The Beast Lord's Prize by S. Alexander [Review]

The Beast Lord's Prize (Cursed Marriage Auctions #1) by S. Alexander
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 3, 2026

Cursed Marriage Auctions
1. The Beast Lord's Prize - Kindle
2. The Undying Lord's Obsession
3. The Dragon Lord's Treasure
4. The Sea Lord's Captive
5. The Thorn Lord's Bride
6. The Stone Lord's Vow

S. Alexander
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

They branded me a witch and put me on a block in the Red Amphitheater—a treaty bride for sale to keep monsters obedient.

I wasn’t chosen.
I was auctioned.

Then Lord Vorak of Blackwood arrived—horned, scarred, and barely leashed. He didn’t bid.

He fought.

He won me in blood… and claimed me with a vow that made the crowd go quiet.

They say his curse turns him into a beast that destroys everything he touches. They say no bride survives Blackwood.

But the first thing he gives me isn’t pain.

It’s protection.

And when his rage rises, my hands are the only thing that can pull him back—because something in my blood wakes for him. Something the crown wanted buried.

The contract says he has thirty nights… then he must return me.

The crown forgot one detail:
Monsters don’t give back what’s theirs.

Thoughts on The Beast Lord's Prize: Beasts and curses and defiance? I'm IN!

I don't think the crown expected to have an open rebellion on their hands when they put Annora up on the auction block. But that's what they got. Well, after she was claimed by Vorak, taken to his fort, and figured out that the "beasts" weren't nearly as terrible as she'd been taught.

But let's back up a little. Annora is a healer at heart. While she's not technically a witch, she does have some sort of magic simmering in her blood. She doesn't know this and it probably wouldn't have manifested if the crown hadn't done what they did and put her in Vorak's path. Maybe it also manifested because Vorak needed her when his curse flared. I don't know. The point is that the people in power put her in a situation they couldn't control and so this rebellion is kind of on them.

That said, Vorak really did need her. He might not have known why when he claimed her at the auction, but she called to him from the start. His desperation and her desire to help started a ripple that looks to be spreading to the others who are in situations like Vorak out there.

A little danger, a little steam, and a wicked world with plenty more action to be found. *thumbs up*

Scales and Sensibility by Stephanie Burgis [Review]

Scales and Sensibility (Regency Dragons #1) by Stephanie Burgis
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 9, 2025

Regency Dragons
1. Scales and Sensibility - Paperback | Kindle
2. Claws and Contrivances

Stephanie Burgis
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Sensible, practical Elinor Tregarth really did plan to be the model poor relation when she moved into Hathergill Hall. She certainly never meant to kidnap her awful cousin Penelope's pet dragon. She never expected to fall in love with the shameless - but surprisingly sweet - fortune hunter who came to court Penelope. And she never dreamed that she would have to enter into an outrageous magical charade to save her younger sisters' futures.

However, even the most brilliant scholars of 1817 England still haven't ferreted out all the lurking secrets of rediscovered dragonkind...and even the most sensible of heroines can still make a reckless wish or two when she's pushed. Now Elinor will have to find out just how rash and resourceful she can be when she sets aside all common sense. Maybe, just maybe, she'll even be impractical enough to win her own true love and a happily ever after...with the unpredictable and dangerous "help" of the magical creature who has adopted her.

Thoughts on Scales and Sensibility: This book was really good and I absolutely enjoyed it, but MAN was I having a serious second hand stress reaction to the situation Elinor found herself in. I mean, between the potential discovery by SO MANY people and just the general jerkitude of her cousin and my worry over what would happen to the dragon she liberated, I was a mess. Which says it all, really.

Anywho. Elinor is grieving and kind and honest to a fault and she bites her tongue when her cousin treats her abominably (who then turns it around so it's all about how Penelope is treated terribly because she didn't get the things she thought she deserved) until Penelope goes one step too far. Now she's liberated her cousin's dragon (which was sorely needed because Penelope doesn't deserve a dragon AT ALL) and she's basically homeless. Then an errant wish comes true and now Elinor is heading back to Hathergill Hall wearing another woman's face with a man she admires probably more than she should considering they've just met.

Helping her cousin with her debut (as the other woman) wasn't on Elinor's to-do list, but a poor relation's gotta do what a poor relation's gotta do. Things get more complicated with the addition of new houseguests, some secrets that aren't as secret as one would hope, and another little wish that might put her aunt in danger.

Dragons, men who are willing to look beyond the surface, and a lady who is more than she believes herself to be. *thumbs up* despite the second hand stress it gave me.

Silver & Blood by Jessie Mihalik [Review]

Silver & Blood (Silver & Blood #1) by Jessie Mihalik
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: December 4, 2025

Silver & Blood
1. Silver & Blood - Paperback | Kindle

Jessie Mihalik
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

There’s something in the woods…

When a vicious beast begins attacking her fellow villagers, Riela reluctantly agrees to enter the forbidden forest and kill the monster as she’s the only mage available—or so she thought.

Untrained and barely armed, Riela is quickly overwhelmed when one beast turns into two. She fears her death is at hand until the unexpected arrival of a scarred, strikingly handsome man with gleaming moonlit magic changes her fate—and provides a rare opportunity to learn more about her own fickle power.

After being rescued and healed from the beast’s poison, Riela awakens in a magical castle complete with a gorgeous library, a strange wolf, and the surly man who saved her life. She soon learns Garrick is both more powerful and far deadlier than a mere mortal mage—but thanks to a century-long curse, his powers are weakening.

Trapped in his castle and surrounded by the treacherous woods, the spark of attraction between Riela and Garrick slowly ignites into fiery desire. But the more they discover about Riela’s magic, the more suspicious Garrick grows of her identity. As they unravel the secrets and lies connecting Riela’s past to Garrick’s, the tenuous threads of trust between them start to fray.

Because Riela’s life—or her death—might be the key to regaining everything Garrick has lost.

Thoughts on Silver & Blood: MAN, this was a good book. Riela is put in a terrible situation by the people of her village and things could have gone very differently for her when she stepped into the forest. Sure, sure, she was attacked by a creature that would have been very happy watching her perish from the poisonous wounds it inflicted, but she didn't die and was, in fact, rescued by a powerful man who was suspicious of her every action. That said, her innate kindness started to chip away at Garrick's walls and her odd magic intrigued him.

Admittedly, Garrick absolutely didn't trust that Riela was as innocent as she seemed to be, but that was thanks to events in his past and really have nothing to do with Riela herself. Did I mention that her magic intrigued him? She had a lot of power and was woefully untrained, but those moments when she could tap into her magic (mostly unintentionally) were something else. And maybe (possibly, it just might be) she really was as unaware of who he is and why he's trapped in the forest as she seemed to be.

Figuring out how to trigger Riela's magic opens up a whole new can of worms, but it also gives Garrick hope. No lie, hope had been in short supply since he'd been trapped in Riela's world and seeing a potential end to a centuries long curse was more than Garrick dared dream. But again, can of worms. All of a sudden they're facing court intrigue, magical limitations, and a potential start to a relationship that comes with plenty of pitfalls and danger.

And that was before Riela had to face some hard truths about her past.

An amazing world with amazing characters and I am absolutely ready to see where things go from here.

Kingdom of Tomorrow by Gena Showalter [Review]

Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1) by Gena Showalter
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 14, 2025

Book of Arden
1. Kingdom of Tomorrow - Paperback | Kindle
2. Kingdom of Today

Gena Showalter
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Twenty-year-old Arden Roosa knows only Ourland. Two worlds split and stitched together, with broken pieces from each, statues of fallen gods, and heavenly artifacts that are worshipped…or feared.

But nothing is more fearsome than the night.

A strange madness haunts the darkest hours, turning innocents into gleeful killers. Arden does her best to stay safe, until she reads a book written about her life―The Book of Arden―and everything changes.

Forced to join Fort Bala Royal Academy, Arden is paired with the ruthless High Prince Cyrus Dolion. But while he trains her for combat against a mystical adversary, she can’t deny the sparks burning between them.

If her panic attacks and war games aren’t enough, Arden is also tapped to join the Tome Society, rumored guardians of an invisible library with books that foretell the future. But the more she learns about the society, the less she understands about Ourland, the gods…and the person she’s destined to be.

Thoughts on Kingdom of Tomorrow: We're diving into a dangerous world ruled by individuals who know more than they're telling and Arden Roosa is smack-dab in the middle of things. Not by choice, mind you, but because she could have either followed her dream or done what needed to be done to save her mother. For her, it wasn't a choice at all. So she's now at the royal academy learning how to fight the things that stalk the night.

To say she's out of her element might be an understatement. She's dealing with panic attacks, fellow trainees who are out to prove they're the best, and an inconvenient attraction to the High Prince. Who happens to be her instructor.

Plus, you know, there are the monsters. And SO MANY SECRETS. Arden has to sort through all she's learning to figure out what the truth is. She also has to unlearn a lot of what's considered common knowledge because the people in charge are less than forthcoming about the true threat they're facing.

Betrayal, lies, complicated family dynamics, secrets that have far-reaching implications, a High Prince who brings the heat, and a lady who has to learn she can do anything she sets her mind to. GOOD STUFF!

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis [Review]

Wooing the Witch Queen (Queens of Villainy #1) by Stephanie Burgis
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 25, 2025

Queens of Villainy
1. Wooing the Witch Queen - Paperback | Kindle
2. Enchanting the Fae Queen

Stephanie Burgis
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In a Gaslamp-lit world where hags and ogres lurk in thick pine forests, three magical queens form an uneasy alliance to protect their lands from invasion…and love turns their world upside down.

Queen Saskia is the wicked sorceress everyone fears. After successfully wrestling the throne from her evil uncle, she only wants one thing: to keep her people safe from the empire next door. For that, she needs to spend more time in her laboratory experimenting with her spells. She definitely doesn’t have time to bring order to her chaotic library of magic.

When a mysterious dark wizard arrives at her castle, Saskia hires him as her new librarian on the spot. “Fabian” is sweet and a little nerdy, and his requests seem a little strange – what in the name of Divine Elva is a fountain pen? – but he’s getting the job done. And if he writes her flirtatious poetry and his innocent touch makes her skin singe, well…

Little does Saskia know that the "wizard" she’s falling for is actually an Imperial archduke in disguise, with no magical training whatsoever. On the run, with perilous secrets on his trail and a fast growing yearning for the wicked sorceress, he's in danger from her enemies and her newfound allies, too. When his identity is finally revealed, will their love save or doom each other?

Thoughts on Wooing the Witch Queen: Oh my goodness. Felix was the world's biggest sweetheart and his kindness hadn't been soured in the slightest by his guardian's abuse of him over the years. He's just a big, moral hunk of a man who happened to have untapped skills and a lot of perfectly timed luck (or the hand of a goddess guiding him). He escapes his guardian with the intent of throwing himself on Saskia's mercy and instead ends up with a job cataloging the beautiful, intimidating queen's library.

Despite his lack of practical skills when it comes to magic, Felix is smart and he kind of loves the job he's been set to. And Saskia makes him go a little mentally mushy whenever she's around. He knows there can't be anything between them since he's the Archduke she's determined to bring down (which swings back around to his terrible guardian and the proclamations that have been made in Felix's name), but it isn't long before his heart wholly belongs to her.

Which brings us to Saskia. She's not one for social niceties or, well, social much of anything. She really only wants to be left alone with her experiments. But necessity had her overthrowing her evil uncle and now she has a kingdom that needs to be ruled. She never expected to LIKE the dark wizard she hired to catalog her library (because dark wizards are generally massive jerkfaces), but "Fabian" is oddly captivating.

A gorgeous, dangerous world, allies with secrets of their own, monsters who have more heart than most of the individuals in charge, an Archduke with untapped depths, and a dark queen who has more than a little baggage to deal with (and who knows a good man when she meets him). *thumbs up* on so many levels!

By the Horns by Ruby Dixon [Review]

By the Horns (Royal Artifactual Guild #2) by Ruby Dixon
Format: ebook
Source: provided by NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 2, 2025

Royal Artifactual Guild
1. Bull Moon Rising
2. By the Horns - Hardcover | Kindle

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Gwenna has always considered herself a normal person. A former servant, she wants nothing more than to land a steady job with the Royal Artifactual Guild so she can make some steady coin to send home to her mother. She's not special. She's certainly not a necromancer. That would be impossible, given how necromancing (or any 'mancing) is forbidden upon penalty of death. So if the dead keep talking to her? Well, she's going to keep on ignoring them. They're not going to stand in the way of her dreams.

Also standing in her way? One big, arrogant, far-too-flirty Taurian named Raptor. They slept together once, and now he wants more . . . but she doesn’t have time for that. Her focus is on being a fledgling, a trainee for the Royal Artifactual Guild. But Raptor won't go away. He's on a secret mission for the guild to find an artifact thief.

Problem is, he thinks the thief is Gwenna.

How can she convince Raptor that he's got the wrong girl when all the signs point to her? And how do you tell a Taurian you can't date him because you hear dead people and it might cost you your life?

Thoughts on By the Horns: We met Gwenna in Aspeth's book and she was one of the unfortunate members of Aspeth's Five who was made to be a Repeater if she wanted to attempt to become an artificer again. This is all thanks to a little case of thievery which, YES, Gwenna might have instigated, but she did it with good intentions. So now her Repeater time is coming to an end and Gwenna has to apply to see if she'll be accepted as a fledgling again.

Somehow she ends up joining forces with Raptor, the Taurian she maybe might have gotten a little physical with. He doesn't know she was the one that took him to the heights of ecstasy, though, so when she acts a little weird around him, he thinks the worst. Oh, plus she can hear the dead, so she also gets a little weird because of that. Because, you know, she doesn't want anyone (except Aspeth and her former Five members) knowing THAT about her.

Anywho. With Raptor on a secret infiltration mission to help figure out who's pilfering artifacts and Gwenna acting a little shifty whenever he's around, well, you can see how he might think she's the thief. But when someone starts targeting her, he has to consider that there's even more going on than they originally thought.

A little case of the dead trying desperately to communicate, some terribly trying times in the tunnels beneath the city, the hand of a god, an undercover mission, some betrayal, a male who is willing to do what needs to be done to help the Guild, and a lady who worries that her new found ability might end up getting her killed. MAN, I like this world and all the situations these fledglings get involved in.

Bull Moon Rising by Ruby Dixon [Review]

Bull Moon Rising (Royal Artifactual Guild #1) by Ruby Dixon
Format: hardcover
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: June 28, 2025

Royal Artifactual Guild
1. Bull Moon Rising - Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle
2. By the Horns

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

As a Holder’s daughter, Aspeth Honori knows the importance of magical artifacts . . . which is why it’s a disaster that her father has gambled all theirs away. Now that her family is in danger of losing their hold—and their heads—if anyone finds out the truth, Aspeth decides to do something about it. She’ll join the Royal Artifactual Guild and the adventurers who explore ancient underground ruins to retrieve the coveted arcane items.

It’s a great plan—with one big problem. The guild won’t let her train because she’s a woman. Aspeth needs a chaperone of some kind. The best way to get around this problem? Marry someone who will let her become an apprentice. Who better than a surly guild member who requires a favor of his own? He’s a minotaur (it’s fine) who is her teacher (also fine) . . . and he’s about to go into rut (which is where it gets tricky). He also has no idea she’s a noble (oops), and he’ll want nothing to do with her if he discovers her real identity.

Now Aspeth just has to pass the guild tests, thwart a fortune hunter, and save her hold—oh, and survive a rut with her monstrous, horned husband, whom she might be falling in love with.

It’s time to dig deep. Literally.

Thoughts on Bull Moon Rising: (I don't know how I didn't read this when it originally came out because I love me some Ruby Dixon and I love me some romantasy and this book was EVERYTHING. So good.)

Ah, yes. A tale as old as time. You know, when a woman is smarter than a lot of the men and just wants to do the thing she loves, but the thing she loves happens to be an old-boys club and those boys DO NOT want a woman in their midst. Let's just say that Aspeth's sheltered upbringing (and her father's disinterest which led to her being able to study anything she wanted because he wasn't paying enough attention to stop her) has her thinking she'll be able to waltz into the Royal Artifactual Guild and earn her place. She might not be in peak physical shape for adventuring in the tunnels and ruins, but she's smart and she can figure it out.

Except the Guild won't let her apply. Because she's a woman.

BUT...Aspeth is smart and it doesn't take long before she finds a workaround. The workaround being that she's going to marry a minotaur in what is absolutely a purely transactional marriage. Meaning, she gets the chaperone the Guild requires and he gets a warm body to see him through the upcoming Conquest Moon. Where, to put things delicately, there is much conquesting going on. Much. So much.

Admittedly, Hawk only takes Aspeth up on her proposal initially because he's getting desperate. The Conquest Moon is no time to be on your own as a minotaur and, well, Aspeth is a pretty good negotiator. So they get married and Hawk soon figures out his wife is a little naive (in a sweet way), very smart (in most ways), and she's probably hiding something. Which isn't wrong AT ALL.

But he's a minotaur of his word and his fledgling group might be a mess, but his new wife is kind of growing on him. If only those pesky secrets would stay buried. For the record, they don't. In fact, one of those secrets is kind of slimy and probably deserves way more than he ultimately got.

A little adventuring, a little back stabbing, spiders, training, more training, a minotaur who might not have wanted a wife, but grows to adore the one who attaches herself to him, and a lady who has to learn the hard way that not all heroes deserve the stories told about them. On the other hand, some heroes will charge through a rabid group of ratlings to get to the lady who means the world to them. *thumbs up*

The Sea-Ogre's Eager Bride by Ruby Dixon [Review]

The Sea-Ogre's Eager Bride (Aspect and Anchor #4.5) by Ruby Dixon
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 12, 2025

Aspect and Anchor
0.5. The King's Spinster Bride
1. Bound to the Battle God
2. Sworn to the Shadow God
3. Wed to the Wild God
3.5. The Half-Orc's Maiden Bride
4. Servant to the Spidae
4.5. The Sea-Ogre's Eager Bride - Paperback | Kindle
5. Vowed to the Vulture God

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Valessa is in danger. Her town has been captured by Aventinian raiders, the women taken, and now she's on a ship destined for nowhere good. But when a terrifying, four-armed sea-ogre pirate boards the ships and demands compensation, Valessa's luck changes.

The sea-ogre demands a bride. It's the perfect opportunity for her to escape.

Valessa volunteers. She tells everyone she's very experienced with sea-ogres and knows just how to please them. She's very descriptive about it, too.

Thing is...Valessa's a liar.

She's never met a sea-ogre in her life. But it can't be that hard to keep one man-slash-monster happy, can it?

Thoughts on The Sea-Ogre's Eager Bride: Valessa's in a sort of bad place when we first meet her. Both literally and figuratively. She was a slave before she was captured by raiders and things don't really seem to be looking up in any way, shape, or form. Until a broody, not-much-of-a-talker sea-ogre blocks the ship carrying her and demands a bride.

Except Ranan didn't actually want a bride. You remember that "not much of a talker" thing from above? Yeah, the big guy doesn't talk much because his words sometimes get tangled and he misspeaks. He really wanted a bribe, but Vali jumped at the chance to get off the ship and quickly volunteered to be his bride when he uttered the word. Now he's stuck with a human he doesn't know what to do with who can't swim and is hardly suited to life floating on the back of a giant sea-turtle.

On Vali's end, Ranan confuses her. He's surly and broody and barely speaks to her for all he requested a bride. Yet under all the grump is a male with a surprisingly sweet side. He may be terrible at expressing it, but it's there. Wrapped under grunts and scowls.

A little pirating, swimming lessons, more treasure than you can shake a stick at, a surly male who doesn't know what he needs until it falls into his lap, and a lady who is far stronger than she gives herself credit for. GOOD STUFF!

Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd by Delilah S. Dawson [Review]

Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd (Dungeons & Dragons) by Delilah S. Dawson
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 24, 2025

Dungeons & Dragons
1. Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd - Hardcover | Kindle

Delilah S. Dawson
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Five strangers armed with steel and magic awaken in a mist-shrouded land, with no memory of how they arrived: Rotrog, a prideful orcish wizard; Chivarion, a sardonic drow barbarian; Alishai, an embittered tiefling paladin; Kah, a skittish kenku cleric; and Fielle, a sunny human artificer.

After they barely survive a nightmarish welcome to the realm of Barovia, a carriage arrives bearing an invitation:

Fairest Friends,

I pray you accept my humble Hospitality and dine with me tonight at Castle Ravenloft. It is rare we receive Visitors, and I do so Endeavor to Make your Acquaintance. The Carriage shall bear you to the Castle safely, and I await your Arrival with Pleasure.

Your host,
Strahd von Zarovich

With no alternative, and determined to find their way home, the strangers accept the summons and travel to the forbidding manor of the mysterious count. But all is not well at Castle Ravenloft. To survive the twisted enigmas of Strahd and his haunted home, the adventurers must confront the dark secrets in their own hearts and find a way to shift from strangers to comrades—before the mists of Barovia claim them forever.

Thoughts on Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd: It's been a good long while since I spent any time in the D&D world. A band of adventurers fighting their way through some dangerous terrain? Count me in! This band of adventurers, as it turns out, are complete strangers. Or at least they were until they were dropped in the middle of an unforgiving realm...no, that's not quite right. They're still strangers after being dropped there and it takes A LOT for them to finally find their groove with one another.

They all also have a lot more in common than any of them suspect. I mean, it isn't quite happenstance that drops them in this terrible place. They each have secrets and those secrets are doozies.

As they navigate the increasingly more dangerous land of Barovia and the count who rules it, they have to figure out their strengths and weaknesses and face off against some pretty messed up individuals. Seriously, the people in charge in these places have some pretty bonkers plans in motion and YUCK on a lot of levels, amirite?!?

More than a little danger, a beefy barbarian drow (who was probably my favorite because barbarians who have a soft spot for animals, YAY!), zombies, monsters, more monsters, probably more monsters, reluctant bonds of friendship, and an ending that kinda socks you in the gut. *thumbs up*

Daughter of Tides by Kit Rocha [Review]

Daughter of Tides (Born to Sea and Storm #1) by Kit Rocha
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: March 14, 2025

Born to Sea and Storm
1. Daughter of Tides - Paperback | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Bound to Fire and Steel
1. Consort of Fire

Kit Rocha
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Aleksi, the charming and charismatic god of love, is dying. But nothing can stop the Lover from completing his final quest: a dangerous diplomatic visit to a former adversary.

Setting sail for a mystical kingdom of ice, Aleksi is joined by Einar the Kraken, infamous pirate lord, and Naia, a sweet young water nymph. Intoxicated by the pair’s electric connection, Aleksi vows to enjoy his last days by playing matchmaker, pushing away his own desires for the sake of theirs. But he’s unexpectedly caught up in a raging game of seduction.

As the trio navigates turbulent seas and the political perils of the Ice Queen’s court, dark secrets reveal clues to one’s tragic past and another’s epic destiny. Aleksi’s powers spin out of control while love and lust run wild. And when enemies emerge from the shadows, the Lover is forced to make a choice. Will he give away his heart to save all that he holds dear?

Thoughts on Daughter of Tides: We were introduced to the Sheltered Lands and the Empire in Ash, Sachi, and Zanya's books. We were given  gods, dreamers, and a betrayal that rocked their world. The trio (along with the other gods) thwarted the Betrayer's plans, but things are still tense. Super tense. Like, diplomacy is needed at every turn and a quick escape is needed if the diplomacy fails.

Which is where Aleksi, Naia, and Einar come in. When Ash and his special someones need to help with a danger that has arisen elsewhere, the Lover, the Nymph, and the Kraken are tapped to continue the diplomatic mission in Gwynara's kingdom. That, as you might guess, comes with complications.

Aleksi is failing. He hides this from the other gods and most definitely from those traveling with him. Naia is new to the world and might not have a handle on the full breadth of her power (or so the others think). And Einar? Well, the big guy has secrets and those secrets might have secrets. Traveling to the island kingdom Gwynara rules is complicated for him on so many levels. After all, he has the secret he hasn't bother to share with the others regarding his connection to the island and he has so many feelings Naia invokes in him. Feelings which he isn't sure what to do with.

Which is where Aleksi comes in. Sort of. Aleksi has convinced himself playing matchmaker to these two is a worthy last task before he fades. Or whatever it is he's doing. So he sets them up and urges them together and somewhere along the way the two lovebirds start to see Aleksi in a different light. One that makes them protective and loving and NO ONE'S GOING TO TAKE HIM FROM THEM AS LONG AS THEY BOTH DRAW BREATH!

Oh, yeah. The Kraken and Nymph have feelings for one another AND for the Lover. And they're going to fight with everything inside them (of which there is much!) to keep him and their blooming relationship safe.

Hoo-BOY! I must admit these three are smoking hot and the world their moving through is amazing. I honestly can't wait to see where they go next!

The Dark Heart by Erin Kellison [Review]

The Dark Heart (Indulgence #4) by Erin Kellison
Format: ebook
Source: provided for review
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 22, 2025

Indulgence Series
1. The Stone God
2. The Night Blade
3. The Blood Chain
4. The Dark Heart - Paperback | Kindle
5. The Crimson Throne

Erin Kellison
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

The gods need defenders, but Adom and Terah are fighting for a future of their own.

Through desperate trials, Terah and Adom have forged an unwavering partnership, but the secret they discover on their latest quest savagely rips them apart. While Adom struggles to escape the snare of Death's great web, Terah is forced to return to Aranos to confess ancient wrongs.

Disaster looming, Death commands Adom to wed his scion to forge a union capable of battling the menace to come. But Adom's heart belongs to Terah, and he will stop at nothing to reunite with her—even if it means burning Akolan to primeval dust.

Alone and besieged by challenges, Terah must confront her father's treacherous legacy. But the cost of power is high, and to fight her mounting enemies, she must pay with her humanity.

When at last their paths collide, Terah and Adom have become what their gods need: unchained weapons honed for war. As the foretold invaders breach the skies and chaos descends, Terah and Adom urgently need allies. But who can they trust when they suspect everyone, even the gods, of deception?

Thoughts on The Dark Heart: Terah and Adom might have started out with a slightly (HA) adversarial relationship, but things have changed. SO MUCH. Terah has challenged gods and she and Adom have been forced to rely on one another and it's sparked something that burns bright and hard. Then they're separated and now the two are willing to do anything to find one another again.

Literally anything. Terah has pledged to become the queen of the ghosts in exchange for the ghosts' help. Adom is being held prisoner in death's kingdom and will have to burn away his humanity in order to escape. Both of them fear what the other will think of these changes, but they're willing to go through with it in order to be reunited.

Which is definitely a good thing because these two are much stronger together than they are apart (and they're already pretty formidable in their own rights). With what's brewing on the horizon they need to be as strong as possible or their world might not survive.

A goddess attempting a coup, long memories, power, ghosts, dark places, the son of a god who is becoming so much more, and a woman who never expected she would be the driving force in saving her world. *thumbs up*

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming [Review]

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human (Mead Mishaps #3) by Kimberly Lemming
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 16, 2024

Mead Mishaps
1. That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon
2. That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf
3. That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human - Paperback | Kindle

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Mead Realm Tales
Mistlefoe

Kimberly Lemming
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When a spirited young woman with a penchant for adventure finds herself locked away in a dragon’s tower, she realizes that fate has a peculiar sense of humor when it comes to her romantic prospects, in this laugh-out-loud fantasy rom-com.

All children are told fairytales. Some are epic adventures with high stakes and exciting twists, while others are tales of pitiful princesses trapped in boring towers pining for their Prince Charmings to come and rescue them. Growing up, Cherry always hated those stories. Why didn’t the princesses just get up and rescue themselves? Little did she know that her own fate would take an ironically similar turn. Because now, here she is. Stuck. In a tower. Turns out, when a dragon holds you hostage, he doesn’t just let you get up and leave.

Who knew?

And just when Cherry thinks she sees hope on the horizon, that hope is smashed to bits by—you guessed it—another damn dragon.

Thoughts on That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human: We're back with another member of the Hotpepper family and Cherry has NOT been having a good couple of years. Mostly because she's been confined to an island by a dragon who refuses to speak to her. Which is bothersome because Cherry needs people to talk to. Or dragons. She's not picky.

So when a handsome dragon lands on her island, Cherry does what any self-respecting lady would do and drugs the poor guy. No lie, if Cherry had been a little slower on the trigger, she *might* have found out Dante was more than willing to spirit her away to the place of her choosing, but she drugged first and asked questions later and now she and Dante are mated. Whoops.

Not that Cherry has much to complain about. After all, Dante is filthy rich, treats her like the queen she is, and adores every trouble-magnet inch of her. In fact, Dante's only real flaw is his complete lack of game when it comes to wooing women. (I mean, he does well enough, but he has a few missteps along the way and I don't know if he should be taking advice from Felix, but that's probably another story for another day.)

On Dante's end, he knew Cherry was his person the moment he met her. Maybe even before. Let's just say that he really likes the way she smelled and mating with her was everything he thought it would be. With a side of weird requests and a few instances of mortal danger.

A danger-prone lady, the return of the sassy talking sword, a little mayhem, a little brain eating (whoops), a dragon who is blissfully happy making his honey-bunny happy, and a lady who didn't know what she wanted in a dragon until she drugged one and got Dante. GOOD TIMES!

Books & Broadswords Volume 1 by Jessie Mihalik [Review]

Books & Broadswords Volume 1 (Books & Broadswords #1) by Jessie Mihalik
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: July 2, 2024

Books & Broadswords
1. Books & Broadswords Volume 1 - Paperback | Kindle

Jessie Mihalik
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

This novella-length volume includes two romantic fantasy stories set in a shared world, each with a guaranteed happily ever after, plus a new bonus epilogue.

Books & Broadswords
The only thing Feora likes more than stealing the king’s gold is using it to buy books. But when a handsome, persistent knight interrupts her day, Feora must decide if saving his life is worth revealing her true nature.

Rocks & Rapiers
Zenira never wanted to sell her rock collection, but when the new landowner raises her rent, she’s out of options. Armed with a sketchy rumor about a collector who will pay for stones others might consider worthless, Zenira sets out, but she’s met with an icy scowl, a muddy manor, and the overwhelming urge to mend the mess—owner included.

Thoughts on Books & Broadswords Volume 1: Oh.My.Gosh. I kinda loved these two stories. Actually, there's no kinda about it. Feora and her knight and Zenira and her cranky collector made my day. There's a little possessiveness (kidding, there's a lot of possessiveness) and maybe a little handwringing as certain individuals worried about taking away the free will of their potential special someone and I LOVED IT.

First up, Feora. Feora who likes books. Feora who slowly starts to think the knight who crosses her path is nothing like any of the other knights she's had the misfortune of dealing with. Feora who is honorable and just wants to be left in peace. Until Ansel, that is. Only she needs to make sure that he's sure about what he wants before she's willing to make any moves. *le sigh*

Then there's Zenira. She's in a bad situation and she's maybe a little desperate. Which is the only reason she's sets out for the cranky collector's manor with her horde of precious rocks. Striking a deal with the collector opens up a whole world of possibilities. For both her and him.

Some stolen gold, a knight with a mile-wide streak of honor, a lady who just wants to shelve some books, a manor in dire need of some TLC, rocks, snowstorms, magic, a grump of a collector, and a lady who can't help but tidy up. It turns out that possessive individuals with collections and magic do it for me. GOOD TIMES!

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen [Review]

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy (Hart and Mercy #1) by Megan Bannen
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: April 24, 2024

Hart and Mercy
1. The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy - Paperback | Kindle
2. The Undermining of Twyla and Frank

Megan Bannen
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.

Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.

After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most—Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares—each other?

Thoughts on The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy: My girl Amanda recommended this book to me (with a there are "gods and zombie-like creatures and demigods and undertaking and funny family and a lovely romance. also letter writing.") and, GUYS, Amanda know what I like. Because this book? HIT THE SPOT.

When we first meet them, Hart and Mercy are...well, they snipe at one another. A lot. It started with their first meeting and it just kept going from there. They both think the other is infuriating and they might have the occasional fleeting thought about certain physical attributes they admire in the other, but they SHUT THOSE THOUGHTS DOWN QUICKLY. Because no.

Then Hart writes a letter for no other reason than to get his loneliness down on paper and it finds its way into Mercy's hands. And Mercy writes back. And Hart writes back. And soon they're sharing all sorts of things, never knowing the person on the other end is the person they like to needle when they meet face to face. And when the truth comes out (as truth eventually does), they both have to deal with fallout.

Plus, they have to deal with the fact that they've gone and frown FEELINGS for someone they never expected to have feelings for.

Throw in some danger, gods, family dynamics, zombie-esque creatures, a really awful way of gaming a system that shouldn't ever be gamed, more family dynamics, and even MORE danger and you have a really good book. But mostly you have Hart and Mercy figuring themselves out and growing into the people they want to be. Man, it was fun to watch.

The Harvest Bride by Kati Wilde [Review]

The Harvest Bride (The Dead Lands #6) by Kati Wilde
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 13, 2023

The Dead Lands
1. The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride
2. The Midnight Bride
3. Pretty Bride
4. Evil Twin
5. The Midsummer Bride
6. The Harvest Bride - Paperback | Kindle
7. The Stoneheart Bride

Kati Wilde
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

After losing everything to a curse that struck the kingdom of Galoth, Sarya just wants the world to leave her alone. Yet when a demon begins hunting the people in the forest near her village, staying hidden isn’t an option. Neither is avoiding the warrior who helped saved all of Galoth. Bannin the Blowhard has never said a serious word in his life...and yet the warrior claims that he intends to marry Sarya.

Now she’s about to discover how serious Bannin can be when her happiness is at stake—and how completely devoted to her pleasure…

Thoughts on The Harvest Bride: This time around we have Bannin, who threw an unintentional wrench in Warrick and Elina's romance with his story of Warrick's plans, and Sarya, a former guardsman (guardswoman?) who is dealing with the aftermath of the curse that Warrick and Elina broke when they returned the goddess's jewels. Bannin is loud and, in his words, a battering ram when it comes to pretty much everything. He tells larger than life stories and always has a flirty word for Sarya when he sees her. Sarya is closed down and fierce in her own way even though she keeps to herself and rarely interacts with the people in town.

Quite frankly, she absolutely doesn't believe a word that comes out of Bannin's mouth. Then something terrible begins hunting in the forest and she starts to realize that there's more to Bannin than just big words. It isn't long before she comes to accept that the big guy has her back (unlike some people in her former life) and mayyyyybe she's ready to take things in the direction Bannin wants it to go.

On Bannin's end, he is a bit of a battering ram. He lives large and he comes to realize that the things Sarya went through before means she needs a softer touch. So he tries to give her that. Fortunately for him, Sarya doesn't think the battering ram approach is so bad, she just needed to come to terms with the events in her past before she could trust herself in a relationship.

A nasty demon, a whole lot of sparks, a man who knew what his heart wanted the moment he laid eyes on her, and a lady who wasn't afraid to fight. GOOD STUFF!

The Midsummer Bride by Kati Wilde [Review]

The Midsummer Bride (The Dead Lands #5) by Kati Wilde
Format: paperback
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 12, 2023

The Dead Lands
1. The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride
2. The Midnight Bride
3. Pretty Bride
4. Evil Twin
5. The Midsummer Bride - Paperback | Kindle
6. The Harvest Bride
7. The Stoneheart Bride

Kati Wilde
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A Barbarian Who Must Lie

When a prideful queen comes to his prison cell with an unbelievable proposal of marriage, Warrick of the Dead Lands is quick to accept, but not merely to secure his freedom. Because he recognizes the powerful jewels the queen wears — jewels pilfered from the temple of a goddess, who unleashed her wrath upon a kingdom. His plan? Pretend to go along with Queen Elina until he can steal the jewels back, then use them to lift the goddess’s curse.

Except the queen isn’t who Warrick assumes she is at first glance, and his deception might cost him everything…

A Queen Who Must Die

Betrayed by everyone she’s ever loved, trusting no one, Elina has spent years searching for the warrior prophesied to overthrow the sorcerer who stole her throne … and Warrick is the one warrior she’s found whose description matches the prophecy. She doesn’t want to marry a barbarian, but she’s running out of time — the sickness ravaging her body means she’ll be dead long before she sees home. Only the enchanted jewels she wears give her the strength to continue on … and her new husband’s touch offers the only pleasure she’s ever known.

But after a life spent running from those who betrayed her, Elina doesn't know whether to trust Warrick with her kingdom ... or her heart.

Thoughts on The Midsummer Bride: No lie, Warrick and Elina don't meet under the best circumstances. He's been imprisoned and is soon to be put to death, she's living on borrowed time and is resigned to doing whatever needs to be done to help her kingdom. That said, despite the terrible position Elina's in, she's VERY ready to be Warrick's bride.

Once they seal the deal, things are happening. Then the betrayals surrounding her are uncovered and each one strikes Elina harder than the one before. It starts with Warrick and his little lie about not understanding her language. It snowballs from there and soon Warrick and Elina are setting out on their own to right a wrong that should never have been allowed to happen.

It takes one last betrayal/misunderstanding to put Elina and Warrick on the path to reclaim her kingdom and BOY does that last one hurt her in the worst way. It also teaches her a lesson she puts to good use later.

An enlightening bath, a queen who is the opposite of what Warrick initially believes, a vigorous wedding night, a curse that's waiting to be broken, a misunderstanding that almost ruins them both, a barbarian who refuses to give up on his lady, and a lady who fights hard for the things she believes in. These two had a bumpy road, but they got where they needed to be. *thumbs up*

Evil Twin by Kati Wilde [Review]

Evil Twin (The Dead Lands #4, Villains in Love) by Kati Wilde
Format: ebook
Source: borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 23, 2023

The Dead Lands
1. The Midwinter Mail-Order Bride
2. The Midnight Bride
3. Pretty Bride
4. Evil Twin - Paperback | Kindle
5. The Midsummer Bride
6. The Harvest Bride
7. The Stoneheart Bride

Villains in Love
Bad Girl
Bad Guy
Worse Guy
Evil Twin

Kati Wilde
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Bane should have been king…

But he was born four minutes too late. Though it was Bane who’d led armies to victory against the scourge of the undying, now he must watch as his undeserving twin claims yet another throne through marriage to a princess of a neighboring kingdom. A kingdom that Bane had saved.

That throne should be his. So he’ll take it.

All Bane must do is deceive his twin’s innocent bride. He'll trick her into his bed, and once he’s planted his seed, the bride—and her kingdom—will be his. With such a prize in hand, he won’t care if she ever forgives him for his deception. It hardly matters if she does, because his evil plan doesn't include falling in love.

But his bride has a few plans of her own...

Thoughts on Evil Twin: Oh MAN. Evil twins, worthless twins, good twins, nice twins...THERE'S A LOT going on here and I'm loving all of it.

So. Bane and Echo. He's the legendary general who is forced to watch his useless twin rule. On the plus side, Bane's able to affect change behind the scenes because his brother doesn't care enough to stop him. The dude is just...useless nobility in the WORST way. And Bane's kind of over it. So he'll claim his own throne and if he tricks his twin's soon-to-be bride to get it, well, so be it.

Except Echo has her own plots and plans brewing. And she's not AT ALL upset about that plotting. Well, except how she thought she'd coerced the literal best person ever into giving up HIS plans. It sounds complicated, I know, but there's a whole lot of plotting going on. AND IT'S DELICIOUS IN ALL ITS TWISTINESS.

Plots, smoldering looks, a very memorable carriage ride, monsters, magic, danger, a man who finds the perfect match for himself, and a lady who has a gloriously sly, devious mind. OH YES. I LIKE.

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon [Review]

Bound to the Shadow Prince by Ruby Dixon
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: January 30, 2024

Purchase Links: Paperback

Ruby Dixon
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In order to protect her kingdom from the wrath of a vengeful goddess, Princess Candra must remain locked inside a tower for seven years. Seven long years without a friend―or a lover―by her side. And shut inside the tower with her? A Fellian, the enemy of her people, a fearsome warrior race complete with wings and claws and fangs. Nemeth is terrifying, cruel, and disturbingly magnetic. Candra should kill him for his supplies, but she’s desperate for his company…and his touch.

As time inside the unchanging tower rolls on, Candra uncovers the man behind the stony facade. And when their tenure hits an unexpected snag, Candra and Nemeth are forced to make a difficult choice. They’ll need to face an outside world they no longer recognize, one that threatens their lives and their surprising love.

Thoughts on Bound to the Shadow Prince: Oh.My.Goodness. Talk about enemies to lovers, amirite? Candra and Nemeth are on opposite sides of a very old divide and they're forced to spend seven years together in a tower with only one another for company and I CAN'T HANDLE HOW MUCH I LOVED THESE TWO TOGETHER.

Frankly, Candra is a hot mess when she first gets sent to the tower. She's a little shallow (not her fault, simply a product of her upbringing and being the "useless, cursed" sister), she can barely take care of herself, and she's woefully unprepared for everything. Literally everything. She's also kind of convinced Nemeth is very much a bad guy and it takes a while before she gets over that.

As for Nemeth, he might look like a monster to Candra (at first, at least), but he's a good person through and through. He helps her when she becomes ill because it's the right thing to do and slowly the two of them begin to lean on one another as the weeks and months tick away. When the unthinkable happens and they're forced to leave the tower or starve to death, he's willing to sacrifice himself again and again if it means she'll be safe.

War, political intrigue, a cozy tower (although maybe it isn't cozy all the time), two people stumbling their way into a relationship, a knot or two that leads to some VERY good times, danger, sibling rivalries of epic proportions, a scholarly Fellian who risks everything for the woman he's grown to love, and a princess who learns that she's not nearly as useless as she's been told. MAN, I liked these two and this world and everything going on here. *thumbs up*

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha [Review]

Consort of Fire (Bound to Fire and Steel #1) by Kit Rocha
Format: ebook
Source: provided through NetGalley
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: October 26, 2023

Bound to Fire and Steel
1. Consort of Fire - Paperback | Kindle
2. Queen of Dreams

Related Series:
(find all the books in the series on the 1st book review)
Born to Sea and Storm
1. Daughter of Tides

Kit Rocha
| Website | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

For three thousand years, an ancient dragon god has protected the borders of the Sheltered Lands. In return, he makes only one demand: every one hundred years, the mortal ruler must send their heir to serve as his consort…for as long as they can survive.

Sachielle of House Roquebarre is the thirty-first consort to be sacrificed to the monster who guards the mountain passes. She is young, beautiful―and she has three secrets.

First: she’s a disposable orphan trained in seduction.

Second: her handmaid, Zanya, is an assassin and the only person she has ever loved.

Third―and most deadly: she’s cursed. Sachi and Zanya have five weeks to murder the Dragon in his bed. If they fail, the mortal king’s curse will steal not just Sachi’s life, but her very soul.

The Dragon has only one secret: he is nothing like what they have been told. And he will do whatever it takes to possess them both.

Thoughts on Consort of Fire: Twisty betrayals, unexpected revelations, gods who will protect their people and land with everything inside them, and a big something that's heading in the Sheltered Lands direction. And if that's not enough, we also have Ash, Sachi, and Zanya. Three people who are very different, but who fit together perfectly.

No lie, this book slayed me. Sachi and Zanya are bound to one another by love and their painful past. Ash is alone and lonely despite his position in the High Court. They have their hopes and their dreams and they're all wrecked by the idea that those hopes and dreams won't come to pass. It's a tangled web and it gets even more tangled when Sachi and Zanya realize Ash and the other gods aren't the monsters they've been told they are.

Despite knowing their plans for him, Ash is intrigued by both women. He might have to watch his back in the grand scheme of things, but he's drawn to Zanya's darkness as much as Sachi's bright affection. Frankly, finding a way into Zanya's wary heart is a bigger challenge than figuring out what the king has planned. But Ash is tenacious and he can't help but love both of them the way only a dragon can love.

A gorgeous world, dangerous times, a plot that could threaten the balance of everything, two women used as pawns against an ancient pact, and a dragon who loves them both. I canNOT wait for book 2.

Promised to the Orc by Sue Mercury [Review]

Promised to the Orc (Orc Guardian Brides #1) by Sue Mercury
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: November 14, 2022

Orc Guardian Brides
1. Promised to the Orc - Paperback | Kindle
2. Rescued by the Orc
3. Fated to the Orc

Sue Mercury
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

I’ve been promised to an Orc Guardian.

He’s coming for me soon and I will have no choice—I’ll have to leave the realm of humans and marry the huge, fearsome beast known as Gregor the Slayer.

Orc Guardians are said to be cruel and unfeeling. I struggle to accept my lot in life, and I won’t lie—I’m tempted to run and hide. But deep down, I know I wouldn’t get far, and the last thing I wish to do is bring down an orc’s vengeance upon my village… or upon myself.

I soon learn that while Gregor has a fierce, vengeful side, when it comes to me, he can be gentle and… sweet. He’s also intensely protective and possessive of me.

But we come from different realms, and his world is so very different from my own.

Will I survive marriage to a big, growly orc?

Thoughts on Promised to the Orc: I was in the mood for some orc lovin' and picked this bad boy up. Not that Gregor is a bad boy. He's just an orc, doing his orc-ly duty. You know, defending people, scaring the pants off them (not literally), killing things. Oh, and getting ready to pick up his bride. Who DOES NOT know she's been promised to the big guy.

Fortunately for everyone involved, Catrin was not only open-minded enough to not totally freak out at finding she was basically betrothed to an orc, but the two had met not long before and he had already stirred all sorts of feeeeelings in her. Just by being an upstanding dude with big muscles.

Understandable, really.

So. A journey, a quality night spent in a cave, sexy shenanigans, a little danger, and a couple who fit pretty well together from the start despite their differences. *thumbs up*