Friday, 31 January 2020

Review: Twilight Seeker - Pippa DaCosta

Stay in the light, avoid locked doors, and resist silver whispers.

Meet Lynher Aris. Hostess extraordinaire. By night, she entertains the Dark Ones passing through the Night Station: vampires, demons, shifters, and worse. By day, she undermines them all, working with the resistance to unravel their enslavement of the human race.

But Lynher has a dark secret of her own, and with the imminent arrival of Ghost—a vampire overlord few have seen but all fear—she must play her role as the queen of the Night Station to perfection, keeping the resistance and her secret safe, or risk losing everything, including the powerful Night Station itself.

A new gothic urban fantasy series by acclaimed fantasy & sci-fi author, Pippa DaCosta.

Daybreaker Series:
Twilight Seeker
Night Scourge (July 2020)

Visit Pippa DaCosta's website for more information

Review:
It's no secret that I'm a Pippa DaCosta fangirl so of course I've been eagerly waiting for Twilight Seeker ever since she first announced it but I'm going to say it here and now that she has completely outdone herself with this one. The story had me hooked from the first page with its brilliant world building and fantastic characters. Nothing is quite what it seems when it comes to the Night Station, it's magical, dangerous and full of secrets. I think we've only started to scratch the surface and I can't wait for the next book so we can dig down a few more layers.

Lynher is a great character, she's a normal human in a world full of demons, vampires and fae who all consider her prey. It is her job to run the Night Station and keep the peace amongst her guests but she's at a physical disadvantage compared to everyone around her so she's walking a very fine line keeping everything balanced. It's all about keeping up appearances and making sure the guests see her as someone to be wary of rather than someone they can walk right over. She's not completely powerless though and again I think we have a lot more to learn about what she's truly capable of.

While juggling the needs of her guests Lynher is also working alongside the human resistance doing everything she can to rescue as many humans as possible from slavery to the vampires and other supernatural races. Throw in characters like Rafe, the incubus who has been attempting to seduce her for as long as she can remember, and Just Jack, a new arrival at the Night Station who is obviously more than he seems, and I have absolutely no idea where this series is going to take us next. We've already had so many twists so while I have a few suspicions about certain people I'm pretty sure Pippa will turn everything on its head all over again in the next book.

Series like this are the reason I love urban fantasy and I'm so happy we only have to wait until July for the second book, Night Scourge, although if Pippa could write a little faster and let me have it sometime next week I definitely would't complain LOL.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle:

Blog Tour: Bishop's Endgame - Katie Reus


USA TODAY Bestselling Author Katie Reus's Endgame Trilogy comes to an end with BISHOP'S ENDGAME. Lovers of romantic suspense won't want to miss this thrilling conclusion -- grab your copy today!


About BISHOP'S ENDGAME

Read the final book in the Endgame trilogy where blood is thick, but passion is thicker...

He kidnapped a princess to exact revenge.

Set up for a crime he didn’t commit, Ellis Bishop takes the law into his own hands to exact justice and clear his name. Unfortunately, that means he has to kidnap a crime boss’s daughter—a perfect mafia princess, set to become queen of a dirty empire. What he didn’t count on was falling for his mortal enemy’s daughter.

He wasn’t supposed to fall for her.

Arianna hates the man who kidnapped her, but soon she realizes that things aren’t what they seem. Ellis was framed by her stepfather and is trying to clear his name. If she helps him, it means betraying her family. But how can she turn her back on him when he’s innocent… when her stepfather turns out to be a monster she never really knew at all?


Get your copy of BISHOP'S ENDGAME!


Excerpt

Arianna jumped to her feet when there was a sharp rap on the stateroom door. They’d stopped not too long ago and had been waiting for the go-ahead that they could disembark.

Ellis stood as well, his movements liquid grace. “We’ve got a few minutes.”

He’d warned her that when they docked, their boat might be checked, so the two of them were going to hide in a secret cubby in the closet. She was curious why it even existed, though could more or less gauge the reason. To hide stuff.

She wasn’t sure who was helping them, just that one of his friends was apparently super rich. Yeah she knew his family was wealthy, but owning a yacht was a totally different kind of wealth.

Like one-percent crazy money.

Ellis opened the closet door, his broad shoulders filling up the sleek, teakwood frame. When he stepped farther inside, she followed after him. It was already cramped but then he pressed something on the wall—a button of some kind she couldn’t see—and the panel slid back to reveal a small, carpeted space that would fit two standing people. Barely.

He stepped in first and pressed back against the wall.

She moved in after him, plastering her body to his because there was no other choice. He was rock-hard against her, all lean muscles and raw strength. And good God, the man was tall and built. She’d known it, but being in the enclosed space really drove home that point.

“It’s going to get dark in here, but it won’t be for long.” His deep voice was all soothing and gentle. Very different from when he’d first kidnapped her. Just the sound of his voice did strange things to her insides—things she was going to ignore. “And if things go sideways, just act like you’re here against your will.”

“Okay,” she said quietly, trying to ignore how good he smelled. It was hard when her face was right up against his chest. That masculine, dark scent she was coming to associate with him wrapped around her, making her light-headed, and she leaned even closer against him.

He pressed a section of a small double hook that looked as if it could be used for hanging hats or robes. As soon as he did, the wall slid back into place with a faint swishing sound.

The architecture of this was incredible, and if he hadn’t told her about the buttons earlier, she never would have seen either one. She wondered if this storage area was for smuggling cigars or something.

As she shifted against him, she tried really hard not to be aware of all of his sleek muscles and rock-hard body against her. She thought the sexual part of her had not only died, but withered away years ago. Around Ellis it was coming to life with a vengeance. Which was so inappropriate, and really, the worst timing ever.

She hadn’t been with anybody since she’d gotten completely sober, had turned down so many dates she couldn’t count. It was as if men knew she wasn’t interested so they came out in droves or something.

She simply didn’t want to get to know anybody because eventually it would lead to getting naked. And she was terrified of what that entailed.

She wasn’t sure she could have sex sober. Or good sex. Ugh.

Closing her eyes even though it was dark, she laid her cheek against his chest and took a steadying breath. He smelled spicy, something masculine that she was still trying to pin down. Whatever it was, she liked it as much as she liked the feel of his hard chest against her. The man might have kidnapped her originally, but right now she felt strangely safe with him. Bonded, almost. And when he’d kidnapped her, he’d gone out of his way to be gentle with her, even when he’d thought she was a monster. He could have done anything he wanted, but when she’d brought up rape, he’d been so disgusted and horrified.

He shifted slightly, moving a fraction as he settled his big hands on her hips. And oh, wow, she liked the feel of his hands on her—way too much.

About Katie Reus

Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.

However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Her book Avenger’s Heat recently won the Georgia RWA Maggie Award for Excellence in the fantasy/paranormal category.

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Books Read in 2019

~A~
A Dom is Forever (Masters & Mercenaries book 3) - Lexi Blake
A Dream So Dark (Nightmare-Verse book 2) - L.L. McKinney
A Little Bit Bad (Beyond book 9.9) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
A Madness of Sunshine - Nalini Singh
A Questionable Client (Kate Daniels book 0.5) - Ilona Andrews (Short Story) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
A Very Charley Christmas (Charley Davidson book 10.5) - Darynda Jones (Short Story)
All Wrapped Up for the Holidays - Anthology
Angel Mage - Garth Nix
Any Way the Wind Blows - Seanan McGuire (Short Story)
Archangel's Prophecy (Guild Hunter book 11) - Nalini Singh (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Archangel's War (Guild Hunter book 12) - Nalini Singh (Read Twice)
Aurora Blazing (Consortium Rebellion book 2) - Jessie Mihalik
Avenged by an Angel (Eternal Mates book 16) - Felicity Heaton

~B~
Back in Bliss (Nights in Bliss book 9) - Lexi Blake
Barbarian's Mate (Ice Planet Barbarians book 6) - Ruby Dixon
Bayou Moon (The Edge book 2) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Beast (A Faery Story book 2) - Lexi Blake
Beauty (A Faery Story book 3) - Lexi Blake
Betrayal (1000 Revolution book 1) - Pippa DaCosta (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Betrayal in Death (In Death book 12) - J.D. Robb
Big Jack (In Death book 17.5) - J.D. Robb
Chester 5000-XYV: Isabelle and George (Chester 5000 book 2) - Jess Fink (Graphic Novel) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Christmas in the City - Anthology
Dead Ringer (Journals of Octavia Hollows book 5) - Stacey Rourke (Novella)
Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers book 1) - Rebecca Zanetti
Defending Elysium (Cytonic book 0.5) - Brandon Sanderson (Short Story)
Deliverance (1000 Revolution book 5) - Pippa DaCosta
Delusion in Death (In Death book 35) - J.D. Robb
Diamond Fire (Hidden Legacy book 3.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review) (Read Twice)
Diplomacy (Beyond book 9.91) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Divided in Death (In Death book 18) - J.D. Robb
Dragonology: The Complete Book of Dragons - Dugald A. Steer
Drop Dead Gorgeous (Journals of Octavia Hollows book 4) - Stacey Rourke (Novella)

~E~
Edge of Darkness (Hunter Legacy book 3) - Lara Adrian
Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson book 8) - Darynda Jones
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (Charley Davidson book 11) - Darynda Jones
Enchanted (Masters and Mercenaries book 18.5) - Lexi Blake
Enticed by the Gargoyle (Stone Sentries Boston book 2) - Lisa Carlisle (Novella)
Escape (1000 Revolution book 2) - Pippa DaCosta (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Etched in Bone (The Others book 5) - Anne Bishop
Eternity in Death (In Death book 25.5) - J.D. Robb (Novella)
Evidence of Desire (Courting Justice book 2) - Lexi Blake

~F~
Fake Love - Claire Contreras (Novella)
Falling (1000 Revolution book 0.5) - Pippa DaCosta (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Fantasy in Death (In Death book 30) - J.D. Robb
Fate's Edge (The Edge book 3) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Festive in Death (In Death book 39) - J.D. Robb
Fierce Protector (Beyond book 9.7) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson book 5) - Darynda Jones
Flash (Beyond book 3.1) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Fortuna Sworn - K.J. Sutton
Fury (Menagerie book 3) - Rachel Vincent

~G~
Game of Thrones: A Pop-Up Guide to Westeros - Matthew Reinhart
Girls' Night Out (Gideon's Riders book 3.2) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Glow (Charley Davidson book 5.6) - Darynda Jones (Short Story)
Godsgrave (Nevernight Chronicles book 2) - Jay Kristoff (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
Grave Dance (Alex Craft book 2) - Kalayna Price (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Grave Destiny (Alex Craft book 6) - Kalayna Price
Grave Memory (Alex Craft book 3) - Kalayna Price (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Grave Ransom (Alex Craft book 5) - Kalayna Price
Grave Visions (Alex Craft book 4) - Kalayna Price
Grave Witch (Alex Craft book 1) - Kalayna Price (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Guided Tour of Gibraltar - T.J. Finlayson (Travel Guide)
Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels book 5.5) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)

~H~
Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts - Matthew Reinhart
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Illustrated Edition (Harry Potter book 4) - J.K. Rowling & Jim Kay
Harry Potter - Creatures: A Paper Scene Book
Harry Potter: The Marauder's Map Guide to Hogwarts - Erinn Pascal
Haunted in Death (In Death book 22.5) - J.D. Robb (Novella)
Having the Barbarian's Baby (Ice Planet Barbarians book 6.5) - Ruby Dixon (Short Story)
Headlines and Hydras - Rebecca Chastain (I beta read this book for the author so I won't be reviewing it until after it is published next year)
HeartMate (Celta's Heartmates book 1) - Robin D. Owens
Her Dark Legion (Messenger Chronicles book 5) - Pippa DaCosta
High Priestess (Gideon's Riders book 3.1) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
High Stakes (Vegas Vampires book 1) - Erin McCarthy
Home (Binti book 2) - Nnedi Okorafor (Novella)
Hope is Swift (October Daye book 13.1) - Seanan McGuire (Short Story)
Hot Rocks - Nora Roberts
How the Dead Lie (Journals of Octavia Hollows boo 0.5) - Stacey Rourke (Novella)
How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire (Love at Stake book 1) - Kerrelyn Sparks

~I~
Imitation in Death (In Death book 17) - J.D. Robb
Imperfect Match (Imperfect Match book 1) - Corinne Michaels & Melanie Harlow
In an Absent Dream (Wayward Children book 4) - Seanan McGuire
In Moonlight and Memories: Volume One - Julie Ann Walker
In Moonlight and Memories: Volume Three - Julie Ann Walker
In Moonlight and Memories: Volume Two - Julie Ann Walker
Incredibuilds: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Erumpent - Ramin Zahed (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Express (Deluxe Book and Model Set)
Incredibuilds: Harry Potter: Thestral - Incredibuilds (Deluxe Book and Model Set)

~M~
Magic Binds (Kate Daniels book 9) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Bites (Kate Daniels book 1) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels book 4) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Breaks - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Burns (Kate Daniels book 2) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels book 4.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic for Liars - Sarah Gailey
Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels book 5.4) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Mourns (Kate Daniels book 3.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Rises (Kate Daniels book 6) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels book 8) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Slays (Kate Daniels book 5) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Stars (Kate Daniels book 8.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Steals (Kate Daniels book 6.5) - Ilona Andrews (Novella) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels book 3) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Tests (Kate Daniels book 5.3) - Ilona Andrews (Short Story) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels book 10) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Makhai (Gideon's Riders book 1.2) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Marked in Flesh (The Others book 4) - Anne Bishop
Meet Cute - Helena Hunting
Memento (Illuminae Files book 0.5) - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff (Novella)
Memorial (Beyond book 9.6) - Kit Rocha (Short Story)
Memory in Death (In Death book 22) - J.D. Robb
Menagerie (Menagerie book 1) - Rachel Vincent (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Middlegame - Seanan McGuire
Mirror, Mirror - Anthology
Missing in Death (In Death book 29.5) - J.D. Robb (Novella)
Murder of Crows (The Others book 2) - Anne Bishop

~N~
Nevernight (Nevernight Chronicles book 1) - Jay Kristoff (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
New York to Dallas (In Death book 33) - J.D. Robb
North Cyprus (Bradt Travel Guide)

~P~
Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion book 1) - Jessie Mihalik
Portrait in Death (In Death book 16) - J.D. Robb
Possession in Death (In Death book 31.5) - J.D. Robb (Novella)
Promise of Darkness (Dark Court Rising book 1) - Bec McMaster
Promises in Death (In Death book 28) - J.D. Robb
Pure Bliss (Nights in Bliss book 6) - Lexi Blake
Purity in Death (In Death book 15) - J.D. Robb

~Q~


~R~
Reaper (Demonica book 19) - Larissa Ione
Remember When (In Death book 17.5) - Nora Roberts & J.D. Robb
Renaissance Man - Tessa Bailey (Novella)
Retribution Clause (Kate Daniels book 5.6) - Ilona Andrews (Short Story) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Reunion in Death (In Death book 14) - J.D. Robb
Rise of the Fire Witch (Stone Sentries Boston books 1-3) - Lisa Carlisle
Ritual in Death (In Death book 27.5) - J.D. Robb (Novella)
Ronda - Jose Manuel Real Pascual (Travel Guide)
Run to You (100 Series book 4) - Lara Adrian

~S~
Salvation in Death (In Death book 27) - J.D. Robb
Salvatore (In Too Far book 1) - Cecy Robson
Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy book 4) - Ilona Andrews (Read Three Times)
Seduced by a Demon King (Eternal Mates book 17) - Felicity Heaton
Seduction in Death (In Death book 13) - J.D. Robb
Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson book 7) - Darynda Jones
Sex Criminals Volume 1: One Weird Trick - Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky (Graphic Novel)
Shadows (Bayou Magic book 1) - Kristen Proby
Shalador's Lady (Black Jewels book 8) - Anne Bishop
Shimmer (Charley Davidson book 5.5) - Darynda Jones (Short Story)
Silk & Steel (Silk & Steel book 1) - Ariana Nash
Sin & Salvation (Demigod of San Francisco book 3) - K.F. Breene
Siren Unleashed (Texas Sirens book 7) - Lexi Blake
Sirens in Bliss (Nights in Bliss book 10) - Lexi Blake
Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson book 6) - Darynda Jones
Sky in the Deep (Sky in the Deep book 1) - Adrienne Young
Sleepless Vol. 1 - Sarah Vaughn & Leila del Duca (Graphic Novel) (Read Twice)
Sleepless Vol. 2 - Sarah Vaughn & Leila del Duca (Graphic Novel)
Sleigh Bells Ring - Jodie Griffin (Short Story)
Small Magics - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Snowspelled (Harwood Spellbook book 1) - Stephanie Burgis
Soul of the Sword (Shadow of the Fox book 2) - Julie Kagawa
Spectacle (Menagerie book 2) - Rachel Vincent
Starsight (Cytonic book 2) - Brandon Sanderson
Steel's Edge (The Edge book 4) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Strangers in Death (In Death book 26) - J.D. Robb
Stuffed Stockings - K.A. Mitchell (Novella)
Summoned to Thirteenth Grave (Charley Davidson book 13) - Darynda Jones
Survivor in Death (In Death book 20) - J.D. Robb
Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles book 2) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles book 4) - Ilona Andrews (Read Twice!)

~T~
Taken in Death (In Death book 37.5) - J.D. Robb (Novella)
Tempted by the Gargoyle (Stone Sentries Boston book 1) - Lisa Carlisle (Novella)
Thankless in Death (In Death book 37) - J.D. Robb
That Ain't Witchcraft (Incryptid book 8) - Seanan McGuire
The Ash-Born Boy (The Near Witch book 0.5) - V.E. Schwab (Short Story)
The Bear's Chosen Mate (Borealis Bears book 1) - Vivian Arend
The Bear's Fated Mate (Borealis Bears book 2) - Vivian Arend
The Beyond (Devil's Isle book 4) - Chloe Neill
The Black Prince (Silk & Steel book 4) - Ariana Nash
The Bride Test (Kiss Quotient book 2) - Helen Hoang
The Bromance Book Club (Bromance Book Club book 1) - Lyssa Kay Adams
The Culling Trials Book 1 (Shadowspell Academy book 1) - Shannon Mayer & K.F. Breene
The Culling Trials book 2 (Shadowspell Academy book 2) - Shannon Mayer & K.F. Breene
The Culling Trials book 3 (Shadowspell Academy book 3) - Shannon Mayer & K.F. Breene
The Curse of the Tenth Grave (Charley Davidson book 10) - Darynda Jones
The Deep - Rivers Soloman, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes (Novella)
The Demon World (Smoke Thieves book 2) - Sally Green
The Dirt on the Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson book 9) - Darynda Jones
The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters and Mercenaries book 1) - Lexi Blake
The Fever King (Feverwake book 1) - Victoria Lee
The Girl in Red - Christina Henry
The Girl the Sea Gave Back (Sky in the Deep book 2) - Adrienne Young
The Harp of Kings (Warrior Bards book 1) - Juliet Marillier
The Journals of Octavia Hollows: Books 1-6 - Stacey Rourke
The Kinsmen Universe (Kinsmen anthology) - Ilona Andrews
The Last Wish (The Witcher book 0.5) - Andrzej Sapkowski
The Lunatics: Volume One - Navessa Allen
The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons book 4) - Ella Quinn
The Match of the Century (Marrying the Duke book 1) - Cathy Maxwell
The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries book 2) - Lexi Blake
The Near Witch (The Near Witch book 1) - V.E. Schwab
The Night Before Christmas - Clement C. Moore (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
The Night Masquerade (Binti book 3) - Nnedi Okorafor (Novella)
The Orchid Throne (Forgotten Empires book 1) - Jeffe Kennedy
The Queen's Advantage (Rogue Queen book 2) - Jessie Mihalik (Read Twice)
The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold book 1) - Traci Chee
The Rowan (The Tower and the Hive book 1) - Anne McCaffrey
The Second Time Around (The Worthingtons book 2.5) - Ella Quinn (Novella)
The Shadow Warrior (Ars Numina book 4) - Ann Aguirre
The Toll (Arc of a Scythe book 3) - Neal Shusterman
The Trouble with Twelfth Grave (Charley Davidson book 12) - Darynda Jones
The Undying King - Grace Draven (Novella)
The Unkindest Tide (October Daye book 13) - Seanan McGuire
The Winter of the Witch (Winternight book 3) - Katherine Arden
The Women's War (Women's War book 1) - Jenna Glass
Their Second Chance (Thalanian Dynasty book 2.5) - Katee Robert (Novella)
Three Weeks to Wed (The Worthingtons book 1) - Ella Quinn
To Free a Captured Heart (Djinn Haven book 3) - R.L. Naquin
Trapped (1000 Revolution book 3) - Pippa DaCosta (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
Treachery in Death (In Death book 32) - J.D. Robb
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter: The Official Guide
Werewolf Cinderella - Amanda Milo (Novella)
When a Marquis Chooses a Bride (The Worthingtons book 2) - Ella Quinn
White Hot (Hidden Legacy book 2) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review) (Read Twice)
Wicked Hour (Heirs of Chicagoland book 2) - Chloe Neill
Wild Country (The Others book 7) - Anne Bishop
Wildfire (Hidden Legacy book 3) - Ilona Andrews (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review) (Read Twice)
Wires and Nerve: Volume 1 - Marissa Meyer (Graphic Novel)
Witness in Death (In Death book 10) - J.D. Robb
Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity book 3) - Nalini Singh
Wonderland - Anthology
Worth Fighting For (Warrior Fight Club book 2.5) - Laura Kaye
Written in Red (The Others book 1) - Anne Bishop

~X~


~Y~


~Z~


2019 Totals:
Novels read = 245
Novellas read = 43
Short Stories read = 20
Graphic Novels read = 7
(of which 57 were rereads)

Thursday, 30 January 2020

Review: The Deep - Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson & Jonathan Snipes

The water-breathing descendants of African slave women tossed overboard have built their own underwater society-and must reclaim the memories of their past to shape their future in this brilliantly imaginative novella inspired by the Hugo Award-nominated song "The Deep" from Daveed Diggs's rap group clipping.

Yetu holds the memories for her people-water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners-who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one-the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.

Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities-and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.

Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past-and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they'll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity-and own who they really are.

Inspired by a song produced by the rap group Clipping for the This American Life episode "We Are In The Future," The Deep is vividly original and uniquely affecting.

Visit Rivers Solomon's website for more information

Review:
It's not often that I read a book as powerful as The Deep and I've struggled for a long time to write this review because honestly I just don't have the right words to do it justice. Rivers Solomon tackles such emotive and heartbreaking topics in this story where descendants of African women, who were often heavily pregnant at the time, were throw overboard from the slave ships and left to drown but some of them actually survived and went on to create their own underwater utopian society. As a people they have a past full of trauma and to save themselves from constantly reliving the pain of their ancestors they choose one of their members to become the historian.

Yetu is the current historian and that means she holds the memories of her entire people so that the rest of the Wajinru can live their lives in peace. Once a year a ceremony called The Remembering is held so that the others can briefly experience the memories but the rest of the time Yetu alone is responsible for shouldering the heavy burden. These memories are painful and Yetu is constantly reliving the traumatic events her ancestors experienced so it's no wonder her own mental health is suffering.

I honestly don't want to say any more about what happens to Yetu during the story so I'm going to focus on how powerful the writing was and how quickly I was drawn into this world. I think it's so important to think about how racial history can leave a very real emotional toll for generations but also how important that cultural identity is for people to feel a connection with their past. Yetu lives with very real and damaging memories of Wajinru who lost their lives after years of suffering but she also remembers all the good things they experienced too which helps balance out the story and leaves you with a sense of hope.

Rivers Solomon was inspired to write this story after listening to the song The Deep written by David Diggs and his rap group Clipping. You can listen to the song on YouTube and I'd highly recommend it because it really sets the tone for the story.



Source: Received from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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Wednesday, 29 January 2020

Cover Reveal: Gone Wild Series - Katee Robert, Piper J. Drake, Avery Flynn, Robin Covington & Stacey Kennedy


Five friends. One singles cruise. So many sexy shenanigans.

The Gone Wild Series, an all-new sexy and fun series featuring brand-new standalone romances from five bestselling authors, is coming March 24th and we’re celebrating the fun and flirty covers!


Kissing Kendall by New York Times bestselling author Katee Robert


All Kendall Barnes wants is a nice relaxing cruise to reconnect with her friends from college. Instead, they're mistakenly booked on a singles' cruise. Despite this series of unfortunate events, Kendall is determined to follow through on her original plan... At least until she meets a gorgeous stranger who might just be enough to tempt her into breaking all her rules.

Alex Jeffries is on his first vacation in over ten years, and he hates every second of it. He can't stop thinking about what could be going wrong with the bar he owns back home, at least until he meets Kendall and forgets about everything but kissing her. Maybe a party cruise wasn't the worst idea after all...

Kendall and Alex embark on a sexy fling, but it only takes a few days for the truth to sink in. The mind-blowing chemistry between them is only getting stronger, and despite the expiration date they both agreed on, they can't help wondering if this vacation fling can go the distance...

Or are they destined to crash and burn when they come back to reality?

Pre-order your copy today!
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2QAHq32


Gaming Grace by bestselling author Piper J. Drake


All work and no play is no way to enjoy this cruise.

Executive Director Grace Kim figures this reunion with her college friends is the perfect excuse to prove that she knows how to keep work/life balance and enjoy the Caribbean, preferably with her pants intact.

Rich, sexy, brilliant Bryan Wu has an app for that, and he charms Grace into helping him test it. He offers seven days of the best vacation of her life (bonus, sizzling chemistry) before they return to reality, but he didn't anticipate just how much of his heart he'd give her.

When an accidental error results in a humiliating video of her online, Grace must salvage her career and decide whether to erase Bryan from her memory forever or admit they brought out the best in each other.

Pre-order your copy today!
AppleBooks: Coming Soon!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/GamingGrace
Nook: Coming Soon!
Kobo: Coming Soon!
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2tJRyxf


Attracting Aubrey by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Avery Flynn


I never dreamed I’d meet my celebrity crush while stealing every single pair of my best friend’s pants.

Trust me, my life is not that wild. In fact, the most excitement I usually get is running my fan-favorite Insta thirst account featuring butt-tastic pics of Hollywood superhero Carter Hayes. So, imagine my shock when, in the middle of the cruise ship hallway, I realize the guy whose shirt I'm stuffing slacks inside of is Carter disguised as a tourist. How I manage not to faint dead away, I've got no clue.

When word leaks that Carter might be on board, he asks me to help him maintain his cover. There’s no way I’m gonna say no to that. I just don't share that I’m the anonymous woman behind the fan account that reported sighting him onboard. No biggie. Right?

However, when things between us go from friendly to hot to OMG-I-can’t-keep-my-clothes-on-around-him, all I can do is hope he never discovers my secret. You see, somewhere along the way, Carter went from an untouchable movie star to the man I’m falling for.

Pre-order your copy today!
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2T5i5A4


Beguiling Benjamin by USA Today bestselling author Robin Covington


All work and no play has made me a very dull and very horny boy. But now that I’ve secured my coveted tenure professorship in mathematics, I can concentrate on 1) getting a life; and 2) getting off. Not necessarily in that order.

A vacation with my best friends is the perfect way to kick off my new life. And the fact that our relaxing week on the beach is mistakenly booked as a raucous singles cruise seems like the perfect answer to problem number two.

Propositioning the assistant football coach from my university (and the number one player on my spankbank fantasy team) on the ship’s deck after three too many rum punches seems like a good idea at the time. One hotter-than-hell kiss and blow-my-mind orgasm later and the deal for a week-long fling is done and it is definitely the best idea I’ve ever had.

One cruise. Two guys. Seven nights. Zero strings. It sounds like the perfect equation to me... what could possibly go wrong?

Pre-order your copy today!
Apple Books:Coming Soon!
Google Play: Coming Soon!
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2FuYAIS


Loving Liv by USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy


USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy returns to the passion-filled world of Club Sin and Dirty Little Secrets with this novella featuring a slightly flawed Dom who has six days--and six very steamy nights--on a Caribbean cruise to convince an innocent woman from his past that maybe the best way for two broken people to find true love is to jump headfirst into the deep end of desire.

Liv Sloane needs a vacation. After her cheating ex broke her heart--and their engagement--Liv never fully recovered. In fact, she's spent the past two years avoiding romance at all costs... with the exception of that sizzling one-night stand she can't seem to forget. So when her friends from college suggest a reunion cruise, Liv knows a relaxing week of sun, sand, and beach reads is exactly what she needs to clear her mind. But when they board the ship, Liv is hit with two surprises. Her friends accidentally booked a singles cruise, and her one-night stand is waiting on deck.

Miles Schantz has spent the past three months thinking about Liv. As a Dom at one of the hottest sex clubs in Las Vegas, Miles has his pick of women... so why can't he get Liv out of his head? When he receives an email asking him to join Liv on a cruise, he can't believe his luck. But when he meets her on board--and she's completely unaware of her "invitation"-- Miles has to come up with a new plan. Six nights of no-strings-attached passion. Six nights of wild fantasies, sexy games, and forbidden adventures. Six nights to show Liv that she belongs with him...

Pre-order your copy today!
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LovingLiv
Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2tG3CQe


Cover Designer: Jersey Girl


About the Authors

Katee Robert

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

Connect with Katee
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tGx4pP
Website: https://www.kateerobert.com/
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/37v3ORu
Facebook: http://bit.ly/3aNg69J
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katee_robert
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2TW11g2
Stay up to date with Katee by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/30TZhFP

Piper J. Drake

Piper J. Drake is a bestselling author of romantic suspense and edgy contemporary romance, a frequent flyer, and day job road warrior. Wherever she goes, she enjoys tasting the world and embarking on foodie adventures. Dogs—and horses—have been known to spontaneously join her for a stroll and she enjoys pausing for a nice chat with cats of all sizes, from domestic to tiger size and beyond.

Piper aspires to give her readers stories with a taste of the hard challenges in life, a breath of laughter, a broad range of strengths and weaknesses, the sweet taste of kisses, and the heat of excitement across multiple genres including science fiction and fantasy.

Come join the adventure with her!

Connect with Piper
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2uDc3fv
Website: http://piperjdrake.com/
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/36pyoux
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Rrp6tI
Twitter: https://twitter.com/piperjdrake
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/3aPlkSH
Stay up to date with Piper by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/38HZO09

Avery Flynn

USA Today bestselling romance author Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip.

She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory books. It wasn’t long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin’s four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn’t long before the local book stores’ staff knew her by name.

Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

Connect with Avery
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2tQuAFa
Website: http://averyflynn.com
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2t4AZfO
Facebook: http://bit.ly/36mEonK
Twitter: https://twitter.com/averyflynn
GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2f1waY4
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2tVmpr8
Join the Flynnbots: http://bit.ly/2RVELjM
Stay up to date with Avery by joining her mailing list:
http://averyflynn.com/newsletter/

Robin Covington

A USAToday bestseller, Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her books. Her stories burn up the sheets...one page at a time. A Native American author of color, Robin proudly writes diverse romance where everyone gets their happily ever after.

She is an unapologetic Indiginerd and comic book geek. She hoards red nail polish and stalks Chris Evans. She is thoroughly obsessed with her Corgi, Dixie Joan Wilder (Yes - THE Joan Wilder)

Connect with Robin
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2TTHqNI
Website: http://bit.ly/3aHrW5p
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2tRjTCp
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2TZBDGu
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2uwCzHA
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2O2y9iv
Stay up to date with Robin by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/2GrJGUi

Stacey Kennedy

Stacey Kennedy is a USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romances full of heat, heart, and happily ever afters. With over 50 titles published, her books have hit Amazon, B&N, and Apple Books bestseller lists.

Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario—in a city that’s just as charming as any of the small towns she creates. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors with her family or venturing into the forest with her horse, Priya. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys or alpha heroes can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help too.

Connect with Stacey
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2GndEc8
Website: http://bit.ly/38IpidY
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/30UzJIw
Facebook: http://bit.ly/38IX6au
Twitter: http://bit.ly/38I0Zgc
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2sXZlYo
Stay up to date with Stacey by joining her mailing list:
http://bit.ly/38L2R7T

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