Sunday, June 29, 2025

Review: A Charming Touch of Tarot by Melissa Holtz

A Charming Touch of Tarot is the second novel in the Gin & Tarot Club by Melissa Holtz! 

This series is magical mystery tour of ghostly gasps, spooky spirits, and mystical mayhem! 

Grab your copy today!




About the Book

Four friends discover that their new magical skills may not be enough to save them from a stalker hell-bent on turning their lives upside down.

Alyssa, Nina, Lanie, and Corinne’s friendship is being put to the test. With Nina’s marriage falling apart, Lanie acting distant, Alyssa’s new romance, and no one quite trusting Corinne, this may be more than their bond can take. But when Nina appears at Alyssa’s door, and confesses not just a decades-old secret, but a newfound magical power, the friends know that the only way to face this is together.

Someone has been blackmailing Nina for years, but lately the threats to reveal her secret have changed to threats on her life, and on the lives of those she loves. With Alyssa contacting ghosts for insight and Nina getting used to her telepathy skills, they dash from city to city to track down the threat. There’s someone out there that will go to any lengths to keep their control over Nina, and it will take all four friends to get out of this without ruining, or losing, their lives. But with the strength of their friendship—and a little help from the beyond—these women are out to prove they’re not to be messed with.







Excerpt

 

1

The Moon

I watch from the doorframe of my great room, savoring the moment. My favorite people are all here, under one roof, celebrating Christmas Eve together, and it's a sight that warms my heart.

Lanie, Nina, and Ava are huddled together in their matching red-and-white plaid reindeer jammies, alternating between shoving holiday goodies into their mouths and sipping from piping-hot mugs of Baileys hot chocolate, minus the Baileys for Ava.

The largest charcuterie board I've ever made sits on the coffee table, overflowing with an assortment of cheeses, crackers, popcorn, and various cookies and candies I purchased from a bakery in downtown Knox Harbor.

I've been running back and forth from the kitchen playing the part of hostess, a role I've always enjoyed but haven't been up to for some time.

In the past few years, the merriness of the season was tempered by sorrow and self-pity. Tonight, it's been all laughter and no tears.

The way Christmas Eve should be.

Those who matter most are in this room, singing along to the song playing on the television. Lanie belts out "Deck the Halls," punching at the air; Nina pulls in her upper lip, grimacing into the side of Lanie's head; and Ava sings the song without a care in the world, just happy to have her two aunts here with us.

We're bonded by more than blood and DNA. These are sacred friendships that we've chosen. They weren't thrust upon us out of duty and an age-old tale that blood somehow trumps all. While my parents are hundreds of miles away, likely playing cards with friends, my made family is here, choosing me, and that's not something I take lightly.

Since the accident that took Garrett from me, Lanie has made Christmas Eve our thing. It was her attempt to pull me out of my despair long enough to ensure that Ava had the Christmas she deserved. This time, we have the bonus of Nina being here.

Before this year, she has always been required to attend Knox Harbor's Christmas Eve ball, a charity event that her slimy ex had nothing to do with organizing but took all the credit for. Due to the shocking events that unfolded earlier this year, the event was cancelled.

I take a second to relish how this year, Richard Dunbar is celebrating Christmas in prison, while Nina gets to curl up on my oversize couch, comfortable and cozy. Not only did Richard cover up his son's drunk driving homicide, but he was also behind two murders and the car accident that took Garrett from me and Ava.

Pure evil.

He's eating crappy food while Nina gorges on treats that she typically didn't allow herself, because he would throw a fit over any weight gain. He's sitting in a cell, staring at concrete walls, and she gets to binge-watch every sappy Hallmark movie she can fit into one night. Movies he never allowed her to watch in her own home.

Oh, how sweet karma can be.

"Are you done stalking?" Lanie calls over her shoulder, not bothering to take her eyes off the television.

"I wasn't stalking anything. If you haven't noticed, the platters of food don't magically fill themselves."

Ava turns toward me, smiling like a loon. "You should really get on that. A magic house that cooks and cleans sounds like a game changer."

I smirk. "I'll make sure to add that to my Santa list next year."

Ava half rolls her eyes, grinning wide and twisting back toward the television.

"I just figured you were keeping an eye on the house next door for any signs of movement," Lanie says, shoving popcorn into her mouth.

"We just started dating. I'm hardly inspecting his house for proof of life. It's not like I haven't talked to him."

Lanie peaks one perfectly microbladed eyebrow. "Have you? Talked to him? Because I've seen you check your phone no less than ten times in the last hour . . ."

"Why do you always make me sound so pathetic? I've been having too much fun with all of you. I haven't thought about him once."

A slight lie, but Lanie Anderson doesn't need to be proven right.

"How about you come sit and finish the movie with us," Ava suggests, patting the couch cushion. "Ignore Aunt Lanie. If you were thinking about Mr. West, that's perfectly normal."

"I agree with Ava. Ignore Aunt Lanie." Nina purses her lips when she turns toward Lanie, who isn't at all bothered. "Come join us. We have plenty of food. Enjoy your time with Aves."

I should absolutely be soaking in every moment I have with her. The two-week break she gets is never long enough. Soon she'll be returning to school, and I'll be in this empty house all alone.

I make my way to the couch, taking the seat next to Ava. She smiles at me, squeezing my hand as she scooches in closer, offering to share her blanket.

"What have I missed?" I ask, eyes trained on the big screen.

"She just got whisked back in time by that sand thingy."

I lift an eyebrow at Ava's explanation.

"I think you mean hourglass," Nina says.

"Whatever it is. She's about to see the hot actor," Lanie says, grabbing a handful of Cheez-It crackers. "It's about to get swoony."

"Are you hungry, Lanie?" I ask, completely mystified by the sheer amount of junk she's consumed in the past ten minutes. While she has never shied away from food, she typically grabs healthier options. I feel bad that I didn't opt to serve a meal.

She purses her lips. "Is that a fat quip?"

"I'm offering to make you actual food if you're hungry." I motion to the large platter. "I really didn't think this through."

She wipes her hand on her pajamas. "I'm simply using the holiday as an excuse to indulge. Nothing wrong with that."

"I didn't say there was. I was only attempting to be a proper host."

"You failed," she singsongs.

"Can you two just get along so we can watch the meet-cute?" Nina reprimands, a hint of humor in her tone.

Ava squeals, clapping her hands and shimmying in her seat, clearly ready for what's to come. "Meet-cutes are the best part."

My head shakes and my chest bounces, barely containing the laughter that bubbles within at Ava's reaction. My little girl is sixteen. She's a young adult, interested in love and romance, something that wasn't the case a year ago.

"Here, this is yours," Nina says, passing over a mug. "It might be a tad cold by now, but it's good."

"Thank you." I take a sip and sigh.

The temperature is perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. The hint of Baileys just enough to make the cocoa even better.

We all settle in to watch the movie, oohing and ahhing at every twist that arises. It's cute. Your typical Christmas love story, complete with magic and humor. The type of movies we all enjoy this time of year.

Over an hour goes by, and we're moments from the movie's conclusion when the doorbell rings.

Ava looks over her shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. When she turns toward me, she lifts one brow. "Who could that be?"

My eyes are narrowed as I run through the short list of possibilities.

I quickly eliminate Nick West. I've peeked at the house next door for any signs of him a few times tonight, only to find it dark. He's likely working late at the station.

That's been his excuse for the three dates he's cancelled in the past two weeks. Ever since the night Nina showed up on my doorstep, looking as though she'd been run through the mud, he's been distant.

I did send him away without an explanation, but he can't be angry with me about that. Nina's practically family, and she was distraught. I needed to be there for her and didn't think she'd be open to spilling her guts with Nick hanging around.

"Well . . . are you going to answer it or let them freeze out there?" Ava asks, cutting off all thoughts of Nick.

I jump up from the couch and rush toward the door because she's right-it's a chilly night, and nobody should be left to freeze on Christmas Eve.

Pressing my eye to the little round hole, I check to see who it is, but there's nobody out there. At least, not that I can see. A strange feeling washes over me, and I decide not to open the door. Instead, I make my way to the white-trimmed picture window, staring down the road both ways.

The soft glow of twinkling lights glistens off the freshly fallen snow all the way down my street. It's a stunning sight that distracts me from my initial reason for peering out my window into the dark night.

There's nothing and no one to be seen. Not even taillights in the distance proving that someone had been on my doorstep.

Bizarre.

I'm about to turn around when a figure pops up from the bushes, two horns protruding from a demonic face. Its hands reach out to tap an eerie cadence against the window. I screech, stumbling backward, grabbing at air. With a quick twist, I crouch low, instinctively assuming a defensive stance. Thankfully, I manage to avoid the embarrassment of falling on my ass. I swiftly right myself in time to see the creature remove its head to unmask Corinne, bent over, laughing hysterically.

"What the hell's going on?" Lanie says, rushing into the room with Nina and Ava right on her heels.

I motion toward the window, working to calm my racing heart.

"That asshole," Lanie says, throwing her head back and laughing. "I love her."

Leave it to Lanie to find this funny. I about had a coronary, but who cares about that minor detail?

Nina throws open the front door, standing to the side, giving Corinne enough room to enter. "Get in here, you menace."

I take a step forward, hands planted on my hips. "What were you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?"

She shrugs out of her coat, throwing it over the chair. "Playing Krampus. Have you been naughty?"

"It's not Krampusnacht, idiot. You're a few weeks off," Lanie says, half rolling her eyes.

"Idiot is too kind a term." I grab her coat and head toward the office, where the others have been stashed.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were tied up with Moradi Madness," Lanie says, but I miss Corinne's reply as I step away from the group.

I deposit the black bomber jacket into the pitch-black room and give myself a moment to laugh at the absurdity that just occurred. I almost went down, and if it had been Lanie, I would be rolling on the ground laughing.

That's the thing about the friendships I have with these girls. They all bring something unique to the group. Corinne's happens to be youth and the reminder that no matter our age, laughter and silliness is the best medicine.

I chuckle to myself before rejoining my friends who are all gathered in the front room, chatting away about Corinne's brother, Darian. From what I've pieced together, he was ordered to bring her here to ensure something goes down.

"What exactly is going down?" I ask, glancing around the room for someone to explain.

"Not you," Lanie says, chuckling at herself.

My nose scrunches, and I glare daggers at Lanie, looking out of the corner of my eye at Ava, who clearly got the joke, if her giggling is any indicator.

Nina sighs heavily. "Do you always have to be so crass, Lane?"

Lanie doesn't answer, and Ava has inquired about the lore surrounding Krampus. Corinne is far too eager to give all the horrific details. I zone out, knowing the story behind the Christmas devil.

My head turns toward the window, and I watch as large flakes continue to fall from the sky, blanketing the ground. It's a winter wonderland out there, the perfect scenery for the holiday.

Movement to the left has my eyes narrowing as I lean forward.

"What the . . ." My words trail off as I stand to get closer to the glass. "Is that Mrs. Fields?"

Standing on the sidewalk, out in the dark, cold, winter night, a barely dressed Mrs. Fields appears to be talking to thin air. She's in her pale pink nightgown, hair secured under a white shower cap, finger lifted as if she's in the middle of a lecture.

The others get to their feet, joining me at the window.

"Is that a nightgown?" Nina asks, and I nod.

"She's not wearing shoes?" Ava says, nose practically pressed against the window.

"Looks like she's wearing slippers," Nina replies to Ava.

The frail woman has her fist raised into the air, moving it around like she's moments away from crashing it against someone's head. Something isn't right with her.

"She's going to freeze out there," I say, heading toward the door.

With my hand on the knob, I look down, recognizing that I'm not exactly dressed appropriately either.

"Let me grab our coats," Lanie says, rushing off before I can agree or protest.

"Nina, throw me that blanket." I motion to the unused fleece throw hanging off the back of the couch.

Within a minute, Lanie is back and practically hurling my coat at me as she slings hers on. She makes her way out into the freezing night with me close behind.

"Mrs. Fields, what on earth are you doing out here? You're gonna freeze," I say, jogging across the street, hitting a piece of ice that nearly takes me out. A patch of snow saves me from my second almost-fall of the night. I'm holding the blanket up to put it around her shoulders, but she stares right through me. It's like this for several moments until her eyelashes flutter and her mouth drops open. She pops a closed fist on her hip and begins a tirade.

"Well, I came out here to see what she was doing out in the cold." She shakes her head, tsking. "Dressed like that. I've never," she grumbles. "Last time I saw a woman dressed that scandalously . . . well . . . it was you," she says, pursing her lips and looking up at Lanie. "Ladies don't dress like that."

"It was Halloween, Mrs. Fields. I was a nurse."

Mrs. Fields makes a noise that sounds an awful lot like clearing phlegm from her throat.

"What woman?" I ask, looking around the area only to find it absent of anyone aside from Mrs. Fields and us.

"That one," she says, gesturing behind me.

We all turn to find nothing but cold air and darkness.

Excerpted from A Charming Touch of Tarot by Melissa Holtz. Copyright © 2025 by Melissa Holtz. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


My Review


What to expect when reading A Charming Touch of Tarot:

πŸ‘» Emotional story

πŸ‘» Full of surprises

πŸ‘» Mystery solving Scooby Doo-style gang 

πŸ‘» Ghost whisperer

πŸ‘» Silver fox detective

πŸ‘» Family secrets 

πŸ‘» Exorcism hijinks

πŸ‘» Diabolical enemies

πŸ‘» Game changing plot twist

What a wild ride. If my heart wasn’t clenching as Nick’s ex-fiancΓ©e’s ghost tries to matchmake Alyssa and Nick, it was in my throat as Nina and Lanie’s hidden secrets explode and have monumental consequences for the group. I was completely enthralled in the storyline and gasped with every revelation. 

The jaw-dropping finale has me chomping at the bit for the next book. 

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.


Purchase Links

Penguin Random House


About the Author


Melissa Holtz is a former publicist and marketing expert in the romance genre. Now in an advisory role to several bestselling authors, she consults on industry marketing trends. An Enchanting Case of Spirits is her debut novel. Melissa also writes Romantasy under the pen name, Melissa Winters. You can learn more about both Melissas by visiting her website: melissaholtz.com/homepage



Saturday, June 28, 2025

Review: Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop by Sharon Booth

The second in the comforting, feel-good, romantic series with a dash of fantasy that started with Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall. ☕️




About the Book

An enchanting, cosy and feel-good romance Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Lucy Jane Wood and the hit BBC series Ghosts!

The beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in action. But there’s more to the place than any visitor would guess… ✨

Fifty-something Shona grew up in the village and now runs its vintage, 1940s-themed teashop. Not everyone knows that the previous manager, her great-aunt Polly, still lives there too… as a ghost!

When newcomer Max arrives, hoping to find out more about the place where his German grandfather was a prisoner of war, both Shona and Polly are unsettled. Shona, because handsome, interesting Max is the first man to catch her eye since her divorce, and Polly, because she must finally confront the terrible truth about her past.

A 1940s-themed weekend planned for the village brings the families’ connections to a head and tragic secrets to light.

Can Shona help her ghostly great-aunt to find love and forgiveness once more, while also creating her own happy ever after?



My Review

Full of whimsy, ghosts, and history!

I really enjoy reading about the quirky village of Rowan Vale where history is alive… and so are the ghosts!

In this book we get to learn more about Shona who runs the local teashop and her family, including the ghost of her great-aunt, Polly. I love that there’s a town full of ghosts and that they have everyday lives, hold grudges, fall in–and out–love, take care of each other, and contribute to the betterment of Rowan Vale. 

In Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop, there’s mystery, surprises, and loads of history surrounding World War II. It’s such a treat to read.

I was able to relate to Shona so well and her life as a single mom. She’s resilient and brave and deserves all the happiness in the world. The ghosts of Rowan Vale are lovely and steal the spotlight again in this delightfully whimsical story.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.


Purchase Links*

Amazon US | Amazon UKBarnes & Noble

Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play

Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop is currently FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited!


About the Author


Sharon Booth writes feel-good stories set in quirky villages and market towns, including the ‘Tuppeny Bridge’ series. Sharon writes cosy romances with a magical twist for Boldwood. She lives with her husband in East Yorkshire, England. Learn more at www.sharonboothwriter.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Review: One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti

One Dark Kiss is the second book in Rebecca Zanetti's Grimm Bargains series.

This is a new series of dark retellings of fairytales and Rebecca's first foray into the dark romance genre. 

The second fairytale up is Snow White and the Huntsman

If you're looking for a Disney prince to come save you, you've come to the wrong place!

Get your copy today!



About the Book

New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti explores the forbidden and the taboo in this modern dark romance twist on Snow White – the second in a captivating new series set in a seductive world of money, power, billionaires, and the dangerous desires that drive them.

Mirror, Mirror . . . Innocence or Sin. The reflection holds a darker truth.

ALEXEI
I’ve spent the last seven years in the hell of a maximum-security prison, every moment consumed by the need for revenge—revenge against the bastards who framed me, and revenge against the family who stole everything I owned. Now that I’m finally free, nothing will stand in my way. Not even her—my hot as sin new lawyer. Maybe she’s another weapon sent by my enemies to break me, or maybe she’s the key to my freedom. Either way, once she’s mine, I’m never letting her go.

ROSALIE
When I took this case, I thought I had it under control. But Alexei is no typical convicted killer—he’s a dangerously seductive force of nature. Perhaps it’s the lingering power from his days as heir to a global social media empire. Innocent or not, he’s dangerous in the worst and best ways.

I secure Alexei’s release as we prepare for a new trial, but he wastes no time turning against his traitorous relatives and plotting his return to power. Amidst the chaos, our explosive chemistry ignites, putting us—and everyone I care about—in the crosshairs of ruthless enemies. If we can’t stop them, Alexei plans to burn the whole world down. And if anything, he’s a man of his word . . .





My Review

As a long time Rebecca Zanetti fan, I need to preface that this is not like her other books/series. One Dark Kiss is a dark romance that features a twisted modern fairy tale of Snow White and the Huntsman. Please check your trigger warnings before reading.

**Trigger Warnings**

This book may contain the following: murder, kidnapping, assault, torture, graphic violence, sexual violence, and child trafficking.

Reading One Dark Kiss was a little difficult for me. While I enjoyed the majority of the storyline, the trigger warnings tripped me up and made me uncomfortable. Again, please check those warnings. 

I thought Rosalie was a strong heroine with a beautiful heart. I loved her page time with her seven boarders. There were lots of fun surprises around them and I wished they had more scenes together. 

Alexei was a very bad guy. I didn’t think he was redeemable but in this dark and twisted world of Grimm Bargains, you need a bigger monster to fight the real evil saturating the city. Alexei was definitely good at that. I felt that his possession of Rosalie was cruel and I would have liked someone better for her. But somehow in the end, their puzzle pieces strangely fit together.

This is absolutely a book for readers who enjoy the dark romance genre.

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.


Purchase Links

Kensington Publishing


About the Author



New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than sixty novels, which have been translated into several languages, with more than five million copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publishers Weekly starred reviews and have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Women’s Day Magazines. Her novels have also been included in Amazon best books of the year and have been favorably reviewed in both the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Reviews. Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest. Learn more at www.RebeccaZanetti.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.


Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Read-Along Review: Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

I am so excited to be taking part in Books of My Heart's annual Read-Along! 

This year, the blog picked The Edge and Innkeeper Chronicles series by Ilona Andrews!


Sweep in Peace is the second book in the Innkeeper Chronicles series and is an exciting story full of action, adventure, subterfuge, and surprises!



About the Book

Dina DeMille doesn’t run your typical Bed and Breakfast. Her inn is a living entity that defies laws of physics, her fluffy dog is secretly a monster, and the only paying guest is a former Galactic tyrant with a price on her head.  But the inn needs guests to thrive, and guests have been scarce, so when an Arbitrator shows up at Dina’s door and asks her to host a peace summit between three warring species, she jumps on the chance.

Unfortunately, for Dina, keeping the peace  between Space Vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the devious Merchants of Baha-char is much easier said than done. On top of keeping her guests from murdering each other,  she must find a chef, remodel the inn… and risk everything, even her life, to save the man she might fall in love with. But then it’s all in the day’s work for an Innkeeper…

 


My Review

I am absolutely enamored with this series! I mean, to be a galactic innkeeper and host beings from all around the universe from different worlds, dimensions, and alternate realities? I am totally here for it! Anything is possible in the Innkeeper Chronicles series.

When we last left Dina in Clean Sweep (Book 1), the local werewolf Sean discovered he's from a now-destroyed planet of space werewolves he knew nothing about. Sean needed to leave town–and Dina–to learn more about his lineage and discover who he is really meant to be. Well, I mean Dina and Sean did just meet and although the chemistry between the two is pretty strong, it’s still new and Dina understands Sean needs this chance. Le sigh.

In Sweep in Peace, The Gertrude Hunt gets the chance of a lifetime to host a peace summit. The inn needs the magic all these guests will bring so Dina jumps at the chance despite all the red flags waving in her face. But Dina is up to the challenge. 

The peace talks get off to a bumpy start when the vampire delegation doesn’t follow the rules and their entrance draws unwanted human attention to the inn. Oy vey! Cue the hijinks and face palming! 

Oh my goodness this book is so good! It’s got everything you need: excitement, hilarity, mystery, espionage, subterfuge, and much more!

Sweep in Peace is so much fun! I highly recommend it and the entire Innkeeper Chronicles series!



Purchase Links

Ilona Andrews Website*



About the Author



“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Hello

 Hey all,

Sorry I've been silent for a while. I've been hiding in favorite books, rereading them for comfort and safety. In the current political climate, I am heartbroken with what's going on in our country and in the world. I've had to utilize selfcare by rereading books I know are familiar, and yes, safe. Sometimes, we have to do that to protect ourselves and there is nothing wrong with stepping back and taking time for yourself. 

But I also know, we need new reading recommendations and positive and uplifting book content to get us through difficult times and the uncertainty to come. 

I know I have lots of books piling up that I need to tackle, read, and share. I'm trying to find the balance where I take care of my responsibilities of providing honest reviews in exchange for ARCs, NetGalleys, and books and rereading favorites for my mental and spiritual health. 

Thank you to all the wonderful authors writing books that feed our souls and make us happy. 

Thank you to all the bloggers and social media champions out there creating book content to entertain, inform, educate, and encourage joy.

We need all these things now more than ever. We are all in this together. And we will get through it all, together. 


Thursday, June 5, 2025

Been sick

 Hey all,

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. I've been sick for the past 12 days and just when I think I've turned the corner on this, I wake up the next day feeling awful. 

I hope to get some rest and post some reviews soon. In the meantime, I've been rereading favorite books and I just finished watching The Black Dagger Brotherhood -  Episode 1 from Passionflix. It was pretty good.

I hope you all are doing well. Take care!

Elizabeth

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Read-Along Review: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

I am so excited to be taking part in Books of My Heart's annual Read-Along! 

This year, the blog picked The Edge and Innkeeper Chronicles series by Ilona Andrews!


Clean Sweep is the first book in the Innkeeper Chronicles series and is an exciting story full of action, adventure, subterfuge, and surprises!



About the Book

On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast.

But Dina is…different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, “normal” is a bit of a stretch for Dina. And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night….

Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.

 

My Review

Clean Sweep is a fun, entertaining read with quirky characters, wacky adventures, and a Shih Tzu that’s not what she seems.

One of my favorite characters in the story happens to be the house. I love that it’s sentient and interacts with everyone. It’s just like the house in the Disney movie Encanto, except this book was published several years before it, and there’s not much to sing about πŸ˜‰

The storyline is bizarre and took a lot of left turns. There’s action, mystery, suspense, sci-fi, magic, COUS (creatures of unusual size) and so much more.

This is a full service reading experience overflowing with the strange and unusual. Perfect for readers who are. . . strange and unusual #beetlejuicereference.

Dina is a strong, likable FMC that can kick some serious tail. As an Innkeeper, she has magical powers which she shares through a symbiotic relationship with the house and the grounds. Her parents were innkeepers before their disappearance and Dina is continuing their legacy while trying to find them.

First rule of Innkeepers club is that the safety of guests comes first. I almost went for a Fight Club reference but I held back. Go Me! Okay, so as an innkeeper, Dina has to stay neutral at all times. But when some disturbing things start happening in her neighborhood, Dina can’t stand by and watch as her neighbors fall prey to otherworldly nasties. No good deed goes unpunished. Chaos ensues.

What a wild ride! Clean Sweep left me with so many questions! Make sure you have the second book handy. Now I’m hooked.


Purchase Links

Ilona Andrews Website*


About the Author



“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.

They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial. For complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at Ilona-andrews.com.

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Review: Fan Service by Rosie Danan

The truth is stranger than fan fiction in the next sexy paranormal rom-com from the beloved author of The Roommate.



About the Book

The only place small-town outcast Alex Lawson fits in is the online fan forum she built for The Arcane Files, a long-running werewolf detective show. Her dedication to archiving fictional supernatural lore made her Internet-famous, even if she harbors a secret disdain for the show’s star, Devin Ashwood. (Never meet your heroes—sometimes they turn out to be The Worst.)

Ever since his show went off the air, Devin and his career have spiraled, but waking up naked in the woods outside his LA home with no memory of the night before is a new low. It must have been a coincidence that the once-in-a-century Wolf Blood Moon crested last night. The claws, fangs, and howling are a little more difficult to explain away. Desperate for answers, Devin finds Alex—the closest thing to an expert that exists. If only he could convince her to stop hating his guts long enough to help….

Once he makes her an offer she can’t refuse, these reluctant allies lower their guards trying to wrangle his inner beast. Unfortunately, getting up close and personal quickly comes back to bite them.




My Thoughts


Fan Service is one for the misfits!

Positives
🐺 Nerds rule
🐺 LGBTQIA+ representation
🐺 Animal protection
🐺 Advocating for your community
🐺 Making your voice heard
🐺 The love of a fandom
🐺 Personal growth
🐺 A fun and unique take on the werewolf legend

Not so Positives
🐺 Washed up actor who needs an ego check
🐺 Small town bigotry
🐺 Growing up in a broken home
🐺 Perception-shattering teenage heartbreak
🐺 Distasteful side of the movie/TV industry

Fan Service is fun, fun-loving, heartfelt, and easily relatable. Growing up in a small town being an awkward kid in a single parent home and the only saving grace is the fandom of your favorite TV show to comfort you. And having your dreams shattered at a critical age in your development can be life crushing. But Alex is resilient, stubborn, and stronger than she knows. She’s the heroine you want, and the advocate you need in your corner. 

I absolutely LOVE this story and highly recommend it to all the misfits out there that don’t feel their contribution to society is a meaningful one. Your spectacular individuality is what’s needed most in this world. I see you, and so does Rosie Danan. Let your freak flag fly high, loud and proud!

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.



Excerpt

 

Chapter One

Present day

Devin Ashwood wished he could say this was the first time he’d woken up butt naked in his backyard with no memory of the night before. At least last time he’d been in his twenties. Call it a perk or a dangerous downside, but any former child star could tell you the consequences of mixing booze and benzos on an empty stomach.

Opening first one eye and then the other, he squinted up at the sky, trying to gauge the time based on the angle of the sun. Midday? Maybe? His parents never let him join the Boy Scouts.

Devin lifted his pounding head gingerly off the ground, wiping at dirt embedded in the surface of his scruffy cheek. His stomach rolled as he sat up. That combined with his sour tongue confirmed his suspicions: hangover.

Every muscle in his body ached. Was all this from working out? His personal trainer, Claude, had him on some new resistance-training program designed to keep his forty-two-year-old body from looking forty-two. It involved a lot of bungee cords.

Holy shit. Speaking of overworked glutes, he was ass to the wind out here. Thank god he slept on his stomach or he’d probably have second-degree burns on his junk right now.

What in the world had he gotten up to last night?

He remembered most of yesterday. After hitting the gym in the morning, he’d called his agent, gotten her voice mail, and left a rude message.

Jade had been dodging him for weeks now. As if he didn’t pay her to take his calls. Which, okay, yeah, Devin hadn’t booked anything to write home about lately, but how was he supposed to if he couldn’t get his own representation on the phone?

After hanging up, he Googled himself in a fit of self-loathing, got predictably depressed by what he found, and then fucked around playing Call of Duty until sunset. At that point he’d been desperate enough to speak to someone, anyone, other than the fourteen-year-olds on the other side of his headset who kept threatening to “pwn” him.

He broke down and asked his publicist to find him a party.

That was how he ended up all the way out in the Palisades for some cologne launch that was a total bust. If Devin wanted to smell like a lemon fucking a pine tree, he would— Well, he didn’t was the point. The only thing that made the evening halfway worth putting on dress pants was the bacon-wrapped scallops they had going around on little trays.

Devin only managed to snag one of those before some alleged former gaffer from the first season of The Arcane Files started chatting his ear off. At first, the guy, Mitchell or Michael, seemed decent. He told Devin his favorite episode was the one told through the POV of Colby’s beloved motorcycle, which did, objectively, rule. But then he asked what Devin was up to now, and when he explained he was actually trying to get the studio on board for an Arcane Files reboot, the asshole laughed.

“Wait, seriously?”

Devin got pretty drunk after that. By midnight, he was slipping the bartender a couple hundred bucks to hand him a bottle of Blanton’s and wandering off into the woods at the edge of the property.

But after that? The rest of the night wasn’t just hazy. It was missing.

Damn. It wasn’t cute to black out at forty-two. He was fucking middle-aged.

Devin got to his feet. He was filthy, his bare torso and legs covered in streaks of dried mud and scattered scrapes and shaded marks that promised to turn into full-on bruises. Running a hand through his hair, he pulled out a twig. What in the Bear Grylls bullshit . . . ?

Hobbling across his landscaper’s “vision” of a “tranquil rock oasis,” he let himself in the back door and went to put on boxer briefs. The question of whether or not he’d lost his phone in last night’s mystery exploits was answered when it rang just as he managed to hike on a pair of sweats. Unearthing the thing from a potted plant next to his front door, Devin fumbled for the accept call button.

“Jade,” he said, having seen her name on the home screen. “What the hell? I must’ve left you twenty messages. Next time you decide to go radio silent for a month, at least shoot me an email so I know you didn’t get sucked into a sex cult.”

His agent murmured some soothing excuses for her absence, something about a wellness retreat in Fiji, then suggested they meet for sushi later tonight.

Immediately, Devin’s hackles rose. Jade hated sushi.

“Whatever I heard, it’s good,” she defended, when he said as much. “I’ll order chicken teriyaki or something.”

Bullshit, he wanted to say but didn’t, too much of a coward to call her out twice in one phone call. He’d known Jade for almost twenty years; she sure as hell didn’t make a habit out of compromise.

She must have bad news. Oh fuck. What if she was quitting the business? Or pregnant?

Between the state of his hangover and delays from construction on the freeway, Devin barely managed to shower and make himself presentable before he had to haul ass to Venice Beach. An investigation into what the fuck he’d done last night would have to wait until tomorrow. It was probably fine. His publicist would have called by now if he’d done something truly heinous.

At the sushi spot, Devin’s pounding headache intensified despite the Advil he’d swallowed dry before handing his keys over to the valet.

He’d been in LA a long time. Fuck—he grimaced as he did the math—thirty-five years. Long enough to know that there were basically two kinds of places in this neighborhood: highly exclusive ones where you needed your name on a list to see and be seen, and ones crowded enough with tourists that you could count on getting hustled out in an hour so the waitstaff could turn over the table.

This place fell squarely into the latter bucket.

By the time he was escorted to the table, Jade was already there, pounding away at her phone with a steaming mug of something aggressively herbal at her elbow.

Jade wasn’t his first agent, but she was the first one Devin hired himself, a couple of years before he landed The Arcane Files. Thanks to what a judge called his parents’ “questionable investment” with his paychecks, Devin was slumming it as a cater waiter in Pasadena between auditions, barely making enough to cover rent on a shitty studio. In those dark, lean months after Sands of Time had gone off air, casting directors kept telling him he had a pretty mouth, then declining to actually book him.

At some benefit out on the water, Devin thought Jade—sleek and professional in her shiny black skirt suit—was a guest. It was only years later when they were sharing a joint in the back of a black car after the third-season wrap party that she admitted she’d snuck in a side door that night, just as hungry as he was.

“You an actor by any chance?” she asked him.

“How’d you know?” Devin had grown his hair out, paranoid about someone recognizing him working an industry event.

Looking back, that had been goofy. No one attending those galas fell into the demographic religiously watching daytime soaps.

Jade pointed to the headshot rolled up in the back pocket of his rented tux.

For some reason, she’d found that charming.

A few days later at her office—a single room rented in some warehouse out in Burbank—she offered him a contract.

“There’s one thing you should know before you sign,” she said, her pretty face guarded. “I’m a lesbian and it’s not something I’m willing to hide.”

“Oh. Cool.” Devin didn’t actually know any lesbians, but Ellen DeGeneres seemed nice. “You got a pen?”

“You’re late,” Jade said now, standing as they exchanged pleasantries and air-kisses (god, sometimes he hated what LA had turned him into). “And you look like shit.”

He supposed twenty-odd years of working together bred this kind of informality.

“Thanks.” Devin took his seat and ordered a hot sake, hoping to take the edge off. Even the dim lighting in here made his eyes threaten to bleed.

Jade had the decency to let him order a shumai appetizer before she tucked her severe blond bob behind her ears and folded her hands in front of her.

Oh shit. Here it comes. His gut sank. Devin didn’t want to hear whatever it was she wanted to tell him.

“I think we should pitch the reboot again,” he spit out before she could break her bad news.

Jade’s placid expression slipped, a flicker of irritation flaring around her mouth. “Devin, we’ve talked about this.”

That was true. Jade had made her thoughts about reviving The Arcane Files clear. Her last words on the subject were something along the lines of “the dead should stay buried.” Which, now that he thought about it, sounded like something Colby might say after stumbling upon a freshly disturbed grave. Dun dun. Fade to black. Cut to commercial.

Jade thought his starring role, the one that had made him if not a household name then at least someone regularly invited to the Teen Choice Awards, had grown stale. Come to think of it, had Jade ever liked Colby? Even after they’d renegotiated his contract between the third and fourth seasons and he’d started making good money? Was that the year she’d called his character “a maladjusted Hardy Boy with a tail”?

Devin didn’t get it. Colby was smart and tough and cool. After thirteen years wearing his skin, Devin hadn’t even had to think about how his character would react to a situation. It had become instinct, as natural as breathing.

“Come on, Jade.” He gave her his most charming smile, the one Seventeen magazine had dedicated a whole column to before it went under. “Reboots are cool now. Kids today are obsessed with shit from the nineties and early aughts.” He wasn’t a hundo percent confident he’d pronounced that last word correctly, but Jade hadn’t flinched, so probably “aughts” did rhyme with “tots.”

Jade took a sip of her tea. “How do you know what kids are obsessed with?”

“I’m on the Internet,” he said, defensive.

“Right.” She put down her earthenware mug. “Listen.”

Oh man. Devin hated that “listen.” That was Jade’s patented “let you down easy” listen. The one he’d heard her use on Chad Michael Murray at Jingle Ball in 2009.

“It’s been almost seven years since The Arcane Files went off air. Even if I could get the network interested in a revival, we’d never get the right people. Gus Rochester is in movies now. He just did that big World War II epic where he cries beautifully for like thirty minutes straight. And you know they gave Brian Dempsey that series on HBO where they let him show full frontal. He’s happier than a pig in mud.”

It was true. The Arcane Files’ former showrunner kept giving interviews where he talked about how his talent had finally been “unleashed” on the premium channel’s streaming platform.

Devin must have done something pathetic with his face, because Jade’s tone softened.

“TAF had a good run. Thirteen seasons. That’s the second-longest fantasy series on cable. But it’s over now,” she said. “Everyone’s moved on.”

Everyone—the rest of the sentence hung in the air alongside the sweet smoke of incense—except him.

How had he let this happen?

When the show went off air in 2018, Devin had been excited to see what was next. He’d bulked up for the superhero auditions that never panned out. After months of practicing with a dialect coach to nail a British accent for consideration in a period piece, he’d been told he “didn’t look believable in a cravat.” Whatever the fuck that meant.

Then COVID hit and everything dried up. Suddenly he was stuck in his big stupid house, alone. His ex-wife checked in once through an Instagram DM. Her profile picture was her and two ginger children.

As the months passed, he realized the only people he talked to regularly were on his payroll.

Devin had spent thirteen years on The Arcane Files seeing the same faces five days a week during filming months. The cast and crew had shared meals. Worked through long nights and holidays. He’d thought that had been, almost, like a family. But nobody hung around once he stopped being Colby. It had taken a global pandemic to make Devin realize how completely unlovable he was as himself.

“Jade, please, I need you to try.”

His agent sighed.

She probably thought Devin meant from a financial perspective. That he had an online gambling problem or something. He didn’t. She’d gotten him the fat paychecks all those years ago, and outside of his stupid car and the house, he’d barely touched them. Devin just felt useless—used up—as himself.

He needed to be Colby again: someone smart and good and brave. His character wasn’t perfect. You could fill an ocean with his daddy issues, and his love interests had a tendency to end up dead on his watch. But Colby had a partner and a purpose.

“Please,” he said again, hating himself even more for begging.

“Devin, I’m not just advising you as your agent. I’m telling you this as someone who’s known you a long time and who genuinely cares about you.” Jade’s voice was firm, but her eyes were gentle. “I’m not gonna indulge this anymore. You gotta find something else that makes you feel good.”

Pots and pans banging in the kitchen fifty feet away suddenly felt like they were colliding right inside his skull.

“Jade.” What could he say to convince her? “Come on. Don’t do this.”

“Fuck.” She reached for his hand across the tabletop, a gesture that was likely supposed to be comforting but missed the mark when she ended up nailing him in the knuckles with her rings. “I’m sorry, but I’m also serious. If we can’t agree on this, I think it’s best if we call this business relationship and go our separate ways.”

“You’re firing me?” Devin couldn’t believe it. For the first decade they’d worked together, they used to watch the Super Bowl together every year. Jade would come over—she was from Texas and her family was big into football—and Devin would make dips. Taco dip. Buffalo chicken dip. Spinach and artichoke in a hollowed-out loaf of sourdough. Didn’t that mean anything to her?

“I know this is difficult,” Jade said carefully, all business. “But the timing is right for a new beginning. Did you see the moon last night?”

Excerpted from Fan Service by Rosie Danan. Copyright © 2025 by Rosie Danan. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


Purchase Links*

Penguin Random House


About the Author


Photo: © Sylvie Rosokoff

Rosie Danan writes steamy, bighearted books about the trials and triumphs of modern love. When not writing, she enjoys jogging slowly to fast music, petting other people’s dogs, and competing against herself in rounds of Chopped using the miscellaneous ingredients occupying her fridge. As an American expat living in London, Rosie regularly finds herself borrowing slang that doesn’t belong to her. Learn more at www.rosiedanan.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Review: Silver Elite by Dani Francis

In the first book of a sizzling dystopian romance series, psychic gifts are a death sentence and there are rules to survival: Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.

This stunning hardcover features a jacket with foil and a black-and-white interior map!



About the Book

TRUST NO ONE.

Wren Darlington has spent her whole life in hiding, honing her psychic abilities and aiding the rebel Uprising in small ways. On the Continent, being Modified means certain death—and Wren is one of the most powerful Mods in existence. When one careless mistake places her in the hands of the enemy and she’s forced to join their most elite training program, she’s finally handed the perfect opportunity to strike a devastating blow from inside their ranks.

LIE TO EVERYONE.

But training for Silver Block can be deadly, especially when you’re harboring dangerous secrets and living in close quarters with everyone who wants you dead.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T FALL FOR YOUR GREATEST ENEMY.

As the stakes grow ever higher, Wren must prove herself to Silver Block. But that’s easier said than done when your commanding officer is the ruthless and infuriatingly irresistible Cross Redden, who doesn’t miss anything when it comes to her. And as war rages between Mods like her and those who aim to destroy them, Wren must decide just how far she’s willing to go to protect herself . . . and how much of the Continent is worth saving.





Excerpt

 

Chapter 1


I grew up in pure, unceasing, suffocating darkness.

I’d like to say that’s an exaggeration, but it’s not. I was only five years old when my uncle smuggled me out of the city and took me to live in the Blacklands, the place of children’s nightmares. A forest of perpetual darkness. I remember my eyes widening when I first saw it: the ominous black mist rising from the earth and hovering far above the top canopy of the trees. I remember bone-­deep dread and then throat-­closing panic when we were engulfed in the pitch black. I remember how, less than an hour into the trek, I tripped over a skull. I knelt to examine what made me stumble, and although I couldn’t see a thing, I could feel the gaping eye sockets, could run my fingers over smooth, weathered bone.

When I asked Uncle Jim what it was, he said, “Just a rock.”

Even at the age of five, I wasn’t that easy to fool.

It wouldn’t be the last skeleton we came across in the three years we spent in the Blacklands, but by the time we returned to civilization, fear and I were old friends. These days, a predator could lunge for my throat, and I wouldn’t blink. A Command jet could drop a bomb on our house, and my heart rate would remain steady.

When you’re petrified on a daily basis as a child, there aren’t many things left to fear as an adult.

Except, perhaps, awkward conversations.

I would rather fight a cougar barehanded than subject myself to an uncomfortable exchange. Truly.

“Where are you going?”

Damn it. I’d been doing my level best to sneak out of bed without alerting my companion.

The young soldier’s voice is thick with sleep and a hint of lingering seduction. I fix my gaze downward as I button my jeans. I know he’s not wearing anything underneath that thin sheet.

“Oh. Um. Nowhere. I was just getting dressed because I’m cold,” I lie, smoothing the front of my black tank over the jagged stretch of scar tissue on my left hip.

My burns, which dip below my waistband and stretch midway down my thigh, are a permanent reminder of who I am and why I can’t be in this guy’s presence longer than necessary.

I told him the scarring was the result of an accident. A pot of boiling water spilling on me when I was a child.

That wasn’t entirely a lie.

If he knew what the mangled flesh hid, though, he probably wouldn’t have been stroking it with such infinite sympathy.

“Come back here. I’ll keep you warm,” he promises.

I fake a smile and meet his eyes. They’re nice. A deep brown. “Hold that thought? Now that I’m up, I need to use the bathroom. You said it was around the corner?”

Do I sound too eager?

I think I do, but I’m itching to escape. It’s late. Much later than I promised I’d stay out. I was supposed to stop by the village for a quick drink and to say hello to some friends at the Liberty Day festivities. Not hook up with a Command soldier, of all candidates.

There aren’t a lot of things worth celebrating in the Continent. None of those idyllic-­sounding holidays you read about in the history books. And let’s be honest—­it’s probably some sick irony to have a bunch of Modified people dancing, drinking, and screwing to celebrate the anniversary of an event that led to their own slaughter. But Mods do like to dance, drink, and screw, so . . . might as well do it when we can, no matter the occasion.

“You’re not going to run out on me, are you?” He’s teasing again, but there’s an undertone of unhappiness. Shit. He knows I’m preparing to bail.

“Of course not.”

I pretend to concentrate on zipping up my boots, deciding this was a terrible idea. I try not to make a habit of falling into bed with anyone in the Command, the Continent’s military, but their impermanence is a major draw. Soldiers can only leave the base three times a year, which means they’ll never be anything but temporary.

“Good. Because I’m not ready to let you go yet,” he says with a smile. He’s twenty-­five and was so gentle when his hands were roaming my body.

Is it awful that I can’t remember his name?

I pick up my rifle and sling the strap over my shoulder. I notice him watching me.

“What?”

“You look like pure smoke right now,” he says, biting his lip.

“Really.”

“Yes. You don’t see girls with guns in the city.”

He’s right. You don’t. That’s the main reason my uncle settled us in Ward Z, as far west as you can get. It’s one of the asset wards, where professions tend to be ranching and farming, and citizens are allowed to own weapons. All registered and fully accounted for, of course. You can’t get a license without extensive testing to prove your competence, but that wasn’t a problem for me. I received my weapons approval when I was thirteen. I’m beyond competent, more than the testers were even aware. Uncle Jim warned me to “tone it down” on test day.

“Comes in handy out here,” I tell him. “I’ve got white coyotes trying to kill my cows every night.”

He laughs. “I’ll have to come to your ranch one day, see whatever it is you get up to out there.”

The nonchalant remark raises my suspicions. Why does he want to come to the ranch? Was that an innocent comment, or do I need to worry?

When it comes to the Command, I err on the side of paranoia, so I quickly open a path to prod at his mind. His shield is thicker than steel. I could probably find a hole in it if I tried long enough, but it’s too strong to penetrate on the spot. Not a surprise. One of the first things soldiers like him are taught is how to shield themselves from Mods. And they’re right to do it. Primes don’t have enhanced gifts. They also don’t experience any physical signs when someone infiltrates their thoughts, whereas Mods feel it like an electric shock. People like him should be on guard.

I sever the path. It was worth a try. The only time his shield wavered tonight was after our clothes were off, but his thoughts then were an amalgamation of don’t stop and yes.

It was a nice ego boost, I won’t lie.

“Any reason you’re taking your gun to the bathroom?” He raises a brow.

“All registered weapons must be on your person at all times,” I dutifully recite from the handbook every weapon owner is given after certification. “Keep the bed warm for me. I’ll be right back.”

I will not be right back. In fact, I’m forcing myself not to sprint out the door.

“I’ll show you where it is,” he offers.

I start to object, but he’s already climbing out of bed, sliding a pair of pants up his trim hips. At least he’s not wearing the navy-­blue standard-­issue Command uniform. Not sure I could’ve mustered up any arousal if he’d been wearing that. Outside the occasional ale-­induced soldier romp, I hate those assholes, and most of them hate me right back. They’re dedicated to wiping out people like me. The Aberrant, as they call us. Or silverbloods, when they’re feeling nice.

The only aberration around here is General Redden and his irrational hatred for Mods. We didn’t ask to be this way. Some thoughtless war a hundred and fifty years ago released the toxin that made us like this. We didn’t have a choice in the matter.

Despite every cell in my body pleading for escape, I allow the soldier to guide me out the door and down the burgundy carpet of the inn’s second-­floor hallway. We turn the corner and keep walking.

“Here you go.” Like the gentleman he is, he opens the bathroom door for me.

“Thanks.” I force another smile. “I’ll meet you back in your room.”

“Shout if you get lost and I’ll come rescue you, keen?”

In the bathroom, I stand behind the door and listen to the sound of his footsteps. I exhale in a rush, waiting until those footsteps retreat. The reflection in the mirror shows a flush to my bronzed skin, but sex will do that to you. My eyes reveal my impatience. The soldier lauded their color several times tonight—­honey brown specked with yellow gold.

My uncle claims I have my mother’s eyes, but I don’t remember her face, and it bothers me that I can’t. I was five when she sent me away, old enough to have formed concrete memories of her. I should recall her eyes. Sometimes I think I can remember her voice, her smile, but I never know if that’s just my imagination filling in the blanks.

I wait another full minute before emerging from the bathroom. I want to make a run for it, but I’ll have to pass his door to reach the stairs. I’ll need to tiptoe.

Holding my breath, I turn the corner and creep along the worn carpet. I’m nearing the end of the hall when I see his doorknob turn.

As the door inches open, I act on instinct, throwing myself into the nearest room and closing the door behind me.

Excerpted from Silver Elite by Dani Francis. Copyright © 2025 by Dani Francis. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


My Review

Trust is an illusion in this cut-throat world of intrigue and subterfuge.

What a thrilling–and chilling–series of unfortunate events! My heart was in my throat as I devoured chapter after chapter. I’d be biting my nails one minute, crying the next, gasping in shock, sitting stunned in disbelief, or fanning my face as the flames of passion ignited between Wren and Cross. 

The author was very good at making me feel uncomfortable. There’s so much gray area in the story and no delineation between the good guys and the bad. I was morally and emotionally conflicted at the choices each character had to make and the reasoning–or machinations–that drove them to their decisions. 

When I think I had someone figured out, the plot would Inception-style twist, throwing me completely off balance. My gut clenched often, feeling the visceral sting of each and every duplicitous act, as if I were the one being betrayed.    

After finishing the story, I'm more confused now than ever! I'm definitely going to need a second book right away. No, Ms. Francis, you can't just mike-drop the last scene and leave us hanging! 

I couldn’t put the book down! I was completely mesmerized by the incredible architecture of this fascinating world.

Silver Elite is a dangerous adventure with shifting alliances, uncertain loyalties, and earth-shattering consequences. 

100% recommend!

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.


Purchase Links

Penguin Random House*


About the Author

Dani Francis is an avid reader, a lover of all things breakfast, and a hopeless romantic. When she is not creating high-stakes fantasy worlds and complex characters, you can find Dani spending time with family or trying to figure out why the printer never works. Learn more at www.danifrancisbooks.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Review: Prince of Darkness by Rebecca Zanetti

Unknown to humans, beyond daylight lies a world of intoxicating darkness where deadly creatures prowl with insatiable desires and unbelievable power: vampires, demons, witches, shifters. When vulnerable humans find themselves thrust into that realm, they’ll never be the same…



About the Book

In the aftermath of war, a fragile peace hovers between the Kurjan nation and the Dark Protector coalition. Yet amid labyrinthine politics and intrigue, Vero Phoenix, a Kurjan, stands apart. He has lived devoid of legacy or lineage—until the day he backed his newly found brother as king, putting himself into the treacherous position of enforcer and shield. Yet there is another thorn in his side, no less vexing, undeniably captivating—and all-too-human…

Lyrica Graves was once ensnared by Kurjan captors and now embodies defiance and freedom as she guides other women to independence and modernity. She is particularly amused—and breathtakingly fearful—by her tangles with Vero. But their clashing also belies a sizzling connection, a dark attraction between supernatural and fully human that threatens their chosen destinies and makes them a target for far too many enemies…




My Review

An exciting read full of suspense, intrigue, and mystery.

In Prince of Darkness, we get to see behind the veil of the Kurjan Nation. Throughout the Dark Protectors series, the Kurjans have always been the “bad guys.” They created deadly viruses, they kidnapped enhanced human women and forced them into matings with Kurjan soldiers, or they were used for labor, for experimentation, or worse. 

The history of the Kurjans is a long and bloody one, but there’s a new king in town that’ll hopefully change the evil status quo. That is, if Vero can keep him alive long enough to make it happen. Uncertain who is friend or foe, placing trust in the wrong hands could be devastating for all.

Vero loves his people and wants to make sure they are safe, secure, and modernized. Lyrica has been a big help in bringing the Kurjans–and their human mates–into the 21st century. Yeah, there’s been some pushback but Lyrica is more than up to the challenge. I absolutely love Lyrica! She is a strong woman with courage and conviction. 

Knowing the history of Kurjans, Lyrica wants to make sure the females are given a choice about matings, or freedom if they wish it. Lyrica has a heart the size of Texas and she’s a perfect match for Vero… she just doesn’t know it yet!  

Watching Vero grow up through the series, he was always kind and considerate, and not very Kurjan-like. Vero knew the Kurjans were doing terrible things, but he tried his best to make things better wherever he was. He protected and shielded the defenseless, spoke up against injustice… and paid the heavy price for it. No matter how many times Vero was punished, he never lost his sense of honor or conscience. And even now when his brother sits on the throne, he’s trying his best to protect him and to make life better for the nation… and a certain brown-eyed, PowerPoint-loving female. 

I absolutely LOVE Lyrica and Vero together. Their witty banter is funny and super cute and their chemistry is fiery and totally swoon worthy! 

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the new characters as well as being introduced to the Kurjan lifestyle, norms, and culture. I was able to confirm some of my own theories about Kurjans and disproved others. I am looking forward to learning more as the series continues. 

Prince of Darkness is an exhilarating ride of danger and subterfuge with loads of surprises along the way! You’ll be up late at night turning pages until the very last word is consumed. The story can absolutely be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the entire series! 

FTC Disclaimer: I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my thoughts or feelings about the book or the content of my review.


Purchase Links

Rebecca Zanetti Website*



About the Author


New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than sixty novels, which have been translated into several languages, with more than five million copies sold world-wide.  Her books have received Publishers Weekly starred reviews and have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Women’s Day Magazines. Her novels have also been included in Amazon best books of the year and have been favorably reviewed in both the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Reviews.  Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research.  Honest. Find Rebecca at:  www.RebeccaZanetti.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Review: Predator by Rebecca Zanetti

Enemies clash, Secrets burn, and Love defies every law…



About the Book

Emily Nightsom is a wolf shifter born to lead. Strong, fierce, and fiercely loyal, her pack has always assumed she’ll rise as their next alpha, even though she has repeatedly said otherwise. But Emily harbors a secret—a weakness buried so deeply she’s sworn no one will ever discover it. If it comes to light, it could shatter her pack’s trust and destroy the one thing she’s fought to protect: her family. She’s willing to shoulder the burden of leadership if she has to—but not until every other option is gone.

Then there’s Jackson Tryne, Alpha of the Slate Pack. Enemy. Annoyance. Predator. The wolf shifter who kissed her years ago on a reckless dare—and left her wanting more even as she swore she’d never forgive his arrogance. Jackson has wanted Emily ever since that moment, but her rejection only fueled his desire to prove himself worthy of the untouchable, untamable wolf who refuses to be claimed. Now, with a deadly assassin closing in on her, Jackson doesn’t hesitate: he takes her, hides her, and vows to protect her—even if it means breaking every law of the packs.

Emily’s fury is matched only by the fire between them. She’s spent years fighting her feelings for Jackson, but he’s done waiting. As the danger around them grows, her carefully guarded walls start to crumble, exposing not just her heart but the secret that could ruin her. Jackson is determined to have her, no matter the cost, but when the truth comes out, will he still see her as the fierce warrior he’s always loved? Or will it tear them—and their packs—apart? 



My Review

Predator is an action-packed suspenseful read with engaging characters and an exciting storyline that kept me engaged until the very end.

Jackson and Emily are brilliant together. Both of Alpha blood, they’re equally stubborn, fiercely loyal, and dutybound to their packs. I loved watching these two dance around one another and I especially loved how Jackson’s pack got in on matchmaking Jackson and Emily. It was so funny and completely heartwarming!

This book can easily be read as a standalone but I invite you to check out the entire series. Each story is just as exciting as the next.

I highly recommend the series and any book by Rebecca Zanetti.



Purchase Links

Rebecca Zanetti Website*



About the Author


New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than sixty novels, which have been translated into several languages, with more than five million copies sold world-wide.  Her books have received Publishers Weekly starred reviews and have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Women’s Day Magazines. Her novels have also been included in Amazon best books of the year and have been favorably reviewed in both the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Reviews.  Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research.  Honest. Find Rebecca at:  www.RebeccaZanetti.com

*Third party links to the publisher's website. May contain affiliate links.