Audiobook / The Winter King (A Faeted Mates Omnibus) by Ariel Hunter

The Winter King (A Faeted Mates Omnibus) by Ariel Hunter

narrated by Amber Lee Connors and Kieran Flitton

A bounty hunter down on her luck.
A fae king looking for a reason to live.
A mate bond neither can deny.

Mara Wylde is a small-time bounty hunter who just can’t seem to catch a break no matter how hard she tries. Her rent’s two months overdue. Her antiques shop is failing. She’s eaten ramen five nights in a row now and is desperate for a way out of debt.

When Mara’s offered a hundred grand to nab a high fae right out of Faerie, she knows she can’t turn down the job no matter the risks.

Even if it means catching the eye of the elusive Winter King.

Tortured by his past and not-wanting to rule anymore, Vareck Blackthorne is ready to cede his crown and journey to the nether to escape his torment. Minutes from delivering this news to all of Faerie, he sees her—a fae woman with hair like the dawn and eyes that remind him of summer. A summer that has been gone for centuries.

After six hundred years of suffering he’s finally found her—his fated mate.

The only problem?

She has no idea.

THE WINTER KING is the first FAETED MATES Omnibus that includes the entirety of Mara and Vareck’s story. It was initially released in three installments, titled: Hunted by the Winter King, Taken from the Winter King, and Taming the Winter King. This is a fast-paced, hot paranormal romance series with dominant fae males and their sassy, spitfire women. Beware of cursing and steamy scenes. This is an ADULT series.

Review

Despite the good narration, it took me some time to finish listening to this book. On the whole, it was a good story and the narration was really well done. When I started to listen to it, it was interesting and captivated me but I felt myself getting distracted every now and then because the story lost a bit of its momentum.

There were some inconsistencies and some parts where I wanted to get to the heart of it and just get on with the action but all in all I enjoyed listening to these books.

The only thing really annoyed me though, ... Treating someone like THAT and justifying it with your feelings for her and that you just know that she is your mate...? Nope. That is unacceptable no matter how accepting the heroine is and how much the hero considers this behavior as normal. It's not normal in my book and I don't feel right about it.

Apart from that though, the books were nice and quick stories to listen to.

In this case, the audiobook gets four stars and the story itself 3 so...

★★★★

The Girl Who Cried War (Of Fates & Fables Book 3) by Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd

 It is finally here! 

The epic conclusion to 

the Fates and Fables series is live!

 If you loved 

The Girl Who Cried Werewolf,

and have read and loved

The Girl Who Cried Captive, 

this is the book you've been waiting for! 

This is the final book in this great series!

  The Girl Who Cried War  

by 

Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd

Synopsis 

Romy’s no stranger to a good old fashioned Instawar, but fighting behind her phone’s screen is a far cry from the real thing.

Sure, Romy may have accidentally on purpose inserted herself in the middle of a werewolf war. And yeah, she’s kinda being hunted by an insane werebro with an axe to grind, but Romy isn’t going to let that stop her from living her best life.

But first she’s going to have to fight for it.

With graduation looming, Romy will be put to the test both in and out of the classroom, but as the final strands of this tangled web comes together, the biggest thing Romy will have to learn is to share the weight of war with the people she considers family.

As the end draws near, they’ll all be forced to decide just how far they’re willing to go to get their happily ever after.

Review

Okay, seriously, even though I threatened to either wreck my kindle or go and hunt down the authors to get the next book like yesterday when the first book finished with a cliffhanger only to go through the same again when the second book ended on another cliffhanger - at least not as big as the last one, I would suffer through all of this again for this series.

These books are simply amazing and this third book, what a firework of humor and action once again. I loved the characters, the storyline and everything in between. This book was another nail-biting, teeth-gritting, obscenities-shouting laugh-out-loud story that kept me glued to my reader from the first page to the very last. And when it was over - well, GIVE ME MORE!!!

I really loved this book. It is a fitting conclusion to a wonderful series that I will definitely read again and again because of its originality, its sassiness, and its wit. I can't wait to see what this amazing author duo will come up with next!

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺 

The Girl Who Cried Captive by Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd #TheGirlWhoCriedCaptive

  The Girl Who Cried Captive 

by 

Heather Hildenbrand and Bam Shepherd  

#TheGirlWhoCriedCaptive

 Romy thought that being kidnapped by a pack of douchebag werewolves was the worst thing that could happen to her. Turns out she's the worst thing that could've happened to them.

Romy isn't going to let a little something like getting kidnapped get her down. She's determined to turn the tables on her captors. Using her wits and somewhat questionable charm, Romy uses her time in captivity to learn her captors secrets.

But the secrets she discovers still hold her captive. Can she find a way to save more than herself? Or will the secrets she learned hold her prisoner long after she’s escaped?



Okay, this is not a drill, this is a real problem - how do I rate this book if the first one was already five stars and this one is just ...wow!? I can't rate it higher than five stars but if I could, I definitely would!  As much as I already loved The Girl Who Cried Wolf, this sequel simply blew me away.

I loved the world-building, the story and the characters in the first book and this one, The Girl Who
Cried Captive has all of this and so much more.
I can't count the number of times that I burst out laughing, that I grunted something like, "Ha!" and "Yes!" or "Take that!", ranted and raged a bit and smiled indulgently. Somehow the story flows even better, the wit and the intensity are off the charts - oh, well, and the guys are not that bad either.

I started to read this book the moment it turned up on my kindle because...did you read the first one?!? Do you know where we left our heroine?!? Right. That's why.
Many action-filled fast-paced moments and emotional outbursts later, this book kept me glued to my reader till the very last page. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book, I'm dying to find out what happens next!

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺

Moon Cursed (Wolf Hollow Shifters #4) by Nikki Jefford

Moon Cursed by Nikki Jefford

Synopsis 

Time is running out for Elsie.

Elsie's coven always believed that she was moon cursed. Promised to the bear shifters before she was ever born, the witch wolf shifter has until her twentieth birthday to outsmart Brutus, her would-be mate who only wants her as payback.

To save his coven, her father made a terrible, magically binding agreement decades ago, never dreaming he'd have children, especially not powerful wolf shifters. Luckily, he never specified what type of shifter Elsie must claim.

Zackary doesn't believe he deserves love or forgiveness.

Ever since he betrayed a packmate, Zackary has been making up for his sins. No matter what, he knows the truth. Once a mongrel, always a mongrel—just like his father always told him. Now the mad wolf has returned to torment Zackary and the pack.

Not one to be scared off, Elsie, the sweetest and loveliest of all females, refuses to believe he's no good for anyone—especially her.

Fated mates or doomed lovers?

Zackary and Elsie never knew how strong their love would grow … until they're in too deep.

Zackary betrayed Elsie's brother once before. If the wizard shifter knew what he was doing with Elsie in private, Tabor would kill, maim, or use that dick shrinkage spell he once threatened him with.

With a meddlesome ex from her coven, who won't let go, and a brute of a bear shifter intent on trapping her inside his cave forever, it will take more than magic to save Elsie from her curse.

Do these star-crossed lovers stand a chance?

 

Oh my, this series just keeps getting better and better! I remember that it took me some time to get into it when I read Wolf Hollow, the first book in this series because I thought that it was all so foreseeable and ...yep, forget about that. It wasn't. And Moon Cursed, the latest book in the Wolf Hollow Shifter series, also kept me on my toes, made me scream with frustration, sob, laugh, swoon - oh, don't forget to stock up on Kleenex before you start...yep, just saying, you'll want to be prepared, trust me.

Elsie is running out of time and things seem to progress the way she hoped, even though it takes a bit to convince Zackary to take a chance on her, I mean - her brother? This big bad and powerful wizard? Riiiiight... That's exactly what everybody dreams of when they think of their future brother-in-law. Not. And those of you who have read the other books in this series might remember that her brother Tabor and Zackary don't have the best history, considering all that happened when Zackary and his father tried to prevent Tabor from mating with Sasha in Wolf Hollow.
With Elsie fighting against time, a feral wolf on the loose, her meddlesome ex trying to help and everything else, things get rather tight. Will Zackary be able to overcome all the obstacles that prevent him from claiming the woman he loves?

Cocky purebloods, meddlesome and furious wizards notwithstanding, there are a lot of wonderful and interesting friends, old and new, to meet, a love to pursue and a damsel in distress waiting to be saved. Throw in a brutal and revengeful bear shifter biding his time and, oh, yes, don't forget that feral wolf and you know that you are in for a ride! 

🐺🐺🐺🐺🐺 

Wolf Instinct (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #9) by Paige Tyler

 Wolf Instinct by Paige Tyler

 Synopsis



He's a wolf shifter.
She hunts monsters.
How can she be The One for him?

SWAT werewolf Zane Kendrick will do whatever it takes to take down the man who attacked his pack. His search takes him to Los Angeles, but when he meets Alyssa, the smart, sexy agent who comes to his aid, he's immediately interested in pursuing more than just the next lead. All his wolf instincts tell him that she's The One.

FBI agent Alyssa Carson has investigated some weird stuff lately, and finding missing people drained of their blood definitely falls into that category. When following a clue leads her to Zane, she agrees to work with him and his team. She's attracted to the gorgeous Brit, but she doesn't have time for anything but finding answers.

When Zane and Alyssa discover the sinister truth, it'll take everything they have to make it out of this mission with their lives―and hearts―intact.


This book left me a bit torn. On the one hand, I tore through it, I read and read and read and never put the book down.
It was full of suspense and action and I really enjoyed it - and when I finished it, I stumbled upon thousands of things that didn't really make sense because, well, we have this experienced and powerful SWAT Team on the one side and on the other side we have a number of institutions and supernatural creatures, you know, those creatures that go bump in the night...and none of these experienced SWAT-guys knew anything about those creatures and institutions? None of them had ever heard about any of them?

I loved how Zane and Alyssa clicked and all that action but, yup, I am torn. I'll definitely read it again and I will read the other books in this series that I haven't read yet (okay, I have read most of them but not all of them) and I will also read every other book that the author writes but I'm a bit miffed that so many things turned up, well, out of the blue despite the fact that it made for a hell of a story.

★★★

Red Zone (Red Zone #1) by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

  Red Zone (Red Zone #1) by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

 SYNOPSIS

Welcome to the new world. Things have changed just a bit. Big Brother’s not only monitoring important things like what toilet paper you buy—it now has direct access to everything you see thanks to the mandatory implant you get at birth. And Friday Jones has seen something she wishes she hadn’t.

Now she has all kinds of undesirables after her—some to straight up kill her and others who want to steal what’s locked in her head. So, she’ll need the help of a ruthless mercenary, Striker, if she has any chance at survival. That he’s a jerk, who she wants to punch in the face, well…a dying woman sometimes has to make tough choices.

Striker’s special abilities have kept him in the shadows for a reason. He has no interest in getting mixed up with the smart-mouthed, hard-headed women no matter how his body reacts. But then he discovers what’s in her head and all bets are off.


Wow, what a pleasant surprise! I just saw the cover and, well, being a cover-lover I went for it. I bought this book and "just browsing" immediately turned into reading intensely and not putting it down. This imaginative, fantastic story full of suspense, action and romance drew me in from the first page on.

I loved Friday so much, she is a wonderful character, full of quirks and when she starts to think and, yep, chocolate... I laughed so much and I mean, who could resist that talking, hitch-hiking handbag with an attitude to match its....partner's? Did I forget to mention that the talking handbag is also lethal? Well, yeah, it is. And it loves to cuddle - go figure.

Though I forgot to mention our hero, Striker. Friday and Striker are an amazing couple, you can feel not only their chemistry but even more their love right from the start. You get it, you can feel why Striker, the hard, capable Striker falls for Friday with all her quirks and her open heart who embraces everyone. At first she seems weak though the reader very soon realizes how intelligent and strong she really is, how capable and courageous. She is not fearless but no matter what happens, she pulls through, she fights, she cares even with a death sentence hanging over her head and things very soon going to hell, she still cares for others and never gives up.

Did I mention how much I loved this book?

★★★★★

Day of the Dragon by Katie MacAlister (includes Wolf's Mate by Celia Kyle)

 Day of the Dragon (Dragon Hunter #2) by Katie MacAlister 

and

Wolf's Mate (Shifter Rogues #1) by Celia Kyle

Blurb:

TWO FULL NOVELS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! Fans of Lyndsay Sands and Gena Showalter will love this fiery paranormal romance from a New York Times bestselling author about a dragon shifter who finds his soul mate in the most unlikely place. Also includes WOLF'S MATE by Celia Kyle.

With dragons like him, who needs enemies?

Real scholars know that supernatural beings don't exist. But the moment I meet Archer Andras of the Storm Dragons, all my academic training goes out the window. Thanks to Mr. Tall, Dark, And Infuriating, I'm learning that I really should worry about those things that go bump in the night. . . and that dragons like Archer are 100 percent pure trouble.

Now I'm caught in the middle of a war. On one side is Archer. On the other is his twin brother. And I am the key to translating an ancient text that could bring balance-or deadly ruin-to our world. But none of that is as dangerous as the seriously sexy sparks between Archer and me. He's too tempting to be real. Too gorgeous to trust. And when it comes to dragons, there's no smoke without deadly fire.

Includes the novel WOLF'S MATE by Celia Kyle: When Abby Carter is threatened by an anti-shifter organization, werewolf shifter Declan Reed will have to convince her that there's no safer place in the world than in the arms of a big bad werewolf.



Don't read this book in public! I laughed so loud and hard  - and unfortunately, I was sitting at my hairdresser's while I was reading. Actually, I realized that I had been laughing out loud when I saw everybody smiling at me. Well, at least I wasn't crying and sobbing, right?  I really enjoyed every single page of this book and didn't put it down till the last page.

At least till the last page of Day of the Dragon, as it took me some time to notice that Day of the Dragon was not the only book in there. Soooo... just keep on turning the pages and you can enjoy another great book! Wolf's Mate by Celia Kyle was also funny, captivating and well-written. It's the first book by her that I've read but who could resist a "team of the best of the bad"? I couldn't and  I'm really looking forward to the next stories about the Shifter Rogues!

★★★★★

Wolf Rising (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #8) by Paige Tyler #WolfRising

  Wolf Rising by Paige Tyler

Blurb:

Werewolf SWAT Officer Jayden Brooks has yet to meet The One—but when he rescues teacher Selena Rosa from a hostage situation at her high school, he knows he’s in trouble. Her scent is irresistible.

There’s a reason for that powerful scent—and it isn’t an expensive perfume. Thanks to the traumatizing events at the school, the werewolf gene flipped on and Selena’s going through the change. Even scarier, she’s on track to become an omega—an out-of-control and violent breed. It’s going to take everything Brooks has if he wants any chance to pull her back from the edge…and ultimately win her heart. 

 
Once again we meet the werewolves of our SWAT team  - and once again I found myself glued to my reader. Even when I just wanted to scroll through it to refresh my memory when I was writing this review, I was pulled in once more and ended up reading it - again. 

Gripping, captivating and full of suspense from the first page to the oast, this book was amazing! And Selena and Brooks, well, I loved those two! Oh, and there're brownies. You can never go wrong when there are brownies involved, right? 

Anyway -  those two made me chuckle and laugh, swoon and I worried with them when things got rough and complicated. I loved learning more about the pack and the different kinds of werewolves and I loved learning more about "our" team and its members. 

A highly enjoyable book with a great story and some really amazing characters! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and I can't wait to finally read it!

 ★★★★

Blogtour mit Gewinnspiel - Der Fluch der Schwarzen Dahlie

Herzlich Willkommen bei unserer Blogtour!

Heute erfahrt Ihr bei mir etwas über  -

Cocktails...

oder die Überschriften in Der Fluch der Schwarzen Dahlie

Ein Blick in das Buch zeigt, dass hier jedes Kapitel mit dem Namen eines Cocktails beginnt. Es finden sich hier bekannte und weniger bekannte Namen wie etwa die Bloody Mary, die passenderweise von, na? - genau, einer Vampirin getrunken wird, aber auch Blue Lagoon oder Tequila Sunrise sind hier vertreten, ebenso wie der Mojito, die Pina Colada, die Margarita oder der Kamikaze, ein simpler Gin Tonic oder auch ein Manhattan.

Warum Cocktails? Na, immerhin fängt Cara, unsere Protagonistin, hier an, als Barkeeperin zu arbeite, um als Tochter der Besitzerin vor Ort zu sein und die Ohren aufzusperren, da es in der Nähe des Red Rose binnen kurzer Zeit bereits dreimal zu einem Mord gekommen ist!

Schon ab dem 16. Jahrhundert gab es den "Punch", der ebenfalls ein Mischgetränk war und spätestens Lesern von Jane Austen oder Regency-Romanen vermutlich auch ein Begriff ist, da er auch in dieser Zeit gerne zu den Bällen und anderen sozialen Ereignissen serviert wurde. Laut der Webseite von Bols, wurde der Begriff "Cocktail" das erste Mal 1806 in einer Zeitung erwähnt. Die Theorien zur Entstehung des Namens, die man im Web findet, gehen von einer direkten Ableitung des Namens von echten Hahnenfedern, den "cocktails", mit denen die Drinks nach einem gewonnenen Hahnenkampf geschmückt wurden, bis hin zu einem französischen Apotheker aus New Orleans, der zwecks Umgehung des Alkoholverbots seine Drinks als stärkendes Tonikum in Eierbechern, den "coquetiers" servierte.

Fest steht, dass das erste Buch über Cocktails und deren Zubereitung "The Bartender's Guide to Mixing Drinks" von 1862 von Jeremiah "Jerry" Thomas, immer noch als Standardwerk gilt. Rein aus Lokalpatriotimus, immerhin haben wir den Geburtsort gemeinsam, möchte ich aber auch
William Schmidt, bekannt als "The Only William" und sein 1892 herausgekommenes Buch "The Flowing Bowl" nicht unerwähnt lassen, das sich ebenfalls intensiv mit Mixgetränen und deren Zubereitung befasste.

Der Tequila Sunrise wurde natürlich am meisten dadurch bekannt, dass er zum inoffiziellen Cocktail der Welttour zum Album "Exile on Main Street"der Rolling Stones 2972 geworden war, wobei die Eagles mit ihrer Single "Tequila Sunrise" natürlich noch zur Populatität und Bekanntheit dieses Cocktails beitrugen. Mick Jagger wurde laut einem Artikel im Magazin "GuitarPlayer" einen Tequila Sunrise von Lozoff selbst, dem Erfinderder heute gängigen Variante des Tequila Sunrise empfohlen, als er eigentlich einen Margarita bestellen wollte. Mit seinen kräftigen Farben in Form eines Sonnenaufgangs, schmeckt der (gut gemischte, wie Cara vermutlich jetzt anmerken würde) Tequila Sunrise natürlich auch nicht nur gut, sondern er sieht auch noch recht spektakulär aus. Mit einem schlecht gemischten Tequila Sunrise, fängt unsere Bekanntschaft mit unserer Protagonistin Cara leider aber an. Allerdings ist das nicht das einzige, das ihr an der Situation und der Gesellschaft, in der sie sich befindet, nicht so ganz "schmeckt".

Die Anfänge des Manhattan hingegen, des Lieblingscocktails von Caras nicht ganz so heiß geliebter Mutter, liegen hingegen ein wenig im Dunkeln. Eine sehr bekannte Version ist laut einer Webseite, die, dass ein Dr. Ian Marshall den Mahattan für eine Feier kreiert hat, die von der Mutter Winston Churchills in den frühen 8oer Jahren des 19. Jahrhunderts im Manhattan Club in New York ausgerichtet wurde und der Manhattan Club besteht bis heute natürlich darauf, dass er namensgebend für diesen Cocktail war. 1882 wird er wohl in der Zeitung "Der Demokrat" erwähnt, allerdings ohne Angabe eines Namens, wobei eine der ersten namentlichen Erwähnungen sich tatsächlich 1892 in The Only Williams Buch "The Flowing Bowl" findet.

Der Mojito ist wohl am meisten dafür bekannt, dass er der Lieblingsdrink Hemingways in einer Bar in Havana, Kuba war. Erfunden worden sein, soll er von Sklaven die ihn aus einfachem Rohrzucker herstellten, allerdings gibt es auch noch eine Variante, derzufolge er als Zufallsprodukt entstand, bei dem Versuch einiger Mitglieder der Schiffscrew von Sir Francis Drake, eine Medizin gegen Ruhr und Skorbut zu finden, unter der die Seeleute bei ihrer Ankunft auf Kuba litten. Ob diese Geschichte wahr ist, vermag ich nicht zu sagen, egal wie ist der Mojito offensichtlich nach wie vor sehr populär, immerhin tauchte er unter anderem auch in einem James Bond Film auf - und wird auch in Bars nach wie vor gerne getrunken.

Oh, der Kamikaze taucht natürlich dann auf, wenn die Dinge ein wenig....stressig sind. Oder lebensgefärhlich. Oder so. Seine Ursprünge als Cocktail liegen etwas im Dunkeln, allerdings hat er
sehr viel Ähnlichkeit mit einer Margarita, wobei er auf Wodka basiert und nicht auf Tequila wie die Margarita.

Auch für den Blue Lagoon, den Lieblingscocktail von Bessie, Caras Kusine, braucht man Wodka, seine markante Farbe bekommt er jedoch durch den Blue Curacao. Erfunden worden sein, soll der Blue Lagoon 1972 in Paris, in Harry's New York Bar.

Tja, so weit zu diesen Cocktails!  

Wenn Ihr an der Verlosung für ein Exemplar des "Fluchs der Schwarzen Dahlie" teilnehmen wollt, beantwortet mir doch einfach die Frage, welches Getränk Ihr gerne zur Hand hättet, wenn Ihr auf ein erstes Date mit einem echt kernigen und ziemlich coolen Wolfsshifter gehen würdet.

Ich selber würde vermutlich lieber ein Wasser nehmen, um einen klaren Kopf zu behalten, wenn mir der Kerl den da gerade verdrehen will, weil mein Lieblingscocktail, der Brasilero, von mir nur in sehr geringen Maßen genossen werden darf, damit ich mich noch halbwegs plietsch äußern kann (hier wären wohl die oben erwähnten "coquetiers" angebracht)....

Was wäre das Gertränk oder der Cocktail Eurer Wahl in dieser Situation?

(Eine falsche Antwort gibt es übrigens nicht!)

Zu den Teilnahmebedingungen für das Gewinnspiel guckt Ihr bitte hier: https://redaktionsbuero-lanfermann.de/teilnahmebedigungen-fuer-blogtouren-und-gewinnspiele/ . Die Auslosung findet dann am 02.08. statt, der Gewinner wird auf allen teilnehmenden Blogs bekanntgegeben.

Viel Glück! 

Born Wild (Wolf Hollow Shifters #3) by Nikki Jefford

 Born Wild by Nikki Jefford

Blurb:

FOR THREE YEARS, HUMANS FORCED THE PUREBLOODED WOLF SHIFTER TO FIGHT HIS OWN KIND

After escaping his human captors, Wolfrik returns to Wolf Hollow covered in scars and hostility. He wants nothing to do with pack politics and refuses to play nice.

AN INJURY ISOLATED THE SHE-WOLF AND LEFT HER VULNERABLE

Ever since Kallie’s foot was permanently maimed in a vulhena attack, she’s been relocated to the den where Palmer—the pack’s elder and council member—is after her to become his third mate.

A heated encounter with Wolfrik gives Kallie an idea. If she can convince the wild wolf to be her bedmate, Palmer will finally leave her alone.

But when an unexpected bond forms between the pair, Kallie may have bitten off more than she can chew. Is the aggressive pureblood too damaged to settle down with a mate?

REDEMPTION MAY COME TOO LATE

Forced to face his inner demons, or lose the woman he loves, Wolfrik must confront the past he’s tried so hard to forget. But the past is about to catch up to him and old enemies could doom the entire hollow.  

What a ride! I loved the first two books in this series but "Born Wild" might be even better than those!

Kallie and Wolfrik, our hero and our heroine are damaged and hurt and you just want them to be happy again. Reading about Wolfrik and his time with the humans, his final fight and everything that led to his escape makes you feel with him and hope that finally his life might take a turn for the better. Might. If there wasn't his past coming to visit...or rather haunt him. And Kallie? Well, nobody likes to be pressured into an unwanted relationship but the way Palmer pursues her - yeah, I got so mad at him! He was simply disgusting. Not taking no for an answer, thinking himself the answer to every woman's dreams....nope. I really didn't like him. Not. At. All.
When Wolfrik entered the scene and a certain bond formed between him and Kallie, I started to hope that those two would heal each other. Kallie's injury left her with a lot of pain and a bleak future that might turn into something much better - if those two can overcome not only their personal demons but also the threat from Wolfriks past.

Well written as always, this book is another one in a great series that I really loved reading and that I can wholeheartedly recommend!

★★★★★

 

 

One of my favorite series finally as audio book .... #storm #phantomislanders #ednahwalters

...and what an amazing audio book it is!

Do you remember the Phantom Islanders series by Ednah Walters?

These wonderful books are now available on audio and -wow, they are so amazing!

Narrated by Erin Mallon, a very talented narrator who did also read 

"Because of Him" by Terri E. Laine and Ednah's wonderful story - this is a must have!

Storm

A sassy heroine, a legend, and a race of people in peril

Nanny to a wealthy family, 18-year old Alexandria "Lexi" Greendale sends most of what she earns home to support her disabled brother. She is determined to help him get the surgery he needs to walk again. Her dreams come to an abrupt halt when she rescues a man from drowning. How does he repay her? Captain Storm Orath abducts her, claims her as his chosen mate, and takes her to a magical island that is centuries behind times with barbaric customs.

Storm is sexy, demanding, and protective

Lexi is determined to escape; Storm will do anything to keep her. For Lexi to make it home to her family, she must fight the lure of the man and the island he controls, or stay trapped forever. Are they fated to be together? Will Lexi make it home in time to help her brother?

Experience the adventure

This fast-paced tale is magical, complicated, beautiful, and mysterious. Warning! Once you start this audiobook, you will not be able to stop it until you reach the final minute.

This is part one of a three-part upper YA and new adult serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love.

©2017 Ednah Walters (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

 

 Storm Revealed

The mystery unfolds
 
Lexi resigns herself to the primitive living and the strange customs of the islands but struggles with the fact that she will never see or help her brother again. As the people embrace her as Storm's chosen mate, Lexi slowly begins to see the magic around her. When she discovers the truth about Storm and his people, she finally understands why he abducted her and why he needs her to stay.

Twists, turns, and traitors
 
Lexi's feelings for Storm start to change, she accepts the fact that she is Storm's lass and stops trying to escape. But a happy ending will have to wait.

Someone wants Lexi dead
  
Storm has an evil twin and he will use anything and everything to get what he wants. He threatens to destroy the island and its people. Left with no choice, Lexi makes the ultimate sacrifice.

The romance and the adventure continues in the second installment of the Phantom Islanders series
This is part two of a three-part upper YA and new adult serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love.  

©2017 Ednah Walters (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Storm Unleashed

Legends Are Made When All Seems Lost
 
The magical world Lexi has come to know isn't done with her yet, and she must discover the lengths she and Storm will go to prove their love and claim each other.
Lexi has been kidnapped and transported to HyBrazil, where Storm's evil brother reigns. He plans to make her his mate after he forces her to change. He has her locked in the tower until he breaks her. But Lexi never gives up and is always looking for a way to get back to Storm.

Pirates, Pirates and More Pirates Then an Oracle
 
Lexi thinks Storm is alive, but she isn't sure. She makes a few friends, but she is always waiting for Tully to grab her. The Oracle has been doing something very dangerous to the old woman in the next cell. Who is she? And why has she been sequestered to the tower?

An Epic Finale
 
Action dominates the end of this three-part adventure and romance series, along with some huge reveals. Set aside some time after listening to the first two books in the series. You won't be able to pause the last installment!
This is part III of a three-part upper YA and new adult serial about a woman and her journey of discovery, adventure, and an unforgettable love.

©2017 Ednah Walters (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

*** 

 

(Sur)real by Melissa Haag

 (Sur)real by Melissa Haag

 Blurb:

My sisters hate their gifts, but they don’t know how lucky they are. They have a home and family. I have nothing. But, I am Courage, and I know my purpose. I exist for one reason only: to complete the Judgement.

Olivia is blind, yet sees. And what she sees, she keeps to herself. Her father conspires for control while Olivia does her own plotting with forces that only she understands. Now, time is running out, and choices that will impact the world must be made.


We've been with the Judgements and the wolves in their lives now for a long time and now, this book is the final book in this amazing series, this is the end of our journey, this is the book where the Judgement will be made. This is the time when Hope, Prosperity, Wisdom, Strength, Peace, and Courage come together to change the future of our world.

Well, this book definitely did change my world. It's not just intense but also one of those books that you should never ever read in public because it'll leave you crying, sobbing, tentatively smiling, hoping...and sobbing once again.
A rollercoaster of emotions, knuckle-biting, kindle-throwing, hanky-crunching action from the beginning straight to the end that kept me glued to the pages.

This book and its characters stayed with me long after the last page had been read. The fate of so many of them ..well, there are some things that happened, let's just say that it'll take me even more time till I'll even start to forgive the author, IF I ever forgive her...

Gripping, intense, emotional - a worthy finale to an amazing series!

★★★★★

Jennifer Armentrout war in Hamburg #AmazingArmentrout

...und ich war auch dort.

Nachdem ich Jennifer Armentrout auf der Buchmesse verpasst hatte, stellte ich per Zufall fest, dass gestern Abend in Hamburg eine Lesung mit ihr sein sollte. Kurz hin- und her überlegt und...dann musste es irgendwie doch sein.

Gesagt, getan. Ich hatte zwar reichlich Zeit eingeplant, aber die Baustellen auf unserer Autobahn waren stärker als ich und so hetzte ich eine Viertelstunde zu spät in die Lesung, die in Hamburg im Zeise-Kino stattfand.

Insgesamt war es sehr nett, allerdings fehlte mir ein bisschen das gewisse Etwas, wie auch immer das aussehen sollte, auch wenn es insgesamt wirklich nett war. 

Als Erstes wurden mit einigen einleitenden Worten Kuss-Szenen aus dreien ihrer Bücher vorgelesen, die sehr ausdrucksvoll und gut gelesen wurden, danach wurden einige Fragen aus dem Publikum beantwortet. Hier kamen Jennifer Armentrouts Charme und Humor zum Tragen - und brachten uns immer wieder zum Lachen. 

Auf die Frage, welches denn ihr Lieblingsbuch der Lux-Reihe um Damian und Katy sei, antwortete sie, dass dies Opal sei, weil dort nicht nur die Beziehung zwischen Daemon und Katy endlich ein wenig mehr ins Rollen komme und sie mehr miteinander als gegeneinander arbeiten, sondern es auch diesen massiven Cliffhanger habe. Den hätte sie nämlich nur eingebaut, weil sich alle so sehr über den Cliffhanger am Ende von Onyx aufgeregt hätten und sie dann gedacht hätte, dass sie doch mal zeigen müsste, was ein echter Cliffhanger ist. 

Ihr weiblicher Lieblingscharakter ist Mallory aus "The Problem with Forever", da diese nicht nur viele Herausforderungen bewältigt, sondern auch sehr schüchtern ist und sich eigentlich jeder mit ihr identifizieren kann. Wenn sie sich bei den männlichen Charakteren auf einen Liebling festlegen müsste, wäre das wohl Luke, aus Obsidian, der sehr lustig ist und sie durch seine Art beim Schreiben immer ein wenig auf Trab hält. Luke wird übrigens demnächst seine eigene Serie bekommen.

Zum Schreiben inspiriert wurde sie durch die Bücher von L J Smith, die die Vampire Diaries geschrieben hat, weil diese sie beim Lesen, damals in den 90ern, so fertig gemacht und so viele Emotionen in ihr geweckt haben, dass sie selber etwas schreiben wollte, das bei anderen ebenfalls solche Gefühle weckt.

 

Allerdings war das daraus resultierende Buch nicht ihr allererstes Werk, da sie in der 9. Klasse ihre Mathe-Stunden damit verbrachte, ein Buch zu schreiben, damals noch handschriftlich, das dann von ihrer Freundin abgetippt wurde. Ihre Eltern müssten dieses (wohl eher etwas schaurige) Erstlingswerk mit dem Namen The Forbidden Ones oder The Forgotten Ones noch zuhause haben. Ihren mathematischen Fähigkeiten ist diese Beschäftigung übrigens nicht ganz gut bekommen. Das erste Buch, das sie schrieb, als sie schon eine gewisse Ahnung hatte, was sie da tut, war dann Half-Blood, ads erste Buch der Covenant-Reihe

Ihre Bücher schreibt sie wohl eher recht frei und improvisiert viel, da sie beim besten Willen nicht plotten kann, auch wenn das manchmal schon sehr praktisch wäre. Lediglich bei den spannungsgeladeneren Büchern aus dem Romantic Suspense Bereich beispielsweise, muss sie gewisse Regeln einhalten, um die Spannung aufrecht halten zu können und das Ganze zu einem runden Ende zu bringen.Manchmal würde sie sich wünschen, dass sie wie J.R.Ward schreiben könnte, die dafür bekannt ist, erst einmal 40 bis 60 Seiten Plots zu schreiben, weil es so schon vorkommt, dass sie selber auch mal etliche tausend Wörter wieder löschen muss, weil ihre Geschichte sich dann doch ganz anders entwickelt als gedacht.

Auf die Frage, welches ihr Lieblings-Liebspärchen ist, meinte sie, dass sie vermutlich auf jeden Fall Daemon und Katy nennen müsste, weil sie sonst wahrscheinlich nicht lebend aus dem Kino kommen würde, abersonst hätte sie einfach viele Lieblingspärchen. Eins davon, das gerade dabei ist, sich zu entwickeln, sind zum Beispiel Luke und Evie, aber auch Cam und Avery oder Leila und Roth gehören zu ihren Lieblingen. Allerdings mag sie eigentlich alle immer am liebsten, während sie an ihrer Geschichte schreibt und wenn sie am Ende angekommen ist, dann hasst sie sie erst einmal.

Viel zu schnell war diese Fragerunde vorüber und es ging ans Anstellen zum Signieren. Leider konnte man vor Ort nur die Hardcover und Audiobooks zu den Büchern kaufen, die direkt unter ihrem Namen und nicht unter ihrem Pseudonym J.Lynn erschienen sind. Genau die hätte ich mir kaufen wollen, aber zum Glück hatte ich noch einen Kindle mit einer bis dato unbeschrifteten Hülle dabei, so dass ich mir diese Hülle dann signieren ließ. Bis dahin hieß es allerdings noch ziemlich lange warten.... 

Zum Abschluss konnte jeder, der wollte, noch einmal in ein Erinnerungsbuch für Jennifer schreiben, das der Verlag ihr heute bei der Abfahrt dann überreichen wollte. 

Dann war der Abend auch leider schon vorüber. 

*****

***

*

Demon Flames (Resurrection Chronicles #2) by M.J. Haag and Becca Vincenza

  Demon Flames by M.J. Haag and Becca Vincenza 

Blurb: 

As hellhounds continue to roam and the zombie plague spreads, Drav leads Mya to the source of her troubles—Ernisi, an underground Atlantis and Drav’s home. There Mya learns that the shadowy demons, who’ve helped devastate her world, are not what they seem.

Trapped in Ernisi, Mya tries to convince Drav to return her to the surface so she can continue her search for her family. However, he’s determined to keep her where he knows she’ll be safe. When Mya falls ill, Drav must choose between her and his people.

**Recommended for adult readers
***Part 2 of 3

 
This is the second book in this series so you should make sure that you have read Demon Ember first. If you haven't read it yet, well, just do it - now! This series should definitely be read in the right order.
Demon Flames is a great sequel and I really enjoyed reading it even though I was really really upset about the cliffhanger at the end of the book.

Right, a cliffhanger, and a really bad one, at least that's what it feels like. Fortunately, we won't have to wait too long for the next book so if you have a problem with cliffhangers you should wait till the next book is out otherwise you might end the book bellowing out something almost unintelligible like "Oh no, you can't...!" (Nope. Never ever did I.... Yup. Totally did. I was really upset.)

Apart from that cliffhanger, the book is really great and I enjoyed getting to know our hero and our heroine better, especially as we learn a lot about Drav and his people in this book.
I loved the action and everything that happened with Drav's people but missed learning about the things happening. ..elsewhere.

Drav is sweet, a teeny tiny bit overprotective and unfortunately he has still a lot to learn about emancipation and women who... well, actually he has to learn everything about women because.....right, just because, you know.
I am really really looking forward to finding out more about everything that happens at the surface in the next and final book, though. Oh, and I absolutely have to learn more about Mya's family and everything that happened to them and of course, there's also Drav's people and their future. We learn a lot about their past in Demon Flames and I am looking forward to the next book in this series to find out more about their future.

I've read many books by Melissa Haag up to now and several by Becca Vincenza and I loved them all. Demon Flames is another one of those amazing books and I can definitely recommend it.

★★★★

 

 

 

 

 

Rescued by the Wolf by Sasha Summers

 

 Rescued by the Wolf by Sasha Summers

 

Blurb:

Mal wants one thing in life—vengeance against those that deserted him and those who tortured him. But rescuing a wounded girl from their captors, one that wreaks of innocence and fear, makes Mal put his plan on hold. Temporarily. He’ll do what he needs to keep her alive and safe, even if it changes both of their lives forever.

Being stabbed and held in a dark cell wasn’t on Olivia’s top ten list. Her savior isn’t exactly hero material. Angry, scarred, and pissed at the world, he seems to resent being saddled with her. But the longer they’re together, the more firmly a connection forms between them. A connection that binds her to him, his pack, and his world. But that connection may just lead to her death.

On the whole, I really enjoyed reading this book.
It is well written and the plot is fine and of course, you simply have to like Olivia. Her buoyant nature and her ability to love as well as her courage just take you in and make you love her right from the beginning. Mal is another cup of tea though. It was difficult for me to understand where he is coming from when he refuses to acknowledge their connection. Somehow the idea that he thought that he was not good enough for her, didn't convince me and I really didn't understand why he fought their bond.

Some developments were rather obvious and foreseeable but on the whole, it was a nice read. I was disappointed though when the book ended because I felt that the story had just begun and that it ended far too soon as nothing had been achieved yet.. Of course, it is part of a series but I was really getting in the mood to fight and to accomplish something when the book ended. It is not a cliffhanger but something is missing, at least in my eyes.

Nevertheless I really liked the book and I will definitely read other books by the author. starting with the other books in the series.

 ★★★

Falling For His Mate (Crescent Moon #6) by Savannah Stuart/Katie Reus

It's not often that I read novellas but this is one that I can recommend...

   

Falling For His Mate by Savannah Stuart/Katie Reus

Blurb:

 He screwed up.

Second in command of the O’Shea wolf pack, Andrew Reid screwed up and let Charlotte walk away from him. Now that he’s come to his senses, he’s determined to win her back, no matter how much he has to grovel. Because she’s a woman worth fighting for.

She’s not willing to trust him again.

Charlie thought Andrew was different from other males, that what they shared was real—that their connection was the rare mating pull. But a true mate wouldn’t have ghosted on her the way he did. So no matter what he wants, she’s not playing his games. To capture her heart for good, he’ll have to prove he’s worthy of a second chance. Even if that means he has to give up everything, including his pack.

Length: NOVELLA
 

Yep, I like the books by Katie Reus, "even" when she writes under her pen name Savannah Stuart.
What do you do when you have finally found your mate, the one and only and - you are too much of a coward and really, really blow it?

Right, you go work in .... Oh, no, you have to read that for yourself! Anyway, he is definitely willing to do everything to get Charlie back!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is sweet, light-hearted and  - he has to fight for his luck. Charlie does hold out for a while but as any romantic will love to hear, she is not cruel about it and, well, if you hope for a Happily Ever After, well, you might get lucky. Perhaps.

★★★★