Showing posts with label Badass Heroine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Badass Heroine. Show all posts

Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

July 08, 2024

Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

All she knew was that her Horseman name, Famine, was fitting. She'd always been starving for somthing she couldn't name, because she hadn't experienced it.
Now she had.
A man's touch. A man's affection.
Now she was hungrier than ever, and that could only be a bad thing.

Please note:
this post includes reviews for Vampire Fight Club (#6.5), Immortal Rider (#7), and Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium (#7.5)


Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione


Rating - 1/2
Standalone - Demonica #7 / Lords of Deliverance #2
Genre - Paranormal Romance / marriage of convenience
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 433 pages
Previous books in the series: - Pleasure Unbound * Desire Unchained * Passion Unleashed * Ecstasy Unveiled * Sin Undone * Eternal Rider

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.


Arik had a thing for Limos, she seemed to have a thing for him, he moves in for a kiss, and he's taken immediately to hell.
He's tortured, healed, tortured again.
And that's just the very beginning of this book.

Obviously he gets rescued, but this was only the start of the hot mess in store for these characters. Limos was betrothed to the ruler of Hell, who actually isn't Lucifer, from birth. At first eager to be with him, when she meets her brothers and experiences true humanity, she can't get away from him and her commitment fast enough. Too bad she wears a chastity belt which would maim any man who attempted to get it on with her. Not to mention her jealous fiance who would love to torture her wouldbe suitors (see Arik?).

A loophole is discovered, Arik gains the upperhand, yadda yadda yadda.
This was such a small part of the story.

Pestilence is going strong. He's absolutely devastating the world and his siblings on a regular basis.
Harvester is holding Reaver captive for some reason and things aren't looking too good for our favorite angel.
The Aegis (boy, do I freaking hate this organization SO MUCH) come up with a really dumb plan that Regan has to put into play. Things take a dark turn and I'm kind of hoping that Thanatos tortures her and everyone involved. If the roles were reversed, people would be clutching their pearls and rioting, but because he's not only a male, but a Horseman, it's okay?

And seriously there was tons more going on. This series is one of those stories that I could tell you everything that happens and I still wouldn't be able to tell you what was what. Every book develops the story more and I'm eager to get the big picture because everything I've learned so far has blown my mind in the best way.


Vampire Fight Club by Larissa Ione


Rating -
POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 100 pages

When a wave of violence that hits too close to home forces shapeshifter and underworld nurse Vladlena Paskelkov to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice—with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge . . .

Legendary, jaded, Nathan Sabine is the manager of Thirst, a wildly popular vampire club—and secret underground blood arena. But Nathan, a rare daywalker, possesses other, even more explosive secrets, as does his beautiful new medic, Vladlena. The one thing they can’t conceal is the lust that simmers between them . . .

Now, in an underworld divided by revelry and violence, debauchery and vengeance, Nate and Lena will discover which risks are worth taking—and which desires demand surrender . . .

I found Lena to be quite silly throughout the story. She knew that her days were numbered and decided to investigate her brother's death. She goes undercover and a slipshod kind of plan to find out the truth, unprepared to defend herself or snoop wisely. Nathan was okay, but it was hard to find depth behind either of these characters. I was entertained by the story though. I liked the idea of this club that caters to a certain type of clientele, which is a front for an underground supernatural fight club. The big bad was suitably scary and there was plenty of action that moved the story along. I loved how subtle the author was with providing links to the main story. Now that I know that there's a link between Nathan and Thanatos, I wonder if he'll be making an appearance in Death's book.


Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium


Rating -
Source - library ebook
Length - 76 pages

New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione brings readers behind the scenes with this definitive guide to her latest imaginative, epic series featuring the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. With character descriptions, key player background information, a handy glossary of terms and special abilities, a Q&A inspired by reader questions, and an all-new, exclusive short story, this is a must-read for every Larissa Ione fan.

I loved all of the tidbits explored in this book, but it was the short story of how the Horsemen were conceived that really grabbed me. Can someone please get rid of Lilith already???

I know I'm late to starting this series, but the story gave me such a huge clue and I'm freaking out. So... Verrine = Harvester? And Yenrieth = Reaver?

Amiright??!!


Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.

She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.

She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information.

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

July 06, 2024

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

There wasn’t a breed of succubi out there that didn’t steal something. Whether it was your seed, your soul, your life-force, or your heart, they sucked something out of you and rarely gave back.

Sin definitely did not strike him as the giving kind.


Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

Sin Undone by Larissa Ione


Rating -
Standalone - Demonica #5
Genre - Paranormal Romance / assassin
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Heat - explicit
Source - library ebook
Length - 433 pages

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY
As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she'll die before she'll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin's innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

HIS HUNGER CAN'T BE DENIED
Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she's no stranger: He's bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld's most wanted and Con soon learns he's the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.


This just might be my favorite of the series so far!
It's not to say that I didn't love the previous books, because I did as evident with all of my five-star ratings.
But I found so much growth of character in this book, for all of the characters, and the plot has reached a peak that is heralding the apocalypse and I'm truly excited to keep reading.

Unlike Lore, Sin hasn't found her place with her Seminus brothers. She's now leader of the assassin network and finds herself at odds with pretty much everyone but her family. People are out for blood, her blood, and luckily Sin lives for a good fight. It doesn't hurt that the one man who has sparked anything within her, Con, is on her side too.

Previously, Sin was ordered to take out a warg. Her Seminus gift allows her to create disease so she gave him one. This disease took on a life of its own, infecting the world's population of wargs at a rapid pace. It was an accident, obvious to us and not so obvious to others. When Con, a dhampire (half-vamp and half-warg), realizes the truth of her actions, he helps her and along the way, finds all of that beautiful hidden depth behind Sin's cold and detached face.

These two together were so freaking beautiful. I was in awe of the cracks in her facade that Con caused and the way it freed her to finally feel and embrace all that she was. The lengths these two would go to for each other were enviable and I'm fervently wishing to see more of them in the books to come.

I'm off to read about the Lords of Deliverance and I hope to see you there!


Sin Undone by Larissa Ione


Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.

She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.

She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information

Review // Black Sheep by Alexa Harlowe & Brynne Weaver

June 22, 2022


Something about her is as inescapable as an imploding star. The more I try to avoid thinking of her, the more she's there in my head, and the more I'm convinced she'll destroy me if I get any closer. And maybe that makes the lure of her even stronger. Maybe I want to be shredded down to the last atom.

────── ♔ ──────


Black Sheep by Alexa Harlowe & Brynne Weaver


Standalone
Release - June 27, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 5 out of 5 / several explicit scenes / BDSM elements
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - about 250 pages
Publisher - Indie


Serial killer.

That’s not the first thing you’d think when you meet Bria Brooks.

She’s reserved. Polite. Charming, when she wants to be. But delve a little deeper. She’s cunning. Brilliant. Ruthless. Bria Brooks is not just a black sheep. She’s a wolf. And she has her heart set on a very elusive prize.

Caron Berger.

Trouble is, she’s not the only one.

Dr. Elijah Kaplan is also on the hunt for the enigmatic leader of the Legio Agni cult. Caron Berger is a phantom, and Eli is keen on catching the ghost. What he doesn’t need is a beautiful and brutal doctoral student haunting his steps. Especially not one who seems so breakable, or who tempts him to bend every rule until it snaps, or who calls to each of his darkest desires. No. He does not need that. At all.

When the pursuit of their elusive prey pulls these two hunters together, they find that their demons might not be so different after all. But just like bodies in a bog, secrets have a way of surfacing, and the ones that Bria and Eli keep are the deadliest kind.

As they draw closer to capturing their prize, can Bria and Eli harness their beasts before they destroy one another? Or will they learn that it’s not what you’ll do to win that matters, it’s what you’re willing to leave behind?

TWs: physical and emotional abuse, graphic violence, torture, swearing; explicit sexual content (consensual), BDSM, breath play

My Two Cents

4.5 "Killing never looked so good" stars

Slumps are the worst, amiright?! But when you come across a book that slaps you right out of it... I can't even explain how happy I am right now.

He's the man who follows all of the rules.
She's the woman who loves to break them...

The End.


There was obviously more to this story. Bria had survived something horrific and had made it her life's work to carefully construct mayhem, whittling down evil one person at a time. She was cool and calculating. Loyal and lethal. Girl was sexy AF.

There is strength in her beauty with her defined yet feminine jaw and her high cheekbones and her sharp stare that follows movement outside as though she might break through the glass to take her prey down.

Eli happened to be on her path to wreaking devastation and they connected in ways beyond anything I could have expected. And they were so sexy together. I'm talking combustible, scorching hot!

I've never been so feverishly consumed. I've never devoured like this in return, molding my lips to his, pressing my body to his, desperate to be closer. Desperate to burn.

This book had me quickly turning the pages, enjoying the heck out of its darkness.
➼ pseudo-revenge theme
➼ entertaining and engaging plot
➼ incredibly hot sex
➼ great chemistry between the characters
➼ I had no idea how it was going to end and I loved the surprise of it

Seriously... what more do you need to pick this one up?!

About the Author

Alexa Harlowe seems to be a new author and I haven't been able to find any details about them. However, if this is what they have to offer, I'll be staying tuned!

Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.

She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).

Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.

When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.

Find Brynne Weaver here:
Goodreads * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon

Review // A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

February 08, 2022

A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

"Ashen is a demon, Lu. If you give your heart to a creature of the shadows, you have to learn how to love the darkness as much as the stars."

────── ♔ ──────


A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

A Heart of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver


The Shadow Realm #2
Release - January 27, 2022
Genre - Paranormal Romance / vamps, demons, angels
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 4 out of 5 / several scenes
Format/Source - eARC provided by the author
Length - 376 pages
Publisher - Indie

Goodreads * Amazon (FREE with Kindle Unlimited)

An executioner and a bounty. A soldier and a weapon.
The hunter and the prey that won’t go down.


After centuries in hiding, the last of the original sirens took a chance on love.

And it blew up in her face.

Imprisoned by the Shadow Realm, Lu's days now pass in a haze of torture and tears. She's the most ancient vampire siren, the weapon they can't work out. Halfway to a hybrid of immortal creatures, she could be the key to their plans for war against the Realm of Light... if only they could figure out how to finish the transformation.

After a daring escape, Lu finds herself on the run with an unlikely set of allies. Their enemies have a head start in the race to find the oldest vampires, and Lu will stop at nothing to keep them safe from a fate worse than death. If they can't find them in time, it will end in the war of the ultimate superpowers. But every move she makes, Ashen is there. The demon that she trusted. The executioner she loved. The Reaper that poisoned her heart with his betrayal. And as secrets of the Shadow Realm and her own history start to collide, Lu begins to question everything she knows... including the motives of the enigmatic demon she can't seem to escape.

She's promised herself she'll never go back.
She's determined not to fall in love.
If only she knew whom to trust...

My Two Cents

4.5 "There better be more books to this series" stars

When I found this new-to-me author, when I read A Shadow in the Reaping, I knew that she was someone to keep my eye on. She had me hooked to this story and I was willing to give her just about anything to get my hands on the next book. Well here it is and thankfully the wait wasn't that long.

Seriously, if I thought she had the goods in the first book, I KNOW she's got them after reading this one. HANDS DOWN one of THE BEST sequels I have ever read!!

You already know I can't stand a story told from just one perspective, but the author made it work!

Picking up right where the last one left off, this book was full of angst, torture, heartbreak, fighting, bravery, evil, and so much freaking love. So much love!

Lu and Ashen... I cannot get enough of this couple and I'm hoping (I'm looking at you, Mz Author Lady) that there will be another book in this series. It's necessary!!

Reapers are after Lu. Ashen, also a reaper, is determined to keep her safe. Her friends are also there to lend support and their might. And there's the love again. I'm so in love with all the love in this book. And the sexy times between Ash and Lu... Damn, these two were so freaking hot together.

And I want more. The end (yes Queen) was great, but not enough. Not for me. I'm greedy, I've never denied it, and I need more.

The writing... magnifique. The plot... incredible. The characters... stunning. And I want more!!

A Heart Of Bitter Poison by Brynne Weaver

Excerpt

"Stop," I whisper. Fat tears are still rolling across my skin. He brushes one of them away.

"Stop what?"

"Just stop," I say. I don't know whether I'm talking to Ashen or myself. It felt like a game only this morning. But I can't play and win like this. My gaze falls away from him but I don't move from his touch. "Stop making me want to feel for you what I shouldn't."

Ashen sweeps stray locks of hair from my cheek and holds my face in his palms. I meet his gaze for only an instant and regret it as soon as I do. I'm not the only one hurting. It's all laid bare in his eyes. "Feel what, vampire?"

"Don't." I pull from his grasp and keep my eyes down on the stone beneath my feet. I don't want to be so vulnerable out here in the open. I feel like a tiger without claws. A snake without fangs. My legs feel leaden when I back away and skirt around him to slip into the solitude of night.

"I will tell you one more thing I did not do, vampire," Ashen calls after me. There's a note of anguish so pained in his voice that I stop moving. The silence between us stretches long enough that I turn to look at Ashen where he stands shrouded in the shadows of the tunnel. But I can still see him clearly. I see the tension in his jaw, the way his brows knit together. I see how hard it is for him to gather a breath. "One more thing I did not do, it was the worst thing."

My heart plummets. Fingers of ice trace my spine. I don't think I can handle some deadly admission right now. But I guess that makes it the perfect time to strike. I steel myself for something awful but my voice comes out weary rather than strong. "What?"

Ashen comes forward from the shadows. Every step is careful, like I might run, or combust, or simply disappear. "I never told you how I felt. You asked me, in your ways, and I never answered."

He stops in front of me. The light of a nearby streetlamp casts his face in a haunting glow.

Ashen's eyes search mine, probably finding all the evidence of fear and distrust and confusion that lurk within them. Centuries of loneliness seem to surface in Ashen when he finds it, and he takes a steadying breath. "I never told you how the lifetimes I have spent taking souls have eroded my own. I did not tell you about everything I have lost over decades of time. I should have told you then, how every moment spent with you brought me out of the shadows. How being with you was like landing on a paradise shore after swimming through a sea of grief. How being apart from you is like being cast into a cold and merciless darkness." Ashen's fingers trace my cheek and I close my eyes. I want to lean into his touch. I want to fall into his words. I fight myself with every heartbeat. "I tried to stay away and could not. I tried to push you away and failed. I tried to protect you and failed at that too."

Ashen steps closer. His palms warm my cheeks. His breath heats my skin. He places a gentle, careful kiss to one closed eye, then the other.

"Look at me, Lu. Please," he whispers. And I do. He looks back at me with such determination and longing that I know without any doubt that what I see is true. "The worst thing was that I never told you I love you, Lu."


About the Author

Brynne is a fan of velociraptors, the Alien movies (well, most of them), red wine, and wild adventures.

She can relate nearly anything you say to a line from the movie Hot Fuzz. She has been trying unsuccessfully for years to convince her husband that they should acquire a pet mink to add to their menagerie of animals (what could possibly go wrong with that plan?!).

Brynne has been everything from an archaeologist to a waitress, a deep-sea core analyst to an advertising account executive. For the last several years, she has been working in the field of neuroscience clinical research. Brynne has been writing since childhood and has published a non-fiction book under her real name, but she won’t tell you what it is unless you provide a live, fully trained velociraptor.

When not busy at her day job or writing, Brynne can be found working with her husband and their son on their family farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, or enjoying her other passions which include riding horses, reading, and spending time with family and friends around a raclette and a bottle of wine.

The Diviner is her debut novel.

Find Brynne Weaver here:
Goodreads * Facebook * Instagram * Amazon