R26 Team #10 ~ The Coven of Critics

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Wow! Business, pleasure or both? Have an amazing time! Safe travels.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Sounds fantastic, my friend went there many years ago, and still talks fondly of it.

[Louise]

Steph wrote: "Wow! Business, pleasure or both? Have an amazing time! Safe travels."

Pleasure, a much needed holiday. RL has really taken its toll on me the last 3 months

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Hope you have a great time Louise!!!!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Nice! Hope you’re able to decompress and have a wonderfully relaxing time!

[Victoria]

Niiiiice!!!! I hope you'll have an amazing time, Louise! Get some well-deserved R&R and enjoy :D

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Tempting the Black Wolf by N.J. Walters
Series: Lone Wolf Legacy #3
Qualifier: Moon on the cover
Shelf #5: M - "Moon" or magic
Read: 2 Dec
Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆

My Review:

“I’ve recently learned that being a lone wolf doesn’t mean having to be alone.”

Tempting the Black Wolf is the final book in the Lone Wolf Legacy trilogy and it was my favorite of the three. Walters nicely wrapped up the trilogy, Dagen gets his HEA even though he's resistant to give in initially. In fact, that's part of why I liked this couple best. He and Onyx, like the others, knew of the pull placed on them could be influencing their feelings and took time to get to know each other. Onyx was open and honest, which increased her likability. I was a bit surprised the three lone wolves didn't work together more, but it was good seeing all six of them finally meet and make plans for the future.

[Victoria]

Thanks for the review Steph!!! Checking out that series 😉

[Victoria]

Completion Post: Shelf #5 ~ 29 Nov: M - "Moon" or magic

Book: A Night of Redemption by Kristen Banet
Pages: 424
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Date read: SOS magic shelf

Review:

It's done. Sawyer and her men have their ending... These aren't tears, it's raining... inside.

While this installment wasn't as loaded or heavy as the previous two (A Nature of Conflict and An Echo of Darkness), it still packed a punch with plenty of action, humor, heartfelt moments, and, well, endings.

It was a fitting final book to the series. It did the characters and their journeys justice.

I think this has been THE revelation of the year for me (and since it's now December, yes, I can say that 😉). It was very, very well written, with great world-building and deep character development.
At its heart, it was Urban Fantasy, but still with a good portion of deep romance between Sawyer and her five men, her family.
It brought more depth and authenticity to the series (yes, yes, I know it's still fantasy, but you know what I mean!), I loved it, and I loved the characters.

I'll miss Sawyer and her men, but I'm grateful for the incredible journey they took us on.

This series is a true gem in the urban fantasy (with romance) genre, and I highly recommend it.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Victoria wrote: "Thanks for the review Steph!!! Checking out that series 😉"

:) It was a good trilogy. I also enjoy her Forgotten Brotherhood series. I think there's more to come in that one, but I'm not sure.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

New shelf is up, y’all — the game continues for another week 😉

Shelf #6 ~ 6 Dec: R - "Roadtrip" or reaper(s)
Requirement: Choose a book using one of the following options ...

* For "Roadtrip", read a book featuring a mode of transportation on the cover; a roadtrip taken within the story; or a book you had to drive to purchase from a local store or borrow from a local library

* For reaper, read a book found on one of these shelves: GR reaper, GR reapers, GR grim reaper, GR grim reapers, SOS reaper

I’m in my month of holiday/winter reads, so I’m going contemporary with this shelf - transpo on cover

[Victoria]

Selection Post: Shelf #6 ~ 6 Dec: R - "Roadtrip" or reaper(s)

Book: Shadow Untamed by Avery Stone
Pages: 242
How it fits: transport on cover



Woohoo, yay for another week of bingo 😁
Happy reading!!

[Louise]

Selection Post
Shelf: 6 Dec: R - "Roadtrip" or reaper(s)

The Blue Sky Chronicles: Rise of the Fallen by John Lowry Payne
Pages: 344
How it Fits: Transport on cover

[Steph, Serious series addict]

The Naughty List by Sheridan Anne
Qualifier: Car on the cover
Shelf #6: 'R' - Roadtrip
Read: 7 Dec
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

My Review:

I wanted to like this snarky girl and her left-ya-behind-for-NYC guy, but sadly didn't. While I thought her holiday meme was quite funny, to send it to not just her company but all of their clients as well and then believe she's being called into her boss' office for a promotion had me shaking my head. Maybe I'm too old to see the humor in that one. But, I continued on.

Our FMC left home for NYC to pursue her dream. She left behind her HS boyfriend who "was everything to [her]" and "...having to walk away from that left one hell of a scar on [her] heart.", yet she doesn't even ask him if he'd go with? And, she had to walk away? 🤔

She returns and, as the blurb states, "[She has] one goal and one goal only—get in and out of Blushing before Nick realizes [she's there]. Only avoiding him is much harder than [she] could have anticipated." Blushing is a small town where everyone knew them as a long-time couple, some even thought they remained one dispite their distance apart and yet she imagined being able to refab and sell her grandma's house without Nick finding out? 🤔 But, I continued on.

She grew up in Blushing, CO but can't/won't/doesn't dress for or prepare for the weather? So, said broken-hearted-ExBF is "forced" to save you while trying to claim you're able to take care of yourself? 🤔

“Walking away from you was the biggest mistake of my life, and I regret it every fucking day,” yet she never asked him to go with, she never reached out afterward 🤔

“The thought of getting to be in the same damn room as you is the only reason I haven’t hightailed it back to New York yet,” yet she dives under counters to try to avoid being seen by him 🤔

Then, flipflopping to “... if I knew you hadn’t matured any further than the twenty-three-year-old asshole I left behind ...” and “... until now, I thought I was content in that decision.” 🙄

By that point I was so close to the end I just continued on. Too many conflicting responses to their seperation by both characters and not in the "I'm conflicted about how I feel" way, but in the "author couldn't seem to decide how the characters felt and decided to play both sides throughout" way. Made me dizzy with frustration. In the end, they got their HEA, so all's well that ends. 😆

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Well that sounds like a shocker, Steph!!!!!

😆😆😆

I don't know how you were able to finish that mess.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

😆 If it hadn't been my BSB book and I had an alternate at the ready I'd have bailed for sure!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Steph wrote: "😆 If it hadn't been my BSB book and I had an alternate at the ready I'd have bailed for sure!"

Yeah, I can relate to that!

[Victoria]

Wow... that's... ermm.. yeah...
I'm actually amazed you still gave it 2⭐

[Victoria]

Completion Post: Shelf #6 ~ 6 Dec: R - "Roadtrip" or reaper(s)

Book: Shadow Untamed by Avery Stone
Pages: 242
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Date read: 10/12/2024

Review:

Part two was a hell of a ride with twists and turns and verrrry interesting revelations!

We start the book where we left off in the first installment, so if you're not sure, just reread the last few chapters, and you'll be good to go!

Nova and Cain are such a power couple. If only they weren't beset by enemies 24/7 so they could rest and recuperate. I love their interaction, which, I have to admit, tends to be slightly deranged, but then again, they're always half dead or half asleep from exhaustion... so yeah!

The non-stop action keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the revelations about Nova and Cain are fascinating, to say the least!
We also learn more about the High Council and the other players (and enemies) in this high-stakes game.

Oh, and we also get to see how freaking awesome Red is (the bike Nova rides)!!  

All in all, I really like this series, though I'm not sure when we'll get book 3, unfortunately 😢

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Victoria wrote: "Wow... that's... ermm.. yeah...
I'm actually amazed you still gave it 2⭐"

I know. I’m too soft hearted, esp ‘round Christmas. Should’ve done 1.5⭐️

That one sounds good. I’ve added it to my KU TBR list @ Amz.

[Victoria]

Shiny KU books ftw!!!! 😁

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hey y’all. Shelf is up and it’s a potential winning shelf for teams 5 & 9.

Shelf #7 ~ 13 Dec: P - "Plaid" or paranormal romance
Requirement: Choose a book using one of the following options ...

* For "Plaid", read a book in featuring a Scottish character; a blanket on the cover or a character wearing something plaid or a character within the story who wears flannels; or an author's first or last name beginning with 'P'

* For PNR, read a book found on one of these shelves: GR PNR or SOS PNR

I’m gonna read

Hope y’all have a good weekend! We finally got our wee Christmas trees decorated 🎄

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Victoria wrote: "Shiny KU books ftw!!!! 😁"

😆👍🏼

[Victoria]

Selection Post: Shelf #7 ~ 13 Dec: P - "Plaid" or PNR

UPDATE: I couldn't get into the book (but it seemed like a rly good one, so I'm going to give it another go next year), so I've swapped out The Wolf King

Book: Jingle My Bells by Chandelle LaVaun
Pages: 326
How it fits: PNR mpg



Happy reading to you both! and enjoy the weeeeeeeekend 😁

[Louise]

Selection Post
Shelf: P - "Plaid" or PNR

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Pages: 435
How It Fits: PNR MPG

[Victoria]

Completion Post: Shelf #7 ~ 13 Dec: P - "Plaid" or PNR

Book: Jingle My Bells by Chandelle LaVaun
Pages: 326
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Date read: 15/12/2024

Review:

I don't know what it is with this series... but I'm going through them like they only have 100 pages 😄😄
This book is a delightful and quick read. The story is set in the same world (and timeframe) as the previous book but can be enjoyed independently.

So this is something I'm really enjoying as I know where about in the (first) story I am based on what events are happening, like the snowman competition! ☃️

Reece and Holden both need to get married. She wants to be able to shift whenever she wants instead of having to walk around like she's expecting a flood, and he needs to marry to be able to take over as alpha of his pack... but dating is an absolute nightmare for both of them. Really, I don't know how they do it, but their dating misadventures are hilarious 😁

This is a friends-to-lovers romance and a really fun time, Hallmark-style! Perfect for those busy during the coming holiday season! 

I highly recommend this series, and I can't wait to get started on the next installment 😄

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

That sounds good Victoria, I'll check it out :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I read the first one last Dec and grabbed #2 when it was free in 2021. It's on my kindle for this year's holiday reading. I'll have to move it up on my list. And, I saw #3 came out this year :)

I'll get my review up soon.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Miss Frost Saves the Sandman by Kristen Painter
Series: Jayne Frost #3
Qualifier: @ GR paranormal-romance shelf (shelved by 11 people)
Shelf #7: P/PNR + plaid
Read: 15 Dec
Rating: ✮✮✮☆☆

My Review:
This series is a fun side-story set in Painter's Nocturne Falls world. Miss Frost manages the Christmas shop in town. In this installment, she's suddenly plagued by nightmares shortly after the Sandman, and more importantly, his ex-wife the Mistress of Nightmares shows up to win him back.

Tempus Sanders, the Sandman, has a book that'll put your children to sleep. A gift all parents would be asking for any Christmas, no doubt. Everything is going according to plan - his readings are proving the book is a godsend and they are flying off the shelves.

Jayne's relationships with both Greyson and Connor seem to be amicably progressing. Who will she ultimately choose? Will she have to choose? Until we know, both men are proving to be quite charming and perfect long-term relationship material.

The badguy in this one was a bit predictible, but these stories remain a quick, fun read. I'm evnious of Jayne's talking kitty, Spider. “Hungry, Mama. Big hungry.” That's definitely one meow we can easily decifer, but there are others less clear; we'd love to know what's on our kitties minds.

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Steph wrote: "I read the first one last Dec and grabbed #2 when it was free in 2021. It's on my kindle for this year's holiday reading. I'll have to move it up on my list. And, I saw #3 came out this year :)

I'..."

When I looked #5 is listed on amazon. I've added the first one to my KU shelf :D

[Steph, Serious series addict]

👍🏼 thx 😊

[Victoria]

The end of a BSB round is always bittersweet, lol... my poor TBR pile has suffered greatly this time 😂😂

Louise, just a quick question, will you be submitting your reviews for the few remaining shelves? That way we can get everything stamped and close it out. But no worries if you won't be able to make it! 😊

Thanks to you both for being on the team, it was a load of fun!
I wish you warm and joyful holidays and the very best for the new year 🎄🎇

Till the next round (or another post!) 😊

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Same! 😆

Enjoyed reading along with y'all! Hope you can join us again in the future.

Happy Christmas & New year! 🎄🥂

[Louise]

Victoria wrote: "The end of a BSB round is always bittersweet, lol... my poor TBR pile has suffered greatly this time 😂😂

Louise, just a quick question, will you be submitting your reviews for the few remaining she..."

I should have them posted by tomorrow 🤞