REVIEW: "Ruthless Vows" by Rebecca Ross (Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult)

RUTHLESS VOWS by Rebecca Ross
	Publisher: Wednesday Books Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult Publication Date: April 4th, 2023 Series: Letters of Enchantment, #2 Standalone: No, Cliffhanger ending
Categories/Tropes:
Strong Heroine, Fantasy (Gods, Mythical Beings, Enchanted Objects), Creatives (Writers)
Other Books By Rebecca Ross:
#1
Description from Publisher:
The epic conclusion to the intensely romantic and beautifully written story that started in Divine Rivals. Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign. Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
This was certainly a very exciting book, as much or possibly moreso than the first! My favorite thing about this is the way that we get to see Iris and Roman fall in love through letters once again, this time with Roman being unaware of who was really on the other end. Iris had to wrestle with what to say and how to say it, like Roman did before, but with the added weight of the world to worry about. The way that alliances came about, many unexpected, felt authentic to a world being taken over by a tyrant. There were multiple times where I felt the descriptions of how people acted during a potentially divisive experience were so poignant it squeezed at my heart. The things most would say they would do versus the things that they actually do, and the reactions to those whose actions match their declarations. It hit home after the last few years, that's for sure. The way that the god 'romance' hit was a bit jarring at times, though it certainly made it easy enough to figure that Dacre was the villain, through and through. The way that he was annhiliating basically every city until the capital, Oath, until his unwilling bride came out of hiding was pretty extreme! This was a fantastic conclusion to Iris and Roman's story!
My Source: I purchased a hardcover copy to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Rebecca Ross
Rebecca Ross is the #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy books for teens and adults. She has written multiple highly acclaimed duologies, including LETTERS OF ENCHANTMENT, ELEMENTS OF CADENCE, and THE QUEEN’S RISING as well as two standalone novels: DREAMS LIE BENEATH and SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG. When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas. She resides in Northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog.

REVIEW & EXCERPT: "Mu" by Lyla Oweds (Paranormal Romance, New Adult)

Thank you for joining us today as we bring you Origins by Lyla Oweds! Origins is the first book in Lyla's New Adult Paranormal Fantasy, The Grimm Cases! Scroll down for my review, and an excerpt from the first book!
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon Book 6, CHANGE! PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY   Books2Read	A mate bond is stronger than any other force in the world. At least, that's what they say. But what Titus and I have is... unique. Especially as, even though we'd been reborn so many times, the dragon has never had a mate. No one knows what to expect. Outside of that, everything with Damen, Julian, and Miles is not all fun and games. Things are different now, and while that's natural, I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to make that next level of commitment. However, we might not have a choice. When Titus's investigation ramps up, becoming entangled with my debut case, I've run out of all other options. The reality is, my usual methods of coping won't work anymore. But to live is to grow, and to change.
MU: The Grimm Cases Collection Part One by Lyla Oweds
	Genre: Paranormal Romance, New Adult Publication Date: August 15th 2019 Series: The Grimm Cases, #1-3 & novella Standalone: No, cliffhanger ending
Categories:
Childhood Friends, Forbidden Love, Reverse Harem, Finding Yourself, Introverted Female, Small Town
Other Books in The Grimm Cases series:
#4 #5 #6
Description from Publisher:
The things I see aren’t for the faint of heart. And I am no longer willing to ignore them. Not even when my family, and my best friend, tell me to keep quiet about what’s happening. They say people will think I’m crazy. Maybe I am. But the spirit haunting my professor’s house is definitely trying to tell me something, and I’m the only one who can see it. The one person who can help me is my best friend's brother. But I don’t know if I can trust him or his friends. Or if I can step outside the protective bubble I’ve built around myself. At this point it’s a toss up: the ghosts will kill me or my panic attacks will. Either way, I figure I’m going to die.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
I came into this series only vaguely knowing what I was getting myself into. The paranormal aspect was what pulled me in, and kept me reading (that, and the cliffhangers!!). This series is about a young woman who has just started college with her best friend, and starts to see and sense that the house she is taking care of while her professor is out of town may be haunted. She seeks out the help of her best friend's brother, Damen, since he is supposedly into "paranormal stuff." Bianca is incredibly naive, to such a degree that she actually annoyed me for quite a bit of this. She was sheltered by her only friend and parents, and has a dark past. I laughed when she missed obvious innuendos, but groaned at so many of her outlandish thoughts and theories. I am honestly still unsure of how exactly I feel about her, though the first novella from when she first meets Finn endeared me to her (and him) a bit more. This story is mostly focused on the paranormal, but has some elements of romantic bonding. It would fit best as a "reverse harem" story, where one woman is worshipped by multiple men. Though there is nothing physical that happens in this. The worshipping is done in non-physical, sweet ways. As this was actually my first reverse harem book, I can't compare to others, but I felt that this was well-done, making it feel very natural for Bianca to basically fall for each man individually in seemingly equal ways. So, I will speak of the boys as a group. They are all powerful in their own ways, and slow roll exactly what ways those are. I liked that they each did feel to have their own personalities, while also being parts of a whole. For the first book or so, there does feel like there are quite a lot of characters to keep track of, along with all the world building that is done, but it eventually becomes easier to remember who exactly is who, outside out main five. Overall, the story is an interesting one, and I look forward to continuing it with the next several stories! Mu includes the first three books, as well as the first novella (which gives a backstory on Bianca as a child).
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author:
Lyla Oweds is an Amazon bestselling paranormal romance and urban fantasy author who resides in the beautiful Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania. She grew up near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and has a deep appreciation for the paranormal, hauntings, and Edgar Allan Poe. As such, she loves all things fantasy, mystery, crime, and horror. When not reading, writing, or working as a web programmer, Lyla can be found doing adult-y things such as being a mom to small children, cleaning, and gardening. She also frequently enjoys makeup videos, massages, wine, and coffee.
Check Out This Excerpt From the first book in the series, Origins:
Then there was my second reason for being at the library today. If I truly wanted to help this ghost-girl, then I needed to learn more about my sensitivity and any abilities that gave me—and people like me. I frowned down at the top of my white coffee cup. Remembering this topic made me recall the events of the night before— “Bianca?” Finn’s shocked voice broke through my thoughts. My eyes shot up. The blond-haired man was pushing past students in line at the coffee shop in order to reach my small, round table. “What are…” “Hello, Finn.” I smiled at him, hoping the guilt from my lies didn’t show on my face. “How are you? What are you doing here so early in the morning?” Finn’s mouth dipped, and he didn’t respond at first. Instead, he set his leather backpack on the floor and sat down in the seat across from me. “It’s not early. And I come here every day—to study. But”—he leveled a suspicious look at me, his gray eyes calculating—“you don’t.” I raised an eyebrow in response, but he continued, “I got your message last night. Why did you cancel our meeting? What’s going on? I was worried.” Sure. I could tell how worried he was when he didn’t even care if the ghost killed me. I picked up my cup and blew on the rising steam before I answered, trying to sound nonchalant. “I do have homework too. Plus, I like reading. It’s not unheard of for me to come to the library, you know.” “All right,” he conceded as he continued to study me. “But you only come late at night, when most people are partying. In fact, how can you even stand to be awake before ten in the morning?” Darn him, he was right. “The magic of caffeine.” I sipped on my coffee again, as if to prove my point. “Lots and lots of caffeine.” His lips thinned, but he nodded. From the wary look in his eyes, he knew I was hiding something. But he seemed inclined to let it drop. Instead, he pulled out his laptop and opened it—ready to do his technology thing. That was kind of nonsensical. “Finn, why are you setting up? The library opens in less than ten minutes. Won’t you just move again?” “Yes.” Finn began typing. “But that’s ten minutes worth of work that I’ve gotten done. I am busy right now, and I’m behind…” His voice trailed off as he frowned at the computer. He was weird. “I thought you finished your work for the semester already.” Finn distractively waved his hand. “It’s not that. Don’t worry, it’s nothing that concerns you. I’m working on family stuff. My mother needed me to check into something. Where did you go last night?” I ignored his question. “Your mom has you doing corporate work?” “Something like that.” He looked up finally, his gaze meeting mine. My heart suddenly jerked—he was displeased. But about what? After a silent moment, the look passed and he grinned warmly at me. “I’m glad you are here with me,” he said. And in an unexpected move, he shut his laptop and pulled one of my hands into his own. “I work better with you around. You inspire me. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Bianca.” I almost choked, and my face exploded in heat. This was the side of Finn that always managed to catch me off guard—the one that made me think I meant as much to him as he did to me. And every time, I acted like an idiot. “I do? I—I’m glad I could help.” “You do.” He traced his thumb over my knuckles. My face grew warmer at the action and his grin grew. “We should work together today. Are you going to be in the library all day? Sit with me.” My warm feelings vanished. I averted my eyes, unable to stand his intensity. He couldn’t know what I was researching. “Maybe…” “Maybe?” Finn sounded surprised, and when I looked up, he was watching me with raised eyebrows. After our gazes met, he let go of my hand. “You don’t want to sit with me?” He paused, and an expression that I had never witnessed from him before shone in his serious eyes. “Bianca, are you meeting someone else? Have I done something?” “No!” I vehemently denied, somewhat frightened at the intensity of his reaction. He was being terribly possessive. Especially for someone who had never even asked me on a date. I would have remembered if he had done so, because it was, after all, an event I had been dreaming about for years. Or, was he only upset because he was afraid I had replaced him as a friend? I was so confused. I fidgeted as I tried to think of a way to redirect his attention. “I have research to do today. In fact, I might not even be here all day. I planned on going back and forth between the library and greenhouses.” He rested his chin on his fist as he watched me. “You’re a terrible liar. The greenhouses are on the other side of campus, and you’re wearing a skirt.” I froze, the fabric he mentioned clenched in my fist. Finn was right, of course. I never wore skirts when working in the conservatory. “Um…” “What have you been up to—today and last night?” Finn studied me, his eyes demanding answers. “Are you lying to me about something?” I grew more flustered as the seconds passed. I had to think of something! He had made his point clear two days ago, and I couldn’t bring up that topic again. Even outside of meeting Damen, he’d never believe what Damen had said about me being a sensitive. Plus, if he knew I was involved in anything paranormal—especially trying to talk to a ghost—not only would he get involved, but so would my parents. I couldn’t go through that confrontation with him again. Even if he—and everyone else—thought it was for my own good. It would break me this time. So I had to think of something that would guarantee Finn would have zero interest in being anywhere near me today. A topic that would make a male flee in terror. Something awful. “I—” My mental resources screamed out ideas, but nothing brilliant came to me. Lacking anything else, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I’m doing a research paper on how human placenta usage in gardening may or may not be nourishing to the soil.” Finn’s mouth was opened in shock, and my face burned. But I couldn’t stop now. “I have a theory that if you grind up the pla—” “Stop!” Finn’s complexion was slightly green as he watched me in horror. “That’s great for you, but I really don’t need to know anymore. Please.” Crude, but effective. It had worked.
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REVIEW:"For the Taking" by Brenna Aubrey (Contemporary Romance)

FOR THE TAKING by Brenna Aubrey
	Publisher: Brenna Aubrey Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: September 30th 2020 Series: Gaming the System, #7 Standalone: Yes
Categories:
Marriage of Convenience, Enemies to Lovers, Heavy Subjects (Family), Nerd Romance
Other Books by Brenna Aubrey
#1 My Review #2 My Review #3 My Review #4 My Review #5 My Review #6 My Review
Description from Publisher:
So I married my nemesis… My new life in the States and dream job as a game tester just hit a massive snag. If I don't want immediate deportation on my to-do list, I need help, stat. Quickest solution—marry Lucas Walker, my cranky and oh-so-annoying co-worker. Still, this can work. We’ll have rules and have to stick to them. I won’t think about his muscled arms or how stupid handsome he is even while he pushes all my hot buttons. It’s a marriage on paper only. I need to remember that. Player two, press start. When that exasperating Canadian, Katya Ellis, asked for help, I agreed because she was willing to help me in return. She doesn’t need to know it’s in my best interest for her to stay in the country. Nope, this is a business arrangement through and through. Which means I’ll set aside all those involuntary fantasies I’ve been having about her shapely body pressed to mine… What could go wrong? Welp… as it turns out, just about everything.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
As anyone who has read my reviews could tell you, I am a nerd wo loves nerdy romance. I have read every book in this series (at least once!). The bar was set really high in the first book, and with Mia and Adam. Lucas and Kat do this series justice, and then some. The awesomeness captured in each story is prominent in this one too, and I think these two conjure up the push and pull of Mia and Adam. I love the depth of the characters and how the main characters get to shine while being well-supported. The depth, humor, heart, AND steam make for a seriously great read that will keep you burning the 3am oil. Kat's perkiness and ability to get under Lucas' skin was so fun, and her compassion palpable. Lucas was most certainly "still waters" that ran deep. They were a wonderful couple, and the way they faced everything together made their connection undeniable. I appreciated that the drama wasn't what you would expect in a story about a marriage of convenience, and that it went deeper. Which is something I love about all of Brenna Aubrey's books
My Source: I purchased this from Amazon to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and 100% my own.

About the Author: Brenna Aubrey
Brenna Aubrey is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author of contemporary romance stories that center on geek culture. Her debut novel, At Any Price, is currently free on all platforms. She has always sought comfort in good books and the long, involved stories she weaves in her head. Brenna is a city girl with a nature-lover’s heart. She therefore finds herself out in green open spaces any chance she can get. She's also a mom, teacher, geek girl, Francophile, unabashed video-game addict & eBook hoarder. She currently resides on the west coast with her husband, two children, two adorable golden retriever pups, a bird and some fish.