"The Hour Mage" by Angelina J Steffort

Sanja and the others have fled the faerie lands and returned to her home city, where they are hiding amongst the poorest of the population and seeking to remain hidden. Once discovered, she is forcibly returned to her murderous husband, who seeks to use her to win over her people. And that's just the beginning of the story!

This book takes you through the full range of emotions, as Sanja finds herself first in danger from her husband, and then back in faerie lands once again with the faerie king she had so recently escaped from. But she soon comes to realize that maybe he isn't the bad guy he seems to want her to believe him to be. 

And yet there is still so much more going on in this story that I'm hesitant to mention here for fear of spoiling what is best discovered as you read it. (And I, for one, think you'll want to read it.) The only truly frustrating thing is that the book ends on a cliffhanger. Like me, you'll need to get hold of the third book in the series to find out what happens next. (Fortunately, I believe that book has already been released, so I plan on getting my hands on a copy soon.)

I received a review copy of this book, and I very much enjoyed reading it. If you like fantasy novels, tales influencing faerie bargains/deals, royal intrigue, or are just looking for a book to lose yourself in for a while, I think you'll enjoy this one. I received a review copy of this book, and I know I truly enjoyed reading it.

This book may also be available through:

https://books2read.com/u/m2qAej

 

"Rodeo Clowns and Shakedowns" by Trixie Silvertale.

Once again, we return to Pin Cherry Harbor where Mitzy Moon and her husband Erick Harper live and run a Private Investigation business. Who is their newest client? None other than Erick's ex-wife. She and her family are in town to compete in the rodeo when one of the rodeo clowns winds up killed and her husband is blamed for the crime.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book, and as always, I enjoyed reading it. In this book, we get to see the former Sheriff arrested, as well as both Erick and Mitzi going undercover to try and solve the murder before Sheriff Paulson declares the caseclosed and an innocent man goes to jail.

As always, all our favorite characters in this series make an appearance and leave us very entertained by their antics. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, have read any of Ms. Silvertale's other books, whether or not from the Mitzi Moon or Harper/Moon series, then I can pretty much guarantee that you'll enjoy this one too.  This series has heart and is likely to make you laugh and smile. Give it a try. I don't think you'll regret it.

This book may also be available from the following retailers:

https://books2read.com/u/47WDQL

"The Star Courier" by Megan Mackie

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book (which is being released as a web exclusive book on the Yonder app) and enjoyed reading it a great deal.

This was the story of a Human serving as an officer on an interstellar courier ship. Humans serving in the ISL are rare, and even fewer of them serve as officers. When the ship is attacked, their captain is severely wounded and won’t survive. If that happens, the entire crew will all die as the ship itself shuts down.  The only way to save the crew is for Miranda to link with the ship so that they can Jump out of the area. There is only one problem, Humans have never been able to link with the ship and survive the process. So even if she manages to successfully get the ship away, she knows the process will kill her.

But somehow, the impossible happens and Miranda survives. But the process of linking with the ship destroys all memories of her past. Miranda is declared legally dead, and no one who knew her before is allowed to acknowledge or even supposed to serve aboard the same ship under her. This is the price of becoming a ship's captain. 

So now, Captain M'riadon, must master her new existence in a situation where the dack seems to be stacked against her. With no memories of who she was before and only a skeleton crew of new faces on the ship, she must  navigate her new existence, and find a way to succeed or fail as Captain M'riadon with a deck that is clearly stacked against her.

This was a very enjoyable science fiction story with great characters and a fascinating plot. I enjoyed every minute of this story. The pain and heartache, the anger and despair, the desperation, and the kindness and affection in the story all come through quite clearly. You can't help but feel what the various characters are going through, and when the reasons why they feel so strongly become apparent to the reader, it makes your awareness of those feelings even more bittersweet.

This really was a fantastic story, and I will be watching for the sequel to be released. If you enjoy science fiction, and books that take you on an adventurous roller coaster, then you will want to read this book. This is one that I hope will have a sequel (or season two since it is a serial) as it was an excellent read and I would like to read more about this ship and crew's adventures.

You can find this book on the Yonder app by following this link:

https://m.yonderstory.com/titles/1305

"Moon Bound" by Chelsea Burton Dunn

Vee is a locksmith. She would say that her abilities as an empath are more trouble than they're worth and that she just wants to live a normal everyday life, at least as much as possible. But ever since helping out by keeping a teenage girl who happened to be a Werewolf about to experience her first change keep from transforming in public, staying under the radar of other preternaturals is just not possible anymore... especially not with the growing attraction between herself and the local pack leader. And staying unnoticed becomes completely impossible when it becomes clear that someone, or something, is hunting Vee. But the why is unknown.

I read an Advance Review copy of this book. Like several others I have read recently, it is the second book in a series of which I have not yet read book one. But trust me, after reading this one, I plan on finding a copy of that book to read and review. In other words, I really enjoyed it.

Like anyone, the characters in this book had their own flaws, and it shows that just because someone can sense what another is feeling, it doesn't tell them why they feel it or even what might have caused that feeling. I enjoyed reading about the various Weres, Witches, and Watchers. And even without having read book one, it was still very clear how each group was different than the others, as well as the fact that there are other types of preternaturals in the world 

I enjoyed reading this book, and I do intend to hunt down book one. I am also looking forward to reading book three in this series.

If you like magic, otherworldly beings, Werewolves, or any other type of paranormal creature stories, then I think you will enjoy this series as well.

This book may also be found from the following locations:

https://books2read.com/bymoonlight02

"Cookbooks and Demons" by Megan Mackie

Helena is hosting a dinner party for several friends, coworkers, and her boss. But she's pretty much a disaster in the kitchen. After ruining her attempted meal, she somehow managed to accidentally summon a demon. And we all know how poorly that tends to end for the summoner.  But the demon manages to save her meal, allowing her to impress her guests without them finding out that he isn't actually a caterer.

This was an interesting story. I received and read a review copy of this story. It was a fun and steamy paranormal romance. But readers should be aware that there are some trigger warnings with this one. There are references to bullying and suicide. And some sexual situations that make this probably a bit inappropriate for younger readers.

The interactions between Helena and the demon (Rafferty) were very interesting and often fun to watch. He's not exactly what you expect when a demon is accidentally summoned, and she clearly has more sympathy for his plight than most summoners would. All in all, it makes for a very interesting story. And the ending leaves me wanting to know what will be coming in the sequel. (Or would that be season two as this is a serial on the Yonder app.)

If you enjoy fun paranormal romances that include some steamy sex scenes in the story, then you'll definitely enjoy this book. You can find it on the Yonder app by following this link:

https://m.yonderstory.com/titles/1237

"The Lame and Forged Mail Order Bride" by Florence Linnington

When Belle learns that her Father planned to send her younger sister off as a mail order bride, Belle knew she couldn't let that happen. Instead, she left in her sister's stead, expecting to find an older or cruel man. But what she found was a man her own age, who had a small homestead and a young son. She marries him, but as he was expecting a woman named Susie, she tells him that her younger sister was named Belle. 

This was a sweet tale of two people finding love and overcoming a number of challenges and difficulties that come their way. It brings to the fore the question of whether love can be built between two people based on a lie, even if that lie was made with nothing but the best of intentions behind it.

Ms Linnington is very good at writing heartwarming tales that include a life lesson in them. Most often, those lessons involve being honest with one another, and not being afraid to tell someone what you are thinking and feeling. This one seems to be about the power of honesty and forgiveness. And even if you aren't reading Ms. Linnington's books for their life lessons, they are still very enjoyable and sweet tales that always have a happy ending, even when it looks like that might be a difficult ending to find.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the author, and believe that if, like me, you enjoy mail-order bride stories, western romances, historical fiction, or have enjoyed any of Ms. Linnington's other books, then I am sure that you'll enjoy this one too.

This book may also be available through the following:

https://books2read.com/u/meXOgr

"Queen's Incubus" by Honey Cummings

Velechka is the First Crowned Princess of Aurelia, but she has been taught from early on not to questions the decisions made for her by others, regarding everything from what foods she wants to eat or what color and style of clothing she prefers, to who her father and the council intend for her to marry and when. She has been taught the hard way, not to disagree or ask for something other than what she is given. That is simply her life as a royal.

But things change when she learns that the "Whore King" has demanded that she was to become one of his harem, and instead of sending her, the council decides instead her younger, underage sister, should be delivered into a life of certain misery instead. Then Valechka finds her determination and her voice and stands up to the men running her kingdom and sets out to take control of her own fate. She makes a magical deal with the Advisor of Iniquity to train her in techniques of seduction that will aid her in gaining the title of Queen to the Whore King rather than merely becoming just another princess in his harem. The only requirement is that her petal (her virginity) must remain intact or the deal that was made with the Whore King will be void and war will likely overrun her country.

Starting out with the obvious, this is erotica, complete with a great deal of very graphic sex, and includes some trigger warnings for violence, rape, and abuse. It's no secret that I am not a fan of erotica, but was asked to read this book anyway. (I received an advance review copy.) And I was surprised by how entertaining I found the story.  The main characters were fascinating, and parts of this book nearly had me in tears for the fate that they seemed to be doomed and forced into. 

This book is a serial on the Yonder app. If you are a fan of very graphic and descriptive erotica, but also enjoy tales with an excellent story that drives the sexual encounters forward (as opposed to one where the sex is the story without much plot to move things forward) then you will likely enjoy this one. I know I was pleasantly surprised by it.

You can find this book in the Yonder app.

https://m.yonderstory.com/titles/1304

"The Sea of the Vanities" by Lou Kemp.

Cass has been traveling across the southern continent. She is a renowned singer who is fleeing a scandal and her memories, though no matter how far she goes, both still seem to find her.  She is currently taking passage on the sailing ship "Passat," hoping for a nice quiet trip. Unfortunately, fate seems to have other plans.

I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book, and enjoyed this seafaring tale of adventure, murder, pirates and a touch of the paranormal. It was set in the 1800s, and I found the story and the characters quite captivating.  Traveling across oceans in the days when pirate ships roamed free was often dangerous, and the pirates in this book were more than a little bloodthirsty. But they weren't the only dangers the Passat's passengers would encounter.

So far as I could tell, the setting and the characters in the book were fairly accurate portrayals for the time, and their stories added to my enjoyment of this book. I know that I'm being rather vague about this one, but I don't want to risk spoiling the plot for you. This was a companion book to a series that I have not read, though after reading this book, I want to track down Ms. Kemp's other books to find out what I've missed.

I think that if you enjoy tales of adventure, pirates, and ocean voyages, that you would likely enjoy this book too. Just be warned, there are some rape scenes in this book. And while most of it takes place "off camera" it leaves little doubt that rape was involved.

This book is also available through the following retailers:

https://books2read.com/celwyncompanion01