Book Review: Dragon's Heart by S.M. Shadow

Dragon's Heart by S.M. Shadow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm in love with this series. I love that the female characters are strong in that they carry on. They move forward and get things done.

Beryl is my favorite female lead so far in this series. Oh I've loved them all, but she pulls no punches and this is what I love. She knows she's rough and she's excellent with being this way.

She's a dragon, for goodness sakes. And you wouldn't have a dragon any other way.

We see another side of the Elysium world, the Faerie realm. Things are complicated here with how they treat their woman and how Faerie feels about it. And the person to rule... is male. This is a whole story of it's own in this book.

Then we learn pieces to go with the over all arc of what's happening in Elysium with Darkness, along with the closed off sections now.

Then we have the romance story for Beryl. There's a history with her and Mavrien. And it's not as pretty as one would like to think. She did scar him. But! There's a reason for it! And I found this reason interesting as it adds to the world and magic of dragons. I love that there's a connection to them to have a foundation for the romance.

There's a lot to juggle in this series, and it's extremely well done to balance out the books. I love the overall arc and the shorter stories in each book for each part of Elysium and the couples that come together.

The world is what's driving the reason these characters are going through what they are. The women are strong, and I do love strong women, who make changes in the world.

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Book Review: Faerie's Heart by S.M. Shadow

Faerie's Heart by S.M. Shadow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brialyn was one of six girls sent away from their home in Elysium when only 12 years old. Brialyn was willing to leave to escape what happens to the faerie females. Especially one of the power she has. But she misses her home.

Brialyn has been running from many things through her life. So when Devryn shows up and offers to bring her home and protect her with a partnership, she is tempted. But she wants to protect herself from what Faerie do to their females too. Brialyn grows through this book. She has her doubts and desires, but she also knows she should protect the females she left behind. However, she realizes she's been running from things her life and is determined not to run again. So where will she make her stay to be her home?

Devryn was a character we met in the previous book. He was one that caught my eye as he was different from the other Hunters. In this book we see he is different, and he cares. As they return to Hunter Territory in Elysium, we see he wants to do more. And he is glad to have Brialyn by his side, but he just has to get Hunters to accept a Faerie as his mate and leader. But she can be so much more.

I really like the connection Devryn and Brialyn have. There was a moment that meant a lot to them both as they both felt seen in a moment when they were at a low.

I love how the characters are straight forward with each other from the beginning. They both internally want more, but they know it's too soon to think there could be more. They have their heads about them, but it leads to doubt too with emotions. When their heads clear, they do think clearly and do talk.

We learn more about the Darkness in this book. Brialyn and Devryn see a different side to the Darkness. I'm intrigued by the Darkness and come to a few thoughts I've had on it and the Light. In the end, I love what I've seen of the Darkness and the thoughts that go with it. I want to know more and see how things progress with the other territories.

This book is a romance story with a great plot arc for a series with the Darkness and Elysium. So there are steamy scenes. I do like how these characters build their relationship and how the world brings them together. Great writing in bringing it all together.

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Audio Book Review: Beta's Heart by S.M. Shadow

Beta's Heart by S.M. Shadow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm going to be honest. Going into the book, I wasn't really a fan of Kiera's after the previous book. We hadn't meet her much. But I did love Gareth. So I was curious about how this novella was going to go.

In the end, I absolutely loved Kiera! And still loved Gareth.

This story is one from hints of attraction from Gareth and his wolf for Kiera. It takes things we learned of Kiera's father, who is beta in Hunter's Heart. We know he's not an honorable man, or at least suspect. And what we learn of the man here... wow, so much worse than I had expected.

And with Kiera's father, we see Kiera is a stronger person than I gave her credit for. People are working through tough things in ways they think will work.

These characters are upfront with their feelings and they respect each other for them. They also have a connection in the past that gives them something to build on. Thankfully. They once again work through their personal doubts along with struggles together. Learning what they want and how to let friends help and others in closer.

I love how S.M. Shadow takes a character I'm not sure about and has me love her in such a short story! Well written to draw me to the characters with their life circumstances.

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Audio Book Review: Hunter's Heart by S.M. Shadow

Hunter's Heart by S.M. Shadow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Six girls were exiled from Elysium when they were twelve years old, all because the Oracle said it would help with the Darkness. Separated and sent to the human realm to live. Twelve years later it's time they come home to save Elysium from the growing danger of the Darkness.

This book is the one where Luca is sent to bring Ashlynn home.

Ashlynn is a strong independent woman. She has taken the initiative to try to find the other girls, with no avail. She knows who she is and even though she doesn't fit in with the human world, she's living her life.

I love when we meet Ashlynn as she's tending bar. Perfect for her personality.

Luca is a wolf who's had a strong history with Ashlynn. They were thick as thieves, until the day she was exiled. So there's hard feelings there.

I'm a fan of story being the focus with romance that fits with the story. This book gives me exactly that.

There's more going on in Elysium with the Darkness. People are getting sick and not making it. The center hexagon star is shot through with black veins. The oracle is vague, so is it really true or just a con to protect his own skin?

Ashlynn faces the darkness along with her feelings with her family and old friend. This all fits together to tell of what is happening in Elysium. We start to see what's happening. In the end we learn a few things and have a few questions.

This is a story with a steamy romance element to it. I'm a fan of when couples have a connection that can be a base and grown. Luca and Ashlynn have that in spades. They have personal struggles to get over. I love that they are smart characters. They take the cues and even though they have self doubts, they figure things out past their person feelings. Well created and written characters.

We get to see who the next is to be brought home from the six. And who's to find her.

I was taken with what we learned of the Darkness and how it acts. I want to continue with the series to see how it comes together and what happens with the Darkness.

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Throwback Thursday (93)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

Shame on me.  I have the first two books of this series, this being the second.  And have not got to starting them yet.  I do really want to get to these.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sacrifice

Custo Santovari accepted pain, blood, even death, to save his best friend. But a man with all his sins just isn't cut out to be an angel. 

Mystery 

One moment he's fleeing Heaven; the next, he's waking up stark naked in Manhattan. In the middle of a war. Called there by a woman who's desperately afraid of the dark.

Shadow

It gathers around Annabella as she performs, filled with fantastic images of another world, bringing both a golden hero and a nightmare lover.

Wolf

He pursues her relentlessly, twisting her desires even as she gives herself to the man she loves. Because each of us has a wild side, and Annabella is about to unleash the beast.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to and join as well.  Thank you.

Throwback Thursday (86)

I found this picture of Trinity College Library, and thought it would work for this meme with a little play with lighting and adding the words.

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves.

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start? Lets go by Published Date on the books...

This Week:

Oh yes, I won this one and do want to get to this series.  I even picked up a novella not so long ago in this series.  I like the ghostly sound of this one.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Death

Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.

Wraiths

Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.

Segue

Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.

Twilight

This is the place between life and what comes after—a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door.

I've heard back from a few bloggers that they would like to join in this meme post, so I'm adding a Linky for you to join in.  Grab the picture above, and join in.  All I ask, is if you can acknowledge my blog in the post so others know where to come back to and join as well.  Thank you.