I'm his.


Set in a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest, Population is a full-length (97k word) dark SciFi alien romance with a fantasy twist and features a mixed race, sword-wielding female lead with a mean right hook and absolutely no social skills. It also features a possessive alien vampire who wants to claim her. Population finds its HEA in book 2, Saltlands (available now). All other books in the Population series stand alone and follow other couples.]]> 337 Elizabeth Stephens 0999130528 Twyla Rae 5 4.32 2015 Population (Population #1)
author: Elizabeth Stephens
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2020/12/30
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves:
review:

]]> Us Dark Few (Us Dark Few, #1) 174057601 Khalani is a Prisoner.
Takeshi is a Guard.
Both are slaves to the Underground.

Khalani Kanes has never stood on the surface of the earth. In the underground city of Apollo, faith and dreams are as absent as the sun. She longed to visit Genesis, the infamous Domed City and the final place where humanity lives aboveground. But when Khalani is given a life sentence and thrown into prison for a theft she didn't commit, those wishes shatter into oblivion.

In Braderhelm Prison, murderers are neighbors, ruthless and cold-blooded guards live to punish, and every second is a battle to survive. She thought the danger lay in befriending criminals and avoiding Takeshi Steele, the nefarious Captain who runs her cell block. But darker traps and secrets await her within the shadows of imprisonment. Khalani's blood will coat the walls in flaming silk before her enemies let her escape to the surface, a feat no one has successfully achieved. If the reclusive and callous Takeshi Steele won't kill Khalani, then the merciless prisoners and her fractured mind will.

Enter Braderhelm Prison, where only the Wicked remain.]]> 321 Alexis Patton Twyla Rae 4 3.86 Us Dark Few (Us Dark Few, #1)
author: Alexis Patton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/28
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Running (Always Cambridge, #2)]]> 22028636
Special Agent Alex Orton sees Holly Cambridge as nothing more than the next commendation standing between him and the ultimate promotion. What he doesn't bargain for is the shy, damaged, but feisty little woman that convinces his superiors to let her infiltrate a rival family, with Alex heading up the mission.

Holly and Alex clash at every turn, but Alex is intrigued by Holly’s sharp mind and boundless courage and must constantly fight his burgeoning feelings for his lovely informant. Alex is a strict disciplinarian of the rules and can’t reconcile the girl who can’t play by them.

As Holly carries out the sting and insinuates herself into the enemy’s camp, she develops a close and common bond with the middle Mayhue son, the exotically good looking and charismatic Victor. The very man who could end her life, if he were to discover her secret.

Hands tied, Alex must stand back, for the good of the team, and watch the tragedy play out.]]> 324 H.K. Carlton 1771118423 Twyla Rae 5 4.49 Running (Always Cambridge, #2)
author: H.K. Carlton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2016/06/15
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, highly-recommend, in-a-series, romance, up-all-night-read, steamy, refreshing-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Always Cambridge (Always Cambridge, #1)]]> 21822811 ~
Holly Cambridge is just a typical kid, or so she thinks, until one day, she takes a good look around and realizes her friends don’t have bodyguards dogging their every step.

At the age of sixteen, Holly is assigned a new bodyguard, Randy Phillips. He is a tall, muscular, God-like force in the young, impressionable and lonely girl’s life. He is her friend, her confident, her conscience, and the older man she adores beyond reason.

Randy Phillips is fully aware of his young charge’s adolescent crush on him. Although he is flattered by the adulation, he maintains a safe distance and professional demeanour until Holly is wounded in a rival family blood feud, and the course of both their lives is changed forever.]]> 246 H.K. Carlton 1771118318 Twyla Rae 5 4.24 2013 Always Cambridge (Always Cambridge, #1)
author: H.K. Carlton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2016/06/14
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, highly-recommend, in-a-series, romance, up-all-night-read, steamy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Law & Order, Crime & Chaos (Always Cambridge, #4)]]> 22612094
Special Agent Alex Orton of the FBI prepares Holly for the rigorous court proceedings to come, where she will testify not only against her own family, but also against the Mayhue crime family, including Victor’s volatile and sinister older brother, Lorenzo.

However, in the midst of all the personal turmoil, Holly’s first love and former bodyguard, Randy Phillips, emerges from the chaos. He vows to not only stand by her through the trials, but accompany her into Witness Protection and her afterlife, if in fact they make it that far, as both the Mayhue and Cambridge crime families swear retribution.

But in a twist of law and fate, Lorenzo Mayhue is unexpectedly released from prison and lures Holly to the Mayhue Excavating warehouses under the guise of Victor.

Five people enter the storehouse, but only three walk out.]]> 242 H.K. Carlton 1771118679 Twyla Rae 5 4.37 Law & Order, Crime & Chaos (Always Cambridge, #4)
author: H.K. Carlton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.37
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: in-a-series, up-all-night-read, romance, steamy
review:

]]> Defiant (Tales of Cinder, #1) 42953773

An enchanted necklace. A sudden death. An old injustice reawakened.


The sudden and suspicious death of Eloise’s mother points to forbidden magic. Determined to bring her mother’s murderer to justice, Eloise will stop at nothing to find the killer…even if the clues lead right to the palace gates and the prince’s manservant, Kaven. He is irrational, volatile, and prone to knocking women off horses. Given his personality, it should be easy to find the proof she needs to place him in irons.


However, when dark magic is used, nothing is as simple as it seems, and Eloise’s life quickly goes from fairy tale to nightmare. She needs to find the courage and cunning to discover the killer before she meets her own demise.


Fans of the Beastly Tales will not want to miss this new addition to the Beastly world. Filled with magic, unexpected foes, and brooding, impossible men, this Tale of Cinder is sure to leave you burning for more!]]> 294 M.J. Haag 1943051763 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.89 2019 Defiant (Tales of Cinder, #1)
author: M.J. Haag
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Ferran's Map (The Cat's Eye Chronicles, #4)]]> 18596964 453 T.L. Shreffler 0985166371 Twyla Rae 5 4.34 2015 Ferran's Map (The Cat's Eye Chronicles, #4)
author: T.L. Shreffler
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves: up-all-night-read, fantasy, favourites, highly-recommend, in-a-series, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)]]> 24978973 She survived a trial year at the Academy of Magic, but that was the easy part�

Now sixteen-year-old Ryiah is an apprentice of Combat, her school’s most notorious faction. When she finishes, she will be a war mage, but in order to do so, she has to survive four years traveling across Jerar, training with a master she hates, her old nemesis, Priscilla, and Prince Darren, her sometimes-rival sometimes� more?

Ry’s new apprenticeship is nothing like what she prepared for. War is on the horizon and her lessons aren’t just for practice anymore.

It’s time to fight.]]> 316 Rachel E. Carter 1621353966 Twyla Rae 5 3.97 2015 Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)
author: Rachel E. Carter
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2016/09/15
date added: 2024/09/10
shelves: fantasy, highly-recommend, in-a-series, light-romance, up-all-night-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, #1)]]> 49826643
Ripped from a forgotten homeland as a child, Tisaanah learned how to survive with nothing but a sharp wit and a touch of magic. But the night she tries to buy her freedom, she barely escapes with her life.

Desperate to save the best friend she left behind, Tisaanah journeys to the Orders, the most powerful organizations of magic Wielders in the world. But to join their ranks, she must complete an apprenticeship with Maxantarius Farlione, a handsome and reclusive fire wielder who despises the Orders.

The Orders� intentions are cryptic, and Tisaanah must prove herself under the threat of looming war. But even more dangerous are her growing feelings for Maxantarius. The bloody past he wants to forget may be the key to her future� or the downfall of them both.

But Tisaanah will stop at nothing to save those she abandoned. Even if it means gambling in the Orders� deadly games. Even if it means sacrificing her heart.

Even if it means wielding death itself.

Fans of epic romantic fantasy like Sarah J. Maas and Raven Kennedy will devour this tale of dark magic, passionate romance, vengeance, and redemption.]]> 520 Carissa Broadbent Twyla Rae 5 4.03 2020 Daughter of No Worlds (The War of Lost Hearts, #1)
author: Carissa Broadbent
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2024/09/08
date added: 2024/09/08
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[War Zone: Post-Apocalyptic Disaster Romance]]> 125839762 No one saw it coming�
It went from normal to chaos in 2.5 seconds and nothing has been the same since. Whiskey was a veteran at adapting to change but this…admin assistant by day, and avid TV watcher by night left her unprepared for the arrival of this level of disaster.

Survival consumed Whiskey.
Live or die, her only two choices. Trust was out the window after the group Whiskey joined led to betrayal and almost her death. Could she live this way forever? Alone, and on her own?

Life always changes.
Just when she thought she had figured it out, he showed up! A friend from the past she hadn’t seen in years. He brought knowledge and answers, but how did he acquire it? Was he telling the truth or laying a trap to ensnare her?

Would she find love & loyalty, in the midst of the end, or more lies and lethal intent?

For those looking for a mix of District 12 and the Factions system.
Tap that read button and see if you can handle the W A R Z O N E!]]> 182 Mercy Grace Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.00 War Zone: Post-Apocalyptic Disaster Romance
author: Mercy Grace
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/31
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Wastelander (Wastelander #1)]]> 209187982 The Old World is dead. Alone and starving, her only salvation is him.

Born in a secure compound amidst the ashes of a world long dead, Claire Ainsley knows her place in the world: work her assigned job, live with her assigned husband, and keep her head down and her mouth shut. She knows what every compound resident has been the world outside is a Wasteland, and the only thing more terrifying than leaving the compound is being forced to confront those who live outside—the ones left behind.

But her safe, contained life is destroyed when she narrowly survives an attack conceived by a conspiracy from within the compound itself. Only by fleeing into the terrifying Wasteland, a vast wilderness peopled by bloodthirsty, cannibalistic Wastelanders, can she escape a violent end at the hands of her fellow compound dwellers.

Captured by the very savages she feared, she is saved by John Madigan, a mysterious and capable survivor—and a Wastelander. She tries to deny the instant chemistry she feels with a man that is one moment terrifying, the next patient and caring, but eventually, neither of them are able to resist the blazing passion between them. But the Wasteland is harsh, and her time with John fleeting. As his own personal mission comes to an end, he must return to his ancestral homeland, leaving her with little choice but to learn to survive without the man whose protection is her only salvation in a harsh, uncompromising post-apocalyptic landscape.

The Wasteland of this world has not been kind to those unchosen.

The Wastelander is the first book in a post-apocalyptic romance series that follows John Madigan and Claire Ainsley as they navigate a dangerous world where lessons are brutally learned and love is challenged by hidden threats, political conspiracy, and the daily grind of survival. ]]> 408 E.S. Luck 1738312216 Twyla Rae 5 3.89 The Wastelander (Wastelander #1)
author: E.S. Luck
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.89
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/08/31
shelves:
review:

]]> Blackout Trail 64647356
As the blackout causes planes to fall from the sky, Anna crosses paths with devoted father Mark Ryan in the chaos at the airport. Mark convinces Anna to travel with him and his seven-year-old daughter Lily to their family’s cabin in remote Maine. There Mark hopes to reunite with his wife, and find a safe refuge from a society on the brink of collapse.

Journeying across a thousand miles of backcountry trails, they will face a daily struggle against nature. Their biggest peril, though, may come from their fellow survivors. As Anna grows closer to Mark and Lily, she resolves to see them safely home. But can she hold onto her humanity in a world gone mad?]]> 483 Linda Naughton Twyla Rae 5 4.55 Blackout Trail
author: Linda Naughton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.55
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/08/29
date added: 2024/08/29
shelves:
review:

]]> The Robot Brood 145489579
Jade’s heart raced as Ivan’s metal fingers skated across her flesh, sending an electric shock of pleasure and fear through her body. She had never trusted robots before—but Ivan was different. He seemed to understand her innermost thoughts, unleashing a wave of emotions she hadn’t been prepared for. With every touch and passing moment, she felt herself succumbing more deeply to him, sinking deeper into an emotional abyss of vulnerability and comfort, despite being terrified by how quickly she had come to depend on him.]]> 49 Adrian Blue Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.12 2016 The Robot Brood
author: Adrian Blue
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Monster's Mate Series: A Monster Romance Anthology]]> 123025518 Mating Season .

Between these pages you will find passionate stories of monsters and their beloved mates. Spanning from the settlement of the Deathfall Territory to the modern City of Deathfall, every story is different but the happily-ever-afters are assured. A lonely professor and her tentacled admirer, a battered runaway and her loving savior, and a temptress who finally frees the beast inside her stoic protector. Read all these tales and more.

Deathfall welcomes you.

This Book Contains the Following

Courted by Darkness
The Lake
Taken by the Scorpion
The Alley
Taken by the Bat
The Moth
The Beast in the Subway
The Fertile Harvest
The Bonekeeper’s Mate
To Tempt a Monster
The Widow and the Wolf]]> 639 Adrian Blue Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.10 2023 The Monster's Mate Series: A Monster Romance Anthology
author: Adrian Blue
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2)]]> 17849112 Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

]]> 320 Susan Ee 1477867287 Twyla Rae 5 4.09 2013 World After (Penryn & the End of Days, #2)
author: Susan Ee
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, refreshing-read, romance, up-all-night-read, will-read-again
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Soulbound (Return of the Elves, #1)]]> 30082999
Arlyn’s quest is simple: Find her father and let him know her mother is dead. After all, Arlyn had promised her mother she’d go. The problem? Her father's people are myths and legends, and he doesn't even live on Earth. But despite a long journey through the mysterious mists of the Veil, finding him turns out to be the easy part.

A dream long-buried

After five hundred years, Kai has given up on finding his soulbonded. So when he stumbles across Arlyn after returning from his latest mission and recognizes her as his mate, Kai starts their bond in haste. But he never could have imagined that his bonded is his best friend’s newfound daughter. Whoops.

A hidden conspiracy sparked to life

Though the sight of Kai makes Arlyn’s heart pound, she isn’t sure she can forgive him for starting their bond without her permission. But her love life is the least of her problems. Her father is an elf lord, and his sudden acknowledgment of a half-human heir reignites the same conspiracy that took him away from her mother in the first place. Now Arlyn and her family must face iron wielding assassins, bigotry, and her newly awakened magical abilities if they hope to come through in one piece.

Arlyn thought she would return to Earth after meeting her father. Now she must fight to save the family she never knew she wanted.]]> 387 Bethany Adams Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.84 2016 Soulbound (Return of the Elves, #1)
author: Bethany Adams
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2016
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/08/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Misfortune of Birth (Always Cambridge, #3)]]> 22392273
~
Holly Cambridge barely recognizes herself anymore. Pretending to be another person is beginning to wear thin. Disguised as Randi Yates, she entangles herself into the perilous life of the irresistible Victor Mayhue. But day by day, she falls more desperately and impossibly in love with her natural enemy. Together they explore a highly sexual, dark and dangerous relationship. The lines between right and wrong and good and evil, begin to blur. And while attempting to shield and protect Victor from the Feds and even his own family, Holly loses sight of her original goal.

Victor understands her more than anyone she’s ever met. Essentially they have lived the same life. He is her other half. But once he discovers who she really is and what she’s done, there will be no going back. Victor Mayhue is not a second chance kind of guy.

And in the end, one of them will be forced to face their true nature.]]> 247 H.K. Carlton 1771118512 Twyla Rae 5 4.34 Misfortune of Birth (Always Cambridge, #3)
author: H.K. Carlton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves: in-a-series, up-all-night-read, romance, steamy
review:

]]> Radiance (Wraith Kings, #1) 24473763 The Prince of no value
Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has lived content as the nonessential spare heir to a throne secured many times over. A trade and political alliance between the human kingdom of Gaur and the Kai kingdom of Bast-Haradis requires that he marry a Gauri woman to seal the treaty. Always a dutiful son, Brishen agrees to the marriage and discovers his bride is as ugly as he expected and more beautiful than he could have imagined.

The noblewoman of no importance
Ildiko, niece of the Gauri king, has always known her only worth to the royal family lay in a strategic marriage. Resigned to her fate, she is horrified to learn that her intended groom isn’t just a foreign aristocrat but the younger prince of a people neither familiar nor human. Bound to her new husband, Ildiko will leave behind all she’s known to embrace a man shrouded in darkness but with a soul forged by light.

Two people brought together by the trappings of duty and politics will discover they are destined for each other, even as the powers of a hostile kingdom scheme to tear them apart.]]> 297 Grace Draven Twyla Rae 5 3.98 2015 Radiance (Wraith Kings, #1)
author: Grace Draven
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/07/07
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, highly-recommend, in-a-series, refreshing-read, romance, steamy, up-all-night-read, will-read-again
review:

]]> Last Light 53153239
Now the last member of my family has died, and I'm forced to travel across what's left of three states to find the only people I know left alive. To survive, I'll have to salvage food and supplies and try to avoid violent men who've learned they can take what they want by force. The only way I'm going to make it is by trusting Travis.

Travis used to fix my car, and now he's all I have left in the world. He's gruff and stoic and unfriendly, and I don't really know or like him. But he's all I have left. He'll keep me safe. We'll take care of each other. Until we reach what's left of our town and can finally let go of one another.

Last Light is a standalone post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe.]]> 335 Claire Kent Twyla Rae 5 4.11 2019 Last Light
author: Claire Kent
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/04/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, #3)]]> 18500665 End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?]]> 345 Susan Ee Twyla Rae 5 4.05 2015 End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, #3)
author: Susan Ee
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/03/02
shelves: refreshing-read, romance, a-pleasant-surprise, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, up-all-night-read, will-read-again
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)]]> 15863832 288 Susan Ee 1611094259 Twyla Rae 5 4.04 2011 Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days, #1)
author: Susan Ee
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/03/01
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, refreshing-read, romance, will-read-again, up-all-night-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Babysitter of the Apocalypse: Prequel]]> 125247737 Vicki was a borderline alcoholic bartender who was only babysitting two little kids when the zombie apocalypse hit. She knew nothing about zombies and even less about caring for kids.

Zombies used to be something of science fiction horror, but they now control the world. Vicki does what she's done all her young life, keeps herself alive. Soon, she realizes she's one of the few left, but being alone isn't anything new for her.

When her neighbor pounds on her door and leaves her kids, Vicki realizes that the nightmare of the apocalypse had just started for her. As supplies dwindle and the dead start to fill the halls, she knows her apartment is no longer a safe place. And despite her hopes, the mother was never returning for her children and now she had to do what she could to keep them alive.

Leaving the apartment, the only plan Vicki has is to try for a safezone she heard about during the last live news report on her television. However, hiding from zombies isn't as easy as she thought, with a crying baby strapped to her a back and a five-year-old in tow.

Will Vicki be able to overcome the challenges she faces and get her young charges to somewhere safe? Or will they fall to feed the undead?

A tense prequel to the upcoming Babysitter of the Apocalypse series, that's full of dangers including zombies and not knowing how to deal with an opinionated five-year old. This is the second series written by best selling post-apocalypse author Courtney Konstantin. Don't miss the start of Vicki's survival adventure by one-clicking today!]]> 70 Courtney Konstantin Twyla Rae 5 4.28 Babysitter of the Apocalypse: Prequel
author: Courtney Konstantin
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/07
date added: 2024/01/07
shelves:
review:

]]> The Last Hour of Gann 18589656
Amber Bierce had nothing left except her sister and two tickets on Earth’s first colony-ship. She entered her Sleeper with a five-year contract and the promise of a better life, but awakened in wreckage on an unknown world. For the survivors, there is no rescue, no way home and no hope until they are found by Meoraq—a holy warrior more deadly than any hungering beast on this hostile new world…but whose eyes show a different sort of hunger when he looks at her.

It was his last year of freedom:

Uyane Meoraq is a Sword of Sheul, God’s own instrument of judgment, victor of hundreds of trials, with a conqueror’s rights over all men. Or at least he was until his father’s death. Now, without divine intervention, he will be forced to assume stewardship over House Uyane and lose the life he has always known. At the legendary temple of Xi’Matezh, Meoraq hopes to find the deliverance he seeks, but the humans he encounters on his pilgrimage may prove too great a test even for him…especially the one called Amber, behind whose monstrous appearance burns a woman’s heart unlike any he has ever known.]]> 706 R. Lee Smith Twyla Rae 5 4.10 2013 The Last Hour of Gann
author: R. Lee Smith
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2024/01/03
date added: 2024/01/03
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, i-have-to-own-this, on-the-darker-side, romance, refreshing-read, up-all-night-read, will-read-again, steamy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Would You Rather? Christmas Edition: Laugh-Out-Loud Holiday Game for Kids]]> 60834861 From the bestselling author of Would You Rather? Made You Think! Edition and Would You Rather? Family Challenge! Edition, a collection of funny, challenging Christmas-themed questions for "Would You Rather?"-loving kids.

Join Santa and his elves in a super-fun game of "Would You Rather?" with Christmas questions that will make you think and laugh out loud. Challenge family and friends to see who has the most holiday spirit!

Would You Rather? Christmas Edition


160+ "Would You Rather?" questions about Christmas presents, decorations, food, traditions, celebrations, and so much more. (Santa even has his own chapter!)
Creative challenges through either/or scenarios that make kids think outside the box, use their imagination, and pull together facts quickly.
Screen-free holiday time with entertaining and thought-provoking questions that give everybody a break from technology.
Rib-tickling fun that keeps everyone in the Christmas mood with silly questions; kids can make their answers even funnier!
A competitive game for kids who want to outsmart family members and friends with the most creative answer.
A Christmas bonding activity, perfect for family gatherings at holiday meals and on vacation from school.
Whether you're looking for a stocking stuffer or family fun around the Christmas tree, Would You Rather? Christmas Edition will provide hours of holiday enjoyment.
]]> 95 Lindsey Daly 0593435923 Twyla Rae 0 currently-reading 4.32 Would You Rather? Christmas Edition: Laugh-Out-Loud Holiday Game for Kids
author: Lindsey Daly
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/12/11
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Living in the Shadow of Death (Life After Death Day #1)]]> 199264769 284 Donna Augustine Twyla Rae 4 4.24 2023 Living in the Shadow of Death (Life After Death Day #1)
author: Donna Augustine
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/12/03
date added: 2023/12/03
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1)]]> 122779502
The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead.

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae.

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt.
And they are burned.

When my forbidden power is discovered, I’m forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore.

To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest.

Our deal is simple: I’ll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he’ll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I’ve always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival.

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love. Secrets that could tear this kingdom—and perhaps even this world—apart.

Please note: A Court This Cruel and Lovely is an NA/adult romantasy book with steam. While this series is slow burn, the chili pepper rating will increase for each book.]]> 562 Stacia Stark Twyla Rae 3 4.09 2023 A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1)
author: Stacia Stark
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/11/11
date added: 2023/11/11
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Convergence (The Intersolar Union Series #1)]]> 59832463
When she wakes up in a cell on an alien spacecraft, she gathers her strength for a confrontation that never materializes. Instead, the man asks for her help in the largest raid he's ever overseen: a pleasure cruiser christened the Paramour, which has been siphoning humans into galactic sex trafficking for months. But in order for his mission to go off without a hitch, he needs to impersonate a connoisseur of human flesh.

The real question is, will either of them be able to keep up professional boundaries? Or will they bow to their primal instincts?]]> 330 Etta Pierce Twyla Rae 4 4.25 2021 Convergence (The Intersolar Union Series #1)
author: Etta Pierce
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/21
date added: 2023/10/21
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Moving With the Sun (The Troop of Shadows Chronicles #3)]]> 39074007
Now it’s two years later...and you’re still alive.

So are two intriguing groups of survivors living in close proximity on the Florida coast. The first, a harmonious community of highly intelligent people who reside on a former island paradise; they are determined to create sustainable quality of life. The other, camping in a Costco warehouse on the nearby mainland, a ruthless tribe of organized raiders who will stop at nothing to provide for their own.

Not only must they endure hardships and hunger in their ravaged world, fate seems hell bent to crush them all as a monster hurricane seethes in the Atlantic.]]> 314 Nicki Huntsman Smith Twyla Rae 4 4.47 Moving With the Sun (The Troop of Shadows Chronicles #3)
author: Nicki Huntsman Smith
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/06
date added: 2023/10/06
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beauty and Dread (The Troop of Shadows Chronicles #2)]]> 32862597
The tiny population of Liberty, Kansas, has weathered disease, starvation, marauders from without, and dissension from within. Still, it is a shining star of hope in an otherwise bleak and desolate land. But a madman approaches with an army at his heels, spurred by blood-lust and fantasies of revenge. Will he prevail, usurping the town and murdering its citizens? How will this eclectic group of geniuses and misfits fight back?

Intricately plotted, superbly paced, and brought to life by fully-developed protagonists, quirky supporting characters, and charming villains, the Troop of Shadows Chronicles is a tour de force. It is the unfolding story of the greatest threat humankind has ever faced and is populated with some of the most entertaining people you will ever meet.]]> 366 Nicki Huntsman Smith Twyla Rae 4 4.47 Beauty and Dread (The Troop of Shadows Chronicles #2)
author: Nicki Huntsman Smith
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/10/03
date added: 2023/10/03
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Desolation (World of Anthrax #3)]]> 63281112
I escaped from the ravenous monsters when the dead refused to stay dead.

I ran for my life when a last-ditch effort to contain the spread of the infection did nothing but blast the last remaining survivors to smithereens.

Yet not all hope is lost.

Along the way, I made friends for life. Former enemies became allies. We’ve all become part of the Enclave—a survivor stronghold now home to thousands, among them women, children, and entire families. Together, we do everything to beat the odds.

But resources are running low. Cut off from energy, with barely enough food to see up to the end of the week, hunkering down and waiting for the zombie apocalypse to end is not an option.

Someone has to go out there and fight.

That someone is going to be me and my team—and those I still consider foe rather than friend. But we need to work together, or else none of us stand a chance to survive—another week, another day, another hour.]]> 418 Adrienne Lecter Twyla Rae 3 4.51 Desolation (World of Anthrax #3)
author: Adrienne Lecter
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.51
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/09/12
date added: 2023/09/12
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Collapse (World of Anthrax #2)]]> 62623804 I have survived the outbreak of the zombie apocalypse—but this is only the beginning of my fight for survival.

After getting out of firebombed Charlotte and running for their lives from the undead, Callie and Kas have finally found a group of survivors they can stay the Enclave. Joining forces was supposed to make life easier for them—until power cuts out and the group has to scramble, looking for ways to keep hundreds of families alive. But they are not the only ones out there hunting for scraps—and very soon they have to realize that the undead they escaped from are only the beginning of a much larger problem.

But there is hope on the horizon. Hope in the form of new friends but also old rivals.

Millions died and refused to stay dead—and now society as we know it is collapsing.

Who will live, who will die—and are the undead really the worst that is out there?]]> 406 Adrienne Lecter Twyla Rae 4 4.46 Collapse (World of Anthrax #2)
author: Adrienne Lecter
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/04
date added: 2023/09/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Cross Check (Ridder U Hockey #1)]]> 60240155 256 Lynn Stevens Twyla Rae 4 4 Jane Austen style hockey stars!

I'm a sucker for the sports romance genre. Even though IRL I'm not a fan of hockey. At all.

LOL. You'd think a Canadian gal like me would be all in for the sport. But it's Wyatt, the sexy and oh so sweet hero in Elora's life, that gives me every reason to show up at the rink in Cross Check.

I don't know if the author is a fan of Jane Austen's works, but they are what kept coming to mind as I read through the novel. To be clear, this isn't a contemporary retelling of an Austen novel. But the emotional push and pull between the main characters in Cross Check resembles much of what you'd find in Austen's works: a push and pull that is the result of past hurts and creates misunderstandings between two people who are drawn to each other almost instantly.

I didn't connect with Elora as much as I'd like to. At times I didn't understand her motivation. But the stellar ensemble of characters that Stevens wrote to revolve around her lessened my ambivalence toward her. They weren't one dimensional, and had just the right amount of flaws to make them realistic.

I loved that all of the characters made me react and feel depending on their actions. Like with real friends and family there were times I wanted to wrap them up in a big bear hug and other times when I wanted to shake some sense into them.

And (minor spoiler alert) when the bad guy is bad...he's really bad. I loved to hate him.

Most importantly, Wyatt made the romance real. He was like hot chocolate on a winter evening by the fire. He was warm, sweet and made me smile. No Alpha alert here. This guy is more like a warm protective blanket to go with the hot chocolate.

This is a gentler read than most sports romances I've read. It's not a steamy one, but it's definitely romance. The relationship between Elora and Wyatt is tender when it's physical, and for a love story in this genre I found that very refreshing.

The epilogue made me smile. It was sweet and perfectly written.

Now I'm looking forward to finding out if a particular roommate of Wyatt's will find love. Stevens' athletes have me looking forward to seeing what comes next for them.

Although this is hockey romance set in a cooler climate, I'd recommend this as a pleasant summer vacation read. I don't usually sip hot chocolate at the beach, but for time spent with Wyatt and his roommates I'd do just that.



This is a voluntary and honest review after receiving an ARC from the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ New Adult Book Club.

Merged review:

4 Jane Austen style hockey stars!

I'm a sucker for the sports romance genre. Even though IRL I'm not a fan of hockey. At all.

LOL. You'd think a Canadian gal like me would be all in for the sport. But it's Wyatt, the sexy and oh so sweet hero in Elora's life, that gives me every reason to show up at the rink in Cross Check.

I don't know if the author is a fan of Jane Austen's works, but they are what kept coming to mind as I read through the novel. To be clear, this isn't a contemporary retelling of an Austen novel. But the emotional push and pull between the main characters in Cross Check resembles much of what you'd find in Austen's works: a push and pull that is the result of past hurts and creates misunderstandings between two people who are drawn to each other almost instantly.

I didn't connect with Elora as much as I'd like to. At times I didn't understand her motivation. But the stellar ensemble of characters that Stevens wrote to revolve around her lessened my ambivalence toward her. They weren't one dimensional, and had just the right amount of flaws to make them realistic.

I loved that all of the characters made me react and feel depending on their actions. Like with real friends and family there were times I wanted to wrap them up in a big bear hug and other times when I wanted to shake some sense into them.

And (minor spoiler alert) when the bad guy is bad...he's really bad. I loved to hate him.

Most importantly, Wyatt made the romance real. He was like hot chocolate on a winter evening by the fire. He was warm, sweet and made me smile. No Alpha alert here. This guy is more like a warm protective blanket to go with the hot chocolate.

This is a gentler read than most sports romances I've read. It's not a steamy one, but it's definitely romance. The relationship between Elora and Wyatt is tender when it's physical, and for a love story in this genre I found that very refreshing.

The epilogue made me smile. It was sweet and perfectly written.

Now I'm looking forward to finding out if a particular roommate of Wyatt's will find love. Stevens' athletes have me looking forward to seeing what comes next for them.

Although this is hockey romance set in a cooler climate, I'd recommend this as a pleasant summer vacation read. I don't usually sip hot chocolate at the beach, but for time spent with Wyatt and his roommates I'd do just that.



This is a voluntary and honest review after receiving an ARC from the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ New Adult Book Club.]]> 3.90 Cross Check (Ridder U Hockey #1)
author: Lynn Stevens
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/05/20
date added: 2023/09/04
shelves:
review:
4 Jane Austen style hockey stars!

I'm a sucker for the sports romance genre. Even though IRL I'm not a fan of hockey. At all.

LOL. You'd think a Canadian gal like me would be all in for the sport. But it's Wyatt, the sexy and oh so sweet hero in Elora's life, that gives me every reason to show up at the rink in Cross Check.

I don't know if the author is a fan of Jane Austen's works, but they are what kept coming to mind as I read through the novel. To be clear, this isn't a contemporary retelling of an Austen novel. But the emotional push and pull between the main characters in Cross Check resembles much of what you'd find in Austen's works: a push and pull that is the result of past hurts and creates misunderstandings between two people who are drawn to each other almost instantly.

I didn't connect with Elora as much as I'd like to. At times I didn't understand her motivation. But the stellar ensemble of characters that Stevens wrote to revolve around her lessened my ambivalence toward her. They weren't one dimensional, and had just the right amount of flaws to make them realistic.

I loved that all of the characters made me react and feel depending on their actions. Like with real friends and family there were times I wanted to wrap them up in a big bear hug and other times when I wanted to shake some sense into them.

And (minor spoiler alert) when the bad guy is bad...he's really bad. I loved to hate him.

Most importantly, Wyatt made the romance real. He was like hot chocolate on a winter evening by the fire. He was warm, sweet and made me smile. No Alpha alert here. This guy is more like a warm protective blanket to go with the hot chocolate.

This is a gentler read than most sports romances I've read. It's not a steamy one, but it's definitely romance. The relationship between Elora and Wyatt is tender when it's physical, and for a love story in this genre I found that very refreshing.

The epilogue made me smile. It was sweet and perfectly written.

Now I'm looking forward to finding out if a particular roommate of Wyatt's will find love. Stevens' athletes have me looking forward to seeing what comes next for them.

Although this is hockey romance set in a cooler climate, I'd recommend this as a pleasant summer vacation read. I don't usually sip hot chocolate at the beach, but for time spent with Wyatt and his roommates I'd do just that.



This is a voluntary and honest review after receiving an ARC from the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ New Adult Book Club.

Merged review:

4 Jane Austen style hockey stars!

I'm a sucker for the sports romance genre. Even though IRL I'm not a fan of hockey. At all.

LOL. You'd think a Canadian gal like me would be all in for the sport. But it's Wyatt, the sexy and oh so sweet hero in Elora's life, that gives me every reason to show up at the rink in Cross Check.

I don't know if the author is a fan of Jane Austen's works, but they are what kept coming to mind as I read through the novel. To be clear, this isn't a contemporary retelling of an Austen novel. But the emotional push and pull between the main characters in Cross Check resembles much of what you'd find in Austen's works: a push and pull that is the result of past hurts and creates misunderstandings between two people who are drawn to each other almost instantly.

I didn't connect with Elora as much as I'd like to. At times I didn't understand her motivation. But the stellar ensemble of characters that Stevens wrote to revolve around her lessened my ambivalence toward her. They weren't one dimensional, and had just the right amount of flaws to make them realistic.

I loved that all of the characters made me react and feel depending on their actions. Like with real friends and family there were times I wanted to wrap them up in a big bear hug and other times when I wanted to shake some sense into them.

And (minor spoiler alert) when the bad guy is bad...he's really bad. I loved to hate him.

Most importantly, Wyatt made the romance real. He was like hot chocolate on a winter evening by the fire. He was warm, sweet and made me smile. No Alpha alert here. This guy is more like a warm protective blanket to go with the hot chocolate.

This is a gentler read than most sports romances I've read. It's not a steamy one, but it's definitely romance. The relationship between Elora and Wyatt is tender when it's physical, and for a love story in this genre I found that very refreshing.

The epilogue made me smile. It was sweet and perfectly written.

Now I'm looking forward to finding out if a particular roommate of Wyatt's will find love. Stevens' athletes have me looking forward to seeing what comes next for them.

Although this is hockey romance set in a cooler climate, I'd recommend this as a pleasant summer vacation read. I don't usually sip hot chocolate at the beach, but for time spent with Wyatt and his roommates I'd do just that.



This is a voluntary and honest review after receiving an ARC from the Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ New Adult Book Club.
]]> <![CDATA[Survival (World of Anthrax #1)]]> 61679698 I almost died. Virtually everyone else around me has died.
Now, the dead aren’t staying dead anymore.
I’ve somehow ended up locked in the very epicenter of the zombie apocalypse.
F*ck me.

Like most college students, all Callie Norton has worried about for weeks was passing this semester’s finals. After a night out celebrating, she and her friends wake up, sick with way more than the hangover of the century. All too soon, Callie realizes that this is not just a common cold she’s suffering from—and when she wakes up from a coma in a quarantine tent as the sole survivor, lack of food and water aren’t her only problems.

Things aren’t looking good for her to survive the next hour, let alone escape a city where most of the inhabitants have turned into crazed cannibals� and this is just the beginning.]]> 364 Adrienne Lecter Twyla Rae 3 4.23 Survival (World of Anthrax #1)
author: Adrienne Lecter
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.23
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/30
date added: 2023/08/30
shelves:
review:

]]> Susix (Susix, #1) 64414455 Being abducted by aliens is terrifying. Everything after that? Pretty boring.

Cece Levine didn’t believe in aliens. That is, right up until she was abducted. Life in space is not what she expected. She lives in a cage. She's left alone all the time. And the boredom is driving her insane.

That is until a snake man sets her free, and she decides he is her best bet for getting off this crazy planet. Unfortunately, he and his crew think she's an exotic pet. It's not too bad. She's fed, can walk around, and can spy on her new shipmates. They’re actually pretty fun to be around. When pirates attack her new home, Cece realizes her new 'friends' might be more dangerous than she thought.

With a Crown on the line, Vesex Forthusis will take any advantage he can to keep his Nest ahead of the rest. And alive. Although, that might be asking for too much.

Vesex Forthusis has no desire to be the Sovereign of Susurex. However, he will fight to the death to become the leader of his planet if it means his people will stop starving and can have a chance to thrive. All he has to do is find the Crown of Versetti, one of his people’s most valuable artifacts, and deliver it back home. Too bad it was stolen eons ago, and every bloodthirsty Susix in the galaxy is trying to steal it.

He and his nestmates will need to use every dirty trick they have to survive the journey. What they do not need is a stray pet running around distracting everyone. But when their ship gets ambushed, it becomes obvious that there is much more to their new pet than they initially thought.

Will Cece and this misfit crew of snake men be able to work past their differences to survive an onslaught of aliens with murder on their minds?

Author’s This is a slow-burn, why choose series...and by slow-burn, I mean glacial. There’s not much spice in this book, but some situations are intended for a mature audience. The smut doesn't arrive until book two.]]> 300 Amelia Rademaker Twyla Rae 5 4.31 2022 Susix (Susix, #1)
author: Amelia Rademaker
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/20
date added: 2023/08/20
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Carnal Games (The Carnal Continuum, #1)]]> 61261549

They will either kill each other or, worse...


Fall in love.


But only one can leave the arena alive.


In The Carnal Games, the rules are simple: fight, conquer, win. Above all else, entertain.

Warning: The Carnal Games contain dark themes, full-throttle sci-fi action, a hostile Lolita Island-style planet, political intrigue, and a slow-burn romance with a promised HEA.

Please preview the content warnings on the author's website for potential triggers.]]> 396 Naudii Nebula Twyla Rae 3 3.99 The Carnal Games (The Carnal Continuum, #1)
author: Naudii Nebula
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.99
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/19
date added: 2023/08/19
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Hope We Keep (Lost Light, #3)]]> 62610778
Don't miss the stunning conclusion to the Lost Light trilogy!

When massive solar flares strike the planet, a million tons of superheated plasma rips through the Earth’s atmosphere. As power grids fail across the Northern Hemisphere, the entire world balances on the brink of chaos.]]> 424 Kyla Stone 1945410965 Twyla Rae 3 3 stars. Where did all the testosterone come from?



I finished this latest instalment in the Lost Light series with a feeling of disappointment. Up until this novel, I have enjoyed the uniqueness of Stone's storytelling, and how she has blended genres so well in this series. She makes solving a mystery during the apocalypse just as suspenseful for her characters as their fight for survival after a global disaster plunges them into darkness.

Her characters are wonderful, and wonderfully brought together through pain and loss, love and redemption. Unfortunately, the character development halted in this third book. Burgeoning acceptance, forgiveness, redemption, and love, after painful pasts were the building blocks of every characters' growth in the past two novels. Striving for those things drove character dynamics as they became found family to each other.

The author swapped that development out for a different kind of bonding - brotherhood. There was a lot of testosterone in this novel. I learned more about weapons and how to use them against the bad guys, than I did about how to survive an apocalypse while the bad guys ran rampant. The apocalypse is tame compared to Stone's villains.

I don't want to give away spoilers. But, I did find that characters who deserved more time on the page weren't given that. Bonds between some characters happened too quickly. I would have liked to have seen more of an arc in those relationships. But those developments, as well as the changing post-apocalyptic landscape, were overshadowed by too much alpha male posturing and combat style violence.

How much bigger can the big guns get? How much more badass does Eli need to be?
A bigger mystery is solved which significantly impacted Shiloh and Lena. Now what happens to their character development? Will they both take a backseat to Eli and Jackson while the men tackle what appears to be an insurmountable foe?

There is a very huge plot hole, in my opinion, which could have wrapped up the bigger mystery a lot sooner than it did. Maybe Jackson was just too tired to follow some obvious leads?

Suspension of belief is a huge part of thoroughly enjoying fiction. But there were things that I just couldn't wrap my head around accepting in this third novel.

I am on the fence as to whether or not I'll read the next book. I hope the firefight to come doesn't overshadow the daily struggle for survival, and isn't completely testosterone fueled. I'd like to see Shiloh and Lena take a bigger role in saving the day in their own way.]]> 4.53 2023 The Hope We Keep (Lost Light, #3)
author: Kyla Stone
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/18
date added: 2023/08/19
shelves: fave-author, a-wild-emotional-ride, heart-in-my-throat, hope-in-darkness, in-a-series, mystery, post-apocalyptic, on-the-darker-side, light-romance
review:
3 stars. Where did all the testosterone come from?



I finished this latest instalment in the Lost Light series with a feeling of disappointment. Up until this novel, I have enjoyed the uniqueness of Stone's storytelling, and how she has blended genres so well in this series. She makes solving a mystery during the apocalypse just as suspenseful for her characters as their fight for survival after a global disaster plunges them into darkness.

Her characters are wonderful, and wonderfully brought together through pain and loss, love and redemption. Unfortunately, the character development halted in this third book. Burgeoning acceptance, forgiveness, redemption, and love, after painful pasts were the building blocks of every characters' growth in the past two novels. Striving for those things drove character dynamics as they became found family to each other.

The author swapped that development out for a different kind of bonding - brotherhood. There was a lot of testosterone in this novel. I learned more about weapons and how to use them against the bad guys, than I did about how to survive an apocalypse while the bad guys ran rampant. The apocalypse is tame compared to Stone's villains.

I don't want to give away spoilers. But, I did find that characters who deserved more time on the page weren't given that. Bonds between some characters happened too quickly. I would have liked to have seen more of an arc in those relationships. But those developments, as well as the changing post-apocalyptic landscape, were overshadowed by too much alpha male posturing and combat style violence.

How much bigger can the big guns get? How much more badass does Eli need to be?
A bigger mystery is solved which significantly impacted Shiloh and Lena. Now what happens to their character development? Will they both take a backseat to Eli and Jackson while the men tackle what appears to be an insurmountable foe?

There is a very huge plot hole, in my opinion, which could have wrapped up the bigger mystery a lot sooner than it did. Maybe Jackson was just too tired to follow some obvious leads?

Suspension of belief is a huge part of thoroughly enjoying fiction. But there were things that I just couldn't wrap my head around accepting in this third novel.

I am on the fence as to whether or not I'll read the next book. I hope the firefight to come doesn't overshadow the daily struggle for survival, and isn't completely testosterone fueled. I'd like to see Shiloh and Lena take a bigger role in saving the day in their own way.
]]> <![CDATA[The Dark We Seek (Lost Light, #2)]]> 60375055
After explosive solar flares strike Earth, half the planet goes dark. Store shelves gather dust, pharmacies run out of life-saving medications, and banks and gas stations shut their doors.

As tens of millions of people grapple with a new reality without power, a serial killer hunts in the chaos. Alger County Undersheriff Jackson Cross is determined to stop him, no matter the cost.

Torn between vengeance and a chance at redemption, ex-convict Eli Pope faces his greatest test, while Lena and Shiloh Easton struggle to survive in a world that grows deadlier by the day.

But nothing can prepare them for what comes next�

Set in the rural wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, The Dark We Seek is the riveting second installment in the CME/EMP survival series by USA bestselling author Kyla Stone.]]> 474 Kyla Stone Twyla Rae 5 4.45 2022 The Dark We Seek (Lost Light, #2)
author: Kyla Stone
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/15
date added: 2023/08/18
shelves: 2023-favorite-reads, a-pleasant-surprise, a-wild-emotional-ride, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, in-a-series, mystery, post-apocalyptic, survival, suspense, up-all-night-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Light We Lost (Lost Light, #1)]]> 57521023 The sun gives life. It is also capable of profound destruction.
With little warning, a solar super flare erupts from the sun. A billion tons of superheated plasma hurtles through space toward Earth�

When all lights fail, who will save you?
Thirteen-year-old Shiloh wakes with a dead body beside her, her brother missing, and no memory of what happened. As fiery northern lights blaze across the sky, she sets out into the night, determined to find him.

Haunted by the past, Undersheriff Jackson Cross vows to catch a vicious killer. But every clue he uncovers leads him further into a darkness he fears he cannot defeat.

Eli Pope has just been released from prison. Wrongly convicted of murder, the former Ranger has but one goal: exact vengeance upon those who betrayed him.

Meanwhile, Search-and-Rescue first responder Lena Easton begins a harrowing 1600-mile journey to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to find the children of the one person she couldn’t save.

As multiple solar storms strike Earth, transformers explode, the power grid fails, and communication networks collapse. Half the world goes dark, thrusting the planet into utter chaos.

With society crumbling around them, the survivors must fight not only for their lives, but for everything they hold dear--hope amid devastation, justice in the face of depravity, and ultimately, the perseverance of the human spirit against all odds.

The Light We Lost is a post-apocalyptic survival thriller exploring the destructive power of coronal mass ejections. This brand new series from USA Today Bestselling Author Kyla Stone features flawed characters and high-octane, nerve-shredding thrills.]]> 394 Kyla Stone 1945410728 Twyla Rae 5
Stone manages to expertly entwine both mystery and apocalyptic fiction with vividly evocative writing. Emotions run high, suspense will get your heart racing, and then your heart will hurt for the broken hearted in the novel.

The Light We Lost is brilliant storytelling. The mystery and intrigue sometimes overshadows the slow build up of events leading to the impending apocalypse. But, I think that's necessary. The characters, their individual struggles and motivations, need to be established before moving forward to the next novels in the series.

And as the novel winds to an end, and the apocalypse is in the present, the ensemble of characters aren't quite strangers to each other anymore. And there is a bigger mystery to be solved, that threatens their lives along with the end of life as they've known it. So the suspense is bigger, and our hearts are all that much more invested in the characters' survival.

I tend to read less mystery and more of the fast paced, dive-right-into-things-head-first, kind of apocalyptic stories that are a thrill ride almost from the start. So this felt like a slow burn, with the apocalypse as a backdrop for a while. I was surprised by how much I loved this story.

At least for this instalment as the first in the series, this novel is character driven, with the apocalypse taking a backseat. But, the two are now so intertwined, the suspense can only get that much more thrilling moving forward.

And then there's Shiloh. She is the glue that holds all of the characters together. Her story will tug at your heart strings and make you want to join her in being strong, wild, and free.]]> 4.42 2022 The Light We Lost (Lost Light, #1)
author: Kyla Stone
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/08/09
date added: 2023/08/10
shelves: 2023-favorite-reads, a-pleasant-surprise, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, in-a-series, mystery, post-apocalyptic, survival, suspense, up-all-night-read
review:
5 solid stars for packing a surprising and unexpected punch!

Stone manages to expertly entwine both mystery and apocalyptic fiction with vividly evocative writing. Emotions run high, suspense will get your heart racing, and then your heart will hurt for the broken hearted in the novel.

The Light We Lost is brilliant storytelling. The mystery and intrigue sometimes overshadows the slow build up of events leading to the impending apocalypse. But, I think that's necessary. The characters, their individual struggles and motivations, need to be established before moving forward to the next novels in the series.

And as the novel winds to an end, and the apocalypse is in the present, the ensemble of characters aren't quite strangers to each other anymore. And there is a bigger mystery to be solved, that threatens their lives along with the end of life as they've known it. So the suspense is bigger, and our hearts are all that much more invested in the characters' survival.

I tend to read less mystery and more of the fast paced, dive-right-into-things-head-first, kind of apocalyptic stories that are a thrill ride almost from the start. So this felt like a slow burn, with the apocalypse as a backdrop for a while. I was surprised by how much I loved this story.

At least for this instalment as the first in the series, this novel is character driven, with the apocalypse taking a backseat. But, the two are now so intertwined, the suspense can only get that much more thrilling moving forward.

And then there's Shiloh. She is the glue that holds all of the characters together. Her story will tug at your heart strings and make you want to join her in being strong, wild, and free.
]]> <![CDATA[My Ant Monster Mate (Iriduan Universe Love Stories Book 4)]]> 123054180 Yesenia

Hunting giant ant aliens is never an easy job, but the opportunity to capture a male Menops before he imprints on a queen is too good to pass up. Even if it means putting up with a mouthy Artificial Intelligence and traveling to a planet restricted by the Cosmic Syndicate. Vengeance for humanity—for my family—is too important to let any obstacle stand in my way.
But I’ve never confronted a male Menops before, and nothing about the encounter goes as planned.

Now, I know why the Cosmic Syndicate restricted access to this habitable world, and my only ally in the struggle to survive just so happens to be the enemy I came here to hunt. I should hate him, but the battle that brings us together is forging a bond between us that makes the growing heat I feel for him undeniable.

But can enemies who are so different in almost every way learn to forgive each other in order to fall in love?

***
This spin-off series is set in the Iriduan Test Subjects universe but has a lighter and more comedic tone. You don’t need to have read the Iriduan Test Subjects series to read this series, though there are occasional references to events and characters from that series. The books in this series are standalone and can be read out of order, though they do take place
Book 1: My Chameleon Mate
Book 2: My Foxy Mate
Book 3: My Primal Mate
Book 4: My Ant Monster Mate (this book)
Content warnings for all books can be found on author’s website.
]]> 326 Susan Trombley Twyla Rae 5 4.30 My Ant Monster Mate (Iriduan Universe Love Stories Book 4)
author: Susan Trombley
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.30
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/07/18
date added: 2023/07/18
shelves:
review:

]]> Puzzle House 184925447
The choice is leave the house with nothing or continue in the hope of solving the six interconnecting escape rooms within this house.

Once there, the participants soon discover Puzzle House is far deadlier than it appears, and that making their way through the rooms may be a matter of life and death. Someone is watching their every move, toying with them, turning them against each other. With their lives on the line, they are forced to wonder, is it all just a deadly game created by a gleeful sadist, or something far more sinister?]]> 225 Duncan Ralston Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.55 2023 Puzzle House
author: Duncan Ralston
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/07/14
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Death & Sparkles 56756223 368 Rob Justus 1797206362 Twyla Rae 5 3.65 Death & Sparkles
author: Rob Justus
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.65
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2023/07/14
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Taken by Fate (The Alpha Territories, #1)]]> 62982768
Actually, scratch that. I had planned the first bit. But I was supposed to be sold to the werewolves so I could save my friend from a fate worse than death. Instead, the bloodsuckers have me and so far? It's not going great. I've been shoved into a corset and made to look like an extra on the cast of Bridgerton, all to take part in the Harvest Games—think The Bachelor set in the 1800s, but the men are all vampires, and then add a decidedly terrifying Squid Games element to the mix.

No problem.

My goal—besides keeping the number of holes in my body to the current norm—is more than surviving. It is escaping the inescapable, finding my way to the werewolf territory, and getting Jordan back.

Cue the political strife.

Armed with nothing more than a super sharp hairpin, my questionable charm, and an irrational amount of optimism plans to get both me and my bestie out alive are in full swing.

Until the General of the Vampire Army and his molten eyes light me on fire and leave me wondering if escape is what I want after all.

Maybe one extra set of holes wouldn’t be the worst thing ever...]]> 347 Shannon Mayer Twyla Rae 5 4.21 2022 Taken by Fate (The Alpha Territories, #1)
author: Shannon Mayer
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/07/13
date added: 2023/07/13
shelves:
review:

]]> Synth (The Reborn, Book One) 124935552
Vampire—a taboo slur from childhood tales, reserved for degenerate Reborn and outcasts of society.

Dedicated officer of the law Valya Gorski strives to be an example of perfection within the Carneth Police Department. Granted the rare opportunity to join the Detective Unit, Gorski is determined to prove her worth. But when she is partnered with a ruthless senior detective known for pushing the limits and ruining his partners� careers, what Gorski uncovers shakes her to the core.

Her first investigation brings her face to face with a human—and he’s nothing like the ones at the farm. He’s taller. Smarter. Stronger. Angry. And more capable than Gorski could have ever imagined.

Confronted with the horrifying reality of how her society sustains itself, Gorski’s sense of duty and morality collide. As she races to determine who can be trusted, she must make an impossible decision: uphold the law or pursue a truth that leaves her wondering if her own people, the Reborn, are closer to the monsters from childhood folktales than she realized.

Unravel the truth in a world of deception with Synth, the dark detective novel with an imaginative fantasy twist. From the author that brought you the dystopian adventure Veles comes a page-turning tale of crime, romance, and betrayal that will leave you craving more!]]> 521 P.J. Marie 1778002838 Twyla Rae 4 4 Stars for an outstanding intro to a deeply thought provoking series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. "Thank you" to the author for the opportunity to discover a whole new take on a very familiar pop culture villain - the vampire. And for redefining the best and worst of them, by shaping them into the Reborn.

Readers, you are going to want to pick this book up to discover just how successfully the author has blended different genres and created mind bending, thought provoking storytelling.

This is a blend of mystery, thriller, urban fantasy, alternate history, and horror. The author expertly intertwines elements of all of those genres in this intro to the The Reborn series.

For me, the two genres that take front and center in Synth are mystery and horror.

The Reborn live in a world that uniquely mirrors our own contemporary human one. Interestingly, at a stage similar to the advancement of technology during the advent of the Internet.

In Synth, 'vampire' is a vulgar slur to the Reborn. So the reader will see very little of that word written on the pages unless uttered by characters behind closed doors.

Valya, the main character, is a Reborn. She is also a rookie detective assigned to solving murders, thefts, and break-ins. She even has the veteran partner who pushes her to her limits, and the demands of her job take a toll on her work-life balance. All of which are the 'norm' in life and mystery novels.

Synth reads at times like an alternate history. The Reborn live an eerily 'human' lifestyle and existence. And it's implied that historically there was a divergence between humans and Reborn. However, the history of the Reborn has yet to be fully uncovered.

I had moments where I pondered my own perceptions, wondering "what would our planet be like if we weren't the predominant sentient species"?

We humans fear creatures born in fiction. They hunt us on the pages of books and in our nightmares. And there are those of us that believe in the existence of supernatural beings capable of haunting us in the 'real' world.

In Synth, the Reborn don't mysteriously haunt humans, they farm us like livestock or hunt us as wildlife. It's blatant and bluntly laid out for us in the narrative, as most Reborn don't question that norm. The element of horror for the reader is in how candid and explicit the narrative is with regards to the human condition, which is revealed as Valya's perceptions of her own existence are shattered.

It's disturbing to have our own species brought to the level of thoughtless creatures meant for consumption. Until Valya meets a sentient and healthy human for the first time, that's all we see them as as well. It's quite frankly terrifying to ponder.

I feel like there should be a trigger warning added, with regards to abduction and captivity. It's more than implied that our human young are included in the farming process.

The reader watches the horror unfold as Valya gets to know the species that her own kind consume daily. It's an unnerving process, and key to a greater mystery that is the focal point of the entire Reborn series. It's fascinating as hell to read.

Thankfully, synth is an alternative for Valya's digestion. It's a synthetic version of human flesh and blood, which she chooses to consume. Think of the human equivalent of giving up meat in your diet. Considering how the thought of Valya not consuming humans as she gets to know her human friend actually carries weight, it's a very fitting title for the novel.

There is a potential for romance between Valya and her human friend. But, to be honest, the mystery and horror surrounding the narrative overshadow that. All things considered, I'm not sure that it works as a key element in the series. Valya's perceptions about humans are too newly shattered for her to pursue romantic involvement with one.

My feedback to the author would be to dial back on Valya's internal dialogue. It's lengthy and often redundant. She overthinks to the point where I would prefer that a lot of what she ruminates over be played out in a 'show don't tell' way.

It's natural for anyone real or fictional to have a unique thought process. But, it feels like 40% of the narrative in Synth is Valya's internal voice mulling over plans and expressing worries over the outcome of her choices.

There doesn't always have to be action. But I think the novel could be improved upon by turning that internal dialogue into external conversations and active engagement.

Bravo to the author for creating a world in Synth that is so refreshingly new. The writing is deeply thought provoking. This is on my Favourites list because this story has impact. As threads of the mystery unravel and revelations happen, both Valya and the reader share a journey of questioning perceptions.

I give this a solid 4 stars for a superb first book in a genre bending series.]]> 4.43 Synth (The Reborn, Book One)
author: P.J. Marie
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2023/07/12
shelves: 2023-favorite-reads, a-pleasant-surprise, arc-review, favourites, in-a-series, mystery, vampire
review:
4 Stars for an outstanding intro to a deeply thought provoking series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. "Thank you" to the author for the opportunity to discover a whole new take on a very familiar pop culture villain - the vampire. And for redefining the best and worst of them, by shaping them into the Reborn.

Readers, you are going to want to pick this book up to discover just how successfully the author has blended different genres and created mind bending, thought provoking storytelling.

This is a blend of mystery, thriller, urban fantasy, alternate history, and horror. The author expertly intertwines elements of all of those genres in this intro to the The Reborn series.

For me, the two genres that take front and center in Synth are mystery and horror.

The Reborn live in a world that uniquely mirrors our own contemporary human one. Interestingly, at a stage similar to the advancement of technology during the advent of the Internet.

In Synth, 'vampire' is a vulgar slur to the Reborn. So the reader will see very little of that word written on the pages unless uttered by characters behind closed doors.

Valya, the main character, is a Reborn. She is also a rookie detective assigned to solving murders, thefts, and break-ins. She even has the veteran partner who pushes her to her limits, and the demands of her job take a toll on her work-life balance. All of which are the 'norm' in life and mystery novels.

Synth reads at times like an alternate history. The Reborn live an eerily 'human' lifestyle and existence. And it's implied that historically there was a divergence between humans and Reborn. However, the history of the Reborn has yet to be fully uncovered.

I had moments where I pondered my own perceptions, wondering "what would our planet be like if we weren't the predominant sentient species"?

We humans fear creatures born in fiction. They hunt us on the pages of books and in our nightmares. And there are those of us that believe in the existence of supernatural beings capable of haunting us in the 'real' world.

In Synth, the Reborn don't mysteriously haunt humans, they farm us like livestock or hunt us as wildlife. It's blatant and bluntly laid out for us in the narrative, as most Reborn don't question that norm. The element of horror for the reader is in how candid and explicit the narrative is with regards to the human condition, which is revealed as Valya's perceptions of her own existence are shattered.

It's disturbing to have our own species brought to the level of thoughtless creatures meant for consumption. Until Valya meets a sentient and healthy human for the first time, that's all we see them as as well. It's quite frankly terrifying to ponder.

I feel like there should be a trigger warning added, with regards to abduction and captivity. It's more than implied that our human young are included in the farming process.

The reader watches the horror unfold as Valya gets to know the species that her own kind consume daily. It's an unnerving process, and key to a greater mystery that is the focal point of the entire Reborn series. It's fascinating as hell to read.

Thankfully, synth is an alternative for Valya's digestion. It's a synthetic version of human flesh and blood, which she chooses to consume. Think of the human equivalent of giving up meat in your diet. Considering how the thought of Valya not consuming humans as she gets to know her human friend actually carries weight, it's a very fitting title for the novel.

There is a potential for romance between Valya and her human friend. But, to be honest, the mystery and horror surrounding the narrative overshadow that. All things considered, I'm not sure that it works as a key element in the series. Valya's perceptions about humans are too newly shattered for her to pursue romantic involvement with one.

My feedback to the author would be to dial back on Valya's internal dialogue. It's lengthy and often redundant. She overthinks to the point where I would prefer that a lot of what she ruminates over be played out in a 'show don't tell' way.

It's natural for anyone real or fictional to have a unique thought process. But, it feels like 40% of the narrative in Synth is Valya's internal voice mulling over plans and expressing worries over the outcome of her choices.

There doesn't always have to be action. But I think the novel could be improved upon by turning that internal dialogue into external conversations and active engagement.

Bravo to the author for creating a world in Synth that is so refreshingly new. The writing is deeply thought provoking. This is on my Favourites list because this story has impact. As threads of the mystery unravel and revelations happen, both Valya and the reader share a journey of questioning perceptions.

I give this a solid 4 stars for a superb first book in a genre bending series.
]]> <![CDATA[There's No Place Like Oz (Vicious Wonders, #2)]]> 63947199
I was perfectly single and content up until the wild winds brought me to this strange world of Oz. Suddenly I'm a hero who killed a wicked witch, and my dog, Toto, is startlingly human: a tall, gorgeous, dark-haired one at that, who's ready to ruthlessly protect me from all of the strange creatures along the Yellow Brick Road.

Then the scarcrow showed up, a so called tin man, and a "lion." They all want something from me, and I don't know if I can give it to them. Not with the Wicked Witch of the West hot on my ruby red heels. My only hope is that this Wizard everyone keeps talking about will break all of our curses. If he doesn't, I may just have to take matters into my own hands, Then they'll all be sorry.

At least I;ll be getting some cute shoes out of it.

There's No Place Like Oz is a reimagining of Wizard of Oz with a reverse harem twist. This darker, grittier version of a classic tale will keep you as on edge as our heroine, with touches of horror and lots of heat amidst the twisted romance. You'll love it if you prefer your enemies to lovers and your friends to lovers romances with multiple possessive, morally gray love interests who love to put their "good girl" to the test.]]> 389 Leann Belle Twyla Rae 5 5 solid stars! Shockingly titillating, and oh so satisfying.

Leann Belle gave me something for my fantasies that I didn't know I needed. I want an unfeeling, devoted man like Crowe. Don't judge me for enjoying the depravity that is the land of Oz.
The author is masterfully wicked.



Trigger warnings. There are many potential triggers. There is dubcon, gore, blood, torture, and hardcore sexual content that isn't for everyone. Dorothy frankly states that her men are "hot psychopaths with trauma".

This is bizarre and brutal dark fantasy. Yet, it is completely captivating, pulling you in chapter by chapter toward all four directions of Oz. You can't unsee what you've seen on Dorothy's quest.

"We were all broken and vicious things in this twisted world of Oz."

The unique broken nature of each character is ingenious writing. I didn't expect to become so emotionally invested in the outcome of their individual journeys. As dark as this novel is, the author writes beautifully crafted three dimensional characters that quickly become beloved by the reader.

This novel has everything I expected in an erotic reverse harem, and more. There is so much depth in the author's descriptive writing. Travelling the yellow brick road is a blend of ongoing foreplay and significant world building.

I don't want to give away spoilers. This book is full of delightful (and sometimes shocking) surprises as the author reveals alternative identities for the familiar characters from the original Wizard of Oz universe. There's No Place Like Oz is a drastically different erotic reworking of the PG friendly version we all grew up with.

I thoroughly enjoyed (and squealed over) the anticipation of wondering what the author's versions of the well loved Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Toto would be, as they were revealed one by one. I know all four men will captivate your heart...if you are as bizarrely drawn to sinfully twisted and mysterious characters as I apparently am.

I hugged my kindle and shed a tear. All while grinning ear to ear.

It's only a short way into the novel that the jarring reality of Oz makes itself known. I think specifically when Dorothy meets Crowe. (That's all I'll reveal). The author did a masterful job of choosing that moment for the reader to decide whether or not to step onto the yellow brick road with Dorothy.

For me, it was like a dousing of ice cold water that quickly became a sizzling warmth that worked its way into every intimate part of my body. I had to keep walking alongside Dorothy.

Leann Belle writes with a frankness that might read like a slap in the face to some. But it left me thankful for the jarring reality check that is her version of Oz.

I look forward to more Vicious Wonders.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]]> 4.18 2023 There's No Place Like Oz (Vicious Wonders, #2)
author: Leann Belle
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2023/06/21
shelves: 2023-favorite-reads, a-wild-emotional-ride, arc-review, brilliant-writing, retellings, reverse-harem, panty-melting, on-the-darker-side, i-have-to-own-this, highly-recommend, steamy, triggers-disclaimer, unapologetic-5-stars, up-all-night-read, fave-author, favourites
review:
5 solid stars! Shockingly titillating, and oh so satisfying.

Leann Belle gave me something for my fantasies that I didn't know I needed. I want an unfeeling, devoted man like Crowe. Don't judge me for enjoying the depravity that is the land of Oz.
The author is masterfully wicked.



Trigger warnings. There are many potential triggers. There is dubcon, gore, blood, torture, and hardcore sexual content that isn't for everyone. Dorothy frankly states that her men are "hot psychopaths with trauma".

This is bizarre and brutal dark fantasy. Yet, it is completely captivating, pulling you in chapter by chapter toward all four directions of Oz. You can't unsee what you've seen on Dorothy's quest.

"We were all broken and vicious things in this twisted world of Oz."

The unique broken nature of each character is ingenious writing. I didn't expect to become so emotionally invested in the outcome of their individual journeys. As dark as this novel is, the author writes beautifully crafted three dimensional characters that quickly become beloved by the reader.

This novel has everything I expected in an erotic reverse harem, and more. There is so much depth in the author's descriptive writing. Travelling the yellow brick road is a blend of ongoing foreplay and significant world building.

I don't want to give away spoilers. This book is full of delightful (and sometimes shocking) surprises as the author reveals alternative identities for the familiar characters from the original Wizard of Oz universe. There's No Place Like Oz is a drastically different erotic reworking of the PG friendly version we all grew up with.

I thoroughly enjoyed (and squealed over) the anticipation of wondering what the author's versions of the well loved Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Toto would be, as they were revealed one by one. I know all four men will captivate your heart...if you are as bizarrely drawn to sinfully twisted and mysterious characters as I apparently am.

I hugged my kindle and shed a tear. All while grinning ear to ear.

It's only a short way into the novel that the jarring reality of Oz makes itself known. I think specifically when Dorothy meets Crowe. (That's all I'll reveal). The author did a masterful job of choosing that moment for the reader to decide whether or not to step onto the yellow brick road with Dorothy.

For me, it was like a dousing of ice cold water that quickly became a sizzling warmth that worked its way into every intimate part of my body. I had to keep walking alongside Dorothy.

Leann Belle writes with a frankness that might read like a slap in the face to some. But it left me thankful for the jarring reality check that is her version of Oz.

I look forward to more Vicious Wonders.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
]]> <![CDATA[Demon Chase (A Monstrous Dread #1)]]> 164480088
Jillian and her brother see what others can' monsters lurking in plain sight. Their life? A high-stakes game of cat and mouse, with evil itself breathing down their neck, relentless in its chase.

But the darkness doesn't end there. An array of grotesque creatures, having breached our world ages ago, join the hunt, each one eager to extinguish the light of those who see them. Facing insurmountable odds, they must forsake the life they once knew, venturing into the unknown in search of strength and sanctuary—a place to shield them from the malevolent eyes of the pursuers and grow into warriors.

Their extraordinary curse reveals more than monsters among us. It pulls back the veil to a darker world where a sinister hierarchy reigns, led by the most dangerous of Demons.

Demon Chase isn’t just a survival story. It is about reclaiming life from the clutches of darkness.]]> 299 Nicki Huntsman Smith Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.34 Demon Chase (A Monstrous Dread #1)
author: Nicki Huntsman Smith
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.34
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/06/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[In the Dust (Endless Desert #1)]]> 60883679
Nyx is completely alone, scavenging the ruins of humanity to get by. With her brother suddenly missing, the only people she can trust are herself and her busted up Bronco. Scavenging earns her enough water credits to stay alive, but with no margin for error. When a stroke of unexpected luck sends her back to the nearest tent city to trade for more water credits, she gets snatched.

The gang leaders of the city give her two options. Die on the spot, or undertake a dangerous mission out into the Wastes. With news of her brother on the line, she'll have to decide if blood is still thicker than water.]]> 371 K.A. Gandy Twyla Rae 4 The ending makes up for every flaw in this sometimes dry tale.

In The Dust is a solid story in structure, and deserves praise for a unique concept. It gets 4 stars for the post-apocalyptic world Gandy created for the reader, and the distinctive voices of her characters. And then there is the ending. It's an unexpected, jaw dropping twist that expertly leaves the reader wanting more.

I think the real protagonist is the planet itself. Much of Earth has been decimated by meteorite impact, and the resulting fallout has created a struggle to stay alive. As time passes, water becomes scarce and sand dunes swallow evidence of human occupation. I feel slightly more for Earth's plight than I do Nyx's struggles.

Somehow, no matter how much thirst is a threat to Nyx, or her quest for her brother brings her to the brink of her own extinction, something miraculously wonderful just happens to save her. And whereas most people who walk down dark alleys in post-apocalyptic worlds don't emerge into the light unscathed, somehow Nyx comes through it as the darling of the desert.

If In The Dust was a video game, the player would probably get major points for every time Nyx returns from the desert and levels up on power for her Bronco, and her capacity to carry water. It seems she gains new life for each dangerous quest she fulfills.

If meteorites large enough to destroy Europe upended Nyx's world, I think they also would have created a far more gritty (no pun intended) and unforgiving landscape necessary to this kind of post-apocalyptic narrative. There could have been better character development, depicting the ugly truth of knowingly living day to day with certain death just a few miles away from a water source. I think that a touch more madness and desperation would have made redemptive moments more meaningful.

Earth is dying and she's taking humans down into the sand with her. That's a harsh and devastating reality, and I wanted the characters to show a little more evident fear of it.

The dynamics between characters, especially in situations that should call forth heightened emotions or visceral responses, succeeded only in falling flat, making in-your-face encounters dangerously close to being superficial interactions. It was fun to read, but I think Gandy could have expanded on her descriptiveness making In the Dust a more gripping read.

I felt Nyx's drive to find her missing brother through her search, but every time she avoided shedding tears her character lost a small measure of depth, and became closed off to the reader.

Also of note is the lack of clarity in the narrative on the timeline between the beginning of Earth's destruction and the current collapse of civilization. Sometimes it's alluded to that the downfall happened over just a century, when other times it's mentioned that it was centuries (plural) in the distant past. And then there is the fact that Nyx and her companions know that some of civilization escaped to space. Now THAT is a part of the story I want to know much more about!

Because I want to know more about how some humans ended up in space at the start of the apocalypse, and because the ending of In The Dust did bait me, I'm going to read the second book in the series.]]> 4.31 In the Dust (Endless Desert #1)
author: K.A. Gandy
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/05/30
date added: 2023/06/05
shelves: dystopian, hope-in-darkness, in-a-series, light-romance, post-apocalyptic, survival
review:
The ending makes up for every flaw in this sometimes dry tale.

In The Dust is a solid story in structure, and deserves praise for a unique concept. It gets 4 stars for the post-apocalyptic world Gandy created for the reader, and the distinctive voices of her characters. And then there is the ending. It's an unexpected, jaw dropping twist that expertly leaves the reader wanting more.

I think the real protagonist is the planet itself. Much of Earth has been decimated by meteorite impact, and the resulting fallout has created a struggle to stay alive. As time passes, water becomes scarce and sand dunes swallow evidence of human occupation. I feel slightly more for Earth's plight than I do Nyx's struggles.

Somehow, no matter how much thirst is a threat to Nyx, or her quest for her brother brings her to the brink of her own extinction, something miraculously wonderful just happens to save her. And whereas most people who walk down dark alleys in post-apocalyptic worlds don't emerge into the light unscathed, somehow Nyx comes through it as the darling of the desert.

If In The Dust was a video game, the player would probably get major points for every time Nyx returns from the desert and levels up on power for her Bronco, and her capacity to carry water. It seems she gains new life for each dangerous quest she fulfills.

If meteorites large enough to destroy Europe upended Nyx's world, I think they also would have created a far more gritty (no pun intended) and unforgiving landscape necessary to this kind of post-apocalyptic narrative. There could have been better character development, depicting the ugly truth of knowingly living day to day with certain death just a few miles away from a water source. I think that a touch more madness and desperation would have made redemptive moments more meaningful.

Earth is dying and she's taking humans down into the sand with her. That's a harsh and devastating reality, and I wanted the characters to show a little more evident fear of it.

The dynamics between characters, especially in situations that should call forth heightened emotions or visceral responses, succeeded only in falling flat, making in-your-face encounters dangerously close to being superficial interactions. It was fun to read, but I think Gandy could have expanded on her descriptiveness making In the Dust a more gripping read.

I felt Nyx's drive to find her missing brother through her search, but every time she avoided shedding tears her character lost a small measure of depth, and became closed off to the reader.

Also of note is the lack of clarity in the narrative on the timeline between the beginning of Earth's destruction and the current collapse of civilization. Sometimes it's alluded to that the downfall happened over just a century, when other times it's mentioned that it was centuries (plural) in the distant past. And then there is the fact that Nyx and her companions know that some of civilization escaped to space. Now THAT is a part of the story I want to know much more about!

Because I want to know more about how some humans ended up in space at the start of the apocalypse, and because the ending of In The Dust did bait me, I'm going to read the second book in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Harvest Day (The Sovereign Code, #1)]]> 63230124 Humans saved bees from extinction...
and created the deadliest threat we've seen yet

The loss of bees was heralded as the sixth wave of extinction. Economies crashed. Ecosystems collapsed. Wars were waged as countless starved. Luckily, humans were able to alter bees' genetic code to deal with the hazards of pesticides and disease.

Inadvertently making their venom fatal to humans.

River grew up in the Green Zone, a haven for those who are Immune. Bees are free to fly, pollinating their prolific crops. Echo was raised in the Dead Zone where bees are exterminated so vulnerable humans like her can live. Stealing from the heavily guarded Green Zone is a necessary part of survival.

River and Echo are both in their seventeenth year. They're both about to have their immunity tested. And they're both about to have their futures forever altered.

Ultimately, they're about to become part of the final fight for human survival. Are bees really the enemy they need to defeat? Or is mankind a far greater threat...]]> 316 Tamar Sloan Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.07 Harvest Day (The Sovereign Code, #1)
author: Tamar Sloan
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/05/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows, #1)]]> 58175788 Free the crows, Fallon, and they will make you queen.

Until an oracle predicted my regal future, I’d never imagined myself rising above the curve of my round ears. After all, I was the magicless halfling loved by beasts but loathed by every pure-blooded faerie at court. Well... by all but one.

Dante Regio, prince of Luce, had owned my heart since he gave me my first kiss. If gathering a slew of iron relics could help me overthrow the current monarch and crown his brother to rule at my side, then treasure hunting I’d go.

If only the oracle had warned me what winged demon I was releasing into the world.

And that I’d become this demon’s obsession.

Fans of Sarah J. Maas and Mary E. Pearson will devour this epic fantasy romance full of deceit, betrayal, and false loves that could swallow a person whole.]]> 490 Olivia Wildenstein 1948463555 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.95 2022 House of Beating Wings (The Kingdom of Crows, #1)
author: Olivia Wildenstein
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/05/19
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Trapped on Predator Planet (Predator Planet #4)]]> 124947836 If you love a predator, you’ll always be his prey.

I woke up in a green hell.

Specifically, a bog that VELMA tells me not even the burly alien hunters of this planet would willingly traverse. I’ve been trapped here for two weeks, am almost out of food, and completely out of hope. And then I heard his voice. He was coming for me. My AI told me all about the other humans and their fated mates of the heart, but it wouldn't matter if he was my so-called "heart mate" pretty soon. Because would I even be alive by the time he found me?

Dive into the fourth book of Predator Planet today, and discover Joan and Raxkarax as they meet over comms and fight to survive the Agothe Fatheza of Predator Planet.]]> 373 Vicky L. Holt Twyla Rae 5 4.44 Trapped on Predator Planet (Predator Planet #4)
author: Vicky L. Holt
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/17
date added: 2023/05/17
shelves:
review:

]]> Instauration (The City, #3) 42073408
Sylvie, Eric, and the other survivors have crossed the water to the security of a new Safe Zone, where they hope to heal their battered hearts, amass an armory, and get back at the ones who took it all away. But with zombies on the move and few resources to speak of, it’s harder than expected to plot their revenge. For some, it’s harder still to garner their resolve, since vengeance means more of them will die.

But safety is ephemeral in a city where food is short and tensions are high. It seems fate may leave them no choice but to fight—and perhaps die—to restore their city to a place they can call home.]]> 807 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.69 2018 Instauration (The City, #3)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2019/02/07
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves:
review:

]]> Peripeteia (The City, #2) 35709033 From the universe of the Until the End of the World series
Book two of The City Series is here!
(Note: The City Series can be read before or after the Until the End of the World series)

Months into the apocalypse, the zombies show no signs of dying, but it’s clear everyone in Sunset Park will die without enough food to outlast the undead. Add in the less-than-sociable new neighbors only blocks away, and the hunt for sustenance has come to feel more like a race than a ramble.

Sylvie is happy in her new home with the people who’ve become like family, though she’s still working out how to let them into her heart. Eric wants in, and he wants to find his sister, but he can’t do both at the same time. If he can do the second one at all—getting into the city was hard enough, getting out may prove impossible.

Despite setbacks—and a couple million zombies—it seems fortune is working in their favor. After all, food, security, and family are extraordinary when just being alive is a notable accomplishment. But fortune can turn on a dime, and all it takes is one misstep.
]]> 545 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.57 2017 Peripeteia (The City, #2)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/23
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: a-wild-emotional-ride, 2019-favorite-reads, favourites, fave-author, heart-in-my-throat, highly-recommend, hope-in-darkness, in-a-series, i-have-to-own-this, post-apocalyptic, romance, survival, up-all-night-read, zombies-rule, brilliant-writing, suspense
review:

]]> Mordacious (The City, #1) 30367410 From the universe of the Until the End of the World series
(Note: The City Series can be read before or after the Until the End of the World series)

Sylvie Rossi has the loner thing down pat, with the exception of her best friend, Grace. But when the two are trapped in a hospital during the last gasp of a dying city, alone time is no longer an option. A nurse’s offer of sanctuary promises Sylvie the supplies she needs to survive the zombies–it’s the coexisting with people that might do her in.

Eric Forrest will do whatever it takes to get into the dead city for his sister, including ending up dead himself. He’s used to taking risks, but with every mile he travels death looks likelier and likelier, and finding his sister may be his only prospect for survival—if he can make it home.

Sylvie doesn’t need more than food, water and shelter. Eric wants only to find his sister. But sometimes what we think we need isn’t what we need at all, and what we find is more than we expected.]]> 525 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.49 2016 Mordacious (The City, #1)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/17
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: a-wild-emotional-ride, 2019-favorite-reads, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, highly-recommend, hope-in-darkness, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, romance, survival, up-all-night-read, zombies-rule, post-apocalyptic, brilliant-writing, suspense
review:

]]> World Between (Cascadia, #2) 59809478 Trapped in the fairgrounds by zombies and circumstance, it’s impossible to move out—and tough to move on.

Whether romantic or platonic, changing relationships prove tricky for Rose, Tom, Clara, and Craig—never mind adapting to the new not-so-normal. Being surrounded by the undead is bad enough, but with a tyrant-in-training running their Safe Zone, it’s that much worse.

Still, it’s better than being eaten alive. And when the biggest threats are removed, it seems life with zombies is on the upswing. But there’s no margin for error in the world between—and sometimes the smallest threat proves most lethal.]]> 486 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.57 World Between (Cascadia, #2)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.57
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/15
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves:
review:

]]> World Departed (Cascadia, #1) 51871748
From the Until the End of the World and City Series universe comes the story of the virus on the West Coast. Where the end of the world is only the beginning�

Rose Winter has enough problems. With a marriage going down the tubes and a dreaded anniversary party on the horizon, the last thing she needs is the zombie apocalypse. She wanted to get drunk and sing karaoke, not murder her undead neighbors. It’s clear the party’s over, however, and now Rose has more problems—a missing husband, an overbearing houseguest, and keeping her family alive.

Tom Jensen has inflexible rules. Rule number one? Don’t deviate from the plan. But when his life is overturned in the space of minutes, his plans die along with everything else. The world is finished, the future is uncertain, and survival means living in the last place he’d planned to be. Maybe his rules weren’t meant to be broken, but if he can’t change his tune, he risks losing the one thing he has left—his daughter.

Craig Matthews has a get to Oregon. Doable, maybe, if he could bring himself to leave his apartment. With his food and water near gone and death closer than ever, a chance encounter may lead to finding his friends—if he can first find his courage.

Unfortunately, the new world doesn’t always mean leaving old problems behind, and as the West Coast succumbs to the virus, the survivors face more than the undead—they face themselves. But in an existence where fences offer dubious safety and zombies certain danger, people may save you in more ways than one.]]> 712 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.66 World Departed (Cascadia, #1)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.66
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/12
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[All the Stars in the Sky (Until the End of the World, #3)]]> 23466036
The books, in order:
Until the End of the World (Book 1)
So Long, Lollipops (Book 1.5)
And After (Book 2)

All the Stars in the Sky:

Cassie Forrest has sworn she’ll never let the world get the best of her again.
She’s chosen to believe everything will be all right.

But on a journey filled with heartbreak and madness and zombies, Cassie and her friends must struggle to stay alive—and it’s hard to believe in a future when survival seems unlikely.]]> 349 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.54 2015 All the Stars in the Sky (Until the End of the World, #3)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.54
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/10
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: a-wild-emotional-ride, 2019-favorite-reads, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, highly-recommend, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, post-apocalyptic, romance, hope-in-darkness, survival, suspense, up-all-night-read, zombies-rule, slow-burn-romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[And After (Until the End of the World, #2)]]> 22080473
When Safe Zones throughout the country begin to disappear and the zombies at the fences grow in number, Cassie clings to the hope that if she has the people she loves most, it will be all right. But the highly imperfect world makes only one guarantee—zombies never die, never stop and are never satiated.]]> 353 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.43 2014 And After (Until the End of the World, #2)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/07
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: 2019-favorite-reads, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, highly-recommend, hope-in-darkness, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, packs-a-punch, post-apocalyptic, slow-burn-romance, survival, suspense, up-all-night-read, zombies-rule, a-wild-emotional-ride, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[So Long, Lollipops (Until the End of the World, #1.5)]]> 20911445 This novella contains major spoilers from the novel UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD.
It’s suggested you read the novel before you read SO LONG, LOLLIPOPS. Unless you’re someone who likes to read the last page of a book first—in that case, enjoy!

SO LONG, LOLLIPOPS description below
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Peter watched his new family drive away, certain it was the last time he’d ever see them. But sometimes plans go awry in the best way.

Now, the plan is to get back to them. But sometimes plans go awry in the worst way.

Sometimes the only plan is to believe it will be all right, even when it’s almost impossible to believe.
]]> 90 Sarah Lyons Fleming Twyla Rae 5 4.29 2014 So Long, Lollipops (Until the End of the World, #1.5)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2014
rating: 5
read at: 2023/05/02
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: 2019-favorite-reads, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, highly-recommend, hope-in-darkness, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, post-apocalyptic, packs-a-punch, slow-burn-romance, survival, suspense, up-all-night-read, zombies-rule, a-wild-emotional-ride, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Until the End of the World (Until the End of the World, #1)]]> 18586621
This is difficult enough, but Cassie’s tag along ex-boyfriend and her friend’s bratty sister have a knack for making everything, even the apocalypse, more unpleasant. When the two attract a threat as deadly as the undead to their safe haven, Cassie’s forced to see how far she’ll go to protect those she loves. And it’s a lot farther than she’d anticipated. This, coupled with Adrian’s distant voice on Safe Zone Radio and, of course, the living dead, threaten to put Cassie right back into the funk she just dragged herself out of.

Survival’s great and all, especially when you have leather armor, good friends and home-brewed beer, but there’s something Cassie must do besides survive: tell Adrian she still loves him. And to do that, Cassie has to find faith that she’s stronger than she thinks, she’s still a crack shot and true love never dies.]]> 400 Sarah Lyons Fleming 1491054492 Twyla Rae 5 4.23 2013 Until the End of the World (Until the End of the World, #1)
author: Sarah Lyons Fleming
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/28
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: a-wild-emotional-ride, 2019-favorite-reads, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, heart-in-my-throat, highly-recommend, hope-in-darkness, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, packs-a-punch, post-apocalyptic, slow-burn-romance, survival, up-all-night-read, zombies-rule, suspense, romance
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)]]> 13581917
But if she fails, humanity faces extinction…]]> 375 Rhiannon Frater 1475206313 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.02 2012 The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)
author: Rhiannon Frater
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/05/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hounded on Predator Planet (Predator Planet #3)]]> 65146737 When I found out my best friend was mated to an alien, I had questions.

My best friend was what now? Just no. Crashing onto this hellscape jungle planet was bad enough. Not to mention the near-miss to my femoral artery or the tentacled lake beast or the woman-eating tree. But to discover the alien locals were mating with hapless humans was a bridge too far! Once my trusty A.I. sidekick explained what was up and that they were called "heart mates", I knew I had to find Pattee Crow Flies and make sure she wasn’t brainwashed. Just as soon as I could catch my breath. Because damn, my leg hurt, and I was so tired. If it wasn’t for my alien doggo friend, I’d probably be dead by now. And then one of those alien locals introduced himself as my heart mate?

Aw, hell no.

Did I have to fall in love in order to live?

Laugh your way through Amity and Natheka’s romance as they navigate the treacherous waters of new love on Predator Planet and join the first two couples on their epic quest to thrive on Certain Death.]]> 380 Vicky L. Holt Twyla Rae 5 4.46 Hounded on Predator Planet (Predator Planet #3)
author: Vicky L. Holt
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.46
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/20
date added: 2023/04/20
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, #2)]]> 75563006
When Lor and Nadir team up to search for a lost item that holds the key to her past and her future, she isn’t sure she can trust him. All she knows is sheĚýwon’tĚýfall for another royal fae’s promises again.

With the Sun King determined to reclaim her, Lor must keep on the move, but nowhere is safe. Not until she destroys him and the Aurora King. But she soon learns that the future of Ouranos depends on much more than avenging her shattered legacy. Ěý]]> 505 Nisha J. Tuli 199089805X Twyla Rae 5 4.16 2023 Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, #2)
author: Nisha J. Tuli
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/17
date added: 2023/04/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)]]> 61964532 Ten women. A deadly contest. Only one can win the Sun King's heart.

Lor has endured twelve long years of torment under the Aurora King’s rule. Her only desire is to escape and pay him back for every moment of misery she's endured.

When a surprise release finds her in the hands of the rival Sun King, Lor is thrust into the spotlight as she competes against nine other Tributes for the role of queen. If she wins his heart, she'll earn her freedom and finally get her revenge.

But Lor doesn't belong in the Sun Queen Trials. Not only does she not understand why she was freed, she isn’t a citizen of the Sun King’s court. The other Tributes resent her presence and will stop at nothing to ensure Lor is removed from the competition, permanently.

Now Lor must win, because if she loses, she dies. Or worse, she'll be returned to the evil—and now vengeful—Aurora King.]]> 358 Nisha J. Tuli 1778126901 Twyla Rae 5 4.12 2023 Trial of the Sun Queen (Artefacts of Ouranos, #1)
author: Nisha J. Tuli
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/16
date added: 2023/04/16
shelves:
review:

]]> After Today (The After #1) 59754247
After a deadly virus ravages Chicago and destroys Mackenzie Lyons� carefully curated world, Mac escapes the devastation and horror to her childhood hometown with the help of her best-friend’s little brother, Jake. But the small-minded community of Sanford isn’t exactly welcoming, and the virus isn’t the only battle brewing.

Jake Brent has secretly loved Mac forever, and while this isn’t the way he’d dreamed of their relationship beginning, with the uncertainty of the outbreak he’ll take every opportunity with Mac he can and hope—pray—for a better future.

But when Sanford’s misogynistic council torment the survivors with horrifying demands and a lawless motorcycle gang threatens their fragile sanctuary, somehow Jake and Mackenzie must form new alliances and face down dangerous enemies in a struggle far worse than the outbreak.

Surviving the virus was one thing, surviving humanity after is another.]]> 300 Jacqueline Hayley Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.78 After Today (The After #1)
author: Jacqueline Hayley
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.78
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Dark Retreat (EMP Lodge #1) 34201883
After an EMP attack shuts down the world, Megan Wolford has one goal: protect her daughter, Caitlin, at any cost. When a mysterious illness infects Caitlin, Megan must forage for medical supplies at a remote lodge. The last thing she wants is help from her fellow survivors when so many have let her down—but she’s running out of time.

Meanwhile, former Navy SEAL Wyatt Morris is doing everything he can to keep his family together after the tragic death of his father. When Megan trespasses on Wyatt’s land, he doesn’t trust her. But he can’t turn away a sick child, no matter how dangerous the world has become. Then the arrival of another stranger, Kyle, gives them all a new reason to be suspicious.Ěý

When Megan and Wyatt discover her daughter’s illness may be linked to this mysterious stranger, it sets them on a race to discover the truth, before it’s too late to save Caitlin—and the rest of the Morris clan. In this deadly new world, trust doesn’t come easy.Ěý

But if they want to survive, they’ll have to learn to work together…]]> 304 Grace Hamilton Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.11 2017 Dark Retreat (EMP Lodge #1)
author: Grace Hamilton
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Commanding Flame and Shield (Grayshell Rising, #1)]]> 63083287
August Porter is a lucrative investor, admired for his ethics and respected for his success. Engaged to a beautiful businesswoman, his life looks like the American dream. But August has a secret. His nights are spent fighting for his life—trying to escape talons that drag him into darkness, fleeing monsters promising an end to his future. But they're just nightmares. At least, that's what he convinces himself...until he comes face to face with a fierce stranger promising salvation...if he leaves everything he's ever known behind.

The legendary Alvara of Grayshell has two missions in life: guard humanity from the demons freed from Hell, and steward half-Angel souls into their own dimension when their celestial powers arrive. For months, she’s been haunted daily by August’s face. By the constant pull to him. The mysterious man evades her power…when no mark ever has. Grayshell, Chicago...even Hell itself—she won't stop fighting until his soul is safe with her.

When an ancient prophecy brings forth an enemy threatening to sever everything he loves, August must confront his destiny.

Will he trust the light or succumb to the darkness?

Filled with deep world building, a tension-filled slow burn romance, action-packed pages and epic battles, this first book in the Grayshell Rising series is perfect for fans of Throne Of Glass and The Bridge Kingdom.]]> 722 S.J. Barnett Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.83 2023 Commanding Flame and Shield (Grayshell Rising, #1)
author: S.J. Barnett
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/04/11
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Wed to the Alien Warlord (Accidental Alien Brides, #1)]]> 61031744
As the first humans allowed in Suevan space, there’s a lot riding on my all-woman team. Earth desperately needs their tech, and I’m determined to prove we can negotiate the price. Without their planetary defense systems, Earth is a sitting duck, ripe for invasion.

Except the Suevan culture is nothing like ours.

When I take part in what I think is a welcoming ceremony, I leave with more than I bargained for: a husband. A mate. Apparently, we’re there to marry them as payment—something the top brass on Earth doesn’t bother denying. Fantastic.

And the Suevan who hand-picked me to wed and bed? He’s the most domineering warlord of the bunch. Lucky me. I’ll get the Suevan tech we need, but there’s no way I’m giving in to his demands� no matter how, ahem, persuasive he might be.]]> 248 January Bell Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.98 2022 Wed to the Alien Warlord (Accidental Alien Brides, #1)
author: January Bell
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/04/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Heat for Hire (Alphas of Nasila, #1)]]> 62609940 Scarred. Stranded. Oh� and in heat.

Elli
I thought things were a struggle when my insurance refused to pay for my breast reconstruction surgery. But here I am, crashing my omega-classified ladyparts on a planet that makes me do silly things—like dry-hump the big, scaled, growly police officer who pulls me from the wreck. Until the next ship leaves for Earth, I have to embrace my inner omega. Problem is, I barely even feel like a woman.

Rhen
Having a heated Terran female run away from me during her rescue isn’t my favorite way to end my night shift. My growl improves it somewhat, because now she’s rubbing herself on me as I race her to the emergency intake. When she asks me to help her through her approaching heat, I hesitate. How am I supposed to ease Elli’s fears when an injury robbed me of the ability to purr?

Heat for Hire is book one in the Alphas of Nasila series, bringing you a nestful of sweet with all the heat. It features a big, devoted, and caring alien with knot-so-human anatomy. Each book can be read as a standalone, but character cross-overs and cameos make it more fun to read them in order.]]> 202 V.K. Ludwig Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.10 2022 Heat for Hire (Alphas of Nasila, #1)
author: V.K. Ludwig
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/04/10
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Salvation-1: Exodus 123146714 The end is only the beginning�

It’s the final days of Earth, and Tessa has made her peace with dying. Her life has never been a fairy tale, so it makes perfect sense she’d perish with most of the people on the planet. Except luck is finally on her side, as is her Knight in shining armor, Ty, who puts his own life on the line to make sure she gets to Salvation-1 before zero hour.

The ship is supposed to be humanity’s chance to start over, but making it off Earth is only the beginning.

Forty years in hyper sleep, a new planet in a new galaxy, and a whole new set of challenges. When nothing turns out out the way they thought it would, Tessa and the other survivors once again find themselves fighting for their lives. Only this time if they lose, there’s no chance of escape.]]> 333 Kate L. Mary Twyla Rae 4 4.57 Salvation-1: Exodus
author: Kate L. Mary
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.57
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2023/04/09
date added: 2023/04/09
shelves:
review:

]]> Requiem (World Fallen #5) 61213880

I’m a pragmatic woman. A soldier. Necessity dictates my actions—look at the big picture, do the right thing. Duty first, personal desires second.


Finn Rasmussen is a straight-up hero. Brave. Honorable. Hot as sin. Behind his cowboy charm is a warm heart coupled with a warrior’s soul. I could love this man, but that's a choice I can’t afford to make. Not now. But something far more than friendship has sparked between us.


War is coming. The final showdown against a brutal, wannabe dictator. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the survivors of the deadly flu pandemic: freedom or slavery.


Timing is everything and this is no time to fall in love. Only Finn doesn’t buy my excuses. Doesn’t want to be friend-zoned until the war is over. Safety and security are never guaranteed and he thinks it's foolish to wait for a time that may never come. He's right. But he doesn't know my secret, and I can't tell him.


Duty versus desire. Do I play it safe, or grab happiness with both hands?]]> 413 Susanna Strom 1734829281 Twyla Rae 5 4.48 Requiem (World Fallen #5)
author: Susanna Strom
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/04/01
date added: 2023/04/01
shelves:
review:

]]> Cataclysm (World Fallen, #4) 58679174
The last time I gave my heart to someone, it went wrong. Apocalyptically wrong. When a devastating loss shatters my heart, I resolve to keep love at arm's length. A simple hookup? Sure. A woman has needs. But love? Not an option.

Months after a deadly flu pandemic burns through the world, sexy ex-rodeo star Bear Rasmussen gallops into my life. Romance is out of the question. But try telling that to a stubborn cowboy who's done sowing his oats and determined to settle down.

With a brutal, wannabe dictator scheming to seize control of the Pacific Northwest, war looms. Posing as members of a notorious motorcycle club, Bear and I go on a dangerous undercover mission hoping to turn the tide of the impending conflict. The more time I spend with Bear, the more my resolve wavers. Something about the strong, protective man threatens to send my walls crashing down.

The world is in chaos. There's danger at every turn. Do I dare risk my heart too?


Don’t miss an exciting, thrilling, and dangerous moment of the World Fallen series.

1. Pandemonium
2. Maelstrom
3. Bedlam
4. Cataclysm]]> 384 Susanna Strom 1734829265 Twyla Rae 5 4.39 Cataclysm (World Fallen, #4)
author: Susanna Strom
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/03/29
date added: 2023/03/29
shelves:
review:

]]> Bedlam (World Fallen, #3) 57078363 Fate brought us back together, but happiness comes with a price I might not be willing to pay.

The flu pandemic has taken everything away from me: my family, my friends, my old familiar life. All that remains is my desire to do some good and to help other survivors. But doing good is cold comfort when I come home every night to a silent, empty house.

Hope and desire spark anew when I literally collide with Kyle Chamberlain, my older brother’s best friend, the guy I’ve crushed on for years. Kyle is no longer the happy-go-lucky charmer I remember. He’s tougher—battle-hardened—and is determined to whisk me away to safety. The heat between us burns as bright as it does in my fantasies, but I can’t abandon our hometown and its survivors. Can I?

When a powerful old acquaintance rides into town with his private army, he promises Kyle and me the keys to the kingdom if we join forces with him. But deals that sound too good to be true usually are.

Can we have it all, or will we lose what matters most—each other?]]> 288 Susanna Strom 1734829249 Twyla Rae 5 4.35 Bedlam (World Fallen, #3)
author: Susanna Strom
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2023/03/28
date added: 2023/03/28
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[His Viking Captive (Saxons of Hyrstow #1)]]> 73815631 Yrsa Arkyndóttir has sworn a blood oath to avenge her father’s death, but when her clan’s Viking raid fails, Yrsa is taken captive by the rugged Saxon chieftain, Ridley. Injured, Yrsa knows she must escape though as she heals, she finds herself fighting desire for her infuriating captor.

Tempted by the woman who tried to kill him�
Ridley Ward is determined to protect his village, yet he cannot kill the impetuous Yrsa. To ensure her safety, he must keep her presence a secret. Little does Ridley know how much the beautiful Viking will test him.

Amidst growing tension in the kingdom and the threat of their illicit secret being discovered, Yrsa and Ridley must come together to uncover the true meaning of obligation, loyalty, and love.]]> 333 C.A. Fray 1738699919 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.06 His Viking Captive (Saxons of Hyrstow #1)
author: C.A. Fray
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.06
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/03/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Of Shadow and Moonlight (Shadow and Moonlight, #1)]]> 60626092
A New Adult, Paranormal Fantasy Romance about a woman fated to die young, a man cursed to live forever, and a darkness that threatens to destroy everything they love.


Cassie was never able to experience the life that many take for granted, the freedom to dictate her own journey. No, her life had been spent sheltered, protected from an inevitable fate that would come for her regardless of what anyone could do.

After her medical condition goes downhill, she is left with a few years of breath in her lungs and a choice: die alone, without ever experiencing what it truly means to feel alive and free; or to find that light, that missing puzzle piece, that feeling of not feeling so alone in her final days.

When Damien appears in her life, her world turns upside down when he shows her the hidden magic that lies in the shadows of her world and within herself. Suddenly plunged into a hidden war that has raged for countless centuries between gods and monsters, Cassie begins to feel the weight of her secret, which she has kept hidden all her life.

Cassie must embrace the tragic, dark history that runs through the blood in her veins or risk her world falling into darkness.]]> 414 Luna Laurier Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.61 2022 Of Shadow and Moonlight (Shadow and Moonlight, #1)
author: Luna Laurier
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/03/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Veil of Anarchy (Kessler Effect, #1)]]> 62975156
As police chief, Tanda Lopez has vowed to protect the people of Alpine. But how do you protect a town against itself?

Perched on a high mesa in the Chihuahuan Desert, no one is coming to help the citizens of this remote Texas town. When the entire array of lower orbital satellites crash, they are instantly catapulted into a world without communication, power, or resources. Tanda is determined that law and order won’t be the next casualty of the apocalypse. But how can she fight a corrupt mayor? Can she stand between those who wish to uphold the law and those who are intent on annihilating it? And what will she do about the neighboring communities who are preparing to attack?

As a Veil of Anarchy blankets the world, will Alpine and its people be annihilated?

Veil of Anarchy is book one in a new post-apocalyptic survival thriller series from USA Today Bestselling Author Vannetta Chapman. An exciting contribution to the genre of disaster fiction, this is one book that will literally keep you up all night.]]> 218 Vannetta Chapman Twyla Rae 0 to-read 4.36 2022 Veil of Anarchy (Kessler Effect, #1)
author: Vannetta Chapman
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/03/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1)]]> 60714999 Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always � always � guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown� and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone � but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.]]> 504 Carissa Broadbent Twyla Rae 5 4.30 2022 The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia, #1)
author: Carissa Broadbent
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/03/14
date added: 2023/03/14
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The King's Captive (Gate of Myth and Power, #1)]]> 64401958
It’s a fun magic, except in a world filled with vampires and werewolves, it doesn’t exactly make me a powerhouse. Instead, the supernatural community has classified me as an outcast, which means one thing: Picking on me is open season all day, every day.

The local fae are the worst of all, and it’s during one of their regular “capture the cat-girl� sessions that I shift into my cat form and meet HIM for the first time.

Noctus is so powerful his magic radiates off him like a sun, and my fae captors can barely look in his general direction. And then my life gets even more terrifying when Noctus decides to take me with him. As a pet.

Why did he pick today to “adopt don’t shop� a cat?

It gets worse when I realize he’s an elf, a ruling race of supernaturals that was supposedly killed off centuries ago.

But he’s not just any elf, no. He’s an elven king, with heaps of secrets to protect. Secrets that I am quickly learning since he includes his new pet in everything from breaking into buildings to inspect classified paperwork to tracking down sketchy supernaturals.

All this means if he gets even a hint that I’m not a real cat, I’m going to find out firsthand how elves treat their prisoners.

So, escaping Noctus is priority #1. How hard can it be? (Answer: very.)

King’s Captive is the first book in the Gate of Myth and Power urban fantasy trilogy, and is part of the Magiford Supernatural City world. It features elves, fae, werewolves, and vampires, and contains an adventure-filled and hilarious take on the Hades and Persephone myth. It’s packed with humor, battles, and a sweet, slow burn romance between an outcast magic user and the deadly king of the elves.]]> 340 K.M. Shea Twyla Rae 4 4.29 2022 The King's Captive (Gate of Myth and Power, #1)
author: K.M. Shea
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/03/12
date added: 2023/03/12
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hunt the Stars (Starlight's Shadow, #1)]]> 56754734
With so much money on the line, Torran and his crew insist on joining the hunt. Tavi reluctantly agrees because while the handsome, stoic leader pushes all of her buttons—for both anger and desire—she’s endured worse, and the massive bonus payment he’s promised for a completed job is reason enough to shut up and deal.

But when they uncover a deeper plot that threatens the delicate peace between humans and Valoffs, Tavi suspects that Torran has been using her as the impetus for a new war. With the fate of her crew balanced on a knife’s edge, Tavi must decide where her loyalties lie—with the quiet Valoff who’s been lying to her, or with the human leaders who left her squad to die on the battlefield. And this time, she’s put her heart on the line.

The critically acclaimed author of Polaris Rising takes readers on an exciting journey with the start of her brand-new series about a female bounty hunter and the man who is her sworn enemy.]]> 419 Jessie Mihalik 0063051036 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.97 2022 Hunt the Stars (Starlight's Shadow, #1)
author: Jessie Mihalik
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/01/23
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Raven Unveiled (Fallen Empire, #3)]]> 60386989 350 Grace Draven 0451489802 Twyla Rae 5 4.24 2022 Raven Unveiled (Fallen Empire, #3)
author: Grace Draven
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2023/01/22
date added: 2023/01/22
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Goblin’s Bride (A Feud So Dark and Lovely, #1)]]> 58741504 He thinks I’m an innocent bride. He’ll learn the truth with my knife to his throat.

The goblin prince killed my sister. Twisted with grief, I’ve waited for a chance to get justice for years, and the perfect opportunity presents itself: the goblin prince will agree to a ceasefire with his human enemies, but only if a sacrifice is given. A human woman. A bride.

Veiled and shrouded, I offer myself as the prince’s sacrifice, wearing a liar’s smile as I wait for sundown so I can cut his throat in his sleep.

But the goblin prince is indestructible. And worse—he’s cultured and charming. If I’m not careful, I’ll lose my head.

Or my heart.

The Goblin’s Bride is an enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance for fans of Sylvia Mercedes and Sarah J. Maas, with a revenge-sworn heroine and a brooding goblin prince. There’ll be kisses, sizzling tension, and a dark mystery that lovers of Hades & Persephone and Beauty & The Beast will enjoy.

This book is medium burn, with moderate heat, and a single love interest.]]> 251 Leigh Kelsey Twyla Rae 4 3.99 2022 The Goblin’s Bride (A Feud So Dark and Lovely, #1)
author: Leigh Kelsey
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/12/25
date added: 2022/12/25
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Warprize (Chronicles of the Warlands, #1)]]> 78070
SHE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN HER PEOPLE AND HER FREEDOM...

Xylara is the Daughter of the Warrior King, Xyron. With her father dead and her incompetent half-brother on the throne, the kingdom is in danger of falling to the warring Firelanders.

Before she was old enough for a marriage-of-alliance, Xylara was trained as a healer. She can't usurp her brother or negotiate a peace--but she can heal the brave ones injured in battle.

But not only her countrymen are wounded, and Xylara's conscience won't let Firelander warriors die when she can do something to save them. She learns their language and their customs and tries to make them as comfortable as possible, despite their prisoner-of-war status.

She never expects that these deeds, done in good faith, would lead to the handsome and mysterious Firelander Warlord demanding her in exchange for a cease-fire. Xylara knows must trade the life she has always known for the well-being of her people, and so she becomes...

The Warprize
]]> 336 Elizabeth Vaughan 0765357364 Twyla Rae 5 3.94 2005 Warprize (Chronicles of the Warlands, #1)
author: Elizabeth Vaughan
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/12/24
shelves: a-pleasant-surprise, brilliant-writing, fantasy, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, i-have-to-own-this, in-a-series, refreshing-read, romance, up-all-night-read, will-read-again
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Soul to Heal (Duskwalker Brides, #2)]]> 61927263 All Delora ever wanted was to disappear.

Thrown into the Veil for a crime she committed, Delora was discarded by the world. Although afraid of her oncoming demise, she accepts it as it would be a worldly escape from her problems. She didn’t expect that she would wake up from her deadly fall, nor that the person who saved her would be a Duskwalker.

She’s wary about him at first, but Delora begins to realise there’s more to him than just a faceless monster.

All he ever wanted was a name.

After discovering that humans can be kept as companions, he begins planning for the day he finds his own bride. He still lacks humanity and there is much learn first. One morning when leaving his cave, a human suddenly crashes into him from the sky. Broken and sleeping, he gets to work on healing the woman.

It doesn’t take him long to understand she’s wounded in a way his magic can’t heal.

But will he be able to gain her affections, or will she come to hate him as he stumbles his way through learning about her � and more importantly, himself?]]> 556 Opal Reyne 0645510440 Twyla Rae 0 currently-reading 3.94 2022 A Soul to Heal (Duskwalker Brides, #2)
author: Opal Reyne
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/22
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Three Weeks in Undead Shoes (The Pandora Strain: Zombie Road, #2)]]> 61183793
The challenge of sharing close quarters with a zombie gets even more complicated when Jane tells her parents about her new arrangement—and they've got a surprise for her, too. Staying in the bunker isn't an option, because the Americans are threatening to nuke the entire area. Grey is regaining pieces of his humanity, but a rescue team won’t trust him. Or make space for her Great Dane, Schroddie. And Jane won't leave either of them behind.

Rescue or not, Jane, Schroddie and Grey have to get out of the blast radius.

A stolen car and an overprotective zombie get her and Schroddie all the way to the forward base—a base they find overrun with zombies. She grows closer with Grey and the lines of their relationship blur. She knows they'll survive as long as they're together—then Jane and Schroddie are kidnapped by power-hungry insurgents.

Grey will follow.

He will get Jane back.

Even if it means unleashing the monster inside him.]]> 378 Dee J. Holmes 1778067905 Twyla Rae 5 4.43 Three Weeks in Undead Shoes (The Pandora Strain: Zombie Road, #2)
author: Dee J. Holmes
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/12/16
date added: 2022/12/16
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Soul to Keep (Duskwalker Brides, #1)]]> 61208877
Known as a harbinger of bad omens and blamed for Demons eating her family, Reia is shunned by her entire village. When the next offering is due and the monstrous Duskwalker is seen heading their way, her village offers her an impossible choice � be thrown into the prison cells or allow herself to be sacrificed to a faceless monster.

However, he is not what he seems. His skull face and glow eyes are ethereal, and she finds herself unwittingly enchanted by him.

All Orpheus ever wanted was a companion.

Each decade, in exchange for a protection ward from the Demons that terrorise the world, Orpheus takes a human offering to the Veil � the place he lives and the home of Demons. The brief companionship does little to ease his loneliness, and their lives were always, unfortunately, cut short.

He'd thought it was a hopeless endeavour, until he met her. She’s not afraid of him, and his insatiable desire deepens within every moment of her presence.

But will Orpheus be able to convince Reia to stay before she’s lost to him forever?]]> 544 Opal Reyne 0645510408 Twyla Rae 5 4.08 2022 A Soul to Keep (Duskwalker Brides, #1)
author: Opal Reyne
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/12/15
date added: 2022/12/15
shelves:
review:

]]> Belladonna (Belladonna, #1) 59227936
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
Ěý
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.]]> 409 Adalyn Grace 0316158232 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.97 2022 Belladonna (Belladonna, #1)
author: Adalyn Grace
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/12/12
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Shadows of the Mortal Realm (The Mortal Realm Series Book 1)]]> 62308059
Shadows of the Mortal Realm is the first book in a three-book series that centers around Marcy, a 20-year-old Shadow of the Underworld. She's training to use her powers to manipulate and control the humans in the mortal realm. But the more she is in the mortal realm, the more connected to humanity she becomes. She desires to protect them and not hurt them.

When she becomes a dangerous threat to hell, Tor is sent to kill her. He's a Master Guardian and doesn't have time to deal with some Shadow girl who's disrupting Drakkon's agenda. Until he tries to kill her, and she doesn't die. Until her powers surpass his own.

Just who is Marcy, and how is hell going to stop her?
Read this action-packed, thrill ride today!]]> 252 Shay Lee Giertz Twyla Rae 4 3.75 Stars - rounded off to 4

I'll start by saying that, in my honest opinion, what made this book truly riveting and kept my attention on the story, were the burning questions about character identities.

The author does get 5 stars for a brilliant story concept and for the shocking revelations and twists that I did not see coming and thoroughly enjoyed reading.

The reason for the overall 3.75 stars - not quite 4 - is the story meandering in so many directions midway through the book, as characters journey toward answers to personal questions and a mysterious physical destination. There were times when a simple question posed at the right moment, and by the right character, could have made reaching solid answers less frustrating. But, then there would have been no suspense.

Shadows of the Mortal Realm could be categorized as New Adult (with no sex), because of violent and darker elements. But, it does lean heavily toward fitting into the Christian fiction genre. Especially with how it ends. Without giving away identities, characters are caught up in a fight for good and evil throughout the entire book. But, where the story leaves off, greater and higher powers take a greater role in outcomes.

I think that although this is a first instalment in a series, enough of the story was told that I don't feel a burning desire to need to read any of the books that follow. Shadows of the Mortal Realm is a very fun and engaging read. But, I think so much was revealed in this first book, that very little is left to question. So, if I do pick up the second book to read, it will be out of curiosity when I'm in the mood to read a story in this genre.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]]> 4.25 Shadows of the Mortal Realm (The Mortal Realm Series Book 1)
author: Shay Lee Giertz
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/03
date added: 2022/11/04
shelves:
review:
3.75 Stars - rounded off to 4

I'll start by saying that, in my honest opinion, what made this book truly riveting and kept my attention on the story, were the burning questions about character identities.

The author does get 5 stars for a brilliant story concept and for the shocking revelations and twists that I did not see coming and thoroughly enjoyed reading.

The reason for the overall 3.75 stars - not quite 4 - is the story meandering in so many directions midway through the book, as characters journey toward answers to personal questions and a mysterious physical destination. There were times when a simple question posed at the right moment, and by the right character, could have made reaching solid answers less frustrating. But, then there would have been no suspense.

Shadows of the Mortal Realm could be categorized as New Adult (with no sex), because of violent and darker elements. But, it does lean heavily toward fitting into the Christian fiction genre. Especially with how it ends. Without giving away identities, characters are caught up in a fight for good and evil throughout the entire book. But, where the story leaves off, greater and higher powers take a greater role in outcomes.

I think that although this is a first instalment in a series, enough of the story was told that I don't feel a burning desire to need to read any of the books that follow. Shadows of the Mortal Realm is a very fun and engaging read. But, I think so much was revealed in this first book, that very little is left to question. So, if I do pick up the second book to read, it will be out of curiosity when I'm in the mood to read a story in this genre.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
]]> <![CDATA[Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #1)]]> 59009272
Witty and clever, Elinor uses her mediumship skills to hunt for her father’s killer. So when a body in the canal brings her to the morgue, she’s happy to help until Tristan Fontaine, the Duke de Archambeau, takes over the case and places her under house arrest.

Between possessions and poltergeists, she’ll solve the case even if it means putting the duke in his place. Actually, that part of the investigation may be a pleasure!

Welcome to Alenbonné, a coastal city with picturesque promenades along the canals and where the ghosts never sleep. A country where spirits and murder are just a breath away.

The first of a six-part Gaslamp fantasy ghost mystery series featuring a strong-minded female Sherlock Holmes-like character in a slow burn romance
_____________________________________________

A six part novella series for lovers of Gaslamp fantasy

#1 Ghost Talker
#2 Delicious Death
#3 Spirit Guide
#4 Gray Lady
#5 Untimely Grave
#6 Ghastly Mistake
_____________________________________________

This novella is friendly to ages 16+.]]> 168 Byrd Nash Twyla Rae 5 5 stars for this absolutely delightful read!

Madame Chalamet is fantastic! She is an intelligent, savvy, witty, unapologetic, strong woman, and I want to inhabit her world with her. Not just because being a Ghost Talker is one of the most fascinating professions for any fictional character. Seeing the truly unique world she inhabits, through her eyes, is absolutely engaging!

It seems that Nash has created her own genre with Ghost Talker. Part alternate history, supernatural, gaslight fantasy, and mystery, there are so many unique aspects to Madame Chalamet's story that make it hard to relegate it to just one category. That makes it trailblazing fiction.

I loved that this uniquely crafted blend of era and place feels like circa 1900 France, a time when spiritualism was fashionable. And the fashionable society in Ghost Talker are just as intriguing as the spirits they seek to summon. Their dialogue and mannerisms, like the clothes they wear and the places they inhabit, have a wonderfully historical feel, and are so superbly described. I enjoyed absorbing those descriptive details as much as I did reading the narrative itself.

And then there is the Duke, Tristan Fontaine. Sure, he is dashing in physical description. But it's the dynamic between Tristan and Elinor that really make him a character I'm drawn to. It was fun and thrilling, and now I'm craving the next instalment in what promises to be a wonderful series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]]> 4.43 Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #1)
author: Byrd Nash
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.43
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/10/30
shelves: 2022-favorite-reads, arc-review, brilliant-writing, favourites, highly-recommend, in-a-series, refreshing-read, slow-burn-romance, supernatural, up-all-night-read, things-that-go-bump-in-the-night, will-read-again
review:
5 stars for this absolutely delightful read!

Madame Chalamet is fantastic! She is an intelligent, savvy, witty, unapologetic, strong woman, and I want to inhabit her world with her. Not just because being a Ghost Talker is one of the most fascinating professions for any fictional character. Seeing the truly unique world she inhabits, through her eyes, is absolutely engaging!

It seems that Nash has created her own genre with Ghost Talker. Part alternate history, supernatural, gaslight fantasy, and mystery, there are so many unique aspects to Madame Chalamet's story that make it hard to relegate it to just one category. That makes it trailblazing fiction.

I loved that this uniquely crafted blend of era and place feels like circa 1900 France, a time when spiritualism was fashionable. And the fashionable society in Ghost Talker are just as intriguing as the spirits they seek to summon. Their dialogue and mannerisms, like the clothes they wear and the places they inhabit, have a wonderfully historical feel, and are so superbly described. I enjoyed absorbing those descriptive details as much as I did reading the narrative itself.

And then there is the Duke, Tristan Fontaine. Sure, he is dashing in physical description. But it's the dynamic between Tristan and Elinor that really make him a character I'm drawn to. It was fun and thrilling, and now I'm craving the next instalment in what promises to be a wonderful series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
]]> <![CDATA[Emmie and the Tudor King: The Complete Trilogy, Special Edition New Adult Omnibus]]> 61922928
Emmie and the Tudor King was an award-winning finalist in the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and has received acclaim from Foreword Reviews, InD'tale Magazine, YA Books Central, authors Brigid Kemmerer and CJ Flood, and others.

One moment, Emmie is writing her final high school history paper before graduation; the next, she's lost in sixteenth-century Tudor England, where she meets a dreamy but dangerous king who is destined for a dreadful fate.

Able to travel back to her own time but intensely drawn to King Nick and the mysterious death of his sister, Emmie finds herself solving the murder of a young princess and unraveling court secrets while trying to keep her head on her shoulders, literally.

With everything to lose, Emmie will come to face her biggest battle of all: How to cheat the path of history and keep her irresistible king, or lose him—and her heart—forever.]]> 1037 Natalie Murray Twyla Rae 5 5 stars for this brilliantly written time travel romance!

Emmie's story is deeply moving and engaging. It's just as much a historical romance as it is a time travel romp. And despite the all too real and gritty details of 16th century Tudor life giving the narrative its sharp edges, Emmie falling in love with Nick often felt like a fairy tale unfolding. I loved the lush and sweeping descriptions of the 16th century Tudor court and landscape.



I have found a new favourite author with this series.

This was a long read, with 3 novels back to back in one omnibus. But, it was absolutely worth the many hours taken to do so!

There are so many things to love about this series, I can't possibly cover them all in this review.
At the top of the list is the romance, of course. I applaud the author for writing the New Adult version of Emmie and Nick's relationship so expertly. No details were spared in their intimacy and lovemaking. It was erotic, steamy, sweet, heartwarming, and endearing. If the author was striving for excellence in writing epic romance, she achieved it.

I LOVE that Emmie and Nick remain resolutely and unapologetically themselves in both timelines. Their relationship feels the effects of the sometimes deadly consequences of never letting go of each other despite how much they affect time and history drastically. (At times VERY drastically).

Their biased perceptions based on their upbringing in different centuries repeatedly clashed, and I often found Nick's behaviour disturbing with how easily he accepted violence and strict class hierarchy as a part of the societal and Royal norm. But the narrative would have suffered if Emmie and Nick were written any differently.

Nick is not your typical book boyfriend. There were times when I thought that if I was Emmie I would have dropped him for his unyielding, and sometimes unnerving, behaviour. But that is based on my experience as a 21st century independent woman.

Despite Nick's Tudor perceptions dictating his behaviour, he is unquestionably eternally devoted to Emmie and loves her absolutely.

Go into reading this series forewarned that Nick is a man from a time altogether alien compared to Emmie's. The story would have collapsed and failed to succeed if the author had written him as acceptable by 21st century standards. In this way, the author's writing is trailblazing because Nick doesn't fit the mold of most New Adult book boyfriends, and yet he still remains the hero from start to finish.

That's brilliant writing, folks.

Admittedly, I wouldn't have given the first book as high a rating on its own. Until Emmie's time traveling starts altering the time line, and her romance with Nick picks up speed, I could tell that this was a Young Adult story adapted to New Adult status. The transition was awkward and bumbling at times until the narrative found its rhythm and solidified.

The 2nd and 3rd books are 100% New Adult material. They anchor the entire series, making this a cohesive and brilliantly written romance omnibus. I highly recommend spending the hours travelling through time with Emmie and Nick.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]]> 4.26 Emmie and the Tudor King: The Complete Trilogy, Special Edition New Adult Omnibus
author: Natalie Murray
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/25
date added: 2022/09/28
shelves: 2022-favorite-reads, alternate-history, arc-review, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, historical-fiction, panty-melting, steamy, romance, up-all-night-read, new-adult
review:
5 stars for this brilliantly written time travel romance!

Emmie's story is deeply moving and engaging. It's just as much a historical romance as it is a time travel romp. And despite the all too real and gritty details of 16th century Tudor life giving the narrative its sharp edges, Emmie falling in love with Nick often felt like a fairy tale unfolding. I loved the lush and sweeping descriptions of the 16th century Tudor court and landscape.



I have found a new favourite author with this series.

This was a long read, with 3 novels back to back in one omnibus. But, it was absolutely worth the many hours taken to do so!

There are so many things to love about this series, I can't possibly cover them all in this review.
At the top of the list is the romance, of course. I applaud the author for writing the New Adult version of Emmie and Nick's relationship so expertly. No details were spared in their intimacy and lovemaking. It was erotic, steamy, sweet, heartwarming, and endearing. If the author was striving for excellence in writing epic romance, she achieved it.

I LOVE that Emmie and Nick remain resolutely and unapologetically themselves in both timelines. Their relationship feels the effects of the sometimes deadly consequences of never letting go of each other despite how much they affect time and history drastically. (At times VERY drastically).

Their biased perceptions based on their upbringing in different centuries repeatedly clashed, and I often found Nick's behaviour disturbing with how easily he accepted violence and strict class hierarchy as a part of the societal and Royal norm. But the narrative would have suffered if Emmie and Nick were written any differently.

Nick is not your typical book boyfriend. There were times when I thought that if I was Emmie I would have dropped him for his unyielding, and sometimes unnerving, behaviour. But that is based on my experience as a 21st century independent woman.

Despite Nick's Tudor perceptions dictating his behaviour, he is unquestionably eternally devoted to Emmie and loves her absolutely.

Go into reading this series forewarned that Nick is a man from a time altogether alien compared to Emmie's. The story would have collapsed and failed to succeed if the author had written him as acceptable by 21st century standards. In this way, the author's writing is trailblazing because Nick doesn't fit the mold of most New Adult book boyfriends, and yet he still remains the hero from start to finish.

That's brilliant writing, folks.

Admittedly, I wouldn't have given the first book as high a rating on its own. Until Emmie's time traveling starts altering the time line, and her romance with Nick picks up speed, I could tell that this was a Young Adult story adapted to New Adult status. The transition was awkward and bumbling at times until the narrative found its rhythm and solidified.

The 2nd and 3rd books are 100% New Adult material. They anchor the entire series, making this a cohesive and brilliantly written romance omnibus. I highly recommend spending the hours travelling through time with Emmie and Nick.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Daughter (The Last Daughter, #1)]]> 61037051
Fate was cruel enough by dealing Ailsa with a fatal illness. But when her father and sisters are killed at war, she becomes the Last Daughter in a long line of shieldmages. This power comes with a price, however, coincidentally getting her kidnapped by an elfin she’s only heard of through legends.

Vali's realm is dying, inflicted by the black magic, sedir, and the only way to heal his land is by delivering the Tether to Odin, king of the gods. When he finds this power bound inside a mortal woman, he is forced to bring her and her shapeshifting wolven back to his home in Alfheim.

But their journey across the Tree of Life is perilous, and betrayal is imminent. Vali and Ailsa must depend on each other for survival, a mutual dependency that turns into a passionate love affair. With Odin waiting on this promised power, a kindred spirit found in her enemy, and a dark threat neither Ailsa nor Vali intended to find in the bright lands of Alfheim, what started as a simple quest has turned into a fight to save all gods, mortals, and fae alike. Vikings meets magic in this fresh retelling of Norse Mythology.]]> 412 Alexis L. Menard Twyla Rae 5 5 Bright Shining Stars!

Epic things happen when Gods and mortals mingle. In The Last Daughter, epic things happen when the two main characters, Ailsa and Vali, fall in love and challenge the will of the Gods so they can rewrite their individual destinies.

The author has expertly woven Norse mythology and the Fae fantasy genre together into a tale that rivals the greatest love stories in any mythology.

I'm thoroughly impressed, and utterly captivated by the beauty of the worlds and characters Menard has crafted. This is exquisite, superb, imaginative writing at its best!!! It's as lyrical as ballads, odes, and epic poems. This is writing worthy of chords strummed on a lyre.

There is often a fragility to love affairs in myths, when oaths taken and then broken lead to consequences of world shattering proportions. Consequences that shake foundations in both the living world and the afterlife. In those instances, the great scales of fate could tip toward tragedy and loss, or redemption and renewal.

In Ailsa's words... "If her life was written as a song, the worlds would think their story a tragedy."

However, I found that while Ailsa and Vali's shared journey does contain some classic mythological scaled tragedy, their powerfully told, timeless, and genre bending love story leans more heavily toward the promise of a very well deserved and epic HEA. (I'm cheering for them!)

Vali is swoonworthy as a tragic hero seeking redemption. I loved Ailsa as a character, but I immediately fell in love with Vali the moment he was introduced in the book.

The intimacy between Ailsa and Vali is SO beautifully written! It's all at once deeply moving, endearing, reverent and erotic. I'm delighted with how well the author penned their most intimate moments.

Is it possible to fall in love with a story? The Last Daughter is proof that it is.
I can't wait for the next instalment in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]]> 3.55 2022 The Last Daughter (The Last Daughter, #1)
author: Alexis L. Menard
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/09/14
date added: 2022/09/14
shelves: 2022-favorite-reads, arc-review, brilliant-writing, highly-recommend, in-a-series, naughty-faeries, steamy, romance
review:
5 Bright Shining Stars!

Epic things happen when Gods and mortals mingle. In The Last Daughter, epic things happen when the two main characters, Ailsa and Vali, fall in love and challenge the will of the Gods so they can rewrite their individual destinies.

The author has expertly woven Norse mythology and the Fae fantasy genre together into a tale that rivals the greatest love stories in any mythology.

I'm thoroughly impressed, and utterly captivated by the beauty of the worlds and characters Menard has crafted. This is exquisite, superb, imaginative writing at its best!!! It's as lyrical as ballads, odes, and epic poems. This is writing worthy of chords strummed on a lyre.

There is often a fragility to love affairs in myths, when oaths taken and then broken lead to consequences of world shattering proportions. Consequences that shake foundations in both the living world and the afterlife. In those instances, the great scales of fate could tip toward tragedy and loss, or redemption and renewal.

In Ailsa's words... "If her life was written as a song, the worlds would think their story a tragedy."

However, I found that while Ailsa and Vali's shared journey does contain some classic mythological scaled tragedy, their powerfully told, timeless, and genre bending love story leans more heavily toward the promise of a very well deserved and epic HEA. (I'm cheering for them!)

Vali is swoonworthy as a tragic hero seeking redemption. I loved Ailsa as a character, but I immediately fell in love with Vali the moment he was introduced in the book.

The intimacy between Ailsa and Vali is SO beautifully written! It's all at once deeply moving, endearing, reverent and erotic. I'm delighted with how well the author penned their most intimate moments.

Is it possible to fall in love with a story? The Last Daughter is proof that it is.
I can't wait for the next instalment in the series!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bone Crown (Charassi's Fae Queen #1)]]> 61673571
When a dragon bulldozes through a portal and into the grounds of her Texas school, Ophelia Monroe can barely believe her eyes. Dragons and magic are just fairy tales, right?

When the dying dragon bonds with her to spite a Fae prince, suddenly Ophelia is dragged into a different realm: a world of Fae intrigue and deception where, as Prince Corrin informs her, her dragon bond has made her Queen of the Fae.

His Queen.

Ophelia’s always wanted to make a difference, but nothing could have prepared her for magical powers she can’t control, a dead dragon's voice in her head, and subjects questioning her right to be queen. Or the infuriatingly handsome Fae prince who won't leave her side.

To avoid execution, Ophelia must validate her claim to the throne by traveling throughout the magical realm, accompanied by Prince Corrin. But the journey reveals a dark secret lurking in Charassi...

The only way to save the realm is to find the source of the trouble; but the truth may be just as terrible as the evil magic that threatens the Fae’s existence.

Get ready to dive into an unforgettable new fantasy world filled with magic, lovable (and hateable!) characters, fae curses, wise dragons and a wholesome romance.]]> 348 Ava Richardson Twyla Rae 4 4 Solid Stars for this very sweet tale!

Ophelia Monroe and High Fae Prince Corrin are two of the sweetest main characters you'll ever meet in this fantasy story that reads very much like an elaborate and elegantly written fairy tale.

The intricate details of Charassi's landscape and the characters who inhabit Prince Corrin's realm, as well as the centuries old relationship between Fae and dragons, combine to create a delightfully unique backdrop for the narrative. This makes the author's approach to the fantasy genre wonderfully refreshing.

Ophelia is a compassionate and tough teen known for standing up to bullies who pick on other students. Throwing a punch at school leads to detention. But putting her weight behind punches at deadly adversaries from another realm can save lives.

I loved reading Ophelia's bond with her dragon, Sunny. Their banter, at times witty, is overall fun to read.

High Fae Prince Corrin is honorable and genuinely charming. And while there is a hint of light romance between Ophelia and Corrin, The Bone Crown focuses on their shared journey through their home realms, where they must outrun enemies, forge allies, race against the clock to solve a great mystery, and defeat a looming threat that could destroy entire species.

The Bone Crown is a captivating odyssey and magical adventure, with a very fast paced, suspenseful, and exciting turn of events in the last few chapters. I love that element of unpredictable surprise.

The Bone Crown ends on a cliffhanger, with strong and endearing bonds formed between many characters. How these characters face the future together as friends/allies is what I look forward to reading in the next chapters of their odyssey.

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

]]> 4.40 2022 The Bone Crown (Charassi's Fae Queen #1)
author: Ava Richardson
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/27
date added: 2022/09/10
shelves: delightful-summer-reads, fantasy, light-romance, refreshing-read, young-adult
review:
4 Solid Stars for this very sweet tale!

Ophelia Monroe and High Fae Prince Corrin are two of the sweetest main characters you'll ever meet in this fantasy story that reads very much like an elaborate and elegantly written fairy tale.

The intricate details of Charassi's landscape and the characters who inhabit Prince Corrin's realm, as well as the centuries old relationship between Fae and dragons, combine to create a delightfully unique backdrop for the narrative. This makes the author's approach to the fantasy genre wonderfully refreshing.

Ophelia is a compassionate and tough teen known for standing up to bullies who pick on other students. Throwing a punch at school leads to detention. But putting her weight behind punches at deadly adversaries from another realm can save lives.

I loved reading Ophelia's bond with her dragon, Sunny. Their banter, at times witty, is overall fun to read.

High Fae Prince Corrin is honorable and genuinely charming. And while there is a hint of light romance between Ophelia and Corrin, The Bone Crown focuses on their shared journey through their home realms, where they must outrun enemies, forge allies, race against the clock to solve a great mystery, and defeat a looming threat that could destroy entire species.

The Bone Crown is a captivating odyssey and magical adventure, with a very fast paced, suspenseful, and exciting turn of events in the last few chapters. I love that element of unpredictable surprise.

The Bone Crown ends on a cliffhanger, with strong and endearing bonds formed between many characters. How these characters face the future together as friends/allies is what I look forward to reading in the next chapters of their odyssey.

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


]]> <![CDATA[Indomitable (The Viceroy Chronicles, #1)]]> 61146956
Gracie Rinelli has a more than adequate supply of stamina and spirit, which she’ll need in her new venture. She’s so close to having enough money saved to buy a used cake truck and get her big Italian family off her back. This job, dog sitting Viceroy, a cute little cairn terrier, is all she’ll need to get her truck. Marrying her boyfriend would be the icing on the cake truck.

Felix needs a full-blood vampire to sponsor and turn him, so he doesn’t have to get cold enough to wear wool. Lucy needs her mortality back so she can finally be with the love of her very long life�400 years is a long time to wait. And Viceroy? Viceroy wants to play ball, drink squirrels, and live happily with Felix, Gracie, and Lucy. Forever.

But nobody pays forty dollars an hour for dog walks in the park unless there’s something seriously wrong with the dog, and the job you apply for isn’t the one you end up with. Join Gracie, Viceroy, Felix, and Lucy, as they spin New York City’s supernatural world into a fast-paced urban fantasy adventure. Indomitable is funny, New York gothic phantasmagoria on fate, family, transformation, sacrifice, unlikely friendships, and a good cup of tea.

Gracie’s plan to launch her cake truck and marry her boyfriend may just have to wait.]]> 412 Claudia Brooke Twyla Rae 3 3 Stars for Indomitable's unique characters

Indomitable starts off strong and with well executed writing as a novel that has the potential to be genre-bending. Particularly with the introduction of very unique characters, including a dog that is a vampire with a preference for squirrels, a half-blood vampire with singular and ultra high standards who attends Vampires Anonymous, and a 400+ year old reaper who may or may not be Death's successor.

And then there is Gracie, the woman who dreams of owning her own cake truck - if she can survive the supernatural forces that are determined to keep her from attaining that goal.

It's at about 25% into the novel that the potential for the reader to lose interest begins. It was a struggle for me to stay with the story after that point, but the characters and their struggles were just interesting enough to keep me curious about the outcome of their respective journeys.

Main characters bond too quickly, lacking chemistry without the time needed for it to grow between them. Their dialogue often felt forced and overly dramatic, which sometimes made it difficult to find their dynamics relatable.

What I feel was a detriment to the structure of the story in Indomitable is how the characters too often meander in directions aside from that of the narrative. So, I could easily skim over entire paragraphs of action and dialogue until the characters veered back onto the path of their collective journey.

I do like that Indomitable ends with the characters off to a new city and on a solid quest as a cohesive ensemble. I see that as a very promising direction for their individual arcs and the overall narrative.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]]> 3.97 Indomitable (The Viceroy Chronicles, #1)
author: Claudia Brooke
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.97
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/26
date added: 2022/08/26
shelves:
review:
3 Stars for Indomitable's unique characters

Indomitable starts off strong and with well executed writing as a novel that has the potential to be genre-bending. Particularly with the introduction of very unique characters, including a dog that is a vampire with a preference for squirrels, a half-blood vampire with singular and ultra high standards who attends Vampires Anonymous, and a 400+ year old reaper who may or may not be Death's successor.

And then there is Gracie, the woman who dreams of owning her own cake truck - if she can survive the supernatural forces that are determined to keep her from attaining that goal.

It's at about 25% into the novel that the potential for the reader to lose interest begins. It was a struggle for me to stay with the story after that point, but the characters and their struggles were just interesting enough to keep me curious about the outcome of their respective journeys.

Main characters bond too quickly, lacking chemistry without the time needed for it to grow between them. Their dialogue often felt forced and overly dramatic, which sometimes made it difficult to find their dynamics relatable.

What I feel was a detriment to the structure of the story in Indomitable is how the characters too often meander in directions aside from that of the narrative. So, I could easily skim over entire paragraphs of action and dialogue until the characters veered back onto the path of their collective journey.

I do like that Indomitable ends with the characters off to a new city and on a solid quest as a cohesive ensemble. I see that as a very promising direction for their individual arcs and the overall narrative.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
]]> <![CDATA[The Feathered Serpent (Sons of Kukulcán #1)]]> 56066377
The jungle site is in danger of permanently flooding due to rising sea levels, and her team is in a race against time to record and preserve what artifacts they can before it’s too late. Alexis doesn’t expect to find herself intrigued by the work, but the site and the jungle weave their spell over her. Soon, she and her colleagues find an undiscovered chamber, one whose secrets will change their world forever.

Captain of Lisseethi’s Fang, K’thiss doesn’t know what to expect at the end of his journey. After over fifteen hundred years, the priest clan have promised the return of the Lady and the reunification of their people with their Mayan brethren, but things are not at all what he anticipated when his ship arrives at Ox Te� Tuun. Their priestess is wearing dirt stained garments, the city lies in ruins, and the humans don’t seem to recognize the Xithilene at all. Instead, they react with shock and fear at the sight of him.

Alexis will need all her courage when she and her coworkers embark on a journey to a far off alien planet. Not all is as it seems on Xithilene, and no one knows how far they can trust their new alien allies. Most unexpected of all is her growing attraction to the ship’s forbidding captain. Love was never in her plans, but Alexis is learning there are some things in life she could never anticipate.]]> 269 R.L. Olvitt Twyla Rae 3 3.86 2020 The Feathered Serpent (Sons of Kukulcán #1)
author: R.L. Olvitt
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/20
date added: 2022/08/20
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[To Snap a Silver Stem (Crystal Bloom, #2)]]> 58627455 I want him to hurt. To bleed.
I want him to snap, just like he snapped me.

Once upon a time, my world was small and sheltered. Everything changed the moment I stepped over my Safety Line, barreling towards a coupling with a man I hardly know.

He wants me. All of me.

Dunked in a charged political pit, I must secure the ships needed to quell the spill of murderous beasts still flooding the continent. But one wrong move could spur the war I’ve worked so hard to avoid.

I’ll wear the dress and the cupla and the shoes. I’ll do it all with a smile on my face. Because everyone's watching.
He’s watching—hunting a fissure in my frosty shield, trying to scrape back the layers and see my ugly insides.

He’s unyielding. Unguarded.
Changed.

Why is he looking now when I’ve got everything to hide?

Secrets sprout, truths bloom, and more than one of us will snap.
Crowned in the crippling weight of my mistakes, I must atone. Even if it costs me my life.

Fear was my overlord. Now, it’s my prisoner.

To Snap a Silver Stem is the explosive sequel of To Bleed a Crystal Bloom—a dark Rapunzel reimagining full of immersive imagery and breathtaking angst. A unique fantasy series perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout, guaranteed to grip you from the very first page.]]> 538 Sarah A. Parker Twyla Rae 0 currently-reading 3.84 2022 To Snap a Silver Stem (Crystal Bloom, #2)
author: Sarah A. Parker
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/08/19
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> After We Were Stolen 59437669
A fire. Her escape. And the realization her entire life has been a lie.

When nineteen-year-old Avery awakens to flames consuming her family’s remote compound, she knows it’s her only chance to escape her father’s grueling survival training, bizarre rules, and gruesome punishments. She and her brother Cole flee the grounds for the first time in their lives, suddenly homeless in a world they know nothing about. After months of hiding out, they are arrested for shoplifting and a shocking discovery is made—Avery and Cole were kidnapped fifteen years earlier, stolen by cult leaders they knew as Mom and Dad.

Cole is immediately returned to his birth family, leaving Avery alone and desperate. She is uncertain if her “parents� survived the fire and is terrified to find out. The loss of Cole and the trauma of her former life threaten to undo her, but when the police investigation reveals there may be more survivors, Avery must uncover the truth about the fire to truly be free.

Suspenseful, emotionally charged, and deeply thought-provoking, After We Were Stolen delves into the idea of family—those we’re born into and those we make—resilience, and the lengths a cult survivor will go to finally be free of her painful past. Brooke Beyfuss’s powerful debut novel sparkles with heart, grit, and extraordinary characters who will stay with you long after the last page.]]> 388 Brooke Beyfuss 1728248698 Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.90 2022 After We Were Stolen
author: Brooke Beyfuss
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/08/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> By Their Cold Fingers 61409090 290 Timothy Bryan Twyla Rae 0 to-read 3.84 By Their Cold Fingers
author: Timothy Bryan
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.84
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2022/08/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Silenced (Larkwood Academy, #1)]]> 61319169
My life was perfect—a cute, loving boyfriend, a rich and well-connected family and an immaculately planned-out future.

As it turns out, perfection is a lie. After a random attack, I wake up to discover I’ve turned into a siren, had my vocal cords cut and am now imprisoned at Larkwood Academy, the most dangerous and heavily secured place for humans who have turned into paranormal creatures called shades. Everything here is out to get me—the warden, the guards and even the other shades.

As I try to survive, I get closer to the men around me—Kit, a wendigo who is often called the warden’s lapdog, Deacon, a guard who isn’t a shade but also isn’t human, Knox, an incubus who struggles with accepting his own hunger, Brax, a berserker with a bad attitude and sharp tongue and Wade, a void who is far more dangerous than his innocent face and humor would suggest. The longer I stay here and get to know them, the more I realize I can’t trust anyone.

Everyone wants me to follow the rules, but I can’t be that girl anymore.

They might have stolen my voice, but they can’t keep me silenced.

Reader advisory: This book includes mentions of incarceration, and scenes of violence and assault, as well as references to inadequate parenting.]]> 314 Jayce Carter 183943614X Twyla Rae 5 5 Stars - for a captivating read!

This story mesmerized me, as if a true siren stepped off the page and worked her magic.

With Silenced, Jayce Carter has written a captivating tale of characters finding hope in a harsh and brutal world, where people who manifest supernatural abilities and characteristics are seen as abnormalities in society. When they are discovered they are institutionalized and imprisoned, experimented on and made to disappear.

Hera is the heroine who discovers that she is a siren at the moment she is brutally attacked. Her attackers violently silence her, resulting in the loss of her voice.

For fans of reverse harem novels I highly recommend this gem. It's unlike others I've read and is skillfully written.

The majority of Silenced is told from Hera's POV. But some of the chapters are told from the POV of each of the men. In my opinion, the author did an exceptional job of crafting each character.

The unique perspectives of the men in the novel did more than just shed light on the depth of each individual personality. Each POV revealed aspects of the men that made me feel for and with them. Their thoughts and experiences profoundly revealed the true, dirty, and bleak reality of the prison they are in. Their vulnerabilities, personal fears, and insecurities are realistically lived in a wonderfully crafted fictional setting.

As a result of how skillfully Carter wrote each character, the intimacy between Hera and the men is tender and erotic. They revolve around each other in a way that paces the romance beautifully. Nothing is rushed. Each man satisfies Hera's needs in varying ways, not just physically.

There is a cliffhanger, but it's one that is worthy of keeping us in suspense. It leaves Hera at different stages in her relationship with each man, and I LOVE that. There is a natural progression of intimacy and discovery with all of the characters that makes the burn achingly sweet and slow.

Silenced is more than just a reverse harem romance. It's an intriguing mystery and a race toward survival that will make your heart pound in fear for the characters' safety and sanity.

This is a story about Hera's strength and courage to survive in an unforgiving world. She is gathering more than lovers. Even through uncertainty, Hera is cementing bonds between friends and tentatively seeking allies.

I found myself experiencing hope for deep and lasting relationships for her, to keep her safe and loved in a world built on betrayal and lies.

I'm so glad I chose to read this book. I've found another favourite author to follow.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.]]> 4.00 Silenced (Larkwood Academy, #1)
author: Jayce Carter
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/18
date added: 2022/07/29
shelves: 2022-favorite-reads, arc-review, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, highly-recommend, in-a-series, hope-in-darkness, paranormal, reverse-harem, romance, triggers-disclaimer, up-all-night-read
review:
5 Stars - for a captivating read!

This story mesmerized me, as if a true siren stepped off the page and worked her magic.

With Silenced, Jayce Carter has written a captivating tale of characters finding hope in a harsh and brutal world, where people who manifest supernatural abilities and characteristics are seen as abnormalities in society. When they are discovered they are institutionalized and imprisoned, experimented on and made to disappear.

Hera is the heroine who discovers that she is a siren at the moment she is brutally attacked. Her attackers violently silence her, resulting in the loss of her voice.

For fans of reverse harem novels I highly recommend this gem. It's unlike others I've read and is skillfully written.

The majority of Silenced is told from Hera's POV. But some of the chapters are told from the POV of each of the men. In my opinion, the author did an exceptional job of crafting each character.

The unique perspectives of the men in the novel did more than just shed light on the depth of each individual personality. Each POV revealed aspects of the men that made me feel for and with them. Their thoughts and experiences profoundly revealed the true, dirty, and bleak reality of the prison they are in. Their vulnerabilities, personal fears, and insecurities are realistically lived in a wonderfully crafted fictional setting.

As a result of how skillfully Carter wrote each character, the intimacy between Hera and the men is tender and erotic. They revolve around each other in a way that paces the romance beautifully. Nothing is rushed. Each man satisfies Hera's needs in varying ways, not just physically.

There is a cliffhanger, but it's one that is worthy of keeping us in suspense. It leaves Hera at different stages in her relationship with each man, and I LOVE that. There is a natural progression of intimacy and discovery with all of the characters that makes the burn achingly sweet and slow.

Silenced is more than just a reverse harem romance. It's an intriguing mystery and a race toward survival that will make your heart pound in fear for the characters' safety and sanity.

This is a story about Hera's strength and courage to survive in an unforgiving world. She is gathering more than lovers. Even through uncertainty, Hera is cementing bonds between friends and tentatively seeking allies.

I found myself experiencing hope for deep and lasting relationships for her, to keep her safe and loved in a world built on betrayal and lies.

I'm so glad I chose to read this book. I've found another favourite author to follow.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
]]> <![CDATA[Between the Lines (The Planar Pages, #1)]]> 61373816
For investigator Fiona Thorne, turning the page is normal life. Solving mysteries is where the excitement lives. No case is too small to ignite her curiosity, no page too familiar to explore. She is determined to leave her mark in the Book, no matter where her cases may lead.

Whether unravelling conspiracies in an Elizabethan-like kingdom, outwitting sly cutthroat panthers on Roman seas, or navigating intrigues in a Venetian realm of canals and secretive fae, Fiona follows clues through page after page.

Blaze, the page of fire, is wasting away. Fire elementals are being smuggled out in waves, but by whom? Fiona is on the job and nothing will hold her back, not even the overbearing Travel Guild. They may run the Book, but they don’t rule her. With the fire page and its creatures on the brink of winking out, she has to race to unravel who the smugglers are and how to stop them. Is there more to this case than it seems? Can Fiona read between the lines and solve it in time?]]> 305 D. Hale Rambo Twyla Rae 3 Between the Lines is a rare treasure in how unique the story concept is for a mystery within the fantasy genre.

Fiona Thorne is a page turner, someone gifted with the ability to move between worlds within the Book of Larrakane. Being a curious person by nature, she chooses to be an investigator. By taking on clients, she works to build a reputation and become financially independent, breaking away from the influence of the Guild which governs page turner activities.

The author does an exceptional job of detailing Fiona's perception of living in a book, and the mechanics involved with navigating within its pages. I think my own curiosity rivaled Fiona's in my need to know what it would feel like to be self-aware within that kind of setting.

Fiona's entire universe is condensed into pages which are diverse worlds. Even the spine of the book is described in terms of geography, with communities of beings from pages bordering Spine dwelling there.

It's brilliant how the author took terminology familiar to readers (like 'bookmark') and wove it into Between the Lines as reinvented objects, places, and concepts. A good example is Fiona calling tourists who just pass through a page 'skimmers'.

I did enjoy the bonds of friendship between Fiona, Soot, and Gaili. Unfortunately, the story within Between the Lines meanders, traveling in too many directions too often. Consequently, the entire narrative loses focus. This leaves very little room for character development. The greater mystery Fiona solves loses intrigue very early in the story.

With so much world building happening within, reading Between the Lines feels more like a video game walkthrough than a novel. There are searches for clues, quests and side quests, NPCs that further the story, potions, tolls to pay, unique forms of currency, puzzles to solve, machinations and politics, a Guild, and always the opportunity to level up whenever Gaili invents gadgets that give characters added strengths.

The worlds within Between the Lines held my interest, even though the story in its entirety did not.

I love how this novel makes for a great video game concept!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.]]> 3.82 Between the Lines (The Planar Pages, #1)
author: D. Hale Rambo
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/27
date added: 2022/07/29
shelves:
review:
Between the Lines is a rare treasure in how unique the story concept is for a mystery within the fantasy genre.

Fiona Thorne is a page turner, someone gifted with the ability to move between worlds within the Book of Larrakane. Being a curious person by nature, she chooses to be an investigator. By taking on clients, she works to build a reputation and become financially independent, breaking away from the influence of the Guild which governs page turner activities.

The author does an exceptional job of detailing Fiona's perception of living in a book, and the mechanics involved with navigating within its pages. I think my own curiosity rivaled Fiona's in my need to know what it would feel like to be self-aware within that kind of setting.

Fiona's entire universe is condensed into pages which are diverse worlds. Even the spine of the book is described in terms of geography, with communities of beings from pages bordering Spine dwelling there.

It's brilliant how the author took terminology familiar to readers (like 'bookmark') and wove it into Between the Lines as reinvented objects, places, and concepts. A good example is Fiona calling tourists who just pass through a page 'skimmers'.

I did enjoy the bonds of friendship between Fiona, Soot, and Gaili. Unfortunately, the story within Between the Lines meanders, traveling in too many directions too often. Consequently, the entire narrative loses focus. This leaves very little room for character development. The greater mystery Fiona solves loses intrigue very early in the story.

With so much world building happening within, reading Between the Lines feels more like a video game walkthrough than a novel. There are searches for clues, quests and side quests, NPCs that further the story, potions, tolls to pay, unique forms of currency, puzzles to solve, machinations and politics, a Guild, and always the opportunity to level up whenever Gaili invents gadgets that give characters added strengths.

The worlds within Between the Lines held my interest, even though the story in its entirety did not.

I love how this novel makes for a great video game concept!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
]]> Demon Hunter Academy 61212259 At the Demon Hunter Academy, a witch's worth comes from her magic and her demon fighting prowess.

But when I lose everything in one day � my family, my arm, and my magic � I also lose all hope of graduating this term.

Three daring men rally behind me: the sensual healer who saves my life, my seductive college classmate, and our tempting professor who helps me reclaim my lost magic.

Their powers complement my own, and I find each one irresistible in his own unique way.

But when the infernal realm claws its way deeper into our world, no one is safe. We must band together if we hope to defeat the next demonic incursion.

Are these three men bold enough to stand with me against hell itself?


Demon Hunter Academy is a steamy standalone paranormal academy romance. This book's main characters will later make appearances throughout Bound to the Vampires, a complete trilogy.]]> Traci Lovelot Twyla Rae 5 5 Solid Stars!

Demon hunting has never been sexier!!!

Demon Hunter Academy is the wonderful first installment in what promises to be a riveting series. Demon hunting has never been as sexy or enticing as it is in this reverse harem novel.

Traci Lovelot reels you in right from the start with a brief glossary and notes on the rich mythology of the world she has created for her characters. That brief read shows us the care and love the author has put into crafting the Demon Hunter Academy universe. And it's a fascinating place to immerse yourself in.

Nimue is the main character, a demon hunter with a warrior spirit and Viking style braids.

Rigel is the tender healer who first captures her heart when Nimue's life is turned upside down by a sudden, life altering and tragic event. Fox is the professor whose loyalty and strength gives her courage to rise above challenges. Lantos is her classmate, a fellow fierce demon hunter.

All four balance and support each other as they navigate a world overrun by demons. Each are called to fight and defend in their own way while working through their attraction to each other.

In Nimue's world being a part of a coven is a binding relationship based on so much more than just shared talents as witches.

In Demon Hunter Academy covens are a wonderfully refreshing concept unlike any I've seen before in paranormal and urban fantasy genres. It's a family formed "for both professional and romantic reasons". They are a group of people whose combined strengths compliment each other. And, like a loving community, they can raise and nurture children who may or may not be biologically related.

And when the coven mates formally acknowledge their bonds...the sex is steaming hot. Traci Lovelot knows how to write romance and is an expert at making a reader's toes curl!

This is definitely an 18+ adult read. The characters are not teenagers. They are all in their twenties. The Academy is more like a university level of graduate learning.

The story was not rushed. Although not a slow burn, the relationships developed in a natural progression within the narrative, which made the intimacy between characters all that much more intense and erotic.

The magic and how it is wielded in Demon Hunter Academy is intriguing. The witches are multi-skilled, from the powers they are armed with to the weapons they wield. There are countless books in this genre that depict varied kinds of magic and how to wield them. But Lovelot somehow manages to separate herself from the pack with her unique take on a familiar story.

I love how the witches wear their individually styled armor and fight like soldiers in an army against brutal and relentless demon enemies.

Character dynamics are so important in crafting a well told story. Their voices and perspectives need to be uniquely their own, and Lovelot succeeded in creating well rounded, three dimensional characters in Nimue, Rigel, Fox, and Lantos. Together they have a chemistry that draws you into their intimate circle.

We get to know them through chapters dedicated to each point of view, and I loved experiencing their multi-faceted world from multiple perspectives.

I LOVED the Epilogue! It sets up the the story for the second book in the series in a way that I didn't see coming and makes me excited to read more.

I read Demon Hunter Academy in a day, revisiting paragraphs over and over again. I found it that good! I will be adding this novel to my 'up all night read' and 'highly recommend' shelves here on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.]]> 3.87 2022 Demon Hunter Academy
author: Traci Lovelot
name: Twyla Rae
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/26
date added: 2022/07/26
shelves: 2022-favorite-reads, arc-review, brilliant-writing, fave-author, favourites, in-a-series, i-have-to-own-this, romance, urban-fantasy, reverse-harem, up-all-night-read, highly-recommend
review:
5 Solid Stars!

Demon hunting has never been sexier!!!

Demon Hunter Academy is the wonderful first installment in what promises to be a riveting series. Demon hunting has never been as sexy or enticing as it is in this reverse harem novel.

Traci Lovelot reels you in right from the start with a brief glossary and notes on the rich mythology of the world she has created for her characters. That brief read shows us the care and love the author has put into crafting the Demon Hunter Academy universe. And it's a fascinating place to immerse yourself in.

Nimue is the main character, a demon hunter with a warrior spirit and Viking style braids.

Rigel is the tender healer who first captures her heart when Nimue's life is turned upside down by a sudden, life altering and tragic event. Fox is the professor whose loyalty and strength gives her courage to rise above challenges. Lantos is her classmate, a fellow fierce demon hunter.

All four balance and support each other as they navigate a world overrun by demons. Each are called to fight and defend in their own way while working through their attraction to each other.

In Nimue's world being a part of a coven is a binding relationship based on so much more than just shared talents as witches.

In Demon Hunter Academy covens are a wonderfully refreshing concept unlike any I've seen before in paranormal and urban fantasy genres. It's a family formed "for both professional and romantic reasons". They are a group of people whose combined strengths compliment each other. And, like a loving community, they can raise and nurture children who may or may not be biologically related.

And when the coven mates formally acknowledge their bonds...the sex is steaming hot. Traci Lovelot knows how to write romance and is an expert at making a reader's toes curl!

This is definitely an 18+ adult read. The characters are not teenagers. They are all in their twenties. The Academy is more like a university level of graduate learning.

The story was not rushed. Although not a slow burn, the relationships developed in a natural progression within the narrative, which made the intimacy between characters all that much more intense and erotic.

The magic and how it is wielded in Demon Hunter Academy is intriguing. The witches are multi-skilled, from the powers they are armed with to the weapons they wield. There are countless books in this genre that depict varied kinds of magic and how to wield them. But Lovelot somehow manages to separate herself from the pack with her unique take on a familiar story.

I love how the witches wear their individually styled armor and fight like soldiers in an army against brutal and relentless demon enemies.

Character dynamics are so important in crafting a well told story. Their voices and perspectives need to be uniquely their own, and Lovelot succeeded in creating well rounded, three dimensional characters in Nimue, Rigel, Fox, and Lantos. Together they have a chemistry that draws you into their intimate circle.

We get to know them through chapters dedicated to each point of view, and I loved experiencing their multi-faceted world from multiple perspectives.

I LOVED the Epilogue! It sets up the the story for the second book in the series in a way that I didn't see coming and makes me excited to read more.

I read Demon Hunter Academy in a day, revisiting paragraphs over and over again. I found it that good! I will be adding this novel to my 'up all night read' and 'highly recommend' shelves here on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ.

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