Review // Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon

March 13, 2024

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon

"You're fascinated with my knot."
"I really am."


Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

The exclusive print edition of a Yonder original story


Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon


Rating -
Standalone
Release - July 2, 2024
Genre - Fantasy Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Heroine 1st person
Heat - explicit to filthy
Source - eARC from NetGalley
Length - 536 pages

In order to protect her kingdom from the wrath of a vengeful goddess, Princess Candra must remain locked inside a tower for seven years. Seven long years without a friend―or a lover―by her side. And shut inside the tower with her? A Fellian, the enemy of her people, a fearsome warrior race complete with wings and claws and fangs. Nemeth is terrifying, cruel, and disturbingly magnetic. Candra should kill him for his supplies, but she’s desperate for his company…and his touch.

As time inside the unchanging tower rolls on, Candra uncovers the man behind the stony facade. And when their tenure hits an unexpected snag, Candra and Nemeth are forced to make a difficult choice. They’ll need to face an outside world they no longer recognize, one that threatens their lives and their surprising love.

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon


After many, many years of a tentative truce, two kingdoms were on the brink of war. The only thing that has kept the people blessed is the seven years committed to the tower. One person from each faction must sacrifice these years to calm the goddess. Two people prepared to be shut off from the rest of the world, their people, their freedom.

Princess Candra was not prepared. As a last minute fill-in, this spoiled brat had no idea what she was in for. There was no one to dress her, bathe her, prepare her meals, or generally make her life easier. She had to do everything herself, including preparing and administering her medicine. Girl was absolutely clueless and provided me with endless fun, at her expense.

So there Candra was, with a chronic blood illness, trapped in a tower with one of the enemy. However, Nemeth was far from the bad guy. He took care of her, shared his supplies with her, and made her fall helplessly in love with him. And when I thought that was all for this story... the author gifted me with so much more.

There was danger and intrigue, honor and betrayal, tons of love and sexy times.

If you weren't a fan of this author before reading this book, you'll be one after.



Ruby Dixon is an author of Science Fiction Romance. She likes fated mates, baby-filled epilogues, and cinnamon roll heroes. She also likes to write biographies of herself in the third person, because it feels more important that way.

Ruby also loves coffee and dirty books and will probably be a cat lady at some point. :)

Visit http://www.rubydixon.com for more information.

Books That Didn't Make the Cut Pt.21

March 12, 2024


Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.

Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)


Finding Gray by K.L. Kreig


Contemporary, dual pov

Cocksure. Suave. Untouchable.

Gray Colloway is the very definition of these. He’s also sweet, drop dead gorgeous, and relentless in his pursuit of me. But I don’t let people in my inner bubble. That only leads to heartbreak. After I turn down his initial proposition for a date, he shows up where I work day after day until he finally wears me down and I give. I want to let him in. I do, but will Gray be able to truly break down barriers it took others a lifetime to shape?

Livia Kingsley is the entire sexy package. Outside of swimming curves and that angel’s face, she’s smart as hell, witty, and all fucking mine. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her. Her resistance to give me a chance is cute and weak. And straight up futile. The harder she pushes me away, the harder I push back. But she gives in and our chemistry is off the charts hot, just as I knew it would be. And three years later when she agrees to be my wife, I am the happiest man alive.

Until she ruins me.

My Rating -

As always, the writing was perfect because it's K.L. KREIG!!

However...

While I adored Gray, I kept finding fault with Livia. From the first moment of this novella, I didn't like her and I think their story would be better served if I dropped this and just started with Forsaking Gray instead. I don't want to go into the story hating the girl (although I pretty much already do). So I'm going to take a step back, make something else wash this gross taste out of my brain (thanks for that, Livia) and continue on with this series another day.


Pearl White by Lindsay Marie Miller


Mystery

It’s senior year at Maple Creek High. And Savannah is swarming with gossip about who killed the star quarterback.

Last summer, Addie Smith thought she’d witnessed her last murder. But when a letter arrives from France, she must revisit the past.

A French count invites Tom and Addie to spend Christmas with him in Paris. Hesitant at first, the young love birds fly to the romance capital of the world. But the count is haunted by a woman from his past.

A woman who spoke of an emerald necklace…

My Rating -

Honestly, this book has elements that I quite enjoy. It's got a touch of romance, a mystery, some thrilling and suspenseful parts, and it's young adult. Surely a recipe of enjoyment. Unfortunately, it was barely okay for me. I skimmed and skimmed and still don't know what I was 'reading'. I think it was one of those "it's not you, it's me" situations. I just couldn't get into it.


Goodnight, Nic by Marley Jacobs


Twenty-four-year-old Nicole Fletcher is having a rough summer. The woman who raised her is dying and there’s nothing she can do about it. Nothing but find solace in the forbidden fantasies starring her best friend’s younger brother. Nic knows there are some lines you can never cross – but when it comes to “little” Landon Pike, she kind of already has. She tries to stay away but when your world is falling apart, you can’t help but fall right along with it. Good thing Landon refuses to let her fall alone.

My Rating -

With the way I feel about this heroine, and the fact that the entire book is told from her POV, I think it's better that I quit now. I can't get over how self-absorbed she is, how she treats people, how she just doesn't seem to care. I'm sure this will change at some point later in the story, but with the way she's treating the male lead, after he's so freaking amazing... I can't get down with that.

Reviews // Last Night + Cluelessly Yours

March 05, 2024

Last Night by Luanne Rice


A fierce blizzard is burying the eastern seaboard, but on the icy Rhode Island shore renowned artist Maddie Morrison finds warm sanctuary from a contentious divorce at the legendary Ocean House. Hours later, her body is found buried under a blanket of snow and her little daughter, CeCe, has disappeared without a trace.

For Detective Conor Reid; his brother, Tom, a coast guard commander; and Maddie’s grieving sister, Hadley, the posh hotel becomes ground zero for an investigation. Trapped by the blizzard, they must hunker down and determine who in the young mother’s life could have possibly wanted her dead. There are stories of a twisted romantic past. Of old jealousies and resentments that still cut to the bone. And a history of greed, rage, and revenge that created the perfect storm for murder. A storm that has just begun.

I picked this one up as a Prime First Read and I have no regrets. Last Night was more of a murder mystery than a thriller, imo, and I can honestly say that I didn't immediately figure out who the doer was, which is always a bonus for me. It took a while to even guess who might be involved and I couldn't begin to understand the many moving parts to this plot. The author did a great job of feeding me misleading clues and I loved that. From the cop who was out of his jurisdiction, the seemingly bumbling cops who took over the scene, the grieving sister, and the cop's girlfriend who was an amateur sleuth, I was entertained. I'd definitely be down to read another mystery from this author.

3.5 stars



Cluelessly Yours by Max Monroe


The bad news? Getting hit by a cab can officially get crossed off my bucket list.

The worse news? While I’ve woken up from my coma, the man I’m in love with hasn’t stirred from his.

And the most terrible news of all? A pregnant woman is at his bedside, holding his hand, and saying that he’s the father of her baby.

Sammy Baker is a divorced, single mom trying to find her way again. With two boys and an absent ex-husband, she’s got the world on her shoulders and Legos under her feet.

Amid the chaos lives the dream of, one day, finding love again.

Though, she didn’t think that would land her smack-dab in the middle of two men.

Will Sammy choose the successful businessman who doesn’t hesitate to tell her he’s interested? Or will she go for the eligible bachelor doctor with a constant influx of women vying for his attention?

The smart choice and what the heart wants are two different things. And sometimes, fate has a way of making it so the choice isn’t ours at all.

Thanks to Deanna at A Novel Glimpse, I picked this one up in KU because I was looking for a good laugh. And while I didn't laugh, AT ALL, I did enjoy myself for the most part.

Sammy went from being a single mom, fresh from an awful marriage and divorce, with zero romantic prospects... to a single mom with two gorgeous men at her fingertips. Who to choose, who to choose? I would have went with the doctor, but I'm not her and I had to watch her go through the motions of figuring out her best move.

Whatever this story was trying to give, I missed it. I didn't really like Sammy, I really liked Noah (and thought he deserved better than Sammy's MANY assumptions), and I was amused by the twist of events the authors created. I don't know about anyone else, but I was more invested in Sammy's sister's story than this one. I'm thinking I'd probably prefer it.

3 stars


Series Review // Uncovering You by Scarlett Edwards

March 04, 2024


Hello and Happy Monday!

Today's flashback is the Uncovering You series by Scarlett Edwards. I read and reviewed these books back in 2015 and enjoyed myself (as far as I can remember). It was only some time after I completed this series that it was released as a boxset. So those later (lucky) readers got to get the whole story in one shot!

It's a captive/captor story with BDSM elements. If that's not your jam, skip it. However, if it is, I hope you give it a try. And if you've already read it, did you like it too?


About the series: When I wake up in a dark, unfamiliar room, I have no idea what's waiting for me in the shadows. My imagination conjures up demons of the worst kind.

Reality is much worse:

A collar with no leash. A prison with no walls. And a life stripped of meaning.

I am presented with a vile contract and asked to sign. It outlines the terms of my servitude. The only information I have about my captor are the two small letters inked at the bottom:

J.S.

Armed with only my memories, I must do everything I can to avoid becoming ensnared in his twisted mind games. But in the end, it all comes down to one choice:

Resist and die.

Or submit, and sign my life away.

1. The Contract


Rating -

The story is interesting so far. I'm really just interested in finding out Jeremy's motives for holding Lilly captive. However, I absolutely cannot stand Lilly and I'm disappointed that the story is told in her voice.

Words to describe Lilly: narcissistic, entitled, spoiled, ungrateful, rude, etc. She is too cool for you. Too smart for you. Too good for you. That's all I kept reading that the actual words of the book were just background. The only thing that really stuck out in this story was Jeremy so I will continue to read for his sake.


2. Submission


Rating -

So my opinion of Lilly hasn't improved that much. I do admire her false sense of bravery and determination, but really... how much can you accomplish when your every endeavor is dictated by your captor? I sometimes wondered if she was just a glutton for punishment, with the way she purposely put herself in a situation that incurred discipline.

I would not be trying to aggravate Mr. Jeremy. He sounds scary!

Ah well, I'm still in it for Jeremy. I'm intrigued enough to keep reading to find out what drives him. I in no way condone non-consensual anything, however, this is fiction so the more twisted the better.


3. Resistance


Rating -

Poor Lilly. I really like the way this writer writes. She sets the stage so eloquently that I feel like I'm actually witnessing it, not just reading it. The ways that Jeremy torments Lilly are truly amusing to me. Hey, I never denied that I have a twisted mind lol. He even used kindness and tenderness to confuse her. And really why did she think she could outwit the man? Not only does he have 20 years of living experience on her, but he's extremely successful, a pursuit she hasn't achieved yet. He got to the top for a reason. And she's nowhere near his league. So her delusions are amusing to me as well.

My favourite scene was when Jeremy made Lilly eat the dove while he tossed its head back and forth like a ball. Hilarious!!


4. Retribution


Rating -

I had to rate this book higher because things just got interesting. If you don't wanna know, please don't read further because my review might spoil it for you.

Is Jeremy serious??? I know it isn't technically cheating because he and Lilly aren't in a relationship, but c'mon!! He's riding her bareback! That right there is reason enough not to involve someone else's privates!! And then to further torture her by forcing her to listen to them was a step too far, even for me. I felt so bad for Lilly. Here she is thinking that maybe she and Jeremy share a connection, but he's having sex with a "free" woman and it even involves loving murmurs (something she doesn't share with him). I just couldn't believe him because I honestly thought he really wanted Lilly underneath it all. But she seems expendable :(. I really wonder what his motives are now after this shocker.

He treats her really disrespectfully and I'm not sure if there is even a potential HEA for these two. How could there be? The things he's done are pretty unforgivable. Now he's subjecting her to the same mental torture as he did in the beginning (leaving her in one spot in the dark), and he still expects to take advantage of her body. WTF is going on???


5. Confessions


Rating -

Oh my goodness!!

It's official... Jeremy is truly a sociopath. Now because of this revelation (that really isn't a surprise), I'm not surprised that Lilly cannot differentiate the truth from a lie. The things he's willing to do, the secrets he keeps, the way he manipulates, everything he does makes me doubt his sincerity. However, the fact that he removed her shock collar makes me second guess his feelings and whether or not he can change.

I feel so bad for Lilly because there is no way to predict his behaviour or reactions.
Walking on eggshells isn't easy.
There are still 5 more books in the series. I cannot even fathom what they will reveal.


6. Deliverance


Rating -

This author's writing has me all twisted up inside! Every time I think things are going one way, they take an unexpected turn.

Is this side of Jeremy real? Does he really love Lilly? Considering the truth revealed at the end, could his feelings all be a lie? Part of his revenge plot? Holy moley!

First he removes the collar. Then he burns up the contract. But is it all for naught? How can Lilly ever trust that his action, words, or motives are pure? After everything he's done, I think everything he does is suspect.

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop because I know there are more nefarious deeds that he's committed that have yet to be revealed. I'm on to the next book to find out more.


7. Resurrection


Rating -

I really liked this installment. It just goes to show that Jeremy or Mr. Stonehart or whatever you want to call him is as devious and manipulative as ever. Just when you think you have an understanding of the situation, as you think you've got it all figured out and there's no more secrets... BOOM! Another twist is revealed. I love how he plays with Lilly's mind. I was even somewhat convinced that maybe she was losing her sanity.

I like the sweet glimpses we get of Jeremy.
I do believe he loves her, but it's not a hearts and flowers kind of love.
It's dark, twisted, obsessive, etc.
But I'm eager to see how it plays out and if there will be a HEA in the end.


8. Redemption


Rating -

I'm not sure what to make of this installment. Ms. Edwards has woven an intricate tale of captivity, secrets, betrayal, manipulation, and has twisted and corrupted my damn brain! I love Jeremy. The only thing really missing is his pov but I guess that would defeat the purpose of the story. All of these secrets, lies and devious machinations would be revealed all too quickly.

I want to know what is going on with his father and what he wants from Lilly. What was in the second envelope?

Also, Jeremy informs her that she was in a coma for weeks. And that she has brain damage. But her reaction wasn't realistic at all! I'm not a fan of Lilly. I think that has been established and this book did her absolutely no favours. Especially with her behaviour towards her friends.

Ah well, on to book 9 and more Jeremy.


9. Liberation


Rating -

I swear, every time I think I have a handle on the plot, something else happens to throw me off.

Jeremy's evil mind knows no bounds. His devious plans are limitless it seems. I want to call him a sociopath, but I actually believe that he truly loves Lilly. I guess it's best to list his sociopath qualities rather than fitting him with a label. He's definitely apathetic. The way he clinically decides to drug, abuse, and manipulate Lilly is coldblooded.

The scene of Russian Roulette was insane. And now that Lilly has decided to stay by his side, Jeremy finally shows her how completely corrupted he is. I want to know what his ultimate plan is for Charles, Rose and Hugh.


10. The Finale


Rating -

This book deserved every one of its 4 stars!! It was a crazy, incredible journey and definitely the best book out of the entire series!!

After being free from captivity and falling in love with her captor, Lilly is captured again... by Jeremy's enemies. And what she suffered while Jeremy's prisoner was a walk in the park in comparison. She was brutalized by his enemies. I can't think of a better word to describe what she endured. It was brutal, sadistic, cruel, inhumane... And the author wrote the scenes so powerfully that once again I felt like I was witnessing it instead of reading it.

In this book we get to read Jeremy's pov finally and it was amazing. The growth of this man made him that much more wonderful to me. I already loved him. This just made me appreciate him more. His love for Lilly knew no bounds and the lengths he went through to rescue her, both during her captivity and the resulting aftermath, were astounding. The resulting "craziness" told from Lilly's pov were written so eloquently that I really could imagine her losing her mind. It seemed that real.

I'm just glad that there's a book 11. Thank you very much for that Scarlett Edwards because if not for that I would be stalking your a** with some crazy messages for having the audacity to end this series with a damn eyelid flutter.


11. The Lost Chapter


Rating -

This book may seem like a whole bunch of nothing, which it is, but in the bigger picture it's about a lot. It's about what happened after that damn eyelid flutter. I get why the author chose to fast forward the story 14 months. It bypasses Lilly's struggle through all types of therapy. Waking up from a coma after a year sure cannot be easy. Muscle atrophy alone would be a hurdle to leap over.

This book gives closure on the love story between Jeremy and Lilly. Not once did the cold Mr. Stonehart make an appearance, much like he didn't in book 10. The change in him is surreal because his moods were so unpredictable, something I kind of relied on in a weird way. Now he's all about Lilly: his love in her, his faith in her, his respect for her... It was honestly a bit boring. Ah well, I needed my HFN and got that. Welcome to the fold Mrs. Stonehart!