Month: September 2017

Review: Wanderers: Ragnarök (Wanderers #1) by Richard A Bamberg

19 September 2017 / Reviews / , , , , ,

My ReviewsI want a manticore-possessed Harley!

This is the first book in the Wanderers Series. This is a continuing story line and characters, so even though it is not a cliffhanger at the end, there is also no HEA either.

♥ Story ♥
This story’s mythology is based around Norse traditions of the deities claiming fallen warriors as their champions. Most people are only familiar with the Valkyries, but just like the Greeks there were many deities to pray to that all came with their own entourages.

That’s where Rafe finds himself, as the minion of the Fate Verðandi. Who I have to say is pretty bad leading her Wanderers. Rafe has gone over 5 years without any contact or messages from her. As a Wanderer, he is to keep the status quo of good and evil by destroying demons that are causing havoc and disturbing this balance.

Rafe has been alone since his mentor was killed so is not in tune with the danger that is coming his way. Someone is trying to set in to motion the events that will lead to Ragnarök. For those that are not aware of what that is, it is the Norse equivalent of the end of days. It’s the final battle for the right to rule the world.

Needless to say, this is a bad thing. In trying to stop the first step in the end of the world Rafe has his trusted familiar Beast, that is a manticore who most often is in the form of a Harley, which makes for some humorous scenes. He has to team up with some overly horny witches, seriously they will not leave the dude alone, to try and prevent the first essentially “seal” from being broken.

The mythology is solid, and there is a lot of action, but I feel like this title suffers from first-book-itus. Too much info dumped over too long of a time, pulled the story down with it. It’s still a good start to a series and I’m looking forward to the next one.

♥ Author ♥
This is my first read/listen by Richard A Bamberg and I think it’s a great start. Very creative world building. I’m very curious to see what book 2 brings.

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Johnny Mack is great as always. I have listened to him in other books and he just has that perfect amount of gruff to his voice that can be both charming and sultry in the same book.

Wanderers: Ragnarök

Written by Richard A Bamberg

Read by Johnny Mack

Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited.

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Review: The Dreaming (Sensual Fairy Stories #2) by Regan Bayle

18 September 2017 / Reviews / , , , , ,

My Reviews

Sexy & Sultry Sleeping Beauty

Hot take on an old tale!

This is my first read of the Sensual Fairy Stories Series, but it is book 2. This seems like it could completely stand alone, but I cannot say for certain as I have not read #1.

♥ Story ♥
Prince Landon needs to beat his brothers to a bride. He goes to a Fae woman to see about one of the “special” case princesses. Hoping for an easy score, he goes with the one that seems like the least amount of work. He chooses Princess Aurelle who has been trapped in a sleeping curse. Worried about what he might actually be getting, the Fae woman gives him a snow globe that will allow him to enter her world in his dreams.
Cue David Bowie music from Labyrinth! 🙂

Aurelle is essentially a 90 year old virgin, who hasn’t been able to even have a proper sex dream. When Landon shows up, she doesn’t think it is going to go anywhere like all the other attempts on her part to create a prince, so she throws herself at him without abandon.

Their sexual chemistry is excellent, but they do have a small problem. To release her from her curse he has to do so in person.

This is short read/listen but had all the good parts! The characters where likeable and the story plausible, for a sexy fairy tale. I could of used a few more sentences at the end to wrap it up a bit more, but it’s still a good story either way.

♥ Author ♥
This is my first read by Regan Bayle, and I will definitely be listening to more. There are only 2 titles currently available in audio format, so hopefully she has plans to bring the rest of the series to Audible.

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Lia Langola did well narrating. She gave the story momentum, keeping you enthralled for the ride.

The Dreaming

Written by Regan Bayle

Read by Lia Langola

Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Review: Witch You Well (Westwick Witches Series #1) by Colleen Cross

17 September 2017 / Reviews / , , ,

My Reviews

Witchy Little Cozy Mystery Romance!

Excellent narration with a little romance in the mix. This doesn’t quite make it as a romance, but there is enough there, so I’m going to count it!

This is #1 in the Westwick Witches Series, and the only one in audio format.

The witchcraft of this story has a very Bewitched style to it, especially with crazy relatives popping to and throw causing mischief all the time.

♥ Story ♥
Cendrine is a witch who has recently acquired the somewhat defunct local newspaper of her small little town that sounds like it is on the outskirts of the Seattle, Wa area, or at least on that end of Washington state. The town is trying to rebrand itself in an effort to attract tourist. Her family owns the local inn/restaurant/bar and it’s days away from its grand opening. So when the famous travel writer they were counting on to help promote the place ends up dead, things take a detour on the hot mess train!

Cen’s problems get even worse because her infuriating Aunt Pearl keeps setting things on fire and taunting the new sexy sheriff Tyler Gates who is completely oblivious to fact that magic exists. Oh, and did I mention Cen is engaged to the town’s Mayor and due to get married in less than a month.

Cen has to use her amateur sleuthing skills to prove her family’s innocence without letting it slip to the world that they are witches. While doing this she also has to juggle helping her mom keep the grand opening on track, keep her aunt out of trouble, and decide if marrying her high school sweet heart is what she really wants. So, easy, right?

♥ Author ♥
This is my first read-listen by Colleen Cross. It’s a Cozy Mystery, and very true to the sub-genre. No excessive cursing, sex, or violence. There were a lot of nice twists to the story for a very pleasant mystery read.

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Petrea Burchard did the narration, and this is the only title listed under her name @ Audible. Given how expressive the narration was, I would wonder if this is the author herself with a pen name for audio. The level of detail the narrator has is as if the they wrote it, if not, you could of fooled me. I mean that in the bests of ways!

♥

Overall it was a good read but sometimes I felt like I was missing some pages, or a book. It did not read like book one of a series. There were references to curses and grudges as if they were from a past book or series. I could not find any other titles that this could be a spin off from, or any short works that could have been the precursor works.

Besides that, it was crafty, witchy read.

Witch You Well

Written by Colleen Cross

Read by Petrea Burchard

Ebook obtained through Scribd

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Review: Playing Fate (Endgame #1) by Leigh Ann Lunsford

15 September 2017 / Reviews / , , ,

My Reviews
Great start to a new series!

I NEED the rest of this series in audio, and I need it NOW!

This is the 1st book in the Endgame Series.

♥ Story ♥
Saylor Lewis wants to make her own way in life so as not to be beholding to anyone. This all stems from childhood issues. The grudges she holds have followed her since age 13. Away at college and living in a shared condo, her resolve is put to the test when she meets the neighbors!

Deacon Douglas has her at hello! Although she has him just as hard. Deacon and the his roommates grew up with the girls so they make a little family that tries to welcome in Saylor no matter how much she tries to resist.

Love and heat ensues, followed by misunderstandings and misplaced loyalties. I know she is going to be a future heroine and probably has good reasons for being a twat nugget, but for this book I really want to punch Emberlee in the throat, face, lady balls, take your pick!

I can’t really say more without giving away stuff that is just too good to spoil. Just read/listen to it!

♥ Author ♥
This is my first read by Leigh Ann Lunsford and I’m hooked! I can’t wait for the rest of this series to come to audio!

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Logan McAllister in one word, Yum!
Makes Deacon and all the boys sound delicious.
Plus, he does all the ladies just as good.
(Does that sound dirty, or is it just me?)

Playing Fate

Written by Leigh Ann Lunsford

Read by Logan McAllister

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review

Review: Ryker (Bad Boys for Hire #1) by Rachelle Ayala

27 July 2019 / Reviews, Series / , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Reviews
I asked for more and I got it!

This is the 1st in the Bad Boys for Hire Series. I previously listened/reviewed book #2 Ken.

♥ Story ♥
Terri “Terr” Martin is turning 30 and needs a date! She calls the Bad Boys for Hire agency to hire a biker to accompany her to the party her mother is throwing for her. She wants to make a ripple in the pond, not show up with a respectable date. Terry runs her own florist shop to her mother’s dismay who is always trying to set her up with someone that will raise the social status of the family.

Ryker is a marine, who just so happens to be a biker, sidelined by a war injury trying to find a job, and it’s not going well. After an awkward if not embarrassing standoff, Ryker ends up working for Terri. Their chemistry is on fire, but when the meddling mother comes to visit/coerce her into a date, Ryker recognizes a woman from his past and all the pieces fall into place.

Secrets start pouring out, and they are juicy! Seems they have a lot more in common than once thought, and their pasts coming roaring back with a vengeance. The story ends so far from where you think when you first start, but trust me, It’s so worth it!

♥ Author ♥
This is my second read by Rachelle Ayala and I am so not disappointed! I can’t wait for the 3rd book to make it to audio!

♥ Narrator(s) ♥
Chris Abell also narrates this title. My opinion of who his voice reminds me of still stands, but I was so enthralled with the story and what was going to happen that I cannot say much more about his performance which should say everything about the job he did!

Ryker

Written by Rachelle Ayala

Read by Chris Abell

Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited

Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review