REVIEW: "The Traitor Queen" by Danielle L. Jensen (Romance, Fantasy)

THE TRAITOR QUEEN by Danielle L. Jensen
	Publisher: CLA Genre: Romance, Fantasy Publication Date: September 1st, 2020 Series: The Bridge Kingdom, #2 Standalone: No, need to read first book
Categories/Tropes:
Vengeance, Atonement, Enemies to Lovers, Royalty, Adventure, Political Intrigue (fictional world)
Other Books By This Author:
#1 #3 #4
Description from Publisher:
A queen now in exile as a traitor, Lara has watched Ithicana be conquered by her own father, helpless to do anything to stop the destruction. But when she learns her husband, Aren, has been captured in battle, Lara knows there is only one reason her father is keeping him alive: as bait for his traitorous daughter. And it is bait she fully intends to take. Risking her life to the Tempest Seas, Lara returns to Ithicana with a plan not only to free its king, but for liberating the Bridge Kingdom from her father’s clutches using his own weapons: the sisters whose lives she spared. But not only is the palace inescapable, there are more players in the game than Lara ever realized, enemies and allies switching sides in the fight for crowns, kingdoms, and bridges. But her greatest adversary of all might be the very man she’s trying to free – the husband she betrayed. With everything she loves in jeopardy, Lara must decide who – and what – she is fighting for: her kingdom, her husband, or herself.
A Non-Spoiler Favorite Quote:
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
There are barely words! This starts not long after the first book ends. Lara has accepted the consequences of her kingdom-destroying mistake and is drowning her sorrows in Harendelle. Upon learning that Aren has been taken prisoner by her father, she risks reaching out to Ahnna at Eranahl, determined to help. Aren is imprisoned, being psychologically tortured for information on where Lara is and how to attack Eranahl, where most of the Ithicanians took refuge after the bridge was taken. From there, it's daring escapes, epic battles and adventures, near-death experiences, and torn hearts attempting to mend. The adventure and action in this is downright awesome. Everything written so well I could see it all like it was happening in front of me. Heart and wit, tenderness and love. Every character rich. The political aspects intriguing and easily understood, as was the military strategy and battles. I knew it had to end a certain way, but still LOVED every minute. In fact, those last few pages got me in the feels!
My Source: I borrowed this via Kindle Unlimited to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of the Malediction series, the Dark Shores series, and the Bridge Kingdom series, as well as the forthcoming A Fate Inked in Blood. She lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family and guinea pigs.

BLITZ: "It Just Had to Be You" by Jacqueline Francis (Contemporary Romance)

IT JUST HAD TO BE YOU by Jacqueline Francis
	Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: October 24th, 2023 Series: Second Chances, #1 Standalone: Yes
Other Books By This Author:
#2 #3 #4 #5
Description from Publisher:
Scott Carter is a bully. Scott Carter is a racist. Scott Carter is the most arrogant douche I have ever met. This man-whore charms the pants off all the girls, but not me - the Latina from the wrong side of town - I see none of that charm. I get the worst of him. He has made my life a living hell, tormenting me for years with no reprieve. Just when I’m at breaking point, Scott Carter steps in and makes everything ten times worse. My whole life is turned upside down in an instant. And now, after he’s messed up everything, that’s when he decides that maybe we should try to be friends. He wants to reconcile and put the past behind us. Ugh! No! He can go to hell. I want nothing from Scott Carter…but it’s starting to look like he wants something from me.
Trigger Warning from Publisher:
Although this is definitely not a 'dark romance', please take note that this book contains many triggers that may be offensive such as suicide (before the book begins) and bullying. In particular, there are some racial slurs. As a woman of color myself, I fully understand how hurtful these words can be. I am no stranger to them either. However, I did not want to tiptoe around this issue or sugarcoat the severity of it. I wanted to highlight how damaging such slurs (or any kind of name-calling for that matter) can be to the person on the receiving end. It also contains strong language and sexual content and is not recommended for readers under 18 years of age or sensitive readers.

About the Author:
Number cruncher by day, raging romance novelist by night; Jacqueline’s creative inspiration stems from romance and all its literary and rom-com depictions. Matters of the heart are what fascinates her, because ultimately, what makes a life out of - what would ordinarily be a typical existence - is Love.
Tour Information

REVIEW: "The Bridge Kingdom" by Danielle L. Jensen (Fantasy, Romance)

THE BRIDGE KINGDOM by Danielle L. Jensen
	Publisher: CLA Genre: Fantasy, Romance Publication Date: August 13th, 2019 Series: The Bridge Kingdom, #1 Standalone: No, Cliffhanger
Categories/Tropes:
Arranged Marriage, Assassin, Royalty
Other Books By This Author:
#2 #3 #4
Description from Publisher:
A warrior princess trained in isolation, Lara is driven by two certainties. The first is that King Aren of the Bridge Kingdom is her enemy. And the second is that she’ll be the one to bring him to his knees. The only route through a storm-ravaged world, the Bridge Kingdom enriches itself and deprives its rivals, including Lara's homeland. So when she’s sent as a bride under the guise of peace, Lara is prepared to do whatever it takes to fracture its impenetrable defenses. And the defenses of its king. Yet as she infiltrates her new home and gains a deeper understanding of the war to possess the bridge, Lara begins to question whether she’s the hero or the villain. And as her feelings for Aren transform from frosty hostility to fierce passion, Lara must choose which kingdom she’ll save… and which kingdom she’ll destroy. Passionate and violent, The Bridge Kingdom is a seductive fantasy perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
A Favorite Quote: (No Spoilers!)
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
From the moment Lara's sisters went down, this book had my attention. The political intrigue here was really very well done, and at no time did I find myself confused about the different kingdoms and their distinct differences. I would have expected to, but this world really was built well and I found myself easily understanding Aren's position as kind, and what a betrayal by Lara would mean for the entire world. Not gonna lie, I got pretty irritated with how brainwashed Lara was, and how long it took for her to start waking up. It was important to remind myself that her entire life has been spent being fed a particular truth, and just how incredibly difficult it would be to have everything you have ever known be flipped on it's head. In light of that, I gave Lara some grace. She was otherwise a strong, compassionate woman, and I thoroughly enjoyed how that unfolded from the first chapter to the last. Aren, King of Ithicania, was also a fantastic male protagonist. The amount of respect he showed everyone around him won me over easily, as did his snark and sincerity. There was a moment where he felt disappointment at the fact that Lara wasn't his equal and instead a subservient princess that cemented to me that I was going to like him. He wasn't an annoying alpha, but didn't lack in strength and commanding respect. There was excellent chemistry between the two of them from the moment they are face to face. This is a slow burn, which I love, and they circle one another for quite awhile before you have no choice but to root for them. I always try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, but will say that that last act had me wincing as I knew what was coming, my heart wrenched at the inevitable, and then pretty satisfied at the lead-up to the cliffhanger ending. This book will make you laugh at times, cheer at others, fan yourself a bit, and otherwise enjoy exploring the battles, strategy, and secrets.
My Source: I borrowed this via Kindle Unlimited to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of the Malediction series, the Dark Shores series, and the Bridge Kingdom series, as well as the forthcoming A Fate Inked in Blood. She lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family and guinea pigs.