Thursday, August 20, 2015

Blood & Gold (Hand of Kali #2)

As Maya perfects her Fire skills she finds there is more to being the Hand of Kali than just wielding Fire.
A surprising summons to Mount Kailas takes Maya on a journey to meet the Lord of the Hindu Pantheon – Lord Shiva himself. This time the God’s request may not be so easy to fulfill.
Maya and her friends must flee the demons and the ruthless killers on their trail to retrieve the golden bow of Lord Rama.
Can Maya get the bow back in time, and also save a certain demon king in the process?



Blood & Gold opens in what seems to be an entirely different direction in the Hand of Kali series. It is actually just expanding it's reach for the other characters in Maya's life to be able to contribute to the story. Toward the middle of the book I couldn't put it down. I love the adventures T.G. Ayer writes and how they can be simple, but well thought out. My favorite parts were, of course, Maya and Nick's alone time together. There is a particular scene I have in mind while writing this actually. I very much look forward to watching their relationship evolve. I also enjoyed getting to watch Maya's powers evolve and the techniques she used while harnessing those skills. Another 5 Star YA Paranormal Romance / Adventure. Looking forward to book three, Time and Fate, to release this year. 

Moon's Flower (Kingdom Series #6)

Once upon a time, long, long ago a flower fairy looked to the skies and dared to fall in love with The Man in the Moon...


I must say I ruined this for myself. I am completely obsessed with Marie Hall's Kingdom Series and instead of going in order I went searching through reviews to see if I could find my next favorite of the lot. If I hadn't read spoilers I would have been completely blown away by the plot twist! She is still writing unique characters befitting the unique roles they play in Kingdom. I love how she ties each story together and creates a history for each that flawlessly collaborates with each book in the series. She has a brilliant talent and I'm beyond grateful she's chosen to share it! Another 5 star paranormal romance! 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Satyr from the Shadows (The Cursed Satyroi Series #3)

Long ago, a nymph fell in love with a mere mortal destined to become a legendary hero. Until the gods saw fit to tear them apart and tamper with fate.

Everyone has heard the story of Daphne and Apollo, of her transformation into a laurel tree to escape his obsession. If only it were so simple. Held prisoner for thousands of years, Daphne is close to death until a last minute rescuer smuggles her out of Olympus and to Melancton, the satyr she loves.

Melancton has always preferred to be on his own, keeping to the shadows and maintaining a stoic appearance. Only Daphne can be the light to his darkness, and now that she's returned, the fear of losing her again shakes him. With grave danger lurking on the horizon, Melancton and the satyrs of The Aegean Inn prepare for battle, but the odds are stacked against them.

Meanwhile, Apollo enlists the aid of Dionysus in his determination to reclaim Daphne and punish those responsible for her disappearance. Is it possible to survive the fury of the gods?



Satyre in the Shadows has a darker atmosphere than the former novels. The events surrounding Daphne and Melancton are tragic and are written to have a strong emotional pull. The thought provoking situations seem realistic and ideal for their current dilemma. Throughout the story the atmosphere varies between tense to amusing. I found peace in Melancton finally having companionship and family. It was sometimes distracting readung through more than two point of views, but I loved the characters and the history. There is a nice little plot twist in the end I think readers will enjoy. 

I love stories weaved off of mythology; however, it was not until I read the first book in this series that Greek mythology appealed to me personally . I adore stories written by Rebekah Lewis and will continue to follow this series closely. 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Midnight at the Satyr Inn (The Cursed Satyroi #0.5)

Cursed into an immortal life as a satyr, Jacen isn't prepared when London checks into The Aegean Inn. For the first time in centuries, Jacen's willing to break the rules for a woman. Can London handle his secret, or is she a threat to the existence of all satyrs?

Originally part of the Ravaged Vol. 2 anthology



 I've quickly become addicted to this series! I'm not a fan of insta-love and it didn't actually proceed to that point, but the idea is present. There is mention, at least, of the protagonist's spending more time together to find out where the relationship may lead. It's a short, but really entertaining read that now has me hooked on Jacen. I am desperate to find out more. Not many books receive this reaction from me particularly, so it's more than deserving of 5 stars!

Under the Satyr Moon (The Cursed Satyroi Series #2)

Under the Satyr Moon a curse was wrought, and under the same moon shall it be reversed...
...if the Fates allow.

A freelance photography job goes downhill fast when Lily Anders' boyfriend dumps her and disappears from the campsite, leaving her stranded in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Feeling lost, heartbroken, and afraid, Lily follows a mysterious melody through the wilderness. She never would have guessed the source of the music would reveal that legendary figures of Greek mythology really existed, and she could be one of them.

Ever since he was cursed, Ariston has only wanted one thing—to be human again. He has searched the globe for a nymph to free him, but over three thousand years of failure has pushed him into a life of solitude. Ariston believes he's finally found the salvation he's longed for when he finds Lily spying on him in the forest. Unfortunately, he has to convince her to like him first.

What seems to be the Fates bringing them together in time for the Satyr Moon proves to be an elaborate scheme with macabre intentions. Dionysus has sent Ariston's estranged brother, Adonis, to ensure the curse cannot be broken, and nothing tosses cold water over the flame of seduction like a twin seeking vengeance.


I loved this book so much that I immediately wanted to read it again after I finished. The story-line evolves into something more complex and sinister from the first installment in the series. The characters and plot seemingly gain more depth. The chemistry between the primary characters is just as explosive as it is in book 1, only there is so much more on the line and things could go devastatingly wrong. The plot twists are a nice touch and on a side note, I adore Hermes! He's hilarious!
 I have a new author to follow and I honestly cannot get enough of these books. 5 stars!

Friday, August 14, 2015

Wicked Satyr Nights by Rebekah Lewis

Some creatures want to be found.

When Dr. Katerina Silverton travels into the Pine Barrens to make a documentary on the Jersey Devil, she doesn’t believe she will find evidence of anything supernatural. However, Kat soon finds herself face to face with the very creature she was sent into the forest to capture on film.

In Ancient Greece, the god Pan made a terrible mistake which resulted in the creation of a race of immortal satyrs. Centuries later, he lives secluded in the Pine Barrens, frightening the mortals by taking the guise of an abhorrent local monster. When a beautiful woman shows up in his forest looking for proof of his existence, Pan can’t resist revealing himself to her.

But outside forces may be manipulating them both, pushing them together for nefarious reasons. Kat must decide if she could learn to love a satyr or if his appearance is more than she can handle. Can she resist Pan’s wicked nature, or will she give into the temptations beyond her wildest fantasies?


 I'm just going to go ahead and kick this off by saying that I am thrilled to have this book in my possession! I was initially a skeptic due to a lot of odd characteristics  belonging to one book, but I loved it. Wicked Satyr Nights is an interesting and enjoyable book to read. The modern  context of the dialogue threw me off a couple of times because it seemed off to think of the characters as Greek God's while using today's slang. I found I enjoyed the dialogue as well. It created a light and fun atmosphere for such a passionate pair to fall in love.

Pan is my ideal male protagonist. The exterior reeks sexy, alpha male while in reality he is extremely vulnerable.

Katerina is the stubborn female protagonist who harnesses the soft heart needed to accept someone as Pan into her life. I melted...a lot!

I loved the character development and I love them together. The over all plot to the story is entertaining. I highly recommend it to an audience of 18 and older. 

Cloak of Shadows (The Netherwalker series #1) by CK Dawn



The gloaming is near

What if all you've ever known of King Arthur's legend was a lie to mislead you from the truth? What if Camelot truly existed, but was destroyed to keep its secrets? And, what if there were descendants of the Knights of the Round Table defending us today from the creatures that lurk within the shadows? If the gloaming came looking for you would you answer its call?

Fourteen year old Abigail Thorne answered the gloaming and it turned her life upside down. Along with her mentor Lourdes Reese, a seasoned hunter in the King's Court, they banish the evil shadows while most dociles sleep in their beds. Fighting hidden creatures that feed on humans, glimpsing fractures that lead to another world, and wielding magical weapons all before geometry? That's a normal day for Abbey now, and she loves every minute of it. As for Lourdes Reese, she has unique abilities that can't be explained and is the best hunter the King's Court has seen in over a thousand years. Abbey and Lourdie have no idea that being sent to Britain will unleash a chain of events that will change everything and everyone they love forever.

A life will be lost, a life will be taken, and an unexpected new romance will emerge all while the fate of two worlds balances on the edge of a hunter's blade.

Review:
Cloak of Shadows is a fantastic, modern day spinoff of King Author. Actually,  the scenery switches from modern day to classic while certain components of the story are more futuristic. Most of the story is told via Lourdes point of view.  There are parts where it is written through Abbey's, one scene is written through Temple's and then another is a dark mystery. It sounds confusing, but the smooth flow of the prose helps in distinguishing the roles. I thoroughly  enjoyed the action and training scenes. Dawn painted vivid imagery that left me in awe. My favorite sections of the story are filled with magic, a budding romance, and mystery galore. There are some feelings of agitation because I'd hope for a few answers before the story ended and this particular cliffhanger left me feeling uneasy. Overall, it is a great book I plan on sharing with my children when they are older. 5 stars!

Neophyte (The Netherwalker series) by CK Dawn

Prequel to Cloak of Shadows (The Netherwalker Series) 


Abigail Thorne hears voices. Well, one voice repeating one word over and over again. Soft and sweet with the promise of power, it calls to her. The twelve year old has no idea that the tender little word is a catalyst that serves to reveal a world hidden to most humans. Abbey has yet to discover that following the word's call to its origin will change the course of her life forever.



Abbey and her mother don't have much, and depending on the day, sometimes they don't even have a roof over their heads. She wants more out of life than just wondering where her next meal is. So she shouldn't be wasting her time daydreaming about going on a selfish quest, should she? Does she have the strength to leave behind what little she has? Will she have the courage to break through the illusions surrounding her and lift the cloak of shadows?

A Neophyte's Tale (Short Story Prequel) ~ available nowCloak of Shadows (Book 1) ~ available nowCloak of Secrets (Book 2) *Fall 2015Veil of Light (Book 3) *Spring 2016

                                *projected release

Review:

Neophyte's storyline kept me engrossed from start to finish. It doesn't give much information on the elements held within Cloak of Shadows, but delivers an interesting insight into the female protagonist's history. The mysteries ensure I'll be reading Cloak of Shadows as soon as possible. I'm also excited because I'm  hoping that these are books I can share with my children once they are older. CK Dawn writes a great prequel deserving of 5 stars! (less)