Melanie's Book Reviews

Mercury Rising is a really good short story in the Cursed Satyroi series and also the beginning of The Adventure of Hermes. One of the stand out characters in the main series has been Hermes, not only is he a Greek god but he is Pan’s father too. He stands out because for all he is ancient, he is very current in his demeanour and comes across as if he’s a surfer dude, add to that a wicked sense of humour and this character is a hoot! He also has a heart of gold too and he always pops up to help the Satyroi in his own way, it’s like he adopted them and became a father figure to all of them, even if at times they seem more mature than him.
The purpose of this short story seems to be to set up Melancton & Daphne’s story (which I am very much looking forward to) and as we know from book 2 – Melancton promised he wouldn’t try to rescue his beloved nymph Daphne from Apollo anymore in exchange for his friend being able to be with his nymph. Melancton will make good on that promise but what if he doesn’t rescue Daphne? What if someone else does and gives her to Melancton? This is exactly the type of plot Hermes has in mind as he enlists all the allies he can get. One of those turns out to be the mother of Pan and someone who broke Hermes’ heart – Hybris – and with her arrival, he is reminded of what they had together but he wants her to make peace with Pan but with Hybris being the goddess of hubris…. She simply can’t apologise to anyone.
As Hermes goes about his quest, we see all of the things we love about him – humour, sarcasm, wacky dress sense etc. – but we also see a maturity that we hadn’t before and the paternal role he plays to the Satyroi in full effect, by doing this he risks everything to give someone happiness and he is also trying to reconnect his son with his mother who abandoned him. I think this showed more depth and feeling from this character and definitely made me connect with him more. The story has a bit of everything – humour, plotting, conflict and romance with Hermes getting some of his own sexy time – and I can’t wait for more. 

Armageddon is the third book in the ‘Angelbound’ series and it was just as fab as the rest.
Five years have passed and we find out that Myla and Lincoln are now married, King & Queen of the Thrax and parents to 3yr old Maxon – who is already showing power and is the Scala Heir. As the title suggests, Armageddon is back and he wants revenge, he will accomplish this by kidnapping Maxon, knowing that he will start a war but hoping to wipe out the entirety of Myla’s family. Now readers of this series will know exactly how Myla and Lincoln will react to this threat, don’t expect them to sit on their thumbs and do nothing…..because they will always fight for what’s right and fight harder for their son – even if it does mean going to war with hell.
I loved the progression of the characters in this, with a lot of time having passed you could tell that Myla had grown up a lot, in everything she did from the way she thought, her attitude and even the way she spoke, she really came into her own and role as Scala & Queen. I loved to see the maternal side to her because she is quite a hard person, known for fighting and violence so this was a lovely way to see the softer side to her and her devotion to her son shone through. Much the same with Lincoln, he is more serious with his role now being King, determined to make a difference to his people and utterly devoted to Myla and Maxon. You could clearly see that he didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes of his father so that showed what kind of man he has matured to be.
The storyline was great, on par for what we are used to with plenty of plotting, magic and action. I love that there is always something going on and that there are many threads that weave together for the whole story to take place. We finally get to see the skeletons that have been hiding in Lincoln’s father’s closet and it was awesome to see how this tied into the current troubles, it also brings in a couple of more threats which at this point in the series made a good impact. With everyone so gung ho on war, I loved that Myla still chose her own path, that the old Myla may have charged ahead but the new Myla took time to consider every angle and chose what was best for her son and family with the least amount of death and destruction. There is new magic introduced too, more than one kind and I liked what they brought to the story and one character in particular is very interesting and I hope she pops up in the next book. I also loved the introduction to Maxon, he is a little fire cracker and if you thought Myla was powerful – imagine what her child will be capable of……. And considering the next book is named ‘Maxon’ I’m sure we’re about to find out because apparently…..he is linked to a prophecy! I can’t wait! 

A Fistful of Evil was an interesting start to this new series featuring Madison Fox whose life is about to get a whole lot more complicated. The synopsis is spot on about what Madison will go through and it was a fun ride. Madison was a fun character, she has no clue what she’s doing but will wing it for all its worth but she does actually want to do well, she wants to learn and wants to be worthy but because she had been ignoring her gift she is totally inept. She has her eye on a couple of men but romance isn’t really the purpose of this book, it’s all about Madison’s introduction to fighting evil.
The storyline was really good and I thought the author has created something a little different to what the usual UF is about, I like Madison’s gift and how it can be used to fight evil. She is definitely flung in the deep end here and has to learn on the fly but that was an asset to the story because it was amusing to read of her trying her best, her thought process was fun too and she came across really well, so normal for a book character where you could imagine that her reactions would be the same as your own. I loved the species of demons throughout, we have imp demons, monkeys, hounds…. And they’re really just minion-esque for the bigger demons and what they do to unsuspecting humans will make you shiver. Obviously there will be a big bad demon for Madison to cut her teeth on and I had an inclining of where the story was going but when you add all of the action, danger, rescues, fighting…. Even parading around like Lara Croft – you get a fine UF book with tons of potential. My only grumble is that I would have liked a bit more romance in it but that’s personal preference and in no way detracts from the book as a whole. I’m glad I gave this a try and will be looking out for more.

Keeper of the Innocents is the second book in ‘The Keeper Witches Series’ and I really enjoyed it!
Demi Redding has just turned 18 and therefore will be given a full time charge, that means she will be given a child that has the potential to do something great in their lifetime and Demi has to protect such a child from any demonic or evil influence that could tip the balance between good and evil. She has always been aware of Demons and is very adept at fighting them because being a Keeper Witch runs in the family and she is well aware of the dangers that she will face, she has trained her whole life for this and she will not fail. Just as she’s about to find out who her charge is, she discovers that her mysterious neighbour is one of the enemy – at least a part of him is – but this leaves Demi conflicted because she feels a pull to him, as if they share a connection and he’s meant to be in her life, but how is that so? She is torn between letting herself feel for Rhyzel and keeping him at a distance for the damage he could potentially cause…. What she doesn’t know is that he has secrets and they could directly oppose Demi’s heritage – will she trust him? Just how far will she go to keep her charge alive? Would she risk her heart?
So, as I said, I really enjoyed this I like the idea of the Keeper Witches and it’s a great idea to show a different side to the witch genre, plus there are even different charges for each witch – in book one we had a Keeper witch who helped spirits stuck on earth and here we have a Keeper witch who looks after children who are destined to become something important – I found it interesting that they have this difference and wonder what else is out there for them. They were both really likable characters, Demi had a great attitude towards her ‘job’ which is admirable for someone her age and you could really feel the connection to Rhyzel from the start. I loved the connection Demi had to Rhyzel, I liked that it made her challenge what she knew about demons, that it challenged her prejudice because she was very against him and that he broke through her defences to give her some love – to be honest, they worked well together in everything and made a great team even as friends.
The storyline is very much about Demi coming into her own as a Keeper of the Innocents and also about the lessons she learns through Rhyzel. There is a lot focussed on the relationship aspect but action comes in the way of an emergency charge and shows us just what Demi is up against and it also shows Demi who she can rely on. It’s all very straightforward until towards the ending when the inevitable happens and her charge is put in danger, there are a few twists and turns that will keep you on your toes and I totally did not see what happened coming – which is definitely a bonus for me. The pacing was a tad on the slow side for me but not in a way that would spoil my reading experience and it held my interest all of the way through. I enjoyed it a lot and I will be looking out for third book. Keeper of the Innocents is the second book in ‘The Keeper Witches Series’ and I really enjoyed it!
Demi Redding has just turned 18 and therefore will be given a full time charge, that means she will be given a child that has the potential to do something great in their lifetime and Demi has to protect such a child from any demonic or evil influence that could tip the balance between good and evil. She has always been aware of Demons and is very adept at fighting them because being a Keeper Witch runs in the family and she is well aware of the dangers that she will face, she has trained her whole life for this and she will not fail. Just as she’s about to find out who her charge is, she discovers that her mysterious neighbour is one of the enemy – at least a part of him is – but this leaves Demi conflicted because she feels a pull to him, as if they share a connection and he’s meant to be in her life, but how is that so? She is torn between letting herself feel for Rhyzel and keeping him at a distance for the damage he could potentially cause…. What she doesn’t know is that he has secrets and they could directly oppose Demi’s heritage – will she trust him? Just how far will she go to keep her charge alive? Would she risk her heart?
So, as I said, I really enjoyed this I like the idea of the Keeper Witches and it’s a great idea to show a different side to the witch genre, plus there are even different charges for each witch – in book one we had a Keeper witch who helped spirits stuck on earth and here we have a Keeper witch who looks after children who are destined to become something important – I found it interesting that they have this difference and wonder what else is out there for them. They were both really likable characters, Demi had a great attitude towards her ‘job’ which is admirable for someone her age and you could really feel the connection to Rhyzel from the start. I loved the connection Demi had to Rhyzel, I liked that it made her challenge what she knew about demons, that it challenged her prejudice because she was very against him and that he broke through her defences to give her some love – to be honest, they worked well together in everything and made a great team even as friends.
The storyline is very much about Demi coming into her own as a Keeper of the Innocents and also about the lessons she learns through Rhyzel. There is a lot focussed on the relationship aspect but action comes in the way of an emergency charge and shows us just what Demi is up against and it also shows Demi who she can rely on. It’s all very straightforward until towards the ending when the inevitable happens and her charge is put in danger, there are a few twists and turns that will keep you on your toes and I totally did not see what happened coming – which is definitely a bonus for me. The pacing was a tad on the slow side for me but not in a way that would spoil my reading experience and it held my interest all of the way through. I enjoyed it a lot and I will be looking out for third book. 

Deadgirl was a fab read, slightly strange and unusual but in a good way.
The synopsis is spot on with its description of the book so straight onto my thoughts….
I thought Deadgirl was a very unique story and it kept my interest all of the way through. Lucy was a very relatable 15yr old going through all of the things a girl that age should be – including her first date which ends in disaster. She had a great voice and outlook that was easy to read and connect with which helped in getting behind her and her problems. Her problem – being that she is sort of dead – was very strange and took a little getting used to but that is what brought the uniqueness to the story, especially with the way she had to do something to stay whole. The danger begins when she starts to be hunted by a mysterious man/entity who seems to want to kill or capture her,  that brought a whole new excitement to the story as a good few run and chase scenarios happen and you’re left wondering just what is going on. She also meets a new friend who helps her a lot with her new existence and the strange plane that she seems to be able to travel to on a whim.
Whilst she is trying to navigate her ‘undead’ life in another place, she also has to manage her home & school life which becomes difficult to say the least because for one; her parents have become super protective since she went missing for the night and two; she has friends and a social life to deal with and lastly; a burgeoning romance with Zack. I liked the bit of love connection that Luce got with Zack, it added a sweetness to the story that we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else and it gave her something to cling to, a hope for that love and something to fight for as she struggles with what she has become.
Obviously things aren’t always hunky dory and the constant fear of not only her personal hunter finding her and taking her to who knows where but also living with the consequences of what she must do and the morality of that. Is being alive worth risking the lives of everyone you love? Luce will certainly decide when all events lead to an inevitable battle in the all action conclusion. So, as I said – great read, unique story, exciting, different, mind-bending, strange and unusual…..but all in the best possible way and very enjoyable.

A Darker Past is the sequel to Darker Days and second book in The Darker Agency series featuring the very awesome Jessie Darker. Following the last book, Jessie is now in service to Valefar for 55yrs in a deal that freed her father and allowed him to be with her mother full time. As he puts her to work, Jessie finds she doesn’t realise what she has let herself in for being at the beck and call of a demon who has the habit of popping up at the most inopportune moments. Add to that, that she is still working for the Darker Agency on their cases and juggling her budding relationship with former Wrath demon – Lucas Scott. When Jessie and Lucas are sent to retrieve some Darker artefacts, they unwittingly set free a Demon unlike any Jessie has come across before and no amount of quartz powder will harm this piece of work but when he starts murdering witches and then chooses to come after the Darkers to get what he wants, the Darker’s are in need of the Belfairs again because this demon is all about bringing Hell to Earth.
This was a great sequel and it was so easy to step into the series once again. Jessie is back with her snarktastic attitude and her kick ass ways, she still has her awesome sense of humour and I find it so easy to read her character, she’s easy to gel with and connect to and her attitude is fun and always leads to trouble but that’s what I love about her. I’m glad Lucas is still around and it’s good to see them together still. I like that they are having differing views on where they think their relationship should go – with Lucas being from another time, he has old fashioned values and keeps everything very PG between him and Jessie, much to Jessie’s frustration. I like that it shows how courtship has changed over time and it’s usually the male that does the pushing, but not here. However, things are set to change as Lucas starts to go through a few changes, giving us some very steamy make out scenes with Jessie.
The storyline was just as good as the first book with still more secrets to be revealed. I love the kind of books that have a long family history and that it affects the people in present day, Jessie and her mother are always having to unravel some clues about what their ancestors had been up to in order to put things right in the present day and because it’s a family with a weird history – that makes me like it all the more. The Darker family connection/rivalry with the Belfair witches heats up yet again and this makes a major stumbling block in ridding them all of the new demon but also leads us to some discoveries that will affect all involved. Not only are the humans worried about this demon being on the loose but the demons are as well and none other than Lucifer forces Jessie and Lucas to right their wrong with no help from the shadow realm or their demon associates. So they are forced to go to great lengths and confront their greatest fears in order to try and trap the demon once again leading to an eye opening conclusion that will have far reaching effects.
The book was well written, fun, with great pacing, great humour and not afraid to show us the ‘Darker’ side of magic & demons and I’ll definitely be carrying on with the series

Sweet Unrest was a great read filled with mystery and intrigue.
Set in New Orleans, Lucy Aimes life is about to get very strange when she and her family move to an old plantation. For as long as she has remembered she has had recurring dreams of drowning but those dreams take on a different purpose with the move, she starts to dream of people who lived around the area long ago, people who she shouldn’t know but feels connected to. Around the time Lucy also meets the mysterious Alex, who always seems to be around when no one else is, who seems to know her…. But how can he? For they have just met….one thing is for sure, he’s hiding something and she wants to find out. Lucy is also introduced to the voodoo and mysticism that is synonymous of the area and is about to be drawn into a whole lot of danger – can she solve the mystery of the past to save all of their futures?
So, I really enjoyed this story – to me when you put together New Orleans, voodoo, an old plantation house and mystery you’re automatically going to think gothic ghost story and you would be right. I thought Lucy was great character to bring the story to life, she had a sceptical attitude to what was happening and I liked that she questioned it instead of blindly believing everything. I admired her determination to know the truth and of course that she wanted to save those in danger. I also liked the connection she had to Alex, they had some sweet moments and again I liked that she questioned her feelings for him and often.
The storyline as I said was very mysterious and watching it all unfold was great. I liked the way the past blended in with the present and that we got chapters from both eras, I’m not one for any type of historical fiction but when the past is portrayed as this was – I don’t seem to mind it. I also thought the book was very atmospheric and you could feel the growing danger and the mystery of it all, each time we went back and learned a little something new was very important to the plot and kept adding to the ‘feel’ of it knowing that something was going to happen and soon. I loved the setting, I have to say that those big plantation houses are my dream homes and I would love to own one, the splendour and history of all that came before are amazing and I bet those houses do indeed have stories of their own – as this one did – and because of the fact that it’s in New Orleans is even better, a place so rich in culture with its own belief system crafted by many. I don’t read enough books that deal with voodoo, I like what it brings to a story and I’m never disappointed because it always brings its own ambience and sense of mystery – I enjoyed how it was used here and the explanations given, Mama Legba is quite the character as any voodoo priestess should be.
All in all I thought this book was great, it was easy to read, kept me entertained and guessing right up until the bittersweet ending and definitely worth a read.

Kissing Trouble is yet another awesome book from Airicka Phoenix writing as Morgana Phoenix.
Julie was cool character, I liked that we see how kick ass she is from the beginning as she shows us that she is very capable of kicking butt due to her martial arts training and she has a take no sh*t attitude. She was good with the kids, very patient and kind but we see a different side to her when Mason arrives. I love it when friends become something more and the history they shared, fair enough in the beginning we think he broke her heart but he soon explains things to her and it’s just a matter of Julie getting used to seeing things in another way. When she does accept it, their chemistry is HOT…. Mason is definitely a man I could go for, he’s got a dominant streak, he’s attentive, not afraid to say what he wants…. And he wants Julie and spends a lot of time telling her just what he wants which created an amazing sexual tension between the two and that’s not to mention that there are lots of sexy moments to get the pulse racing.
The story is definitely a page turner and one that keeps you gripped from beginning to end as the tension mounts throughout the book and when you’re not being anxious about the horrible events, you’re swooning over Mason alongside Julie. The danger starts off with a gruesome gift and quickly escalates , in the beginning you feel the panic because there are children about but when that changes and Julie is left with Mason and his friends, it gets more atmospheric – especially when anyone could be the villain. I spent most of the book being wrapped up in the hotness of the relationship, it was a sweet relief to the horrors that kept happening, and the other times I spent wracking my brain as to who I thought was the bad guy and I can tell you … it kept me guessing right up until the end. This is another book by this author that could be made into a movie, I could see myself watching this and really enjoying the suspense of it all. It was exciting, atmospheric, suspenseful and filled with both tension of the scary variety and sexual tension all wrapped around a couple on the verge of love that may have to give up everything for the chance to love each other. 

I’m not going to rehash the synopsis because as you see… it is long.. but it is also perfect and a great insight into this brilliant book. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the worlds, the different kinds of people and the threat – it hit the spot for me across the board.
Elena was a great character and both her and Nikolai’s introduction to the story made an impact. I like when a character is in the dark about their true identity because I enjoy finding out about everything with them, Elena was very much in the dark about her heritage so is really blindsided by all that is Nikolai with his bizarre claims about who she is. Nikolai was also a really great character, he had all you would want in a leading man and it was easy to see why Elena would be drawn to him. I loved the chemistry between them, sort of a hate to love thing (which I love) but Nikolai certainly has a charm to him and a way with words that won’t only have Elena weak at the knees. They clash wills time and time again as they each try to take control of the situations they end up in and the sexytime – well, that’s really hot! 
The storyline was awesome, there was a LOT going on with plenty of action with run & chase scenarios that kept me on my toes throughout the book. There is a prophecy which I love and of course our two main characters are at the centre of it, both of them on opposing sides and meant to hate each other but nothing is as it seems. I thought the author created an intriguing world in which there are two worlds separated by a veil – the human world and Nikolai’s world. Nikolai’s world is filled with magical people of all different persuasions including Vampires, Slayers, Time folders & Seers, this is not all though and some of them even live in the human realm. It was a fast paced read that could easily fit into the UF genre or Fantasy genre because it straddles the two but what it was for definite is amazing and I loved it! 

Cipher was a good read and I really enjoyed it!
The synopsis is spot on and I can’t say anymore so straight onto my thoughts about the book…..
The book is named for the main female character who uses the name as an online persona and to stop people from knowing her true identity. She is a computer hacker and gamer extraordinaire but she also has a secret and that is that she has a Red Helix, those with the mark are classed as having unstable DNA and usually it means a death sentence, so Cipher has spent most her life running from the Seligo – the governing body of their world and who are immortal – and most of all her uncle who is Seligo. She was very easy to connect with and I loved her hacking skills, it’s strange that she would focus her energies on computers and such because her power – manipulating electricity - is unstable and it often fries her hardware which is how Knight is brought back into her life. Speaking of Knight, I loved his character and he straddled the boundaries of hotness and geekiness – making him a very good match for Cipher. I loved their shared background and how this had spurred him on to find her for 12yrs! He became all about finding her & protecting her, even going so far as to make a huge sacrifice for her and I admired that in him, it gave his character another depth. I loved them together too, they have this great, easy, fluid nature to their relationship and could be the basis for a lasting relationship of the heart, I know I was routing for them all of the way through.
I thought the storyline was fresh and different. I like the idea behind the world the author created with the different helixes denoting different abilities or classes. There is always someone in power who would abuse that position and Cipher’s Uncle is that in this story, he is determined to find her regardless of cost or casualties, which begs the question….why? Also, when you have a hierarchy like this, there are always underdogs and that always means the little people will rise up and expose those in power for what they are and what they’re doing because they powers that be do have an enemy and they’re about to come out of the woodwork for Cipher. The story was filled with action be it from exploding lights & hard drives to run & chase scenarios and even helicopter ambushes, it had great pacing and even time for a little romance (which was hot!) . This book is definitely an introduction to the world and I was very interested, it was easy to read, not overly complicated and a series that I could see myself getting right into, so I will definitely be on the lookout for book two.

Dark Deceit was a great start to the ‘Dark Series’ and I really liked it.
To give a bit of the lowdown of the story, it goes like this…. Bryn was Odin’s lead Valkyrie, the first in fact and someone has hired Korvain – an assassin - to kill her thinking that by taking her out, Odin’s death will become possible and that is what the person who has hired Korvain is ultimately after. Korvain is someone who shouldn’t exist, his kind being wiped out by the Aesir gods, so he has no problem taking this request on BUT when he makes contact with Bryn, he finds himself putting the deed off as he becomes enamoured with her and is left conflicted, should he kill her? Or kiss her?
Bryn had left Odin’s side over a century ago and along with her Valkyrie sisters has made her home on earth amongst the humans. She is unaware of the threat to her life but very intrigued by the new bouncer she has hired, for some reason, she is drawn to him and he makes her feel things she has never felt before…. But can she trust him?
When someone starts picking of her Valkyrie sisters though, she is left with no choice but to trust him – not just with her life but her heart too.
So, I really enjoyed this story and I liked the author’s use of Norse mythology. A lot of the characters are recognisable from that mythology and I’m sure most of you know about Valkyrie. I liked how the Valkyrie are portrayed her and I like how they tie to Odin in a more emotional way than that which I usually read. Bryn of course, is the leader so it makes sense that the story be based around her and what better way to bring some hotness to the story than sending Korvain to her doorstep. I loved that Korvain had been sent to kill her and gets blindsided by meeting her, it created a good scenario and for a good while you’re left wondering if he will actually go through with it. They are a great match though, he has the mysterious, dangerous, alpha hotness about him and she’s a strong, beautiful woman who needs a man like that to compliment her, it’s clear from the get go that these two have chemistry and you can really route for them to become something to each other. I like how Korvain uses his abilities to spend time with Bryn, that adds to the seductive feel and really the fact that these two should be enemies amps that up as well.
The actual story that didn’t involve the romance was quite violent and brutal. Someone is killing the Valkyries and we get to be there for all of that through the murderers pov, I won’t spoil it for you but you will probably guess who the villain will be, but saying that…. Nothing is straight forward. The story is told from multiple pov and introduces us to people in Korvain’s life as well as the Valkyrie on Bryn’s side. With Korvain being an assassin, he obviously answers to someone so there will be consequences if he doesn’t go through with his task and could have devastating effects for him. The action in this was great, the pacing just as good and I’d say that this is just a peek into what potential this series has and I definitely like what I read so will be back for more.

Dangerous Calling is the second book in the Shadowminds series about people who are gifted with telekinetic powers that help read peoples minds, shift things with their minds and some also have extra abilities like healing, finding people etc. Cass is one of those who has an extra ability, someone who can harness energy to make her gifts even more powerful but the things she takes the energy from pay the price be it nature or people and the power is becoming a need…an addiction.
When Cass is contacted by a woman and arranges a meeting, she is unprepared for the impact this meeting will have on her life. Diana is terrified when Cass first meets her, she is obviously running from someone but the bizarre meeting ends with Diana bailing whilst muttering that she has put ‘both’ of them in danger by meeting. Cass decides that she can’t just leave things like that, she’s concerned the woman is at risk and enlists Shanes help to find her but what she uncovers will uncover things she thought didn’t exist. In the effort to rescue Diana who also happens to be clairvoyant, Cass needs more and more power to thwart the enemy who is constantly on their tail and finds herself pulling energy from wherever she can get it….. which does nothing for the growing need in her and her addiction and when Diana reveals her most shocking prophecy yet…. Cass has some choices to make.
I really enjoyed this book, it had an excellent progression in both characters and story.
Whilst Cass seemed like she had her life together – she and Shane had moved in together and things are good – she starts to struggle with the pull of wanting to take energy. This is a huge deal to Cass, she is terrified of killing someone and is trying with everything she has to abstain from using energy that isn’t hers, she is trying to hide it from Shane too, creating a bit of tension between the pair. I love these two together and it was a shame to see that Cass was trying to hide things from him, obviously he is aware something is happening to her because he knows her and can read her and again, I LOVE his devotion to her, he literally would stand by her through anything and it is a major plus to his character for me.
The storyline was great, it really opened up their world as new people and supernaturals are introduced. I liked the premise of the book and the beginning was fab, it really got my interest from the start. I loved what Diana brought to the story with her clairvoyance and also the threat she brought down upon everyone. The enemy was very devious and they are all put in constant danger which keeps you on your toes for most of the book as they all try to keep one step ahead. There are multiple threads of story throughout the book and another story is going on alongside Diana’s which was also good and brought something new, as well as a new character. I liked a lot of the things we find out in this but there are also some heartbreaking moments that bring you down to earth with a thud and make you realise just what is at risk and that nothing should be taken for granted. So, if you’re looking for an action packed story filled with life threatening situations, supernatural powers and a nice dose of sexytime… look no further – I’ll be looking out for book 3.

Black Atonement is the third book in the ‘Vulcan Legacies’ series and this time it took on a different feel as we focus on only one pair of characters.
As the title will suggest - someone has to atone for their sins – and I can think of no one better in this this series to find redemption than Brandi our resident b*tch. Throughout the series we have heard all about her exploits, she was responsible for a lot of hurt and to be honest, I don’t know if I thought she could be a good person but low and behold…. We’re about to see it for real. At the end of book 2 there were some major losses for the good guys and non more so than Daves - who lost his soul mate Lucy at the hands of Ragnor, his father. Dave would have died had it not been for Brandi breaking the rules and resurrecting him and by doing that she discovered that she has found her soul mate but Brandi didn’t believe she was worthy of that gift so the focus of this story is that she will make everything right for Dave in the only way she knows how and that is by aiding him in going into the void to snatch his sister back from Ragnor’s clutches and getting revenge for the loss of his soul mate. Before they can do that though, they must train at the hands of the mysterious Abrahim for the perils that await in the void, where they will be forced to face their own worst nightmares.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a change to have the focus only being on the two characters when we would normally have a lot more and I did miss the others especially with Ally’s cliffhanger ending that had all of my attention. I do realise that this book needed to happen though and it goes a long way into changing my opinion of Brandi. In this we see most of her dirty laundry aired and how she really felt about events that stemmed from her actions and it’s definitely an eye opener because Brandi is indeed full of remorse and also as the Seraph of love that she doesn’t really think she is worthy of love. I liked the journey she went on throughout this because it challenged her in a way that I don’t think she has faced before, she needed to redeem herself to become a better person and by gaining her soul mate in Dave, she had reason to try even more than before. I liked that she had her chance at love and that Dave was given a second chance because it was heartbreaking to see what happened to him and when Brandi saved him, it was telling that it would make a massive connection between them – why she felt the need to save him may also be down to fate too.
Most of the story is about Brandi’s inner turmoil and training to get Jessica back which in itself is good but what I love about these books is the action and we get that later on in the story which as always - is awesome. It’s quite a short story but packed with content as Brandi not only atones but trains, falls in love, attends a ball and travels to the gates of hell in a death defying rescue mission where Brandi will really show how far she will go for love. This was a nice instalment to the series but I’m looking forward to having the gang back together again. 

Beneath Scarlett Valley is an intriguing book and very easy to read and get into.
We meet Cassidy Daniels and her sister Harper as they arrive at Scarlett Valley in search of ‘the Source’. Both Cassidy and Harper are Furors or rage demons -as the myths say- who constantly battle the internal rage and the need to kill. Their parents had become immortal by drinking from ‘the Source’ and had supposedly left clues for their daughters to achieve immortality to so that is all that Harper is interested in…. find the source and become immortal….. but Cassidy doesn’t want that, she wants to die because she doesn’t like what she is but she agrees to help Harper. She starts to rethink her decision however when she meets the schools swimming star – Sebastian – and begins to fall for him but could she ever get a happy ever after? She also finds that there are a few people who aren’t exactly who they’re meant to be and she needs to find out what everyone is up to because Furors don’t really have friends…. So who to trust?
So, as I said, this book was very intriguing and moreish. I liked the set up of the girls being sisters and rage demons, they were both very hot tempered and I thought that got across their rage problem very well. I liked that they were on a sort of quest, like looking for the fountain of youth but in this case ‘the Source’ that when drunk from, will give the drinker immortality and I liked that both Cass and Harper were on opposite sides of the fence about using it because it gave us a view for both for and against using it. A lot of Scarlett Valley’s history is tied to the Furor and I thought that definitely added to the story, we get some folklore that everyone believes is false – but is it? And we also find that the Furor aren’t the only supernatural fish in the pond giving us a glimpse of an enemy and a long ago feud that moulded what happened to both sides. There is also a bit of a side thread of story about missing teens that ties humans into the equation too, especially Sebastian.
I thought all of the characters were likable, there were a few instances when Cass & Harper came across as spoilt b*tches that irritated me a bit but I suppose that could be classed as the mannerisms of a rage demon. I liked Cass and Sebastian’s love connection, they fit well and got along great, it was nice to see her struggle to keep her demon in check more as if she was trying to be the better person and overcome her basic instincts.
The story culminated into a big ending where there are some major reveals and some massive consequences and I’m very curious to see where it’s headed now – this was a good read though and I’ll be looking out for book 2.

Legally Undead is the first book in the ‘Vampirarchy’ series and it was a great introduction into the world of Elle Dupree as she becomes a vampire hunter by circumstance.
Elle is quite happy in her life, studying for her Ph.D. and planning her wedding to her fiancé Greg who is an up and coming lawyer…. Until she arrives home one evening and finds her fiancé in the clutches of a vampire who is currently sucking the life from him, instead of running from the apartment screaming, something clicks in Elle and she runs at the vampire with her trusty wooden letter opener and stakes the sucker! However, just as she does this, the door to her apartment is kicked in and a team of men with information of the attack burst in – they say they’re the clean-up crew but how on earth did they know when & where to turn up? Two things are for sure; 1. Greg’s body has vanished and 2. Elle’s life will never be the same again.
I really enjoyed Legally Undead and found it very easy to read and get into. Elle was a great character to read, you could tell that she was a natural to the life she was thrust into and whilst it did have an impact on her, she seemed to take it all in her stride. I liked her voice throughout the book, she has so many natural reactions that it would be easy to put yourself in her shoes and she injected some humour into the book for some ‘lol’ moments. I liked the team she met and I am curious about all of their stories, we touch a little on some of it but not enough for me and I would like to get to know them all better – Nick was a stand out for me and I liked the way he was there for Elle and how she was brought into the fold. I wasn’t too sold on Malcolm being the love interest, they didn’t seem to gel well enough for me and their intimate scenes didn’t hold a spark, I felt her connection to Nick a lot more and truly thought that he was the more obvious choice for a suitor.

I enjoyed ‘The Ophelia Prophecy’, I don’t read a lot of sci-fi romance and it did make a nice change.
The story was very imaginative as we read about a world where DNA manipulation has created various mutant humans that have become insect-like and are known as ‘the Manti’ who became stronger and more capable than humans. Humans were all but wiped out by an uprising 25yrs previous and now only pockets of humanity exist. One such place is Sanctuary and where our leading lady is from, Asha is an archivist who stores the information regarding the wars and how things were before the Manti took over, this is valuable information because ideally that is what the humans strive to get back to. When she wakes up on the beach one day with no memory of how she got there, her life is about to change in a big way as she wakes up alongside one of the enemy and he decides to take her prisoner. Pax is Manti, a very important one and he can’t afford to leave this human female where he found her, her missing memories are a problem and she needs to be questioned but what is also troubling is that he feels a connection to her, a mating instinct is evoked and he really doesn’t need that complication on his life – never the less, she must now go to his home.
Over the course of their journey they will face many situations that will force them to believe and trust in each other building a bond in spite of both of their secrets. How far will they go to keep each other safe? Is it possible that a prophecy from long ago could come to pass?
I liked both Asha & Pax’s characters; Asha seems to be fragile and docile in the beginning but we soon find out what she is capable of and Pax seems to be fighting a fate that he doesn’t want and is blindsided by this lady appearing in his life. The   relationship that developed between Asha & Pax was great, the connection was immediate but the relationship was not, it was a slow burning thing that took time to develop and I appreciated that especially considering Pax’s mating instinct had been set off from the start. I always like enemy to lovers stories and these two are so far apart that it’s hard to see how they could come together.
As I mentioned above, I enjoyed this book and thought it was very imaginative. The world building was good and created a realistic future that could be plausible where the tables have definitely turned on humanity. The Manti were described well enough that you could really imagine their features and behaviour which I find to be a plus if an author can do that for me. I liked the characters throughout the whole book, they are diverse and aren’t  just two species of Human & Manti because the Manti had varying mutant levels and some are more human than others so there are a lot of sub groups going on aswell. Obviously Asha and Pax’s relationship isn’t the only thing going on in the book and we find that not only do the humans have a small rebellion but the Manti do too and everyone has a different agenda. When we learn the secrets that everyone has been keeping, especially Asha, the action is brought into the plot and we find out where everyone stands leading to danger, life threatening situations, betrayal & misdirection that built to an exciting conclusion with two lovers from opposing sides that could just change everything. My only grumble is that the ending seemed a bit rushed but it did seem to be left open for a possible sequel. This was very different and original and I enjoyed it a lot.