Review // Unholy Vows, Kidnapped by the Krampus, and Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Hello and Happy Sunday. I hope your week went well. Tomorrow we're celebrating Victoria Day and I'm excited to see some fireworks.
I usually do a post like this on Wednesdays (and I still plan on having one this week), but why not post today?
I'm sharing three books I read and quite enjoyed and maybe you'll find something here to read too!

Unholy Vows by Mila Kane

Dual POV
Contemporary Romance / Organized Crime
Descriptive heat
437 pages

We never should have met. She wandered like an innocent lamb into my world, and the door slammed shut behind her.
Leaving her alive and free was a risk no capo would take.
I’ll let her live, for a price.
Her freedom.
She isn’t what she seems, but it’s already too late.
I'm obsessed, and nothing, and no one will keep her from me.

Rating -

This was my first time reading from Mila Kane and I'll be back for more. I loved how possessive and almost out-of-control Renato's obsession with Charlie. Honestly, it was the only thing I really appreciated about this book.

Charlie has been taking care of her sister for years. More a mother than anything else, she's constantly cleaning up her messes and trying to keep her in line. When Lucy's latest mishap puts them on the radar of both the mob and a cartel, Charlie doesn't have a clue what to do. And it's very obvious. Lucky for her Renato took such a shine to her.

Charlie drove me nuts. Her sister drove me nuts. They were just too silly to take seriously. Again, I'm thankful for Renato and everything and everyone that had anything to do with him. I wonder if there are books for the side characters because I also liked them. Giada, Elio and Sonny deserve happy endings too.

Kidnapped by the Krampus by Emily Shore

Dual POV
Paranormal Romance
Filthy heat
254 pages

TWYLA
Is Krampus real?

That's the question burning in my investigative journalist mind as I sneak into Krampus World to learn the truth about the eccentric CEO who always wears the monstrous holiday costume. I'm definitely making the naughty list for this.

After sharing a drink with the mysterious and quiet CEO, the last thing I expect is waking up with no clothes in the most beautiful winter castle. This horned heartthrob billionaire kidnapped me!

Despite the language barrier, I soon learn that his punishments are hot enough to melt the North Pole. And there are far worse things than being treated like a Christmas princess in a Yuletide-themed castle.

As I unwrap the layers of this hooved and horned enigma, I suspect the monster may be as real as Rudolph's red nose! And I might be falling for him faster than Santa coming down the chimney.

Well.... Monster romance is trending after all!

KRAMPUS

Don’t show them your tongue.
Don’t growl.
Don’t urge them to check your body for some nonexistent zipper.
Don’t wag your tail.
Don't show them how well you dance in hooves.

After a century of failures to find true love, Twyla is my last chance to break the curse before the clock runs out. I will do whatever it takes to keep my little star, my light in the darkness. It turns out this naughty girl may love my monstrous punishments and the magic of my realm.

It's not long before Twyla tangles around my heart more than twinkle lights. But can she believe a monster is her happily ever after? Will she save me from my icy fate?

Or am I doomed to be the demon of Yuletide with a frozen heart forever?

Rating -

Soooo... that happened. I enjoyed the premise of this book and that the monster didn't magically become a gorgeous male upon finding his true love or being cured of his curse. I didn't like the characters. Something about both of them prevented me from connecting with them or caring about them. Their relationship was absolutely filthy though so that's something. If you enjoy that sort of thing (like I seem to), pick this up and try it for yourself.

Excerpt from Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Fantasy Romance / LGBTQ
Approx. 100 pages for the excerpt

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

Arthur Parnassus lives a good life built on the ashes of a bad one.

He’s the master of a strange orphanage on a distant and peculiar island, and he hopes to soon be the adoptive father to the six dangerous and magical children who live there.

Arthur works hard and loves with his whole heart so none of the children ever feel the neglect and pain that he once felt as an orphan on that very same island so long ago. He is not alone: joining him is the love of his life, Linus Baker, a former caseworker in the Department In Charge of Magical Youth. And there’s the island’s sprite, Zoe Chapelwhite, and her girlfriend, Mayor Helen Webb. Together, they will do anything to protect the children.

But when Arthur is summoned to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself at the helm of a fight for the future that his family, and all magical people, deserve.

And when a new magical child hopes to join them on their island home—one who finds power in calling himself monster, a name that Arthur worked so hard to protect his children from—Arthur knows they’re at a breaking point: their family will either grow stronger than ever or fall apart.

Welcome back to Marsyas Island. This is Arthur’s story.

Rating -

Should I feel so lucky to have received the first four chapters of this book? Because I'm happy right now and I only got to read a little bit of the story. What I've read so far has me super excited to read on when the book releases. We're getting Arthur's story and I have to say, everything about this male has me intrigued. Learning more about him sounds like an excellent way to spend a day.