#boston underworld book series
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I'm torn because in a sense I'm tired of reading pjo, don't get me wrong like it's about time these kids had some rest, found some peace and lived their lives without the constant danger, I'm feeling tired for them feeling tense all the time, only waiting for worst to happen and it keeps on happening. I want it to stop, I want all of this to stop, these demigods to live, to just lead a normal life.
But on the other hand I'm not ready to leave them yet, I want Rick to write more so I can read more, so I can know more about them, so I can live with them. I want more books and I want more series.
At this point honestly, if Rick just wrote a whole series of the demigods just living their lives normally without anything ever happening to them, a boring life were you just follow a routine, I will fucking dig it up.
Why can't we just read about them without them being in constant danger?? Don't you guys feel bad for Percy? Boy spent years going on quests and doing missions, he deserves a real rest.
So this dilemma lead me to the idea of next generation/s, I'd like to read about something in the future of the same timeline/universe setup of pjo hoo toa, it could be their kids or their grandchildren, just imagine how lovely would it be?
It's like watching the legend of Korra after watching the last airbender lol, you'll see Katara and hear all of them talking about Aang and all of that, and you'll feel the nostalgia because you've been their, you lived with them.
Imagine percabeth's great grandchildren going to camps to train and learn and they hear all these stories about their ancestors and how they saved the world, imagine them accidentally stumbling across solangelo's great grandchildren and they befriend each other without knowing that their families go way back.
And then these kids will have their own adventures (they'll suffer now that they're our new squad lol) and how fun it'll be for us as readers if let's say, one time they go on a quest to retrieve something we're familiar with, like Riptide maybe? Idk.
And a huge bonus!! That they'll at some point seek the huntres and I know they'll spend the long nights hearing stories about the great demigods from Thalia and Reyna. They'll tell them every big and small story, even the time Percy arranged with Hermes for his and Annabeth's anniversary in exchange for looking for his staff. They'll tell them about the cocoa puffs and how Nico always slept with them, and I just know one of them will be determined to descend to the underworld to meet them (because Nico is now dead and in the underworld with Hades and his cocoa puffs and possibly Will).
And at some point they'll have to cross Boston for some reason and oh my god they'll meet Magnus and Alex and they'll stay at the Chase house for a while also hearing some stories from Magnus and shopping from Blitzen.
Rick this's my petition to have mercy on Percy and our lovely demigods and let them live in peace but please don't quit writing, I breath your books more than oxygen at this point<3
#percy jackson#annabeth chase#percabeth#nico di angelo#william andrew solace#will solace#solangelo#percy jackon and the olympians#percy jackson and the olympians#pjo#heroes of olympus#hoo#pjo hoo#the trials of apollo#trials of apollo#toa#pjo hoo toa#magnus chase#alex fierro#fierrochase#magnus chase and the gods of asgard#mcga
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🎉🎉EXCERPT REVEAL🎉🎉
So excited to be sharing an exciting excerpt from Katelyn Brehm’s upcoming paranormal mafia romance–check it out and preorder HER DARK SALVATION today!
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/mlMEE9
~*~
ANNA
A made man in the Italian Mafia. An immortal blood demon. I never imagined he’d become my dark salvation.
My midlife awakening wasn’t going as planned. I’d wanted to prove I was more than a mousey professor, that I could handle life outside the walls of academia. Turns out, I’d underestimated the real world.
My new boss was arrogant, domineering, and dangerous, and he turned me into a live wire that sparked under his thirsty stare. But he wasn’t just thirsty for my body. He craved my blood.
I should have quit, should have run away screaming. Instead, I ran right into Marco DeVita’s arms.
MARCO
Heritage. Family. Blood. The bonds that had tied me to the Boston underworld for almost a century were unbreakable. Or so I thought.
Someone in my crew had been stealing from me, had betrayed our family. But to ferret out the snake, I’d needed an expert to find proof.
Anna Barone was a distraction I couldn’t afford. Her brilliant mind, hot temper, and even hotter body made my fangs ache with need.
I was trapped between my desire and my duty to protect. Because in my world, everything comes at a price.
******
HER DARK SALVATION is the first book in the Bonded in Blood series. Each book is an interconnected, standalone Paranormal Mafia Romance with a guaranteed HEA.
#author#KatelynBrehm#bookboyfriend#authorsofinstagram#booklove#books#tbr#toberead#bookstagram#ParanormalRomance#ContemporaryRomance#MafiaRomance#HerDarkSalvation#BondedinBlood#excerptreveal
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hi tina! i saw your goodreads account was set on private, i personally don't have an account so sadly can't add you but can i maybe ask your favourite books? im quite new to 'reading books' and could use some suggestions! :p <3
Hi! Of course you can! These are some of my favorites... I hope you'll enjoy them too if you decide to pick them up:
the simple wild by k.a. tucker
by any other name by j.m. darhower
playboy pilot by penelope ward and vi keeland
the devils series elizabeth o'roark
boston underworld series by a. zavarelli
the sweetest oblivion by danielle lori
antihero inferno series by lily white
wait for you by jennifer l. armentrout
Also, I warmly recommend you to create an account on goodreads. The site could use many improvements but it's an amazing and neverending source for always finding new books to read. Either way, I wish you exciting descent into the world of books and reading — it's one of my favorite things to do! ♡
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REVIEW
Landslide by Adam Sikes
A Mason Hackett Espionage Thriller #1
Excellent debut novel by an author that has a bright future – I am sure that as more books are written they will get even better.
What I Liked
* Mason – banker, businessman, trouble shooter, travels to difficult locations to meet with shady characters, ex-Marine, has survivor’s guilt and PTSD, trust issues, closed off, provds to be more than I first expected
* Delgado – Mason’s friend and colleague in the marines, has a hold on Mason, plays a big part in this story
* The plot, pacing, writing and international setting
* The intrigue and international travel
* The fast-paced rollercoaster ride provided
* That the story is pertinent to current world events
* That I easily visualized the story as it was
* The direction the story is moving
* That there will be another book in the series
What I Didn’t Like
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The twists and turns along with surprises that kept me guessing
* The loss of life that occurred reminding me of war and the evil it truly is
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
BLURB
International Arms—Private Military Companies—Corruption at Every Turn
U.S. Marine veteran Mason Hackett moved to London to start his life over, and he’s done his best to convince himself that what happened fifteen years ago doesn’t matter—the people he killed, the men he lost, the lives he ruined. But when Mason sees the face of a dead friend flash on a television screen and then receives a mysterious email referencing a CIA operation gone bad, he can no longer ignore his inner demons.
Driven by loyalty and a need to uncover the truth, Mason launches on a perilous journey from the Czech Republic to Romania toward the war-torn separatist region in eastern Ukraine to honor a fifteen-year-old promise. The answers he seeks—the fate of a friend and his connection to the underworld of international arms dealers and defense corporations—throw Mason into the cauldron of a covert war where no one can be trusted.
Perfect for fans of Daniel Silva and Brad Thor
AUTHOR BIO
Since I was a little boy toddling around Boston, I’ve loved reading, writing, great fiction, history, current events, and piles and piles of books. However, becoming an author has been an unorthodox journey.
In addition to diving into J.R.R. Tolkein, Stephen King, Robert Ludlum, and Bernard Cornwell long before I truly understood what I was reading, I wanted to be a US Marine. I blame my grandparents and parents for this, and for the first ten years of my professional life, I was a Marine infantryman serving around the world both in and out of warzones. But whenever I went overseas, the books and notepads came with me.
After ten years I left the Marines, worked as a consultant for a time, and then was recruited by the CIA to be a paramilitary officer. I won’t go into the details of my time with the Agency except to say that this was when I started gravitating toward becoming a professional writer.
Since then, I co-authored Open Skies: My Life as Afghanistan’s First Female Pilot with Niloofar Rahmani, and my debut novel, Landslide, released on 20 September 2022. I’ve also worked with other writers as a developmental editor on books concerning the Kennedys and the Vietnam War, as well as forthcoming science fiction novels. I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Robert Ludlum’s former editor, Richard Marek, and the professionals who brought Die Hard, Death Wish, and American Sniper from print to screen. To say I feel lucky would be an understatement.
I received both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Georgetown University and now live on the West Coast. You can find a list of my favorite books and those I consider noteworthy under The Reading Corner. Feel free to check back frequently for updates and new reviews.
Website: https://www.adamsikes.com/about/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Adam_R_Sikes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_r_sikes/
#Adam Sikes#NetGalley#Oceanview Publishing#Espionage#Thriller#War#Kidnapping#Torture#Suspense#International Intrigue#Fiction
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Holidays 10.3
Holidays
Brenda Lee Day (Lithonia, Georgia)
California Clean Air Day
Francisco Morazan Day (Honduras)
Fullmetal Alchemist Day
German Unity Day
Leiden Day (Netherlands)
Look at the Leaves Day
Mean Girls Day
Mickey Mouse Club Day
Morazán Day (Soldier’s Day; Honduras)
National Boyfriend Day
National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day
National Education Day (Kiribati)
National Family TV Show Day
National Techies Day
National Virus Appreciation Day
National Wide Awakes Day
Oktoberfest ends (Munich, Germany; began Sep. 17)
Oschophoria (Ancient Greece)
Relief of Leiden Day (Netherlands)
Stevie Ray Vaughan Day (Texas)
Universal Children's Day (UN)
Virus Appreciation Day
World Temperance Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
Dionysus’ Day
Global Smoothie Day
National Caramel Custard Day
National Soft Taco Day
1st Monday in October
Blue Shirt Day [1st Monday]
Child Health Day [1st Monday]
Day of Unity [1st Monday]
National Consignment Day [1st Monday]
Peat-Cutting Day (Falkland Islands) [1st Monday]
Supreme Court Opening Day (US) [1st Monday]
World Architecture Day [1st Monday]
World Habitat Day (UN) [1st Monday]
Independence Days
Iraq (from UK, 1932)
National Foundation Day (a.k.a. Gaecheonjeol or Kae Chun Jul; Korea)
Feast Days
Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint)
Adalgott (Christian; Saint)
Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)
Eccentricity Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)
Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair (a.k.a. The Two Ewalds; Christian; Saint)
Feast of Free Spirits
Festival of Bacchus
Francis Borgia (Christian; Saint)
George Bell and John Raleigh Mott (Episcopal Church)
Gerard of Brogne (Christian; Saint)
Gluck (Positivist; Saint)
Gomer Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Hesychius of Sinai (Christian; Saint)
Maximian of Bagai (Christian; Saint)
Penny Pig (Muppetism)
Szilárd Bogdánffy (Christian; Blessed)
Théodore Guérin (Christian; Saint)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]
Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 19 of 24)
Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [19 of 24]
Fatal Day (Pagan) [19 of 24]
Fortunate Day (Pagan) [40 of 53]
Premieres
Black Lagoon (Anime Series; 2006)
Boston Legal (TV Series; 2004)
Dark Angel (TV Series; 2000)
Death Note (Anime Series; 2006)
Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple (Album; 2005)
Friday Night Lights (TV Series; 2006)
Genesis, by Genesis (Album; 1983)
Gone Girl (Film; 2014)
The Maltese Falcon (Film; 1941)
The Mickey Mouse Club (TV Series; 1955)
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Film; 2008)
One-Trick Pony (Film; 1980)
Out of the Blue, by Electric Light Orchestra (Album; 1977)
Painted Rhythm, recorded by Stan Kenton (Song; 1945)
Pushing Daisies (TV Series; 2007)
Real Gone, by Tom Waits (Album; 2004)
The Secret Commonwealth, by Philip Pullman (Novel; 2019) [The Book of Dust Trilogy #2]
School of Rock (Film; 2003)
She’s Not There, by The Zombies (Song; 1966)
The Stand, by Stephen King (Novel; 1979)
Star Wars Rebels (Animated TV Series; 2014)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated TV Series; 2008)
Timeless (TV Series; 2016)
Underworld, by Don De Lillo (Novel; 1997)
Yeoman of the Guard, by Gilbert & Sullivan (Comic Opera; 1888)
Zenyatta Mondatta, by the Police (Album; 1980)
Today’s Name Days
Ewald, Udo (Austria)
Dionizije, Kandida, Svjetlana (Croatia)
Bohumil (Czech Republic)
Mette (Denmark)
Eevald, Eevo, Evald, Evert (Estonia)
Raimo (Finland)
Gérard, Sybille (France)
Bianca, Ewald, Paulina, Udo (Germany)
Dionysis (Greece)
Helga (Hungary)
Gerardo (Italy)
Elza, Gudruna, Ilizana (Latvia)
Alanta, Evaldas, Kristina, Milgintas (Lithuania)
Evald, Evelyn (Norway)
Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Ewald, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Heliodor, Józefa, Kandyd, Sierosław, Teresa (Poland)
Stela (Slovakia)
Francisco, Gerardo (Spain)
Evald, Osvald (Sweden)
Dennis, Denise (Ukraine)
Erskine, Esmond, India, Kali, Kallie, Kelvin (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 276 of 2022; 89 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 1 of week 40 of 2022
Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 3 of 28]
Chinese: Month 9 (Júyuè), Day 8 (Ji-Chou)
Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)
Hebrew: 8 Tishri 5783
Islamic: 7 Rabi I 1444
J Cal: 6 Shù; Fiveday [6 of 30]
Julian: 20 September 2022
Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter
Positivist: 24 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Gluck]
Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 8 of 15]
Season: Autumn (Day 11 of 90)
Zodiac: Libra (Day 9 of 30)
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Holidays 10.3
Holidays
Brenda Lee Day (Lithonia, Georgia)
California Clean Air Day
Francisco Morazan Day (Honduras)
Fullmetal Alchemist Day
German Unity Day
Leiden Day (Netherlands)
Look at the Leaves Day
Mean Girls Day
Mickey Mouse Club Day
Morazán Day (Soldier’s Day; Honduras)
National Boyfriend Day
National Butterfly and Hummingbird Day
National Education Day (Kiribati)
National Family TV Show Day
National Techies Day
National Virus Appreciation Day
National Wide Awakes Day
Oktoberfest ends (Munich, Germany; began Sep. 17)
Oschophoria (Ancient Greece)
Relief of Leiden Day (Netherlands)
Stevie Ray Vaughan Day (Texas)
Universal Children's Day (UN)
Virus Appreciation Day
World Temperance Day
Food & Drink Celebrations
Dionysus’ Day
Global Smoothie Day
National Caramel Custard Day
National Soft Taco Day
1st Monday in October
Blue Shirt Day [1st Monday]
Child Health Day [1st Monday]
Day of Unity [1st Monday]
National Consignment Day [1st Monday]
Peat-Cutting Day (Falkland Islands) [1st Monday]
Supreme Court Opening Day (US) [1st Monday]
World Architecture Day [1st Monday]
World Habitat Day (UN) [1st Monday]
Independence Days
Iraq (from UK, 1932)
National Foundation Day (a.k.a. Gaecheonjeol or Kae Chun Jul; Korea)
Feast Days
Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint)
Adalgott (Christian; Saint)
Dionysius the Areopagite (Christian; Saint)
Eccentricity Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)
Ewald the Black and Ewald the Fair (a.k.a. The Two Ewalds; Christian; Saint)
Feast of Free Spirits
Festival of Bacchus
Francis Borgia (Christian; Saint)
George Bell and John Raleigh Mott (Episcopal Church)
Gerard of Brogne (Christian; Saint)
Gluck (Positivist; Saint)
Gomer Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)
Hesychius of Sinai (Christian; Saint)
Maximian of Bagai (Christian; Saint)
Penny Pig (Muppetism)
Szilárd Bogdánffy (Christian; Blessed)
Théodore Guérin (Christian; Saint)
Lucky & Unlucky Days
Butsumetsu (仏滅 Japan) [Unlucky all day.]
Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 19 of 24)
Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [19 of 24]
Fatal Day (Pagan) [19 of 24]
Fortunate Day (Pagan) [40 of 53]
Premieres
Black Lagoon (Anime Series; 2006)
Boston Legal (TV Series; 2004)
Dark Angel (TV Series; 2000)
Death Note (Anime Series; 2006)
Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple (Album; 2005)
Friday Night Lights (TV Series; 2006)
Genesis, by Genesis (Album; 1983)
Gone Girl (Film; 2014)
The Maltese Falcon (Film; 1941)
The Mickey Mouse Club (TV Series; 1955)
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Film; 2008)
One-Trick Pony (Film; 1980)
Out of the Blue, by Electric Light Orchestra (Album; 1977)
Painted Rhythm, recorded by Stan Kenton (Song; 1945)
Pushing Daisies (TV Series; 2007)
Real Gone, by Tom Waits (Album; 2004)
The Secret Commonwealth, by Philip Pullman (Novel; 2019) [The Book of Dust Trilogy #2]
School of Rock (Film; 2003)
She’s Not There, by The Zombies (Song; 1966)
The Stand, by Stephen King (Novel; 1979)
Star Wars Rebels (Animated TV Series; 2014)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Animated TV Series; 2008)
Timeless (TV Series; 2016)
Underworld, by Don De Lillo (Novel; 1997)
Yeoman of the Guard, by Gilbert & Sullivan (Comic Opera; 1888)
Zenyatta Mondatta, by the Police (Album; 1980)
Today’s Name Days
Ewald, Udo (Austria)
Dionizije, Kandida, Svjetlana (Croatia)
Bohumil (Czech Republic)
Mette (Denmark)
Eevald, Eevo, Evald, Evert (Estonia)
Raimo (Finland)
Gérard, Sybille (France)
Bianca, Ewald, Paulina, Udo (Germany)
Dionysis (Greece)
Helga (Hungary)
Gerardo (Italy)
Elza, Gudruna, Ilizana (Latvia)
Alanta, Evaldas, Kristina, Milgintas (Lithuania)
Evald, Evelyn (Norway)
Eustachiusz, Eustachy, Ewald, Gerard, Gerarda, Gerhard, Heliodor, Józefa, Kandyd, Sierosław, Teresa (Poland)
Stela (Slovakia)
Francisco, Gerardo (Spain)
Evald, Osvald (Sweden)
Dennis, Denise (Ukraine)
Erskine, Esmond, India, Kali, Kallie, Kelvin (USA)
Today is Also…
Day of Year: Day 276 of 2022; 89 days remaining in the year
ISO: Day 1 of week 40 of 2022
Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 3 of 28]
Chinese: Month 9 (Júyuè), Day 8 (Ji-Chou)
Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)
Hebrew: 8 Tishri 5783
Islamic: 7 Rabi I 1444
J Cal: 6 Shù; Fiveday [6 of 30]
Julian: 20 September 2022
Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter
Positivist: 24 Shakespeare (10th Month) [Gluck]
Runic Half Month: Gyfu (Gift) [Day 8 of 15]
Season: Autumn (Day 11 of 90)
Zodiac: Libra (Day 9 of 30)
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The Empress of Time by Kylie Lee Baker (The Keeper of Night duology (#2)
The Book:
In this riveting sequel to The Keeper of Night, a half Reaper, half Shinigami soul collector must defend her title as Japan’s Death Goddess from those who would see her—and all of Japan—destroyed.
Death is her dynasty.
Ren Scarborough is no longer the girl who was chased out of England—she is the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. But Reapers have recently been spotted in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before Ivy, now Britain’s Death Goddess, comes to claim her revenge.
Ren’s last hope is to appeal to the god of storms and seas, who can turn the tides to send Ivy’s ship away from Japan’s shores. But he’ll only help Ren if she finds a sword lost thousands of years ago—an impossible demand.
Together with the moon god Tsukuyomi, Ren ventures across the country in a race against time. As her journey thrusts her in the middle of scheming gods and dangerous Yokai demons, Ren will have to learn who she can truly trust—and the fate of Japan hangs in the balance.
My Review:
This is one of those book that are marketed as YA but they could also be marketed as dark fantasy/grimdark as there's violence, gore, and the characters flawed and morally grey.
That said I enjoyed and think that the author developed a fascinating world and intriguing characters.
The world of The Keeper of the Night is complex, dark, and I loved how the author made it so fascinating.
The characters are well developed, not always likeable, intriguing in they're being damaged and flawed.
It could have be a 5* but the brusque start ten years after the first book made being involved a bit harder. A summary of what happened would have helped.
I enjoyed it and enjoyed the series. Can't wait to read the next book by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The Author::
Kylie Lee Baker is the author of The Keeper of Night. She grew up in Boston and has since lived in Atlanta, Salamanca, and Seoul. Her writing is informed by her heritage (Japanese, Chinese, and Irish), as well as her experiences living abroad as both a student and teacher. She has a B.A. in Creative Writing and Spanish from Emory University and is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree at Simmons University. In her free time, she watches horror movies, plays the cello, and bakes too many cookies.
Social Links:
Author website: https://www.kylieleebaker.com/
Twitter: @KylieYamashiro
Instagram: @kylieleebaker
BUY LINKS:
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/the-empress-of-time/9781335915856
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335915856
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-empress-of-time-kylie-lee-baker/1140845005?ean=9781335915856
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Empress-Time-Keeper-Night-duology/dp/1335915850/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WAARQESV0K7P&keywords=the+empress+of+time&qid=1644287068&sprefix=the+empress+of+,aps,251&sr=8-1
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Reading Romance
Updated June 28th, 2021
I read a lot of different types of books, but I’ve never been a romance person. After watching Bridgeton, I decided to give them a try. Here are my thoughts.
Follow me on this journey.
What I’ve Liked:
- They are really quick to get through. I’ve read some 350 page books in a day.
- The plots can be crazy, which is also really fun.
- A lot of the characters are fun and the dialogue can be witty.
What I’ve Not Liked:
- I have an issue with a lot of the romances, as the men seem to sometimes force the women into uncomfortable situations.
Now, let’s talk about what I’ve read:
Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn:
- 2 out of 5 stars.
- I found this couple boring.
- She raped her husband, so no. He shouldn’t have lied, but that’s not an excuse to rape.
Bridgerton: It’s in His Kiss by Julia Quinn:
- 4 out of 5 stars.
- I loved the couple. There was some problems with the male lead deciding to sleep with the female lead, so she’d have to marry him, as he is not his father’s true son. But I still liked their witty dialogue and the female lead was fun.
Bridgerton: When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn:
-2 out of 5 stars
- It’s one of everyone’s favorite books in the series, but I found this couple to be so boring. I feel like she would have been just as happy with her first husband and for the life of me, I don’t get why the guy was so into her. She was boring.
Bridgerton: An Offer From A Gentleman by Julia Quinn:
- 4 out of 5 stars.
- This book had insane energy. It was silly and fun. The man lead jumps out of a window, scales down a tree, and rushes to a cold lake because the female lead got him aroused and he was like: “Um, not now.”
- I didn’t like that Benedict was so dumb not to see that Sophie was the girl he had met three years earlier and I HATED that he kept telling her to be his mistress, even after she told him that wasn’t what she wanted for herself.
- Though the end in the jail was pure insanity and I was here for it.
First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn:
- 2 out of 5 stars.
- While dialogue was witty and the couple was cute, I felt this one dragged on for way too long. I thought it could have been at least 100 pages shorter.
Love is Blind by Lynsay Sands:
-2 out of 5 stars.
- The plot and characters were just too simple.
The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham #1) by Julia Quinn:
-4 out of 5 stars.
- I clearly have a type with couples in Julia Quinn books: they need to be fun, bicker, and have a lot of chemistry. I LOVED Jack and Grace. I loved the charm, wit, and fun of this couple.
A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2) by Kresley Cole
- 2 out of 5 stars
-So...while I like the idea of the world and the overall story that seems to be forming - I COULD NOT get behind the male lead basically raping the female lead throughout the book. Mostly because he hated that she is a vampire (she's actually half) and once he learns she's not a full vampire, he's just like - "My bad. Love you." And she's cool with it?!
- Also, what is going on with all the erection? Because the way I read it, this man was walking around with one for 90% of the novel. I don't know, that just strikes me as very uncomfortable and slightly embarrassing..? I don't know, I'm not a man.
No Rest For The Wicked (Immortals After Dark #3) by Kresley Cole
- 3 out of 5 stars
-Kaderin is cursed or blessed with being an emotionless killing machine. Until she meets Sebastian, a vampire who hates what he is. Confused, she runs and he follows. Kaderin spends most of the novel being a bad ass bitch and Sebastian spends most of the novel discovering that he likes the way she is.
-He decides to help her and that he wants her to achieve her dream, even if it means not getting her.
-It was a fun and fast read and I ALMOST forgive Cole for the grossness of her last novel.
Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night (Immortals After Dark #4) by Kresley Cole
-3 out of 5 stars
- I liked this one more that A Hunger Like No Other. Maybe because Mari was a little bit tougher and stronger than Emma. Or maybe because Bowen seemed to have a better understand of boundaries.
- They were a sweet and fun couple, who didn’t really shy away from their challenges. They actually discussed issues!
- But, I have to take away a half point, because again with the whole werewolf NEEDING to claim his mate thing. With all the erections and sex every which way. It was about much for me, especially as a new romance reader. At times, I found myself thinking: “Please calm down.”
-Another thing I enjoyed was the discussions about “monsters” being people and wanting things “normal” people want.
-But, I have to add this, and it’s really more about the series as a whole: each book is about 350-360 pages and there is a looming evil throughout, but it’s not truly faced until the last 50 pages are so. I’d like this world - which is being set up to be very interesting - to be fleshed out more.
Dark Needs at Night’s Edge (Immortals After Dark #5) by Kresley Cole
- 3.5 stars out of 5
- I've now read 4 of them and have had ALOT of mixed feelings about this series.
- We start with the hero, Conard: a vampire who hunts his own kind. When he drains people, he takes their memories - which has made him a bit. . .unstable. Interesting (as several have said) every male character within the story (some of whom have REALLY mistreated their wives at different times) discuss how Conard is dangerous and should be "put of his misery" and yet - he treats Néomi very well. He doesn't mistreat her and honestly tries to help her - even if it means they may not be together.
- A vampire bounty hunter and a ballerina ghost somehow make a very sweet, angsty, and awesome little romance. It felt free of that "fated mate" stuff from the other novels. Yes, Conard believes that Néomi is his fated mate, but she's also dead. So, there is none of that "have to half you/will stalk you/alpha man" stuff that gets a bit old in the other novels of the series. I really enjoyed the fact that the couple didn't actually sleep together until page 200ish (out of 369). Which was actually nice, because it made me believe that they were a couple who had depth and actually loved each other because of more than being "fated mates". (Not knocking the other couples in the series, but I do sometimes feel that they actually fall for each other only toward the end of their novel.)
-So over all, I liked this one. My favorite so far.
Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark #5) by Kresley Cole
-3 out of 5 stars.
- I liked the main couple just fine - both as a couple and as individuals.
- But, I’m reading these books one after the other - usually one or even two a day - and the formula used for each book is becoming very clear: Male lead finds his fated soul mate and either denies it or goes after her. Female lead is uninterested, but can’t help be drawn to this new guy. The fight or have misunderstandings. They have sex - it’s usual oral. They have more miscommunication. The “big bad” - whose been mention throughout the novel- appears in the last 50-or-so pages. The couple defeat the “big bad”. They get married. It’s getting a bit old - even if I like the characters.
The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2) by Julia Quinn
-4 out of 5 stars.
- Loved the couple and their humor. A fun and quick read. I think I read it in 3 hours?
Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark #6) by Kresley Cole
-2 out of 5 stars.
-While I liked the leads as individuals, I found their relationship to be a bit too toxic for my tastes.
Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks
-3 out of 5 stars
-A light and fluffy read. Our ML was respectful and our FL was sweet. Just a cute morning read. Nothing overly special, but honestly far sweeter than a lot of the romances I’ve read in the last month and a half. I may forget it in a month, but I enjoyed it while I read it.
Untouchable (Immortals After Dark #7) by Kresley Cole
-4 out of 5 stars
-A very interesting read. Who knew you could be creative with ice? I have to admit, I really enjoy the Wroth brothers and their ladies. These men have respect and, unlike some other MLs in this series, they seem to be more willing to let their Brides take the lead.
Demon from the Dark (Immortals After Dark #9) by Kresley Cole
-4 out of 5 stars
-This book just worked for me. Carrow was an amazing heroine and Malcom was a sweetheart. Add in little Ruby and you have one amazing family.
Dreams of a Dark Warrior (Immortals After Dark #10) by Kresley Cole
-4 out of 5 stars
- Regin the Radiant is doomed to relieve her tragic love affair with the berserker Aidan the Fierce. They will meet, fall in love, she will kiss him, and he will die within 24 hours. So far, they have relived this tragic fate 4 times, and this time Regin is determined to NOT let that happen. The problem? Nix gets involved and Regin is captured by The Order - a group of humans bent on killing all Lore creatures. And one of their leaders just so happens to be Declan Chase aka Aidan.
- I loved a lot about this book, such as the way all the stories are really starting to come together and blend into one another. I also loved Regin here - she doesn't break or bend and she understands that Declan isn't a woobie in need of saving (like so many of the other women in this series) - she knows that he has been through something terrible, but she doesn't excuse his actions. It isn't until Declan shows he's trying to change that Regin accepts him.
- A really fun read and maybe my second or third favorite in the series.
Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #11) by Kresley Cole
-4 out of 5 stars
- I have very mixed feelings on this book.
- I loved Ellie - she was intelligent, forward thinking, and strong. She planned her death, twice. She understood Lothaire would come for her and made sure her family was hidden. She decided to seduce a ages old vampire in order to save herself. She often played him like a fiddle.
-But, Lothaire was a complete jerk for 85% of the novel. I get it, he's damaged and he's old and mentally unstable, blah blah blah. To be honest, he didn't make up for his misdeeds - even if he did promise to take Ellie's kid brother Trick-or-Treating. (That was weird, too. Don't make a villain/anti-hero a sudden sugary sweet brother-in-law.)
-And, how could he not see that Ellie was his Bride?! He was physically and mentally attracted to her. With the other one, they didn't seem to have anything in common, expect: we like killing.
-So while I adored the female lead and I liked certain scenes, the book felt off to me.
MacRieve (Immortals After Dark #13) by Kresley Cole
-3.5 out of 4 stars
-While I liked some aspects of the book, MacRieve was so horrible to Chloe. I understand he has past trauma and is in major need of therapy. (Like most of the men in this series.) But, he treats Chloe horribly and while Chloe has a bit of spunkiness, she is also just way too forgiving and nice.
-I also have to take away from half a point because it ends on a cliffhanger that may never be resolved!
A Rogue By Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) by Sarah MacLean
- 4 out of 5 stars.
-This is apparently a Hades and Persephone retelling? I can see that.
- I really enjoyed Penelope, who really just wanted a nice life, but that wasn’t to be. She just had a little too much “darkness” in her and she wouldn’t be happy with anyone but Bourne. Bourne could be a jerk, but his feelings for Penelope was great.
- The side characters who will be getting their own novels? Very excited to see them. I think this was my first Sarah MacLean and it was one I really enjoyed.
Ghost (Boston Underworld #3) by A. Zavarelli
- 3 out of 5 stars.
- I read these out of order, so there were people in this that I want to learn more about.
- This was my first mafia romance and, I believe, was my darkest book yet.
-Talia and Alexei were two very damaged people, who were still damaged together. They didn’t magically become well because of their feelings for one another. They may have healed a bit, but they were still working toward betterment at the end of the novel, and I like the realism of that.
- I read this novel in two days, and despite the darkness of the novel, I really enjoyed it. The writing style was enjoyable and I like the way characters from several different novels came into and out of the story. It’s very clear that A. Zavarelli is working on her own little universe, and I always like when authors do that.
Filthy Rich (Five Points' Mob Collection #2) by Serena Akeroyd
- 4 out of 5 stars.
- Again, read this in a couple of days.
- And again, I really enjoyed that Serena Akeroyd is making her own little universe and dropping hints about future stories.
-Inessa was an interesting character, because while sheltered and innocent, the girl was just waiting to let her inner “darker” sexuality out. I liked her a lot - she could be very innocent and sweet, but also very catty and straight forward.
- Eoghan and Inessa, despite of the large age gap, fit one another so well. They were one another’s missing pieces and they just really fit together.
The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1) by Danielle Lori
-4 out of 5 stars.
-The chemistry between Elena and Nico was really great.
-I enjoyed Elena’s POV - she was attracted to Nico, but she also hated herself a bit for it. Not just because he was supposed to marry her sister (don’t worry, sister is in love with someone else), but also because of her own past.
- Nico was a little harder to read, because we didn’t get as much of his POV.
- Knowing that this is yet another mob series that follows several characters - who are slowly introduced in each book - makes me really excited to meet and read about more characters.
Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #1) by Cora Reilly
- 4 out of 5 stars.
-Aria may be too good and too pure for this world. Luca’s love for her was very sweet. Aria x Luca fan.
- Enjoyable and fast pace.
-I enjoyed the way characters from future novels in the series appeared/made cameos throughout the novel.
-The main couple had a bit too much miscommunication, but they were young and dumb, so I forgive it.
Bound By Duty (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #2) by Cora Reilly
-3.5 out of 5 stars.
-I loved Val. Especially at the start of the novel when her main problem was: “I’m over 20. This is my second marriage. I’m still a virgin. I’ll be damned if I don’t have sex.”
-Dante on the other hand - he took the “Ice King” trope a bit too far. Did he truly love Valentina or was it more about protecting his children and being fond of Val? I’m sorry to sad I didn’t feel like he loved Val as much (or even in the same way) as he loved his first wife.
Bound by Hatred (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #3) by Cora Reilly
-3 out of 5 stars (maybe closer to a 2.5/2.8)
- I know that Matteo and Gianna are a lot of people’s favorites, but their bickering and Slap-Kiss dynamic got a bit old. I also found Gianna really annoying in Bound by Honor, and that didn’t change here.
Bound by Temptation (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #4) by Cora Reilly
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Maybe the most romantic couple? I mean, if a man is willing to start a mob war for you...come on.
Bound by Vengeance (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles #5) by Cora Reilly
- 4 out of 5 stars.
- Maybe Growl/Ryan and Cara are a little unbalance and maybe their relationship is dark and twisted, but it works. Again, get yourself a man who is willing to start a mob war for you.
Twisted Loyalties (The Camorra Chronicles #1) by Cora Reilly
-3 out of 5 stars.
- Like Bound by Vengeance, Twisted Loyalties was a way of tying the two series together. But, I didn’t like this one all that much -
- Fabiano’s obsession with Leona (and it felt like an obsession) actually made me fear for her. Leona was “pure” and safe and reminded him of his sisters with her loyalty toward her mother. So, of course Fabiano would want to be with her. But, it was clear Leona wanted a different path for her life - especially at the start of the book.
-I’m not convinced of Fabiano’s development in this book. He still felt emotionless at the end, and I’m not sure if his love for Leona was actually love or an obsession and a need to have someone like his sisters in his life.
- Leona's innocence and naivety were fine, but she annoyed me at times. She wanted to run and I kind of wish she had made it out of Vegas. Maybe then I’d see the so-called love Fabiano had for her.
- I have to mention the Falcone brothers. We have been hearing so much about how terrible their family is. Here we saw them from Leona and Fabiano’s POVs, and they were just as crazy as promised. Nino, no emotions? Interesting. Remo, a true psychotic. Savio, he’s a child, so his “adult” situations made me uncomfortable. Protect Adamo!
Twisted Emotions (The Camorra Chronicles, #2) by Cora Reilly
-4.5 out of 5 stars
- Nino and Kiara were really cute. Maybe the sweetest couple I’ve read by Cora Reilly. I didn’t care for his cheating, though I get why he did it. I just didn’t like it/find it was needed. And, I wanted/needed more chapters from his POV, because it felt like Nino fell in love too quickly. I want to read their next book.
-Nino is supposed to be "emotionless”, having “turned off” his emotions due to childhood trauma. (This was told to me 1000x in the novel, btw). BUT he tries so hard to be sweet and considerate of Kiara. He buys her a piano! He understands her past trauma and tries (in his own way) of being respectful and protective toward her - even standing up to Remo! He follows Kiara’s lead and it’s actually very sweet.
-Kiara is one of the strongest female leads in this series. Yes, she was scared of men - especially Remo - but that is understandable considering what she lived through. She needed to be protected and I liked that she was able to heal, but she wasn’t completely healed in the end - she still had a ways to go. And, her friendship with Adamo was the cutest thing. They were so sweet with one another! And honestly, despite his ‘I don’t like you or what you’ve done to Nino’ attitude - Remo and Kiara are headed toward brother/sister territory.
Twisted Pride (The Camorra Chronicles, #3) by Cora Reilly
-4 out of 5 stars
-So...Remo is in major need of intense therapy. Like, years of intense therapy and I’m not 100% convinced that Serafina didn’t suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. But, as Serafina muses - she and Remo have a twisted love for one another. It’s clearly not 100% healthy, but it works for them. Serafina is allowed to be herself with him and Remo pulls back (a bit) from his destructive behaviors with her.
-Remo...who knew he could be such a family man? Like, you could tell, when he started to fall for Serafina. He slowly started to try and be a bit of a better person. That scene where they got married? And it was just his brothers, Kiara, Fabiano, and the babies - and Remo said it was fine, because it was just the people that matter? Sweet.
-Serafina stood up for herself and didn’t let Remo phase her (well, not as much as he wanted to) and I loved that. She was strong, self-assured, and she wanted more out of life than what the Outfit was willing to give her.
-Speaking of the Outfit - um, why did they not believe Serafina when she stated - several times - that what they think happened with Remo wasn’t actually what happened? Why did her father and brother treat two BABIES like trash? And they tortured Adamo - a fifteen year old child!
Twisted Bonds (The Camorra Chronicles, #4) by Cora Reilly
-4 out of 5 stars
- I was disappointed to see that 60% of this novel was just Twisted Pride from Nino and Kiara’s POV.
- I feel like this one was not as well written as the past novels in the series. I saw a lot of typos and things didn’t always flow well. That said - I really do love Nino and Kiara.
Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles #5) by Cora Reilly
-2 out of 5 stars
-So, Savio loses all his character development in this novel and Gemma deserves better.
Devil in Winter (Wallflowers #3) by Lisa Kleypas
- 4 out of 5 stars
- I loved Evie and Sebastian. I am reading this out of order, so while I knew Sebastian was the villain of the last book - he was so perfect with Evie here. Is it cliche that the “bad boy” has spent his whole life waiting for the sweet and strong girl - yes. But, did I love it? Also yes.
The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever (Bevelstoke #1) by Julia Quinn
-4 out of 5 stars
- Very sweet and fun friends to lovers romance.
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels #2) by Sarah MacLean
- 4 out of 5 stars
-I know people had issues with Pippa, but I sort of always assummed she was on the spectrim. Cross was really fun - especially when he became so annoyed with Pippa, because she was different and just lived her life.
To Seduce a Sinner (Legend of the Four Soldiers #2) by Elizabeth Hoyt
-2.5 out of 5 stars
-While I enjoyed the writing style, I couldn’t totally love the couple. Japer falls for Melisande, because she’s proper and “not like other girls” or something.Melisande has loved Jasper for 6+ years, but refuses to admit it - even after she marries him and it’s clear he wants a real marriage. Eh.
-I’ll read more from the author, but I didn’t enjoy this one.
The King's Spinster Bride (Aspect and Anchor #0.5) by Ruby Dixon
-2 out of 5 stars.
-While the world building was well done, there weren’t any issues between the couple. He really loved her- he worked his way up to becoming First Warrior for her. She loved him, but was nervous because she was “old”. (She’a 33 and he’s 24). There was also some worry about marriage stuff, but over all, it was just a little read that was neither terrible nor memorable.
Neon Gods (Dark Olympus #1) by Katee Robert
-3 out of 5 stars
-While I enjoyed the main characters, the world building was poorly done. i did like a lot of the supporting characters and hope they get their own books.
Brutal Prince (Brutal Birthright #1) by Sophie Lark
-2 out of 5 stars (DNF’ed at 40%)
-People have been telling me to read Sophie Lark since March, so I picked this up on audio book. The writing is fairly good (though there are some issues with the mafia aspects), but it was the characters that made me DNF this novel.
-First: you have Aida’s family (she’s 20 and her brothers are all older (I think?) and they all decide to crash the party of a family they hate. Why? They are grown people! Aida causes a fire in the house and steals a pocket watch. And...the two families decide they should get married. Again, why...? Just pay for the damage. Since one of the sons was injured: agree to something for that.
-Second: Aida is 20. She’s also VERY immature. She plays tricks on Callum. (She actually eats a strawberry before kissing him - he’s very allegic to them). She curses and talks about how she’s a “tomboy” and how she hates the family she marries into. She’s a fairly horrible, immature, and bratty young womn. I just couldn’t root for her.
-Third: Callum is 30. He’s 30 and acts like a horny teenager. I listen to the male narrtator discuss sex and p*s*y over and over again. While Aida is verbally and physically harmful toward Callum, Callum is physically and emotionally abusive toward Aida.
-Fourth: Two toxic, immature people do not a rootable couple make. I couldn’t stand these two people and was annoyed the whole time I listened to the audio.
-Fifth: I think I would like to read more from the auhor,but this novel REALLY wasn’t for me.
Bad Guy by Ruby Dixon
-1 out of 5 stars
-This should have been half its size. There was noreal development between characters. Eh.
The Bully (Kingmakers #3) by Sophie Lark
- 4 out of 5 stars
-I read this one first, because so many people said it was the best of the series. I hadn’t like Brutal Prince at all, but I loved this one.
-Seeing the development of Dean and Cat was fun. Was Dean actually really childish for a 20+ (I’m guessing he’s 20-21), but I got it.
-Cat was great. I understand a lot of people found her “boring” in book 2, but it’s very clear that she was just waiting for someone or something to let her out of her shell.
-I’m really looking forward to book 4, as that was set up nicely.
Stolen Heir (Brutal Birthright #2) by Sophie Lark
-3 out of 5 stars
-While I liked Nessa a lot - I wasn’t totally sold on the romance.
Deviant King (Royal Elite #1) by Rina Kent
-3 out of 5 stars.
-While I find Aiden toxic, I cannot deny the chemistry between Aiden and Elsa. I don’t like that she gave in to him so quickly - especially as he had made her life horrible for the last three years - but I can forgive it, as this is a “bully” romance.
-The mystery is interesting, as are the hints of future stories with other characters.
-And, where are the adults!?
Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2) by Rina Kent
-3 out of 5 stars
-Now that Aiden has a POV, we can see that he is connected to Elsa’s past. I like that aspect, as well as Aiden trying to win Elsa over.
-And her dead dad is alive?!
-Also, I love Knox.
Twisted Kingdom (Royal Elite #3) by Rina Kent
-2 out of 5 stars.
-While I enjoyed the way the mystery was wrapped up, I’m not totally in love with it. It closed what happenedto both Aiden and Elsa, but it left a few doors opened and really doesn’t paint their fathers in the best lights.
Black Knight (Royal Elite #4) by Rina Kent
-3 out of 5 stars.
-Getting into Kim’s head (and seeing the emotional and mental abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother) made me so sad.
- What was worse is that she was basically abandoned for EIGHT years and bullied by said ex-friends during that time because of a misunderstanding. Yes, they were eleven, but why couldn’t Xander have confronted his dad or Kim’s dad or someone during that time? Why did he have to be horrible to her at every turn? And let others do the same? And, why was he still hanging out with Kir -? I understand that he was looking out for Kim and Kir and that he still loved her (and that this is geared more toward readers in their late teens/early 20s), but - come on!
-Kim forgave Xander way too easily (a trend in this series), and I was a bit uncomfortable with the fact that right after the big secret was out, Xander decided that he wasn’t “holding back” anymore and that he would be with Kim. Like - shouldn’t you go to therapy?
-I liked the characters and some of their interactions (and those building hints for the rest of the series), but I ended the book truly believing all these characters need massive amounts of therapy.
Vicious Prince (Royal Elite #5) by Rina Kent
-2 out of 5 stars.
-Gone is the carefree Ronan of past stories. Here is the “fake smile” Ronan that has carefully been hidden for the last ten years.
-Teal’s master plan of revenge is what drives her, but only for about 20% of the novel. What was interesting was what we were told: she likes men at least 15 years older than her and she enjoys (or believes she would enjoy) some very kinky stuff.
-(Side note: I’m sorry, but - the 17/18 year olds have access to the records of their parents’ sex club? Where are the adults? Yes, it’s explained that the club only takes members who are 18+, but no.)
-Despite protests that he hates her, Ronan falls for Teal, like 20% into the book? And after having sex once - she loves him back? I know this is a series LIGHT on character development, but...what? Yesterday I could barely stand you and today I want us to be together for ever?
-And, we get another childhood tramua story, which played out WAY too fast and was wrapped up WAY to easily.
-I liked Ronan during the other books and Teal could have been really complex, but we got what we got.
#immortals after dark#brigerton#julia quinn#romance#romance novels#reading#reading challenge#bridgerton#kresley cole#sarah maclean#a. zavarelli#boston underworld#boston underworld book series#the rules of scoundrels#five points' mob collection#serena akeroyd#danielle lori#born in blood#born in blood mafia chronicles#cora reilly#the camorra chronicles#lisa kleypas#wallflowers#elizabeth hoyt#katee robert#dark olympus#sophie lark#ruby dixon#kingmakers#rina kent
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Ghost (Boston Underworld #3) headers.
like or reblog if you save it.
© devlinmurph on twitter if you use it.
#ghost#ghost headers#ghost book#boston underworld series#boston underworld headers#alexei and talia#alexei and talia headers#quotes#headers#random headers#books#books headers#book#books quotes#quotes headers
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freak like me
“I need a rough neck brother that can satisfy me”
You guys into reading? It’s my guilty pleasure. Erotic books about dominant males that still includes a kick ass female main character ? Talk dirty to me!!! So i figured id give you guys a little list of some good books if you are looking to start reading more but cant get through a book!!
- Reapers mc series
` It aint me babe
`Crows row
`Boston’s underworld series
`Born in blood series
`Hells handlers series
`Savage kings series
`Chicago defiance series
Enjoy XO
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🎉🎉COVER REVEAL🎉🎉
We are so excited to share the cover for Katelyn Brehm’s HER DARK SALVATION–a gorgeous paranormal romance coming July 18th–pre-order your copy today!
Universal: https://books2read.com/u/mlMEE9
~*~
ANNA
A made man in the Italian Mafia. An immortal blood demon. I never imagined he’d become my dark salvation.
My midlife awakening wasn’t going as planned. I’d wanted to prove I was more than a mousey professor, that I could handle life outside the walls of academia. Turns out, I’d underestimated the real world.
My new boss was arrogant, domineering, and dangerous, and he turned me into a live wire that sparked under his thirsty stare. But he wasn’t just thirsty for my body. He craved my blood.
I should have quit, should have run away screaming. Instead, I ran right into Marco DeVita’s arms.
MARCO
Heritage. Family. Blood. The bonds that had tied me to the Boston underworld for almost a century were unbreakable. Or so I thought.
Someone in my crew had been stealing from me, had betrayed our family. But to ferret out the snake, I’d needed an expert to find proof.
Anna Barone was a distraction I couldn’t afford. Her brilliant mind, hot temper, and even hotter body made my fangs ache with need.
I was trapped between my desire and my duty to protect. Because in my world, everything comes at a price.
******
HER DARK SALVATION is the first book in the Bonded in Blood series. Each book is an interconnected, standalone Paranormal Mafia Romance with a guaranteed HEA.
#author#KatelynBrehm#bookboyfriend#authorsofinstagram#booklove#books#tbr#toberead#bookstagram#ParanormalRomance#ContemporaryRomance#MafiaRomance#HerDarkSalvation#BondedinBlood#coverreveal
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“Raphael” (Deadly Virtue # 1) by Tillie Cole
They are the Fallen. A brotherhood of murderers whose nature compels them to kill. But guided by their leader, Gabriel, the Fallen have learned to use their urges to rid the world of those it is better off without.
For Raphael, sex and death are intertwined. Where there is one, there must be the other. He is a lust killer, luring his victims with the face of an angel and a body built for sin.
And Raphael lives to sin.
His newest mission takes him into the sadistic underworld of Boston’s secret sex clubs, and puts him face to face with his greatest fantasy made flesh.
Maria is everything he’s ever dreamed of, the kill he’s always longed for. She’s not his target. And he knows he must resist. But the temptation is too strong…
Yet Raphael is not the only one with a mission. Maria is not quite what she seems. And as her secrets and Raphael’s unravel, Maria begins to question everything she thought she knew—about evil, about the place she calls home, and about the beautiful sinner she was sent to destroy.
Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains sexual situations, violence, sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and topics some may find triggering. Recommended for age 18 years and up.
The Fallen: Genesis a prequel novella in The Deadly Virtues Series and MUST be read before RAPHAEL (DV: book one).
(thanks to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44591370-raphael)
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It’s been a while since the Top 10 religion and comics installments, and I’ve been meaning to post a number of other comics that didn’t make it into that list but are still worth mentioning in passing. No commentary on these apart from the official blurbs. As always, YMMV reading these.
Testament
Creators: Douglas Rushkoff & Liam Sharp
Publisher: Vertigo (DC Comics)
Date: 2006-2008
From the imagination of best-selling author Douglas Rushkoff, one of the most iconoclastic and acclaimed minds of our era, comes a graphic novel series that exposes the “real” Bible as it was actually written, and reveals how its mythic tales are repeated today. Grad student Jake Stern leads an underground band of renegades that uses any means necessary to combat the frightening threats to freedom that permeate the world. They employ technology, alchemy, media hacking and mysticism to fight a modern threat that has its roots in ancient stories destined to recur in the modern age.
Chosen (American Jesus)
Creators: Mark Millar & Peter Gross
Publisher: Image Comics
Date: 2009
From the writer of the Universal hit, Wanted, comes his next graphic novel on the way to becoming a feature film! American Jesus Volume 1: Chosen follows a twelve-year-old boy who suddenly discovers he’s returned as Jesus Christ. He can turn water into wine, make the crippled walk, and, perhaps, even raise the dead! How will he deal with the destiny to lead the world in a conflict thousands of years in the making?
The 99
Creators: Naif Al-Mutawa
Publisher: Teshkeel Comics
Date: 2007-2014
Young heroes gain superhuman abilities when they bond with 99 powerful gemstones. These Noor Stones were forged from the destruction of ancient Baghdad to preserve the wisdom of the ages, and were lost for centuries, but they are being found, one-by-one…
Vampirella Strikes
Creators: Tom Sniegoski & Johnny D.
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Date: 2013
For years, the raven-haired heroine Vampirella has hunted the world’s supernatural threats, all the while fighting back her own bloodthirsty nature. After a night out in Boston leads to particularly brutal violence, she seeks comfort in her Brownstone home… but discovers the most unexpected surprise of all. Angels have been sent to her by God — and they come asking for help! Enter Janus, a former soldier in the legion of Heaven, who skirts the line between the damned and divine. Only a fallen angel can navigate Vampirella through the seedy, demon-run underworld, where she hopes to find the source of an addictive, body-altering drug derived from archangel blood. Will Vampirella’s mission redeem her… or will she uncover secrets so shocking that their discovery will damn her forever?
Loaded Bible: Jesus vs. Vampires
Creators: Tim Seeley, Nate Bellegarde & Mark Englert
Publisher: Image Comics
Date: 2006-2008
In the near future, nuclear Holy War has decimated North America and humanity’s last stronghold is the dome metropolis of New Vatican City. When vampires attack, the Church turns to a clone of Jesus Christ Himself to protect them! But all is not as it seems for the Test Tube Messiah, as he’s drawn into a web of betrayal, bloodshed, and seduction!
The Sisterhood
Creators: Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski, Wellinton Alves, & Andrew Dalhouse.
Publisher: Archaia (BOOM! Studies imprint)
Date: 2008
The Order of the Holy Sepulchre is an elite group of specially trained nuns, the world’s most powerful exorcists. But they don’t just get rid of the demons they exorcise…the Sisters draw the demons into themselves, using their own bodies as cages of flesh. If they die a natural death, the demons die with them, small pieces of the world’s evil gone forever. But if the Sisters should dies violently…the demons are released into the world again!
Now someone has sent assassins to kill the oldest of the sisters, releasing the captive demons out into the world. Eden Parish is assigned the task of discovering who is behind this massacre, and why. In her journey she will uncover dark secrets about the Order, and about their enemies. And the real reason behind all this murder.
Blankets
Creators: Craig Thompson
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Date: 2003
Blankets is the story of a young man coming of age and finding the confidence to express his creative voice. Craig Thompson’s poignant graphic memoir plays out against the backdrop of a Midwestern winterscape: finely-hewn linework draws together a portrait of small town life, a rigorously fundamentalist Christian childhood, and a lonely, emotionally mixed-up adolescence.
Under an engulfing blanket of snow, Craig and Raina fall in love at winter church camp, revealing to one another their struggles with faith and their dreams of escape. Over time though, their personal demons resurface and their relationship falls apart. It’s a universal story, and Thompson’s vibrant brushstrokes and unique page designs make the familiar heartbreaking all over again.
This groundbreaking graphic novel, winner of two Eisner and three Harvey Awards, is an eloquent portrait of adolescent yearning; first love (and first heartache); faith in crisis; and the process of moving beyond all of that. Beautifully rendered in pen and ink, Thompson has created a love story that lasts.
A Contract with God and other Tenement Stories
Creator: Will Eisner
Date: 1978
This semi-autobiographical work captures with pen and ink the drama of the city and its all-too-human inhabitants. Set in the same Bronx neighborhood as later works Dropsie Avenue and A Life Force, the four stories that comprise the book – “A Contract With God”,”The Street Singer”, “The Super” and “Cookalein” – examine the world of immigrant life in New York City in the 1930s with a unique look at the emotion and character of its denizens.
Warrior Nun Areala
Creator: Ben Dunn
Publisher: Antarctic Press
Date: 1994-2002
Follows the exploits of Sister Shannon Masters who is part of a militant Catholic organisation, the Order of the Cruciform Sword, who protect Church and world from supernatural threats. Plays fast and loose with things Catholic the series still manages to portray characters with genuine faith, humility and the odd bit of theology.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Creator: Michael Mendheim; Mike Kennedy; Sean Jaffe; & Simon Bisley
Publisher: Titan Comics
Date: 2014
Raised by the ancient Order of Solomon, Adam Cahill is one of a rare handful of highly trained warriors bound by bloodline to guard the Seven Holy Seals that contain the End of Days.
But ageless forces have conspired towards a prophetic event foretold by numerous cultures and multiple religions… and when that cryptic date arrives, they strike against the order without mercy!
The Lone and Level Sands
Creator: A. David Lewis and mpMann
Publisher: Archaia (Imprint of BOOM! Studios)
Date: 2005
Pharaoh Ramses II hasn’t seen his long-lost cousin Moses in nearly forty years. Yet while pressed by the Hittites to the North and construction delays in the South, Ramses must make time for this ancient desert rascal, the long-ago mystery he represents, and the impossible demands of an alien deity. Drawing on the Bible, the Qur’an, and historical sources, writer A. David Lewis (Mortal Coils) and artist Marvin Perry Mann (Arcana Jayne) present a retelling of the Book of Exodus through the eyes of the man who is either its greatest leader or its worst villain: a man trying to rule wisely, love his family well, and deal justly in the face of a divine wrath.
Some New Kind of Slaughter, or Lost in the Flood (and How We Found Home Again)
Creator: mpMann & A. David Lewis
Publisher: Archaia (Imprint of BOOM! Studios)
Date: 2009
If there is one constant throughout most of Earth’s historical nations, cultures, and religions, it is the threat and the destruction of the Great Flood. In the wake of the recent Indian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and alarm over global warming, the award-winning creators of The Lone and Level Sands return to plumb the depths of the world’s great myths with this graphic novel exploring how this legendary fear may be more relevant now than ever before. Like Noah, sea-bound Ziusudra and other heroes across time must strive against the coming Floods and the baffling will of the gods.
Judas
Creator: Jeff Loveness & Jakub Rebelka
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Date: 2009
Judas Iscariot journeys through life and death, grappling with his place in “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” and how much of his part was preordained. In a religion built on redemption and forgiveness, one man had to sacrifice himself for everyone…and it wasn’t Jesus.
Kismet: Man of Faith
Creator: A. David Lewis; Noel Tuazon; Rob Croonenborghs; Taylor Esposito; & Tyler Chin-Tanner
Publisher: A Wave Blue World
Date: 2018
Punching Nazis used to be more than a meme. In 1944, it was a vocation. And no one put his gloved fist in the faces of more fascists than the Man of Fate, the Algerian Operative, our man in Occupied France — Kismet.
Then, he disappeared. Gone without a trace…until now.
Back from beyond, Kismet finds a new world of gay rights, quantum physics, and computer technology along with the old evils of bigotry, greed, and ignorance at a crossroads. Twenty-first-century America needs more than a superhero. It needs an ally.
Religion and Comics – Wrap Up It's been a while since the Top 10 religion and comics installments, and I've been meaning to post a number of other comics that didn't make it into that list but are still worth mentioning in passing.
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Here we are, guys! The blurb and cover reveal for RAPHAEL (Deadly Virtues Book 1)!!! Release Day: June 11th (no preorder) Here’s the blurb! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 They are the Fallen. A brotherhood of murderers whose nature compels them to kill. But guided by their leader, Gabriel, the Fallen have learned to use their urges to rid the world of those it is better off without. For Raphael, sex and death are intertwined. Where there is one, there must be the other. He is a lust killer, luring his victims with the face of an angel and a body built for sin. And Raphael lives to sin. His newest mission takes him into the sadistic underworld of Boston’s secret sex clubs, and puts him face to face with his greatest fantasy made flesh. Maria is everything he’s ever dreamed of, the kill he’s always longed for. She’s not his target. And he knows he must resist. But the temptation is too strong… Yet Raphael is not the only one with a mission. Maria is not quite what she seems. And as her secrets and Raphael’s unravel, Maria begins to question everything she thought she knew—about evil, about the place she calls home, and about the beautiful sinner she was sent to destroy. Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains sexual situations, violence, sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and topics some may find triggering. Recommended for age 18 years and up BOOK COLOR CODE: BLACK ⚫️ 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 Arghhhhh! Are you guys as excited as me???? This series has CONSUMED MY SOUL! It is beyond what I imagined it to be and I am literally counting down the days until you guys can read it and share in the delicious darkness of The Fallen. You like completely disturbed and f**ked up men??? Then I shall MORE than deliver! 🖤 Just👏🏻You👏🏻Wait👏🏻!!! Your dark hearts will explode with all the insanity this series has coming your way! Let’s just say these love stories are not fairytales, more... unconventional! Let’s just leave that there! 😈 We’re now officially on countdown, babes!!!! Note: The Fallen: Genesis (a DV Prequel) MUST be read before RAPHAEL ✝️ Cover Design: Hang Le #Raphael #PrettyButCompletelyPsycho #DeadlyVirtues #TheFallen #DarkRomance #UnapologeticBadGuys https://www.instagram.com/p/BwR_P98g1mY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g1rfwnl4ecob
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Happy St. Paddy’s Day 🍀 What better way to celebrate than with the Irish Mafia?! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Do you usually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• I’m did a re-read of the first three Boston Underworld books by @azavarelli and I am so glad I did. I love this series and Reaper is by far my favorite Dark Romance!! There’s this scene between the two main characters that is so f-ing crazy, but I’m here for it. Also, Crow got a new cover (swipe to see the old one) and I love the new one so much 🤩 p.s. these are in #kindleunlimited ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #BostonUnderworld #Crow #Reaper #AZavarelli #DarkRomance #MafiaRomance #AbsCoverConos #FavoriteBooks #CoverLove #Romancestagram #RomanceReader #RomanceBooks #UnapologeticRomanceReader #BookBlogger #Bookstagram #IReadErgoSum https://www.instagram.com/p/CMia5JLrIGD/?igshid=q91sc1x89iuo
#kindleunlimited#bostonunderworld#crow#reaper#azavarelli#darkromance#mafiaromance#abscoverconos#favoritebooks#coverlove#romancestagram#romancereader#romancebooks#unapologeticromancereader#bookblogger#bookstagram#ireadergosum
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This week, a Twitter exchange between the writers' account for a popular TV show, its lead star, and the series' fans received some attention. The latest episode of the show — the sixth of its third season — depicted a long-awaited reunion between its star-crossed protagonists, and fans had things to say about how the scene had deviated from the original source material (the books on which the show is based). Tweets flew between fans and the show's writers, then the star himself stepped in to explain why he'd enacted the scene the way he did, and finally, the writer of the original books retweeted it all, to settle the matter.
Welcome to the world of Outlander.
In the Golden Age of Peak TV, small screen series — Game of Thrones, Stranger Things, Sherlock, to name just a few — have gone on to become global phenomenons, and inspire devoted fan followings (Orphan Black) in a way that would make Hollywood envious. Outlander has fans who're a little more invested than most — and the show, which premiered in August 2014, deserves every bit of the fandom.
The story so far
For those who haven't seen Outlander (it streams in India on Netflix; a new episode goes up every Monday night), here's a quick lowdown:
Based on the Outlander novels by American author Diana Gabaldon — the first was published in 1991; the series comprises eight books so far, with a ninth on its way — the story spans the genres of historical fiction, sci-fi, adventure, fantasy and romance. It begins just after World War II, when English nurse Claire Randall disappears in Scotland while on a second honeymoon there with her husband, a historian called Frank Randall. Frank and the authorities search high and low for Claire; what they do not know, is that Claire has slipped through a time portal while visiting a mysterious stone circle (a small-scale Stonehenge) in a place called Craigh na Dun, and inadvertently travelled 200 years into the past. Having hurtled into the year 1743, Claire finds herself navigating the social mores of 18th century Scotland (at a troubled point in its history), and also a passionate marriage with a Highlander called Jamie Fraser.
Showrunner Ronald D Moore has stuck pretty closely to Galabaldon's books in his screen adaptation. So Outlander's season 1 followed the happenings of the eponymous book 1 (nearly) to the letter: Claire's tumble through time, establishing herself as a healer of some repute, marriage with Jamie, and their run-ins with a sadistic captain in the British Army, Jack Randall (an ancestor of Frank's). Season 2 (based on book 2 — A Dragonfly in Amber) saw them escape to France and get embroiled in the court politics of King Louis XV there, before returning to Scotland. The larger narrative arc for both these seasons — covering a span of about three years — is the Jacobite rebellion brewing in Scotland at the time, with several of the clans declaring support for Prince Charles Stuart's uprising against the English king George II. Knowing as she does that the revolt will lead to the destruction of the Scottish clans, Claire works with Jamie to stymie it.
[Spoilers ahead]
The end of season 2 saw Jamie send a pregnant Claire back through the stones at Craigh na Dun, to the future; he believes he will die in the battle of Culloden, where the Jacobite rebellion was crushed by the English. Claire returns to the 1940s, to Frank; they move to America where Claire trains as a surgeon and they raise her child together. Twenty years later, after Frank's death, Claire revisits Scotland, and happens to discover that Jamie was not, in fact, among the men who were killed at Culloden. A painstaking search over several months with help from a historian friend helps Claire track Jamie down — from years of hiding in a cave near his ancestral home, to several more in prison, then as an indentured servant on parole, and finally as a printer in Edinburgh (with a profitable side business in smuggling fine liquor). Her daughter is all grown up, and has (after some disbelief) accepted her mother's time travelling past, so Claire decides to go through the stones, once again, and reconnect with Jamie.
It was this reunion — dubbed 'the print shop scene' by fans, because it takes place in Jamie's print shop — that caused the recent Twitter eruption. In Diana Gabaldon's third book (titled Voyager, the chapter is called 'A. Malcom', as is episode six of season 3) Jamie breaks down after Claire shows him photographs of their daughter Brianna. In the show, actor Sam Heughan preferred to take a more restrained approach, and while he depicts a man in the grip of great emotion, didn't actually break into tears. With Heughan, the writers and Gabaldon herself all presenting their points of view, the fandom seems to have been appeased, for now.
The story now
Outlander stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Beauchamp/Randall/Fraser, Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser, and Tobias Menzies as Frank Randall/Captain Jack Randall. Balfe is a wonderful Claire, playing her with all the gutsy gumption the character demands. Claire has been called many things — the female character Game of Thrones should have had, a true feminist heroine etc — and Balfe brings all of that strength into her portrayal. Tobias Menzies is a revelation: both his roles, as the sensitive/disappointed Frank Randall and the utterly villainous Jack Randall are so finely etched, you wonder why the Game of Thrones showrunners decided to waste his prodigious talent by casting him as the wishy-washy Lord Edmure Tully. The supporting cast also boasts several gifted actors — and yet, Sam Heughan towers above them all (figuratively, and literally considering he stands at about 6'3"). Over much of season 1, Heughan played Jamie Fraser with a carefree insouciance, although there were flashes of intensity that promised greater depths. Then, over the last two episodes of the season, came what for most fans was an Outlander rubicon — the depiction of Jamie's rape by Captain Jack Randall. Menzies was pitch perfect, but Heughan's performance was something else altogether. The violence was brutal — but not gratuitous, the scene stark — yet oddly intimate; it won rave reviews for showing the aftermath of rape, and survivors' state of mind. (It was also a winning argument for why we need more women directors on big-ticket TV shows, but more on that later.)
While Outlander, for the most part, is told through Claire's perspective, it does delve into Jamie's frame of mind as well, on occasion. Those occasions give Heughan a chance to shine. Season 3, especially, has offered many of those. As a fugitive from the law, then a prisoner, and 'lowly' servant, this Jamie Fraser is a far cry from the devil-may-care lad we first knew, and Heughan invests the weight of all these life experiences into his portrayal. Much has been written of how the characters were not aged in a very physically obvious way, even though the story has taken a leap of 20 years, but there are subtle changes that do make a marked difference — the way Heughan moves, or the air of reserve, of sorrow held in check that wasn't present in his portrayal earlier.
Filming for season 4 is currently under-way, and season three is only at its halfway point, which means fans have a fair bit more of Outlander to look forward to. With the story moving away from Scotland, as the reunited Jamie and Claire set off for fresh adventures in France, the West Indies, and finally America (by the end of book 3), there's quite some exciting ground to cover.
Outlander and the female gaze
Feminism may seem like an odd thing to bring up in connection with a TV show about time travel and Scottish history, and yet, that's among the most discussed things about this series. The obvious way in which Outlander is feminist is in its heroine, of course. As a nurse and later, surgeon, Claire is in her element — whether she's in 18th century Scotland, or 20th century Boston. Season 1 saw her grapple with patriarchy and superstition — all while she plotted with Jamie to save the Highland clans. Sure, she gets into situations where Jamie needs to rescue her — but she's no damsel-in-distress, and saves Jamie's life just as often. Then again, it isn't that we haven't seen strong female protagonists like Claire in popular culture.
Outlander's feminism comes from its adoption of the female gaze — not just because the story is written by a woman, but also in the way women directors have shot crucial episodes. Game of Thrones has often been criticised for its lack of female directors; Outlander, by contrast, shows you what women bring to a scene when they're placed behind the camera. So season 1 had critical episodes being shot by Anna Foerster (Underworld: Blood Wars, White House Down) — the season finale and the penultimate one (Jamie's rape and torture at the hands of Jack Randall) and also Jamie and Claire's wedding episode. The wedding episode offers a case study in the difference between how men and women film sex — how male and female actors (and nudity) are portrayed depending on who's behind the camera. Season 3 again features three women directors on its roster — Norma Bailey (who shot the print shop reunion episode), Jennifer Getzinger and Charlotte Brandström.
Some may argue that the reverse of what we see in other shows has happened with Outlander — it's the male lead (Sam Heughan) who is now objectified. However, the appreciation for his Greek Scottish god looks has also been balanced with the acclaim for his histrionics.
Those Outlander-Game of Thrones comparisons
That they feature well-known actors from the UK, are based on sprawling epic historical/fantasy sagas by immensely popular American writers, are inspired by aspects of the UK's history, have gorgeous music (Bear McCreary's score for Outlander is as good as Ramin Djawadi's for Game of Thrones) and are produced by premium networks make Game of Thrones and Outlander comparisons common. Of course, they're vastly different — and those oft-listed similarities are superficial at best. Still, fans of one show will find much to love in the other.
As Game of Thrones heads to its finale season in 2018, there's going to be a big, fantasy epic-sized hole in our pop culture lives. Outlander — with its well-entrenched fan base and potential to grow bigger — could be poised to fill that gap.
#outlander#outlander starz#sam heughan#caitriona balfe#to ransom a man's soul#of lost things#A. MALCOLM#1x16#3x04#3x06#people: sam heughan#people: caitriona balfe#tv: s1#tv: s2#tv: s3#norma bailey#anna foerster#tv news#review#character: claire beauchamp#character: jamie fraser#queue
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