Archives

-Letter N- Big Bear Daddy #bearshifter #romance @AprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr17

N is for Nowlan (Anya Nowlan)

Big Bear Daddy (Sweetwater Father Bears Book 1)

3heart

Synopsis

Jessy is looking for her sister and niece. Knowing that her sister has gotten into some trouble, she wants to help anyway she knows how. Her search leads her to Colt.

Colt is sheriff in the town where Jessy’s sister left her baby Lana. After fostering her for almost a year, he decides to adopt. Deciding it was best, Colt moves to Wyoming to live among his bear shifter clan to raise his daughter.

Opinion

The story was basic. I think it was predictable. I figured out who was the villain before he was revealed in the story.

I felt like the story had an awkward quality as Jessy and Colt tried to figure out how they were going to proceed with custody of Lana. It is a good thing that they had enough chemistry to get together, instead of just hooking up.

I think the story would have benefited from more character development. Everyone seems bland and two dimensional.

I did not think that the bear shifter aspect added to the story. The author could have easily left that out and the story would have not been much different.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BORROW. I liked the story but something was missing for me to get excited about it.

Book details
Series: Sweetwater Father Bears
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥
Print Length: 121 pages
Publication Date: November 3, 2016

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-Letter M- To Light The Dragon’s Fire #fantasy #dragonshifter #review @aprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr15

M is for Margaret (Margaret Taylor)

To Light The Dragon’s Fire

2heart

Synopsis
Terra and Lanni are twin sisters that were cave exploring when they found a dragon and portal to another world. In this world, there are all types of shifters and mythological creatures: dragons, nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, griffons, chimeras, and unicorns to name a few.

Drave is the king and dragon shifter in the world where Terra and Lanni find themselves. It is rare that humans cross over because all of the portals to the human world are supposed to be closed.

Opinion

***WARNING*** This opinion contains mild spoilers and some ranting


This book was extremely complicated. So much was going on between Terra and Draven getting captured several times, Arin (Draven’s right hand man) and Lanni’s budding romance, and the evil unicorn subverting Draven’s court.
I was fine with the multiple story lines even though I had a hard time visualizing everything that was happening. And then, the book ended.
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I was not aware that the book was not a standalone novel. Not a complete story.
Absolutely nothing was resolved at the end of the book. I wanted to throw something. I have no problem if the book is a serial, but tell me BEFORE I start. Let me decide if I want to read it or not. I was pissed.

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I feel like I wasted 2.5 hours on this story. I sat through reading about weak dragons, clueless women, and conniving, manipulative, power-hungry evil unicorns. And there was NO payoff. Nothing in the end was wrapped up.
PLUS, no one got any lovin! Lanni and Arin were the closest to getting to first base but then evil was victorious by casting some sort of spell that made Lanni sick every time she tried to get busy.
So I guess the author thought that I’m just supposed to shell out more money for another two books.
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If you want to write a saga fantasy book, that’s fine. But let people know what they are getting. I thought I was getting a book about a dragon shifter finding his mate. Period. All these other plot lines should have been immaterial. A little conflict here and there to define the characters’ personalities. The book was sold as a romance but it looks like that action doesn’t get started until book 2 or 3.

I’m not sticking around to find out.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
Had I known that the book was not complete, I would have said PASS. If the content appeals to you, BUY but know you need to also buy book 2, 3, and possible 4 to get full resolution.

Book details
Series: Dragons, Griffons, and Centaurs, Oh My!
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥
File Size: 2518 KB
Print Length: 270 pages
Publication Date: June 12, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

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-Letter L- Kodiak’s Claim (Kodiak Point Book 1) – A Big Bear Romance #bearromance @AprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr14

L is for Langlais (Eve Langlais)

Kodiak’s Claim (Kodiak Point Book 1)
4heart

Synopsis
Tammy is an insurance adjuster that is investigating a claim in the middle of Alaska. It seems that people are keeping secrets but she cannot figure out what it is. However, she is determined to get to the bottom of it. And she will not be swayed by the good-looking, hot body guy named Reid.

Reid is the head of his clan and a Kodiak bear shifter. When he takes a mate, he thinks it will be for political reasons. He definitely cannot even think about taking a human woman as his mate. His bear has other ideas. When it is human versus bear, the bear wins every time, no matter how illogical it might be.

Opinion
This was a fun book! I liked Tammy because she was spunky and feisty. When things are not adding up, she is going to keep digging until she can figure out what is going on.

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Reid is trying to keep his bear a secret and thinks if he can get Tammy on her way, his bear might lose interest.

As the saying goes about the best laid plans…Yea. Things do not go as they are planned.

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The secondary characters added to the excitement and drama. I loved Reid’s grandma the best. She kept Reid in check as only a grandma could. Every time I think about her antics, I chuckle to myself. I guess you could say that I literally LOL 😀

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
I say BUY. This book was very entertaining. I bet you will laugh too. At the end, you will most likely agree when I say that Reid and Tammy are good for each other.

Book details
Print Length: 240 pages
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Series: Kodiak Point

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-Letter J- Boarlander Cursed Bear #bearshifter #romance @aprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr12

J is for Joyce (T.S. Joyce)

Boarlander Cursed Bear (Boarlander Bears book 5)

Synopsis
Clinton has had a problem with the Boarlander shifters pairing up with mates. He has said mates bring problems. However, when his first love and mate comes to town, he cannot stop himself from being with her. He is even convinces himself that their past can stay hidden since she has no memory of their time together. They can finally have their bright future.

Alyssa dreams of a boy who was very important, possibly the love of her life. When she meets Clinton, they have a connection like no other. It is crazy that she’s in love with a guy she just met. But Alyssa wants to know his secrets.

Opinion
This story had so many layers. Up until this point from what I knew of Clinton in the previous books in this series, I was prepared not to like Clinton because he was such a jerk. I knew that his attitude has to have been based in some bad experiences. I thought that his trauma better be severe for me to feel sorry for him after all he put everyone else through.

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Reading Clinton’s history and getting the full story almost made me cry. Saying he went through so much does not adequately express it. It was heart wrenching. I do not usually get emotional over books, especially FANTASY, but this story got me in the feels.

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I am speaking in vague terms because I do not want to give anything away. It is necessary to read the story and not know what’s going to happen in order to get the full effect.

Clinton was thoroughly redeemed for all his douchebaggery.

I had mixed feelings about Alyssa. She seemed okay to me but I was not sure how I felt about her reaction when certain things are revealed. She comes around but I was feeling so sympathetic towards Clinton that I wish she had been more understanding sooner than later.

TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY. The is a entertaining standalone bear shifter story. For the FULL experience, I recommend reading the whole series like I did.

Book details
Print Length: 238 pages
Series: Boarlander Bears
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

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-Letter H- Texas Wildfire (Texas Heroes book 1) #western #romance @aprilAtoZ #atozchallenge

Apr10

H is for Hunter (Sable Hunter)

TEXAS WILDFIRE by Sable Hunter

4heart
Synopsis
Titan has been in love with his captain’s wife since he first saw her. He did not know she was married at the time. Once he found out, he made sure that he did nothing that might be perceived as improper. He is content to lover her from afar because he is too honorable to break up her marriage.

Makenna has no options. Her husband is abusive and she fears for her life. Everyone thinks that he is great which only exacerbates her isolation. What helps her cope is the fantasies she has about Titan, wishing she had married him instead.

When Titan finds out about her dire situation, it makes him wish that he had done something sooner.

Opinion
I really liked this book because it addresses the number one question people ask a person in an abusive relationship: “Why did you stay?” This is a true to life situation.

Makenna thought she did not have any options and was resigned to being abused. She lived in her fantasy world because that was better than dwelling on the fact that she married a man with Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde persona.

There are 2 issues that I usually deduct points (1) being on the rebound (2) one of the main characters being legally married.

Technically I think that she is not on the rebound because she has not been in love with her husband for years. She would leave if she was not in total fear for her life.

Yes, on paper, she is still married, but considering he is trying to kill her, I did not penalize the story’s rating. Even with the budding emotional relationship, Titan and MaKenna were still respectful to the fact that she was married when it came to getting physical.

Overall, I am glad that Titan and MaKenna have a HEA, but I wish that her ex suffered more than he did. I hate bullies.

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TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY! I think the author handled this topic in a very gracious way. All the while, she highlighted how domestic violence can occur and subtly emphasizes why victims need so much moral support instead of people turning a blind eye.

Book details
Series: Texas Heroes
Paperback: 252 pages
Heat Level: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥

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