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REVIEW: Betrothed To The Emperor by Kai Butler
Emperor’s Assassin: Betrothed To The Emperor – Kai Butler
I was born to kill the emperor, but first, I must marry him.
I trained as an assassin while my twin sister trained to be the empress. My life will be forfeit once I murder the most powerful man on the continent, but I have no choice. If I fail, the Imperium will consume our nation and anyone who rises against them.
Too soon, we walk into the glittering imperial court, each step taking us closer to the dangerous man on the black throne, my sister’s future husband, the newly crowned Emperor of the Southern Imperium. Emperor Tallu has more spies than fish in the sea. He poisoned his own father to secure the golden crown.
When his sharp eyes skim over us, they don’t catch on my sister. They land on me, his killer.
“I choose you, Prince Airón of the Northern Kingdom. You will be my consort.” Tallu’s smile is mirthless. “Or I will reduce your entire nation to ashes.”
Betrothed to the Emperor ends with more story to tell, but the characters end on a HFN.
Betrothed To The Emperor opens Kai Butler’s epic Emperor’s Assassin series with a riveting blend of court intrigue, assassination plots, and enemies-to-lovers romance
Prince Airon and his twin sister arrive at the Southern Imperium intending for the princess to wed Emperor Tallu. Instead, Tallu shocks them by choosing Airon. Trained from birth as an assassin, Airon suddenly finds himself betrothed to his target. Yet Tallu proves far more complex than expected, revealing secrets that upend Airon’s mission.
I dove in blind—simply because Michael Ferraiuolo was narrating—and devoured the entire audiobook in one sitting. I was so engrossed I even listened while working (don’t tell my boss).
Fantasy is a tough read for my lazy reader brain because I have to deal with clunky descriptions. Here, the world-building seamlessly set the customs, culture, dress, and court of the Southern Imperium in the narrative with minimal info-dump.
The Southern Imperium is vaguely Chinese-inspired, the court brimming with ritual gestures of respect. Magic is present, and mages from the imperium, including the emperor, are able to generate lightning, which they use for combat. Other lands that the imperium has conquered have air mages and other types of magic exist.
Airon is from the Northern Kingdom, a snow-covered land reminiscent of Siberia. The Northerners fought hard for their independence, and their fighting style is designed to counter the electromages of the South.
The story is in Airon POV and seeing the court through his perspective heightens the intrigue. There is a constant feeling of anticipation and a sense of mystery. His conflicted attraction to Tallu fueled the tension, while court politics and the emperor’s hidden motives kept me guessing.
I love seemingly cold characters showing subtle hints of feelings that run deep. Tallu himself is an enigma—aloof yet quietly tender to Airon, his rare gestures carrying squee-tastic Mariana Trench–level depth. I loved the emperor so much! He absolutely made the book for me!
One of my favorites is during the wedding preparation, where Airon’s maids were arranging his hair. It’s a Southern Imperium custom for the groom to give his intended jewels for their hair, the number of pieces reflecting the feelings. Tallu giving Airon an entire jewelry box full of gems for his hair hit me straight in the kokoro!
“Because what you are is valuable. You are a treasure… and I am Emperor of the Southern Imperium. I know how to treat treasure.”
Though attraction sparks instantly, the romance simmers, teasing us with a delicious will-they-or-won’t-they dance. The slow burn perfectly amplifies the chemistry, making each revelation more impactful. They might be born enemies but I loved how they are at their best when they are together, an alliance that will change the fate of the world.
The book ends with a cliffhanger. Kai Butler did a spectacular job introducing Tallu and Airon and giving us exciting threads to follow for the next installments. Grabbing Book 2 now!
Overall, Betrothed To The Emperor is a story of known enemies and unlikely allies. The gripping plot, the captivating, hella swoony romance, the characters I rooted hard for, and the fact that I couldn’t put the book down made this a solid 5 imperial stars!
Rating:
5 Stars – absolutely perfectSoundtrack: Risk
Artist: Deftones
Album: Diamond Eyes
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REVIEW: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
Vitale Brothers: End It All by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow
What do you do when your only way out is to join a family you never knew existed?
I’m not well behaved, that’s a given. But meeting the Vitale’s puts my life into perspective. They’re everything I’ve longed for; rich, adventurous, fearless, and close. Really close.
This is supposed to be my family too.
So why do I feel like an outsider?
I have no choice except to fit in because I can’t go back home. Not when I’m on the run…
Amidst the chaos of a cooling war, a family struggle, and the law nipping at my heels, I meet Quincy. Bold, crazy, and hot as a five alarm fire.This man is the grand red flag of all red flags, but then again so am I.
And I’ve always loved to play with fire.
The fifth book in the Vitale Brothers series. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best read in order. HEA guaranteed. Make sure to check out the TWs.
End It All is the fifth book in the gritty, addictive Vitale Brothers mafia romance series by Brea Alepou & Skyler Snow. The Vitale clan may be a chaotic mix of half-brothers, but under Benito’s leadership, they remain fiercely loyal and endlessly entertaining.
The 5th Vitale brother is Blake Moreno, who only recently discovered he’s a Vitale after a botched bank heist turned him into a fugitive. Sent to New York to his father Cesare for protection, Blake meets his brothers for the first time, who were just as surprised to learn about his identity.
Not yet trusting Blake but still willing to protect his youngest brother, Benito (Say I Do) assigns Quincy Adachi, Harlow’s best friend and former bodyguard, to keep Blake in line. Blake and Quincy immediately got off on the wrong foot.
Blake kept trying to run away, and Quincy unerringly tracks his ass wherever he goes. Forced proximity did its magic because they might hate each other, but it didn’t stop them from jumping each other’s bones.
Blake is a semi-wild spitfire, not yet full-on Vitale like Gin, Enzo, or even Paolo. He’s street-smart but really naive. He has a stupid tendency to run away from the person protecting him when he’s supposed to be in New York for his protection.
Quincy is a dominant, alpha-as-hell power bottom who matches Blake’s arson-loving ferocity with his own daredevil antics. Quincy is Harlow’s best friend after all, and only someone as bloodthirsty as him could keep up with a psycho like Harlow.
Together, Blake and Quincy’s chemistry is equal parts volatile and magnetic. Blake’s rebellious streak and Quincy’s relentless dominance make for a fiery clash. Their dynamic was entertaining, with lots of sharp banter, flirty provocations, and cute nicknames. Quincy calling Blake “baby girl” tickled me pink every time because Blake is so precious and bratty, even if he tops.
The best part of the book is the Vitale family themselves, their outrageous antics, dark humor, and twisted brand of love. From Gin’s absurd schemes and his possessive devotion to Ash to Benito and Harlow’s stab-happy foreplay, the brothers never fail to entertain. Paolo and York got parenthood down to a science, and Enzo and Tex are joined at the hips. Loved seeing the Vitale “wives” joining forces and welcoming Quincy to the fold.
I thought the series would end with Paolo and York’s book, Never Say Never. Half of me thinks Blake and Quincy’s story was unnecessary, the plot not really bringing anything new to the table, and the romance is less intense as the previous books. While still dark and humorous enough for a Vitale, this is the weakest installment of the series.
It did give us a lead-up to Cesare’s book, which I also have mixed feelings about. Cesare welcomes Blake with open arms, but the brothers frequently warn Blake that the old man cannot be trusted. Blake agrees, runs away, then foolishly returns to Cesare.
Daddy Vitale’s motives are suspect throughout the entire series, so redeeming him in the 6th book might be a stretch. I’m not sure if I could root for Cesare, given how villainous he was. Also, it’s going to be an age gap romance. We have enough of that already. Give us old men yaoi instead!
End It All is a story of family ties and baby criminals. While not hitting the same highs as the rest of the series, overall, it sets the stage for biggest battle ahead. In the Vitale world, loyalty is blood-deep, betrayal is inevitable—and sometimes, ending it all is the only way to begin again.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Alive In New Light
Artist: IAMX
Album: Alive In New LightP.S.
Vitale Brothers can be read as standalone but each brother is a force of nature.
Take Me Apart is the raw intensity of Enzo.
Paid In Full is the wild insatiability of Gin
Say I Do is the nuclear explosion of Benito.
Never Say Never is the chaotic mayhem of Paolo.
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SERIES REVIEW: Merciless & Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings Books 4 & 5) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine
Park Avenue Kings: Merciless by Ella Frank & Brook Blaine
Who are we? Nobody really knows. We’re the seven most powerful heirs to empires, ruling Manhattan from our thrones on Park Avenue. By day, we’re the elite, untouchable, and more connected than you could ever imagine. By night, we revel in the darkness of our secrets, pulling strings that make the city bow to our whims.
Ruthless.
Dangerous.
We’re the Park Avenue Kings.
He was sent to watch me. Now he can’t look away.
They sent the president’s son to babysit me.
How precious.
Shepherd “Shep” Winchester III thinks he’s here to keep me in line—keep me quiet, keep me still, keep me safe.
Good luck with that.
I’m Theodore “Theo” Rinaldi, the youngest Prince of Monaco, and the most merciless of the Park Avenue Kings. And I don’t do obedient. Not for my royal family. Not for the crown. And definitely not for the suit King sent to shadow me.
Shep is all discipline and duty.
I’m chaos in a custom suit.
We clash. We combust.
And then we cross a line we can’t uncross.
Now there’s a blackmailer on our trail, a target on my back, and the Kings think I’m the traitor. But if they want to come for me, they’ll have to get through him.
Because the soldier with the perfect posture and the unreadable eyes?
He’s not just protecting me anymore.
He’s falling for me.
And I’m going to ruin him for it.
Merciless (Park Avenue Kings #4) is the first book in a duet within the Park Avenue Kings series. Ruthless (Park Avenue Kings #5) will be the continuation.
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Mercy
Artist: IAMX
Album: Kiss + Swallow
Park Avenue Kings: Ruthless by Brooke Blaine & Ella Frank
They called him America’s golden son.
Now he’s the man who’d burn the world for a prince.
When Prince Theodore Rinaldi vanishes, Shepard “Shep” Winchester III will do anything to bring him back.
What starts as a mission of duty ignites into a forbidden obsession—one that blurs every line between loyalty and love.
Back in New York, the Kings are under attack, their secrets exposed, their brotherhood fractured.
And when an attempt on Theo’s life plays out in front of flashing cameras, the world sees what they were never meant to: a touch too intimate, a look too raw.
Shep is the son of American power.
Theo is European royalty.
And in a world built on loyalty, betrayal, and lies, love might be the most ruthless act of all.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Ruthless
Artist: Allegra Jordyn
Album: Ruthless
Merciless and Ruthless is a duet in Park Avenue Kings, the spectacular contemporary romance series by acclaimed duo Ella Frank and Brook Blaine. The Kings are a secret brotherhood of vigilante billionaires known as Libertine, led by Tyrone Kingston— the “King.”
Our Kings this week are Prince Theodore Rinaldi of Monaco and Shepherd O’Neale Winchester III, son of a former U.S. president. Best friends turned lovers after Theo’s brother’s royal wedding, Theo and Shep’s bond is tested by the meddling King, Shep’s ex, despite having two boyfriends (Park Avenue Princes). Theo becomes a target after a suspicious bombing video surfaces. He and Shep were in a safehouse in Brazil when Theo was abducted.
Merciless is certainly more intense, bursting with sexual tension as Shep and Theo explore their new dynamic. Theo is chaotic and impulsive, while Shep is steady and protective. Their chemistry is explosive, Theo pushes boundaries, Shep dominates, and both alphas aren’t afraid to switch roles.
Theo is full of crazy antics, and Shep couldn’t help but be drawn to him, his protective instincts going on overdrive. I loved how they played off each other, their push-and-pull sparking irresistible heat. The only thing missing is Theo being merciless when he was really just impulsive.
After a heart-stopping cliffhanger, Ruthless opens with Shep’s frantic search for the missing Theo in the Amazon. I thought this would take up most of the plot, given the blurb, but the two reunited soon after, and the rest of the plot focused on the search for the blackmailer theatening Libertine.
This was also not King’s finest moment, having abandoned Theo when he was abducted, and fractures appear among the brotherhood. Also, I’m not impressed with how he pretends everything is fine until Theo demands an apology and has to throw a tantrum before King would do so. Alesso is under a lot of stress, leading up to his book, which I’m excited about.
The villain takedown was rushed. I was hoping for more details on this part of the mission. There was a big deal about Alesso having a hard time finding the bad guy who was supposedly smart, only for said bad guy to do something dumb in public.
Romance-wise, this part of the duet is more dramatic but also sweeter and swoonier. Theo and Shep lost no time making it official with not one but two celebrations that couldn’t be more different but equally ridiculously romantic! They have some of the most squee-tastic moments, and the books delivered the feels they promised.
Merciless and Ruthless is a sizzling duet of danger, brotherhood, and royal weddings where a prince and a president’s son come together in chaos and passion. Overall, mercilessly thrilling, ruthlessly swoony!
P.S.
Park Avenue Kings is best read in order. Each King is gorgeous and deadly.
Savage is Lachlan, shadowy and dangerous.
Devilish is Lucien, temptation incarnate.
Immoral is Benoit, utterly seductive and captivating.
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MERCILESS: Amazon UK | Audiobook
RUTHLESS: Amazon UK | AudiobookIf you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
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REVIEW: The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder
Unlikely Dilemmas: The Unlikely Pair – Jax Calder
What happens when you find yourself stranded in the wilderness with your political enemy?
Getting stranded in the freezing wilderness with my archenemy wasn’t on today’s to-do list. But somehow, that’s where I’ve ended up.
Harry Matheson, my political rival, has always been smarmy, arrogant, and entitled. It figures that even this plane crash has barely ruffled his well-coiffed hair.
It’s all fine, though, because our pilot has gone to call for help and rescue should be imminent.
Fast forward a few frigid hours…
Umm…maybe it’s not so fine, because it appears our pilot is part of an international terrorist group intent on kidnapping us.
Now Harry and I have to flee through the wilderness—together.
Unfortunately, being adept at political debates and parliamentary procedures doesn’t exactly prepare you for the basics of finding food, keeping warm, and evading the local wildlife while playing high-stakes hide-and-seek with armed terrorists.
The only way Harry and I have any hope of surviving is to stick together.
The problem is, the line separating hate and love has begun to blur, and the last thing I need is to fall for my enemy.
The Unlikely Pair is an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a romp through the political wilderness where hearts, quite literally, go off the beaten path.
The Unlikely Pair is a fantastic follow‑up to Jax Calder’s contemporary romance series Unlikely Dilemmas. It stars bitter political rivals Toby Webley of the Labour Party and Harry Matheson of the Conservative Party.
Toby, best friend to former Prime Minister–turned–Prince Consort Oliver Hartwell (The Unlikely Heir), ends up on a flight to Norway with Harry for a climate convention. When the plane crashes, the two find themselves stranded in the Finnish wilderness.
Forced to rely on each other to survive brutal temperatures and dense forest, they take shelter in an isolated cabin and learn everything from fishing to chopping wood to setting snares. With only one bed, sharing body heat becomes a necessity then a pleasure— even if their political views remain irreconcilable.
I love my enemies‑to‑lovers romances intense, and this one is chef’s kiss! The tension sizzles, the snark is razor‑sharp, and the banter is hilarious. The cherry on top of this delightful treat is the decade-long secret pining simmering beneath all that mutual loathing.
The forced proximity is a fabulous, shifting from survival cuddles to casual cuddles as they go from barely civil to domestic. I’m not a fan of wilderness‑survival scenes, so those parts dragged a bit for me, but Toby and Harry’s chemistry kept things exciting. They were a joy to read!
Making a politician — especially a Tory — a likable romantic lead is no small feat, but Jax Calder pulls it off. Harry shines here in ways that contrast beautifully with his portrayal in the first book, revealing layers Toby, and me, can’t help but find appealing.
Their evolution from enemies to lovers is handled with such natural, deft progression that I was completely sold. The author pulled out all the stops in the climactic Parliament scene, and my heart just burst with happiness! The epilogue is ridiculously cute!
One niggle, though, the part of the group responsible for the plane crash was basically handwaved away. Maybe it’s a set up to Book 3, but I thought they would have been more concerned about it.
The Unlikely Pair is a feel-good story of politics, survival, and slow-burn romance where opposing views and mutual attraction make for compelling bedfellows. Overall, most likely to win your vote!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Strange Bedfellows
Artist: Michael Sarcona
Album: VerityP.S.
Unlikely Dilemmas books can be read as standalones but the Prince of Wales is inviting you to tea.
Witness Callum charm the prime minister and the rest of Britain in The Unlikely Heir.
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THE UNLIKELY PAIR: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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REVIEW: The Unlikely Heir by Jax Calder
Unlikely Dilemmas: The Unlikely Heir – Jax Calder
What happens when the Prince of Wales falls in love with the Prime Minister?
My boring life working in an insurance call center in sunny California just took an unexpected turn. Thanks to my misbehaving relatives, I’ve leapt from obscurity to royalty as the new heir to the British throne.
But my welcome in England is about as warm as the weather. I arrive to discover a country horrified at the thought of an American version of Prince Charming and ready to revolt against the monarchy. I vow to my grandmother, the Queen, that I will do everything possible to help her save the crown.
Unfortunately, royal life isn’t easy. From bewildering traditions, traitorous friends, and malevolent swans, the only thing I’m succeeding in is providing entertainment for the tabloids and social media trolls.
And then the broodingly handsome Prime Minister, Oliver Hartwell, bursts into my life.
With his meteoric rise from poverty to the most powerful man in the country, Oliver understands my current plight. Innocent messages of support turn into late-night chats—and unexpected feelings.
But there’s one major problem. The royal family must remain politically neutral at all times.
So how can I keep my promise to save the monarchy when I’m falling in love with the Prime Minister?
A forbidden romance filled with humor and drama featuring a bumbling Prince of Wales and a stern yet dashing Prime Minister, with a love that could transform a nation.
The Unlikely Heir opens Jax Calder’s delightful contemporary romance series Unlikely Dilemmas with a fresh and intriguing premise: a clumsy, half-American prince suddenly thrust into the British throne and falls in love with the Prime Minister.
Callum Prescott is the son of the youngest prince, who suddenly found himself the new Prince of Wales after an unprecedented incident in which his royal uncles and cousins were arrested. He’s notorious for awkward mishaps splashed across headlines. Yet his warm personality and ability to connect with people are slowly earning him grudging approval among the British
Lonely and out of place, Callum was befriend by Prime Minister Oliver Hartwell — a friendship that blossoms into forbidden love. The stakes couldn’t be higher. The monarchy must remain politically neutral, and a romance between prince and prime minister risks not just scandal but the crown itself. This tension drives the story, making their dilemma both unique and compelling. So I was very invested in seeing how this would be resolved.
Callum is wonderfully quirky with his tendency to blurt out obscure facts, laugh at himself, and roll with whatever humiliating situation life throws at him. Oliver, captivated by these quirks, brings balance with his steadiness and sense of humor. Their chemistry is irresistible, their connection was super cute and fluffy, and so wholesome, it was a complete joy to read! I finished it in one sitting.
There was much ado about their dilemma; the prince and the prime minister both love their jobs. The simplest solution for me was to wait out Oliver’s term and not run again, since we can’t just remove the crown with all the weight of history and tradition behind it. But that is boring and not rom-com worthy.
We got to have something grand, and the book gave us a bombastic climax, something heartstopping and heroic, and Callum being Callum, very dramatic! Some parts were on an OTT soap opera level of implausibility, but I was living for the fairy tale!
The Unlikely Heir is a sweet and humorous story of the crown, politics, and forbidden love, where a quirky half-American Prince of Wales captivated the prime minister and the rest of the country. It presents a very interesting dilemma and a high-stakes resolution. Overall, very much likely to charm you!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: The Golden Throne
Artist: Temples
Album: Sun Structures
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REVIEW: Kill Your Darlings by Josh Lanyon
Kill Your Darlings – Josh Lanyon
At this mystery conference, murder is more than just another plot twist…
Nobody likes conferences, but they’re part of the job.
Millbrook House senior editor Keiran Chandler has spent years curating the best voices in crime lit, but when an unsolicited manuscript is handed to him at the Noir at the Shore mystery conference, truth collides with fiction. I Know What You Did is more than just another slush pile submission—it’s a direct threat.
U.N. Owen seems to know what really happened in Steeple Hill all those years ago. Who is Owen? How does he know these things? Clearly the mysterious author is after more than a book deal. But what?
With a potentially career-ending publishing merger on the horizon, the end of his affair with bestselling author and former homicide detective Finn Scott, and not so subtle threats from someone in his past, Keiran has a lot bigger problems than coming up with something witty to say on discussion panels.
I’d always heard the phrase “Kill your darlings” and took it literally so I had to google what it actually means. As Masterclass.com explains, it’s the writer’s ruthless art of cutting beloved but unnecessary storylines, characters, or sentences for the sake of the bigger picture.
In Josh Lanyon’s Kill Your Darlings, I’m still figuring out what those “darlings” are. The novel is a meta-heavy murder mystery featuring Keiran Chandler, a senior editor at a publishing house about to be acquired. At a mystery conference, tensions flare between editors from his current and future employers. True to Josh Lanyon’s style, the book is filled with cameos from other series, commentary on crime fiction, publishing politics, and of course—murders.
I loved the rare glimpse into traditional publishing. It’s unsurprisingly cutthroat, but seeing it through an editor’s eyes rather than a writer’s felt fresh. Keiran, respected and experienced, faces conflicting feelings about his career as rival editors circle, writers are poached, and the merger looms. At 40, he wonders if it’s too late to start over.
The conference scenes were fun, with panels featuring mystery writers who solve real-life cases. Familiar faces like Christopher Holmes (Holmes & Moriarty) , Adrien English (The Adrien English Mysteries), and Kit’s husband, JX Moriarty appear, alongside side characters offering high-falutin opinions on crime fiction that went over my head.
The real twist is Keiran’s past, and a long-ago crime Keiran was an accessory to. It came biting him in the ass in the form of blackmail through a manuscript detailing a fictionalized account of a murder Keiran was involved at just 17. This had him visiting his hometown, resurrecting old ghosts, and unearthing secrets, blurring the line between fiction and reality
I’ve always wished mysteries featured other crimes apart from murder or missing persons. So even though murder is involved, I enjoyed how the plot focused more on finding the blackmailer and how everything relates to Keiran’s tragic past. The details of the crime are already known, including the murderer, who disappeared.
As with the way of stories, everything came full circle, but I wasn’t impressed when the resolution was to literally throw things in the trash. But this is also romance, and we wouldn’t have our HEA otherwise.
The romance is classic Josh Lanyon: a second-chance romance with past hookups, mutual pinings, a bisexual single dad, and an emotionally closed-off love interest. To shake things up, Keiran, the narrator, is the emotionally distant one while Finn Scott, writer and ex-cop, wears his heart on his sleeve. While not ground-breaking, they were a worthy addition to the author’s roster.
There are books about books, but Kill Your Darlings is a book about the publishing books. Perhaps an homage and a critique, it captures the joys and woes of the people who work behind the scenes. That there was a real-life mystery in their midst is just another reminder that fiction and reality often blur in the publishing world. Overall, an insightful, and intriguing story that cuts deep in fiction and in truth.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Kill Your Darlings
Artist: Mesh
Album: Kill Your Darlings
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REVIEW: Banded Together by K.C. Burn
Banded Together – K.C. Burn
Punk’s not dead, but it’s time to redefine life.
Devlin Waters thought he’d have music forever. But the tragic death of his best friend ended the twenty-year run of his punk band, Negative Impression. Unable to process the loss, Devlin distances himself from everyone and everything that reminds him of the band. But forty-one is too young to curl up and wait for the end. In a search for a second career, he finds himself at university with a bunch of kids young enough to be… his kids. His sexy archeology professor, however, makes Devlin think about life beyond his grief….
Dr. Jack Johnson does not appreciate Devlin’s lack of respect, his inability to be serious, or his chronic lateness. Worse, he hates that he’s attracted to a student. When he realizes Devlin is the rock star he crushed on in his youth, he drops his guard—against his better judgment.
Before they can move forward together, Jack must admit to Devlin that he’s not only an admirer, but he also sings in a cover band. How will Devlin react to his ultimate fanboy when his own music has died?
I had to grab this, how could I not?
Banded Together by K.C. Burn stars band vocalist Devlin Waters, grieving the death of his best friend and bandmate, Trent. The two are the founding members of the goth punk industrial band Negative Impression. Devlin, also the bassist, is known as Blade; Trent, the lead guitarist, is Reaver (loved the nod to Nine Inch Nails!); their drummer and rhythm guitarist are Dragon and Moth.
With the band on indefinite hiatus, Dev is going back to school for a second career. It so happens that in his Archeology 101, the professor, Dr. Jack Johnson, is cute, uptight, and grumpy, and Dev just had to push his buttons.
Jack is infuriated with the cocky, always late Dev, who got under his skin. Only for Jack to discover, this Devlin Waters is THE Devlin Waters a.k.a. Blade, vocalist of his all-time favorite band and ultimate crush.
It’s very rare to read stories of rock stars embarking on second careers. So rare that this is my first time reading about it. Dev goes back to college and finds that he enjoys his classes, especially Archaeology 101.
It helps that his professor is not only attractive but is passionate about the subject. Only Dr. Jack is intentionally making the class as boring as possible to weed out dabblers who think they are the next Indiana Jones. Apparently, Indiana Jones is a terrible archaeologist. Something I found hilarious since I wanted to be Indiana Jones when I grew up.
Usually, I steer clear of teacher/student romances, as I found real-life examples to be iffy because they frequently involve middle-aged persons preying on impressionable teenagers. The story fortunately avoids the cradle robbing, with Devlin being 41 years old and Jack younger at 34. This is also a rare look at the life of a mature student who had to deal with classmates old enough to be his children.
Devlin’s cool confidence and shameless flirtations hide a broken man who literally couldn’t face the music and his remaining band members, the grief too intense, the memories too painful. It also doesn’t hide the fact that he could be an ass, especially to Jack, who secretly bears the trauma of a one-night stand from years ago that Devlin doesn’t remember.
The romance is a rollercoaster! The highs are hopeful and sweet, with scenes of open conversations, humorous banter, and comfort food. The lows are angsty and incredibly raw, where band-aids are ripped off wounds that barely healed, and Dev walks off to escape his overwhelming feelings, which is frustrating as hell!
The healing took time, and so Jack and Dev slow-burned their way through Archeology 101, drunken sleepovers, painful revelations, and eventually, acceptance and happier memories of Trent. While the book is easy to read, it is also very emotional and heartbreaking. I wasn’t impressed with Devlin’s attitude at first, but he was willing to change. Ultimately, his journey with Jack was very rewarding, and it was a well-deserved, hard-won HEA.
My favorite part is Jack’s other secret, Crimson Corrosion, a tribute band to Negative Impression. I loved how this part brings the story full circle in a tribute that is intensely personal, cathartic, and intimate, even with an audience. If I were in the audience, I would have tears streaming down my face too!
Banded Together is a story about second chances and healing. It is a rare glimpse into the lives of mature rockstars starting over, and a heartfelt exploration of grief, growth, and the redemptive power of love. Overall, a cacophony of emotions that leaves a lasting impression!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Gave Up
Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: Broken
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REVIEW: Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon by Silvana Falcon
Supernatural Suckers: Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon by Silvana Falcon
Hell’s most incompetent demon meets Earth’s most hopeless romantic.
All Ethan wanted was someone who could help him find love—or at least someone to pop his cherry. A spell from an odd book he found at the library promised him a wish from Cupid. Sure, some of the ingredients weren’t easy to get, but he could improvise. Was there really that much difference between dried laurel leaves and coriander?
He never meant to summon a demon.
Malphas hasn’t been to Earth in a hundred years, not since he accidentally created a massively successful support group for gamblers and saved hundreds of souls from damnation. As punishment, he’s stuck in Hell’s archives filing dusty prophecies because his boss is convinced he’s incapable of being properly evil.
When Ethan’s summoning yanks him topside, he sees his chance to prove himself. He’ll make a deal with the human—and collect that blindingly bright soul.
All he has to do is to help Ethan get together with his crush.
What could possibly go wrong?
Low angst, high comedy m/m romance. HEA guaranteed, no break-ups, no cheating.
Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon is the first book of the paranormal rom-com series, Supernatural Suckers, by Silvana Falcon.
The demon in question is Malphas, notorious for botched soul collection jobs, which often ended up helping his targets escape damnation. Once, he helped a priest create an orphanage, and another time, he suggested that a gambler seek fellow gamblers, thus inventing the concept of a support group.
One day, he was summoned by Ethan, a librarian and incurable romantic who thought he was summoning Cupid. The plot follows Ethan as he struggles to overcome his social anxiety so he can impress his crush. The man had a rather hopeless crush on a fellow librarian and was trying to muster the courage to talk to him. Ethan agreed to hand over his soul in exchange for losing his virginity to the man he loves.
Mal’s magic backfires, revealing Ethan’s crush is not what he hoped for. As Mal and Ethan spend more time together, feelings grow, but they can’t be together without risking Ethan’s precious soul—something Mal is determined to protect.
Mal is a cinnamon roll demon who tries so hard to be evil. Ethan is a book nerd and quite naive. They spent their time watching Netflix and eating ice cream. Now and then, they talk about the contract and how Ethan can win over his crush. It’s all very cozy and fluffy!
The world-building is hilarious! Hell is literally corporate hell, full of triplicate multi-page paperwork, asshole co-workers, and meetings about meetings. Mal is frequently called to his boss’s office to be yelled at, then bullied by a senior soul collection specialist. When he landed a prime contract, a.k.a. collecting the pure soul of Ethan, he was given a warning not to lose such a valuable soul or else he’d be doomed to an eternity of team-building in the deepest pits of hell.
The story is also a poke at book genres. Ethan lives for romance books while his crush is a literary snob with aspirations to be a published author. Ethan is intimidated and awed by his crush’s intellect and frankly pretentious proclamations about his favorite literary fiction. Ethan secretly found the book boring but had to pretend to like it, something he failed at spectacularly when it was revealed he really likes romance stories.
And since we’re being meta, this book would be the kind of book Ethan would adore. It’s cute and cheestastic, cozy and swoony, with a sweet nerdy hero, a protective adoring love interest, and a hard-won, ridiculously romantic happy ending. Granted, there is some Deus ex machina hand-waving in the resolution, but it is still satisfying and much deserved!
Overall, Hell’s Most Incompetent Demon is a story of infernal contracts and incurable goodness. Light-hearted and hella fun, it does what rom-com does best: lift the spirits and make you smile!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Inner Light
Artist: Autograf & Dan Soleil
Album: Inner Light
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REVIEW: Green Ravens by A.E. Via
Ravens: Green Ravens – A.E. Via
They erased their memories, rewrote their names, and made them beasts. Now, the hunt for vengeance begins.
Chief Aiken Oakley and Chief Styles Sawyer—two of the US Navy’s most elite Special Warfare Combatant-craft officers—vanished after their mission was ambushed in South America and later presumed MIA.
Captured by the Raven’s organization, a covert assassin program, Oakley and Sawyer are stripped of their past, their memories, and even their names.
They are subjected to inhumane experimentation and injected with predator DNA that transform them into primal, lethal weapons… and are now known only as Valor and Zorion.After breaking free from the program’s control, Valor and Zorion train themselves to master the beasts within them—pushing their minds, bodies, and instincts to the edge.
But to take down the corrupt organization, they’ll need more than strength, fury and an appetite for revenge. They’ll have to form uneasy alliances with the two other deadly Raven units—the strategic, silent Browns, and the ruthless, unpredictable Blacks.
Together, these assassins must unite against the program that created them… and destroy it before it creates something worse.
Black, Brown, and Green Ravens… The organization turned them into weapons, and now they’ve come back for war.
Green Ravens is the second book of the spectacular sci-fi military series Ravens by A.E. Via. The Ravens are genetically enhanced super assassins created by a black ops military program.
Each team is identified by color. The first Ravens were the Blacks, Ex, and Meridian, who have gone rogue. They teamed up with the Browns, Grace, and Mirage, who also broke free as soon as they realized the program director had his own nefarious agenda.
The third team are the Greens, former Navy officers Chief Aiken Oakley and Chief Styles Sawyer. As Navy officers, they worked together on a mission that quickly went tits up, leaving the two to fend for their lives in the Amazon.
They came upon the secret Ravens encampment, and what they thought was a rescue turned out to be a genetic experiment nightmare for both. Now reborn as Valor and Zorion, they have enhanced animal abilities from the spliced DNAs of the Amazon’s apex predators. They just have to bide their time and escape from the insidious grasp of the program director who wants to turn them into mindless killing machines.
A.E. Via outdid herself with this latest installment! Fast-paced and tightly written with a masterful blend of swoon, action, and suspense, Valor and Zorion are your deadly alpha super soldiers and sweet, soulful yearning lovers.
Valor, with the DNA of the jaguar, is dominant, territorial, and protective of Zorion. Zorion has the DNA of the hawk, the natural enemy of the jaguar. Instead of clashing, the bond between the two men remained unbreakable.
Echoes of their mutual attraction in past lives resonate with the magnetic pull of the present, a connection that transcended trauma and amnesia. It’s so unspeakably romantic! And if that’s not squee-tastic enough, we have Valor and Zorion constantly cuddling for that hurt comfort magic!
We have been teased by The Order in Black and Brown, a super-secret society of righteous assassins. Here, we see more of the inner workings of The Order, helping train the Greens, taking down the bad guys, and reworking the Ravens program. The high-octane action scenes were thrilling! I’d love to see them on screen. From Shaolin martial arts to high-tech weaponry, the Greens are on top of their game!
I think the only things missing are detailed sensory descriptions of sight and smell. I wished the author leaned more towards the animal abilities and made Valor and Zorion just a little bit more feral. But giving them hawk and jaguar pets were cool.
I loved the concept of the Cherished, which is what The Order members call the other half of their souls. This is essentially what the Ravens are to each other, and I loved how the author portrayed the trust, loyalty, and love between the couples. With Valor and Zorion, there is a certain vulnerability and coziness to their dynamics, a constant warmth and refreshing lack of antagonism that made them stand out among the Ravens.
The secret society is a badass addition to the already fascinating world of the Ravens. The world-building is fantastic, providing enough details to create a complete picture without info-dumping. The appearances of the Blacks and Browns are cherries on top of an already richly concocted treat, and this series is now my top favorite from the author.
Green Ravens is a story of defiance and vengeance, of remaking and undoing. Equal parts a tender romance and a gripping sci-fi military story, this novel delivers compelling characters, high-stakes action, and heartfelt relationships. Overall, immersive, emotional, and intense as a trek through the Amazon!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Savage
Artist: Vowless
Album: SavageP.S.
Ravens is best read in order.
Ex Meridian – I’m sorry but Ex and Meridian had me gushing! Technically part of the Nothing Special series.
Black and Brown – Grace and Mirage speaking volumes in their silence gave me life!
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REVIEW: Stay In Your Lane! by Cari Z. & L.A. Witt
Stay In Your Lane! – Cari Z. & L.A. Witt
The tasks are simple. Everett Mulligan is there to collect the body. Kyle Bowman is there to clean up the scene. Easy peasy. Get in, get out, get gone.
But Everett, for all he can be on another planet with fourteen tabs open in his brain, isn’t stupid like the cops think he is. Something about this death scene isn’t sitting right, and he’s going to figure it out. Bonus? He gets to team up with the adorkable crime-scene cleanup guy to solve the mystery.
Kyle, ever the thorough and detail-oriented cleaner, can’t ignore the scene’s irregularities either. He also can’t ignore the seriously attractive himbo from the mortuary who insists they should work together to solve what the cops insist isn’t a crime. Especially when that himbo is also enamored with Kyle’s cats and fiercely determined to make friends with his cranky piranha, Steve.
There’s a reason this death isn’t being treated as a homicide, though, and there are people who are very motivated to keep it that way.
And they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the pair of amateur sleuths from uncovering the truth.
Stay in Your Lane! by the acclaimed writer duo Cari Z. and L.A. Witt shines the spotlight on the unsung heroes of crime scene investigations: the cleaners and the morticians. All too often overlooked, the focus is often on the detectives and the forensics; these underdogs handle all the nitty-gritty bits, a.k.a. the dirty work, literally.
What happens when they see something that the police and forensics have missed? Everett Mulligan, the mortician, and Kyle Bowman, crime scene cleaner, found out the hard way that sometimes investigators see what they want to see or, in this case, unsee.
And the powers that be want them to stay in their lane or else…
Oooh, this is fun!
The romance developed so cutely alongside their investigation. Everett, whose brain and mouth go a mile a minute, wouldn’t let the issue of an unsolved murder rest. He found a kindred soul in Kyle, the sassy cleaner whose pet piranhas and cats Everett is crazy about. Joined at the hip, they quickly bond over crime and pets, a geeky power couple of crime scene cleaning.
These do-gooding dorks embarked on their quest to collect evidence that the suicide of the ex-con was actually a murder, so they could persuade the police to investigate. The chilling way the powers that be tried to hush things up hinted that this conspiracy goes all the way to the top. The bad guys were pretty obvious, like faceless cannon fodder for a John Wick movie, just there to do bad things when Kyle and Everett were rattling a few cages.
The fluffy romance led to suspenseful escapes, car chases, and a climax that was equal parts bombastic and hilarious! My favorite part is how they frequently meet at a diner, Waffles?, home to misfits such as conspiracy theory wackos and anti-establishment goth kids. It was only fitting that the big showdown happened there. The scenes at the diner were a riot!
Stay In Your Lane! is an entertaining blend of rom-com, murder mystery thriller, and sharp social commentary. Humorous and suspenseful, it also paints a vivid picture of the consequences of challenging the status quo. Overall, a funny and insightful story that lingers after one dares to step out of line.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Color Outside The Lines
Artist: Chris Colby
Album: II
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STAY IN YOUR LANE!: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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