Showing posts with label 15-Fated. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 15-Fated. Show all posts
Maya filled him with a soft feeling of something that bordered far too close to what might be growing love.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Leopard's Hunt by Christine Feehan
Leopard People #14
Rating -
1/2Release - February 20, 2024
Genre - Paranormal Romance / fated mates
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - copy provided by the publisher
Length - 396 pages
Gorya Amurov might be known as his family's peacekeeper, but the leopard inside him wants nothing more than to claw to the surface and unleash hell. A harsh life has shaped him into a vicious fighter with a calm exterior, but Gorya knows it's only a matter of time until he loses all control. Deep down, he truly believes he'd be better off dead, and that no woman will ever accept him as a mate....
Maya Averina has spent years hunting the criminals who destroyed her life, and she always takes down her prey. She keeps to herself, stays under the radar, and never loses focus. But with her body burning up and her mind distracted by her first heat, an ambush takes her by surprise. Now she's trapped, an unmated female shifter about to be sold off to the highest bidder. Maya is ready to fight her way out—until the most dangerous, powerful man she's ever encountered arrives to set her free.
Maya Averina has spent years hunting the criminals who destroyed her life, and she always takes down her prey. She keeps to herself, stays under the radar, and never loses focus. But with her body burning up and her mind distracted by her first heat, an ambush takes her by surprise. Now she's trapped, an unmated female shifter about to be sold off to the highest bidder. Maya is ready to fight her way out—until the most dangerous, powerful man she's ever encountered arrives to set her free.
Gorya and his family were tasked with taking over several territories, clearing them of trafficking, by any means necessary. No one really expected much from Gorya. He was the quiet cousin, unassuming and the peace keeper. Beneath that calm facade lurked the deadliest predator of them all... and it seemed that Maya was the first to recognize him for exactly who he was.
I thought that missing a few books in this series would leave me blind to the wonder of this story, but I was immediately absorbed, not missing a single moment. I was caught up in the connection Gorya and Maya shared, the way their wolves maneuvered them together (or manipulated, depending on how you see it), and the incredible action scenes that the author let play out. Gorya was a dangerous being, but with Maya... these two were lethal.
I admired both characters for their strength, and not just the physical kind. They endured such horrors as children and young adults, but turned that trauma into a passion to right the wrongs done to them. They shared an almost symbiotic connection, both from their pasts and the leopards that were driving them. I loved Gorya for his patience and understanding, Maya for her willingness to try. They made my heart hurt in the best way.
With the amount of voices contributing to this tale, there was no shortage of detail or nuance to this story. Doing bad things for the right reasons should be their motto. I loved this couple so much and I can't wait dive into the books I missed.
Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.
IN HER WORDS:
I've been a writer all of my life -- it is who I am. I write for myself and always have. The ability to create pictures and emotions with words is such a miracle to me. I read everything; I mean everything! All kinds of books, even encyclopedias. I am fascinated by the written word and I love storytellers. It is a great privilege to be counted one myself.
Visit http://www.christinefeehan.com for more information.
If they want his immortality—they’ll have to take it…in the second deeply sexy and bold Lone Wolf Legacy series from New York Times bestselling author N.J. Walters
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
Protecting the Gray Wolf by N.J. Walters
Rating -
1/2Standalone - Lone Wolf Legacy #2
Release - February 12, 2024
Genre - Paranormal Romance / fated mates
POV - primarily dual 3rd person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - eARC provided by the publisher
Length - 278 pages
I’m used to other wolves coming for me. They want their chance to try and take out the infamous Gray Wolf. And every single one of them fails—because lone wolves aren’t like the others…we’re stronger. Harder. Meaner. Immortal.
But it also means I’m alone. No pack. No alpha. Just the three of us—white, gray, and black. Two too many, if you ask me.
But with power-hungry mages gunning for us, I don’t have the luxury of reflection. They’re in New York City, and I Will. Hunt. Them. Down.
Which is when I see her, and every cell in my body is on alert, filled with the kind of primal longing I never knew I was capable of. Luna West may be human, but there’s some kind of thread connecting us. Call it destiny, fate…or voracious animal hunger.
I know she’s bait. She’s meant to tempt me, to make me weak. But even if I could resist her, I’m not sure I want to.
Because I’ve never denied my wolf anything…especially the chance to raise some serious hell.
And I’m not about to start now.
But it also means I’m alone. No pack. No alpha. Just the three of us—white, gray, and black. Two too many, if you ask me.
But with power-hungry mages gunning for us, I don’t have the luxury of reflection. They’re in New York City, and I Will. Hunt. Them. Down.
Which is when I see her, and every cell in my body is on alert, filled with the kind of primal longing I never knew I was capable of. Luna West may be human, but there’s some kind of thread connecting us. Call it destiny, fate…or voracious animal hunger.
I know she’s bait. She’s meant to tempt me, to make me weak. But even if I could resist her, I’m not sure I want to.
Because I’ve never denied my wolf anything…especially the chance to raise some serious hell.
And I’m not about to start now.
Check out the first book of the series:
I loved how Walters took us even deeper into the conspiracy. Not only do we get to fall in love with a new couple, we get a glimpse into the true evil that is hunting them.
Kade spent his entire adulthood alone. For 85 years he was a hunter, taking out rogue wolves and protecting his kind and humanity. Now he was the one being hunted and with magic at play, his distrust of others had reached a whole new level. When he found his other half in Luna, he didn't know whether to give into the pull of their connection or resist it because it was borne of darkness.
And I understood his hesitation. I don't know of anyone who would want to be manipulated, playing right into the hands of their enemies.
But there was no denying the spark and everything that could grow between these characters and what they had was the true magic of this story.
I just want my lone wolf babies to get together and take these bad guys out. The black wolf, Dagen, has definitely intrigued me and I am so excited to see what happens in his story. Anyone want to put me out of my misery and tell me when I can get my hands on his book?
Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.
One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel and life would never be the same.
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
Visit https://www.njwalters.com/books for more information.
Find the series here - Goodreads * Amazon
Trial of the Sun Queen
Rating -
Part of a series - Artefacts of Ouranos #1
Release - November 15, 2022
Genre/Trope - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers / fated mates
POV - dual 1st and 3rd person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - ebook from NetGalley
Length - 407 pages
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.
With a temper like mine, a girl is bound to get in trouble now and then…
or often.
or often.
After all the hype I've seen for this book, I had to give it a try and I'm glad I did!
While Lor was a difficult pill to swallow, I couldn't get enough of her story. Hunger Games meets the Bachelor? Kinda. There was definitely a King whose hand had to be earned through deadly trials. But was he really worth it?
From the age of twelve, all Lor knew was the isolation, degradation and abuse she suffered in the prison of The Aurora—a kingdom full of secrets and shadows. Every day, she did all she could to protect herself and her family. But her smart mouth and poor impulse control led her to being punished. When she's kidnapped and brought to the Sun Kingdom, full of luxury, fresh air and sunshine, she can't decide if it's a boon or a curse.
I'm not the only one who pretty much guessed everything early on, right? Atlas grossed me out, but I guess if I was desperate for kindness, maybe I'd be into all of that. I only wish I felt some sort of sympathy for Lor.
While I didn't really like Lor, I was entertained by everything that happened in this story (aside from her silly decisions). I did want the world building to be more fleshed out. Actually, I expected it, but alas, these details were nowhere to be found. I hope to learn more about the different kingdoms, the different types of fae, and the different kinds of magic in the books to come.
While Lor was a difficult pill to swallow, I couldn't get enough of her story. Hunger Games meets the Bachelor? Kinda. There was definitely a King whose hand had to be earned through deadly trials. But was he really worth it?
From the age of twelve, all Lor knew was the isolation, degradation and abuse she suffered in the prison of The Aurora—a kingdom full of secrets and shadows. Every day, she did all she could to protect herself and her family. But her smart mouth and poor impulse control led her to being punished. When she's kidnapped and brought to the Sun Kingdom, full of luxury, fresh air and sunshine, she can't decide if it's a boon or a curse.
I'm not the only one who pretty much guessed everything early on, right? Atlas grossed me out, but I guess if I was desperate for kindness, maybe I'd be into all of that. I only wish I felt some sort of sympathy for Lor.
While I didn't really like Lor, I was entertained by everything that happened in this story (aside from her silly decisions). I did want the world building to be more fleshed out. Actually, I expected it, but alas, these details were nowhere to be found. I hope to learn more about the different kingdoms, the different types of fae, and the different kinds of magic in the books to come.
Rule of the Aurora King
Rating -
Part of a series - Artefacts of Ouranos #2
Release - August 15, 2023
Genre/Trope - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers / fated mates
POV - dual 1st person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 505 pages
Freed from the golden clutches of the Sun King, Lor now finds herself in the hands of Nadir, the Aurora Prince. Convinced she’s hiding something, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make her talk. But Lor knows the value of secrets—she’s been keeping them her entire life—and she’s not letting hers go without a fight.
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 she won’t fall 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.
I am not his conquest.
I am not his to claim.
I am my own castle.
I am not his to claim.
I am my own castle.
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first!
Nadir MADE this book and I couldn't get enough of his voice. Lor was still very hard for me to take, but with everything else going on, I was able to push through her ridiculous thoughts, feelings and actions. What an entitled hot mess of potential epicness!!
I'm not sure how I feel about the flashback chapters. I was hoping to learn more about the history of the kingdoms and where it all went wrong. However, aside from falling in love with Wolf (and seriously, who wouldn't?), I didn't learn much else. Two fated primaries destroyed the world. Maybe I'm completely oblivious, but I still don't know HOW!!!!
I am so tired of Lor and her games. It makes NO SENSE. She's a young woman who knew NOTHING about the real world besides what she learned from fellow inmates. She claims to remember virtually nothing prior to entering the prison at the age of twelve (which seems preposterous because I remember plenty from my years before 12). And yet... she seems to know it all. Let's be clear: she had no way to know how to navigate the world she lived in, yet she alone could protect her siblings. Despite the more powerful and knowledgeable group she found herself with, she knew better. And what was with her putting so much blame on Nadir and Amya for what their father did to her family??? I was so sick of her coming for them about something they had NO WAY of knowing about. Weren't they doing everything they could to help her now?
Whatever.
I'm hoping the next book gives me a Lor who doesn't feel so entitled. A Lor who humbles herself and recognizes her own strengths. A Lor who can finally see all that she can share with the allies she currently has. People who have done nothing but help her. And you know, there's Nadir, a male she shares a profound connection with. Maybe she'll finally give him a break, even if she chooses not to be with him romantically.
The next book's release seems so far away. I'm impatient to read Fate of the Sun King. Knowing our heroes are going back to his kingdom is freaking me out!
Nadir MADE this book and I couldn't get enough of his voice. Lor was still very hard for me to take, but with everything else going on, I was able to push through her ridiculous thoughts, feelings and actions. What an entitled hot mess of potential epicness!!
I'm not sure how I feel about the flashback chapters. I was hoping to learn more about the history of the kingdoms and where it all went wrong. However, aside from falling in love with Wolf (and seriously, who wouldn't?), I didn't learn much else. Two fated primaries destroyed the world. Maybe I'm completely oblivious, but I still don't know HOW!!!!
I am so tired of Lor and her games. It makes NO SENSE. She's a young woman who knew NOTHING about the real world besides what she learned from fellow inmates. She claims to remember virtually nothing prior to entering the prison at the age of twelve (which seems preposterous because I remember plenty from my years before 12). And yet... she seems to know it all. Let's be clear: she had no way to know how to navigate the world she lived in, yet she alone could protect her siblings. Despite the more powerful and knowledgeable group she found herself with, she knew better. And what was with her putting so much blame on Nadir and Amya for what their father did to her family??? I was so sick of her coming for them about something they had NO WAY of knowing about. Weren't they doing everything they could to help her now?
Whatever.
I'm hoping the next book gives me a Lor who doesn't feel so entitled. A Lor who humbles herself and recognizes her own strengths. A Lor who can finally see all that she can share with the allies she currently has. People who have done nothing but help her. And you know, there's Nadir, a male she shares a profound connection with. Maybe she'll finally give him a break, even if she chooses not to be with him romantically.
The next book's release seems so far away. I'm impatient to read Fate of the Sun King. Knowing our heroes are going back to his kingdom is freaking me out!
Nisha J. Tuli is the bestselling author of Trial of the Sun Queen—the first in the Artefacts of Ouranos series—which became a BookTok hit thanks to her amazing fans. The originally self-published series was acquired by Forever Publishing and Orbit UK in 2023, and will soon be published in 15 other languages around the world.She's also the author of Heart of Night and Fire, a South Asian-inspired fantasy romance and the first in a four-book series. Look for her rom-com debut in 2025 with NSFW (Not Suitable for Work), a workplace rivals to lovers rom-com publishing with Forever.
Nisha lives in Canada, where she spends most of her time reading and writing while enjoying travel, food, and camping with her partner, two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed, Mora.
Visit https://nishajtuli.com for more information.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
The Wrath by Gena Showalter
Rating -
Standalone - Rise of the Warlords #4
Release - February 6, 2024
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / fated mates
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive scenes
Source - eARC from NetGalley
Length - 378 pages
For centuries, Rathbone the Only, King of Agonies, has existed for one recovering the enchanted bones of his slain wife to bring her back to life. He’s never been closer to success. But a new enemy has risen. A band of deadly war gods who have thirty days to destroy her or suffer the consequences. With time running out, Rathbone hires a maddening harpy-oracle, unaware she has an agenda of her own.
Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a stop Rathbone and the gods. She’s seen the future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way.
As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.
Neeka the Unwanted is a fierce warrior on a stop Rathbone and the gods. She’s seen the future if either is victorious, and it’s horrifying. She’ll do whatever proves necessary to forge a new path, even seduce the ruthless royal from his purpose. What she can’t predict? How the intense male will shatter her hard-won defenses along the way.
As Rathbone battles unexpected betrayals, cunning foes and the wild temptress he craves with every fiber of his being, he knows he must hold on to a cold dream or embrace a new flame.
Why did no one ever see her potential?
Okay. Wow. I need to start this series from the beginning because I AM IN LOVE WITH THE WAY THESE BEINGS LOVE!!
Rathbone has spent centuries trying to put his wife back together. Neeka is the oracle who will help him find the remaining bones. The journey is what proves to these two that they deserve so much more than they ever believed.
Strangely enough, Neeka was maybe kinda sorta envious of the corpse. Oh, to be loved in such a way. Thanks to Grenwich's chosen moniker, Neeka herself was forever cursed to be, well, unwanted. Her lack of male companionship had nothing to do with her personality, she was certain of it. She slapped!
Rathbone and Neeka were raised to feel wanting. He was "If Only" and she was "The Unwanted", however, together... these two finally found the one person perfect for them. It took a loooooong time to realize it and they had to jump over many obstacles to obtain their happiness, but I felt their hope for forever right from the beginning.
He didn't understand the intensity and speed of his reaction to her. And what was this new, terrible sensation growing inside him? This... calm. As if everything was right, nothing missing, nothing broken. Even though so much was missing and nearly everything was broken. How was a king supposed to get anything done feeling like this? He hated it. And loved it. What did it mean?
My copy of this book wasn't formatted, but that didn't stop me from savouring this story. I flipped pages while ignoring everything pertinent to my life. Who cared about laundry, dishes, or cleaning. Priorties!!
I do wish I had read the previous books in the series, but I was in no way lost or felt like I was missing something. Reading this book only made me want to read those stories pronto. So if you like paranormal romance, exceptionally oblivious but incredibly endearing heroes, fierce and hilarious heroines, and an intense plot, you'll need this book in your life.
Why did she have to be beautiful and soft? Smell so sweet. Rouse his smiles. Be so brilliant. Look at him as if she admired him as much as he admired her. His ever-increasing hunger for her complicated things. He should be strong enough to resist. But. He wasn't.
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of a multitude of sub-genres within romance: paranormal, Fantasy, contemporary, and young adult. She’s also written standalone novels, novellas and anthologies, as well as co-authored a nonfiction guide about how to write a book in a year.Gena lives in Oklahoma with her husband, two adult children who grew up way too fast, and menagerie of dogs and cats who enjoy farting while she works, walking across her keyboard during pivotal scenes and demanding pets at all hours of the day and night. Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan’s Red Hot Reads and Seventeen magazine. She’s been interviewed on Nightline and mentioned on Orange is the New Black—the very moment her family decided she might be a real writer after all.
Chances are good she’s hard at work on her next novel. Chances are even better that the book is a twisted tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who (lovingly…sometimes) kneecaps him.
Visit https://genashowalter.com for more information.
"You are the heart of me."
"And you taught me to feel," Lancelot returned.
"You are my soul. The source of every emotion I have ever possessed. I did not know the difference between merely existing and truly living until you. You are the sun that warms me."
"And you taught me to feel," Lancelot returned.
"You are my soul. The source of every emotion I have ever possessed. I did not know the difference between merely existing and truly living until you. You are the sun that warms me."
Embrace of Dragons by Aja James
My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalonish - Dragon Tails #8
Genre - paranormal Romance
Trope - fated mates
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - many explicit scenes
Source - beta and ARC provided by the author
Length - approx. 300 pages
Standalonish - Dragon Tails #8
Genre - paranormal Romance
Trope - fated mates
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - many explicit scenes
Source - beta and ARC provided by the author
Length - approx. 300 pages
Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King of an ancient Isle, finally recovered his heart and awoke from his witch queen’s spell. But he sustained mortal wounds before he was spirited away to “Avalon,” a Celestial Realm beyond human ken. In order to restore him, his life force was bound to another—his First Knight, Lancelot.
There was a time when Arthur loved and admired Lancelot above all men, before the Betrayal. Since the destruction of their shared tormentor, he realized that he’d accused his friend wrongly. But so much time, distance and regret have accumulated between them. So much sadness and pain. A trip to their homeland with Arthur’s newly discovered family reopens old wounds, but also reminds them of how they used to be.
Along the way, they are tasked with the search for the Everlasting Embrace by a mysterious being who speaks to them in dreams.
The end of the world may be just around the corner. Along the way, enemies may become lovers, reluctant friendships may form, and lots of hot, desperate, this-may-be-the-last-time-we-have-sex sex will definitely be had.
And who knows, you too may help discover the…
EMBRACE OF DRAGONS.
Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon
My Two Cents
I can honestly tell you that no one writes romance quite like Aja James. I don't know how this author keeps track of all of details, even the little ones, but I'm down to keep enjoying this journey. Finding out more bits and pieces, discovering and re-discovering how everything fits together... it's a mystery lovers dream!
In Embrace of Dragons, we are given the whole story of characters we've already met—Arthur and Lancelot. And let me tell you, this story is nothing like any of the stories of Camelot I've ever seen, heard or read before.
Without the anchor of hate and the grail of retribution, what did he have left? He was broken shards of bones she'd already sucked dry. A husk of a man that used to be flesh and blood, full of life.
Don't even get me started on the imagery and the almost lyrical tone the author uses when telling a story. In the end, Arthur and Lancelot's story is full of hope, wonder, pain, magic, and so much love. Love that transcends time, distance, and any obstacle thrown in their way.
He would follow this man anywhere.
To forever and beyond.
To forever and beyond.
Here are some of the things I loved about this book (can't share it all because... spoilers):
★ the sex (obvs)
★ the hesitation between Arthur and Lancelot, despite all that they shared. They went to hell and back together and had a hard time adjusting to 'normal'.
★ the almost enemies-to-lovers vibe this book gives off at the start. Arthur and Lancelot are forced together, but they don't talk. Communication doesn't exist. Yet their thoughts, their feelings, their everything is tied to the other. All of that angst gave me life!
★ the absolute cuteness these manly males exhibited when they finally got their ish together.
While Arthur claimed his body, he opened his heart and soul to Lancelot. And it was...
Beautiful.
Frightening.
Magical.
Fierce.
Arthur was...
Everything.
Beautiful.
Frightening.
Magical.
Fierce.
Arthur was...
Everything.
Honestly, there was so much to love about this story. Arthur and Lancelot were these strong, lethal, virile males and yet there was a softness to them, a vulnerability that they only shared with each other. It made what they had all the more beautiful and the author did an incredible job capturing all of that beauty, their warmth, their perseverance when it came to their love, and their inevitability.
With the added hint of what's to come, especially for my sweet, not-so-little Ben, I'm excited to see what's next!
The Author
Best-selling author, Aja James, just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!
Check out Aja's expanded distribution of the Pure/ Dark Ones series on Google, Apple, Kobo and Barnes & Noble Books.
Visit https://aja-james.blog for more information!
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