Showing posts with label Retelling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Retelling. Show all posts

Review // One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

December 31, 2023

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon



One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti

One Cursed Rose by Rebecca Zanetti


Rating -
Standalone - Grimm Bargains #1
Release - June 25, 2024
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / enemies-to-lovers / retelling
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit scenes
Source - eARC provided by NetGalley
Length - 400 pages

Information is power, and those who control it live like gods.
In my world, billionaires play deadly games of insult and influence where magic is the dirtiest weapon of all. Here, even a powerful princess can be swallowed by the darkest of shadows . . .

My name is Alana Beaumont, and due to a recent tragedy, I’m the sole heir to Aquarius Social, a family business being systematically dismantled by an unseen enemy. My father’s solution is to give me in marriage and create a coalition with a competing family, so I’m torn between my thirst for revenge and my duty. Now I just have a week to finish my hunt before the wedding.

There’s nothing like an assassination attempt to cut short the best of plans—even worse is my unwanted rescue by Thorn Beathach, the Beast whose social media empire is driving Aquarius under. The richest, most ruthless of them all, he protects his realm with an iron rule: no one sees his face. When he shows himself to me, I know he’ll never let me go.

Thorn may think he can lock me in his castle forever, but I’m not the docile Beauty he expects. If the Beast wants to tie me up, I’m going to take pleasure from every minute of it . . .and we’ll just see who ends up shackled.


Anyone who pays attention to my reading habits knows that Rebecca Zanetti is an author I HAVE to read. No joke. Anything she writes, I want it. Hearing about a dark romance from one of my favourite authors? You know I had to get my hands on it. So here's what I liked:

Beauty and the Beast... twisted and screwed.
rivals to lovers plot. You know it's going to be hot when their relationship starts off with animosity, defiance, and misunderstandings.
Thorn's a stalker. Watching his prey's every move, but never really getting to know her... until he kidnaps her!
a stunning AND smart heroine. Alana was so much more than she seemed and I enjoyed watching her embrace her power.
the fantastical elements with the gems. I still don't really understand the power that these stones have, but I'm very interested in learning more.
the bond that grew between our protagonists. It may have been a tad unorthodox, especially with the way Thorn courted Alana, but it was entertaining.

My only issue with this story — aside from the missing information about the gems, their power, and how and why they're relied upon — was the fact that I was promised a dark romance and this wasn't it. Aside from the kidnapping, the captivity, the killing of people (by Thorn), and the mystery surrounding some other deaths, there wasn't anything really dark. It was more suspenseful than anything else. It did read differently than anything I've read from this author before. I had to remind myself a time or two about who actually wrote this story because the tone felt very new.

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys suspense with a splash of the supernatural in their love stories.


Rebecca Zanetti is the author of over forty romantic suspense, dark paranormals, and contemporary romances, and her books have appeared multiple times on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. She lives in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest with her own Alpha hero, two kids, a couple of dogs, a crazy cat…and a huge extended family. She believes strongly in luck, karma, and working her butt off…and she thinks one of the best things about being an author, unlike the lawyer she used to be, is that she can let the crazy out. Upcoming series are: The Blood Brothers, The Realm Enforcers and The Scorpius Syndrome.

Visit https://rebeccazanetti.com for more information!

The Beast, Rapunzel & Robin Hood, and Queen of the Night

July 09, 2023


I'm a huge fan of retellings, so I went on a binge and here are the results. Hopefully you find something to fall in love with!


The Beast (Monsters & Beauties #1) by Jenika Snow

My Rating - ★★★
Genre - Paranormal Romance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Length - 122 pages
Find the blurb here - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61068458

A Beauty and the Beast retelling ~ What if the Beast that Belle fell in love with never turned into the handsome prince? Well, you get this incredibly filthy retelling of a monster who is determined to claim his beauty. I was very entertained by the naughty bits, how these characters maneuvered their different parts to mesh so well, and the happy ending that every kind monster deserves.



Rapunzel & Robin Hood (Twisting Fairytales #1) by Jessica Erin

My Rating - ★★★
Genre - Fantasy Romance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Length - 304 pages
Find the blurb here - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61025453-rapunzel-robin-hood

A twisted and screwed retelling ~ I’m a huge fan of retellings and this one had a unique premise. Imagine if Rapunzel ended up with a different guy. And instead of being in the tower because of the witch, Mother Gothel, but because of another source. This mashup was totally unexpected and it worked. It was a bit corny, super sweet, and even during the dark moments, so much light shone through that I didn’t really feel the angst. This was a very easy read and I think I’m in for some very cute surprises as the series continues.



Queen of the Night by Elizabeth Muse

My Rating - ★★★
Genre - Paranormal Romance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Length - 142 pages
Find the blurb here - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/59697307

A Little Red Riding Hood retelling ~ I must admit, although I found myself frustrated with this story, I couldn’t stop reading. This author sure can write and grab my attention. The heroine, Francis, was a petulant brat for most of this book, but by the end I came to finally like her. As for Charlie, he was a seemingly unkillable werewolf enforcer for the mob, who was also a Beta and a consigliere. See that right there? That confusion… that was me! I didn’t really understand the motives for most of this story except for how Francis’s brother died, and that scene was A LOT. Probably the best scene out of the book because it was all there. I didn’t have to question anything because it was all laid out for me. As for the rest of the book, I’m still unclear how Francis’s dad is the Alpha, yet she’s human and she also rules them all. But clearly I enjoyed this story well enough.

Review // A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney

July 03, 2023


"You Keep making me hate you," I whisper.
"Good." A muscle flexes in his temple.
"That will make everything easier."
~ Louisa & Lir

──────────── ♔ ────────────


A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca F. Kenney


My Rating - ★★★★¼
Standalone - Wicked Darlings #1
Release - January 1, 2022
Genre/Trope - Fantasy retelling / elements of instalove and enemies to lovers
POV - Dual 1st person (Clara & Louisa)
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 373

With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

When I picked this book up, I had no idea what I was in for… AND I LOVED IT!! This author has found a new fan in me and after reading A Court of Sugar and Spice, I’ll never look at the Nutcracker or the Sugar Plum Faerie the same!

I walked into a world of magic, with mythical creatures, dangerous terrain, and tons of adventure. The author captured the feeling and wonder of this world perfectly. I could easily imagine the impossible trees and valleys, Fin’s infamous candies and bombs, the beauty that surrounded these characters.

Sorry for being vague, but I truly believe that the plot of this story needs to be experienced rather than told. It’s sexy, fun, charming, and full of love. There happens to be another book involving Clara and Fin and I’m excited to read it!

My Two Cents

Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her two main series are the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world) and the Immortal Warriors series (connected books). She has also written a zombie-apocalypse/vampire-romance trilogy (book 1 is "The Vampires Will Save You"). Other books include a demon romance duet, a dark mermaid fantasy duology, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on TikTok @rebeccafkenney, Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, and on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1.

Review // Scarred by Emily McIntire

April 19, 2023

Scarred by Emily McIntire

Sara Beatreaux is not my problem.
Normally, I wouldn't care.
I shouldn't care.
But I do.

────── ♔ ──────


Scarred by Emily McIntire

Scarred by Emily McIntire


Standalone - Never After #2
Release - January 4, 2022
Genre - Dark Romance / enemies to lovers / vengeance / retelling / royals
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 348 pages

She doesn't belong to him...she belongs to the crown.

Prince Tristan Faasa was never destined for the throne. That was always his brother, Michael. The same brother responsible for both Tristan's tormented childhood and the scar that mars his face. When their father dies, Michael is set to assume the throne, and Tristan is set to steal it. The leader of a secret rebellion, Tristan will stop at nothing to end his brother's reign. But when Michael's new betrothed, Lady Sara Beatreaux arrives, Tristan finds himself in the middle of a new kind of war. The kind that begs the question of what's more important, the crown or the woman about to wear it.

Sara has one plan. Marry the King and eradicate the Faasa line, even at the risk of her own peril. But she never expects the Scarred Prince. He's dangerous. Forbidden. And one of the men she's been sent to kill. But the line between hatred and passion has never seemed so thin, and as secrets come to light, Sara grows unsure of whom she can trust—torn between vengeance and the villain she was never supposed to love.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


Scarred by Emily McIntire

My Two Cents

3.5 "Burn it all down" stars

Not quite a retelling, but it did have a lot in common with The Lion King. A scarred prince, some nefarious goings on, and a love story. I guess a villain deserves a happy ending too!

When his father dies, Tristan is alone in the world. His brother has the throne, the council is corrupt, and their people are starving. Tristan is determined to change things. His goals are dangerous, but he seems to laugh in the face of danger. << see what I did there?

When Sara's father dies, she vows revenge. She means to kill every member of the Faasa family, hopefully bringing back prosperity to her beloved lands. While her family schemed for her to be chosen as the King's future wife, she plotted and planned. And when she finally meets her future family, it's easy for her to imagine them all dying from her blades.

But then she gets to know Tristan, the outcast, the man in the shadows. He's nothing like what she thought he was and everything she needed in her life. With her conviction waning, can she find a new passion with him?

"The truth is, I am yours. Wholly. Inexplicably. Painfully. Unconditionally." He moves my hand until the dagger presses against his throat. "And if you need to sacrifice my soul so you're able to live with yours, then do it."

While I enjoyed this story, I wish someone had warned me that it was a slow build on the filth. I loved Tristan's obsessive, possessive self and his dirty mouth, but I wanted more. I know I'm greedy, but so much of this book was about these two fighting against their growing feelings that I wanted to spend time with them as a couple.

And yes, the author does offer an epilogue, but I would have to sign up for the newsletter and I'm not about to do that. No offense, but I'm on a newsletter cleanse. So I'm here, at the end of the book, happy that this couple gets to actually be a couple, but hopelessly wanting more. I'm good with all of the murder-y mayhem that happened, I was gleeful whenever Tristan's madness appeared, I'll never look at hash the same way again, and I liked everything in between. I'll be checking out the next book in the series for sure.

The Author

Emily McIntire is an Amazon Top 15 and Publishers Weekly best selling author known for her Never After Series, where she gives our favorite villains their happily ever afters. With books that range from small town to dark romance, she doesn’t like to box herself into one type of story, but at the core of all her novels is soul deep love. When she’s not writing you can find her enjoying her family, or lost between the pages of a good book.

Find more information at https://www.emilymcintire.com

Review // Hooked by Emily McIntire

March 25, 2023

Hooked by Emily McIntire

"You are, without a doubt, the only good I've ever known." - Hook

────── ♔ ──────


Hooked by Emily McIntire

Hooked by Emily McIntire


Standalone - Never After #1
Genre - Dark Romance / retelling / vengeance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 312 pages

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

He wants revenge, but he wants her more…

James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.

Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.

Hooked is a dark contemporary romance and the first complete standalone in the Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. It is not a literal retelling and not fantasy. Hooked features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, check the author's website.

My Two Cents

4 "Even a villain deserves to be loved" stars

I absolutely love retellings and this one is loosely based on Peter Pan. I really enjoyed experiencing the nostalgia for one of my childhood classics.

James "Hook" Barrie was driven by the dark deeds that happened in his past. His family was assassinated. He was terrorized by his hateful uncle. He was surrounded by the criminal underworld and flourished. He had the makings of an intriguing and mysterious villain and with his British accent... let's just say that I had no trouble liking this character.

Wendy was another story. Incredibly naive and sheltered, she lived a life of privilege, blissfully unaware of where her wealth and influence actually came from. All she knew was that her loving father was suddenly distant. He was hardly around and all she wanted was to draw him closer. She wasn't prepared for a man like Hook and who she became when she was with him.

It all started with a little bit of faith.
Misplaced trust.
Missing pixie dust.
And a villain who just needed to steal a little love.

Betrayal was everywhere, but together, these two found a freedom neither had ever known. For the first time, Hook found himself caring about something more than his thirst for revenge. And Wendy was becoming the woman she always dreamed of being. Someone who's thoughts and concerns mattered to someone. With Hook prepared to give her everything she wanted and needed, she only had to sacrifice one thing... her father.

Could she do it?

Read the book and find out!

The Author

Emily McIntire is an Amazon Top 15 and Publishers Weekly best selling author known for her Never After Series, where she gives our favorite villains their happily ever afters. With books that range from small town to dark romance, she doesn’t like to box herself into one type of story, but at the core of all her novels is soul deep love. When she’s not writing you can find her enjoying her family, or lost between the pages of a good book.

Find more information at https://www.emilymcintire.com

Review // The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery

March 04, 2023

The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery

There was no future for Asher Lee and Savannah Carmichael

────── ♔ ──────


The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery

The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery


Standalone - A Modern Fairytale
Release - June 15, 2014
Genre - Contemporary Romance / retelling / military
POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook
Length - 296 pages

Savannah Carmichael, betrayed by an unreliable source, returns to her hometown of Danvers, Virginia with her once-promising journalism career in ruins. Given the opportunity to get back in the game by writing a patriotic human interest piece, Savannah turns her attention to the town hermit, Asher Lee, a wounded veteran who returned to Danvers eight years ago, and hasn't been seen since.

After an IED explosion in Afghanistan took Asher's hand and disfigured half of his face, he's lived a quiet life on the outskirts of Danvers where the locals respect his privacy...that is, until Savannah Carmichael comes calling in a borrowed sundress with a plate of homemade brownies. When Asher agrees to be interviewed by Savannah, he starts feeling things for the beautiful reporter that he hasn't felt in years.

Misfits in small-town Danvers, Savannah and Asher create a bond right away, touching each other's hearts in ways neither thought possible. When a terrible mistake threatens to drive them apart, they'll have to decide if the love they found in one another's arms is strong enough to fight for their hard-won happily ever after.

My Two Cents

4.5 "So easy to love" stars

Is it possible not to fall in love with the characters Katy Regnery creates? I'm having no such luck because both Asher and Savannah were so easy to love!

Asher: a war vet, he was once the town hero, but after being hit by an IED and sustaining physical damage, he returned to a cool welcome. After being basically shunned, if people weren't running away in horror due to his deformity, he closed himself off on his family's estate.

The problem with hope was that you were required to acknowledge the possibility of not getting what you desperately hoped for.

Savannah: the town's sweetheart, she made good in the big city, but loving the wrong person ruined her career and she's back home. What better way to get back in the game than to interview a war hero?

"Don't ask me again about your face. Don't wonder for a minute if I feel like i'm being shortchanged by choosing to be with you. Just know this: you walked out of my dreams fully formed. I wasn't about to let you walk away."

From the first meet-cute, I knew this was story was going to be lovely. I knew that these characters were going to give me everything and more and that the author was going to do an incredible job of playing with my heart. I wasn't wrong.

There were tons of sweet moments. I smiled, swooned, giggled, and sighed my way through this book. Even though I was easily able to predict the conflict to come between Asher and Savannah, my heart still ached for them.

I can't find not one thing wrong with this story aside from wanting more. I would have loved an epilogue, but honestly, the time spent with these characters was so enjoyable that I can easily imagine their happily ever after together.

The Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery started her writing career by enrolling in a short story class in January 2012. One year later, she signed her first contract, and Katy’s first novel was published in September 2013.

Several dozen books and three RITA® nominations later, Katy claims authorship of the multititled Blueberry Lane series, the A Modern Fairytale collection, the Summerhaven series, the Odds Are Good collection, the Arranged duo, and several other stand-alone romances, including the critically acclaimed mainstream fiction novel Unloved, a love story.

Find more information at https://www.katyregnery.com

The Kingdom Series by Marie Hall

November 16, 2022

Her Mad Hatter


Standalone - Kingdom #1
Release - July 7, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 123 pages

Alice is all grown up. Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch.

The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice.


My Review: 3 stars
A new-to-me author just found a new fan! I loved the way she captured the Hatter, how she illustrated the madness of Kingdom and all of its creatures. This story was unlike anything else I've ever read before and I'm in love with the magic of it all. Alice was nothing like the Alice of storybooks. And the Hatter... he gave me the deliciousness that Johnny Depp gave this character. It's no wonder that Alice saw the same thing. He was a nut, but Alice was able to see beyond his mad utterings into the amazing man he truly was. There was some push and pull, some major resistance, but in the end this was an entertaining story.



Gerard's Beauty


Standalone - Kingdom #2
Release - July 28, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 188 pages

Betty Hart has had it with men. Jilted in love, her life now consists of shelving books by day, watching too much Anime by night, and occasionally dressing up like a superhero on the weekends with her fellow ‘Bleeding Heart’ nerds. Men are not welcome and very much unwanted. Especially the sexy Frenchman who saunters into her library reeking of alcohol and looking like he went one too many rounds in the ring.

Gerard Caron is in trouble. Again. Caught with his pants down (literally) he’s forced to seek asylum on Earth while his fairy godmother tries to keep Prince Charming from going all ‘Off with his head’. Maybe, messing around with the King’s daughter hadn’t been such a great idea after all, not that Gerard knew the silly redhead was a princess. But his fairy godmother knows the only way to save his life is to finally pair Gerard with his perfect mate, whether he’s willing or not.

From the moment Gerard lays eyes on the nerdy librarian he knows he must have her, but Betty is unlike any woman he’s ever known. He thought Betty would come as willingly to his bed as every other woman before her, but she is a woman who demands respect and even… horror of all horrors… love. Is it possible for a self-proclaimed Casanova to change his ways?


My Review: 3 stars
Gerard was a manwhore extraordinaire. Aside from Belle, he never delved beneath the surface, never trusted that there was only one female for him. Misunderstood and bitter about it (I kinda felt bad for the guy), he acts out. Dude was immature and ridiculous. When he went a bit too far, he's punished by spending time on Earth and making his 'one true love' fall in love with him. But Betty isn't like the vapid or superficial ladies he's used to. His game doesn't work. I loved when he finally got real with her and with himself. There was so much more to the man hidden beneath the surface and the author did an amazing job with all of it.



Red and Her Wolf


Standalone - Kingdom #3
Release - September 26, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 213 pages

Long ago there lived a beautiful child. Her name was Violet. Fair of skin, with blonde hair and large blue eyes. Born of wild magic, she was a woman with a child’s heart. Innocent and lovely, but not at all what she seemed--you see Violet went by another name: The Heartsong.

She was the child of fairy magic, the physical manifestation of all fae kinds unbridled power. Cosseted and pampered, she grew up in isolation, never knowing who she really was, or why there were those who’d seek to harm her.

Ewan of the Blackfoot Clan is a wolf with a problem. He’s been sent to kill the Heartsong, but the moment he lays eyes on the blonde beauty he knows he’ll defy the evil fae he works for to claim Violet as his own.

This is the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, as it really happened...


My Review: 4 stars
This was my favorite story of the series so far. Where the other books were light and humorous, this one was dark and mysterious. Violet was pure magic. She was the result of dark magic being purged from the fairies and all dark emotions are what fueled her. Know the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Well, you've never heard it like this. What if the wolf didn't do the awful things that myth made up? What if he was meant to be with Red?

That's what this book was about... and so much more! Red hated Ewan for what she believed he had done. And when she learns the truth, she has to fight against everything she thought she knew and believed. Her story was all about turning that love into hate and destroying the darkness. It was such a beautiful and unique way of telling this fairytale and I was far too infatuated with Ewan. He was everything that was good and kind and sweet and sexy... he was yummy. And if you love retellings, you need to read this one!



Jinni's Wish


Standalone - Kingdom #4
Release - November 26, 2012
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 137 pages

A long, long time ago there lived a man. A Jinni, who had one wish. To know love. But the woman he thought he knew betrayed him and the love he thought they shared. Tortured for his crimes, he was cast out of Kingdom, stripped of all his powers, left to langour in pain and solitude, until eventually he becomes nothing but a ghost...

Paz Lopez is an artist with a dream. To buy a ridiculously large penthouse in the swankiest section of Chicago. But there's just one hitch, she has no man to share her dream with. A fateful visit to a carnival and Madam Pandora's tent sends Paz on a mission to find the love of her life before it's too late.

But the Madam forgot to tell Paz one very important detail... to meet him, Paz will have to die first.


My Review: 3.5 stars
This may have been the most magical book of the series thus far. The love that developed for both Jinni and Paz happened in the inbetween. She was hovering at death's door and he was slowly slipping away. Only what they felt for each other kept them tethered to our world. Their story was beautiful, painful, eerie, and lovely. I'm really enjoying myself with these books!



Hook's Pan


Standalone - Kingdom #5
Release - April 23, 2013
Genre - Fantasy Romance
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 172 pages

Trishelle Page has known pain in her life, but instead of it making her weak, she's stronger. Confident. That is until the day a fairy kidnaps her during her staring role in Peter Pan's play and tells her not only do fairy tales exist, but that she's the soulmate of the pirate they call Hook, making her question everything she ever thought she knew.

Captain James Hook is a man at the end of his rope. He's not the villainous bastard tales have made him out to be. So when the curvaceous blonde drops, literally, at his feet he aims to prove it to her. If only to get her into his bed.

What neither one knows is that fate and magic are conspiring and they can deny the attraction all they want but the end is already written, it's just a matter of getting there.


My Review: 2 stars
This was my least favorite book of the bunch. I didn't like Trishelle when she was introduced in Gerard's Beauty and I liked her even less here. Which sucked because I was hoping this book would make me like her more. As pathetic and sad as she was, I figured I would feel an ounce of pity or compassion. I was just annoyed. The only thing that saved this book was the magic of Neverland and the wonder of James Hook. Dude was delicious!!

Review // Hades by Alessa Thorn

March 29, 2022

Hades by Alessa Thorn

She didn't know why he brought out the brat in her, but she loved stirring him up.

────── ♔ ──────


Hades by Alessa Thorn

Hades by Alessa Thorn


Standalone - The Court of the Underworld #3
Release - May 22, 2020
Genre - Paranormal Romance / mythological legend retelling
Dual POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3 out of 5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 203 pages
Publisher - Thornstar Publishing Pty Ltd

Goodreads * Amazon (Free with KU)

A demi-goddess with the power over life and death, the God of the Underworld burning for revenge... it's a forbidden obsession waiting to happen.
Hades is ready to take the fight to the gang Pithos who keep pissing him off and messing with his business. When a money trail leads back to Demeter, Queen of Athens, he takes the one thing she values; her daughter Persephone.

Persephone is no pampered princess. With a curse to create life in one hand and control death with the other, she's going to make life Hell for her kidnapper.

Hades is willing to play dirty to get what he wants, but he's about to meet his match in the irresistible demi-goddess who only plays to win.

HADES is a modern re-telling of the Hades and Persephone Greek Myth. It contains adult content, including violence, swearing, and steamy sex scenes.

My Two Cents

3.5 "The Balance of Life and Death" stars

Was I surprised when I found out who was behind Pithos? Nope, not so much. I kinda figured it would be someone they were all familiar with and I had a few names bouncing around in my head. The person responsible for all of the horrors was someone on my list. Who are they? Ummm... read the books to find out!

So Hades is the King, god of the Underworld, and he seems to be hot as sin. Everything of death (and I'm guessing life) is his domain. Persephone has two gifts — life and death. And because of these gifts, her mother has kept her away from Hades' grasp. She's been led to believe that he's someone to fear. However, one reckless night six years ago showed Persephone that more than her gifts could be at stake... and her heart couldn't take it.

"You're dark and beautiful and all the cursed things belong to you," Persephone sighed as sleep began to pull her away. "And I'm so very, very cursed."

Six years later, they haven't forgotten each other. Too bad she knows who he is and he doesn't have a clue who the mystery woman who haunts him really is. Until he does and no one, not even the female herself, is going to keep them apart.

He would never be able to predict what she would do, and he loved it even though it frustrated him at the same time.

Okay, so I didn't like this one as much as the previous books. I assumed, with how much I liked the first two heroines, that I would automatically like Persephone. I didn't. For most of this book, I had to keep reminding myself that she was in her 30s because she acted and reacted like a teenager or new adult. It was annoying. While I'm supposed to be sympathetic because her goddess mother kept her sheltered and oppressed, my understanding only reaches so far. Ah well, at least I had all of the other characters to make it up to me.

Hermes is next and he's one broken god of thieves. And you know I can't resist the broken ones. I've already got it lined up!

About the Author


Alessa Thorn believes that all monsters and villains deserve their happy endings. She prefers her clothes black, eyeliner winged and books full of hot romance. She thinks heroes are boring, so her first series 'The Court of the Underworld' centers around dark gods, monsters and villains from her favorite Greek Myths.

Find out more about this author at https://alessathornauthor.com/

Stroke of Midnight by K. Webster

October 21, 2020

Stroke of Midnight by K. Webster
"You're just a little girl who desperately craves a daddy." - Winston Constantine

Stroke of Midnight by K. Webster

Stroke of Midnight by K. Webster


Cinderella #1
Release: October 27, 2020
Genre: Dark romance w/ BDSM elements
Dual POV: 1st person
Heat: 5
Format/Source: eARC provided by the author

Money can buy anything. And anyone. As the head of the Constantine family, I’m used to people bowing to my will. Cruel, rigid, unyielding—I’m all those things. When I discover the one woman who doesn’t wither under my gaze, but instead smiles right back at me, I’m intrigued.

Ash Elliott needs cash, and I make her trade in crudeness and degradation for it. I crave her tears, her moans. I pay for each one. And every time, she comes back for more. When she challenges me with an offer of her own, I have to decide if I’m willing to give her far more than cold hard cash.

But love can have deadly consequences when it comes from a Constantine. At the stroke of midnight, that choice may be lost for both of us.

Heart Thief by Ker Dukey

June 03, 2020

Someone stole her light.
A killer.
A thief.


-- Synopsis --

Heart Thief by Ker Dukey
Monsters come in many forms.
Some want shiny new toys to play with—others want blood.
Mona Walters dreams of adventure, of a world beyond the shoreline she’s confined to. She yearns for vibrancy in her dull, mundane existence, but succumbs to the bleakness.
Until the necklace her sister wore the night she was brutally murdered shows up on her door wrapped in a neat bow, fueling her to run away and seek out the person responsible for stealing her sister’s life.
Mona wished for more—for color in her gray world.
What she didn’t realize was just how much more she would get.
And that the world outside her own was soaked in red—blood red.
The world she dreamed of is made of nightmares.
A rich, influential world of two brothers—and once they have her in their sights, they plan to keep her there.
Her father kept her secluded for a reason.
Be careful what you wish for.
There's a thief out there, and he's coming for Mona's heart.

Find it here:
Goodreads * Amazon

Zhànshì by Anna Edwards

May 26, 2020

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”
-- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Winter's Arrow by Lexi C. Foss

May 10, 2020

Winter's Arrow by Lexi C Foss

I made her look like that.
I painted her in my scent.
I f**ked her into beautiful submission.
And I loved every damn minute of it.

Abducted by K.I. Lynn

May 02, 2020


I was a caged bird. A pet awaiting a sentence bound to be more grim than any fairy-tale horror.

Stealing Cinderella by A. Zavarelli

March 30, 2020

Stealing Cinderella by A Zavarelli

Every royal has their dirty little secret. His was me.

Lock by Kimberly Knight

March 09, 2020

Lock by Kimberly Knight

Find Lock: A Dark Retelling here:
GoodreadsAmazon

Mirage by C.M. Radcliff

February 18, 2020

Mirage by C.M. Radcliff

Find your copy of Mirage here:
Goodreads | Amazon

Ascending From Madness by Stacey Marie Brown

February 15, 2020

Ascending From Madness by Stacey Marie Brown

"Dying for a better world is worthier than living in one because of fear. There is no freedom in living if you are only existing."

Descending Into Madness by Stacey Marie Brown

February 13, 2020

Descending Into Madness by Stacey Marie Brown

“If you don’t know where you are, what does it matter where here is? Here is merely relative to knowing where you are.”

Legend by M.R. Leahy

February 06, 2020

Legend by M.R. Leahy

"Through darkness you were born, now darkness you will live. Bound are your powers, no longer able to shift. Hidden throughout time, you will cease to exist until the chosen one appears with our God-given gift. When the marks unite, the prince shall change and the one true king will take his name."

Siren by Hazel Grace

January 04, 2020

Siren by Hazel Grace
In my humble opinion...

Siren is the first book I've read from Hazel Grace and she's made me a fan on her first try! It was dark and delicious, entrancing, captivating, and utterly spellbinding!

In the South Seas, mermaids are real. They lure unsuspecting travellers who venture too far or hunters who seek to kill them for fortune, with their looks and their songs... with their magic. They can be vicious and cruel, especially when it comes to protecting themselves and those they love. Dagen learns this the hard way when his search for a trinket to bring hope and prosperity to his people lands him in the laps of not just any mermaids, but the princesses of the sea. He's stumbled upon an island that no one but the sirens should be able to see and the seven princesses will use whatever means necessary to find out his true intentions. Can love blossom in the midst of torture and death? You better believe it can!

I was told that this is the author's first attempt at a fantasy romance and I think she did an incredible job with it. From the world building, the intricacies of the plot, the many hidden gems I discovered, the intensely developed characters, and the descriptive colors of the people and their surroundings, it was easy to fall in love with Grace's writing. I highlighted so many great lines and then realized I couldn't share them because they contained spoilers and I don't intend to ruin this for anyone. Siren is a raw, gritty, addictive, mystical read with surprisingly tender moments. These characters were amazing and I hope to see them again.

┈┈┈┈┈◦•✩•◦┈┈┈┈┈


So why not FIVE STARS?! It really all comes down to the author's word choice. There was poor placement all over the place. Words that were misleading or didn't mean what the author was trying to convey. Luckily I could understand what she was trying to say, but it was annoying. Examples include 'brustle' instead of 'bristle', 'alluding' when nothing was being alluded to, etc. I'm not sure if the editor(s) have caught it yet so that these errors don't make it into the final copy, but I can only hope. Sometimes using big or complex words, especially when they're not words you mean to use, isn't the best option. Simple is always better because it leaves less room for mistakes... in my humble opinion.

Find your copy of Siren by Hazel Grace here:
GoodreadsAmazon


About the Book

Siren by Hazel Grace
I’m one of the most alluring creatures in the world.
Dangerous.
Beautiful.
Powerful.
A siren.
One of seven princesses of Lacuna.
But I wanted more than that, so much more than the trinkets I stowed in my caverns. I wanted my own piece of the world.
And I got it.
However with that wish came a price, and that price came with secrets.
Two of which should never have been able to set foot on where I reside.
The fate of my heart belongs to Lacuna, but whose heart belongs to me?

About Hazel Grace

Hazel Grace is an avid music lover and hardcore Oakland Raiders fan from the mitten state of Michigan. Her writing goals are "what the f*ck" storylines while enjoying her readers private messaging her to cuss her out.