areadersreviewblog

Author Links

Facebook

January 29, 2020 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ The Flame and The Blade, (Flame and Blade #1), by Meredith Hart

#fantasy #adventure #romance

Blurb

He’s a fire mage who’s lived his entire life on the wrong side of the King’s law.
She’s a guard desperate to prove herself.

Together, they will enter the legendary Demon Forest.

Vethe Scarvian is a direct descendant of the man who almost destroyed humanity. And that plus a couple of coppers will buy him another beer.

When his aunt reveals the existence of a long-lost betrothal agreement hidden somewhere in the ruins of the Demon Forest, Vethe is only interested in how much money the noblewoman betrothed to him would be willing to pay to escape that contract.

He just has to find the contract first.

Lyria Guardia let her family down and got her heart broken. Gods help her, that will never happen again.

After a crushing betrayal by the man she’d built her life around, Lyria abandons her promising career with the Adventurer’s Guild and returns, humiliated and heartbroken, to the Guard’s Guild that her family has run for hundreds of years. Determined to regain her position and prove herself to her five brothers, Lyria is willing to accept any assignment.

Even if that means she has to drag some spoiled noble brat through the Demon Forest in search of a mysterious missing contract.

My Review

Superb Start to Fantasy Series! ~5 Stars

I literally inhaled this fantasy debut from author Meredith Wild – I was riveted from beginning to end. It contains adventure, romance, a quest (what fantasy novel would be complete without one?), magic and monsters . Once more the world building is just sublime.

Not only that but the main couple rock! – Lyria is a woman who knows how to look after herself and wield a sword, and Vethe has abilities far and above your average spoiled aristocrat, which Lyria initially thinks he is. Although the couple are just made for each other it is not immediately obvious to them. Indeed, their romance is a slow burn and so much the better for it. There are plenty of scenes of danger and suspense which afford the couple numerous opportunites to get to know each other better and also some humorous moments – the repartee between the couple and their inner dialogues are superb.

I enjoyed how their respective opinions of each other changes as they make their way through the Demon forest: Lyria comes to the realisation that Vethe has hidden talents and Vethe in turn discovers that Lyria is all woman beneath her Guard’s uniform and has a personality which draws her to him like no woman has ever before. When they do get it together it is well worth the wait and the flames ignite!

My heart went out to both main characters due to their backstories: Lyria is recovering from a broken heart and Vethe has an unhappy home life and an empty existence, concealing his ability to perform fire magic from the authorities.

I was on pins wondering whether they would survive the dangers of the Demon Forest and whether their quest would be a successful one. Yet Vethe is keeping secrets from Lyria and others appear to have an interest in what is hidden the forest, threatening their quest… Can Lyria survive another crushing betrayal and what future can there be for the couple when their destinies seem to point them on different paths?

I’m so looking forward to the next instalment of Lyria and Vethe’s adventures.

The read is perfect for lovers of fantasy who also enjoy romance with their magic and monsters.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please note that a copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links

Connect with the Author

Website

January 8, 2020 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ Omega Suppressed, by Leann Ryans

#paranormalromance #smalltownromance #newadultromance

Blurb

Moving from the city to a small town, Shailyn knew things would be different, but she didn’t realize how difficult it would be. When the town leader makes it obvious he does not agree with omegas using heat suppressants, and his son decides to cancel her order for more, she’s left with no choice but to make a trip back to the city to get more.
Alone.
What could go wrong?

This is a slow burn, omegaverse novella. There is detailed scenes and situations that may make some readers uncomfortable.

My Review

Omegaverse enemies-to-lovers romance ~5 stars

This novella, an enemies- to- lovers romance set in an omegaverse world is a lovely read. It features a spunky Omega heroine and an Alpha hero whose actions appear to thwart her at every turn. Their journey together is a bumpy one but I certainly enjoyed the ride.

Whilst Shailyn and her family immerse themselves in the peace and tranquillity of the small town they have relocated to, it is not long before her use of heat suppressants brings her into conflict with the town leader and his son, one of the town’s guards. Shailyn is furious when Luke cancels her order for the drugs – she will not have her own life and that of other women in the town dictated to by Omega hormones and overbearing Alphas, despite her dynamic! She embarks on a trip back to the city to procure the medication she needs for herself and others.

Can Luke save Shailyn from any danger she may encounter on her trip back to the city for more of her drugs? Also despite their mutual attraction how can they come together as equals when Luke is a dominant Alpha by nature and Shailyn is an Omega determined to live life on her terms?

I loved the character of Shailyn, an outspoken, if a little naïve, young woman who makes friends easily and wants to right the wrongs she sees. As for Luke, he is a character I warmed to as the read progresses – the romance between them is not instantaneous by any means and I thoroughly enjoyed the lively banter and sexual tension between them, heightened by the clash of wills.

Recommended for fans of Omegaverse stories or readers looking for a small town, new adult read with a difference.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Purchase Links

Connect with the Author

Facebook

December 20, 2019 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ The Last Act of Laura Winters (Last Series Book #1): A Dark Reverse Harem Romance, by Kelly Weaver

#dark #reverseharem #romance

Adult/18+ read

Blurb

Laura Winters is yesterday’s soap queen and aspiring to more sophisticated credit in the indie film world.
On route to a horror movie set in Keswick, Laura is confronted with the greatest acting challenge she’s ever faced.
Someone was expecting her arrival.

Four handsome, eccentric brothers living off a dwindling heirloom mansion isolated from civilized society.
They claim to be her saviors.

They claim to be her biggest fans.

But they aren’t letting her step one foot out of bed.

In their captivity, she can be their perfect silver screen dream made real.

She can be a star.

My Review

Freedom through captivity? ~ 4 and a half stars

Where to start with this review? On the one hand this erotic captor/captive reverse harem is a dark and cautionary tale of abduction and obsession but it is also a story of liberation and second chances. It contains some seriously screwed up characters and scenes, not only in respect of the brothers but also the heroine, Laura, the extent of how damaged they are becoming more apparent the more I read. It also includes scenes of violence, dubious consent and eroticism as the brothers conspire to make Laura their own…

For me the obsessive nature of the brothers was reminiscent of Steven King’s Misery and the descriptions of the brothers’ home had echoes of the Bates’ motel in Psycho. I particularly enjoyed the picture the author painted of the isolated crumbling mansion and the claustrophobia of the room where Laura is held captive.

As the plot unravels so do the layers that make up Laura and she is compelled to face her demons and to question her past life and sense of self, whilst confronting her new reality as a captive of her biggest fans. Some of the scenes in the book are truly shocking, particularly the control the brothers, especially Ramon, exert over her, physically and sexually. Laura attempts to exert her own feminine wiles over her captors, drawing on her acting powers, however, the brothers are eccentric through and through and her efforts do not guarantee her success…

I will not say any more about the book, but suffice to say that it has elements of many genres, including horror, thriller, erotica and romance (albeit twisted) and I hugely enjoyed it. I found it to be an original and all consuming read on many different levels.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

Purchase Links

Connect with the Author

December 10, 2019 by Tina Williams

ARC REVIEW ~ FERMENTATION RECIPES – An In-Depth Guide into a Culture of Healing with 60 Delicious Fermented Recipes for Your Entire Dietary Lifestyle, by Elizabeth House

#diet #health #healthylifestyle #recipes

Description

Are you looking for recipes that taste great and have many health benefits? Then keep reading!

Fermenting has been a method for storing food that has sustained mankind for centuries. Only decades ago, this method began to fall into obscurity thanks to food sustaining methods like refrigeration. Since that time, gut health has been in an overall decline in society. Fermentation imparts so many vital enzymes and elements into your food suck as Omega-3 fatty acids, B-vitamins, and probiotics on which your body and your digestive health thrives.

When many people think of fermentation, they think of things like kombucha and sauerkraut. While these are examples of what fermented foods are and what they’re like, there is so much more variety than this in the world of fermented foods. You’ll find condiments, curries, pasta, pickles, stews, seasonings, and even candy!

This essential guide for fermentation includes:
• Delicious recipes that will satisfy your hunger
• Foods that will nourish your body
• Unique recipes that will improve the overall health of your microbiome
• Tips for your digestion that will leave you feeling regular and cleansed
• Tips on products that are fermented and ready to use at your local grocer
• So much more!

This guide is the key to bringing the nutrients and enzymes you need into your diet and to helping you maintain a diet structured for your longevity and gut health. Are you tired of dealing with irregularity or stomach cramping? Do you feel fatigued or like you’re just sluggish? Do you feel like there is some element missing when it comes to your vitality? This guide is your answer and it provides all the steps you’ll need to take to bring yourself back to life and good health.

Don’t allow yourself to feel the effects of a leaky or unhealthy gut for one more day.

If the above describes you at all, then then you owe it to yourself to see what fermentation can do for you right away. You will feel the results in no time at all, and you’ll be wondering why you waited so long to try it in the first place.

My Review

Practical and inspirational cook book ~ 4 stars

This is a super cook book which describes how to prepare fermented food. This very readable, no nonsense guide has inspired me to incorporate some of the recipes in my own diet. I particularly liked how the author explains how fermentation can be used to preserve everyday produce and how the it can assist whole body healing through encouraging healthy gut bacteria.

What surprised me most was the sheer variety of foods that can benefit from fermentation. It not only includes recipes for the fermented foods I was already familiar with, such as sauerkraut, yoghurt and sourdough, but also contains a whole host of other recipes which included pickles, salsa and ketchup, meat and drinks such as cider, lemonade and wine.

Each recipe is clearly set out and includes nutritional information and an illustration of the finished product. The measures included in the book refer to ‘cups’, rather than the more familiar measures I am used to as a Brit but with the aid of conversion tables and conversion wizards available online the recipes are fairly straightforward to follow.

Recommended to those who are seeking methods to enhance the health and well-being of themselves and their families through preparing and consuming some delicious recipes.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Purchase Links

Connect with the Author