Mated to the Pack by Jade Alters

Mated to the Pack is a reverse-harem romance book.   Each book in the series is stand-alone.

 

Vivian is in the first semester of her graduate program in Archaeology when she is chosen to assist on a dig in Columbia.  Unfortunately, the dig director runs into problems with the cartel and Vivian is rescued by mercenaries and sent out of the country.  With nowhere to go, she heads to the home of her recently deceased grandmother.

When the mercenaries rescue the dig director they find out that he hid valuable documents in Vivian’s bag, so they follow to protect her from the cartel.  The mercenaries are actually a pack of wolf-shifters with military backgrounds.

Shorly after arriving home, Vivian meets four strapping guys that answer her advertisement of rooms to rent in exchange for some help fixing up the house.  Vivian thinks she must be going crazy.  She’s attracted to all four guys. Meanwhile, each of the guy’s are hearing their wolves say “Mate!”

I enjoyed this book.  despite all the excitement of the cartel and the tensions over who, if anyone can claim Vivian, there is a sweet romantic feeling to the story.  Each character is given a backstory and feels complete.

I read a review copy of the book.  My opinions, as always are my own.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Death Cult, by Declan Finn

This is book 2 in the Saint Tommy, NYPD Series

Poor Tommy! And even more poor wife, son, and neighbors.  Tommy barely has time to recover from the incidents in book 1 when the action starts again, and it just keeps coming.

Tommy and his family are just settling in to their new house when they are attacked.  The intruders are marked with the sign of a demon, indicating that the cult from book 1 is back and now he’s their target.

This story takes place over a just a few days and the action is fast and furious.  As Tommy and his partner try to find out who is behind the attacks, they meet enemies new and old and some surprising allies.

I really enjoyed the book.  The dialogue is witty with plenty of snap and sarcasm.  The mystery is detailed and intriguing.  The story is the kind you just can’t put down and you won’t want to.

I received a review copy of this book.  My opinions, as always, are my own.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

God of the Sun, by Kimberly Loth

As I have become more ‘mature’ I have a mixed relationship with young adult fiction.  I tend to get impatient with the heroines when they are selfish, indecisive, or flighty.  It isn’t about the writing, I understand teens can be that way, but I prefer strong heroines.

So, when I realized that The God of the Sun’s heroine, Zwaantie, was one of those teenagers, I knew I was in for a challenging read.  I wanted to like her, but she drove me crazy.

Despite that, I really enjoyed the book.  The world-building is impressive and the story line keeps you guessing what will happen next.  This is the first book in the series and the book ends with a dramatic cliff-hanger that leaves you wanting more.

The world is divided between the kingdoms of Sol and Stella.  In Sol there is abundant sunshine and across the wall in Stella there is none.  Zwaantie is the heir to the throne of Sol and her parents are ready for her to settle down, marry and take over the kingdom.  Zwaantie doesn’t want any of those things and she particularly doesn’t want to be queen–something she must keep a deep secret even from her close friends, her slave

 

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Rekindling Christmas by Rebekah Ganiere

No sooner had Jesse set foot in his old college town than her ran into the reason for his return.  Annika and Jesse had been engaged when he got an offer from the NFL.  Jesse left town to pursue his football dreams and Annika finished her degree and went on to teach at the same college.  Fifteen years later, Jesse is retired from football and realizes what he missed out on: the family he always wanted with Anna.

Anna resists his advances. She’s been hurt badly by Jesse’s departure and by other men.  If Jesse wants to win her back, he’s got a long road ahead of him.  Fortunately he has some allies:  Anna’s son T. J and a little blond girl who keeps popping up with advice.

This book Rebekah Ganiere’s first contemporary romance.  She does a great job.  The characters are deep and the conversation is snappy.  An enjoyable read.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Slip into Bad Soul for a trip through the Uncanny Kingdom

I’m a peaceable person.  I don’t hit people, smash things or take contracts from demons.  Just getting that out there.  Still, sometimes it feels good to work out your mental aggressions by assuming the identity of a character in a book that is nothing like you.  So when I read Bad Soul, an urban fantasy by David Bussel and M. V. Scott, I could relate to the main character, Erin Banks.

When Erin was six, she was left to care for her baby brother while her parents went next door for a drink.  It was only supposed to be for half an hour, but Erin fell asleep and when she woke, the window was open and her brother was in the back yard, floating in a magical bubble.   Her parents can’t understand why Erin won’t just tell the truth, and don’t believe her confused and fragmented story of magic and streets that shouldn’t exist.  This becomes a turning point in Erin’s life and she realizes that she has to find out about magic and go after her brother.

Being a normal girl in a magical world, Erin needs an edge.  Her edge is a set of tattoos that give her strength, speed, healing, etc. This allows her to hold her own against paranormal creatures as she earns her living and tries to put the pieces together about her brother.

As the book opens, Erin serving time in prison when she is suddenly scheduled for release.  A mysterious stranger who is responsible eventually he makes his reasons clear:  he needs Erin to do a job for him.  In return, she’ll get some more information about her brother’s disappearance.  Easy, right? Just collect a soul promised to a demon from a guy who welshed on the deal.

I enjoyed being part of Erin’s world for a few hours.  The writing is very colorful with lots of British slang and strange and seedy characters.  The plot is fast and furious with unexpected developments and exciting scenes.  A nice piece of gritty urban fantasy.    This is the first book in the Uncanny ink series and part of a larger Uncanny Kingdom world.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Mated to the Pack II by Jade Alters

As Mated to the Pack II begins, Courtney is ready to quit. She’s had enough of her assignment in Afghanistan. It’s too much. The heat, the dirt, the animals and wolves outside of camp….everything! Suddenly a handsome soldier she hasn’t seen before sticks his head in her tent and tells her they have to move, right then! She and the doctors are thrown into a truck and driven to an airstrip. Then the plane explodes and it’s just her and four remaining soldiers running for their lives in the wilderness. Will, Clay, Manny and Titan are doing their best to keep her safe while they figure out why they’re being attacked.

I enjoyed the book. The intensity of the beginning creates a tight bond between Courtney and the soldiers. The plot was exciting and the mystery was interesting. When the plot is discovered they all work together to come to a solution. I’m interested to read the other books in the series. Each book is a stand-alone story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Arthur’s mate by Lisa Daniels

Book 1 in the Bears of Valor Lake series

Emma is living in Valor Lake, a place she picked off a map when she couldn’t tolerate life in Phoenix with her parents and manipulative boyfriend a moment longer. She finds a job and eventually runs in to Arthur at a bar. He’d just had a very public breakup with his girlfriend, and the two start to chat. Arthur invites Emma fishing and, to his surprise, she accepts. She thinks that if she’s going to live here she should figure out what people do for fun and get to know some people. She has no intention of rushing into a relationship, but the way Arthur keeps looking at her makes her wonder. Arthur’s sister Yara is becoming a good friend, too.

Arthur has some problems of his own. Family members can’t agree on how to use the land and tensions are high. Meanwhile, his mother and grandmother are obsessed with him having an heir to protect their claim to the land. Strangers are unusual in bear shifter lands, but he’s intrigued by Emma and her problems. He wants to help her.

I enjoyed the book and read it in an afternoon. The story of Emma and Arthur was a nice story with interesting supernatural aspects. I recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout. My opinions are always my own.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Sunscorched, by Jen Crane

In Sunscorched, unique dystopian scifi series opener by Jen Crane, Nori is a teen who has a strange condition that keeps her housebound most of the time.  

The book opens a twelve years after the Scorch, an event where the sun’s effects suddenly became intense.  Billions of people died during the Scorch, and since then Nori has become very sensitive to sunlight, resulting in burns and pain at the slightest hint of the sun’s rays.  

Nori’s only escape are her nightly runs. During the hour or two of darkness, she can get outside her house and escape the watchful eyes of her parents for a little while.  But even this is becoming a problem.  Another scorch is predicted and Nori won’t survive even in her special basement bunker.  Her only possible escape is in one of the communities rumored to exist underground, if her parents can find a way to get her there.

I very much enjoyed this book, the world building is complex and has a lot of depth.  Characters are relatable even though the situation is strange.  As Nori strikes out on her own to find safety in a hostile situation, she grows and finds much about herself and the world.  She makes allies who have their own mysterious past histories.  Good dystopian fiction makes us think about what people will do to survive, the good and the bad, and this book does not disappoint.  

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

Dragon Undercover by Lia Davis and Kerry Adrienne

Starting an undercover mission at Coon Lake, dragon shifter Owen is attracted to a giggle from Nextdoor.  Following his ears and nose, he finds something he wasn’t expecting: his mate.  Nadia and her younger sister Sage are at the lake to celebrate before Sage goes off to college.  With a bit of matchmaking, Sage arranges for Owen to come to dinner the next night and then suddenly announces she has other plans.

Owen’s mission now takes on greater meaning.  His target, the rogue dragon/serial killer named Huff that killed Owen’s sister several years ago may be in the area and, unfortunately, Sage fits his victim profile.

When Sage disappears from a sleepover with friends, Owen and Nadia start searching for her.  If only he could figure out how to explain about Huff, the dragon who took Sage and also explain that he is a dragon shifter and she is his fated mate.  No problem.there, right?

Dragon undercover is a short novel with a fast-moving plot.  It serves as an introduction to the world and to the members of the Dark Scales Division.  A very exciting story and great characters.  I look forward to reading more in this series.

I received a free copy of this book.  My opinions, as always, are my own.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment

The Bride, by Rebekah Ganiere

In The Bride, Pria is the youngest of four adult children.  She does all the shopping, cooking and cleaning for the family.  When her father must travel to check into some investments, he leaves Pria in charge, much to the ire of her siblings.  Not only that, he tells Pria she must buy a new dress and go to the ball her mysterious new neighbor is planning.

From the moment his carriage almost ran her over, Blue has been struck by Pria’s beauty and charm.  He has vowed to make Pria his, but his inconvenient ”allergy” to the sun means he can only watch over her at night until he finds her in the city and is able to show her around.

I really enjoyed this unusual twist on several fairy tale themes and I tried to guess what would happen.  I won’t spoil the surprise, but there are several fairy tale tropes mixed with supernatural ones.  This makes the Bride a highly inventive and satisfying story.  The ending is not a cliffhanger, but leaves the door open for future adventures.

Kasey Briggs Leave a comment