#BookReview: A Dream of Blood and Magic (Spirit Marked, #1) by Olivia Boothe

Underworld meets Kingdom of the Wicked in this forbidden love, rivals to lovers, high stakes, slow-burn gothic contemporary fantasy romance.

A SINISTER DARKNESS BREWS, SOWING THE SEEDS OF WAR. AND AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL IS A YOUNG WITCH WILLING TO RISK IT ALL TO SAVE THOSE SHE LOVES.

When a mysterious crow crash-lands through Avery Jaxon’s Brooklyn apartment window, awakening the elemental magic dormant in her veins, Avery soon discovers her entire life has been a skillfully woven lie, and that even her new avian friend holds secrets of its own, including the answers to her shrouded past.

But pulling back the veil is only the beginning. An ancient prophecy has been set in motion, thrusting Avery into a centuries-old supernatural war between witches and vampires.

Seeking to harness Avery’s rare and ancient power, the most notorious dark arts witch hive in the world is on the hunt to find Avery before she’s captured by Kane, a vampire sworn to protect humankind from the next Spirit Marked—a foretold witch with such immense, raw magic, it will threaten to destroy all life on Earth.

Now, to save humanity and protect her friends, Avery must learn to control her potent magic, all while building an alliance with the warrior vampire sent to seize her. Their destinies are more entwined than either could have ever foreseen. But despite the magic that binds their paths and the enigmatic attraction growing between them, Avery struggles to trust the man born to be her enemy.

However, Kane’s not the only vampire thirsting for the honeyed taste of Avery’s blood...someone else also seeks to wage a war against her heart. 

In the end, Avery must not only grapple with the painful truth behind her family’s past, but she’ll need to accept the journey laid out before her. For not only do the lives of those she loves depend on it, but so do the lives of every mortal and immortal creature alike.

Intended for audiences 18 years+ 

A Dream of Blood and Magic is a gothic, contemporary (modern world) fantasy romance intended for audiences 18 years+.

Please see below for the full list of content/trigger warnings:

Blood and gore, death and graphic violence, explicit language, some sexually explicit content, stalking, abductions, mention of young girls being trafficked for blood, mention of mental illness and emotional childhood trauma.

Reader discretion is advised.

Additional tropes/content: multiple POVs (prologue and interlude in 3rd person, rest of book in 1st person), rivals to reluctant allies (to lovers in second book), forced proximity, found family, ancient prophecy, supernatural war, elemental magic, vampire & witch lore, bratty FMC & broody MMC, spirit-animal shifters, time and space bending powers, dreams and visions, villainous twin, portal magic, traveling between realms, and fast-paced action.

A Dream of Blood and Magic is book one in the Spirit Marked series and is not a standalone novel. .

Ready to join Avery on her magical journey toward self-discovery and epic love? Then let’s go! Your adventure awaits….

#BookReview: Princess of Air (Elements of Royalty #1) by Natalie Cammaratta

Kingdom. Family. Love.
Which will shatter? Which can she save?

Air may not pummel, scorch, and drown like the other elemental magics, but with Arabella wielding it, it might be the strongest power.

When the Queen reveals the heir to her throne will be determined by a competition rather than birthright, the first born Prince of Earth’s rage quakes the palace, and Arabella feels the shock to her bones.

Trials between four siblings—four elements—are bound to be quite the show. Enough to distract from escalating problems throughout the continent.

Arabella will already have a new title soon, but her betrothal does not change the fact that she must compete. If the crown would let her have more moments that ignite her skin and send her heart racing with Tomas, this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s his dark hair and blue eyes that pool heat in her belly.

Alas, if she wins, she’ll spend the rest of her life facing everything she can’t have.

Princess of Air is the spicy first book in the Elements of Royalty epic fantasy romance series. This whirlwind adventure is perfect for lovers of snarky heroines, gripping tension, and steamy desire.

#BookReview: The Love Hack by Sophie Ranald

She’s a rookie advice columnist. He’s her office crush. It’s about to get complicated.
Landing a new job as online agony uncle “Ask Adam” Lucy dishes out relationship tips to men. But when it comes to her own love life, she’d rather spend Friday nights curled up on her sofa with Netflix and her cat, Astro. That is, until she meets Ross, her new co-worker who makes her snort with laughter at his silly jokes and sets off butterflies in her stomach when his hazel eyes meet hers over his laptop. After her last work boyfriend broke her heart, Lucy swore she’d never fall for someone in the office again. And she’s just about to have two more good reasons not to.

An email has just landed in the “Ask Adam” inbox and Lucy is convinced it’s from Ross. He’s most definitely not single. As her advice column goes viral and her inbox overflows with problems, Lucy turns to her AI assistant for help decoding romantic troubles, including her own. Can her state-of-the-art cupid really help her navigate her feelings for Ross? Or will the truth behind “Ask Adam” turn her non-existent love life into a hot mess? 
A totally heart-warming, feel-good, and relatable romantic comedy that will have you laughing and crying as you race through the pages. If you love Sophie Kinsella, Emily Henry and Beth O’Leary, you’ll instantly fall for The Love Hack.

#BookReview: The Accidental Sereph (Carran Hollow Fated Mates) by Maci Aurora

When Atlas Black, a bad boy with a reputation in Carran Hollow, walks into The Hole-in-the-Wall bar investigating a demon sighting, it’s mostly business as usual until he comes face-to-face with his calix—his fated-mate. Except Ivy Day, oblivious to the world of serephs and demons, thinks she’s stranded in Carran Hollow because a stupid bus has broken down. She just needs a ride to get to the next bus in order to get to her sister across the country. While the guy in the bar hitting on her is hotter than any human has the right to be, unless he’ll give her a lift, she doesn’t have any patience for anything else. But little does she know, Atlas is about to take her on the ride of her life—that is, as long as they can get through the demons.

#BookReview: A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies #1) by Stacia Stark

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ABOUT THIS BOOK: 

For years, when I fell asleep, I dreamed of a man with blazing green eyes and a cruel smile. 

The day I meet him, the ruthless mercenary leaves me for dead. 

Just hours after humans are born, the gods take what little power we have. In return, they protect our borders from the vicious, merciless fae. 

The humans who manage to keep their power are known as the corrupt.
And they are burned. 

When my forbidden power is discovered, I’m forced to flee my tiny village and the life I adore. 

To survive, I make a desperate bargain with the mercenary who abandoned me at my weakest. 

Our deal is simple: I’ll help him and his mysterious friends sneak into the city. And he’ll help me learn to wield the strange, dark power I’ve always kept hidden. The power that may just be the key to my survival. 

But the ruthless mercenary is hiding secrets of his own. Secrets that threaten the safety of everyone I love. Secrets that could tear this kingdom—and perhaps even this world—apart. 

Please note: A Court This Cruel and Lovely is an NA/adult romantasy book with steam. While this series is slow burn, the chili pepper rating will increase for each book.

#BookReview: Hunted by Wolves and Shadow by Jo Holloway

*He's a monster in need of redemption.
*She's the granddaughter of a witch, out for revenge.
*Their paths might lead to each other... but a wolf and a witch were never meant to be.

Emi has visited Grandma’s cottage often before, but this time the Mist is thicker, the beasts are too close . . . And the handsome stranger who answers her frantic knock is definitely NOT her Grandma Ruby.

Wolf had one job. Kill the witch and end the curse plaguing his found family. Instead, the forest feels more menacing than ever when a fiery redhead comes screaming out of the Mist.

Trapped together by the dangers outside the door, Emi and Wolf find unexpected chemistry sparking between them. But when explosive secrets come out, their bond shatters.

While Emi struggles to face her family's sordid truth, Wolf fights to keep his protective instincts under control. He needs to figure out what went wrong, not deal with this fiesty new problem who gets under his skin. Neither trusts the other, but if they hope to break free from the Mist, they'll have to learn to trust their hearts. Because the fate of every lost soul in these cursed woods depends on it...

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HUNTED BY WOLVES AND SHADOW is one of ten books in the Enemies Ever After series, a collection of standalone short novels featuring enemies-to-lovers fairy tale retellings with a touch of steam.

#BookReview: When We Lied (Fairview Hockey #2) by Claire Contreras

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

A brand new hockey romance from New York Times Bestselling Author Claire Contreras set in the same world as Until I Get You...

Finneas Alexander Barlow is a walking thirst trap. Tall, hot, and broody. Tousled brown hair, chiseled jaw, alluring green eyes, perfect teeth, well-groomed beard, broad shoulders, and lips good enough to bite. He’d look like a Disney prince if the prince was a broody ahole.

Four years ago, a fated meeting led to an inevitable hook-up. Just one. It’s his rule. One-time hook-ups, no information exchanges, and no repeats. I knew that even before he established his boundaries, and he kept his promise. I hadn’t seen or heard from him since.

A year ago, when tragedy struck, he came back to town and sought me out. Gone was the disarming grin and the innuendos he’d once used to make my knees go weak. Unfortunately, his ire was equally debilitating. Now he’s back as the face of Fairview’s brand new professional hockey team and he’s looking for answers I don’t have. Finn won’t accept that, though. He’s as determined to uncover my secrets as I am to keep them. He pushes as hard as I pull. It’s only a matter of time before the rope snaps. Now I can only hope I'm the one left standing.

BookReview: Passenger Princess (Evergreen Park #1) by Morgan Elizabeth

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

A sexy, Bodyguard, Grumpy/Sunshine, Celebrity romance from best-selling author, Morgan Elizabeth.

Who knew applying to be the next Miss Americana while you’re drunk on tequila would actually 
get anywhere? But that’s exactly what happened to Ava when she wanted an excuse to promote her best friends’ new businesses. She never even expected to get past the first round of auditions, much less win the beauty pageant, and now here she is, wearing a silk sash and a crown on her head, trying to picture what the next three months is going to look like. As the newly crowned Miss Americana, she’s off on a three-month press tour, visiting all 50 states as part of her contract. 

For a girl who loves adventure, it’s a dream come true, except for two hiccups. The first one being the morality clause and long list of rules the organization is forcing her to live by while wearing the crown. And second, and probably the worst one, is the delicious sexy, yet grumpy driver-slash-bodyguard assigned to keep her in line. 

Jaime normally spends his days as head of security for the world-famous rock band Atlas Oaks, but when they take a break from touring, he’s excited for a change of pace. Until he learns his new assignment is the gorgeous and ever-frustrating pageant princess who gets under his skin in more ways than one.

When he learns Ava has made it her mission to drive him crazy—by constantly looking for a new hit of endorphins by toeing the line as well as by flirting with him endlessly—he realizes what he thought would be a simple assignment is anything but. Now if only he can survive the next ninety days keeping his hands to himself and off the woman he can’t get out of his head.

#BookReview: Nights of Obedience by Rachel Mays

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Emilie 
I never asked to marry King Cyrus, the ruler of the neighboring realm. But after his wife passed away, my parents saw an opportunity to gain his favor. They didn’t hesitate to offer my hand in marriage. Despite the circumstances, I’m determined to make the best of the situation. After all, becoming royalty comes with plenty of advantages. But first I’ll have to get past an unexpected obstacle—the king’s brother, Ladon. 

Ladon 
I’ll do anything to protect my family, even if it means sabotaging my brother’s upcoming marriage. I know the truth—that Emilie is a money-hungry opportunist who is unfit to be the queen. I'll do whatever it takes to see their engagement come to an end. She thought she was entering paradise, but I’m going to give her hell. 

Until disaster strikes... 
Now, we only have each other. Working together might be the only way to survive the twisted games we’ll be forced to play. 

Author’s Note: Nights of Obedience is the first book in the Vines & Venom duet, a spicy, enemies-to-lovers romantasy. This book features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For a complete list of content warnings, check the author’s website.

#BookReview: Into a Wicked World (A Wholesome Romance in Oz #1) by @JordanRileySwan

Lions, and tigers, and an emotionally unavailable woodsman, oh my. 

When Dorothy Gale said she wanted to get as far away from her narcissistic mother as she possibly could, she didn’t mean an entirely new world altogether. Mystically transported to the Land of Oz, the Kansas college student must navigate the dangers of angry trees, poisonous poppies, and wicked witches, all on her quest to find the Wizard who might be able to get her home.

It doesn’t take Dorothy long to assemble a group of unlikely allies—including a talkative-yet-naïve scarecrow, a princely lionman, and a woodsman whose looks are as sharp as the magical axe on his hip. But when the seemingly cold-hearted woodsman escorting Dorothy through Oz begins to warm her own heart, she starts wanting more than just a return trip to Kansas. 

Enchanted by a curse that has earned him the nickname Tinman, Nick Chopper just wants to live his lonely life safe in the Blue Forest with the nonjudgmental Fighting Trees and the occasional trip into town for some Munchkin desserts. But his routine is about to be blown away when Glinda the Good orders him to escort a whirlwind of a woman, who has just flown in from a faraway land, to the bustling Emerald City. 

Every moment with Dorothy makes his curse harder and harder to bear. But being around her starts to feel worth the pain, and Nick slowly begins to hope that Dorothy will find that home is where the tin heart is…

#BookReview: Seeker (The Sentinel Archives #1) by Samuel Griffin

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

"Today I am equipped with the knowledge that my future was to be far greater, more exciting, and more disturbing than anything so simple as my young imagination could then conjure. Indeed, looking back, my forecast was positively quaint. I ask myself a question often, and it is this: if I had understood all that was to befall me, would I have run, that day, or exulted? 

I find I do not know."

Ancient leviathans have stirred from their long slumber. Their scent song marks where they might be found but only to those who have the means to somewhat hear it: Sentinel Archivists.

Shay Bluefaltlow finds herself training to become such a specialist when she is forced into indentured servitude. Her new home, the city of Fivedock, is strange and unfamiliar, as are her new companions: a belligerent surgeon, a remarkable little boy, and a formidable Sentinel Archivist tasked with teaching Shay the terrifying ways of the trade.

Her unanticipated position requires rigorous training, diligent study and a strong constitution. Shay, afraid she is unequal to the prodigious task but desperate to impress her superior, struggles to prove herself. 

When war breaks out across the Concord, the office of the Sentinel Archivist is threatened by a terrible betrayal. And Shay has secrets of her own.


Packed with era detail to bring the world to vivid life, realistic, but with strong fantastical elements, a rich regency voice, and a bewitching touch of strangeness, Seeker is an immersive first-person fantasy for adults.

Griffin does for regency era fantasy what Robin Hobb did for medieval: this isn’t just a fiction, this is a living and breathing world you dunk yourself in. An intimate journey with real characters. With incredibly accomplished, enchanting prose, and a beating heart of a story.

#BookReview: Root and Bone (Spencer Sisters #1) by Jessica Raney

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

Leona Monroe and her sister, Jewel Spencer, live in Ames, a sleepy little Appalachian town where nothing much happens. When it does, everyone knows everything—at least they think they do. The Spencer sisters have more insight. They come from a long line of Granny Women—healers, confidence keepers, and powerful magic wielders—able to see into the future, manipulate the natural world around them, and commune with the dead.

When a girl is brutally murdered, it’s clear the local law enforcement has no idea what’s really at play. So it falls on Leona and Jewel to dig deeper into the mystery. In the middle of the investigation, strangers come to Ames who prove powerful and dangerous, setting Leona and Jewel at odds with dark magic, vengeful ghosts, and each other.

With the help of a friendly spirit, the vast knowledge of their mentor, Granny Kay, and their own powerful magic, Leona and Jewel must work together to counter the evil descending upon their town. But their insecurities and fears prevent them from stopping another murder. They need to get it together. If their magic and sister bond isn’t strong enough, their town will fall to darkness along with everything they hold dear.

#BookReview: Twisted Truths (Midnight Manor #4) by @PetiteRayne

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

My life changed forever the day I saved Obsidian Voss from drowning in the ocean.

When my father lands himself in trouble, I take a job working for Obsidian, one of the country’s most famous billionaires. It doesn’t take long for me to realize that there’s more behind the façade he presents to the world—a darker, more dangerous side.

Still, I’m drawn to him. As he introduces me to a world I never knew existed, I find myself falling for him. But I’m torn because I came to Midnight Manor with a hidden agenda, and I’ve been lying to Obsidian from the start. Eventually, he’s going to find out. 

My secret will change everything. And if Obsidian really is the monster he thinks he is, what will he do to me?

A dark contemporary billionaire romance with a tortured hero, touch her and die, and secret society tropes from USA Today Bestselling Author duo P. Rayne.

#BookReview: The Dread Merchant by Todd Knight

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

An apocalyptic virus. A stolen cure. A life-or-death decision. 
Two weeks after the mysterious "Scratch 'n Sniff" outbreak began in Boston, the world has descended into chaos and darkness.

Nick Ritter, an expert crisis consultant, shelters with his newfound family at a camp near the Canadian border. A harsh winter is coming, and time is running out to reach his survival ranch in New Zealand.

But Nick holds the key to stopping the a stolen vial of Dr. Teddy Monroe's vaccine. Now the group faces a life-or-death save themselves or save the world.

As the deadly virus and frigid winter close in, the family grapples with their new 

Abby Blackwell, a postpartum teen mother, reels from the arrival of her newborn twins, Max and Lily. They bring an unexpected surprise, and Abby considers the returning her babies to Dr. Monroe.

Brian Donahue, a reawakened warrior, and his wife and daughter, Tracy and Zoe, thrive from their fresh start. But a powerful ally forces them to a lonely future or a haunted past.

Dana Foster, a battle-scarred doctor, accepts the broken world and opens her heart to Nick. But when she uncovers a dark secret, she questions if Nick is really the man she hoped.

T.J. Chandra, a humbled startup CEO, worries the monstrous Kurt Hunziker will return for a violent revenge. An old friend offers T.J. a the easy life or the good life.

Herman and Mikey Reed, grandfather and grandson handymen, settle into the family they so desperately needed. Until a surprise arrival unleashes the harsh world they hoped to leave behind.

Now Nick must call on his disaster-planning skills to survive, facing off against the enraged Dr. Monroe, who will stop at nothing to reclaim his newborn twins. As Nick unravels Monroe's plan, he awakens something bigger and more sinister than he ever imagined.

The Dread Merchant is the highly anticipated sequel to Todd Knight's bestselling debut novel, The Posh Prepper. It is the second book in The Posh Prepper trilogy.

The Dread Merchant is a dark, tense, fast-paced apocalyptic thriller with an unforgettable cast of complex characters. Perfect for fans of T.L. Payne, Grace Hamilton, and Kyla Stone.

*This book includes strong language, graphic violence, and mature themes.*

#BookReview: Wicked is the Reaper (Cursed Captors #1) by Nisha J. Tuli

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ABOUT THIS BOOK:

It’s the day of the Hunt, and I've always known it would decide my future. The man who brings the largest stag to the feet of my father will win my hand in marriage.

My oldest friend and the greatest hunter in Aetherus is favored to win, and we've planned our entire lives together.

That is, until the Reaper, the monster who haunts the trees, arrives with the largest stag in the forest and claims me as his own.

Wicked is the Reaper is a steamy adult fantasy romance novella perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Raven Kennedy.

Please Note: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, and sex. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age.