Review: By the Horns by Ruby Dixon

By the Horns is the second book in Ruby Dixon's Royal Artifactual Guild monster romance series.

The special first edition hardcover will include a gorgeous, shimmering jacket with effects, brilliantly illustrated four-color endpapers, striking and detailed-stained edges, and a beautiful foil-stamped case.

By the Horns is a thrilling story with mystery, suspense, ghosts, and steamy monster love.

About the Book

In a world of magical artifacts and fantastical beings, a woman with a deadly magic secret needs the help of the minotaur she’s trying to forget in the sizzling sequel to Ruby Dixon’s New York Times bestseller Bull Moon Rising.

Gwenna has always considered herself a normal person. A former servant, she wants nothing more than to land a steady job with the Royal Artifactual Guild so she can make some steady coin to send home to her mother. She’s not special. She’s certainly not a necromancer. That would be impossible, given how necromancing (or any ‘mancing) is forbidden upon penalty of death. So if the dead keep talking to her? Well, she’s going to keep on ignoring them. They’re not going to stand in the way of her dreams.

Also standing in her way? One big, arrogant, far-too-flirty Taurian named Raptor. They slept together once, and now he wants more . . . but she doesn’t have time for that. Her focus is on being a fledgling, a trainee for the Royal Artifactual Guild. But Raptor won’t go away. He’s on a secret mission for the guild to find an artifact thief.

Problem is, he thinks the thief is Gwenna.

How can she convince Raptor that he’s got the wrong girl when all the signs point to her? And how do you tell a Taurian you can’t date him because you hear dead people and it might cost you your life?

My Review

What a wild freakin’ ride (figuratively and literally) this is! Not only do we get to solve a mystery with Gwenna, Raptor and a new gang of guild apprentices–and a few familiar faces–we get more page time with Aspeth and her minotaur hubby, Hawk (Book 1). 

I sure do love a story where a strong and determined female lead strives to beat the odds and tries to prove every misogynistic jerk wrong. Gwenna was Aspeth’s maid in the first book and now it’s her time to shine, and shine she does. 

Gwenna didn’t have the education Aspeth did growing up and she struggles a lot trying to keep up with her classmates. But whatever her shortcomings, Gwenna makes up for in her fierce spirit and tenacity. She’s also loyal and has so much heart. I absolutely love her and loved watching her grow into the woman she’s meant to be.

The storyline is exciting, fun, funny, and gets pretty spicy in a few spots. This is definitely a wide open door romance 😉

If you like your monster romances with incredible world building, interesting characters, witty dialogue, and wicked debauchery, then the Royal Artifactual Guild series is your perfect match. 

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 | Ruby Dixon Website

About the Author

Ruby Dixon is an author of all things science fiction romance. She is a Sagittarius and a Reylo shipper, and loves farming sims (but not actual housework). She lives in the South with her husband and a couple of goofy cats, and can’t think of anything else to put in her biography. Truly, she is boring.

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

Review: Dead of Winter by Rebecca Zanetti

Welcome to Knife’s Edge, Alaska, where the four Osprey brothers return from military service with shadows in their eyes and secrets in their hearts. As danger looms, new romances ignite, and these rugged men must fight for love…and survival.

About the Book

Brock Osprey has spent years in the rugged Alaskan wilderness, far from civilization and even farther from his past. A former Navy Seal, Brock is now the unwilling protector of Knife’s Edge, a remote town with more secrets than residents. But when FBI agent Ophelia Spilazi arrives to investigate the unsolved murder of his guardian—and recent unexplained deaths in the area—Brock’s carefully guarded world is thrown into chaos.

Agent Ophelia Spilazi has one last chance to save her career, and Knife’s Edge is her shot. The isolated town is full of secrets, and she’s certain Brock knows more than he’s letting on. The town’s recent string of mysterious deaths only heightens her suspicion, but the more time she spends with the brooding Alaskan, the harder it becomes to ignore the dangerous chemistry between them.

As a brutal storm traps them in the isolated wilderness, Brock and Ophelia’s growing attraction ignites, even as shadows from their pasts threaten to tear them apart. But with a dangerous conspiracy and powerful enemies lurking in the shadows, their only hope is to trust each other—before the wilderness consumes them both.

Originally published 2021 in Kindle Vella

My Review

I am a huge Rebecca Zanetti fan and every time a new book or series starts, I’m first in line to read. I kinda hung back on Dead of Winter a little bit because it sounded similar to Rebecca’s Laurel Snow series. As I started reading and getting into the mystery, I was thinking that Laurel Snow could help solve these cases. I had to separate the different stories in my head so it wouldn’t color my thoughts about the new series and my review, unfortunately it was more difficult than I thought.

While the story DID start out feeling like the Laurel Snow series, the similarities began disappearing the deeper I got into the book. This Alaska small town is isolated during the cold months and the townsfolk band together and take care of each other. I love that small town feel and that everyone is in everyone else’s business. But small towns can also hold big secrets and that’s what FBI Agent Ophelia Spilazi discovers as she tries to solve a string of mysterious deaths and the murder of one of the locals. 

I sure do love a good mystery and there are plenty in Dead of Winter. Especially the mysterious Osprey brothers. I really enjoyed learning the town dynamics and meeting the unique townsfolk. Some are not what they seem and some are exactly what they appear to be. In Knife’s Edge, you’re either born there, vacationing there, or you’re hiding from something there. It’s always a thrill trying to figure out which is which!

Overall, Dead of Winter is a solid start to a promising series and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book.

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. Learn more at rebeccazanetti.com

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

Review: Sleigh Bells at Moonglow by Deborah Garner

Deborah Garner's Moonglow Christmas series is a cozy small town Christmas series with lots of warmth and holiday spirit. 

All the books are currently available to read on Kindle Unlimited.

The series centers around the Timberton Hotel and the eccentric chef, Mist. The hotel is a magical place where people can come to heal and to celebrate the joy and magic of the holiday season. 

Sleigh Bells at Moonglow is Book 11 in the series and absolutely doesn't have to be read during Christmastime. They can be read anytime. I highly recommend them all!

About the Book

Christmas in the small Montana town of Timberton is always filled with heartfelt camaraderie, exquisite cuisine, and holiday cheer. An old-fashioned sleigh ride through the forest this year promises to bring plenty of joy as well as a sense of community for both visitors and townsfolk as they celebrate the season.

Resident artist and chef, Mist, always finds a way of bringing inspiration to those around her. Add in the traditional Christmas Eve feast in the Moonglow Cafe and the sweet gathering for Betty’s Cookie Exchange, and it’s guaranteed to be a holiday to cherish. As always, no one leaves Timberton without renewed hope for the future.

My Review

I am absolutely enamored with the Moonglow Christmas series and I enjoy visiting this quaint Montana town during the holidays. 

The series is centered around the town of Timberton and the local hotel where every guest is welcomed like family. Mist, the quirky and eccentric proprietor of the Moonglow Cafe inside the hotel puts her special touch on everything from the decor, to personalized gifts for the guests, to the food, and infuses Christmas joy into everything she does. Working alongside the innkeeper Betty, Mist makes every guest’s stay special and somehow has a “knowing” of just what each guest needs to make their holiday brighter. 

This year, the town has added a sleigh ride event to the local Christmas festivities and it’s simply enchanting. The townsfolk are all welcoming and everyone helps out each other. There is such a community and so much love and care that I just want to live inside Timberton with everybody else. 

As always, the author has several pages of holiday cookie recipes that’ll make you smile and keep your belly full and happy.

Sleigh Ride at Moonglow is a perfect addition to your holiday reading list. I highly recommend the entire series! 

Purchase Links*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Deborah Garner Website

About the Author

Deborah Garner is an accomplished travel writer with a passion for back roads and secret hideaways. Born and raised in California, she studied in France before returning to the U.S. to attend UCLA. After stints in graduate school and teaching, she attempted to clone herself for decades by founding and running a dance and performing arts center, designing and manufacturing clothing and accessories, and tackling both spreadsheets and display racks for corporate retail management. Her passions include photography, hiking and animal rescue. She speaks five languages, some substantially better than others. She now divides her time between California and Wyoming, dragging one human and two canines along whenever possible. Learn more at deborahgarner.com

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

Review: Roots of Darkness by Demi Winters

Roots of Darkness is a short, side story in The Ashen series. It’s an important part of the timeline and stars Hekla, one of the Bloodaxe crew’s strongest–and most damaged–warriors. Hekla has been through a lot in her life and instead of letting it defeat her, she uses it as fuel to throw on top of the already fiery spirit she has. 

About the Book

Join Hekla and the remnants of the Bloodaxe Crew as they battle the evil, poisonous mist threatening the citizens of Istré—and perhaps all of Íseldur—in a novella following the events of Kingdom of Claw.

Traveling the Road of Bones was only the start of Hekla’s troubles.

The Bloodaxe Crew have arrived at the village of Istré—beleaguered and missing three of their members. They might be down in numbers, but Hekla “Rib Smasher” is determined they’ll complete their job all the same: defeat the monstrous, sentient mist and keep the citizens of Istré safe. What she didn’t expect is for Istré’s bullheaded chieftain to block her every move.

Exasperated, Hekla throws caution to the wind for a single passion-filled night. But to her horror, the mysterious red-cloaked warrior to whom she’s spilled her deepest secrets is the Bloodaxe Crew’s new temporary leader and ally—Eyvind Hakonsson.

Hekla must now learn to play by Eyvind’s rules while guarding her heart. But when it becomes clear that his plans align with the chieftain’s, Hekla takes matters into her own hands.

Nothing will stop her from keeping the innocent people of Istré safe—not even the man who haunts her thoughts.

My Review

Hekla is in a man’s world always having to prove herself. Thankfully, the leader of the Bloodaxe crew–Rey–sees her worth and knows her contribution is priceless. That’s why he put her in charge at the end of the Road of Bones (Book 1) to go to Istré to complete the job they were commissioned to do.

While in Istré, what’s left of the Bloodaxe crew are biding their time and grieving the loss of a fallen crewmate until Rey’s childhood friend shows up with reinforcements to help complete the job. Hekla knows the local chieftain is hiding things from them and has become more of a hindrance than a help. She’s got a feeling the chieftain is placating her until “real warriors” can help solve the problem.

When the band of warriors show up 3 days early, Hekla gets a huge surprise when she finds out the dalliance she indulged in the night before is the one she’s been waiting for, Rey’s friend and second son to the Jarl of Kopa, Eyvind. Talk about awkward.

Now they have to work together, despite the simmering sexual tension, to defeat the mist and save the town of Istré. Working in close proximity to Eyvind and his warriors brings back lots of unpleasant memories from Hekla’s past. She does her best to shake them off while keeping the rest of the Bloodaxe crew together and proving to Eyvind’s warriors she’s more than capable for the job ahead. No problem right? Not. At. All.

I really enjoyed reading this short story and I loved that Hekla got the spotlight. Her past is a private pain she rarely shares and I loved learning more about her and how hard she had to fight to overcome her demons and the misogyny in the kingdom. I greatly admire Hekla and if anyone deserves a happily ever after, it’s her.

While Roots of Darkness leaves more questions than answers, it is an exciting installment to the series and I am SO glad we don’t have to wait long for the next book!

I highly recommend the entire Ashen series!

Purchase Links*

Penguin Random House | Demi Winters Website

About the Author

Lover of all things fairy tales, fantasy, and romance, Demi lives in British Columbia, Canada with her husband and two kids. When she’s not busy brainstorming fantastical worlds and morally gray love interests, Demi loves reading and cooking. Learn more at demiwinters.com

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