Midnight Soul (Fantasyland series #5) By Kristen Ashley

Buy Link: Midnight Soul

Against his will, Noctorno Hawthorne, an undercover vice cop, finds himself embroiled in magic, mayhem and parallel universes. Too late, he meets an amazing woman only to find she’s destined for his identical twin in another world. 

And things aren’t going real great there.

Noc is recruited to help save that world.

What he doesn’t know is his destined love resides there.

Franka Drakkar wears a mask. A mask she never takes off to protect herself in a world of malice, intrigue and danger. 

When Franka meets Noc and he discovers her secrets, convinced she carries a midnight soul, having shielded herself from forming bonds with anyone, she struggles with accepting his tenderness and care. 

When Noc meets Franka, over wine and whiskey, her mask slips and Noc knows it’s her—only her—and he has to find a way to get her to come home with him.

And then make her want to stay.

Franka redeems herself in the other book. Not many like her and as a character, she really is unlikable. 
But she has her reasons as to why she shuts people out and became the snake people know her to be. 
The mask she wears is what people see, and all they believe. 
But then Noc, the Noctorno of the other world sees her for who she really is and saves her from years of torture, other people start to see it. 

Her character was actually really nice. She just wants love and to be loved in return, but she still finds all the caring and sharing, uncomfortable. 

Now, as much as I loved the Franka, and I adored Noc from the other series, I never actually got to finish this book. It kind of dragged to the point I got bored. I couldn't go on. I forced myself for 6 chapters to keep on reading but I felt like the book wasn't going anywhere. 
It could be because I read them one after the other, but for some reason, this one didn't hold the same attention as the others and I actually wanted Noc to get a book of his own. 

:( 

NO RATING AS IT WOULDN'T FAIR SINCE I DIDN'T FINISH IT!!!

Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4) By Kristen Ashley

Buy Link: Broken Dove

Far too young, Apollo Ulfr lost Ilsa, his wife, the love of his life and the mother of his two children. The grief of her loss does not settle in his soul, it solders to it. But when he discovers there is a parallel universe where his wife may have a twin, he feels there's hope and sets about bringing her to his world so he can have her back.
But Ilsa Ulfr of our world is married to the parallel universe's twin, Pol, who is not a good man. Not in any way. She's on the run from him and the last thing she wants is to be transported to a fantastical world and be forced to take his side as his wife, even if he is not Pol. And Apollo finds the broken Ilsa nothing like his beloved, and further, wants nothing to do with her.
But darkness is looming and evil is amassing. Apollo must protect his land and keep his family safe, including the new Ilsa.

Ahhh, the things we do for love. 

But Apollo, he goes a little too far. However, it's a bit of a good job he does because the Ilsa who is alive in the real world, the love of his life, is actually in danger from the other Apollo, who is a drug lord or something and abusive. 

But he rescues Ilsa, who he leaves to deal with the new change. She's accompanied by his best men who she becomes very close with. But when the time comes to be with Apollo, she struggles on what to do. 
She knows he isn't her ex husband, and she knows he'd never hurt her physically, but emotionally, she isn't sure. 
She's also reminded every day of who she is to Apollo, and I think sometimes, she finds it hard to put her and his dead wife in two different categories.   

I loved Apollo. I liked him in the first book of the series and we only had a glimpse of him. But sometimes, he could be a real jerk. 
But you couldn't fault his love for Ilsa, who actually adopts a new name on her travels with Apollo's men. 


I also loved the ending of this book. So many surprises as all of the previous characters come together. It was worth the wait to read this one, to see an end as such as to why these four women were brought to this world to find their other halfs.

5*

Fantastical (Fantasyland Series #3) By Kristen Ashley

Buy Link: Fantastical

Cora Goode has woken up in a fairytale world where she can understand what birds are saying to her, men ride horses and have fluffy feathers in their hats and furniture zigs, zags and whirls in miracles of construction.

The problem is, she thinks she’s in a dream but she’s actually taken the place of the parallel universe Cora and without realizing it, our Cora does something that starts a centuries old curse that will sweep the land if she gets captured by the evil Minerva.

At this point, her dream world becomes a nightmare.

Luckily, hot guy, fantasyland Noctorno is there to save her from the clutches of the grotesque vickrants sent by Minerva to capture her. Unfortunately, hot guy, fantasyland Noctorno doesn’t like the Cora of his world all that much (to say the least) and he thinks our Cora is her. And no matter what our Cora says or does to try to convince him, he won’t be convinced.

But Cora needs Tor to keep her safe and guide her through this fantastical world as she hopes one day to wake up in her not-so-great apartment in her not-so-great life in her world. The problem is, the more time she spends with the gorgeous warrior Tor, the faster she falls in love with him.

Okay, this one I found the most interesting. 
I've always wondered what people considered bad luck when the bride sees the groom before the wedding, but this... This is something else. 

I loved Cora and Noctorno. He's HOT!!! But the other Cora, the one who swapped places with Cora, is a BITCH!!! And that's putting it mildly. She doesn't get a long with Noctorno, even though they are married. YES!!! MARRIED. 
They don't even live together. 
So when Cora, the one from the real world starts the new curse, thinking she's actually in a dream, Noctorno is furious. More so than he normally is. 

And although he sees a change in Cora, he doesn't believe her story about being from another world. But he goes along with it, liking the act he seems to think she's putting on. 
It actually hurt to see Cora being used the way she is by him, but it does all work out in the end. 
Until... 

The evil queen switches the two back... 
Dum, dum, dummmmmm!!

5*

Taming A Maverick (Sterling Shore #9) RELEASE BLITZ By CM Owens

TAMING A MAVERICK the highly anticipated book from the USA Today Best Seller C.M. Owens is now live !

NOW LIVE !!!

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SALEM

Just some fun. Just one night of reckless, harmless, wild fun.

That's what I told myself the night I hooked up with quite possibly the sexiest guy I've ever known. Only, I didn't want to KNOW him. Life is a series of temporary situations, or so it's always been for me. A future revolves around the next move, but I'm still the type to live in the moment on a seldom occasion, consequences be damned.

Unless that moment happens to be unknowingly landing in bed with my brand new stepbrother. The universe is a mean, twisted jerk. And one consequence is that I have to be around him and get to know him. The worst consequence is the fact that Maverick Sterling, the infamous playboy who can't possibly be tamed, is really hard not to want more of once you've had a taste. So long as I'm not stupid enough to fall in love, it shouldn't be a big deal. Right?

MAVERICK

My life has been blissfully simple for a really long time. I have a routine. I have friends. I have family. Yet everyone seems to have less and less time, since they're all sort of trying to be adults or what the hell ever. I blame them for the fact the only girl to ever ditch me without a backward glance is suddenly under my skin. I blame my father for the fact she's a new fixture in my life. Not that I knew that before I got a little overly friendly with my new stepsister. I mean, what are the odds? It shouldn't have been possible.

But it happened. It figures the one girl I can't get out of my head is the one girl who doesn't want to be with me. At least in my head she's the only girl who doesn't want to be with me, because I tend to be arrogant like that. The point is, now she's everywhere I turn, yet she's marking a line in the sand that she thinks I really won't cross.

Obviously she doesn't know me at all.

*Can be read as a stand-alone

*Sexual Content

*Adult Language

Other Books in the Sterling Shore Series

 

Find the rest of the Sterling Shores book Here

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author of the Sterling Shore Series, Property of Drex, and Deadly Beauties.

C.M. Owens always loves a good laugh, and lives and breathes the emotions of the characters she becomes attached to. Though she came from a family of musicians, she has zero abilities with instruments; she sounds like a strangled cat when she sings; and her dancing is downright embarrassing. Just ask anyone who knows her. Her creativity rests solely in the written word. Her family is grateful that she gave up her quest to become a famous singer.

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The Golden Dynasty (Fantasyland series #2) By Kristen Ashley

Buy Link: The Golden Dynasty

Circe Quinn goes to sleep at home and wakes up in a corral filled with women wearing sacrificial virgin attire - and she is one of them. She soon finds out that she’s not having a wild dream, she’s living a frightening nightmare where she’s been transported to a barren land populated by a primitive people and in short order, she’s installed very unwillingly on her white throne of horns as their Queen.

Dax Lahn is the king of Suh Tunak, The Horde of the nation of Korwahk and with one look at Circe, he knows she will be his bride and together they will start The Golden Dynasty of legend.

Circe and Lahn are separated by language, culture and the small fact she’s from a parallel universe and has no idea how she got there or how to get home. But facing challenge after challenge, Circe finds her footing as Queen of the brutal Korwahk Horde and wife to its King, then she makes friends then she finds herself falling in love with this primitive land, its people and especially their savage leader.

Okay, I thought the first book in the series was good, but this one was REALLY good. I mean, really good. 
The two main characters kind of reminded me of Daenery's Targaryen and Khal Drogo from GOT.
The beginning was a bit much to read since he actually rapes Circe when he wins her. 
But it changes through the book. I know I should hate him, but I just couldn't. He was incredibly sweet to her in the end. he'd do anything for her.
Even though he couldn't speak english, he does learn some of the words. It was cute with the way he reacted to her. 

I also loved how Circe, after everything she'd be thrown into, got used to the way of living. It was like she made for it. 

I couldn't put this one down. I enjoyed it so much and after talking to a few fellow Lisa's Book Review followers over on FB, so did they. 

I've read all of the books in the series now, but this one, is by far, my favourite. 

5*

Wildest Dreams (Fantasyland series #1) By Kristen Ashley

Buy Link: Wildest Dreams

Seoafin “Finnie” Wilde was taught by her parents that every breath was a treasure and to seek every adventure she could find. And she learns this lesson the hard way when they perish in a plane crash. But she never forgets and when she discovers there is a parallel universe where every person has a twin, she finds a witch who can send her there so she can have the adventure of a lifetime.

But upon arrival in the Winter Wonderland of Lunwyn, she realizes she’s been played by her twin and finds herself walking down the aisle to be wed to The Drakkar.

Thrown into inauspicious circumstances, with years of practice, Finnie bests the challenges and digs into her adventure. But as Frey Drakkar discovers the woman who is his new wife is not Princess Sjofn, a woman he dislikes but instead, his Finnie, a free-spirit with a thirst for venture just like him, without her knowledge he orders his new bride bound to his frozen world, everlasting. 

But at the same time Frey plunges Finnie into a web of political intrigue that includes assassination plots, poison, magic, mystery and… dragons.

I wasn't actually sure about this series. I'd been told to read it so many times, but the blurb didn't stand out for me. 

But, been on a book hurdle, I decided to give it a go. 
And I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. 

I loved it. 
I loved the time change, the difference in worlds and how well Finnie adjusts to her new life. 

I wasn't sure about Frey at first, but once the book got going, I loved him. 

Dreamy. 

I won't give anything away story wise and I will advise to go in without reading the blurb. I don't know what it was about it that put me off, but it really did nothing to draw me in. 

5*

My Defender (Bewitched and Bewildered #8) By Alanea Alder

Buy Link: My Defender

When a mysterious illness begins to sweep through Noctem Falls affecting the children, Eleanor Kimball is called to the city to see if she can determine what is wrong. As a pediatrician Eleanor loves children and desires many of her own, however, after several dating disasters she has not only sworn off men, but has given up her dream of a family, and the promise of a destined mate.

After discovering Grant in Noctem Falls she is faced with her own insecurities and finds it hard to believe in his love.

Grant Douglas is a man of few words and doesn’t do well surrounded by others. He is scared to death of finding a mate. He believes the harshness of his past, where he struggled to survive, didn’t cultivate a gentle heart. After a series of terrifying nightmares where his mate is at risk, Grant has decided he doesn’t want a mate at all.

When he meets Ellie, he realizes there are some things worth fighting for. Even if it means putting himself out there by becoming the Alpha he was born to be and facing the power he desperately tries to hide.

As Ellie starts to believe in Grant’s love it will take every ounce their combined strength to discover why the shifter children are suddenly falling ill before it’s too late.

And the plot thickens...

Bewitched and Bewildered series is getting more and more interesting. I can't get enough of it. 
It was shorter than the normal books in the series, but hell, I'd be happy with a novella I love this series that much. 

Ellie is called to Noctem Falls because the children are getting sick, she thinks it's a simple fix. 
But upon arriving, she meets her mate and finds out the kids are sicker than they expected and seems to have spread to more kids. 

With the noble families wanting to overrule Prince Magnus, the sick children and an unknown force still out to get them, everything is a mess in Noctem falls. 

And what does Meryn do???

She calls backup. 

It's great seeing some of the original characters back in the story. I've missed them all. 

All in all, the story is brilliant and couldn't get any better. I'm enjoying to find out where the story is going. 
Alanea Alder has an extraordinary mind. She really does. I can't wait to see what else she comes up with for these characters. 

5*


THEORY  ALERT!!!!!! 
Only read ahead if you want to talk about the books. May be considered as spoilers. 

Okay, first off, who else thinks there's something more to Meryn and the Pack Alpha? Did anyone else question why he kept sniffing her? I think they're connected somehow. Like everyone seems to be when it comes to Meryn somehow. 

Who else thinks Prince Magnus should kick out the noble families out? Hands up! I do, I do.

And who else cried during this book because I cried my eyes out. That one scene broke my heart. 

More to that, who else thinks the alphas hold the cure for the kids? They were only reacting to them so they must hold magic that holds off what is wrong with them!!!

Okay, I do have more, but I'd be here all day LOL. But one thing I want to leave with, how cool would it be if one of the mates came but wasn't actually the mate, they were someone in disguise as the mate when really, they're evil and the real mate has been kidnapped? muahhhhhh. 
SO many possibilities can happen with this series and with the way Alanea Alder is going, they're just gonna keep getting better and better.