Magic in the Moonlight

We’re back today with Magic in the Moonlight by Jamie Schlosser, the book that follows directly behind Monster in the Moonlight. As always, it’s a treat to go back to Valora where fated mates and romance are overwhelming themes against the fight for good and evil.

• Genre: Fantasy Romance
• Heat Level: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
• Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

This book picks up where the first left off, with Hannah and Ellister safe in the picturesque Day Court. A forging of new bonds promises renewed hope for the future, and the pair take advantage of their newfound freedom and powers to settle into their life together, even picking out a home. But a magical bargain still overshadows them both, and they just hope they can outrun it.

If they can’t, if they have to face it, how far will they go to keep not only their love but their lives intact?

Talk about a satisfying conclusion to a duet. And steamy! Schlosser always manages to surprise me with the way she writes intimacy. I’ve read all her fated mate and fae books, so it’s lovely how nothing’s ever gotten stale. Each couple, their romance, and their…tastes always come off as perfectly unique.

Enemies to lovers, touch her and I’ll kill you, fated mates, time travel, different dimensions, vampires, humans, and fae all have a place in this book, so I think it has something special for every fantasy romance reader.

Monster in the Moonlight

Hello! I’m here with the first book in The Moonlight Duet by Jamie Schlosser. Introducing Monster in the Moonlight.

• Heat Level: ❤️❤️❤️
• Genre: Fantasy Romance
• Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

When Hannah awakens to darkness, she’s alone in a cave with a captor not of this world…until she truly opens her eyes to find it’s all a dream. She’s been having strange ones since her unexplained episodes began. Doctors can’t figure out what’s wrong with her. But a stranger may have all the answers…for a price.

Ellistar’s touch makes the pain disappear, something Hannah realizes the first time they meet. When they touch, it’s like the world is right again. But there’s something odd about the handsome man with the unforgettable eyes. He doesn’t seem to understand simple things like GPSs and social cues. But if he can make her better again, she’ll follow him anywhere.

He’d come to the farm looking for payment on a life returned, only to find the life of a woman seemingly at an end. Things are electric between them, but he knows it’s all an illusion, a pitfall of his kind. She isn’t getting better by his side, only getting drunk on his power. Still, he can’t bring himself to collect on his debt or hurt Hannah.

Can they find a way to be together or will the pull they feel ruin them both?

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Sweet, steamy, and hilarious, this book hits all the marks for a perfect read. As soon as I started it, I was drawn in and only released when I got to the final page. And if you’re familiar with Schlosser’s other work, which you should be if you like Fae romance, then you’ll even see a familiar face or two.

Overall, I found this book delightful and recommended it for all lovers of fantasy romance.

Father of Monsters

I love history, legends, and retellings most of all when it comes to a well done tale of magic and otherworldliness. I found that in Father of Monsters by A.B Frost.

• Genre: Myth Retelling
• Heat Level: ❤️❤️
• Overall Rating: 5/6 Glass Slippers

The Poetic Edda gives us the bases for the gods and goddesses we know best from Norse mythology. They tell of heroes journeys and tricks played by immortals, of seer women and all of mankind. While Loki plays a small part in those, Frost has given him a true voice in Father of Monsters.

Witty and well-researched, this novella gives Loki a chance to tell his own tales as he regales readers with accounts of his mistakes and choices, and the ways he often tries to rectify them. It doesn’t read like Marvel fanfiction, as some Loki stories I’ve read have. Instead, we get a book more in line with the original story of the trickster god. He’s given layers and a certain sass I feel is very fitting.

Overall, I recommend this book for fans of north mythology, and even those who enjoy the Marvel version we all know and love.

Cosplay Worthy

I can never say no to an adorable cover, so when newly minted author Quiana Glide introduced me to her debut novel Cosplay Worthy, how could I say no at first glance?

• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Heat Level: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
• Overall Rating: 5/6 Glass Slippers

Layla Bennet loves the nerd scene. She can make cosplay costumes out of anything and knows all there is to know about her top super heroes. When she has the chance to meet her all time favorite comic author at a convention, she’s ready to let her fan girl side fly. Although it flies a little too high, and when face to face with famous writer Vic Williams, it’s hard to concentrate on anything more than her own excitement.

When she bumps into Vic later at the hotel bar, all embarrassment is forgotten as they bond over cosplay and her dreams to be a comic book artist. A chance encounter turns into Facebook friend requests and midnight texts when the weekend’s over. Soon the long distance friends become lovers and learn how to navigate their dreams, jobs, and the expectations of those around them. Until the stress of it all becomes a little too much to bear.

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I loved Layla, and the fact that she was from Philly made me love her all the more as a South Jersey girl. She’s creative and bubbly, even if a bit awkward. She’s embodies the best the nerd fandom has to offer and really knows how to have fun. While she sometimes felt like she didn’t deserve a star like Vic, I was rooting for her to get the man and more.

For a debut novel, it was fantastic. Funny and steamy, it was an easily enjoyable book I was glad I had the chance to read. It did slow a bit in the middle, but sometimes some low bits make the book more lifelike. Glide should be commended for her first foray into publishing.

I recommend this book to all readers who like a little cosplay and a dash of steam with their romance.

The Fae Warrior’s Princess

It’s no secret that the Between Dawn and Dusk series by Jamie Schlosser is one of my favorite fantasy romances of all time. It’s good luck that it’s 20 degrees in New Jersey and The Fae Warrior’s Princess has just come out! While nothing can compare to the tale of Kerian and Quinn, each couple in this series is always a delight.

• Genre: Fantasy Romance
• Heat Level: ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️
• Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

Princess Dani of the Night Realm knows why her father’s best warrior, Torius, left to go on an assignment in the human world. As fated mates, he feared what his king and best friend would think if he told him he was fated to be with his only daughter, the future queen. While the Fae aren’t considered old enough to wed until they’re 21, Dani decides 19 years is long enough, and hunts Torius down in the human world, looking to cement their bond once and for all.

Torius is overjoyed to see his mate and complete their bond…until he learns she’s not yet 21, making their joining a punishable offense. He reluctantly agrees to stay in the human world longer with her until everyone in the Night Realm forgets the pesky law that Dani calls antiquated. But a day in the human world is a year in the Fae one, and it doesn’t take long until someone comes to find them. But it isn’t to punish them, it’s to bring a warning.

The plague that once killed most of the young female Fae is back with a vengeance. Highly contagious and deadly, it also brought darkness with it that killed the crops. The curse is hard to break, nearly impossible, but the Night Realm king knows Torius can help end it. Now it’s more important than ever to keep the meeting bond a secret.

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Torius has the ever popular “I’ll kill anyone who touches her” vibe I enjoy in my romances. I like when the male lead is completely and utterly devoted to his partner…and has many killed a few people, but you know how that is! I was also initially worried how the fated mate at birth scenario was going to shake out. If it was anything as terrible and awkward as the whole Jacob and Reconciliation mate thing in Twilight, I was going to cry. But lucky for me, Schlosser gave the pair literal worlds between them until Dani was old enough.

This book hits the ground running in a way the others before it haven’t. Not to say the others in the series weren’t fantastic. But we dive right into the heat, and the drama swiftly follows, giving us a lot to keep us hooked until the very end. Seriously, I read it in one sitting.

Overall, I call this another win for the fantasy romance lovers. Snag your copy of The Fae Warrior’s Princess asap so you don’t miss out on the fun.

The Cruel Prince

I’m a few years late on The Cruel Prince train, but it’s better late than never when it comes to The Folk of the Air series by Holly black.

• Genre: YA Fantasy
• Heat Level: ❤️
• Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

Jude and her sisters lived a normal human life until a man broke into their home one day, killing their parents and taking them away to a land across the water that they’ve only dreamed of. The man, Madoc, is a fairy, and her oldest sister Vivienne’s real father. He raises Jude and her twin sister as his own, but there’s no place for humans in the beautiful, dangerous world of Elfhame.

As Jude fights to earn her place as one of the royal knights, she also fights the young Prince Cardan and his friends, who delight in torturing mortals. But as much as her mortality is a curse, it’s also a benefit when the elder prince Dain, next in line to the throne, welcomes her into his underground network of spies. After all, humans can lie, making her mortality a very useful thing to have.

Jude longs to fit in and finally find where she belongs, but even her own family seems to work against her. As she unravels court secrets and tries to keep herself alive, it seems she might belong in the fairly world after all.

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I wasn’t sure how I would like this book. I’ve heard mixed reviews and didn’t know how the book being YA would affect my score. But I was pleasant surprised by how much I enjoyed it, even without the dramatic romance I was promised. That is literally the only thing I felt was missing, but it is a YA book, so I didn’t expect Jude and Prince Cardan to get freaky in fairy land right off the bat.

The world building was amazing. I grew up on books like The Hobbit, Abhorsen series, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, so I appreciate the level of care and creativity Black put into this book. But it’s clear she also did her research into real fairly lore to build her characters and the rules by which they live by. She showed the fae as beautiful but dangerous, tricky and deadly. Perfection.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and have already begun book two. I recommend it to all fantasy fans who love strong female characters, lovely world building, and court intrigue.

Perception

Congrats to Amélia Cognet on the release of her debut novel Perception!

After escaping an abusive relationship that nearly killed her, Parker tries to build herself back up the best she can, forced to live with the terrible memories that plague her.

She has found love again and believes she can move on with her life, but her relative happiness is short-lived when she starts having visions of other women being abused. After questioning her sanity, Parker decides to do whatever it takes to help the victims, desperate to save them from a fate that could have been hers…

And could still very well be.

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About the Author

Amélia is an emerging suspense and horror writer who loves anything creepy and has always been drawn to the supernatural in particular.

Although from France, she lives in Huntington Beach, CA, with her husband Christophe and her daughter Kara. The years spent living in New England before moving to California are a great inspiration and often impact her writing.

• Follow Amélia on Instagram HERE
• Follow Amélia on Facebook HERE

Cold Case True Crime

Like some romance with your mystery? A bit of love with your thrills? Then check out Cold Case True Crime by Denise N. Wheatley. Which is available HERE.

True crime is her beat.

But this cold case is personal…

Samantha Vincent has turned her fascination with true crime into a popular blog. When an old friend asks her to investigate a murder the police couldn’t solve, she begins to suspect that the cops want this case to go cold. Sam is confident she’ll catch the killer when Detective Gregory Harris agrees to help her, but everything changes when she becomes a target…

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Discover more action-packed stories in the An Unsolved Mystery Book series by Denise N. Wheatley. All books are stand-alone with uplifting endings but were published in the following order:

• Book 1: Cold Case Colorado by Cassie Miles
• Book 2: Cold Case Reopened by Caridad Piñeiro
• Book 3: Alaska Mountain Rescue by Elizabeth Heiter
• Book 4: Cold Case Flashbacks by Janice Kay Johnson
• Book 5: Cold Case True Crime by Denise N. Wheatley

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About the Author

Denise N. Wheatley is a lover of happily-ever-afters and the art of storytelling. She has written (and ghostwritten) numerous novels and novellas that run the romance gamut, from contemporary to paranormal, sweet to steamy. Denise strives to pen entertaining stories that embody matters of the heart, while creating strong characters who are colorful and relatable. 

She is an RWA member and received a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the city where she was born and raised. When Denise isn’t sitting behind a computer, you can find her at home reading a great romance novel, on a tennis court, watching true crime television or chatting on social media.

Speaking of social media, here’s where you can find her:

Instagram: @denise_wheatley_writer
Twitter: @denisewheatley
Facebook: @DeniseNWheatley
BookBub: denise-n-wheatley
Goodreads: Denise_Wheatley
Writer’s Blog: http://www.denisenwheatley.com

An Acquired Taste

Did you know it’s possible for a romance novel to make you hungry for more than just a good read? I didn’t, until the first book in Kelly Cain’s The Everheart Brothers of Texas series, An Acquired Taste.

• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Heat Level: ❤️❤️❤️
• Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers

Rowan has a passion for soul food and wants to see her family restaurant thrive. But she also longs to spread her wings and strike out on her own so she can finally update the menu her mother will never let her alter. She thinks it’s all a pipe dream until she learns about a cooking competition show that offers the prize of a lifetime.

Knox is the one person who knows how to wind Rowan up with just one look, and she hates him for it. Their rivalry began when he was nothing more than the spoiled rich kid at culinary school and only gets worse when he also signs up to be on TV. He’s annoying, headstrong, cocky, and worst of all, ridiculously handsome.

While worrying about her mom’s health, her brother’s engagement, and the course of her own life, Rowan now has to worry about what being in close quarters with Knox will bring. Because she knows what happens when there’s too many cooks in the kitchen.

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Never before have I read a romance novel that left me famished in more ways than one. Cain pared a spicy, enemies to lovers slow burn with a collection of recipes that had me looking up the nearest soul food restaurant. Really though, the added touch of a recipe, both real ones and a few a little more tongue in cheek, at the end of each chapter made this book half romance and half cookbook. Now that I’m down the story part, I want to try more than one of Rowan’s recipes.

Rowan and Knox had the sort of deep seeded rivalry that made you feel the tension from the first page. While Rowan can throw the sarcastic zingers, Knox can send them right back. They know how to push each other’s buttons, which adds another layer to their love/hate. Their relationship had a wonderful arc that was just as satisfying as Rowan’s recipes.

Overall, I would recommend this book to all readers who want a side of sarcasm with their romantic main course.

The Proper Princess

Looking for a Monday pick-me-up? I have a bookbub deal that’s sure to make your day a whole lot more interesting.

She’s been a proper princess—but she wants to rebel.

After the death of her fiancé, Princess Madeleine knows a loveless, arranged marriage awaits her. She’s resigned to her fate until she meets her intended husband. Crown Prince Enrique is gorgeous, but he comes on way too strong, says the wrong things, and fumbles with apologies. He’s more court jester than Prince Charming. How can she marry him?

Enrique might be self-centered and lack social skills, but he’s trying to do better—for himself, his country, and his future wife. Despite their royal union being a political necessity, he wants his marriage with the captivating Madeleine to be a love match. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to woo her. How hard can it be to win his princess bride’s heart?

Nearly impossible, he discovers, because Madeleine seems unwilling—or unable—to give him her heart. On their wedding day, instead of exchanging vows, will the royal couple say goodbye?

Start reading now HERE for only $.99 for a limited time!