Review: The Oracle

The Oracle by Serena Akeroyd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Oracle is book two in the Revelation duet and must be read after The Consigliere. It is also the second duet (i.e book 4) in the Valentini family series and the broader Five Points Mob and Dark and Dirty Sinner MC world created by Serena Akeroyd. It is thus not recommended as a standalone book.

This is a complex world with underlying interlinkages and overlapping story threads. However, as I noted in a previous review (Filthy King), the books and the world do tend to be addictive. Similar to Filthy King, I did have an issue with the storyline. It does feel as if the book does not have a defined start (ok, maybe because it is a duet?) a middle and a defined end.

The story has the feel of an epic drama, with lots of smexy scenes, a healthy dose of spice, and a lot of threads and breadcrumbs for the other series - but I struggled with a lack of action, the lacklustre ending, Hunter being more a lover than a fighter, and the overall feel of a soap opera instalment.

But even with the criticism, the book is engaging, the writing is great and, if you read The Consigliere (the pacing and overall energy I liked more, read my Consigliere Review), you would not want to miss the ending of The Revelation duet.

Review: The Consigliere

The Consigliere by Serena Akeroyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An Epic Story that will conclude our couple’s journey with “The Oracle”

Aurora and Hunter have known each other almost their whole lives, from kindergarten through to adulthood. Apparently, shameful and distressing situations in their early adulthood were the making of a very complicated friendship. Now they hold high-ranking positions in crime families – Aurora as the Consigliere of the Cosa Nostra on the East Coast and Hunter as the Don of the Camorra on the West Coast. This is a friends-to-lovers trope but with a super twist!

Hunter, being tired of the space between him and Aurora, decides to pursue her actively. Aurora is tough and hardened, and I disliked her in the first Valentini Duet. However, Serena does a fantastic job making the reader feel all of Aurora’s grief, distress, shame, guilt, and anger. over having kinks that aren’t mainstream vanilla. These private desires are in direct contrast to her more public and work persona. Hunter is an interesting male lead who does not come across as the fierce alpha that Aurora may need. Seeing him finding his own rhythm and truth was addictive and satisfying. The dynamic between these two is both complex and deep. Each hides a private side to the world, their friends, but in my view, sometimes even to themselves.

Then we have the finely weaved tapestry of the Five Points Mob, the Dirty Sinners MC and now the Valentinis and Camorra. The plot points, the breadcrumbs, and the utter deliciousness of a dynasty in the making give this universe and thus the story an epicness I have not come across often.

Enjoy!

I am #CurrentlyReading The Consigliere by Serena Akeroyd

Sooo Excited!!!!!!

The Consigliere by Serena Akeroyd, coming August 18th!

A best friends to enemies to lovers dark mafia romance. This is Aurora and Hunter's story. 

Pre-order Now!

Amazon: www.books2read.com/Valentinithree 

Add to your Goodreads TBR:  https://bit.ly/3GAgBEl

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Review: Cooper

Cooper by Riley Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is no secret that I love Riley Edwards' books.

This is the 5th book in the Blue Team series. It can notionally be read as a standalone but you will have much better context if you have read other books in the Blue team series.

The book starts with Cooper and Kira already in a relationship. However, Cooper does not believe this will last. And when a dangerous situation slides sideways, Kira is the one to pull back.

Riley does an excellent job in writing characters that are flawed. The book contextualises emotional responses and gives us a deep dive into the feelings and insecurities of both Cooper and Kira (but also some of our secondary characters). As a reader, I am not only engaged in the story but also rooting for the characters to overcome their emotional baggage to live a full life.

Add in an Alpha hero, a strong, sassy heroine and a good dose of action (this book less so than others, given the stalker vibe), and you have an entertaining read by an author that matches technical competent writing with an emotional wallop and a good dose of laugh out loud humor. The perfect combination!

I received an ARC from ValentinePR, but this is my honest review.

Review: Filthy King

Filthy King by Serena Akeroyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You will either love it, or it will leave you cold!

Filthy King by Serena Akeroyd is the seventh book in the Five Points' Mob Collection. It is also part of the broader world that the Dark and Dirty Sinners series and the Valentini Family books inhabit.

You have to admire Serena for creating such a complex world with underlying interlinkages and overlapping story threads. The books and the world they inhabit are addictive, but after some time, it is difficult to read the newer books as standalones. I love Serena's writing style, and although her more recent books tend to be longer (and sometimes morph into duets), they do not come across as a chore to read. Thus Filthy King should not be read as a standalone. Instead, Filthy King is a continuation of Aiden Jr and Savannah's story from Filthy Hot and details how Aiden Jr adjusts to the demands as the new head of the Five Points mob.

The book is dirty and sexy, with some mystery, danger and a good dose of chess level machinations. Fans of the series will love the check-in with your favourite characters after the emotional upheaval of Filthy Secret. Do read the trigger warnings. However, this book did feel as if it did not have a start, a middle and a defined end. The somewhat cliffhanger ending is to blame, and I feel strongly that this is an unnecessary element in a series that we are all eager to continue.

If you haven't started this series, I can absolutely recommend it. However, do you have to read Dark and Dirty Sinners or even the Valentini family books? Not really. I did not proceed with the Dark and Dirty sinners (for my own reasons) and can follow the Five Points Mob collection just fine.

However, this does beg the question: should the series' become so entwined that it makes it difficult for new readers to jump in? Again, there are both pros and cons. I love a series where one couple gets a HEA in every book while there is some overarching storyline. But here, the formula has been dropped, and we are getting a soap opera level drama (with the continuous timeline of a weekly soap opera as well). For some readers, it will satisfy their craving for more of this complicated family and their love interests. For others, it may become a tad too much.

I am still looking forward to Connor's story in Filthy Feck and will continue reading the Valentini Family books. And the set-up for the Bratva books has started, so there is that to look forward to. But engaging new readers to enter this world may become more difficult as the sheer number of books may become overwhelming for some..

Review: Hero

Hero by Renee Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stellar start to a new series!

The first book in this series keeps you on the edge of your seat. We have a mystery, misunderstandings and missed chances. And of course, there is lots of steamy action and more adrenaline-pumping action as well.

An intriguing set of secondary characters rounds off the story.

Indigo is the little sister of Ford's best friend, Buck, who died in disgrace while stationed overseas. A somewhat second chance romance unfolds for Ford and Indigo. The mystery is compelling and the story scores high in terms of heat level.

I do have a couple of minor issues with the book, though. One is repetition. The motivations of the characters are repeated ad nauseam and actually don't always ring true. This brings me to my second issue. It felt as if the authors kept wrestling their characters back into the story arc they have plotted out. This meant that some of Ford and Indogo's reactions, logic and emotions did not always ring true.

These minor issues did not detract from a good story and fans of their work (and new readers) will enjoy the book.

Review: Conquered

Conquered by Riley Edwards
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An emotional read from start to finish

The 6th book in the Triple Canopy series packs an emotional wallop.

Dylan and Sawyer's story gave me a book hangover like no other. The two MCs have loads and loads of emotional baggage to work through before their HEA.

The book takes us on a journey with raw emotion, heaps of sweetness, off the charts hotness, and the comfort found in your chosen family. The action-adventure took more of a backseat in this book, but Dylan still scores very high on the protective hero chart, especially as he is protective of Sawyer's emotional well being (rather than physical well being) in this book.

Dylan has held himself apart from his colleagues and friends for a long time, sharing very little personal history and refraining from connecting emotionally. The crush between Sawyer and Dylan comes to a head but with disastrous consequences...copious amounts of alcohol, memory loss and saying the wrong thing has Dylan grovelling for redemption.

I loved the humour and chemistry of our couple, but it is the family pulling them in that is the greatest.
Read the book and you will understand how precious this quote is: "I will fight you for her." Matrons for the win...mamma bears in action.

Read my review of Tarnished, book 4 in this series here , for another glimpse into the Triple Canopy world.

Review: King of Spades

King of Spades by Alta Hensley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Tale of anti-heroes and their crazy deals, dark obsession, and a desire to possess

This book is the first in a series and does end in a cliffhanger, so be prepared. The book gives us suspense, drama, and a smidge of action. Throughout the story, there is a thread that gives the feeling of Alice in Wonderland with Nick as the mad hatter – but this is not a retelling. The main characters have sizzling chemistry, with Nick oozing seductive vibes, which our main female character, Lyriope (*I love this name!), can barely resist.

The Midnight Dynasty saga is filled with angst and inner machinations. Innuendos of the dark and bizarre abound in this story as well. Lyriope Bailey is in trouble; she is left holding the bag of a considerable debt to the Russian mob as her mother and stepfather abandons her. Her biological father, who might be a powerful man in town, wants nothing to do with a daughter born with his mistress, so help from him will not be forthcoming. Her only salvation seems to be with the mysterious but powerful man who runs Wonderland. But Nick Hudson wants something in return for saving her. Can Lyriope really pay his price?

Lyriope is a very likable character, combining a touch of reckless badass with fragility. She searches for acceptance and a place to belong, as being an illegitimate child of Bryant leaves its scars. In this first book, she begins a journey of self-discovery and awakening, proving her strength as she embraces her dark side.

The tug-of-war between our main characters became somewhat frustrating toward the end as Lyriope cannot seem to comprehend the magnitude of danger she is in. Her rash decisions get her only deeper into trouble.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review by Valentine PR

Review: Juniper Hill

Juniper Hill by Devney Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Messy shows your passion and feeling

Juniper Hill is the second book in The Edens series set in small-town, Quincy, Montana. The first book was a great romantic suspense read. My Review of Indigo Ridge is in this blog if you want to catch up on the series.

Juniper Hill has some suspense elements but much less than Indigo Ridge. It is a single parent, small-town romance where our main characters learn to trust and open themselves up to possibilities again. I love the family element of these books as it forms part of the balance and emotional security in the story.

Memphis is a single mom that arrives in Quincy for a new start. Although it is clear she is running from something, dysfunctional family dynamics being the more obvious issue, there is still some mystery lingering about her past. She is barely coping and struggling with confidence in being a new mother with no support network. Knox Eden is her reluctant landlord and eschews any entanglement with the single mother due to his own past. But sizzling chemistry and a marshmallow soft centre for a crying Drake and struggling Memphis mean that the story has an emotional slow burn that ignites spectacularly.

Both our main characters needed to face their past, their perceived mistakes and weaknesses in order to commit to the other. Devney Perry writes this transformation with sympathy in clean and concise prose. Acceptance that life is messy and that it is in the mess we see the passion of living is greatly illustrated in Knox's chef activities. A well written romance I can greatly recommend.

ARC provided via Valentine PR. This is my honest review.

Review: Sexy as Sin

Sexy as Sin by W. Winters
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Great setup, but maybe the book was too short for what could have been an excellent execution

Be aware of spoilers in other reviews!

The book has a great setup: a happy MC-Mafia couple, a raid, betrayal, prison sentence and a possible second chance. Cillian takes the fall for the MC while Kat and his best friend wait for him to get out of prison, keeping their own secrets and learning others'.

I would characterise this as a new adult romance as the imprisonment of Cillian happens at 19, and he only serves four years.

This book will disappoint if you expect the typical MC machinations or even mafia traits. Except for a garage where everyone (Cillian, his best friend Reed, his uncle and another) have get-togethers (twice), there is little of the expected MC interactions. They even spend more time in cars than on motorcycles! And except for the mention that Kat's dad was mafia, there is little in that regard. There is thus little of the usual action/suspense associated with the two genres. The two mysteries we have (the secret Kat is keeping and who the traitor is) are rather dull and predictable.

The book has excellent characterisations, and both Cillian and Kat's emotional responses to Cillian's release are well done. This redeeming feature, together with technically flawless writing, elevates the story. There is a twist at the end, one that felt forced given the space. I would have preferred this twist earlier to be more emotionally invested in it. Still a good story and worth reading if you want a short read or are a fan of W Winters.

Review: Desired

Desired by Renee Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Familiar tropes make for a comforting read

The tropes should be very familiar: runaway bride, fated mates, some other man drama. Rachel runs from a forced engagement party when her wealthy and overbearing parents conspire with a family friend against her wishes. She lands in West Springs, working at the diner. Cord is surprised to scent his fated mate. Not only is Rachel human, but unexpected as he does not have a scent mate like the other men of the Two Marks pack. Or does he? Nate is surrounded by mystery in the book, and quite a bit of tension is created by this.

The book brings some mystery, a bit of suspense and character growth for all three of our MCs. An excellent relaxing read.

The review for Tempted, the previous book in the series can be read here!

Review: Tease Me Once

Tease Me Once by W. Winters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Scorching hot BDSM romantic suspense with the perfect anti-hero

But be warned of the cliffhanger. It's a part of the Merciless world and can technically be read as a standalone, but to get the whole experience of the story, I would recommend reading the other books in this world first.

Braelynn is a new employee of Declan's exclusive club who is escaping a dangerous situation. These two have met before, and it is not long before the sizzling heat between them is undeniable. The story does involve BDSM, a D/s relationship and mild degradation.

Declan's character was a surprise. He is multifaceted, both firm but with a soft touch. Both possessive, but with a focus on open communication, he can quickly switch to a business-like attitude. Braelynn comes across as more unsure, perhaps due to her recent experiences.

The story is captivating, and you will both wail at the cliffhanger, but be glad that this story is not yet done.

ARC provided by Valentine PR. This is my honest review.

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Review: Dangerous Temptation

Dangerous Temptation by Giana Darling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Beware the darkness and taboo!

So let's satisfy the safety squad and highlight the following:
Part one of a duet, with a cliffhanger (and a short prequel (more extended prologue) as well) - which also makes rating the book a bit difficult - I will update the rating once I finish the duet if necessary.
Age gap with heroine only 17 (age of consent in NY) and hero 30
Guardian/ward, enemies to lovers tropes.

Giana has a way with words that gives a flow to her prose that is unique and compelling. This book illustrates the great use of prose.

On the characters: Bianca is both mature in certain aspects but very naive in her interactions with Tiernan. Both have emotional scars from their childhood, but Tiernan is cruel more often than not in his interactions with Bianca. However, Brando, Bianca's younger epileptic brother, brings out Tiernan's more human side. Bianca and Tiernan have loads of sexual tension, and there were good steamy scenes. But the emotional connection is slower to form, and it is here that book 2 will need to do some heavy lifting.

The side characters were entertaining and a good break for the more heavy storyline between Tiernan and Bianca.

Overall a book I can recommend.


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Review: Indigo Ridge

Indigo Ridge by Devney Perry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A murder mystery with a good touch of sizzling romance

Indigo Ridge is the first book in the Eden series, and what a great introduction to some wonderfully compelling characters. There is some introduction to the broader Eden clan as a first book, but it happens organically in the story and is thus not overpowering.

The focus in Indigo Ridge is on Winslow Covington, the new Chief of Police and granddaughter of the current mayor of Quincy, and Griffin Eden, rancher and descendant of the founding family. The two meet, both under the impression that the other is just passing through town. Their immediate sizzling attraction ends in a one night stand - with hilarious consequences when the truth is revealed.

The narrative then focuses on the possible murder mystery and suspense while the relationship between Winn and Griffin slowly progresses. I really appreciated the suspense element; the whodunnit was done excellently, and any murder mystery fans will enjoy the book just for that element. On the romance side, I enjoyed the slow progression from physical to emotional entanglement that went hand in hand with little angst. This is not to say that the character growth was lacking at all!

A great read that I would recommend for romance and suspense readers alike, even better if you are a fan of romantic suspense. Add in the small town elements and other quirky side characters, and you have a well-rounded book enjoyable for a broad audience.

ARC provided via Valentine PR. This is my honest review.

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Review: North

North by Vanessa Vale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twists and turns, suspense with a heap of hot and sexy

North is Vanessa Vale's first book in her new cowboy romance series, Billionaire Ranch.

As the blurb indicates, Jed is undercover as a disgraced FBI agent coming back home. His investigation originally targeted Macon Wainwright, North's father, who died recently. The focus of the investigation changes to North as she takes over her father's empire. With a set-up like this, we know that the lies will bring an extra dose of angst to a suspenseful read.

North hides her own secrets behind a cold facade. Keeping people at a distance and eschewing a connection with anyone to keep them safe and herself from being manipulated, Jed manages to elicit an emotional response from North. The plot and death threat storyline keeps the reader engaged as secrets are revealed. The heat level in the book is scorching with plenty of dominant alpha male clashing with our strong heroine.

As a series starter, the book is great as it leaves the reader anticipating more intrigue.

I received an ARC of this book from Valentine promotions. This review is my honest opinion.


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